In Reply to: A thought on 1st timers to Bali posted by Hillary on Saturday, 19. February 2005 at 09:08 Bali Time:
I wouldn't have missed that feeling from our first trip for the world.
Hawkers aren't bad now in fact they are mild It isn't just the hawkers in Kuta. I think that someone who has visited and stayed in Kuta on a previous trip will have some important experience to take them into the country.
The hawkers,the Bali way, the Indonesian way are no less evident in the country, sometimes moreso.The scams and corruption are just a little different and handled with ease after a few days in Kuta.
The whole of Bali is lovely and that stuff you buy can be screaming howlers when you get home, they are just things, no big deal, cost hardly anything anyway.
The Balinese are Balinese anywhere, lovely people living on a beautiful island which caters for us all.
I think every newcomer to the Island should have a 3 day indoctrination period in Kuta/Legian :>))