Just got back from Bali so I thought I'd share my experiences with you guys...some good, some bad.
I have been going to Bali since I was 14 add another 20 years and that's my age now. We thought we'd try something different this time and stay in Kuta...Matahari Bungalows.
I'll start with the arrival. Got our bags and found that they had been broken into and the zipper and lock were no longer usable..the same with my sisters bag. This was the first time for my husband and my sisters husband so you can imagine their first impression.
We had a lot of traffic to get out of the airport..more than I remember.
We arrived at the hotel. Not bad for a budget hotel. Bathroom facilities not the best. A lot of mozzies in rooms. My husband had an encounter with a snake outside the room. Heaps of cockroaches. A lot of funny business going on in other rooms. I wasn't to happy about hearing 2 males having a bit of fun in bed. Worse that it was an old man and young balinese boy. But such is life...there is a lot of that going on that end of town.
First night there we had more offers of drugs than "do you want transport". Which I had a good laugh over as my husband is a Police Officer (though he didn't). I don't think he's been told to F Off as many times as we were over there. They don't like rejection too well:)
For 2 first timers the guys did extremely well and fitted into the bargaining business really well...sunnies 10,000 (so we had quite a few for friends to bring home)...300 DVDs 10,000 each, t-shirts for 20,000..They did well.
Us girls weren't as lucky. Whilst the guys decided to go off Jet-Skiing we decided to do a bit of shopping down Poppies Lane. Now apparently there are 2 Poppies Lane so for those of you that know..we went down the one near the Memorial (there is a corner store selling beaded necklaces and stuff). Anyway...we were cashed up say 1,000,000 each. First stop was beaded shoes, 35,000 each so we got 4 pairs each. Then.. now this is a WARNING...we were walking along and next minute a group of balinese women stopped us...before we knew it we had one of each grapping our arms and tying leather bands around them. Now they "needed" to cut some length off the bands so they let us down an alley. Before we knew it were were paying for a manicure, pedicure, massage, fake tattoo. All because of those leather bands. Now we could have down some pushing and shoving but...we at this stage had quite a large gathering watching us. Not one single tourist was around that time of morning. You couldn't bargain..there was a lady who looked like she was in drag watching over it all..apparently she's the boss. We rejected all the things they were doing to us as they were'nt pricing it. But because they had "touched" us we had to pay. I went to walk off and a few of them screamed. My sister and I "lost" 700,000 each...plus...they asked us for Aussie gold coins for the 2 little kids sleeping on the ground. I felt a bit sad for the kids so I opened my wallet for a coin and next minute...like a pack of seagulls after your chips...they proceeded to take ALL the coins $30 in total. We spoke to a Balinese friend about this and apparently even if we had reported it we still would have had to "pay". So if you go down Poppies Lane and "Julie" approaches you...just tell her to go away FIRMLY. I woke up the next day and thought I'd been bitten by something on my arm.. I still have the hand print of "julie" on my arm..nice bruising. They all had stories to tell..basically they were the poorest and only get 10% of what they earn, the tranny gets the rest. While we were very bitter..we now see it as "Oh well we lost out on $140".
On the more positive side we went to Water Bom Park...had an unreal day. Well worth the trip. Go on all the rides (even the thrill ones). Went across the road to a huge department stall and got a few goodies..plus a Starbucks coffee.
Went to the Monkey Forest in Ubud..another unreal day. The monkeys provided us with plenty of amusement. Stay around and watch them in the little pond..you might be surprised what they get up too.
Jimbaryn Bay was magical...food as always was excellent.
Us girls got some very nice skirts from O'Bali in Kuta (across the road from Kopi Pot..great food, nice bar)...also some nice necklaces and hairclips. We didn't go to the market stalls much (just for the usual sarongs 20,000, kids shorts 10,000) we mostly stuck to fixed priced shops.
The weather was great...nice and hot. Alot hotter than Sanur.
Would I stay at the Matahari Bungalows again...NO...Would I stay that end of Kuta..NO CHANCE. Basically..you get what you pay for. We went budget and we got it. Next time we will be going back with the kids so we wont make the same mistake again.
Just another WARNING...if you are into drugs...don't do it over there, don't have a look at that medicine jar that seems to be the new thing. It's not worth it.