hi, just back from 1st trip n too lazy to write new message so thought of posting an e-mail i sent to some friends. hope its ok!!
Hello people, 2 versions of our trip to bali.
Short Version.
Bali was cool. Will go back for sure.
Extended Version.
Hey there
Had a ball in bali, so much to do, me wanna go back soon!!
Arrived and chilled out in the hotel which was a bit of a dive but ok. Would have been worth the diveliness of the place if it was full (like when u were there Brian) but it was only 25% full and most of that 25% were aussie guys that seemed to take great pleasure in entertaining the local Balinese ladies in their rooms. True gentlemen building up the economy, Kings among Men.
Anyway, as we were chilling there was a party at the Bounty but we were too tired to attend (8am flight) with not much sleep the nite before in perth) so we just watched it from the balcony. Seemed to be fun and they had drinking games and the Indonesian host used the phrase 'you're Goooooone mate' in an attempted Australian accent whenever someone lost a drinking challenge. Sounded more like an airhorn which andrew wasn't too happy about as he tried to rest.
Anyway, the Bingtang went down quite well that afternoon of arrival.
We went rafting which was really scary coz there were 2 big ass jumps (about 3 mts) and it was straight down!! Luckily for us the raft was quite - what's the word - squishy and it just bounces all over the place. The Balinese also thought it was a good idea to place many little foot bridges across the river at about 2 1/2 feet above the water - that's about neck level while sitting down in a raft for an average person. Highlites of the day included getting stuck on shallow water on the edge of the 3 meter jump and watching the raft slowly turn sideways as it starts to go over the edge. Another highlite was the young Goldcoast aussie chick on our raft continually losing her pants to the point that she just gave up pulling them up.
We then walked up the mountain from the river up about 500 steps to get to our lunch spot. You know you are unfit when a 9 yr old village girl walks up steps in the jungle carrying about 40kgs of wood on her head faster than you.
At the end we had lunch in the jungle and the 2 bingtangs which we thoroughly deserved went down quite nicely.
Met some cool friends (the Pilipinos as we preferred to call them) (Camera Whores as they preferred) the first night at the hotel and we became Team Bali or "the Bali 5" for the 3 days they were there before they left.
We went up the jungleside to see a volcano. As it turned out we were taken to a restaurant about 5 kms from the volcano and it served expensive touristy rubbish. Easily the worst meal andrew and myself have ever had - plenty of flies guarding the food. Andrew, being, lets say slightly careful with his money did go up for seconds and thirds of the Indonesian crap simply to justify the cost of it. Andrew returned to Perth with Intestinal Parasites - but that's a whole different story.
The Bingtang did go down quite nicely at the volcano restaurant however.
We hired cars one day and went to a beach down south where the plane flies over called "Dream Land" It is quite similar to "Disneyland" in LA except this one is just a beach with some beach chairs, beach umbrellas and a kitchen that serves Nasi Goreng.
It was a great day for sure though and the 4 Bingtangs went down very nicely at the beach.
One day we hired scooters and drove around the south of bali. We drove to Jimbarin Bay and ate prawns. Although 1 of the few things I wanted to do in Bali (as recommended 10 months prior)was to eat seafood at "Sharkey's" in Jimbarin Bay, Andrew quickly wizened me up on arrival at the beach saying "I don't want to spend all afternoon looking for Sharkey's". So we found a nice looking restaurant and ate prawns and rice. Very nice stuff actually. Andrew asked for potatos instead of Fries and they gave him a side dish of 8 medium sized potatoes on top of rice, salad and about 12 mediun sized grilled prawns. Andrew did finish everything not surprisingly and I will continue to wait for an offer for any potatoes. There will be plenty of opportunities to eat at Sharkey's in the future I guess. Anyway, the Bingtang went down quite nicely at that restaurant that afternoon.
The people are very friendly, actually too friendly. The first day when the massage chickies put their hand out to shake it, we both did and then had to do commando rolls to get away from their vice like grasps. It is good to know that if you are looking for sunglasses, change money, watch, porn or small girl, the most you need to travel is about 4 average steps. Anyway, the Bingtang went down quite nicely that day.
One highlite of the trip was us starting drinking about 3pm by the pool. Then going to bars, dinner, bars, back to hotel for a few drinks and shower, then out to clubs which apparently are dead until 2.45am, then back to hotel to hang out with aforementioned Pilipinos in their balcony with some duty free stuff from about 4.30am till about 7.30, then go straight to 2 hour long Easter mass in Indonesian. (thanks Odey) The Bingtang did go down quite nicely after mass that day.
Andrew hired a scooter one day when I felt like reading by the pool (Read Phaic Tan) by the Late Show guys. It's a pretend lonely planet book that takes the piss out of all things Asian (including India!!) Arguably the best book ever or will ever be written. Pauline, maybe you shouldn't read this one.
Anyway andrew had a great day until he stacked it and scraped up his leg and hand pretty badly. This also resulted in a payoff (bribe) of about $50 to the bike guy for messing up his bike. He also got stopped shortly before the fall by police and had to pay him a 'fine' of about $20. Nice man didn't even waist andrews time by writing up a ticket.
Anyway, Andrew said it was a really nice day and he was in top spirits when he came back to the hotel that evening!!
The other thing I really wanted to do in bali was go to Hard Rock Hotel on a Saturday nite and possibly see a live band.
We went and the security outnumbered the patrons. It had a really cool bar and restaurant and was prob my favourite bar I went too. The patrons were also dressed nicely unlike some of the other bars.
Unfortunately though, Andrew and me mutually decided that it was not worth us paying the exorbitant prices of $5 for beers and $15 for dinner so after 1 quick drink, we left. Those Highway robbers can pick on the next unsuspecting prey. Oh well, there'll be plenty of chances to spend some time at Hard Rock in Bali on a Saturday nite in the future I guess.
Had a massage on the last day. My first proper massage and for 1 hours work, she definitely deserved the $4.50 tip.
Unfortunately there was no joy at the completion, but I wished I had a massage on the first day so I would have then had more than only one.
So after 7 days of doing so much stuff, we were pretty stuffed for the last couple and took it a little easier.
Overall, I give Bali a 7.4 as a travel destination and will be willing to boost that up to 8.3 if you consider the value for money factor and reduced to 6.6 for the risk of terrorism danger. This equates to an overall total of 7.43 recurring on the Tavani scale.
All I can say is that the people are very friendly and they desperately need your business. So if you in no way value your life, make a trip to Bali!!!
Cheers and Big Ears
Jimmy