CHANGING MONEY - KODAK SHOPS
The Kodak shops are probably still the safest option when changing your money but they tried twice to diddle us and I saw others complaining of the same. Always count your money in front of them when they give it to you. Once my friend was 100K short and I was standing to the side of the Kodak lady and saw her drop it on her desk. When we both counted his money at the same time she snatched it back out of his hands and we both saw her slip the 100k note back into the pile, then she counted it out to us making out like we were idiots and had made a mistake counting. The second time I was nearly at the end of recounting mine and realising I was 20k short when she slapped the 20k up onto the counter from her desk. This is the Kodak shop near Dynasty between there and Kartika Plaza. I also had a problem there in April.
MOBILE SIM CARD
We had a generally good mobile phone experience in Bali. After checking out the cost of using our Big Pond mobile there (HORRENDOUS!), decided to get a local prepaid sim instead. Recommended to us was BEBAS connected to XL network, 2,500Rp (AU 35¢) per minute to call Australia to mobile or landline! We had a couple of crossed line calls, but nothing serious and SMS messages went through both ways without problems. Jack at KARTIKA Tourist Information Service was a lovely young guy and very helpful, chose the right sim and installed and registered it for us as well. He also has a tour booking business at the same place (Kartika Dewata Mini Market, Jl Kartika Plaza, a little way east of Discovery and on same side of road).
CLOTHES
Most of my Bali clothes, which I buy each time I go, a few T-shirts and light cheesecloth tops I bought from Dianne's fixed price opposite Green Garden for about 30k each. Oh by the way I am a BIG BUM in Bali. Size 18. Last time she had some 3X cotton pants which were great but none in this size this time but did offer to make me some. I do resew the centre seams on the pants tho as they were come undone and i don't want to be baring my big bum in Bali. I only wear this stuff in Bali. Down the laneway next to Bubba Gumps there is a shop owned by Mr Charlie, he will get any T-shirts for you for about 20,000Rp. They are pretty desperate down that end of town. Got some good shoes for about 50,000Rp to 100,000Rp at Mataharis sale.
I bought a pair of shoes in the fixed price shop in the Bali Rani foyer one night at 8:30pm. I was her only customer all day.
Used the laundry down the laneway to the right of Bali Rani as you leave the hotel. Does a great job, gets all stains out and it is about 50c per item washed and ironed. Excellent service and great to come home with all your Bali clothes ready to go next time and no washing to do.
TAILOR, Driver and Ubud
Bali Brumby down the laneway next to Bubba Gumps. Putu is a lovely man and does such a good job. My friend got snakeskin boots (AU$100 - all leather including soles) and shoes (AU$70 - all leather including soles) made which are really sensational. He also got cowboy shirts made with embroidered logos on them which are so nice ($40 this time but $30 next time). He is an entertainer and these are for his stage shows.
As a Big Bum I can't get any trousers to fit me in Perth. So Putu made me 5 pairs of trousers in microfibre material for $25 each which are so nice and fit perfectly. I took an old pair which fit because I had altered them myself and he copied them but he doesn't need anything to copy from. I also got a leather jacket with snakeskin insert made for $130.
I got a bad scare near the end of our trip. I had given Putu a pair of cargo pants of mine to copy, when I went to try them on the waistband would not meet by about 6cm, 'Oh No' I cried 'too many Krispy Creme donuts'. 'Quick' he said, 'try on your old pants'. Oh god, I thought this can't be happening, how could I have put on this much weight? I put my old pants on and lo and behold, THEY FIT. YAY. The relief, I can't tell you. Then he laid both pants out on the table on top of each other and they were exactly the same size!!! BUT then he pulled my old pants and 'ahh they are stretchy, I didn't realise. No problem I will bring your new ones to your hotel tomorrow morning.' Problem fixed. Whew!!!!! What a gem he is.
Putu has a brother 'little Putu' who actually isn't so little. Putu No 2 took us to Tegalalang to see the rice terraces and to Ubud to buy some art. We ate at a lovely restaurant in Ubud called Adi Asri in Jl Raya Sanggingan. Beautiful view from the back over rice paddy and duck lake.
TAXI DRIVERS
Had the usual crazy taxi driver experiences. One who serenaded us at the top of his voice all the way from Legian to Tuban in a traffic jam. Surprisingly he also had an amazing knowledge of Australian and English history and American politics. Strange combination. Another Taxi driver who cracked his knuckles and neck constantly louder and louder because I had cringed the first time he did it and then when I showed my horror at his driving, went faster and faster and drove as close to everybody he could nearly killing horses, men and dogs. Another one was driving us down some narrow lanes in Kuta when a motor bike rider passed us going the other direction, there was a thump as the rider bumped into our car, our driver looked in the rear view mirror and said 'oops. Ooohh a tourist'.
One night we waved to a taxi driver who had just dropped someone off near the Pantai just down from the Bali Rani and he was so happy 'I am so lucky, I just drop someone off and pick you up. Where you want to go?' 'Bali Rani.' 'Nusa Dua?' 'No you're not that lucky'. He thought this was hilarious and when we gave him a 3,000Rp tip for a 7,000Rp fare he was sure it was his 'luckiest night.'
Driving down Jl Kartika one evening in the usual traffic jam there was a girl and a woman walking in the same direction as us. The girl was very tall, long perfect legs and in stiletto heels (in Bali!!) with a mini skirt so small it was not quite covering her bum. I pointed her out to my friend and the taxi driver said 'what, what happens' so I pointed her out to him. He thought it was hilarious yelling 'woohoo' and started tooting his horn and jumping up and down in his seat. The girl then stopped just in front of us, bent right over and started to take her shoes off. Of course this meant all of Bali could see what she had for breakfast. Our taxi driver went berserk tooting his horn until security guard came out and a good look, gave the thumbs up and thanked our taxi driver for waking him up.
The traffic jams at around sunset time near the beaches in Kuta and Legian were horrendous so try to go early or late. Also there are a lot of roadworks being done there as well. I think it was around Garlic Lane and Jl Melasti. Rum Jungle Road (now has a new name but the taxi drivers all know it) was closed at one end and was supposed to be one way traffic, most of the time the taxi drivers just ignored the no entry signs and took us down there anyway but on the last night there was someone stopping them entering and we had to go around to the other end to enter which was quite a long way round through lots of interesting, very narrow laneways.