In Reply to: shopping list posted by olli on Friday, 23. March 2007 at 14:34 Bali Time:
Regards
Clare
DON'S VIRGINS GUIDE TO BALI - UPDATED
DON'S VIRGIN GUIDE TO BALI (2006)
DRINKS & COCKTAILS:
Coke (can or sml btle) RP 3200 - 5500
Water (Bottle 500ml) RP 3200 - 5000
Orange or fruit juice RP 5000 - 6000
Depending where you go cocktails range from RP 4000 - 50000
Arak Attack (rice wine cocktail)small - lge RP 4000 - 10000
Scotch, Bacardi, Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Rum etc RP 20000
Jam Jar (Arak Attack 1ltr Goldfish Bowl) RP 30000 - 40000
Wine (avg red or white) per btl in a restaurant RP 150000 - 225000
CAR & DRIVER HIRE (TOURS)
Half day hire approx 4-5 hrs (depends on mileage) RP 200000 - 250000
All day hire approx 6-8hrs (depends on mileage) RP 400000 - 500000
Above prices should include: Car, Driver, Petrol & Parking fees
SHORT TRIPS:
Tuban - Kuta RP 8000 - 10000
Kuta -Legian RP 8000 - 10000
Legian - Semniyak RP 8000 - 10000
Tuban - Nusa Dua RP 40000 - 45000
Kuta - Tanah Lot RP 65000 - 750000
Kuta - Sanur Beach RP 45000 - 55000
BLUE TAXIS: from Airport to:
- Kuta RP 25000
- Legian RP 40000
- Jimbaran RP 30000
- Seminyak RP 35000
- Denpasar RP 36000
- Oberoi RP 36000
- Kerobokan RP 38000
- Nusa Dua RP 40000
- Sanur RP 45000
(Short trips 4 Persons or less best with these metered Blue Taxis)
RECOMMENDED DRIVER & TOUR OPERATOR
For Airport Transfers and Tours I highly recommend my driver to you. He is a great guy, good value for money, has very clean modern air conditioned vehicles, and above all is very reliable. He has several "standard" tour packages for the 1st and 2nd timers but can "customise" a tour for the well travelled Bali lover who wants something different and off the beaten track.
He can be contacted at either: (please email me for links)
He now has his own website...shows tours and prices (please email me for links)
He will give discounts to BTF members.....just tell him Mr Don from the BTF sent you and ask him for your 10% BTF discount off all his advertised services.
A QUICK GUIDE TO MARKET PRICES
Aftershave Black Mkt (Joop,Yves St.Laurent etc) RP 15000
Belt Leather RP 15000
Bowls Wooden Sml - Lge RP 5000 - 15000
Beach Towels Sml - Lge RP 25000 - 50000
Beer Bintang (sml bottle) RP 9000 - 12000
Baskets (Woven) Sml - Lge RP 1000 - 5000
Bracelet (U supply 2 x Aussie Gold Coins) RP 10000
Bracelet (without the Aussie Gold Coins) RP 20000
(although they don't really make the bracelets from our coins, they cash them in it's worth more to them).
Bamboo Wind chimes: Sml - Lge RP 10000 - 15000
Beach Bag woven RP 28000
Bead Necklaces RP 5000
Bags Louis Vuitton Lge Overnight Bag RP 180000 - 200000
Board shorts Billabong Blk Mkt RP 30000
Billabong - all now under the counter, you must ask the shop keeper if he has Billabong they don't display it.
Caps Baseball Peaked RP 10000 - 15000
Cardigans lite weight crochet RP 30000 - 35000
Cushion covers RP 30000 - 35000
Car Timber Steering Wheel (with boss kit) RP 150000
Cigarettes pkt or crtn RP 20000 - 70000
DVD Player Hire (week) RP 100000
Dresses (summer) RP 25000 - 40000
Earrings RP 5000
Games PS2 or Xbox games Blk Mkt RP 10000 - 15000
Handbags Louie Vetton RP 55000 - 70000
Jackets Leather Tailor made RP 500000 - 700000
Jeans Levi's 501 RP 75000 - 80000
Kids T-shirts/Singlets RP 15000
Kimonos 55,000 (depending on length & material) RP 35000 - 50000
Masks RP 9000 - 15000
Meals - Entrée average (more for seafoods) RP 5000 - 30000
Meals - Mains average price (more for seafoods) RP 15000 - 50000
Mobile Phones Older model Nokia around RP 500000
Mobile Phones latest model Nokia about RP 900000
(Bali is not the place to go to buy a cheap new phone)
Music Cd's (discounts for volume) RP 8000
Necklaces beaded or polished shells RP 5000 - 10000
Placemats Woven RP 5000
Photo prints (digital) RP 1000 - 1500
Photo Memory Stick Card to disk RP 25000
Perfumes Blk Mkt RP 15000
Photos onto a CDR RP 25000
Placemats Wooden RP 12000
Singlets RP 25000 - 30000
Sarongs Short (basic printed) RP 9000 - 12000
Sarongs Long (detailed embroided) RP 20000 - 30000
Tops (Paul Frank for teen girls) RP 20000 - 25000
Singlets Bintang printed RP 15000
Shirts Collared RP 20000
Stubby holders RP 4000
Sandals Leather RP 25000 - 40000
Sunglasses Oakley etc... Blk Mkt RP 15000 - 25000
T-shirts Billabong,Quicksilver,Rip Curl,Nike) RP 10000 - 30000
Watches Blk Mkt RP 15000 - 30000
Wallet Leather Billabong RP 10000
Wrist Bands Leather (pk of 4) RP 12000
DVD's
After advice on the BTF we placed our order with our supplier via email before we arrived in Bali and he supplied us about 300 DVD's and 150 PS2 Games. They are all great quality so we are totally satisfied. He is a really nice guy and also hires DVD's players at about a quarter of the price inside the hotels.
Checkout a list of titles available at: Please email me for links
His email address is: Please email me for links and he will deliver to your hotel room when you arrive (pay in Rupiah).
ACCOMMODATION
There are many sites on the net that give details for various accommodation so I won't touch on that but if you want a local travel agent that is 'on the ground' over there and can barter some great deals try Mida. She is a travel agent that lives in Bali. She is great and gets better prices than if you tried booking direct. Tell her what you want and she will Email you with prices. She provides free transport (she will try to get you to do tours but is not pushy if you say no). You just pay upon arrival at the hotel. Cheap for accom. Does not do flights.
Contact Mida at: Please email me for links
For the best package deal prices contact Nicki Lawson (Nicno on BTF) (please email me for links). Her overheads are low and she passes these savings onto her customers....please mention that you are a Bali Travel Forumite.
BALI TOURIST SEASONS
NORMAL SEASON Feb - Jun
Oct - Nov
HIGH SEASON Jul - Sep
PEAK SEASON Dec - Jan
*** NOTE - LINKS TO WEBSITES ***
The Forum does not allow links to be posted on here. Please contact me if you would like a full version of this guide showing links and contact addresses etc emailed to you. Just click on the highlighted 'DonRon' at the top of this page for my email address cut and paste and remove the words 'no-spam' before sending.
LINKS TO MAPS AND GUIDES
Why not print a copy of this list and a map and take it with you
Try these links for handy maps, guides and information:
TIP: Please go to the 'Learn Simple Phrases' link. So easy to learn and also has sound to help you with pronunciation of words...it's so easy.
A WEDDING IN BALI: Please email me for links
A MUST DO RESTAURANT:
AIRCRAFT SEAT LAYOUT:
BALI RESTAURANT GUIDE:
BALI TRAVEL FORUM:
BALI WEATHER REPORT:
BEST FLIGHT DEALS:
BEST BALI INFO SITE:
BEST DRIVER IN BALI:
CHECKING HOME EMAILS:
DENTIST IN BALI:
DENTIST DR (RUDY)
GARUDA AIRLINES SITE:
GARUDA HOLIDAYS:
ONLINE TRANSLATOR:
LEARN SIMPLE PHRASES:
MAP DENPASAR HOTELS:
MAP KUTA & HOTELS:
MAP SANUR HOTELS:
MAP UBUD HOTELS:
MAP LOVINA HOTELS:
MAP NUSA DUA HOTELS:
MAP CANDIDASA HOTELS:
MAP BEDUGAL HOTELS:
MAP JIMBARAN HOTELS:
MAP KINTAMANI HOTELS:
MAP LEMBOKAN HOTELS:
MAP SINGARAJA HOTELS:
MONEY EXCHANGE RATE:
MY FAV ORPHANAGE:
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:
SHOPPING CHEATSHEET:
SUE WRIGHTS BALI INFO:
SUBMARINE REEF TOUR:
TRIP PLANING CALENDAR:
WILDLIFE AND ELEPHANTS
WORLD TIME CLOCK:
THINGS TO DO (and NOT TO DO) WHILE IN BALI
DO go to a Elephant park. (see above links)
DO go to the Monkey Forest in Ubud
DO take the kids to Waterbom Park...they'll have a ball
DO go Swimming and snorkling
DO go Shopping...shop till you drop in Poppies Lane II at Kuta
DO get a Massage
DO buy some copy DVD's
DO buy a fake watch
DO buy some fake perfume
DO buy a leather jacket
DO see a Barong Dance
DO see a Kecak Dance
DO see a Legong Dance
DO see a shadow puppet show
DO go to Ubud
DO eat some Satay...no..... eat much satay...the best in the world
DO go White Water Rafting
DO go to Kintamani Volcano
DO buy some silver jewellery in Celuk
DO drink some Bintang.....no drink much Bintang
DO have a cocktail.......no......have many cocktails
DO buy a T-shirt with 'F#@k The Terrorists' printed on the front
even if you won't wear it ever again for only a couple bucks it
will make you feel good.
DO change money at the Kodak shops, don't risk the others.
DO try a swim up bar in one of the resorts, it's heaps of fun.
DO take sunblock and use heaps of it.
DO go on the submarine tour (see link above)
DO go to the Monkey forest in Ubud is beautiful, monkeys not to
cheeky!
DO ask first before you take a picture of somebody its common
courtesy.
DO go to Tanah Lot Temple and get 'blessed' by the priests
DO eat seafood at Jimbaran Bay
DO see the black sand of Lovina Beach
DO go to Poppies in Poppies Lane 1 for lunch (or dinner).
DO try and go see the memorial to the bombings...a time to reflect...
a time to remember....a time for respect......We Won't Forget
DO take a trip to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park the views are
breathtaking and the size of the statues awesome. Not many
tourists get to see this attraction (don't be one of them).
See link: Please email me for links
DO have a great meal with your Aussie restaurateurs Milton and
Kerrie at the Indo-National Restaurant see link: Please email me
for links
DO go to Poppies Lane II to shop...you won't find better deals
anywhere and won't have to leave this street to get just about
anything you want or need
DO smile at everyone who smiles at you....chances are that you will
have a smile on your face until you step on the plane to come home
DO TAKE ALL YOUR SPENDING MONEY IN AUST $$ IN CASH!! Don't
bother with a visa card most places just use cash anyway.
Change into rupia over there much better rate.
DO go on an ocean cruise and don't chicken out of snorkelling there
are no sharks and thousands of the most beautiful tropical fish
and reef.
DO go on volcano tour, it fun but don't get out of the car up the
mountain, the hawkers are really really desperate and bad up
there.
DO get a fake tattoo just before you come home and freak out your
mum/kids/hubby etc. They are great and really realistic!
DO try Arak. Arak is a rice wine made over there, very potent (40%
alcohol)don't drink too much of it, but it's a really great drink
with fruit juice (punch)
DO drink many Bintangs. Bintang takes a couple to get used to but
once you get the taste for it ....lookout !
DO leave the air-conditioning on when you sleep cos it doesn't get
cool at night like it does in Oz
DO start your shopping in an area that is fairly busy (like Poppies
Lane II or Legian st) they are not so desperate and hence not so
scarily pushy.
DO hire a 'Blue Cab' for short distance travel - they are metered
and so cheap half the time your tip will be more than the fare
DO book you holidays for 10+ days...it takes 4-5 simply to unwind and
get into 'Bali Mode'.
DO post your JBR (Just Back Report) on the Bali Travel Forum (BTF)
so that others can share your experience.
DONT step on the offerings on the footpath, please be respectful.
DONT drive yourself anywhere - get a Driver and / or Guide
DONT do anything in the resort (ie. use internet, hire DVD player
burn CD's make phone calls) big rip off, you can get any of
these things way cheaper in the shops.
DONT freak out about the roads. There are road rules, even if they
are less obvious, they are very good drivers/riders.
DONT get sucked in by someone who calls out a price for some thing
(especially if it sounds really cheap) once you show interest
the price will start to go up. Pick what you want, ask the
price, then start bargaining, anytime the process is any
different to that, don't get yourself into it.
DONT get stuck with hair braiding hawkers. Worst hawkers were the
women wanting to braid hair, they would grab our girls hair and
are alot harder to get away from, so get braided early on, cut
it short or tie it up well.
If a hawker says "I sell this watch for 350000 normally" say either "But I'm not Japanese" or "maybe to a first timer". The
Japanese mostly just pay the first price, they hardly ever bargain. The Balinese are really nice genuine people, but they are only happy to sell something to you for too much if you are happy to pay too much, if you're not sure about a price, show your discomfort they will pick it up straight away and will become much more reasonable.
DONT be afraid to go into a shop with a price in mind and if they wont give it to you for near that price walk away. There are no doubt a hundred shops with the same thing, so the next time you put your price up a little bit. Once the battering is over with usually they are so keen to get to know you and ask many questions.
DON'T forget to take a small medical kit. Include things like Aqua ear ear drops, and if possible a course of antibiotics (very hard to get in Bali).
As you can see there are more DO's than DON'Ts in Bali.....
If it's your first holiday in Bali I guarantee it won't be your last.
Enjoy you trip to the 'ISLE of SMILES'
LAST WORD ON PRICING & SHOPPING
I have had mail from some experienced forumites who tell me that they have purchased some of the items on my list cheaper than I have quoted or that they can get transport much cheaper from this guy or that guy. But to those experienced Bali Travellers I ask one simple question 'how much did you pay the 1st time in Bali'. I think that most would agree, if you were a Bali Virgin and you paid the prices that I have on here 1st up you would have to be pretty chuffed with yourself wouldn't you.
When shopping the stalls and markets just adopt the friendly practice of saying no thank you (tidak!, terimah kasih) or sorry, no money (sing lapis). Be firm but sympathetically friendly. Keep walking as though you are on a mission. Don't look at the goods they are offering unless you are really interested. Keep your sunglasses on so they cannot see your gazing eyes. Keep your money in a bum bag draped close to your lower abdomen, wallets in back pockets are real targets as is opened handbags. Some hawkers get too close and when they do it is time for you to move on. Walk off as though you are looking for something or someone that is way up the road. Don't make promises like "maybe tomorrow" or "maybe later." You will regret it if you run into that person again, to them you made a promise and they will hold you to it. Don't get into a slanging match with the hawkers if things get heated walk away. Don't be intimidated by them. Talk to them you will find that after the bargaining is over with they are very keen to chat and joke with you.
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU
A very special thank you and credit to the many Bali Travel Forum (BTF) contributors that I have mostly plagiarised for making this list possible.
Make sure you take a look at Filo's Guide (please email me for links) it is the ultimate Bali information site on the net and takes off ....where I leave off.
I will re-post my guide from time to time following updates and amendments to pricing etc....
Hope this all helps in some way.
Cheers & Bon Voyage
Don