In Reply to: I Can Haggle and Barter posted by shubbaz on Saturday, 1. March 2008 at 13:12 Bali Time:
route that you mention. I live in Sanur and have propety in Lovina. When travelling between the two places I find the road via Amed a more enjoyable and relaxing drive than the shorter inland roads.
The road between Lovina and Amed hugs the coast and has some great views. However some of the land is very dry and barren. There are a number of fish/prawn farms in this area. Only a few kilometres before the turn into Amed there also is an abalone and oyster farm. I recently purchased abalone meat at 50,000 rp a kilo.
In Amed there is a large number of places to stay. On our last overnight there we stayed at Divers Cafe and Bungalows. This costs less than $30 a night and has a pool that is right beside the beach. There is also a wonderful restaurant named Sails. The view from this restaurant is awesome. Sails is operated by a sheep chaser but it is still very good. Check the kitchen out, I would be happy to have their kitchen at my place.
There are a few different roads between Amed and Candi Dasa but any option will take you through some bloody great scenery.The road winds through rice fields and small villages. At various stage the views are of the mountains or the Lombok Strait.
In Candi Dasa there is a very good restaurant named Vincents. I am yet to hear a bad report about the place. While in Candi Dasa drop in and visit or stay with Sherl. She is a lovely Aussie women who operates Temple Cafe and Seaside Cottages. The rooms there vary between $10 and $30 per night. The name is correct, they are absolute Seaside. Shirl has a great knowledge of the local area and has numerous useful contacts.
Further south call into Padang Bai, this is quite a nice little seaside village. The walk over the hill to Blue Lagoon has always been worth the effort.
You will be able to haggle or bargain with the locals but very few will want to barter. Cheers Ron.