In Reply to: You post summed it up perfectly. eom posted by hooked on Monday, 2. February 2009 at 18:26 Bali Time:
Once off the plane you go through customs -firstly pay for a visa, they ask for US dollars but do an exchange rate for AUS.
THen collect your luggage, go through security and change some money -I suggest 100AUS its easy to calculate. Walk out the door -turn right and go to the taxi counter -the fares are fixed.
make sure you have the address of your hotel in case its a smaller one.
Enjoy the taxi ride.
Money -Exchange rates change daily -don't go for the highest good chance the calculator is dodgy, or they have fast hands and you will lose some. Count the money and be the last one to touch it. If you find a good place stick to it -they love return customers.
Water -Don't drink it from the tap. Most hotels provide bottled water and its cheap on the street.
Food - Look at places that have lots of customers -The Tree House in poppies Lane 1 is great, Bamboo Corner in poppies lane 1 is very cheap and good and has great chips for 8000idr about $1AuS .
Clothes -Suits made at Janoko in Poppies lane 2 they will give you a good price up front -and leather in Ramadkan also in poppies lane got 2 jackets excellent quality for $125AUS each I didn't haggle at all.
I just got back and found that a lot of sellers have their first price astronomically high. so don't feel guilty by giving them a low first price.
Have fun