In Reply to: Traveling to Bali requires more posted by rbbregent on Friday, 6. February 2009 at 12:58 Bali Time:
I read the forum most days and would not usually bother with a posting like yours. I guess you will not bother going back to Bali again, But also have to say that after 24 trips over the past 28 years I have seen a lot of changes but I still LOVE Bali. Airport Porters, I was told on my first trip never to allow the Porter to grab my bags and have instilled this on ALL my friends who have since traveled to Bali, Immigration - well I guess its worth the ask, Police have always been corrupt but some also are in Australia, Prostitutes have always been there maybe a bit more obvious now days but we too have them in Australia and I for one don't understand why a beautiful young girl would want to marry a much older man definately not LOVE but more a means to an end ( So Sad ), as for the people being nice to you just to get you to buy from them do you really think sales people in Australia are any different " I don't". Only "2" nights ago on the 6pm News we Australians were being warned how Pick Pocketing has increased Dramatically in Melbourne. Hawkers - if you just ignore them and don't make eye contact they usually don't bother you, You really wouldn't bother with public transport unless you felt a need to try this experience, Money Changers - I have never had a reputable one try to rip me off, Beggars - well the Balinese people DO Not have any time for them and tell you to just ignore them, the children are made to go & beg just to TUG on your Heart Strings, they tell you these people bring shame on their country and anyway when I was in Melbourne last Saturday a guy stopped me in the street and asked me for $2.00. The streets are much better now than 28 years ago and as for the people well I have never had any problems with the Balinese but have seen over the years that it is usually people from other parts of Indonesia or other islands that cause a lot of problems. My last holidays in Sept - Oct 08 really opened my eyes as to how many Balinese businesses there are around as they were the ones open, we were there through Ramadan, spend that time of year in Bali and you may be surprised to see how many places are closed hence outsiders who own & run the businesses " Not Balinese". I always stay in Legian, Kuta & Seminyak as I like to be within walking distance of everything have stayed in Sanur, Ubud, Candi Dasa & Nusa Dua but find them too isolated. Love doing day trips & seeing the rest of Bali too. As for Bluebird Taxi's love them, jump in make sure meter is on & never had a problem. Am so looking forward to September when my son, daughter in law & 3 x grandchildren & a niece are all traveling with me to Bali. One thing though I have always worded my family & friends up & given them some insight before they have gone to Bali. Anyway I feel better for writing what I feel now. Wherever you travel in future hope your experiences are better, Regards Maxi