In Reply to: Traveling to Bali requires more posted by rbbregent on Friday, 6. February 2009 at 12:58 Bali Time:
Thanks Bobbie for your very informative message. I love Bali - and am heading there in a month but as much as I love it and keep returning there for holidays the one thing I am dreading is those sleazy corrupt immigration officials... How can the Government make the citizens honest when those same Government officials are corrupt to the max. The police are another story - I remember a Balinese friend taking us sightseeing about 10 years ago for the day. We got stopped no less than four times - each time having to pay the police money to stop them from booking our friend. They tried to class him as a tour driver and therefore as he didn't have a special licence took it upon themselves to demand money from us. I think most ordinary Balinese are basically honest - but the need for more honesty in people who hold positions of authority is a must. Having said that I don't think it will ever change. You just have to be prepared before you get there and be ready for anything they throw at you. Sad but true.