In Reply to: i wasnt overly impressed first time posted by mr_ben on Monday, 10. September 2012 at 00:08 Bali Time:
I first went when I was 21 with two girlfriends and we almost had to take a stick with us to beat off the hordes of people that tried to sell us things and offer transport - twenty years later(maybe slightly more!) and a quick 'no thanks' is the most I've needed for years now, if that, even if I'm not with the Other Half. Compared to the rest of Asia, they're pretty laid back.
I think transport has reduced in intensity but I had a friend who went on a cruise that stopped at Bali and she was overwhelmed by the hawkers so they seem to have learnt to focus their efforts and not bother with us repeat offenders!
I also do a good 'not-interested-face' apparently so that might have something to do with it too!