BALI

has anyone been there? we're going end of october. any tips, advice, etc...? please and thank you!

Ask any Aussie http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif

so, where are they all? In Bali?? Hopefully, someone will trek in here and give me some advice. We don't go for a few months.

Uhhh... Don't get caught having anything to do with illegal narcotics. They are pretty harsh in Indonesia, even to foreigners. Not saying that you would be involved in that, but just don't do it there...

While you're waiting for Al (Australia correspondent) to check-in, you might want to read Guamgirl's Bali article.
Also, as I recall Hal & 29 Palms have visted Bali. I know there's a thread, but as usual I can't find it. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif
Oh, a word of warning, Al has a wicked sense of humor. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif

thanks everyone--I look forward to hearing from AL--thanks for the "warnings" drugs and AL!!
I recently heard of a really stupid girl who is very remorseful about her drug bust in Bali. Wudda, cudda--shuddenthave!
From what I understand she was lucky to NOT get life in prison?
No, no--I'm a good girl! I don't even smoke cigs any more!

I was in Bali three times when I lived out on Saipan. It was a five hour flight out of Guam. Visited Bali in 97-98-99. It's a great place. SUPERB. I was upset about those terrorist bombings that went down in early 2000's. I thought about how many times me and my wife walked around LEGIAN street that got blown up with over 200 killed in the Sari Sari club. My tip to you is to hang away from large foreign crowds. I know it won't be as fun, but I would patronize the smaller hotels and restaurants, bars. Don't be scared but be vigilant. Rent a driver, make a deal with him to take you to BARONG VOLCANO and have lunch up there at the viewing site. It's very worth the trip, beautiful scenery. There is a large art building near KUDA and they'll try and sell you 1000 dollar paintings, as if you came to Bali to buy alot of art work. They actually believe you might pull out a grand and buy this huge painting. So they'll sell you anything at the drop of a RUPIAH. They'll be all over you trying to make a sell, you can't shake em. But its a great place. Awesome place to visit.

Thanks for the info! 29Palms and the referrla mig
We're arriving 3am and staying at Accor Mercure for a bed w/ID rate.
Off next day w/driver to Amed NE coast for 3 nights--either Anda Amed or Blue Moon villas--both VERY small--$60ish night--up on hilside above beach (dark sand tho but we like pools!) Surprising hubby with dive day and I hit the spas.

Will look into Barong volcano as we are staying in Ubud for 4 nights and will have been to Agung volcano and the lake there. We have total 8 nights on island and plan to make this just our FIRST visit. We actually don't care much fro the chaotic tourist streets, but will certainly be cautious.

I also went back to Guamgirls article since she enticed me to see Guatemala in June. I am soooooo ready!

We're using Delta to Korea and miles for real confirmed business class RT seats on KE to Bali. That gets us priv at the KE lounges--ICN has one that babies you--more people serving and cleaning than pax...Awesome--showers, champers, great eats, wifi and more...Of course, I blew all my miles so we'll be dependent on the NW merger routes for next trip. We'll have some long layovers but at least they'll be in style...
thanks again, all--more advice is appreciated!@

Don't know your age, but me and wife tried the UBUD stay and realized that it was way to quiet for our taste. We couldn't wait to get back to KUTA beach. It's nice to get out of the hotel and be able to walk around restaurants, buildings, bars, beach huts, vendors, malls, civilization. Night life is great around Kuta. Out in the places you describe sounds quite boring to me. Sounds like ALL HOTEL. FOR ME, KUTA is where its at and KUTA BEACH only. The rest is good for a day trip. Gotta check out the BARONG DANCE. That is a must. Just a cab ride away to the show. It will blow your mind. Gotta hit it early, I think especially on SUNDAY'S so check around. I would stay out of the market in DENPASAR. I found the vendors rude and loud when you don't buy anything from them. Don't let the cabbies take you there. I bought a motorcycle helmet in Bali, it looked like a GERMAN helmet. It only cost me two bucks. You see everyone wearing them on mopeds and motorbikes. You'll see stands full of them on the sides of the roads. I recommend you visit the grocery store in Bali, and buy lots of coffee. It's the best there. And remember. BUTTERFLY BRAND. The good coffee there is stamped with the BUTTERFLY to show that its approved by the government as gourmet coffee.

Hey 29palms! Thanks!
Butterfly coffee-hmmmm--the name is Barong--butterfly!
We can always find a beach in Mex or similar--this is a cultural trip and maybe a place to retire??. We're early 50's, but not shoppers and not big on hotels per se--we like the small places--Blue Moon is only 3 villas and Anda is only 5, I think. The Kupu Kupu BArong villas we're booking are around 20 units and we like getting spoiled whne possible--like personal butler, but I understand that's typical in upscale Bali resorts? I get some really good prices on out of the way places thru luxurylink.com. No budget joints unless they fit the itinerary and welcome as warranted! We want to get away--sicne we're going halfway around the world--may as well find soemthinga bit different--I do want to eat the PIG Tony Bourdain cites as his fave meal in the world--that says something!! (burrrrp) No significant night life in either place we're going--I've already "discoed down to check out the show" in other parts of my life...."and I was dancing and singing and groovin to the music."..
If you think of anything else--toss it in the pot--happy to get more stuff to deal with.

Well like any good young Aussie, I've done the obligatory trips to Bali a few times, but have not been back in probably 20 years or so, so my experiences and memories are probably worth diddly-squat !
It used to be a paradise, an untouched, unknown gem with loads of culture, fantastic friendly locals, great beaches (if you're into that) and heaps of character and charm, with all the little art and craft villages dispersed throughout.
Then of course it was discovered, the boom happened and the slightly 3rd world feel, taste and touch vanished when the super resorts and all the rest of it sprang up.
The last time I went over, it seemed like it was a mini-Disneyland-cum-Sandals of sorts. Hated what had happened to the place and have never been back.
Even the northeast coast around Candidasa that escaped the initial onslaught of mass tourism and maintained the "old" Bali eventually got found, as did Ubud and Lombok across the Strait.

By all means, still go, I hear many go for the first time and love it, but for an old stager like me, the current Bali is nowhere near the attractive place it once was. I would in all honesty still probably going there, but I wouldn't stay around Kuta. Maybe the top end of Legian, but Kuta is probably like any popular beach resort area at spring break time, but all year round.

One word of caution, and trying to word this ever so carefully to avoid being OTT. Not sure when you are going, but the principal players involved in the devastating bombing of a few years ago are facing their imminent final sentence and are viewed as martyrs by their followers. As all avenues to negation of their death sentence slowly keep vanishing the day will come soon when they will lose their fight. There could well be a lot of activity by the group they are involved with, in tandem with their martyrdom, and anything can happen.

There is a website called smarttraveller.gov.au run by the Oz Govt that lists all current problem countries and shares intelligence information with we the people. It may be worthwhile keeping an eye on that for any alerts or "don't go" warnings given to us Oz citizens by our Govt, as Indonesia is one of the countries we apparently keep a very close eye on.

Bali is probably one of those places I will probably never see again. Too far off the beaten path from where I now live. Been there three times, will visit other places closer to me now. I admit I have wonderful memories of the place. Like the Aussie mentioned, its gone through changes in the past 20 years or so. (Like anywhere else really. Check out CANCUN and COZUMEL on this side of the world.) Progress is inevitable. For me, the foreign enviroment in Bali adds to the eccentricity of the place since there are so many visiting there being geographically close to Bali. There are tourist from ALL OVER THE WORLD in Bali. I seen them coming in plane loads from ITALY, NORWAY, JAPAN, you name it. But its still a great place to visit. Check it out. I've thought about the retirement thing there too, and actually looked into home renting. Like a home for 130 bucks a month can get you a three bed room, two bath home. About ten years ago. But retirement wasn't in the plans while in my 30's. I could live in Bali, no problem. They even have foreign communities there.

No significant night life in either place we're going--I've already "discoed down to check out the show" in other parts of my life...."and I was dancing and singing and groovin to the music.".. ....and just then it hit me, somebody turned around and started playthatfunkymusicwhaatboah!


Mmmmm....sounds like the song PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC WHITE BOY by the great WILD CHERRY of STEUBENVILLE OHIO around 1975. Takes me back to the days of riding the bus to school and somebody playing this song in a boom box and the crazies in the back of the bus singing away to the tune.

Butterfly coffee-hmmmm--the name is Barong--butterfly!

Butterfly coffee is not a brand of coffee. IT IS A GOVERNMENT STAMP OF APPROVAL. There may be a brand called butterfly out there but what I mean is look at the coffees at the MATAHARI shopping center in Bali or in Denpasar and if you see a BUTTERFLY symbol stamped on the package, it means its approved by the government as being real GOURMET coffee from Bali or anywhere in Indonesia. Bali is unique to Indonesia because it has the last POCKET of HINDUISM in Indonesia surrounded by the MOSLEM majority of Indonesia. Very splendid, friendly place. Wonderful people. Even the Moslems on Bali were living in harmony with the Hindus of Bali. Wonderful people too.

Yes, I've been there twice, wifey 3 times. We are ...ahem, older, retirees, whatevever you want to call us...so nightlife and a frenzied pace is not for us. It's a beautiful island, the temples and the natural settings (f you like to walk) are gorgeous. Look at my other Bali posts by searchig for 'Bali'. I recommend Ubud, mainly to walk in the rice fields northeast of the city, the north coast, especially the little snorkeling heaven Jemeluk near Ahmed (see my other post), and the sites and scenery in between: the water gardens (ting... something or other), the southern approaches to Agung the volcano, including the splendid temple Bekassi, and the quiet village of Sidemen with lovely walks. For a peaceful, lovely week, check out Gaia Oasis in Tejakula. Enjoy!

....its been years since I've been to Bali too. I'm another one that has been a few times but I don't have any plans to go back again. The last time I went was over 10 years ago and Kuta had changed dramatically. I wouldn't stay in Kuta again if I ever go back. Have a good time.

Hello Vicki. I see you work for Qantas. I flew them from Port Morseby PNG to Sydney. This was back in Jan of 1989. I have a question for you. Wasn't QANTAS once spelled QUANTAS?

no, never with a "U". QANTAS started out as

Queensland
And
Northern
Territory
Aerial
Services

I remember in my hotel room at the Chevron in Surfer's Paradise, they had a television show about Australia for tourist and they mentioned Qantas, and I remembered the acrynom. I really liked those AUSSIE DOGS, PIZZA and the MEAT PIES there. Almost 20 years ago. Long time.

We still have lots of hotdogs, pizza and meat pies (and lots of sorts of other pies) plus also crocodile & kangaroo at some restaurants (which I don't think you would of got here 20 years ago!) http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif

Aussies are some strange people. I used to watch them walk around Bali, all dressed up in wierd fashion with like RED bell bottom trousers and striped shirts, yello sneakers. Some Aussies in Bali I saw looked like marooned sailors with all these tatoos on them, long hair and beards drinking up the Bintang beer there. Walking around Kuta beach with surf boards chain smoking the clove cigarettes. Wearing cheap 5 dollar cologne that I never smelled of before. But very nice people. Peculiar but nice. Alot hung out at the BOUNTY hotel in Legian Street. Wild aussie parties in there all night long.