Archive for August 9th, 2006
Travel advice is cheap. Everyone who comes here can give their opinion and tips on where to go, what to do and how to avoid hassles. Reading an article from Arthur Frommer’s, offering answers to general travel questions, I thought I’d apply that to Bali. Here’s what Frommer’s says.
Here’s my answer to the same questions for Bali.
Should I book my trip now or later?
Since the 2005 bombing tourism is still down. Just today in Cafe Moka a waitress told me business wasn’t what it used to be. Who knows how long it will take to come back in full, but there are deals right now, its a buyers market.
How can I, as a single person, avoid the single-room supplement?
In Bali we have the entire range of hotels from resorts to the most affordable guest house. If you don’t like the cost of a room, just look around and you’ll find many other lovely rooms for cheaper.
How much foreign currency should I take on my trip to Bali?
If you are using VOA (visa on arrival) it is advisable to bring $25 in US currency. If you don’t have it you can change money at the airport for a rate that isn’t the best. Other than that, Bali has many ATM machines, especially in tourist areas and main towns. No need to haul around a wallet with ton of money in. I’d say it can be good to carry $300 in foreign currency, for emergency and maybe 2.5m rp in local, that you’ll get at the ATM. You can leave this in the hotel safe.
Can I, as a single person without a companion, travel pleasurably on group tours?
Group tours in Bali mean either boat trips to Nusa Lembongan, bus trip to Uluwatu, Kintamani etc, or rafting trips in Ubud. If you are on a budget and just want to get around without hassle, the bus trips are okay, but I’d go for hiring a car with driver. You’ll have to make up your own mind how much enjoyment you’ll get from a day rafting. Could be a lot of fun.
Should an unaccompanied woman travel alone?
Bali is generally safe. I have met many single foreign women travelling alone without problems. In any country of course, there is a strata of people who will approach a single women, that will not approach me, as I’m male. Being male I may not worry about my safety as much, that doesn’t mean you, as a women shouldn’t, its just that Bali in general, is safe for solo women travelers.
Is it safe to visit Bali?
Violent crime in Bali tends to be low. As a stranger, you’ll have to be extremely unlucky to encounter violence. There have been terrorist attacks in Bali over the last 5 years. Who’s to say if there will be more. Most people who live here do not seem to be overly worried.
Should I let my 18-year-old vacation in Bali?
Bali is the Tijuana, the Costa del Sol, the Fort Lauderdale, for Australians and many young people. Chances are your 18 year old will want to join in the fun. There is not too much to worry about, as long they stay away from drugs.
What is there to do in Bali?
We could go on for hours, but in a nutshell, you have a beautiful island that is waiting to be explored. The culture here is endlessly fascinating, the people enchanting. Weather is tropical and beach goers can find hotels on the beach, right next to the airport. Scuba diving, surfing, sailing, rafting, are some of the sporting activities. Shopping, touring and non-stop nightlife will keep city lovers well pleased. And that’s just scratching the surface.
Should I use a travel agent?
If you want good deals on air tickets, with a package that includes a hotel, then sure, deals abound. If you feel like exploring the island and creating your own path, staying in local guests houses, or small boutique hotels that you find along the way, maybe you will search for a really cheap ticket and pass on the hotel.
source : www.baliblog.com
August 9th, 2006
Showing remarkable vision, 4 SE Asian countries are moving along with plans to create a ’sub region’ as far as tourism is concerned. Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia have designated parts of their countries to belong to the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-IndonesiaMalaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area).
Basically, some pretty tasty chunks of those countries, including the eastern islands in Indonesia, SW western Philippines including Palawan, the whole of Brunei and Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan in Malaysia, will be marketed as a single destination, offering and irresistable package for tourists. The EAGA was formed in 1994 and recently there was an announcement from the Philippines government that they would reduce airport fees for airlines by 50%, for those serving the sub-region. New air routes will be opeing too, which will shortly be followed by tour packages. The exciting thing about this whole thing, is that it shows co operation and makes exploring those areas more affordable. Irian Jaya (West Papua) alone offers staggering natural wonders, and scuba diving to rival anywhere on earth. Here’s more from the Manila Bulletin Online.
sources : www.baliblog.com
August 9th, 2006
Chatting with a friend last night I learned there are 2 new resorts being built on the
Bukit Peninsula. Apparently there will be a golf course too. My friend said they have dumped soil to build the bunkers and its all go.
Since foreingers are now allowed to own land, a move tha happended while I was away there will probably be more interest in building on the Bukit, as places such as Dreamland, are 20 minutes from Kuta, have a ocean view and access to sandy beaches. According to my source, access to Balanagan is now blocked off, you have to go the back way past La Joya, there is a new road.
Pro’s about living on the Bukit:
Close to Kuta / airport
Lots of space
Not many Balinese (if you do not care for Balinese culture)
Its quiet
Ocean views
Sandy beaches
Great surfing
Con’s about living on the Bukit
It hot and dry
Not much grows there
Not many Balinese (if you enjoy being around Balinese culture)
You have to drive to get anywhere, restaurants, nightlife and services are not on the Bukit
Too many surfers
Many rutted roads
source : www.baliblog.com
August 9th, 2006
This morning I went down to Kuta to order a plane ticket to Singapore, to renew my Business Visa. I’ve had some ups and downs with airlines recently and wanted to get to the bottom of things. My ticket on Garuda (serviced by Malaysia Airlines) to London, was supposedly changeable, as far as the date.
“You just call to change at least 24 hours before flight and no problem,” the travel agent told me. Six weeks later I tried that and almost lost the ticket! I was told my ticket was not transferable at all. Only by luck, and using some pressure tactics that I learned over the years, from my colleagues, I got the manager to write me a new ticket.
Singapore is a handy place to do the visa run, it fairly close (2.5 hours direct), easy to navigate and I have been throguh the system before. I once tried processing my Business visa in Bangkok, and got dicked around. Arjuna in Kerobokan told me I didn’t need and onward ticket form Bali, Bangkok said I did and wouldn’t issue the visa without one. Singapore doesn’t care about the plane ticket.
Kadek the travel agent on Poppies I said my London ticket was changeable for free. All I said, was that there are varied tickets, some are for free, some charge to change, some you cannot change. Important to get this straight before you leave on a long trip, or like me you could be standing with your bags at the airport with your ‘hopes’ in your hand.
Today, as predicted, most of the flights to Singapore are fully booked. I did book one, leaving a couple of days earlier than I had wanted, but I have to get to the Embassy on a day when its open, and as a precaution, when its open the next day too, should I not arrive in time (you put the paperwork in before 12 noon, and pick it up in the afternoon). One time I made it to the Embassy at 11.55am after flying from Bali-Yogyakarta-Jakarta-Singapore, and catching a cab downtown. I don’t know if it just me, but it feels like airlines are trying to cram as many people as possible onto the flights and over the last 12 months I’ve been on many packed planes, flying trans-Pacific, tran-Continental and regional. Book early for flights out of Bali.
source : www.baiblog.com
August 9th, 2006
Campur means ‘mixed’ in Indonesian. Jevon is a campur kid, and like many others, was caught in a legal mess as far as his nationality. Logic would suggest, that if a kid was born in a country, to a mother who is a national from that country, the kid too, would similarly become national. Well logic doesn’t have much to do with what often goes on over here, and campur kids were considered foreingers, adopting the nationality of their father.
All that has changed. While I was in Europe, Jakarta has changed the rules, shaken the pack, come to its senses. Now campur kids can have dual nationality, until age 18. I met a German guy who had to divorce his wife, so he could somehow escape the kid’s visa fees and runs overseas. Traditionally Indonesia has had a control complex, and has been particularly wary of foreigners. The attitude was ‘now you’re married to an Indonesian, take her the heck out of here.’ President SBY is leaving no stone unturned, in order to generate foreign investment. Helping the foreign business community in Jakarta live their lives, without endless immigration details to worry about, is a great move.
I think Jevon is going to like being Indonesian and British
source : www.baliblog.com
August 9th, 2006
August is the time of year when Indonesian farmers in Sumatra burn the waste from the harvest to clear fields for future crops. According to Malaysia’s environment department, there are over 500 fires burning right now in Sumatra, and the smokey shroud that it creates drifts across the Straits of Malacca, to Peninsula Malaysia.
Flying Malaysia Airlines last week, I noticed the thick haze from the plane. We decended through a high level cloud layer, only to look down on a ground-hugging’ smoke layer. Residents of KL have to put up with this annually and it is one of the many environmental problems this region has. Crop burning goes on all over SE Asia, and the rampant deforestation is to blame also, with farmers eager to clear land for farming.
Here in Bali, farmers tend to burn remains of the past growing cycle and use chemical additives to enhance soil makeup. Years ago they used to burn less, and plough the waste back into the soil. Modern rice means a Balinese farmer can get 4 crops a year, no time for hanging around, but fortunately we do not suffer from smog
source : www.baliblog.com
August 9th, 2006
A surfer who went missing, while surfing at Bingin on the Bukit Peninsula, has been found in West Bali. The body of 30 year old Chin Tenh Fung, from Melbourne, was found by fishermen off of Perancak beach (location of macapung, buffalo races), and identified by his relatives.
Mr Fung was surfing in big waves at Bingin, famous for its fast, short, thrilling barrel. He was dumped by a wave and his companion never saw him again. Perancak is 100kms from Bingin and that shows how strong the currents are around here.
Very sad when a family has to identify a loved one, and hopefully that won’t happen too often in Bali.
source : www.baliblog.com
August 9th, 2006
Today I noticed many Balinese people in traditional dress and found out it is Purnama, full moon. Last night Ika nd I heard a solo female voice wafting over the wall from the banjar pavillion across from Pura Desa Seminyak (the village temple), and there will be more worshiping tonight.
Usually during Purnama, the village temple will feature special prayers, wayang puppet performances, arja plays, Balinese dancing. Towering offerings called sesajen, are also brought to the temple.
Balinese believe if you bathe in water containing fragrant frangipani flowers, under the light of the full moon, you will enjoy youthfullness and good health. Might be a good time to cruise the streams with a flashlight! Planting fruit bearing trees is encouraged on Purnama. In Bali everything has a place and time.
source : www.baliblog.com
August 9th, 2006
Raising kids is an education in human nature, patience and logistics. Since I have returned to Bali, Jevon has been trotting around the house, bright eyed and inquisitive. He wants to search, feel, pull, taste everything, especially the stuff he shouldn’t touch, like electric cables.
One of the great aspects of living in Bali with a small kid is the weather. Its always warm, he’s never cold, and we can dress him in light clothing, making it very easy to change. There are a few aspects that are not a benefit, like the tiled floors out here. In England a young kid might fall on the living floor, and land on carpet. There’s no carpet out here boy, its cement! Same for the stairs.
Western parents often worry about taking a youngster to Bali, because of the water and the mozzies. Jevon is always trying to drink to swimming pool, hose pipe, bath water and is okay for it. Its part of life in Bali to get a mosquito bite once in a while. Jevon already knows he must swat them with his hand, if one lands on him. We’ve had no dramas with mozzies, even though he naps on the bed next to the garden in the afternoon.
Little hands can get into places, and I have had to move a few things out of his way. You’ve got to think at their eye level, and hide anything tempting. So far raising a kid in Bali has been fun, not something to stress about.
source : www.baliblog.com
August 9th, 2006