A look through BootsnAll’s currency converter, shows the rupiah has gained against the US dollar over the few months, and that anyone with Euro’s is a happy camper. The best strategy for saving money in Bali, is to price shop for everything, and start to ‘think in rupiah’, rather than saying ‘this meal is cheap, it only cost $20 for the 2 of us’.
1 US Dollar = 9,049.77 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Australian Dollar = 7,075.02 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Brazilian Real = 4,219.15 Indonesian Rupiah
1 British Pound = 17,569.1 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Chinese Yuan Renminbi = 1,160.51 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Euro = 11,788.3 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Hong Kong Dollar = 1,160.83 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Indian Rupee = 203.764 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Japanese Yen = 76.02302 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Kazakhstan Tenge = 75.50778 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Malaysian Ringgit = 2,581.51 Indonesian Rupiah
1 New Zealand Dollar = 6,261.09 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Singapore Dollar = 5,891.70 Indonesian Rupiah
1 South-Korean Won = 9.75656 Indonesian Rupiah
1 Thai Baht = 253.042 Indonesian Rupiah
If it’s your first time in Bali, you can change money as soon as you arrive at the airport. Downtown in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Sanur, Ubud etc., you will find many streetside places offering money changing services. Some offer a great rate, but charge a commission, other a lower rate of exchange, but no commission. It all works out and the thing you should concentrate on, is getting the money you are due. If you see a sign offering amazing rates, with no commission, look inside the office. If its just a couple of local guys, behind a wooden desk, don’t bother with them. Look for a more professional (read - not likely to cheat you) money changer, with an office / travel agent, proper equipment, a legitimate business.
Enjoy the great exchange rates while you are in Bali, and don’t forget to pick up some travel insurance before you go.
source : www.baliblog.com
January 11th, 2007
Tuban is an interesting place. Ngurah Rai airport is in Tuban, and a selection of large hotels line the beach, along Jl. Kartika Plaza. Riding around Tuban, away from Jl. Kartika Plaza, it becomes obvious that Tuban is a ‘local’ area, by that I mean, densely populated with wall to wall shops that serve local needs. One place that stands out, if you are a foreigner, is Pepito’s Cafe. This European styled restaurant is located adjacent to Pepito’s supermarket. Pepito’s has an extensive menu, and daily lunch specials. Today I went for the Special and it was quite good.
My Special was Cream Soup Dubarry, Chicken Tandoori Kebab, Balinese Safron Rice, Tomato Salad, Marinated Fruit Salad.
The menu is as follows;
•Breakfast (until 11.30am) - including Bavarian (1 small Bintang beer or soft drink, 3 Weisswurst sausages, 1 Saltbretzel, Radish and original German sweet mustard) for 32,500rp
•Pepito’s Specialties - including Roast Beef (as main course, with tartar mayo dip,and pan fried potatoes) for 38,500rp
•Soups - including Parmentier (potato puree soup with vegetables and sausage) for 23,500rp
•Appetizers - including Smoked Marlin Fish (smoked marlin with horse radish cream, butter and toast) for 39,500rp
•Risotto, Ravioli, Tortellini, Pasta - including Neptune Risotto (with mixed seafood and tomato sauce) for 32,000rp.
•Main Course Beef - including 300gr Fillet Steak (with tarragon sauce, buttered beans and asparagus or salad) for 63,000rp
•Main Course Pork - including Pork Roast Donpepone (pork roast with apple gravy, bread dumplings and red cabbage, or mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables, or green salad) for 37,000rp
•Sausages - including Beef Chorizo Sausages for 35,500rp
•Main Course Chicken - including Pollo Fritto (1/2 a fried chicken served with French fries, or plain rice and salad) for 34,000rp.
•From Indonesia & Beyond - including Sashimi Maguro Steak (Semi raw sashimi tuna on Ruccola lettuce, Wasabi balsam and plain rice) for 45,500rp.
•Neptune’s Seafood - including Capri Dream (Marinated fish, shrimps and lemon, herbs and crushed pepper on toast) for 33,000rp
•For the Children - including Spaghetti Napoli for 19,000rp
•Vegetarian - including Ginger a la Gomez (Pan fried, Green Vegetables, Fruits, bean curd Tofu and Noodles or Rice with spicy Ginger - Sesame Sauce) for 29,000rp
•Fresh Garden Salad - including Mixed Italian salad with pan fried chicken and garlic bread, for 22,000rp
•Dessert & Pastries - including Coupe Williams (Vanilla & chocolate ice cream, marinated pear halves and whipped cream) for 25,000rp
Pepito’s is open daily from 8am - ‘night’.
Pepito’s Cafe
Jl Kediri #36A
Tuban
Bali
(0361) 763953
source : www.baliblog.com
January 11th, 2007
jogerJoger is a shop on Jl. Raya Tuban, that is popular with Indonesian tourists. Ika told me in the past her school group from Semarang bought t-shirts from this shop. For westerners, Joger doesn’t mean anything, we’re oriented toward Nike, Adidas, Billabong and Quiksilver. Ika told me that Joger is a specialty t-shirt shop, famous for its slogans.
Outside the shop, is a big sign saying ‘Pabrik kata-kata‘ (we have a factory of words). I parked across the busy street, which is lined with Javanese and other Indonesian food places. Inside Joger domestic tourists were funneled through the shop in prescribed direction. Joger sells Balinese handicrafts, t-shirts, bags, hats and other small gifts.
The prices are not cheap for locals, with a long sleeve t-shirt going for 119,000rp, a regular t-shirt 70,000rp, a ladies colored bag 75,000rp, small day-pack for 150,000rp.
Ika told me many Indonesian cities have their own version of Joger, with the clothing expressing something about the local culture. She said the quality of the stuff is quite good. Just shows you the power of marketing. Visitors to Bali will pay $20 for a Beef-T stamped with the name of a famous surf company. The funny thing is, here in Bali, most of the stuff come from the same factory. I can go from one brand shop to another and see the same shirts, with different tags!
Anyway, Joger is a famous brand in Indonesia, and if you show up in Java wearing one of their t-shirts, locals will make that connection with Bali.
Joger is open from 11am - 6pm daily.
Joger
Jl. Raya Tuban
Tuban
Bali
source : www.baliblog.com
January 11th, 2007