How to get there (including how to book airfare to Bali), how to get around, where to find stuff and how to ask for it. These are tips from the local insider to make your stay here a breeze.
If there is one thing I despise in life it is thieving: whether it be on a pickpocket scale or a straight out rip-off at a bank or shop. Even worse than the aforementioned are those assholes who rip-off money at ATM machines using various scams. This issue has been brought to my notice by Kenneth Cole, owner of Chocky’s Place in Bingin north of Bali. Innocent people and those unaware of these scams are getting done big-time when using their ATM cards. It’s natural, I suppose, when you are on holiday and especially in Bali where we all trust the Balinese, that you wouldn’t even think of this kind of thing happening. But, IT IS and so BEWARE. Here are two warnings posted by Baliblog Forum members alerting the situation.
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Nearly every tourist at some time or another has returned home with a piece of woodcarving or similar handicraft to warmly remind them of their holiday in Bali and indeed, all manner of handicrafts abound on the streets in the tourist district and in the major shopping centres. When I was studying Cultural Anthropology at University I had this penchant for collecting tribal carvings from around the archipelago of Indonesia. Subsequently, my office gives the impression of a museum instead of a place of work! One of my favourite carvings are those carved by an ethnic group of New Guinea called the Asmat. You will see these carvings, big and small in shops around the tourist zone but if you care to venture down to Jalan Patih Melantik in Legian then you will find many small workshops selling these magnificent pieces.
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With tourism in Bali on the increase with no signs of it slowing down but getting better, it is only natural that other airlines other than the established ones tap into the market and offer their services. The latest to jump-on-the-bandwagon is AirAsia. This is good news for Bali-ites because it will mean competitive prices in the airline marketplace. The daily flights between Bali and Denpasar will start on the 17th July and if all goes well and the demand for seats is high, then an increase in flights looks …
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Indonesia is an amazing collection of islands for bird watchers, animal lovers and those who simply enjoy immersing themselves in the beauty of nature and, the island of Bali in the archipelago is no exception. There are literally thousands of species endemic to Indonesia and Bali is fortunate to possess some of these. This was first noticed by naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace the creator of the famous Wallace Line. It runs through the Malay Archipelago, between Borneo and Sulawesi and through the Lombok Strait between Bali (in the west) and Lombok (in the east). I am always in awe at what nature throws my way wherever I travel in Bali and it wasn’t so long ago I was blessed to see one of nature’s magnificent creatures. The only problem being I didn’t know what it was! Sure, I knew it was a Moth of some kind but I had never seen one quite like this. It was the size of a full handspan and delicately beautiful. Perplexed with the task of identifying it, upon return to my multitude of books I scanned through them but to no avail.
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If you have a sweet tooth, as I do, then the shop located inside the Centro Discovery Mall on Jalan Kartika Plaza in Tuban will be your major destination whenever you visit the area. But, BreadTalk is also a diabetic’s nightmare and I feel sorry for those who have this infliction because walking past makes one’s mouth drool. BreadTalk has been around what seems like forever and does a roaring trade, especially on the weekends. Candika never, and I mean never, leaves the mall without grabbing a tray, perusing the delicious …
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I knew it wouldn’t take long before the H1N1 virus hit Bali considering the number of tourists who visit the island from all parts of the globe. Candika has just returned from China where she said the streets were a blur of white face masks and, maybe the case will be the same in Bali. Somehow I don’t think, mainly because the Balinese Health Department is very proficient in dealing with matters of epidemics in the past with diseases such as SARS and the Avian Bird Flu. In Indonesia there are six confirmed cases and of those three were locals in Jakarta. One cannot bury their heads in the sand and say the virus will not spread in Indonesia or on the island of Bali. The best thing to do is protect yourself as best possible. If you wish to get a face mask they are available at most Australian chemists or ask your doctor. If you can obtain some Tamiflu from your GP, then do so. The incubation period for the H1N1 Virus is seven days and it’s hard to differentiate between the H1N1 virus and a normal dose of the flu.
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Well, it seems as though it has happened again and the fate of so many traveller’s holidays is in limbo, in fact, crushed. All those dreams and plans just gobbled up and spat out. I am talking about another budget carrier, Ozjet, seemingly in the hands of administrators with bankruptcy surfacing on the horizon. Note that this is a voluntary administration with hopes that the airline will rectify the situation and be back on track. Today I was reading in the Bali Discovery of the woes of Ozjet and I remembered all too well the times when Sempati Airlines curled up its toes and not too long ago with many people still bearing hatred, Air Paradise. This whole situation flared up last Tuesday when the Boeing 737-200 being operated by OzJet, failed to leave for Bali as scheduled. That must have been a horrific moment for those hoping for a delightful holiday on Bali being stranded and no holiday in sight. As most of you know, Ozjet is in partnership with Indonesian based Indojet.
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I don’t generally put up other people’s writing on the Baliblog (nor do I intend to make it a habit) but in the case of a Baliblog Forum member, Phil Bromley, who recently returned from Bali, so impressed was I with his account regarding his stay in Candi Dasa and the fabulous fotos that I wanted to share the article with you.
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With the ever growing popularity and development of the Centro Discovery Mall and recently places like Geneva in Seminyak the older shopping centres initially built during the boom-times in Bali are less frequented by tourists. But, don’t wipe them off as they too are re-developing. I have never been big on shopping much preferring to chill-out and immerse myself in cultural matters. However, recently Candika and I went to the Bali Galleria Mall located near Planet Hollywood on Simpang Siur. I had always found it a boring place to visit but was pleasantly surprised at the number of new shops and the numerous restorans offering a potpourri of foods from around the archipelago of Indonesia.
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At one time you could walk direct along the beach to the airport fence and watch the planes land and take off, but not now. The more the coastal strip of Tuban has developed the more barriers and inconveniences were constructed to spoil an enjoyable stroll. However, it is possible with a bit of effort. The whole concept of scrambling around and over groynes does tend to dampen the romanticism of a moonlight or sunset walk with your loved one. However, Candika and I did walk from Centro Discovery along the beach past all the flash 5 star hotels down to the airport. Sunset is, without a doubt, the nicest time and, especially when the tide is out. But, for anyone venturing out onto the exposed reefs then I strongly urge you to wear a pair of sneakers to avoid getting cut by coral or even worse, a stung by some weird alien sea species.
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