Laurel
Age: 36
From San Jose, California
Occupation : Teacher
Status: Single
Recent history: Living in Hood River Oregon, moved to Paris Sept 2002, teaching English and started this current trip March 8th 2004
First stop on this was Auckland NZ, Australia, Bali. Has been in Bali 12 days. Will be in Bali for a total of 18 days.
After leaving Bali Laurel will travel to Singapore, Thailand ( including possible stops in Laos and Cambodia), Hong Kong, Korea, Japan.
Laurel returns to the US on July 31st.
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Nick: Laurel what inspired you to take this trip?
Laurel: Many of my friends have traveled in Asia and told me about it, I was curious.
Nick: What were you expecting?
Laurel: Cultural differences, the language barrier. I was expecting to get sick, either malaria or some stomach thing, but I haven’t yet. I was expecting to see less westerners although that hasn’t been the case so far.
Nick: How long did the visa processing take at the airport?
Laurel: Maybe half an hour.
Nick: When you arrived at the airport did the arrival ($25) fee upset you .
Laurel: No. It didn’t bother me at all, I felt that was a fair amount for a visa.
Nick: Did the fact that you only got 30 days upset you or force you to change your plans at all.
Laurel: No, because I was only planning on being here for 2 weeks.
Nick: How easy was it to find a place to stay and to get there?
Laurel: It was easy. I went to a hotel stand at the airport. The lady suggested Kuta and I looked at my Lp guide book and stayed at the first listing. I told the taxi driver to take me there. I really like the airport taxi set up where you pay in advance from a list of fares. I felt as though I wasn’t getting scammed as much.
Nick: What was your first impression of Bali?
Laurel: People were trying to scam me at the airport, I didn’t know where to go or anything. I also thought it was really dirty with garbage everywhere.
Nick: How was the first place you stayed?
Laurel: My room cost 30,000rp and it was fine, people were really really nice and the food was cheap. I felt safe there. It wasn’t luxurious. I think one of the biggest adjustments is the fact that there is no toilet paper.
Nick: Did you feel this was a fair price?
Laurel: Yeah definitely.
Nick: What advice would you give to someone arriving fresh in Bali?
Laurel: Don’t stay in Denpasar. Coming to Kuta first is a good idea even though it’s a party place. It’s a good place to come to go to another location.
Nick: What are the highlights of Kuta for you?
Laurel: I think that there are a lot of great restaurants. If you come here to shop there is a lot of merchandise. I think the memorial site is an important place to visit. The beach too.
Nick: What were some of the negative aspects to Kuta?
Laurel: The vendors, they harass you, I felt like I was getting harassed. You can’t just sit there because you are constantly being bombarded with people tying to sell things. They all have a sob story and use manipulative ways of getting you to buy things.
As a single woman its challenging.
The travel books all say a single women should say she’s with a man, husband or boyfriend and that’s what I’ve been doing.
Nick: How has the food in Bali been?
Laurel: So good. Some of the best food I’ve had traveling for really reasonable prices.
Nick: Was the food hard to get used to?
Laurel: I would say no. There’s plenty of western food here that tastes almost the same as it does in western places, but for a lot cheaper. I would suggest people try to eat Indonesian food, after all you’re in Indonesia, it’s the cheaper stuff too. It can be really hot though.
Nick: Was it difficult getting around?
Laurel: No I think taxi cabs are readily available and are cheap. You have to ask a local how much it costs to go somewhere in a cab, that’s what I’ve been doing.
Also books like Lp that have a map are useful to bring. You can easily rent a moped or a car too.
Nick: Was it easy to plan and arrange travel around Bali?
Laurel: Yeah, I mean you can go to a lot of travel agencies. The people were very helpful at the one I went to.
Nick: Where do you plan to go in the next few days?
Laurel: East Bali and Ubud.
Nick: While you are in Bali, do you plan to take any diving, painting, spa or other activities.
Laurel: Maybe yeah, I thought about a spa. My friend from Korea who is coming today is into cooking so maybe we’ll do a cooking class.
Nick: Why did you choose to go to the Gili Islands?
Laurel: I had spoken with another traveler who told me she had gone and that it was really nice place to go.
Nick: What were you hoping for when you went to the Gili Islands?
Laurel: Snorkeling, relaxation, white sand beaches, good food.
Nick: How was it?
Laurel: There was great snorkeling on Gili Trawangan and I saw sea turtles which I was thrilled with. There were white sandy beaches with clear warm water. The food was good.
Nick: Which one of the islands did you like the most?
Laurel: I only went to Gili Trawangan & Gili Meno. Meno is very very quiet, there is no nightlife at all. Its more of an island for couples or families. It’s very quiet and romantic. Being a single women I got harassed there, I don’t think they see many single women The people who lives there never leave, its their whole world that little tiny island.
Trawangan was fun. It’s definitely a party island. Lots of nightlife, the bars stay open all night and there are drugs if you want them. There are places with big screen tv’s playing movies with western food and cheap accommodation. I stayed for 20,000rp one night.
Nick: How was the accommodation?
Laurel: It was fine, not in any way luxurious. You get what you pay for. I had a bed, a net, a fan, a western toilet and a shower. The shower only worked if I squatted on the floor and it was sea water.
Nick: How were the other tourists?
Laurel: I would say most of the people are young 18-28. I was the only American. Most of them were British, Swedish and German. Some people come to learn to dive as there are diving schools. The people taking the dive classes tend to be older but most people come to party.
Nick: Was there any negative reaction to you being American?
Laurel: No. Some of the other westerners aren’t really wild about Americans at the moment. The guy working at the place I stayed on Gili said I was the first American in 2 months to stay there. Most people say ‘wow California’ etc. but that’s about it.
Nick: Would you recommend the Gili’s?
Laurel: Mmmm, yes depending on what you’re looking for. If you want to go to a tropical island and party Trawangan is good. If you want to go to an island to snorkel and relax maybe Gili Meno and Air are better.
Nick: How did you get to the Gili’s?
Laurel: I flew from Denpasar to Lombok and then took a boat from Senggigi to Trawangan whick took an hour. It was a very small boat chartered by Perama(bus company). I arranged whole thing through Bali Java tours in Kuta. Costs were 450,000rp for the plane ticket, the transport from the airport and the boat was 70,000rp one way.
Nick: How long did it take you to get from Kuta to the Gili’s?
Laurel: About 4.5 hours.
Nick: Has communication been difficult?
Laurel: Not really. Most of them speak enough English to get by. Most of the places I’ve been there are plenty of westerners so people speak English.
Nick: How do you find the locals?
Laurel: Most of them are very very nice, always smiling, the vendors can be pushy but they’re usually okay. I think the people are beautiful. The men and women are lovely.
Nick: How long would you recommend some one stay in the Kuta area?
Laurel: I think it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re coming to surf and party you should stay in Kuta. If you’re looking for the ‘real Bali’ you should get out of Kuta. From what I hear there’s so much to see, temples, volcanoes etc.
Nick: What could the Indonesian government do to help tourism to Bali?
Laurel: For me personally I think they could take care of the garbage problem. Obviously people throw their garbage in the street. When I swam on Kuta beach there were wrappers and plastic in the water, it made me not want to swim.
On Gili Meno there’s maybe 100 people that live there but I saw garbage everywhere and that really bothers me. You have this beautiful island and they spoil it. If they just started getting rid of the garbage it would make a huge difference.
Nick: From what you have seen and experienced so far, would you consider returning?
Laurel: Yes.
Nick: Would you ever consider living here?
Laurel: I don’t know. I don’t think I could live here. I think I’d be really sad to watch the continual destruction of this place through garbage and corruption.
Nick: Considering Indonesia has 1,000’s of tropical islands, what makes Bali unique for you?
Laurel: The diversity from what I know, you can be in remote areas with rice fields and nature and also be in Kuta which has the nightlife or be on a remote beach.
Nick: I have a friend who loves to go off road and explore the hidden beaches and small villages that most people never see.
Laurel: I’d love to go off and explore the really remote parts of the island but I feel like I’d be putting myself in some danger. It’s just starting to hit me that being a solo woman traveler really limits what I can do.
Nick: What will you be doing back in the US?
Laurel: I will probably be teaching back in the US.
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Mark, that was some comment!
I think Laurel was expressing her views, and she is certainly entitled to them. She made both positive and negative statements. I did not sense she was picking on Bali - just that certain aspects of the culture didn’t quite agree with her. Another person might have a totally different perspective. Isn’t that the beauty and neverending fascination about travelling?
The fact that she is female, a certain age, alone … impacts her views. And so it is with most everyone.
Mary/
Yes fair comment Mary. Your quite right about her being female and alone….i can see your point there…as you say Mary everyone to themselves….that travelling. I know though how a lot of people could be influenced by those negative points in not going to Bali which is not what Bali needs. You only need to look at the job Nick is doing to promote Bali and show it for all its worth, good and bad….although more good unless i am missing something. I just get the opinion though that Laurel wont be going back to Bali which is a shame because as she stated it makes her ’sad’ so its fairly obvious that if a place makes someone sad they aint going back are they?
Interesting nevertheless though to hear people comments and how they judge a place.
Regs Mark
I ahve travelled to Bali mostly on my own in my very early 20’s.
I would have to say I felt safer there walking home from a bar at some early hour of the morning down a lane way than walking to my letter box in Melbourne at midnight!
So I personally don’t agree with the safety of a woman alone in Bali or having to say you are with someone, but Mary, I agree each person see’s things differently or feels safer, or less safe… So just my opinion, that I never felt unsafe EVER in Bali!
As for the rubbish, I can only say that things are being done & yes it’s not ideal, but there are people that have a job because of the rubbish & the only cleaner place in the world I have seen all year round is Singapore! Which to me is too sterile(?)
We have rubbish problems in Australia at times too.
Anyways for anyone considering going read ALL of Nick’s posts from day one & you will see that Bali is worth going too!!!!
To those who say they don’t like the street vendors, I say, “What would YOU do if you lived in a place with no social security, you didn’t have an adequate job and you had to put food on the family table.
Of course some of them are a bit too pushy, but so are a whole range of commission salespeople in Australia and elsewhere.
If it’s your first time there, the first Balinese staff member you meet in your hotel will teach you how to say, “Good morning, how are you” and “No thank you” in Indonesian. It’s easy, it’s polite and it works, [eventually!]
For those who say, “You can’t trust the Javanese”, I have this little story. One time we were in a little one person jewellery store in Kuta, looking for a particular item. The owner told us he was from Java. By the time we had found what we wanted, the counter top was full of assorted items.
We did a bit of friendly but strong bargaining before agreeing on a price. When I offered the money, the owner realised he needed change and asked us to watch his shop for him whilst he went and got some.
He didn’t even know us. How’s that for trust? does anyone think HE would be untrustworthy?
Hi Rex,
Of course he would be trustworthy. Hey, I am married to a Javanese!. A majority of Javanese people you can trust, but, like in any part of society anywhere in the world, there is always that certain ‘bad’ element.
Rex,
I am a Javanese, married to a Californian. I think my parents raised us with integrity and honesty. So, I agree with Barrie, there’s always ‘bad elemen’ everywhere, doesn’t matter what your skin color is.
I love Bali, I love Balinese, though my ancestors are Royal family in Yogyakarta, Central Java (if you ever heard of its).
I hate trash, too. I understand what Laurel meant with ’sad’, because that’s what I feel too. But, is that going to stop me from loving Bali? Absolutely not! I always excited thinking about Bali. I traveled to US islands, but they’re different. They’re not Bali.
Being single woman in Bali, I surely know how it felt. I was too. Maybe Laurel & I are just the same kinda people that love being with a company.
Wish I can fly out now and next time I open my eyes I’ll be in quite beach of Oberoi.
Hi Dyah,
My wife is Yogyanese! She has a family business on jl Jend.A. Yani as well as the business in Jl Prawirotaman.
I am sure Candika would love to meet you when we comes to Bali soon.
Hope you enjoy your trip Laurel. I have travelled alone in Bali most trips and like Tracey, I feel safer there than I do in my home town Brisbane. No problems what so ever. I’d move there in a second if I could! I think people are very curious of any travellers in Bali and ask many questions to find out about our own culture, trying to conjure images in their own minds as they may never see it with their own eyes. So if they come across as harrassing you, take it on the chin and ask them just as many questions! You never no what you can learn. (Though this does seem easier in theory)!!
Hope you enjoy your trip Laurel. I have travelled alone in Bali most trips and like Tracey, I feel safer there than I do in my home town Brisbane. No problems what so ever. I’d move there in a second if I could! I think people are very curious of any travellers in Bali and ask many questions to find out about our own culture, trying to conjure images in their own minds as they may never see it with their own eyes. So if they come across as harrassing you, take it on the chin and ask them just as many questions! You never no what you can learn. (Though this does seem easier in theory)!!
Sorry, entering it twice wasn’t meant to happen 
!!
Wow Nick Record number of comments or what!! So good to see that people can voice their views in an independent environment. Only 65 sleeps. Nick I’ll be looking you up so beware!!!
Hi Di,
I reckon the ‘April 30th’ posting now holds the recod number of entries at 30 posts.
Barrie,
It’s only because he hasn’t put up anything new for 2 days and we’re BORED!!
Nick/
Interesting interview with Laurel
(hope her surname isnt Hardy….bad i know folks).
I cant say i agree with her comments. It always frustrates me when peolple keep refering to vendors as being a big problem as if it is only unique to Bali. Now i have travelled to a few countries where it is not just Vendors that will aproach you and give you the usual patter….Good day my friend…your name …. where you from….££££signs when you say UK or AMerica…Then the usual my family are very hungry etc. Now some, if not most of these stories (especially in Africa)
ar true, even though we do get pissed off when we are trying to have a quiet beer overlooking the ocean thinking how wonderful life is at some little bar.
The point i am trying to make folks (especially you seasoned travellers (not tourists) is this is always going to happen although the way it is conducted differs in relation to the circumstances the peolple find
themselves in and basically this is all part of the experience and if you learn to always try to keep calm and smile i have found that you can use it to you advantage and make some bloody good friends. Yes there will always be a few who are hellbent on reliving you of your cash (conmen or women) but from experience i have learnt to sus these tossers out. But gees folks just imagine nobody came up to you to explain their plight ……bloody boring and no chance of having some of the best times of your life just through these intros….but everyone to their own although there is one simple way to avoid this and that is for those narrow minded people who just wnat pampered and are not interested in anybody else…….and that is folks the FORTRESS ALL INCLUSIVE. This is ok if you dont want to know anything about the country you visit other than to know that it rains a lot or is hot and
the happy hours are 3-4 and 7-8….also you get your handcuffs, sorry i mean wristbands to show the prison guards, sorry again i mean the hotel security you are an inmate. Yes part of the Bali expereience from what i have heard and read is the Peolple folks.
I also have to disagree with comment from Laurel about Bali being destroted by polllution and corruption. Yes the people need to realise they cant just chuck thing in the river as this pollutes the sea and the beaches which are the jewels of Bali. For every person that throws trash into the river ad streams etc there are is also someone who is willing to walk the beach picking up rubbish and doing their bit to cleanse it. There are projects underway to pick up the litter (school kids work in groups doing there bit) The local surf papers highlight the problems of fly tipping and are trying to do their bit to make the Balinese aware of the damage it causes…..so all in all yes there are problems with pollution caused by this but nothing that cant be sorted with a bit of effort from everyone. Corruption…yes there will always be corruption as long as the Earth continues to spin round orbit….but hey come on just because the Imiigration officers take the odd bung(to people advantage mostly) and the police and politions are not all honest (where the hell on Earth are they folks)
how can Laurel think Bali is destroying itself. Unfortunately as more people discoverd Bali and there is that old forbidden fruit that Adam of Adam and Eve fame was tempted to eat….yes folks i mean ‘money’, there will always be corruption to some degree i am afraid. Although the people of Bali from what i have heard and by people i mean the people being the majority are a lot more honest and content with what they have got than a lot of us Westerners who have lost the ability to smile. I just had to have a look round on the way into work this morning on the Tube…..not many smiling faces really, in fact a bunch of miserable ********.
Smiling as ever…honest folks.
Mark