Meeting BootsnAll member in Seminyak Bali

G’Day Nick,

It won’t be long and Chris will be known as the ‘Bali Knievel’ and ripping up the asphalt!.

Interesting you should mention that word ‘groovy’. Didn’t the Beatnicks use that term in England in the ‘old days’ (He, he…!).

Ain’t it fun being 40 cos you are just starting to cross the ‘bridge of time’, but do not fear Nick, it’s ‘groovy’ on the bridge!.

Barrie,
thought I’d let you know… Visa seems to be on the improve. Things finally seem to be in our favour. Apparently they are working faster at getting applications finalised. Instead of 12-18 months minimum, it is to be finalised within 6-12 months! Also it seems more people are getting applications approved!
Hey, anymore news on the tax? I think it has died in the bottom!
Nick,
I like the word Groovy it is fine by me if you use it!
I would love to hear more about Barrie & Candika’s swimming pool fest of people!
If possible sneak a few shot’s so we can see these interesting person’s. Also I think we all need to see theses Korean ladies too, just so we can be part of your secret little perving club, not that I am into women, but I feel we are missing out on these “in” jokes & I bet you don’t want us to feel like we are missing out…. do you?
Barrie,
If you get the chance visit this cool place to hang out, if it is still around, they are great friends of mine, yet I have not seen them for a while but they had pretty good food at the time, although I think their prices were slightly more expensive back then compared to ones you have been reviewing, but they always had atmosphere. I guess prices may have come down now due to lack of tourists which would also be affecting atmosphere… Anyway it is called Billy’s Bar. It is on the first street left off Melasti coming from Jalan Pantai. Do you know the street which Hulu cafe’is on? Anyway it is that street & it is on the right a little way up from Melasti St.
I love your restaurant reviews as I enjoy trying somewhere different when I am there, but I enjoy most not having to do any dishes! There is another place called Beer Garden it is just before McDonalds on Legian coming from Peanuts night club end of Legian, it is upstairs above a DIESEL shop I think. Same side as Mc Donalds, a friends family owns it. My friend also does tattoo’s from there too, if you were thinking of getting one, he is very good!!! Ha Ha Ha, I might get some commission!!!!!
Only 5 weeks & 4 days to go….

Hi Tracey,

Great news on the visa eh. I am really happy for you mate!.

With regards to the visa situation on arrival in Bali, you are right about it dying a horrendous death. I think the Indo govt realised that foreigners will bring more revenue than a stupid tax. So when you arrive it is just the same as usual.

What’s this term ’secret little perving club’!. I prefer to put it more delicately and call it ISCR - International Sexual & Cultural Research!.
What I will do Tracey is write another report on the ongoing situation. It is absolutely hilarious and both Candika and I can’t avoid the whole scenario as our patio faces the pool!. As far as pics are concerned, Nick will have to take them (in the interest of cultural research of course!). My camera gave up the ghost on the roadtrip!.

Cheers Tracey for the ‘heads up’ on those restorans. I have taken a note of them and will be geting down that way very soon. I am working my way North along Jl Benesari at the moment.

There are heaps of ‘GROOVY’ restaurants along that street!.

Hi Nick - sent you an email, but thought i would post here also as others may benefit from your reply..

My wife and I are planning on coming to Bali for a couple of months sometime between Nov this year and Feb next year. We have managed to wangle some contract work that we can do pretty much anywhere - so where better than Bali?

Questions:

* How much are cell phone plans in Bali, and what length of term do you have to signup for? I have a “world phone” already - could I signup for a couple of months in Bali? Do they have pay-as-you-go plans or pay-ahead-of-time?

* Can you recommend somewhere good for us to stay for the 1st week, and then offer any advice on finding a 3-month house to live in? We are on a budget, but not super-tight.

* Scooters - can we rent them by the month?

* Is 3 months too long? I saw somewhere on here that you can only stay for 2-months at a time before having to leave the country for a day. If we arrive with a 3-month departure date on our ticket, are gonna run into trouble?

Looking forward to sinking a few Bintangs with ya when we get there..

Keep on blogging,

D.

Chris beat me in a swimming contest today in the king’s pool in Tirtaganga. He’s said don’t worry as it has an age advantage…that actually makes it worse.

I think groovey is so ‘out’ its ‘in’.

Duncan, thanks for posting here. Will have to check up on cell phione plans. I bought a cell phone for US$100 and use pre paid ‘pulsa’ bought from the Bintang supermarket. They go in 112,000rp chunks.

Barrie is staying at hotel Prawita on lower Jalan Legian. Rooms are decent, there’s a restaurant, pool and the staff are nice. His double room goes for 150,000rp per day. I looked at another mid range place in the Kuta area called Kuta Beach Club which has some nice bungalows and 2 good swimming pools. Don’t know their daily rate but I’d stay there for sure, its very handy for the restaurants, shopping, nightlife and 2 minutes from the beach.

Finding a 3 month place you should check out the Bali Advertiser, a free locl paper for expats. Alos check the message boards at Krakatoa Cafe on Jalan Legian, Global Xtreme on Jalan Raya Kerobokan, Bali Lnd and Houses on Jalan Raya Kerobokan. Often people have places for short term lease.

I found that by talking to locals about renting houses produces many leads as far as people showing up and offering to take you for free on their motorbike to view places. You’ll have no shortage of these if you put the word out.

Yuo can rent a motorbike / scooter by the month. I pay 450,000rp but found anew guy who will rent me one for 400,000rp.

Right now you will get a free 60 day visa. To renue this you have to leave the country for a day. However, there are people who work for immigration at the airport who will stamp you for another 2 months for money. One guy told me he had a regular thing with a guy where they’d meet in a restaurant on the guy’s day off and he’d bring his stamp with him!

I don’t know anyone in immigration personally, but this does go on. You will have trouble extending a 60 day tourist visa here going through regular channels.

I’ll stock my fridge with cold Bintangs for your visit.

Hi all, just got my phone bill that covers my time in Bali. Automatic roaming type. Calling Balinese mobile phones cost around $1.00(Aust) per minute. SMS only 20 cents each BUT calls to Australia around $8.00 per minute!!! Keep it short.

Hi all, just got my phone bill that covers my time in Bali. Automatic roaming type. Calling Balinese mobile phones cost around $1.00(Aust) per minute. SMS only 20 cents each BUT calls to Australia around $8.00 per minute!!! Keep it short. I could not SMS locals (other than reply) as I did not know how to put a + in front of the number. For any other slow learners out there you hold down the 0 key until a + comes up.