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Published: April 20th 2013
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I thought I would update this whilst the trip is still fresh in my mind....
Most Australians we have met since being in Perth have suggested we go to Bali, since the flight prices are so cheap. So we decided spontaneously one evening to book flights for April, although we didn't actually book our accomodation until a few days before we left (something's never change!). Having heard all sorts of weird and wonderful stories about Bali, we weren't quite sure what to expect. Some people we have met loved it, others didn't but all recommended we must "experience Bali" before leaving Perth. After speaking to a friend, she was able to recommend which area we should stay in, as well as telling us the places to avoid staying.
After quite a traumatic landing into Bali airport (the runway is right on the sea...a bit too close for my liking!!!), we stepped out the airport to mayhem. It was very busy, lots of people coming and going, taxi drivers shouting prices at us telling us they give us "cheap cheap price", horns beeping, people asking us to buy things...something suggested this wasn't going to be
the relaxing week I was hoping for! After getting past all the people and the pushy taxi drivers, we managed to book our own taxi and get a taxi for 70,000 Rupiah which is around £3.50 for a 40minute drive, to our hotel in Seminyak.
The drive to the hotel was a very interesting experience in its self, the taxi driver tells us there is no rules on Bali roads...at this point I look at Paul and he just nervously smiles at me. We later find out, this is actually very true and we didnt just get a crazy taxi driver! In fact it is pretty easy for anyone to obtain a liscence in Bali. I am not quite sure how to describe the roads, other than complete chaos. They were so busy and congested with scooters and motorbikes, on some of these scooters were 3+ people. We even passed a family a father, mother, todler and a very small baby all crammed onto one scooter, we couldn't stop staring, the taxi driver just laughed at us. The taxi driver didn't seem to drive on any particular side of the road and speed had no restriction...this mental drive was
soon to be the norm for us over the week.
After surviving our journey, we arrived to our hotel safely and were greeted by friendly Balinese staff dressed in traditional Balinese outfits. We dumped our stuff in our room and headed to the beach. Although not the cleanest, the beach was nice the sun was starting to set so we ate at a restaurant and watched the sun go down. We couldn't believe the price, two meals, 2 beers and 2 cocktails for 150 rupiah (around £8.50)! The price of food and drink was so cheap, especially comparing to Perth prices. It was like living like a king and queen for the week!
In all the shops, there is no fixed price , you have to barter for EVERYTHING. I hadn't realised how much of a luxury going into a shop seeing the price and buying it for that set price was! Although Paul became quite good at bartering down for everything, to the point when we got in the taxi coming back at Perth airport he asked for the price roughly and was like "how much!?!", until I reminded him he could no longer get a
taxi driver to reduce the price down to one dollar.
Over the 7 days we were in Bali, we spent a lot of time at the beach. Paul and I (kind of) tried surfing for the first time, I attempted but was pretty rubbish. Paul would rent a board most days, it was so so cheap compared to Australia prices, so he took full advantage.
We looked into a few day trips we could do, all were pretty pricey ( By Bali standards, we soon became use to paying less than a fiver for everything!). However, we somehow managed to get talking to a taxi man who offered to be our driver for the day. This was fantastic value for money as he spoke very good English and was able to tell us all about Bali and take us places we otherwise wouldn't have seen. I had looked into elephant rides, again all were a bit pricey, however our driver took us to a place attached to Bali Zoo which did elephant rides. I'm so so glad we done this, it was a fantastic experience, a little scary going down hills and getting on and off the
elephant but an amazing experience nonetheless!
The taxi driver picked us up at 9am and took us towards Ubud, to see a massive volcano, the views were fantastic! We ate at a little restaurant at the top of the mountain, which looked over the volcano (our pictures don't do the views justice, it was a "wow" moment). We visited lots of little villages on the way to the volcano, each specialising in different things. One specialising in silver jewelery, another gold, another carpentry, another in painting, another in batik (i could go on and on!). It was amazing to see. Literally all the way through each village there would be people on sides of the roads working, displaying whatever it was there village specialised in. We couldnt believe how talented they were, all work is completed by hand, they use no machines. It was really interesting to see, I wanted to purchase everything! So many beautiful things at a fraction of the price we would pay back home.
Another interesting thing we had the opportunity to see was the fields were "kopi Luwak" is grown. This is the most expensive coffee in the world and is made from...cat
poo (honest, google it)! The taxi driver told us all about the the process and the benefits of it going through the wilds cats digestive system, he then asked if we would like to stop and try some...funnily enough we both passed on this opportunity. Nonetheless, was fascinating to here and see the fields where this is grown.
Once we got further away from where we were staying it really highlighted the level of poverty in Bali. There were very few houses, majority of people staying in homemade huts. Despite this we were amazed at how grateful and happy all the locals were. Our taxi driver told us you should pray only for health and not wealth (very true!). We saw alot of young children helping their fathers (working), the taxi driver explained a lot of children don't get the opportunity to go to school as there families simply can't afford to send them, even though nearly all the children are desperate to attend school to better their life's.
Balinese people are extremely passionate about religion. The main religions are Hindu and Buddah. Everywhere we went we would see "Banten" which are offerings to their gods. You literally
see these everywhere in Bali, every couple of meters you walk there is some. Apparently it doesn't quite matter what they offer, but its the process that is important, as they believe the offerings will go to the good spirits and will provide good health and prosperity. It's quite ironic that in some of these offerings are food and money, when Balinese people have so little themselves! Again It was fascinating to see.
We visited Tannah Lot, which is a temple on the ocean, this was very beautiful. Carved into the massive rocks and cliffs at the sea (again, all by hand!) you can only reach the main temple when the tide is out, luckily it was when we visited. We watched the sunset here and I tasted my first "young coconut"...yuk! My first and last!!
I think I could talk all day about Bali, it was such a fascinating place. We are both so glad we had the opportunity to visit and experience a little bit of their interesting culture.
Vicky & Paul
P.S. Whilst we were in Bali there was a plane crash, as the plane missed the runway and landed in the sea
(I knew I wasn't being dramatic!! Haha)
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Tracy
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Wowsers!!
I'm booking a flight!!! This looks like a great experience. What's going on with Paul's beard? haha! Also loving the taxi @&%* You will have to read a book I have about Kerobokan Jail in Bali, total eye opener!! So jealous of your trip. My dad has been and said it was ace. It's on my wish list (dream list). Take care both of you. xx