Cross Bali in a day
17th 18th June
I decided to spend the day in Padang bai,
Walked to a few nice little beaches through the woods.
Helped a warung (food stall / restaurant) owner carry their supplies down the hill.
The waves are quite srong, there are Basalt cliffs and the sea traps the air which explodes out of the caves with great sprays.
Only managed two seafood meals.
Cross Bali in a day
So back to the bemos, (little busses).
It's virtually imposible to use public transport in Bali without paying over the odds.
I don't like double pricing.
Having expensive "tourist" restaurants or busses or hotels is fine.
Barganing for crafts fine, but straight forward "you're white so pay more" I don't like.
Careless travelers who say "ahh its only a few euro" just make it more difficult for whoever comes after them,
cos if there's a buck to be made there'll be a dozen people trying to make it and the whole thing just gets out of controll.
So Bemo 1 to junction 3 (prices in 1000 rupia)
Bemo 2 to Dempasar (the big city), tried to tripple the price locals pay an in the end went off with double without giving change.
This bus crawled and got a pucture.
Bemo 3 to change terminals, spent ages finding the price, arguing over 1000 rupia,
finding where they actually went from and waiting for another customer before leaving (payed 5)
Bemo 4 to port for Java, got a congratualary thumbs up from fellow passangers and driver when I handed the conductor exact change (20).
this involved a bus change to a smaller bus.
Ferry 1
The half and hour over to Java was a nice chance to relax, no rip off frequent and short, At this stage had been 8 am to 5:30pm with knees tucked under chin and head pressed against roof of vehical trying to get the price for the next link.
So back of bike to the bus terminal (3) then an entrance fee (2), you don't refuse small amounts from polite uniformed police.
Then the scamming took on a new dimension with a guy showing me to the bus but looking to sell me the ticket for double the price.
This even involved lots of shouting and saying he'll through me off the bus for the first few minuites of the journey.
His antics seem to be tolerated if not aided by the oficial authoritories and everone else, they will tell you the reall price if you ask, you just have to recognise that he's a scammer and keep your cool and head down.
I got as far as Sitobondo, I befriended one of my fellow passangers who showed me where to get good fish, I got a fancy hotel, which means tv and air con not shower or plumbed toilet, its the mandi system here (scoop the water from a big trough).
Watched the Croatia match which although it was a scorless draw in the match was by far the best part of my day.
I decided to spend the day in Padang bai,
Walked to a few nice little beaches through the woods.
Helped a warung (food stall / restaurant) owner carry their supplies down the hill.
The waves are quite srong, there are Basalt cliffs and the sea traps the air which explodes out of the caves with great sprays.
Only managed two seafood meals.
Cross Bali in a day
So back to the bemos, (little busses).
It's virtually imposible to use public transport in Bali without paying over the odds.
I don't like double pricing.
Having expensive "tourist" restaurants or busses or hotels is fine.
Barganing for crafts fine, but straight forward "you're white so pay more" I don't like.
Careless travelers who say "ahh its only a few euro" just make it more difficult for whoever comes after them,
cos if there's a buck to be made there'll be a dozen people trying to make it and the whole thing just gets out of controll.
So Bemo 1 to junction 3 (prices in 1000 rupia)
Bemo 2 to Dempasar (the big city), tried to tripple the price locals pay an in the end went off with double without giving change.
This bus crawled and got a pucture.
Bemo 3 to change terminals, spent ages finding the price, arguing over 1000 rupia,
finding where they actually went from and waiting for another customer before leaving (payed 5)
Bemo 4 to port for Java, got a congratualary thumbs up from fellow passangers and driver when I handed the conductor exact change (20).
this involved a bus change to a smaller bus.
Ferry 1
The half and hour over to Java was a nice chance to relax, no rip off frequent and short, At this stage had been 8 am to 5:30pm with knees tucked under chin and head pressed against roof of vehical trying to get the price for the next link.
So back of bike to the bus terminal (3) then an entrance fee (2), you don't refuse small amounts from polite uniformed police.
Then the scamming took on a new dimension with a guy showing me to the bus but looking to sell me the ticket for double the price.
This even involved lots of shouting and saying he'll through me off the bus for the first few minuites of the journey.
His antics seem to be tolerated if not aided by the oficial authoritories and everone else, they will tell you the reall price if you ask, you just have to recognise that he's a scammer and keep your cool and head down.
I got as far as Sitobondo, I befriended one of my fellow passangers who showed me where to get good fish, I got a fancy hotel, which means tv and air con not shower or plumbed toilet, its the mandi system here (scoop the water from a big trough).
Watched the Croatia match which although it was a scorless draw in the match was by far the best part of my day.
posted by conor at 2:56 AM
1 Comments:
Oh man, believe me, you'll miss those days with all the rip offs and scammings once you are back home! Its just part of the adventure.
Do you know what I regret for not doing enough while travelling? Taking pics of sunrise. I have a few fotos I took in Oz after a crazily long party and by far those are the nicest pictures I have got. If you can bear the thought of getting up or better, staying up...
Keep up your blog Conor, I love it!!!
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