In Reply to: Is Bali for me?? posted by gnik on Thursday, 12. March 2009 at 19:22 Bali Time:
First time to Bali (20 yrs ago) - first 3 days, I HATED it! The poverty and touting were too much of a culture shock for me. THEN I relaxed and fell in love with the place. Having travelled SEA you should not have a problem.
You WILL love the culture and landscape and appreciate all those other positives you mentioned.
Avoid Kuta and you avoid the yobbos. And yes I think Nusa Dua would be too sterile for you.
Sanur, Tuban, Legian and Ubud has still plenty to offer.
As for being seen as a mark - highly likely. Treat it as a game not a contest and it becomes so much more bearable.
People I know who hate Bali are clean freaks who don't SEE the culture. Even for this type of traveller, I'm sure a 5* resort in Nusa Dua would have suited them.