This is going to be a negative post so all those who love Bali please dont read any further because it will just wind you up.
Firstly when I say Bali I'm only talking about Kuta, Legian and Ubud so of course thats not Bali but it was my Bali on this trip.
We arrived in Bali at around 2pm the only plane on the ground at the time and the only planeload waiting to go thru immigration.
It took us nearly 3 hours to get through immigration it was totally ridiculous and it makes me mad when I think about it. Lazy immigration officials need a wakeup call but I guess if they speed it up like anywhere else in the world then no one will pay for vip and that will hit them in the pocket.
This was my fouth trip all previous trips have been very soon after each of the 2 bombings, I knew it was going to be busy because you all said so on this forum.
The reality of how busy it is hits you straight away, the place is just nuts.
Even Ubud was crazy with busload after busload of people coming and going,
Prices for food and transport have gone through the roof places were we could get a nice meal for 25000rph have gone up to 50-60000rp, I can buy a lovely Thai meal at home for the same price.
coke that used to be 3-5000 now up to 15000 twice as much as at home.
We paid NZ100 for a standard room at the Wina and the room was a dump as was the room next door that our travel companions were in. It was dirty with a very noisy airconditioning unit inside and a whole row of noisy airconditioning thingys along the back as well! the toilet was leaking all over the floor and the beds were so hard you might as well sleep on the floor.
I have loved Bali and my previous 3 trips have been fantastic but I couldn't wait to get home this time I dont think I will go back It's not what I'm looking for in a holiday any more.
Having said all that there are many people who will love the hustle and bustle and if you dont have NZ dollars to spend your money will go alot further, it's horses for courses really.
enuff already
frazz