Great timing for a trip to Bali

[trainspotter]

And ridiculously cheap flights at the moment I might add. $419 return Adult is sensational IMO. Too bad the villa prices have not come down a tad. $500 US a night is out of control for an older 3 bed villa in Seminyak.

 

[Tink]

Glad to hear your having a good time Prospector

Enjoy : )

 

[Kipp]

Security threats aside, I can't really see what Bali offers ahead of anywhere else in SE Asia. Been to Thailand & Malaysia, (soon viet & cambodia also) they are both beautiful with awesome people.

Bali is tourism on Steroids, but each unto their own.

 

[So_Cynical]

Yeh haggling is on of the fun things to do in Asia, however it can get a bit tedious when you just want something quickly.

In general haggling wont get u anywhere in the Philippines...it just pisses them off.

And ridiculously cheap flights at the moment I might add. $419 return Adult is sensational IMO.

Who , when and where? Garuda for about 620 was the best i could find.

 

[trainspotter]

Air Asia. Perth to Denpasar return $419. I am not sure but Air Asia doesn't fly to Bali from other capital cities YET. Melbourne and Brizvegas other departure points but to Malaysia only.

 

[So_Cynical]

Air Asia. Perth to Denpasar return $419. I am not sure but Air Asia doesn't fly to Bali from other capital cities YET. Melbourne and Brizvegas other departure points but to Malaysia only.

Yep Perth > Asia tends to be significantly cheaper than east coast > Asia.

Air Asia = Malaysia Airlines budget carrier

 

[Prospector]

Ah trainspotter. I used a few words of Bahasa and was given an answer that o just didn't understand and we both ended up in fits of laughter. I do bargain until I realize I am talking about a dollar or two. Yesterday some girls wanted this lovely leather coat at a tailor we go to for suits. He is fixed price. It was a beautiful coat and fitted her like a glove. He asked for 800,000 rupiah and she said 750,000 so all she was doing was asking for a reduction of $6 in a total price of $90 for a coat that would cost $400 in oz. Then she said 780,000! Um, that isn't the way to do it.

My son is far more merciless than me though. He is getting original price of 600,000 rupiah down to 50,000. The Korean people pay whatever they are quoted and they do not bargain.

The only thing I have bought is a silver bracelet. And plenty of bintangs. I think October might be risky. Andbaclpackers don't have the 'political significance' of western hotels or businesses so I reckon they are safe.

 

[trainspotter]

Bahasa is a funny language when you get the inflection wrong. The word can take on a whole new meaning if mispronounced. I was in a Made's Warung and asked for what I thougt was pastry (croissant and jam) and she bought out boiled eggs !!! I ate them anyhow and decided to point at the menu rather than try and pronounce it ! Pffffffffffffftttttttt !

$100 is normal price for a good leather jacket. Need to know as to what KIND of leather it is as well. Ramadam leather in Poppies Lane 2 will measure you and have it made within 48 hours. You choose the leather as well. Very good quality.

The other thing I like is that a lot of bartering is done with the eyes and hand gestures. Very switched on race of people when it comes to this. I remember buying 3 pairs of sunglasses, a watch and 5 t-shirts and not a word said. He even threw in 2 leather belts. The price was fair (I checked) and we shook hands and *winked*. That was it. No drama.

Place your hands in front of you like you are begging and say "Singa La Pis" which roughly translates to "Please, I have no money left, I am a beggar" usually cracks them up when negotiations have stalled.

 

[Bafana]

Tak boleh Mr Bule.

Orang di sama sama Trainspotter bisa selalu ada Selemat Datang di Indonesia lah.

Indonesia has one thing (well more of is a better a way of saying it) than other SE Asia countries have - Indonesians. Great people who mostly hate the fundamentalists and are probably more angered by the bombings last week than most Aussies in Australia.

Merdeka !?!?!

BTW Bali tourist dive, go and see the rest of the country (apart from Jakarta) for nearly bomb risk free vacation and your money goes a damn long way.

 

[trainspotter]

Tak boleh Mr Bule. Tak = not and boleh = may or might (assuming Indo backwards whereby the noun is first and the describing word second) This roughly translates to: Might not Mr Bule (I think)

Orang di sama sama Trainspotter bisa selalu ada Selemat Datang di Indonesia lah. Translates to: I am the same person as Trainspotter and would be welcome to be in Indonesia (According to me that is, could be way off the mark)

Merdeka means INDEPENDENT

Bafana "Saya sedikit Bahasa Indonesia, cukup untuk dapat hidup dan berbarter dengan tidak dirampok. Frase dasar saja"

Translation "I speak little indonesian, enough to get by and barter without getting robbed. Just the basic phrases" When asked by the Indos if I understand the language.

"Saya tidak mengerti" = I do not understand (my favourite) when the shop owner is jibbering on too fast for me to comprehend.

 

[awg]

My sister-in-law is of mixed Indonesian-European descent, was born there and speaks fluent Bahasa.

She looks Japanese (apparently), to the locals, as they make derogatory remarks regarding how much they will be able to overcharge her.

She travels with her husband and family, he is anglo and their kids are very fair skinned.

I'm not sure what prices she achieves.

Some very strange things can happen when you haggle.

When I was in India once, I befriended a guy that was about to move to Australia, so we knocked around for a bit together.

When the merchants, drivers, etc spotted me, they would try to charge approximately 10 times the local price. ( according to him)

On a few occasions, I was refused service, when my friend said he would only let them charge TWICE the local price.

He said they were just ignorant

 

[trainspotter]

I think it is because the foreigners do not understand the concept of bartering. Never had to do it before. Language barrier is a BIG transaction killer as well. I remember the first time I went in 1991 I befriended some Bali dude who had a bit of coin (jetskis and parasailing business PLUS family owned the bit of beach he operated from) and he gave me the order of nationality charging. Germans, Japs, Koreans etc got hit hard. Aussies and Brits etc got tickled a bit but not as much.

I noticed on last trip that Koreans are now all TOUR operated and the poor little darlings do not get to speak to the lowly sales trash in the street. Straight off a bus and into a Dept a store. Straight off the bus and onto the Bali Hai cruise. They also have 3 or 4 MINDERS watching over them so they don't break ranks.

 

[Savoy Special]

.The other thing I like is that a lot of bartering is done with the eyes and hand gestures. Very switched on race of people when it comes to this. I remember buying 3 pairs of sunglasses, a watch and 5 t-shirts and not a word said. He even threw in 2 leather belts. The price was fair (I checked) and we shook hands and *winked*. That was it. No drama.

Is that because you had Bin Tang breath and he had Garlic breath and the first nod was I won't talk if you won't either?

I have had the same situation ordering drinks at a noisy bar using body language.Is that the same do you think?

I have also let someone know I didn't like with a hand gesture too.They knew exactly what I ment also.

But note- never *wink* at the Balinese men unless you want lady boy.

 

[Bafana]

Tak boleh Mr Bule (Might not Mr Bule) ~ You maybe may not Mr Bule (long haird dictionary style) Double negative or no means yes

Orang di sama sama Trainspotter bisa selalu ada Selemat Datang di Indonesia lah. (I am the same person as Trainspotter and would be welcome to be in Indonesia) ~ People like Trainspotter are always welcome in Indonesia.

Merdeka (INDEPENDENT) ~ Freedom baby

"Saya sedikit Bahasa Indonesia, cukup untuk dapat hidup dan berbarter dengan tidak dirampok. Frase dasar saja" Sama Sama.

Mine is bastardised street Java mixed with madura slang. Never gonna win an award but not gonna get a parang in the forehead either.

"Saya tidak mengerti" ~ Tak mengerti is also high on my list as well as Satu bere lagi Sayang. Also handy is Abang and Pak, when dealing with bottomless pocketed officials combined with ~ Saya juga tak ada money lah. Kamu bisa kasih rokop satu aja?

 

[prawn_86]

I can remember being in Malaysia with some malay mates, they would go ahead and ask a price, then 5 min later we would walk up and ask the price for the same object too see how much markup they charged us 'whiteys'

 

[trainspotter]

Looks like we are on the same page and street level of language understanding. There are so many ways it can be said, none are wrong as long as most of the meaning is conveyed. Only the inflections in the voice and on what word can get you in a world of pain. Pastry is NOT eggs.

Calling officials Sir is always wise. Usually the "police" want cigarette money and not your passport. Count how many of them there are, they all smoke, give them what a packet of Marlboro would cost. ABout 15,000 rupiah last time I was there. $2 is not a lot to let you "drive on".

 

[Prospector]

Ah, back now and feeling the effects of only an hours sleep. The girl next to me was violently ill for most of the trip and the virginblue crew refused to move her to the front rows (premium economy) because someone there had paid the price. Finally, an hour before we land in Melbourne they decide to move her. Sigh, then we were held up because the Health Dept needed to interview her before we could get off. I was feeling sorry for her then my son tells me she was blind drunk when she got on and that was why she was ill.

Immigration in Melbourne is excellent, as opposed to Adelaide which is ridiculously jammed, as is Sydney.

We will return, we realised how much we love the place after a few years absence.

 

[Zaij]

Oh please, the safest time to go to Bali is like a week after bomb blasts (probably cheapest too). They always wait a few months before blowing **** up again.

 

[Prospector]

Oh please, the safest time to go to Bali is like a week after bomb blasts (probably cheapest too). They always wait a few months before blowing **** up again.

People who go the week after a bombing have already paid their money. It is the bookings six months ahead that will be cheaper. The Indo Govt expects tourist spending to fall $1Billion as a result of Jakarta.

 

[trainspotter]

I can remember being in Malaysia with some malay mates, they would go ahead and ask a price, then 5 min later we would walk up and ask the price for the same object too see how much markup they charged us 'whiteys'

LOL with prawn_86. Quite a common practice just about any country you go to when there is no set price and the merchants can barter for their goods with the round eyes. There was this particular girl in Singapore .... No wait .... I won't share this one with any of you !!!!!!