1 to 6 January 2013 – Bali (Indonesia)

Cheating is the occupation of the majority of money changers in Bali. The official exchange rate for the US$1 is IDR9700 (Indonesian rupees). There are official money changers on the street such as Western Union and others who have a proper office and who have an exchange rate of IDR9600. Then there are the other ‘official’ money changers who have signs indicating that they will give IDR10,400. They normally have a tatty counter or booth in the back of a small shop or down an alley. These other ‘official’ money changers are the ones to keep away from as their sole intention is to cheat anyone who changes a reasonable amount of money with them. The first trick is for them to say they only have IDR20,000 notes and this is when it is time to run away as quickly as possible as it will be the first indication that they will cheat on the exchange. Anyone offering over the bank rate will not say that there will be commission to be paid, varying from 8-15%, until the the rate drops below that of the proper official money changer. The others offering a very good rate will actually put the correct amount of money out on the counter to start then continually pick it up pretending to count it while the slight of hand makes some of it disappear. The best way I found to prove if they were honest was to pick up IDR1,000,000 put it in my pocket and hand over $100 then start counting out another IDR1,000,00. The money changer will ask for his money back as he knows that he as been found out. Never hand over any money before getting the right amount in the hand. I had the tricks tried on me continually one day and was fed up with it in the end. I waited whilst one money changer finished praying then tried to cheat me so I told him that I did not think that any god he was praying to expected him to finish his prayers and then cheat the tourist, that he should be ashamed. I doubt that it did any good, but he was speechless!

I landed in Bali at 21.00 hours on 31 December with the flight staff announcing that it was midnight in Sydney, the place of departure, and wishing everyone a Happy New Year. It would have been easier and quicker to walk into the town than take a taxi as the police had most of the roads closed to traffic with people being everywhere. I did eventually get to my hotel then went for a walk into the centre of Kuta to where the memorial to those killed in a bomb attack ten years ago may be seen. Most of the people on the streets were Indonesian and though it was noisy and fireworks were going off there was no countdown to midnight like in other countries, it was rather dismal really.

The New Year on the street

I'm not sure what this was meant to be

New Years Day morning saw a crowded local beach, crowded mainly by Indonesians and all seemingly enjoying themselves. This was the last bit of sun to be seen for two days as from then it rained almost continually, the rainy season coming in with a vengeance and somewhat late.
 

Kuta Beach New Years Day

For various reasons, one being the price of the room, I stayed in two hotels in five days as the room rates were dropping dramatically with the Australians and Indonesians going home after their Christmas holidays. The rooms were about £10 per night, one hotel included breakfast for that price.

The entrance to my room

My room

The room next door

The hotel pool

It is said that most homes have a temple attached to them but although I could see a lot of temples in the town I do not think that the saying is correct unless the size of the ‘temple’ varies from a small shrine to a proper temple. I do like the temple carvings and the weird faces of the Hindi gods.

Temple Entrance

Temple carving

Temple roof carving

Temple door

Temple carving

Temple carving

I am old enough and ugly enough to have known better than to ask someone here in Bali how long it would take to walk from the hotel to the airport. I was told 20 minutes with the map showing a straight road and a right turn at a T-junction. 90 minutes later I arrived at the airport to book a flight to the islands to see the Komodo dragons. I then walked back to the hotel and lost my way so four hours later...........! (I was later asked why I did not take a taxi. My reply was that there was no fun in that!)

The following were seen whilst walking round the back streets of Bali.

The Roman Catholic Church

Outside the old railway station, now a cafe.

It's what it says

From Bali I flew to Labuan Bajo, the airport for Flores, where I intended to find a small boat the would take me out to Rinca and Komodo Islands so that I could see the Komodo Dragons.