SamD
My daughters birthday tomorrow and my wife has a day off so I thought I might book a room in Southport for one night and take the girls to Seaworld. If I want anything half decent, I'll have to pay at least $500, just for the room. $500 for a very ordinary room with a couple of beds and no amenities.
Last year we booked a last minute deal in Sanur for New Year in a very nice hotel: bar/restaurant, lovely large room, three swimming pools, close to everything. $120.
If you multiply that into a week's stay, even with airfares accounted for, Bali is a much cheaper destination than my local backyard.
But you all knew that anyway, you lucky b*stards.
Markit
It's always nice to hear it again and again and again and...
What creases me is the Ozzies that roll out of Potatohead/Nomad/etc shouting how fecking cheap it all is here in Bali.
Mate that lives here too took some visitors out for a "normal" meal - they picked the place - for dim sum and ended up with a bill over 2 mil and a chocked expression. His mates thought nothing of it but for matey it was a weeks worth of Binnies and ladies.
SamD
Your mate must have lower standards than me if 2million will satisfy his need for companionship of the contradictory gender for a week, including internal lubrication...... errr, you know what I mean. Does he have some special deal going?
BestofBali
Bang for your buck is certainly a selling point. Depending on flights it can be cheaper to fly to Bali from Syd or Melb then it is to fly to the Gold Coast for a summer holiday. Dont forget you can enjoy a coldy on beach nearly anywhere here, unlike Aus :(
sakumabali
What are you guys talking about anyway? To fly or not to fly THAT is the question
Normy
I get tired of rellies telling me Bali is 'cheap as chips'. Three of them will pile into a taxi and then after arrival split the fare. I can use up to 4 taxis daily and no one to split with.
Some years ago drinking in Kuta with expats for some reason we were paying for our drinks 1 at a time, not running a bar tab. I got into trouble for tipping, making it difficult for them as bar staff would expect same from them. I soon learned the ropes.
DenpasarHouse
Normy wroteI get tired of rellies telling me Bali is 'cheap as chips'. Three of them will pile into a taxi and then after arrival split the fare. I can use up to 4 taxis daily and no one to split with.
Some years ago drinking in Kuta with expats for some reason we were paying for our drinks 1 at a time, not running a bar tab. I got into trouble for tipping, making it difficult for them as bar staff would expect same from them. I soon learned the ropes.
Yeah, I get what you mean, but what would those 4 Taxis cost you in Perth?
calma
I was shock yesterday to pay 13.000 rp for one piece of sayur hijau at the supermarket! I think I remember to pay around 4.000 rp although somebody told me there is something happening in Bedugul.
Almost 2 euros for brown bread? 2 euros for one kg potatoes? uhhhhhh prices are getting really close to Europe!! how local people can manage with their salaries still almost the same all these years?
spicyayam
There were big floods in Bedugul just before Christmas. Lots of landslides. The rain was heavy, but there is also a lot more construction going on there these days which I am sure has some effect also.
Regarding prices in Australia, I did see an article saying Australian pensioners were amongst the poorest in the world. Couldn't find the article again though.
Markit
Your prices in Ubud are silly high anyway Begonia. At the local market here in Amlapura I pay a lot less for veg and fruit.
Potatoes are now 13k, fresh brown bread from Hardys 28k but I usually bake my own with machine, Sayur Hijau is 8k but most of these go up and down a lot. Tomatoes go from 12k down to 4k/kilo.
Generally prices here in the east are still affordable for locals because they don't eat like we do (or as much).
mugwump
Frankly my experience has been that prices are higher for items that locals don't normally consume. If it isn't in their diet its going to be expensive. We all have different preferences while living here and various fruits and vegetables that conform to my tastes may not be palatable to others, but if found in the local pasar and the rats bother you at least compare the prices with the super market. Growing my own papayas, chilis,basil, lemon grass etc. helps the budget.
Markit
mugwump wroteGrowing my own papayas, chilis,basil, lemon grass etc. helps the budget.
Anybody have any luck growing cilantro (coriander plants) and parsley? How? Mine get about 10 days high then fall over dead...
mugwump
Markit wroteAnybody have any luck growing cilantro (coriander plants) and parsley? How? Mine get about 10 days high then fall over dead...
Hate to think how many times I have tried growing coriander from plants and seed along with similar experience with arugula and always fail. My soil has a lot of clay, but even when amended with lots of compost still yields nothing. Btw that so-called co-op near a certain cultural centre has not provided sustainable seedlings after numerous purchases. Although it could be the fruit of my brown thumb.
