In Reply to: Sites and Illness posted by Carberry on Thursday, 30. September 1999 at 13:03 Bali Time:
PLACES TO SEE
There are lots of useful places to visit: in addition to Tanah Lot, Kintamani, Monkey Forest and the elephants at Taro (if you have the time to get there), there are other places that have been recommended on the forum, a summary follows:
Bali Bird Park
Bedugal - a beautiful temple in a serene mountain area
Besakih - a complex of 30 temples with a large shrine in the courtyard
Try the Lembongan island boat day trip - but not on a day when the swells are running high
The Legong Dance at the Royal palace in Ubud on Monday night
The Bali Museum in Denpasar but don't be disappointed if some of the displays a re a little run down
White Water Rafting - but not at the moment as it is the dry season. They were offering 50% off rafting when we were there - because there was very little water
Goa Gajah (The Elephant Cave)- with elephant carvings. Nearby there are Budhist monuments and statues and a royal bathing pavilion.
Hot Springs near Lake Batur
Mengwi Reptile and Crocodile Park (if you are into that sort of thing)
Royal Bathing Pools, Tirtagangga - Built by the local raja. Swimming pool and ornamental ponds set in a garden.
Uluwata - small temple perched on edge of towering cliffs
Waterbom Park - if you have kids they will love it. Water slides, lazy river ride etc.
FOOD TIPS
Avoid Arak Alcoholic Drink as it can give you a bad hang over and make you feel lousy. It sneaks up on you especially if mixed with fruit juice. Also think twice about ordering spirits as a lot of it is 'fake' spirits anyway. Do what we did - buy your alchohol duty free, take a hip flask, slip it in your handbag, order coke/juice etc and make your own!! Its a safe and cheap option.
Ensure that fruit juices are NOT mixed with ice. The ice may not be 100% and will make you sick. As a rule avoid ice all together.
Always use bottled water or boiled water. We used the jugs in our room to boil water. Only wash your teeth with boiled or bottled water.
Drink lots of juice or cans/bottles of fizzy drinks - you know they are generally safe.
Don't eat at the food stalls - not worth the risk even if they are cheap.
If you like beer drink lots of Bali Hai, Bintang or Anker Beer. Very yummy!
Buy lots of cans/bottles of drink - perferably the same type that are in your room's mini bar, and then just replace the cold ones you have just drunk with warm ones - and you have a good cheap system going that costs litte - especially if you buy the drinks from the local supermarket.
Avoid too much hot chilli if you are not used to it as it will give you an enormous tummy ache.
Take a pack of 'wet ones' to wash your hands in situations where you can't easily.
Avoid grapes at all costs as they are the most handled foods and WILL make you sick.
Don't eat Bali chocolate as it tastes terrible. They don't use fresh milk in its production (advice from the forum).
Hope these tips are of some assistance
Be careful of this drink as it sneaks up on you and can give you an awful headache.
It is the local alchohol.