JIMBARAM seafood SCAM

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Posted by bukithead on Tuesday, 31. August 2004 at 16:11 Bali Time:

Decided to take the family along to experience a jimbaram bay seafood sunset..One word,RIP OFF. Oops! sorry that's two words. Now i know why our driver was so keen to get us over there.After assuring us we would have a lovely time at his "nephew's" restuarant we were greeted at the door by eager staff,smiling as they placed flowers in our hair(for good luck).we were led out on to the beach and given a table right on the waters edge with a lovely view of the bay and setting sun.We were shown a set menu to choose from consisting of lobster,250,000rp per kilo.prawns 150,000 per kilo etc etc..we were then led to the tanks to choose our fresh seafood.mindful of the big prices i chose a small lobster to share with the wife..she loves lobster..next choice 8 prawns..one very small snapper..and a kilo of squid..we had a few bintangs and watched one of our last Bali sunsets before being served our meal.Every thing was prepared the same way.Grilled well done in a 'special sauce'.Looking along the beach there where literally hundreds of tables in the sand full of people all enjoying the same "treatment".Maybe i'm spoilt being from Oz but i don't rate the seafood that highly in Bali anyway,but this stuff was pretty ordinary.We'd enjoyed much better earlier in our holiday at places like Pappa's Pantai Kuta & Kori Poppies 2....But what the hey? Our holday was coming to an end soon & we'd had a fantastic time with our children.No one got sick,we had great memories to take home with us.....Then came the bill,over 600,000rp.Thats about $90au?I felt cheated & on the way home let our driver know in no uncertain terms...To add salt to the wound my wife was violently ill for the first time after eating out all over bali for the lst two weeks..We were told the next day that this whole scam has been going on for ages.The drivers recieve a hefty commission from the owners of these fish cafes,something like half of the bill payed by suckers like me.It's no wonder so many Balinese drivers/guides sing the praises of a seafood sunset at Jimbaram Bay....Take my advice..stay away from Jimbaram Bay......There are many cheaper,nicer places to enjoy in the kuta/legian area...Once bitten,Twice shy...We got bit hard

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