I've been to Besakih twice, and both times found the heavy, forceful guides near the base of the Besakih temple to be the worst part of my Bali trip. On neither occassion did I pay them anything, but I am a pretty hardened traveler. I cringe to imagine what my wife would have gone through had I not been with her when we went together.
How many of you think Besakih, regardless of its beauty, is not worth going to because of the gangs that force themselves on you? I find this happening at a temple which is supposed to be the holy of holies to be paricularly appalling. When I think of my two trips there (years apart) my blood pressure goes up. Both times I've said I don't want to go into the temple, but just around the outside. In case any of you are wondering, I was observing the protocol of proper attire.
OR am I wrong? Was I just very unfortunate? Do many people actually enjoy their time at the temple?