Before I begin....fatally poisoned there by spiked drinks???!! WTH is that all about? I know you're speaking from personal knowledge on this and I totally trust what you say. Details please, if you are willing to share. And Bali belly has to be similar to the parasites my daughter and husband brought home with them from Cancun. It lasted almost 6 wks and there were no American meds to appease it, so it had to work itself out of their systems, so said each of their dr's. Their every meal routine was to eat, bolt for the bathroom, regurgitate/poop at the same time, and repeat after all 3 meals. Too much info, I know, but you need to know this before traveling to these places. I felt so bad for them. It was awful and they had tried to be extremely particular of what they ingested, particularly dairy. It's literally an intestinal parasite extremely common in areas where the same set of health standards our stomachs are used to are not in place. Cancun claims to have the same set of health standards that we do in the USA and I'm calling total B-S on that. I saw those kids after both trips and it was like nothing I had ever seen before, and they didn't leave home with it! What intestinal virus lasts 9 days with dr's treating both of them?? NONE! Just be warned if you choose to travel to these places.
I think you may have been the one who turned me off to Bali, Di, and I appreciate your info causing me to remove it from my exclusive bucket list. It's now lost all appeal for me. I imagined it as ultra paradise and an exceptionally lovely tropical vacation island, but I've obviously given it far more credit than it's due. Located so far away, it's not a common destination for many Americans who have so many less expensive and closer in proximity destinations available. But as Americans, we don't hear this and Bali is presented to us as a super ultimate/luxurious tropical vacation, well above the rest and then some. No slam on Jersey, it is what it is, but in my mind comparing it to the Jersey shore is like comparing bad apples to good oranges,the beach being the only common denominator. (And please let me say this so I don't piss anyone off, it would be the same as comparing it to Myrtle Beach, SC. For so many reasons, there is simply no comparison
for the Jersey Shore or Myrtle Beach to Bali.
I've seen enough pix to know how different it is from either....maybe some of the most beautiful parts of Florida and California would qualify to a slight degree, but they're not a super upscale remote island in the South Pacific -- which, IMO, is part of Bali's appeal. And now I'm hearing that even with all that you can get the same parasitic crap we can get in Mexico for 1/4 the price for a trip to Mexico and far less jet lag. See how vacation decision making can be so easily worked out?
Even the cheapest overseas destination for us on the East Coast of the US that may appeal to some isn't nearly as affordable as the Caribbean, with pkg deals galore and a mere passport will get you in and out w/basic ID. Unbelievable deals going all the time including hotel/airfare and 2 meals per day, and prices get even better out of season. Even those of relatively modest means can stretch their budget & get there. All the islands are loaded with mega tropical flavor and we can be there in 2-3 hrs, without many hassles. So for all my fantasy bucket list, your post lets me know Bali is no longer anywhere I want to go. And I sincerely appreciate hearing it since I could never afford to live my dream anyway.
I will never stop saying how much I love the international flavor on this board that can answer questions you forget to ask. It's a wonderful bonus and, Di, I especially loved the honesty in your post. Thank you. As of this evening, Bali is no longer on my bucket list. Appreciate your input!
