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I will be visiting Bali for the first time in October this year. Would greatly appreciate if anyone can offer suggestion for a hotel in Kuta/Legian area with nice swimming pool. Also suggestions of where to go and nightlife would be most appreciated. I know that gay life there is not comparable to Bangkok but I want to see things myself. Thanks.
I'm happy to share my experience -- you can Google all of these places:
Last year I stayed at Alam Kul Kul which was lovely -- its just across the road from the beach, and they have two nice bars and a lovely swimming pool. The hotel is situated at the end of Kuta (near Legian). Price was about ┬г35 per night, if I recall correctly, but we did have 18 rooms so there might have been some discount. Here is the link: http://alamresort.com/alamkulkul/accommodation.htm
I also stayed two nights at a hotel which was on Jalan Dhyana Pura (in Seminyak, near the best gay club) -- a few minutes walk to the beach and a few minutes to Q Bar -- which is called Puri Cendana (remember that 'c' in Bahasa Indonesia is pronounced 'che'). While a bit less posh than the Alam resort, the rooms were clean and pleasant, bathrooms surrounded by a private garden, and the price was a silly ┬г16 per night!
For dinner, my favourite was Hu'u in Canggu. They made the best martini I had during the holiday, after which lovely Balinese boys escorted us to our table in the garden -- surrounded by fountains and lighted by the stars. There were too many nice choices on the menu, an exquisite wine list (we started with a Pouilly Fuisse and went on to a rather extraordinary Medoc).
Trattoria on Jalan Laksmana (Jalan Oberoi) is also excellent -- they do home-made pasta dishes for ┬г1 to ┬г3 -- and it's a 20 minute walk or 2 minute motorbike ride from Q Bar.
Kudeta is nice to visit for a drink, but the food is mediocre at best, and the wines are a silly price (ie. ┬г50 for cheap Chilean shite).
You should pre-negociate prices with taxis. None will use the meter, as the meter prices date from the days when petrol was cheap, but they will take you most places within Legian/Seminyak/Canggu for about 15,000 rupiah (about ┬г1). You can also ask for "Ojek" -- a motorbike ride. These are not formal motorbike taxis as in Thailand, but rather any lad who feels like making a few rupiah. Typical prices are about 5,000 to 10,000 to get around. There are motorbikes available for hire in Legian if you plan to travel a lot. It is not recommended to hire a car yourself: Balinese women do not look onto a road before barging in with their motorbikes, and if you hit one, you will be stoned to death. If you want to see some other towns, ask one of the lads who work at Q Bar, and they can arrange a car and driver (usually cheaper than hiring a car yourself!).
You can get a local SIM card for your mobile for about ┬г3, and if you top it up straight away, you get lots of extra minutes. If you are coming from anywhere except Canada, the USA or Thailand, you can use **21*BALI-NUMBER# to transfer your home mobile to your Balinese one, so your calls come through and you only need to pay IDD charges (no roaming). ##21# to turn it off.
What else -- DO visit some temples -- they are magnificent. And if you smile nicely, many Balinese people will allow you to see their family temples -- sometimes more elabourate than the public ones. DO go to Ubud for shopping if you want to buy Balinese craftwork -- the prices are much better than Legian or Kuta, and there is a much wider selection. There is a cute little cafe on the main shopping street in Ubud (it's the only really smart restaurant) -- which has a lot of gay staff, and seems to attract quite a few gay customers.
And if you stay at Alam Kul Kul, I recommend going for a swim at around 5 pm -- when it is not too hot out, and the ocean is deliciously cool, then going back to the hotel, where the beautiful boys will greet you with a fresh towel and a frosty cold Bir Bintang by the pool.
PS: I have noticed that there is a new gay place called Kwin on Dhyana Pura -- probably worth looking into.
Just remembered one further bit -- we used a great local travel agent for Bali. You need to become a member on their web site, but they then give the best rates I could find for Bali hotels and resorts. They also work everything out with you via Yahoo Messenger, which can save a lot of time as well as IDD costs.
Here is a link to their web site:
http://www.baliwww.com/abl/profile_utama.htm
Then click on Members, and fill in the simple online membership form. Once you are a member you will see discounted prices for villas and hotel rooms, as well as updated information (htoel closed for renovations etc.).
I also plan to visit Bali on a future trip. Can you please comment on your observations about the boys? If it is not the same as Thailand, what advice would you offer a first time visitor traveling alone to connect with someone?
You can meet someone on the Internet (ie. Gayromeo or Gaydar), make friends over the net, and end up having a pleasant friendship/companionship where no money is expected -- this is the most common, and the most rewarding. It would be a nice gesture to bring them something characteristic of your country (books, for example), or perhaps a nice bottle of perfume.
There are lots of 'painted boys' to be found at any of the gay bars, who are pay for play. Usually if you offer 300,000 to 400,000 rupiah (about ┬г16 to ┬г22), they will be very happy.
You could also meet a nice lad in the bars and clubs, who is unemployed, and it would be appropriate to offer him a 'gift' at the end of your stay between 500k and 1000k rupiah.
And there is the gay beach called Ganesha Beach, opposite la Luciola, which apparently is chokkers with gay rent boys. I've not been to that one, as my dance card got filled up from the moment I arrived.
Balinese vs. mainland guys...
As an over-generalisation, I would say that if you are planning to have anything interesting or meaningful with an ethnic Balinese man, you had better plan to spend a lot of time on Bali. The ones who will go for one night stands are only in it for the cash. If ever I have enough time in my life, I would love to gain a closer understanding of the intricate values system that has lead to this, but for now, helas, I must work for a living.
I had a long distance relationship with a Balinese man many years ago -- I was young, and I suppose like the first time meeting a Thai man, he had my heart, and it was a magical and rewarding experience. The only funds which ever changed hands were a few quid when I bought one of his beautiful sculptures at an exhibition. But meeting guys 'just for fun' has only lead me to very cute looking money boys, and my friends' experiences have been much the same.
Mainland guys -- so many of them are sincere and lovely. I think that in some ways they are willing to look past the fact that you won't be back for a long time. At the very least, you will find conversation interesting and compelling with your new friends -- I get the impression that the Indonesian men are a little bit better educated and cultured than their Thai cousins, but that may only be my luck.
Another great scenario -- you meet a cute boy from Jakarta or Bandung who is visiting Bali on a personal holiday. Over several trips, I've met civil servants, artists, PR guys -- lots of interesting lads, who were mostly looking for a companion just like me, and someone to have fun on holiday with.
Like anywhere, there is some bad with all the good, and I recommend that you confine the use of rose-coloured glasses to sunny days on the beach! Specifically beware of black magic. Whether or not there is real magic involved, there are interesting anecdotes on both sides of the argument. But you may be very sure that the toxic poisons involved can cause VERY severe health problems and even death. If anyone rubs any kind of oil on you in a public place, grab them by the ears and bring them to the bar manager immediately: there are specific laws in Bali (Indonesia?) to deal with him. Then seek immediate medical attention.
And, being a seasoned traveler, be smart about your personal belongings -- a good, hard shell locking suitcase, hidden in the closet, is recommended if there is no hotel safe.
Mumbaighost......many many thanks for your kind help. Very much appreciated.
Many thanks for such useful information. This is why I read this board! Your insights are very much appreciated.
Thank you Rustee and Adman for your kind words :) I have certainly learned a lot of useful things from other members of this forum, so of course I am pleased to share my experiences where possible.