Hospitals in Bali

A Bali holiday injury might land you in hospital

People get hurt during their Bali holidays all the time. It is not uncommon to encounter tourists with their arms in slings, bandages around cracked heads, or burns on their legs. (The burns are often referred to as a Bali Tattoo. They come from motorbike exhaust pipes.) 

So what is the best course of action to take if you are slightly injured while holidaying in Bali? 

Private Hospitals

UK travel warnings for Indonesia state that tourists are not able to access Bali hospitals for free.  This is correct. Although there are a number of privately owned hospitals in Bali they are certainly not without charge. The services at these hospitals are in fact very expensive. So unless you have travel insurance (highly recommended), or you have a wallet bulging with unwanted cash, you may want to avoid the need to seek medical attention from these places. 

Sanglah Public Hospital

Another alternative if you are slightly injured is a visit to Sanglah Public Hospital located in Denpasar.

A friend who had a minor motorbike accident took this course of action. He didn't have insurance or a lot of money to throw away so he insisted I take him to Sanglah Public Hospital.

My friend had received a nasty gash on his head. I organised a towel for the blood and a taxi from Kuta and we were at the hospital in twenty minutes. An ambulance might have been faster but these are also expensive in Bali. It was also early evening and we received light traffic so this probably helped our speed.

When we arrived at Sanglah Public Hospital my friend was rushed into emergency and he received treatment instantly. His was head was x-rayed, his wound cleaned and he was bandaged. He was then offered a bed for the night so he could be put under observation.

I witnessed nothing but professionalism from all staff involved. And the expense for this treatment was far lower than any private hospital operating in Bali. Perhaps for more serious injuries a traveller may want to seek the services of a private hospital. But I personally could not fault the staff and facilities at Sanglah Public Hospital.

One thing I have to mention is my friend ended up with what looked to be a tampon stitched to his head. He also received instructions not to remove this dressing for at least a week. So Sanglah Public Hospital did provide its share of comedic value as well.

©Malcolm Scott

Angel, the biggest, baddest hooker in Bali

The Bali Raw character that my associates question me about most is Angel, the acclaimed Indonesian working-girl that is regarded with awe by a select few of Bali's expats.

For those of you that haven't read Bali Raw, please allow me to elucidate and enlighten. Angel is a Kuta superstar. She is a revered demigoddess who learnt her sublime skills in the dark heart of a Samaritan jungle. She is a princess and a prodigy whose proficiency in the art of making love is the stuff of legend.

The questions I receive about Angel are always the same.  Does Angel exist? Is Angel as talented as you say she is? Is Angel still working?

Unfortunately information about Angel has always been well-guarded. And in the past I have shaken my head and smiled knowingly when I have been asked these questions. But I now feel enough time has passed and I can comfortably break the code of silence regarding Angel.

Does Angel exist?

Yes Angel does exist and to paraphrase Bon Scott from AC-DC "You could say she had it all."

Is Angel as talented as you say she was?

A moment spent with Angel could only be considered a monumental moment. Yes, she is talented.

Is Angel still working?

Angel is no longer working in the same capacity. She was so good at what she did she was able to buy the establishment that she worked in after two years. She now runs the place.

©Malcolm Scott

More information about Angel can be found in the Bali Raw chapter 'Fallen Angel'.

Don't get scammed in Bali

Don't let scams ruin your holiday in Bali

There could be nothing worse than being ripped off while you are enjoying your Bali holiday. Unfortunately almost anyone that has travelled to Bali can recount at least one situation where they have been taken advantage of.
Here are a few of the common small scams, and a few tips to protect you from them.

1. Money Changer Scam

There are a large number of unscrupulous money changers around Bali and they are easy to spot. They are generally the smaller operations that offer a slightly higher exchange rate than average. Avoid these places like the plague. They will give you your money in small denominations and they will use distraction and sleight of hand to trick you out of your cash.

Tip: Always utilise the larger more professional looking outfits. The exchange rate may be lower but you should receive the correct amount returned.  Always count your money before leaving the establishment and be brave enough to question if you feel cheated.

2. Taxi Scam

Bali taxi drivers have plenty of scams up their sleeves and most of them are common throughout the world. A relatively new scam Bali's taxi drivers are employing is the lack of change con.

The driver will take a customer to their destination. If they are paid in a high denomination note they will claim that they are unable to make change for the note they have received. They will then make no effort to seek this change from somebody else. And they will wait for the customer to offer the remaining amount as a tip.

Tip: It is very important to request that a taxis meter is turned on. If the meter remains off the driver can make up an exorbitant amount to charge at the completion of the journey. Whenever you use a taxi in Bali make sure you have small notes available.

3.  Rental Scam

When a punter rents a motorbike, car, surfboard etc it will seem to be in perfect condition. When they return the rental it has some small fault. The tourist is then expected to pay for the repair of this fault. And they are inevitably charged an inflated price for this repair.

Example: Small surfboard rental businesses on Kuta Beach sometimes put one Balsawood fin in the surfboard. This fin breaks after a few moments of use.

Tip: Most Bali holiday-makers have a camera available. Make use of this to capture a detailed record of any marks, scratches or faults in anything you are renting. Let the person renting you the item see you do this. It is usually enough to keep them honest.

4. Commission-Gathering Scam 

The driver on a private tour will sometimes tell his customers that he knows a cheap family owned place for them to shop, eat, or to do a tour. What he won't say is that he receives commission for taking tourists to these places. And that he is willing to drive them, at their expense, miles out of their way to get them there.

Tip: Work out with the driver where you want to go beforehand. Be forceful and tell him that you are willing to cancel the tour and seek somebody else's services if he deviates from this chosen destination. 

5. Pressuring Scam

People selling in Kuta will sometimes try and pressure a potential purchaser into buying their product. They will enlist the help of others to achieve this. The customer finds themselves surrounded by two or three people and the product is forcibly pushed onto their person.

Bracelets are a good example of this. You should never allow anyone to tie a bracelet to your wrist. Once you are wearing it you will be expected to buy it.

Tip: Balinese sellers can sniff out a fresh tourist so learning the Indonesian word for 'no' can come in handy. If you find yourself in this situation be strong and be willing to refuse and walk away. (Tidak Makasi = No thank you)

©Malcolm Scott

Man Handled - an excerpt from Bali Raw 2

Lady-boys on the prowl

Many men that attempt to utilise Bali's sex industry while on holiday in Bali are duped by lady-boys. There are gangs of these feminine looking rouges that hang around Bali's back streets. They prowl the early hours of the morning like tomcats and they seek out drunken tourists looking for misadventure.

Lady-boy pickpockets

It is always wise when confronted by a group of these individuals to keep at least arm's distance away from them. The transvestites that hang around Kuta are often deft pickpockets. Their modus-operandi is for two or three to crowd the unsuspecting mark and distract him with questions and or groping, then once he is preoccupied pushing lady-boys away, to relieve him of his valuables.

Generally the lady-boys in Bali are not as good at covering their true sexual identity as their counterparts in other places in the world. So it is surprising just how many men are deceived into taking a lady-boy back to their rooms. It would seem that most men who dabble with Bali's sex industry have had the, "I took  home a lady-boy but I didn't sleep with her" experience. Alcohol consumption tends to have a lot to do with this as most of these characters appear less than convincing when looked at in the daylight hours. 

There are, however, now a lot of surgical procedures available to help transsexuals further the illusion of their femininity. There are the obvious breast implants and sex reassignment surgeries. Then there are the more innocuous procedures, facial feminisation, tracheal shave, voice modification, chin/jaw reduction and thigh implantation surgery to name a few. These procedures are becoming cheaper and more affordable in Indonesia.

The sure-fire lady-boy test 

The best way I have found to check if the person you are dealing with is of the same sex is a test I was taught by an expat who had lived in Bali for some years. If you are suspicious of the woman you are thinking of dating you may want to try this:

1. Ask the woman/man in question to extend their arm out and keep it as straight as possible.
2. Place one of your hands underneath the extended arm and cup their elbow.
3. Place your other hand on the person's open palm.
4. Apply a gentle downward pressure to the palm and a gentle upward pressure to the elbow.

If the arm bends down passed the 180 degrees mark then the person you are dealing with is likely to be a woman. If the arm remains level on 180 degrees then it may be a good idea to run like hell. This is the only sure-fire test that works and cannot be corrected by inexpensive surgery as far as I know.

©Malcolm Scott

My picks of the best of Bali

Good food and great atmosphere at Alley Cats

Best bar in Kuta for cheap drinks: Alley Cats

Located just off Poppies 2, Alley Cats Restaurant could be considered the backpacker hub of Bali and the best place in Kuta to get a party started.

Any night will see this pub/restaurant pumping with punters from seven o'clock onwards. And there are reasons for this. The food is cheap and good. The atmosphere is young, alive and party-frenzied. And the drinks, including cocktails, are inexpensive.

Alley Cats restaurant is a must visit for the younger party set seeking to blast the Bali night away.

Best Nightclub in Bali: Sky Garden

Without a doubt this honour goes to, Sixty One Legian or as it was formally known, Sky Garden.

Touted as a Super Complex this nightclub has to be experienced to be believed. Sky Garden is a world-class venue that boasts quality music, headlining D.J.s and chic acts and dancers every night.  A night out at Sky Garden could be termed a happening experience.

Sky Garden is definitely the in-crowd nightclub of Bali.

Best meeting place in Bali: Kuta Beach

Hit Kuta beach. Surf, sun, sex and sunsets over a cold Bintang Beer, need I say more?

There is no better place to meet up with new friends or to catch up with old ones than Kuta Beach in the late afternoon.

Little tip: Find Roy's Esky located directly opposite Poppies Two, left side of the toilets facing the ocean. And tell him Malcolm Scott sent you. Then tell him he owes me a free beer for the plug.

Surf and sun at Kuta Beach

Best Steak in Bali: The Kuta Steakhouse

If you're craving a taste of home go to the Kuta steakhouse. You will not be disappointed by the friendly staff and the well-priced and top-quality food. The Kuta Steakhouse is located on the road that connects Poppies 1 and 2.

©Malcolm Scott