I'm going to Bali this week and plan on hiring a driver or scooter to get out to the surf spots. I'm wondering how people go about securing their valuables on the beach when you are out in the water?
Any other pointers would be much appreciated.

My mate and I are also going over to Bali but in the second week. I would recommend that you not hire a car as driving over there is a nightmare. Instead hire a car and driver and get them to take you around they do the driving and you get to look at the scenery and they will look after your gear while you are out on the water. Always a better option as far as I am concerned and certainly a lot cheaper and convenient.

Just hire a scooter, leave your valuables in the lockable box under the seat of the scooter and take the key with you in the water.

too easy

if you want the name and number of the driver we used during the last school holidays just pm me. Thoroughly recommended for first timers, he knows the surf pretty well and is actually the guy Taj Burrows uses!! Costs about 400,000 rp for the whole day, pick up from airport included, made our trip very easy.

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subasurf said...

Just hire a scooter, leave your valuables in the lockable box under the seat of the scooter and take the key with you in the water.

too easy

I know that is the easy/ cheap option suba but it gets expensive mighty quick if you get run down or come off .......no rules in bali mitts ,as the other boys say, get a driver , that way if he runs over someone, into something, you pay the day fee and hire another bemo, dealing with the indonesian constabulary can be a long drawn out expensive affair.The driver will look after your gear although at most of the surf spots the local shop/warung will have woven baskets you can whack your stuff in and stick to one side ..remembering which warung is the major drama at places like Ulu and bingin
the other benefit is the not getting lost ...i have spent more time getting lost going to cangguu and ending up in deserted rice fields/denspasar than i care to mention..
dont ride a bike!!

Hey I am on route will be there Tom. I have a driver all sorted. PM if u keen to come along with me. I am an early starter though so be warned.

Where are u staying? I will be in seminyak.

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Prawnhead said...

I know that is the easy/ cheap option suba but it gets expensive mighty quick if you get run down or come off

This is true...but if I was really worried about injuries in Indo then I wouldn't be surfing places like Lacerations

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Prawnhead said...
dealing with the indonesian constabulary can be a long drawn out expensive affair.

It can be...but never has been for me. A quick cheap 20,000 rupiah bribe when you're pulled over and off you go. Maybe it helps that I speak fluent Indo. I have seen other guys get absolutely destroyed by the cops because they got intimidated too easily.

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Prawnhead said...
the other benefit is the not getting lost ...i have spent more time getting lost going to cangguu and ending up in deserted rice fields/denspasar than i care to mention..
dont ride a bike!!

I love getting lost in Indo. Some of the coolest places I've found have been when I got off the beaten track. Any of the popular surf breaks in Bali are easy to find on a scooter without getting lost.

To each their own. I don't blame people for not wanting to ride in Bali. Personally for me it felt like a whole new world opened for me when I started riding around myself.

^^ i agree with your points suba but most punters are on holidays for week or 2
only learn to say terimakseh, arak attack and bintang
originally a bike was sometimes the only way to get to a break...
early on you couldn't even take a bike to Ulu..that is where the board carriers came from as you had to leave your bike at the base of the hill on the temple road and get charged for parking, and walk the 4 km into the break surf all day suck on a few warm 7 ups and bintangs and ride the hour and half back to town
I used to ride a bike then in bali when i was 18 or so (when i was bulletproof) but the traffic situation was a little less hectic..and i have no remaining bike karma ....
you deal with stats a lot if you are studying marine science
the stats on bikes crashes in bali are interesting reading
150 traffic accidents a day (the reported ones)
http://www.travelvax.com.au/home/Newsletter/en/cat/386/article.aspx
you obviously have it worked out but would you recommend cousin bob who only surfs perth metro 4 times a year to go surfing at 6-8 feet padang or low tide racetrack....?
each to his own but a bike is a ticket to disaster at some stage!
cheers

Dont ride while on mushrooms, trust me

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Torch said...

Dont ride while on mushrooms, trust me

flying is the only safe activity with mushrooms

Bro - in- law came a cropper riding a scooter in Vietnam. lucky he had insurance.

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Ados said...

Bro - in- law came a cropper riding a scooter in Vietnam. lucky he had insurance.

I did as well in Bali, I wont be scootering again I dont think..

Scooters are mint.

Just don't hesitate and don't ride them when maggoted.

If you do ride them when plssed just remember where you park.
Had a mate on my last trip lose 3 bikes in 2 weeks. Funny as.

If your not confident on a bike but, bali is not the place to get your confidence level up.

You need to remember that your travel insurance might not cover you for hire and use of a scooter in bali. A couple of online insurance policies state that they will not cover accidents as a result of scooter injury if you have hired one or are riding one. Just something to think about

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Woodo said...

If your not confident on a bike but, bali is not the place to get your confidence level up.

I used to race motox and I didnt see the gravel and no amount of experience/confidence would have saved me in that instance.

Im not saying dont do it but be very bloody careful and have full travel insurance.

I'm sure Subasurf needs his own Forum!

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surfnsirhiss said...

You need to remember that your travel insurance might not cover you for hire and use of a scooter in bali. A couple of online insurance policies state that they will not cover accidents as a result of scooter injury if you have hired one or are riding one. Just something to think about

Especially if you don't have a license...

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subasurf said...

Prawnhead said...

I know that is the easy/ cheap option suba but it gets expensive mighty quick if you get run down or come off

This is true...but if I was really worried about injuries in Indo then I wouldn't be surfing places like Lacerations

Prawnhead said...
dealing with the indonesian constabulary can be a long drawn out expensive affair.
Knowing the words Jiggy Jig and Bagus counts as fluent Indo For most Aussies

It can be...but never has been for me. A quick cheap 20,000 rupiah bribe when you're pulled over and off you go. Maybe it helps that I speak fluent Indo. I have seen other guys get absolutely destroyed by the cops because they got intimidated too easily.

Prawnhead said...
the other benefit is the not getting lost ...i have spent more time getting lost going to cangguu and ending up in deserted rice fields/denspasar than i care to mention..
dont ride a bike!!

I love getting lost in Indo. Some of the coolest places I've found have been when I got off the beaten track. Any of the popular surf breaks in Bali are easy to find on a scooter without getting lost.

To each their own. I don't blame people for not wanting to ride in Bali. Personally for me it felt like a whole new world opened for me when I started riding around myself.

First few times I did the scooter thing. bout 25 years ago mind you.
Last few times I hired a suzuki jimmy. Felt a bit safer. $100 a week for the 2 weeks.
Paid a coupla small bribes for the usual bull**** offences 20000-30000 Rp. Only had me boardies etc with me and a set of soft racks. Took them to the warungs and as long as ya bought a feed or beer of em ya gear was safe.
Stayed in Tuban to miss the traffic and had a ball. Havent been back since the second bombing and probably wont go again.
Too much bull**** for a holiday for me.
Have fun though.
W

I actually saw a show about Bali and they were saying there are three people killed a day in bike accidents..Not sure how correct but high numbers still.

riding a scooter, I ran into a back of a bus whilst checking out the talent on the sidewalk. The rear bumper was damaged and fell off to the dismay of the driver...

I was made to turn up the next day and repair/re-attach the bumper...looking back, quite funny.

Go the scooter option it's a right of passage for every Aussie surfer.
Get an international drivers license for around $30 from the RAC and this should keep the cops at bay (even if you dont have a motorbike license, the paperwork has been enough for me in the past)

Use your horn like crazy, have a blast but don't be a dick.

Wth valuables leave them behind, a waterproof bag or container with some Rp and your scooter key in your pocket is all you need.

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NickT said...

Go the scooter option it's a right of passage for every Aussie surfer.
Get an international drivers license for around $30 from the RAC and this should keep the cops at bay (even if you dont have a motorbike license, the paperwork has been enough for me in the past)

Use your horn like crazy, have a blast but don't be a dick.

Yeah it's been hit and miss with me and the local police, with or without the right paperwork.

As for the horn...yes! Let them know you're there.

...anyhoo, try not to get too distracted while riding. I did (bloody hot blondes) and crashed mine and broke the nose off my board. My mate also wiped out in Lembo real bad and wound up in hospital. Maybe I should post the footage of us cleaning his very large wounds with almost pure alcohol and no pain killers. Glorious screams of pain!

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subasurf said...

NickT said...

Go the scooter option it's a right of passage for every Aussie surfer.
Get an international drivers license for around $30 from the RAC and this should keep the cops at bay (even if you dont have a motorbike license, the paperwork has been enough for me in the past)

Use your horn like crazy, have a blast but don't be a dick.

Yeah it's been hit and miss with me and the local police, with or without the right paperwork.

As for the horn...yes! Let them know you're there.

...anyhoo, try not to get too distracted while riding. I did (bloody hot blondes) and crashed mine and broke the nose off my board. My mate also wiped out in Lembo real bad and wound up in hospital. Maybe I should post the footage of us cleaning his very large wounds with almost pure alcohol and no pain killers. Glorious screams of pain!

Only time I say no pics

I'd have to agree, a bike is the way to go, but keep your wits about you. If you are not a competent rider, don't even think about it.

Don't go for the lame scooter, underpowered and no man looks right on a step thru.

Last time I was there, the biggest bike to hire was a Honda Tiger, basically a CB 200.

Get one with board racks, carrying a board bag over your shoulder will hurt after a while and flap all over the place. But remember the racks are there. Removable ones are the go, take em off when you are not carrying a board.

Get an international driving license from NRMA or where ever issues them in your state.

However, you will still have to bribe the polisi, license or no license.. There is an art to it. Don't simply wave some cash in his face, he will still take it but you need to be more subtle.

Wrap maybe 30000rp in your license. When the corrupt little fellow pulls you over, present it to him. Maybe he just takes it, off you go. Sweet.

If he says 'What is this for' ask if there is a fine for what your were allegedly doing. (nothing). He will invariably say yes. Explain to him that you don't have time to go to the station in Denpassar to pay the fine, and would he be kind enough to do it for you.

You just made a friend, who will probably pull you over for a bribe tomorrow.

After a while, I got so used to doing this I had to remember not to do it at home. I wish I could do it at home.

Just pay it, it's not much and you don't want to end up with Shapelle now do you?

Your gear will be safe in one of the warungs there. They will give you a cane basket and if you don't go back for a week your stuff will still be there.