Seafood

THOUGH surrounded by sea, the Balinese themselves are not big on seafood. The catch goes either to the island's canneries or to the local tourist restaurants. Kuta and Sanur's Chinese restaurants serve the best seafood on the island. You should try exotic fish and shellfish dishes, which are probably more affordable on Bali than in your own country.

Seafood is excellent and features highly on menus everywhere with salt and fresh water fish, lobsters, oysters, prawns, shrimp, squid, shark and crab all available. The flipping wet fish is usually brought to you on a platter for your inspection, and then it is presented to you cooked, tantalizingly tender, spiked with scallions and slices of lime.

Fish and shellfish dinners, about half the Singapore price and about one-third the American or European price. You can often get a better price if you bargain before you even enter the restaurant. Select the fish you want, then offer less than the price they quote you. Remember, the more fish you buy, the better price you should get.