The Bemo Experience

I chose to go to Padangbai by Bemo, firstly because i thought that the Perama price (100.000 Rupiahs) was way too much and secondly because I hadn't travelled by Bemo this time, and i felt I should, because i always liked it!..
I knew that Balinese people pay 20.000 Rupiahs for the whole trip from Lovina to Padangbai. In the end I made it, changing Bemos like 5 times, for a mere 42.000 Rupiahs - hooray! And for this I had to fight HARD, these Bemo drivers really do stick together once they realize you do not know the actual price absolutely 100%! So NEVER EVER a) ask how much it is, b) show in any way you don't know where you're going or what it costs (e.g. taking out the Lonely Planet in the Bemo is a BAD BAD idea i noticed!) - Wait with asking which Bemo you need to go next until AFTER you paid, and make sure the Bemo-drivers don't talk to each other!...
And if you ever hear the sentence "How much you pay?" after entering the Bemo - Run for your life and look for another Bemo! This means they somehow got the idea you just chartered the whole Bemo and they can charge you Perama-prices!
What you do is you get a lot of thousands and 5000s and then at the end you just give the driver a few thousands (or maybe a 5000, depending on the length of the trip!). If it's too little, he'll tell you, don't worry! ;-) It's a bad idea to carry 10.000s, 20.000s and 50.000s, because then you'll have to get change back from them, which ofcourse they'll be very reluctant to give). If he's trying to get you to pay outrageous prices after you get off (trips that may cost more than 5000 would mostly be 1 hour minimum!) just laugh, give him a thousand more and walk away (it does help to remind them they're a freaking Bemo and not Perama I noticed!)..
Well, it was one hell of a trip (about 4.5 hours), and more than once i thought i was stuck in the middle of nowhere. But it was worth it, i learned a lot about the Bali mindset and also got to see some beautiful scenery (awesome rice paddies!) and coastline on the way!...