Last time I was in Bali I was with Mike and his cousin. That was in the early 90's (I think) and the tourist part of the country has changed a great deal.. for the good actually.
Back then we flew Singapore Airlines.. and it was a LOOOOONG flight with an overnight stop in Singapore. This time, just 3 1/2 hours on Jetstar from Darwin. I worked Friday cleaned up, packed, drove to Darwin, hopped on a plane and was in Bali for a quick drink at a nearby pub and bed.
Our hotel is just north of Kuta beach. It is the area where the Bali bombing took place. It seemed so decadent back then.. full of over indulgences: sex, drugs and rude Balinese sales people and even ruder/cruder Australians. But today the sales people are highly regulated and the tourists are a whole lot greyer, slower.. and much more friendly. It is a relaxing place to be.
Shops on the main roads are full of cheap touristy stuff: carvings, bathing suit cover-ups and Bintang t-shirts for your dog. There are a million and one beading shops. For the most part business is done from narrow little holes in the concrete walls lining the streets. They are mainly dark, deep, small and old, but there is a smattering of new hotels, McDonalds, Burger King.. Starbucks interspersed between the shops, restaurants and Hindu temples.
The narrow streets are still busy with cars, scooters and motor bikes.. but in the tourist districts, they have changed over to one-way streets, and so the congestion is doable.
Of course the streets are still noisy: honking, yelling, sales people offering "morning price", all the stuff that makes up an Asian holiday resort area. But what I like is the sound of the waves, and the number of spas.
We have spent most mornings walking and enjoying the pool. Vas spends most afternoons playing chess on the beach with the vendors, while I check out the shops, read a Di Morrisey novel (an Aussi author) in the shade, and indulge in body work.
It is a good way to spend a week off work. I love my job, but a trip to Bali has been a welcome change. It is Wednesday today, and my head is finally out of the classroom.
All good.
Back then we flew Singapore Airlines.. and it was a LOOOOONG flight with an overnight stop in Singapore. This time, just 3 1/2 hours on Jetstar from Darwin. I worked Friday cleaned up, packed, drove to Darwin, hopped on a plane and was in Bali for a quick drink at a nearby pub and bed.
Our hotel is just north of Kuta beach. It is the area where the Bali bombing took place. It seemed so decadent back then.. full of over indulgences: sex, drugs and rude Balinese sales people and even ruder/cruder Australians. But today the sales people are highly regulated and the tourists are a whole lot greyer, slower.. and much more friendly. It is a relaxing place to be.
Shops on the main roads are full of cheap touristy stuff: carvings, bathing suit cover-ups and Bintang t-shirts for your dog. There are a million and one beading shops. For the most part business is done from narrow little holes in the concrete walls lining the streets. They are mainly dark, deep, small and old, but there is a smattering of new hotels, McDonalds, Burger King.. Starbucks interspersed between the shops, restaurants and Hindu temples.
The narrow streets are still busy with cars, scooters and motor bikes.. but in the tourist districts, they have changed over to one-way streets, and so the congestion is doable.
Of course the streets are still noisy: honking, yelling, sales people offering "morning price", all the stuff that makes up an Asian holiday resort area. But what I like is the sound of the waves, and the number of spas.
We have spent most mornings walking and enjoying the pool. Vas spends most afternoons playing chess on the beach with the vendors, while I check out the shops, read a Di Morrisey novel (an Aussi author) in the shade, and indulge in body work.
It is a good way to spend a week off work. I love my job, but a trip to Bali has been a welcome change. It is Wednesday today, and my head is finally out of the classroom.
All good.
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