Bali Some Final Thoughts Oct 18, 2007

                                 Bali
                                               Some Final Thoughts
10/18/2007


A final "Greeting" from Bali,

21+ days and many near misses on the highways of Bali we begin to wrap up the trip.  In Lovina we did manage to find another hotel for the last two nites.
Quite a nice place if you ask me, $60/nite right on the water.....a real hell hole if you asked Toni and Steve.  The luck of the draw put the Carman's in a room next to someone from Java (Javanese ???), who persisted in spitting and hacking, and placing cell phone calls all thru the nite.  Steve pounded on the walls a few times but to no avail.  Morning came and he was ready to move.

We did stay another nite, but should have probably reconsidered, after the touring we did.  We visited the "Sacred Pools" a few miles back in from the town.  We were forced to run another gauntlet of vendors in order to reach the entrance to the pools.  By comparison, a dip in the Ganges on a busy morning would be more appealing than what we encountered.  Some of bathers, were there for healing purposes, while others frolicked about in their flotties with many of the locals in full dress.  It appeared that many had come for the "curative" powers of the pools, but the cure didn't take.  All in all it was a disgusting way to spend the morning......or for that matter any morning.

Our driver "Andy", good Balinese name, returned us to the cleanliness of our hotel to mingle with all of those still on holiday due to Ramadan.  While Ramadan is a holy season for the Muslims,  the Balinese Hindus are very good at celebrating any holiday that comes along.......whether its one of theirs or not.  Due to its proximity in the north to the crossing point from Java, the tourists flock from Java and Jakarta and other Indonesian (states).....I'm sure, all traveling to Bali on those infamous ferries that capsize along the journey as tourists trample from one side of the ship to the other in search of that perfect view point.

We continue to eat dinner in the small restaurants outside of the hotel.  The Hotel Buffets have gotten a bit too much and so very redundant.  As I indicated last time,  Susan and Toni located us a driver that has been wonderful.  He took us from Abud up to Lovina stopping along the way to show off his country's "marvels".  Most seemed to be temples of one sort or another, complete with shops and and pay toilets.....2000 rps to crap in a hole and you bring your own paper.....whata deal.

Well, Wayan made the one-way return trip to pick us up.  It was a two hour drive for him across the mountains to our hotel in the north.  Wayan was there bright and early and ready for our return trip to Sanur.

We decided to go back to the Tanjung Sari for two nites since the hotel is only a 1/2 hour from the airport and the Carman's were due to leave at 11pm that night from the hotel.  The 3 hour drive back to the hotel was somewhat of a re-run of the trip over.  Roads seems to run only north and south so a lot of the driving was over the same roadways.  I sat in the shotgun seat and Susan napped in the back while Toni provided us with her best impression of Huwell Howser interview by questioning our driver on every bit of minutia that came to mind about Bali in general and the ride "home" in particular.

We were all greeted back at the Tandjung Sari as welcomed, ole friends and shown to our room at the "back of the bus".  Since this was just an interim stopover before traveling home, we didn't feel the need to take the ocean view villa an opted for a lovely room in the "garden district"

In thinking about the past three weeks, I have really grown to admire many of the qualities of the Balinese people.  As I have said before, they are honest to a fault as well as some of the most hospitable people I have ever encountered.  While the landscapes here in Bali have lacked some of the "wow" factors of previous trips, it has been an enjoyable trip to have made.  In looking over who this e-mail is going out to, I can't recommend this trip to everyone.

While the accommodations have been some of the finest I have ever stayed with prices ranging from $60.00/nite to $175.00/nite (including plunge pool), they have all been sequestered enclaves unto themselves.  Once you step outside of the "protection" and manicured nature of these compounds and into the reality of Bali the ambiance changes. 

With the possible exception of Lavina to the north, most of the cities are teaming with people, all in a hurry to go somewhere and rather quickly.  Bali's population is approaching 3 million, which is considerable when you take into account the size of the Island and the distribution of most of the peoples into just a few cities.  The major cities experience there share of traffic jams, honking horns but for the most part, patient drivers.  Thank god I never had to drive a car through these congested byways.

Much of the land is given up to rice farming and other agricultural endeavors with sparse populations connecting the villages to the larger centers.  Most of the roads show their in-attention and desire to remove the litter, especially in the larger cities.  I guess Susan and I never thought about the impact these numbers of people, now all driving motor bikes, can have on an Island of this size.

We understand that before mid '70's the Island was probably more like we had envisioned it.  People walked from a to b because they had to and there was no real urgency in getting there.  The population was just beginning to emerge, but the Island still resembled the idyllic picture one conjures up when Bali is mentioned.

If you have any inclination to pack up your bags for Bali, I would suggest you do it sooner rather than later.  While the food and transportation costs  are right out of the 60's and affordable lodging (maybe not on the beach) is readily available,  the Europeans are discovering what the Aussies and the Japanese have already discovered.  We hit a good time of the year, try to avoid
Ramadan, and the rainy season which is just about to begin.  You might also want to contact Toni and Steve as they are already planning a return visit.

For Susan and I, we have other spots to see, hopefully, with some clearer waters and more pristine beaches and surroundings, but we will certainly be hardpressed to find a more welcoming and gracious people.

See some of you in a few days.......others soon........gb