Posted by wayne on Wednesday, 10. February 1999 at 04:54 Bali Time:
In Reply to: good point posted by curiouss george on Tuesday, 9. February 1999 at 18:36 Bali Time:
You echo some of the things that I have been thinking since I returned home. I guess one needs to preface any remarks with the thought that a travel or holiday experience is very subjective. We all have varios likes and dislikes, different backgrounds and travel histories. I,m from Canada our travel has taken us through, mexico and other developing countries in central america. In many ways Bali is similar.
The footprint of Man has left a very large and in many cases ugly imprint on the Island. The cities are crowded and dirty, ditches are littered, you can't drink the water and there are a lot of places where tourists are at peril if they eat. The beach experience for the most part does not compare well with resort areas frequented by N.A travellers. In fact with a few exceptions they are extremely disappointing. The coral close in is dead or dying. Not a pretty picture, but a common result in many areas subjected to the effects of unbridled development. It is somewhat offputting to walk a few paces from ones table at Jimbaron and see a ten foot driftline of plastic bags and other man made debris that appears to stretch down the entire length of the beach
Despite the negatives, we both very much enjoyed our trip. Rate it
at or very near the top of our list. Why? Mostly I think because of the people, the sights and sounds of a culture that has in many ways succeeded in adapting to tourism and at the same time hangs on to a way of life that hasn't changed much over the generations.