In Reply to: Thank you - I can sleep now............. posted by Viking Woman on Wednesday, 4. August 1999 at 15:23 Bali Time:
Dear Vike,
If you are as you say a 'Viking Woman', coming from the fjords of Norway, have you considered how far your crew has to row? Geez, thank goodness for the Suez Canal!! You'll be absolutely stuffed by the time you got to Bali and you'll have run out of time anyway and have to turn around and go straight back home again.
But, if you decide to fly, which I'm sure you will, you'll have stacks of time. Anyway, the Indian Ocean is VERY BORING!
If you're a typical 'Viking Woman' (now I'm not trying to be sexist here!!) and are 20 to 30 years old, have long golden hair, are statuesque and as are most Scandinvians, beautiful.. then you'll love Kuta (well.. Kuta will LOVE YOU!!). But, if you are like me, who is way past the Kuta scene and only go there because it's the only place I can find denture cream and incontinence pads, Kuta may be a wee bit out of line. BUT, you must see Kuta; if only for a day. The pace is frenetic, the buzz/excitement/traffic will almost overwhelm you. Definately for the under-35s (or those seeking a purple rinse)
On the other hand, Sanur.. like a gracious elderly woman. Very calm and peaceful. Not much hassle, less traffic, fewer shops but Oh, so much more likeable. Lovely restaurants, fewer hawkers, much nicer hotels, beach.. a little 'iffy' but there's a reef, to which you can wade at low tide. Wendy and I always base ourselves in Sanur, with side-trips to Candi Dasa, Kuta, Ubud etc. (We haven't been to Tulamban yet, so won't comment). Up at the top end of the Sanur beach, adjacent to the Grand Bali Beach hotel, is one of my favourite places in Bali.. the Segara Village market and Restaurant: tables, chairs and feet in the sand, enjoying a lovely cold Bintang whilst watching the world go by.
Then there's Ubud.. Cooler, prettier, full of arty-farty boutiques selling for $A10 what you can pick up in Kuta for $A5:.. to be honest, most of the Balinese 'landscapes' look the same to me and there's so many artists creating them. (Ok, Balinese art-lovers, go for the throat!). There are some fabulous walks around Ubud and some great villages to explore. Check back through the archives, there are squillions of postings dealing with Ubud and it's treasures.
You will see the 'Real Bali' if you get away from the tourist-infested areas in the south. Get out and walk or hire a bicycle or if you have a suicidal nature.. hire a car and drive. Stop when you want, look around, speak to people, smile.. the Balinese respond very well to smiles, only their's are much better!!
If you have any specific questions feel free to ask any of us, we're only too willing to answer. We Aussies are such nice people, as you'll soon discover when you get there. There's at least one behind every bush, you know!
Fondest Regards and Happy Travels
Brookesy