In Reply to: Bali Blast from the Past Challenge posted by suew on Saturday, 19. February 2005 at 22:11 Bali Time:
Aging is a frightening thing somtimes. I can't even remember the year I first went to Bali, but it was probably around 1982. A friend had won a trip for 2 and asked me to go with her.
As with everyone else, it's that smell when you get off the plane! Didn't like it then - love it now!
A driver was there to take us to the first of 2 places we were staying, the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel. What a place. Had a Junior suite and spent a week coccooned in luxury. I'm sure I spent almost every daylight hour glued to a seat in the swim-up bar - drinking, smoking (sorry) and reading (well, attempting to read). We didn't walk outside the hotel grounds for the entire week, so when the time came to move on to the next hotel (can't remember it's name - Palm something) in Tuban - what a shock!!!!!!!
The hotel was basic - in comparison at least - and everyone who swam in their pool ended up with an ear infection. Walked into Kuta one day along a dirt track with cows grazing in the fields and noting the open drains so I wouldn't fall in them at night! Went to the Art markets and bought the mandatory things. T-shirts, sarongs (which I spent the rest of the week learning how to wear), wood carvings. Learned how to say "no, thank you" 5,000 times a day to the hawkers, none of whom were aggressive. Memories..............
What a place! Can't wait to be back there.
Wendy