On the eve of my ninth visit to Paradise, I cant help but reflect on how Bali has changed over the years.
My first visit when I was 18 took me to Kartika Plaza. The only Hotel on the strip from the airport. It was a gravel road back then and was very basic accomodation with bungalows, thatched roofs and a ceiling fan. The only transport was a bemo or the occasional motorbike, perhaps a horse and cart also.
I will never forget the beautiful nature of the Balinese and on reflection I would have to say that is what has taken me back to Bali time after time.
My second visit for my honeymoon in 1984 took me to the Bali Beach Hotel now the Inna Kuta opposite the Hard Rock. Now there were a few more hotels and every second shop was a cassette place with INXS being played at full blast. Legain had just been opened up and we had decided they were realy catering for the american market now. I then had a 10 year break due to children (they realy stop enjoyment for a while dont they!) In 1994 we went back without kids and had such a culture shock......we stayed at the Bali Intan. the beach road was in, hawkers were everywhere, everything was high pressure. It seemed that the calm Bali had been covered with commercial enterprise. We did not realy enjoy our experience this time, but on reflection when returning home also realised how Bali had opened up to families and we decided to return in 1998 and 1999 with our children. We returned to Kartika Plaza both times now of course a top class hotel. My children have the fondest memories of Bali and what is most outstanding to them of all is how the Balinese people reacted to them. I have never experienced such love towards children as the Balinese people exhibit. My children now are both working and plan to visit their paradise also.
We were devestated by the bombing and stayed away for a while. Only because it takes so long to save for a holiday and I could not feel comfortable looking over my shoulder every 2 seconds wondering what was going to happen. We holidayed in Australia...spent megaloads of money and did not get the warm and fuzzy feeling, we holidayed in Phuket got sick and hospitalised and did not get the warm and fuzzy feeling.....! so its back to Bali for us... The smiling welcoming faces of the most peaceful people I have had the pleasure to know grace my dreams every night and I cant wait to step of that plane and breathe in the bali air......
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh