In Reply to: Bali Reflections 1982 to 2008 posted by cravic on Monday, 31. December 2007 at 21:02 Bali Time:
Thanks for those memories Cravic.
We too first went in 1982 and stayed at Legian Beach Hotel and did not return until 1997 also due to children etc After we won a trip there. I remembered Legian road as a dirt road with access to the beach via small tracks through the forest. Bemo corner was a big open area where we all used to meet, there was no beach road, transport was bemos, Seminyak didn't exist, the only hawkers we saw were at Kintamani, restaurants were fairly basic (Lennys, 3 Doggies etc.) with magic mushroom pizzas freely available. Jl. Raya in Ubud was dirt and Monkey Forest road was literally a track, no shops. We sat on the cliff overlooking Tanah Lot on our own, not a shop, restaurant or anyone else in sight.
What a shock walking out of Padma in 1997, being swamped by hawkers, new roads, taxis, nightclubs etc. The only things we remembered were Poppies restaurant, Kuta Beach and Bintang (what's the time? - Bintang time)
Where had the Bali we remembered gone? Well after a week in Legian and Nusa Dua we hired a mighty Kijang and headed to Lovina and Ubud and found it was all still there, their smiling faces and beautiful peaceful nature. We finally had rediscovered "Bali time", something you cannot adequately describe to someone, you have to experience it.
I remember having lunch in a small cafe in Penestenan when the locals arrived to lay new concrete kerbing. We offered to move our car out of the carpark and over the road for them, but were told "no problems". After lunch they ushered us to drive straight over their new work and proceeded to repair it. I looked in the rear view mirror to the sight of huge smiles and waving trowels, try that anywhere else.
We have been back 3 times since and are now planning this years trip.
Like you we think of Bali daily and never cease to be amazed at their peaceful nature and beauty. Much has changed, but thankfully much is still the same.
Cheers and have a great trip
Sing Ken Ken
Rodger