JBR Final Reflections

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Posted by Ianz on Friday, 12. September 2008 at 11:45 Bali Time:


Try as we might, we could not stop the march of time. Nor the rapidly dwindling bank account. Our time was running out, and we became short timers, talking to newbees around the pool searching for their towels they had placed on their loungers 6 hours previously, me trying to explain that everything evaporates in the tropic heat. Having to tell people that yeah, last full day here, and them telling us, oh we have just arrived and are here for x weeks. Man I hate that.

Everyone has last minute things to do. I know I had to buy a bigger case for my towel collection, Robbie just wanted immodium tablets. Emms decided she suddenly did want some named knock off handbags and Sue just wanted coldrex due to the wicked cold she had developed thrashing around in the plastic bag trees in the monkey forest.

Last trek to S & S. Going through the motions of pouring amber gold down our throats, but not really tasting it. See you next year good-byes to those you knew, and had got to know. Sammy sad, as he would suddenly see a huge downturn in binnie sales. The binnie factory itself turning off two production lines and letting 100 casual staff go. Taking the long way back to camp so I didn't have to run into Gusti and give him the expected tip.

Bali has the same allure that it had for me over twenty years ago when I first set foot on it. I am not blind. I see the dirt, know the scams, the poverty. I also see a race that endures; and all with a smile a mile wide. A beautiful climate, food, scenery, beaches and people.

Bintang is just as nice a drop as it ever was. At night with a bintang between my mitts I am witty, wise, handsome and bullet proof, when I wake up in the morning I am dull thick and an old man, so I have come to the conclusion that binnies are great, but sleep is not good for me at all.

I only wish the government of our so called western country would ship a few boat loads of our bludging whining wantitalls over to Bali and make them survive without everything being handed to them. Some might survive, most wouldn't, (or would turn straight to crime). I know that a trip to Bali would open their eyes to just how easy they have it by comparison.

Last call at Captain Cook Bar, grab a coupla taxis and head out to the airport. Walking like defeated soldiers dragging our packs behind us.

Red eye flight, laughing about little memories, things we saw, heard, experienced. Will we return next year?

I will answer that with Gustis, standard answer to most questions I ask him.

'Maybe,.... sometimes,..... a little bit'.

Thanks for reading my ramblings, and thanks to those who commented, I appreciated them all.

Ianz


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