25 years ago today, my very first trip .

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Posted by sunluva on Tuesday, 28. September 2010 at 13:39 Bali Time:

to Bali. Today is my 25th wedding anniversary and also my first time to Bali. I had no idea what was to come and no expectations.
From the moment we left the aircraft and walked across the tarmac (no aero bridge) and the sweet warm air of Bali hit me I knew it wold be fantastic.
The smell of the cigarettes is my second memory, and to this day it signifies to me that Im back !!!
25 years ago Kuta Beach Club was the place to stay. If memory serves me correct the exchange rate was about 4500rp/aus dollar. We spent many an afternoon in the pool drinking Bintangs, listening to INXS (from a cassette that the barman would put on for us !!!)closely followed by Duran Duran and Simple Minds. We came home with beautiful carved cassette cases filled with cassettes (like the DVD's of today). I still have the cases, but alas, no cassette player LOL
The only motor bike we could hire was a trail bike and bemos ruled the road. They were the tiny doorless, windowless ones you can find as local transport in Sanur. One night we crammed 13 people into a bemo for our own pub crawl.
The Tree House restaurant in Poppies really was just that, a tree house. Shops and traffic all stopped at Bemo Corner, cock fighting was everywhere on the streets.
The Balinese didnt ask you how many, what you want, plat your hair, they were too busy snoozing ! Kuta art market was the place to shop and the night market the place to eat. The beaches were cleaner than now, not a lounge chair in sight. The massage ladies all had numbered hats, made it easy to find your favourite. Mine was a lovely elderly lady, number 44 who had only one eye and not a lot of vision in the other. The elderly lady that sells fruit on legian beach now was there
all those years ago and she still remembers me each trip.
Each trip to Bali brings new memories for me,new friends,and time with my family. I love the place and have done so for 25 years !
If its your 1st time, or 51st time to Bali, embrace it for what it is, talk to the people, hit the road and see the sights, ride a pushy through the villages and see the smiles of the kids, sponsor a child to attend school, have a cold Bintang on the beach. See you there in four weeks :-)




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