In Reply to: Plenty of posts bemoaning the changes... posted by Baldie on Sunday, 21. August 2011 at 12:59 Bali Time:
you mention Baldie are going to be deemed by most as positive improvements and there is no question that they have contributed enormously to the economic growth and progress of the island and its people, affordable airfares not forgotten. However, I believe what these changes have done is attract a vastlty different tourist to those of us who were coming to Bali thirty years ago. We were a much simpler breed and it seems required much less. There was also a sense of adventure associated with coming here because of the lack of modern facilities. Added to that I believe we were a more considerate, culturally aware and a genuinely more interested tourist in regard to Balinese life. What Hilton Hotels, Gucci and Macdonalds have done is attracted the type of person I left Australia to avoid.
Now I know I'm making some generalizations and not all new comers stumble blindly around the island, and the truth is I have just had a double cheese burger with fries on the beach, and Bali isn't going to go back for those of us who new simpler, more tranquil days.I'm still planning to get my waddle on tonight and that very statement suggests to me Bali still has a little left to offer those that are becoming a little disenchanted like myself.