I am new to Bali at 58 yrs old just this yr in 2024. Living in the tropics in Cairns (was married for 30 yrs), I always thought that it was just another Aussie drunken beach party.. How wrong I was ! I find the mountains wonderful after 5 trips this year, riding a scooter all around the island with my girl from Jakarta.. I am planning on moving from Cairns to Bali to be with her. Now to re-invent my entrepreneurial self after working for the Australian Govt for 7 yrs. Thanks for your kind videos....
We have been coming to Bali since 1974. Originally stayed at Kuta beach in a grass losman on the beach with tea and bananas for breakfast - cost $1 AUD These days we spend time in Bangli with a beautiful Balinese family every year and also Sideman. It’s certainly changed over the years, and while the extra tourism gives the Balinese great opportunities we prefer the simple and beautiful Balinese life - hard to beat Thanks for sharing their beautiful culture with us all
Hi Jill. I agree whuile tourism has afforded the Balinese with greater opportunities there's still many many places here to retreat to and experience a simple quiet Balinese existence. thanks for saying hi, Jill.
In retirement you can call several places home as you're not bound to live in one place. My first trip to my second home Bali was at 17 in 1976, ha you're a spring chicken Wayne, in '76 there wasnt much bitumen, mainly dirt roads with clusters of huts, local shops, no taxis just bemos, was very very lush, minimal concrete, steel, plastic, clear skies, small airport, smelt of frangapani, clove cigarettes and insence, no bike fumes, was at the beginning of the tourism boom, was lovely, still is 😊
@@jennynairn1388 You know what?? I was only telling a friend yesterday I've got so many Jens in my life right now I'm sure I'm going to mix them up sooner or later. Ha!
I first went in 1986 wth my then husband and 11 year old daughter who wanted to buy cassettes in Kuta when I worked at Qantas. Stayed in Sanur at Bali beach hotel then Campuhan hotel in Ubud. We rented an open top jeep and drove ourselves everywhere. Went up to Candi Dasa then too. One day tried to catch a public bemo from Sanur but we weren’t allowed on as bules. Have been back many times a lot has changed but the kindness & wonderful smiles of the Balinese people have never ! Really enjoy yr clips. I have studied formal Indonesian but am learning a lot about what to say informally from you and the tips a few people give you 😊 resumed my lessons after seeing yr first clip.
Hi Lesley. You have some great memories and traveling in an open top jeep sounds great. I'm excited for you picking up the language again. Thanks for taking the time, Lesley - I appreciate it.
Hi Wayne. Love your videos and find them so honest and refreshing. Our first trip to Bali was 20 years ago and my partner wasn’t excited about going and said that he would just spend all his time in the resort room. He did eventually leave the resort and after we put a whole family or maybe the whole village through school with our first attempt at bartering he fell in love with the people and culture and embraced everything Bali has to offer. So much so that within days of returning home we had booked to go there again 6 months later. Fast forward 20 years and we have been to Bali 30 times. Even though we have been to many other places in the world, we always find the time to book another trip to Bali. We love the place so much we are looking into retiring in Bali.
Hi Kylie, thanks so much for the kind words. And congratulations on having cut your bartering teeth in such a generous way. :) Bali's certainly an addictive place and finds so many of returning or retiring here, and of course it wouldn't be so appealing if it weren't for the Balinese themselves. thanks so much for saying hi, Kylie. Cheers.
My mum & dad ventured to Bali in the early 70s when they were in the 40s. Discovered Sanur & came twice a year every year. This then became my sisters favourite destination, now one of mine. They’ve all passed away now, but wonderful memories & stories of how it used to be.
Been coming to Bali every year since my honeymoon back in 98. I tell my wife if I had of gone to Bali before I met her we probably would never had met , Beautiful people and the place just gives me a feeling of calm and serenity , even with all the chaos of that traffic 😊
Hi Wayne Well you just brought back many memories of my early days in Bali. At least 35 years ago now, and truly thought I had discovered Paradise on Earth. Not so busy then and gradually called Sanur my second home, now so many times and even last year for a month. One of the fun things then was jumping into a Bemo and feeling the excitement like a child. The culture, the people, the smells, the atmosphere, such a wonderful contrast to Australia. Infact, Bali did change my life forever. Usually stay for two months and never stop wanting to live there as much as possible. We live in tropical Queensland these days, next best thing. living on the Gold Coast. It's just like Ubud here, where we live. Well keep them videos coming, you really give the impression you love it there, and fully understandable. I always enjoy watching your videos Wayne, makes me feel I'm right there with you. So nice.
What a refreshing Vlog to have someone like yourself celebrate Bali and the people. Really liking the subtitles to the language, learni g a bit from each of your videos each day. Keep up the smiling and positivity Wayne....just awesome 😀🙏.
Another great video . Thank you! My first time in Bali was in the early 80’s as a 19 year old. The airport was tiny and you exited onto the tarmac. The heat was unreal as from Melbourne we had not experienced that before. The crush of the bemo drivers trying to get your fare was a little scary. Our first time in a developing country was an eye opener and we wondered what we had got ourselves into. Dirt roads, tin shack markets and shops . No glass front places. No beach road. It was wonderful. I loved it and went back two more times in the eighties. One with my now husband of 35 years. Fast forward to 2022, we have now rediscovered Bali after spending a lot of years traveling to Thailand once our family was older. I love it and sort of wish we had gone back a lot earlier. To me the Balinese, their culture and architecture is what I love most.! Even though I did love going to Thailand, I don’t miss it as Bali has really recaptured my heart. 😊
Hey Sue. Great description of what it was like and as I also remember it in the eighties - you brought back a few memories. It's so nice you're able to reconnect with the island again.
My first visit to Bali was in 1978. Kuta was just a village and Legian area was all rice fields. It was peaceful and quiet and we rode pushbikes everywhere and any mushroom dish on a warung menu was magic mushrooms😮.
I first visited with the intent of ticking it off the list, nothing more. I was working out of Darwin at the time and thought it being close and cheap flights, I'd just do it ,believing I'd not probably enjoy it after all the stories of being hassled in the streets and shear numbers of people. In the week prior, I'd been very ill but still decided to go ,even if just to stay in bed and recover. well I can only say that the energy , the calmness and balance of the happy Balinese people touched something unexpected in me that I can't truly put into words , I returned 6 times in the next 5 10:36 months ,spent time with the people ,learnt about their culture, and a little language, like you Wayne just chatted to people in the street ,simply observing and appreciating never judging ,and have had some wonderfull adventures. I often try to imagine what the pre tourism bali , even prewar Bali must have been like, I'm sure a true paradise, there are some great early images available on line .Thank you for your efforts, your vlogs are so my style of interaction, the people simply amaze me and following your adventures always leaves me in a happy positive frame Phil
Hi Phil.Thanks for that, good read. I too sometimes try to picture what Bali may have been like ages ago and I also watch the videos of early Bali. Thanks for taking the time, Phil.
Hi fiasco, I have recently been to Bali this year with my family for a short visit. What I felt is that Bali is a place to be explored more at a leisurely pace like you do to get a feel of the locals and their customs. This place is addictive for its laid back vibes and nature. I will definitely plan a longer trip maybe in the next couple of years.
Gday from Freo!! Love your daily vlogs Wayne you’re clearly a natural, I’m really enjoying your journey. 1992 was the first time in Bali with my footy team and back then I remember you got mugged everywhere you went with people trying to sell you stuff .. been many times since and the people make it so special there ❤ cheers Wayne
Hi Peter. thanks so much. I do remember a time when Kuta particularly was rampant with so many hawkers harassing you. I've not really spent much time in Kuta over recent years and not sure if the same still applies.Thanks for taking the time. Cheers.
My first time in bali Wayne was 89 some years after you, It was my first time out of Australia, i went by my self and had a ball, i traveled up to Lovina, Kintamani, Tanalot, Gitgit falls, and Tulamben for a scuba dive on the Liberty wreck, i even took a yacht to Nusa Lembongan, the Bounty in Kuta was a wooden ship that you would enter on a wooden swing bridge back then. It was not all that long ago but even in my time i have seen many changes, 16 years ago i met the love of my life a local lass from Denpasar and we have been married 14 years now and have a 13 year old daughter together, we are building a house in Sanur now and will be moving there for good in january 25 as i will be retiring, hope i haven't bored you, love your channel mate keep em coming, cheers👍🏻
Hey Jonesy. That's some first trip to take by yourself - you covered a fair bit of ground. and congratulations on 14 years of marriage, the prospect of retiring, and the new build. You live a full life by the sounds of things. And no, you haven't bored me at all - quite the opposite! Thanks for the tales.
First time in Bali was 1980 when I was 11. I instantly fell in love! We stayed at Segara Village Hotel in Sanur, it was a very cheap hotel then! I had blonde hair and the Balinese were constantly touching my arms and hair 😅. One jaw dropping memory that really stands out was when our driver took us to a cock fight 😮 We went in Jan 1980, we came home and immediately booked again for Dec 1980 ❤️
Selemat Sore, Wayne. Senang mendengar bahasa indonesia berbicara bahasa mereka. Dulu saya tingal di Indonesia sudah berberapa tahun lagi, 1970s i studied Balinese dance in Ubud(never get tired of your stories there) & met an American man fluent in Indonesian, desperate to speak English, who lived in Indonesia for 25 years & off we went traveling all over Indonesia, esp Sumatra, for one year. Returned over and over and spent a lot of time in the lesser Sundas, living on the island of Timor, where I learn to speak Bahasa out of necessity. The Timorese have such a unique sound when speaking Indonesian. Really enjoy listening to all the locals speaking Bahasa Indonesia. Were u in a public or private school field trip at 18? Lucky u live so close. No place like Ubud! 🌻🐾🍁🍀💃
Hi Liz That's seems like a great experience to have studied dance here and to travel for a year seeing more remote areas like the lesser Sundas and Timor. Thanks for taking the time to tell us of your travels. I went to Bali in 1985 with some friends independent of any schools - it was just a few young friends wanting to go to Bali for a holiday. I agree there's no place like Ubud. Thanks again, Liz.
I only went to Bali for the first time about five years ago ..I associated it with the Kuta drunken revelry scene which is not my style ...but when I came here I discovered that there is so much more to Bali than Kuta scene! I have been three times now and it definitely has got under my skin and is calling me !! Going back again next year ..can't wait!!
Hey, that's great, leanne. I think it's often a misconception that the Kuta scene and similar places is all there is to Bali. I'm glad you found out there was more to the place.
SNAP, like you my first trip to Bali was in 1985 with mates from school. Have been back many times since including last month with one of the 1985 school mates. Love your videos!
Nice vlog again Mr prolific. It's becoming a nightly ritual now to check out what you have uploaded today. Your word of the day is 'yang mana' = which one. The lady selling the jajanan (small cakes) asked you yang mana.
I travelled to Bali in 95. I climbed the volcano, went to Lombok, and had a fantastic time. I thought I would never go as it was ticked off the list, however my close friends recently talked me into going over again for the month of September just gone. Well what a revelation again. Im in love with Bali. I would love to live there. Being there a month was perfect for getting into the grove and really making good connections both with local and travellers. I stayed in Canggu this time and I absolutely love it . I have been to Ubud both times and it is very special. A must vitis for us when in Ubud is the amazing vegan restaurant/cafe: Zest. Bali has Such beautiful people all over the place. It can be confronting on different levels but it really is a magical place. Love your videos from a more mature persons perspective. Cheers from New Zealand
Hey Dean. i've met people who have reconnected with Bali after a period of not considering it at all for a long time and I'm a bit jealous in a way as you get to fall in love with the place all over again. Thanks for taking the time. Cheers
70s was basically pre plastic so place was a lot cleaner without all that litter and plastic bags. Kuta was starting to get big but elsewhere you could live in a hut on the beach for peanuts, and the surfing was great, clean water, just the odd floating coconut you had to watch out for. Ive still got souvenir paintings I traded for a Golden Breed branded shirt and a couple of dollars. And magic mushroom shops were everywhere in Kuta, lots of tourist pubs/ cafes in Kuta in the 70s too. But I also remember not getting hassled for a bemo or jig a jig like I was constantly when I visited in the late 80s.
And I stayed at a place cant remember now a little past Legian, they left us a thermos of unsweetened black tea and bananas for breakfast outside our villa doors every morning. If you didnt get up early enough the monkeys would steal your bananas.
Similar to you Wayne! First trip was 1990 with mates as a 20 year old, lots of drinking and partying. Can’t stop going back, these days for the Plants, Stone Carvings, Wood Carvings, Culture, etc! 🌴🌺🌸🥰
You learn something new every day-it appears we are the same age-but you look much younger than me 😊 Never get sick of watching your videos-thanks Wayne.
Salamat malam Mr Wayne!!! Thanks for the videos. My first visit to Bali was similar to yours, I was 18, it was 1988 and it was my first International travel without my parents. I went with a buddy and we had the best holiday. The sounds, the smells, the humidity, the food..Peanuts Pub Crawl, The Sari Club and Double Six (which in those days was considered a long way from Legian). But the most memorable part was the local Balinese, so beautiful, accommodating, polite and friendly. I have returned to Bali about 20 times since and most recently in March 2024 when I spent 6 weeks travelling the island by scooter. It was amazing!!! Surfing in Medewi, Fishing in Lovina, Sunrise at Mt Batur, Coffee in Kintamani (beautiful Kintamani), Besakih Temple, Diving on the Japanese Shipwreck in Amed, Virgin Beach in Candi Dasa....so many amazing places! Next trip booked for March 2025! Keep the Videos coming please.
My first time was '80. Very young, blond and skinny 😂 and up for the adventures, all of them and there were plenty of them to be had 😂 Used to stay in a little place on Poppys Lane, surf, sun, not much traffic, no a/c airport, not much refrigeration so Bali Belly often. I have grown with the place and now look for different, quiter experiences these days. I still go and ❤ Bali. Thanks for my favourite 🎶🎹 at the beginning. Take care 🙏
Hi, just discovered u & enjoying your daily videos. I live in Melbourne & I first visited Bali with my family in 2016 & was hooked! Will be my 11th trip next month & have already been in April this year. I just love the people, weather, food & culture. I just love it there & feel so happy & and sense of calm. Wish I knew as much Bahasa as u. Love your friendly attitude too. 😍
Hi Megan, thanks for taking the time to say hi. You're certainly a regular to Bali now it seems and how exciting to only be a few weeks away from another trip. That sense of calm being here is very real for me also - it's kind of a comforting place, isn't it? Cheers.
Me and the wife first went to Bali in 2016, stayed a month and stayed in Sanur, Ubud, Munduk, Pandang Bai, Gili Air, Gili T then Kuta. We had a ball and fell in love with the place, our favourite places are Sanur and Ubud, but I also really enjoy Padang Bai.
The first time I went, you still walked across the tarmac when you disembarked from your flight. No taxis, only bemos. The old Denpasar market was fantastic, and insanely cheap. The drains were still open in Kuta. Ubud was still quiet and beautiful. Etc etc. Beyond all that, the first and strongest memory I have from all my many stays there, is the smell. It's unique to Bali, because their "open air" religious practice means incense is always on the breeze. That, coupled with cooking smells, flowers, and those open drains ... it's just so powerful. Nowhere else smells like Bali. Not even neighbouring countries with similar cultures. Not even Java. And weirdly, you grow to love that unique smell. I haven't been back for years, but I remember the smell like it was yesterday. PS: I've never stayed in Kuta. Legian was as close as I got, and it was a separate town back then. Open fields between it and Kuta. I spent the majority of my time in the north and north west. Far from tourism. I used to go to the cinema in Singaraja, and watch cheesy Indian movies badly dubbed in Bahasa 😅.
Thanks, pm. You've brought back some memories - I'd forgotten about the open drain smell mixed in with everything else. Your first experience was considerably different to many others which suggests you go about things in interesting ways. Type of person who'd be good company over a Bintang or kopi Bali I'd wager. Appreciate it.
My first time to Bali was approx 2009. Did the typical tourist trip with my partner at the time. Spent most of the time around Legian and it was ok. I then returned 3 years later and the change in infrastructure was massive, even in that short period of time. I also got to explore a lot more. Spent more time in Ubud, Canggu, Gilli’s and Lembongan and ever since fell in love with Bali. I would regularly return between 2013 and 2019 then Covid happened, but returning this year and can’t wait to see old friends… You mentioned the smell of Bali, that is one memory that lasts with me, I try and describe it to people as a mixture of incense, rubbish, bbq, tropical flowers mixed with the humidity and it’s Bali.
That's a pretty good description of the smell for me also, MWN24. I also think there was a sizable shift in development and tourist numbers around 2009/10, or it certainly seemed so. Appreciate you taking the time.
Pagiii Wayne! Good to see ya! First time in Bali for me was '94; was a 3-day stopover on the return leg of my Garuda flight itinerary back to UK after doing my 12 month backpacking visa thing in Australia. No idea why it was scheduled on there but I'm glad as it was such an eye-opener. Only stayed in Kuta but the sights, sounds, smells, the food, the Balinese craft shops selling wooden handcrafted items but also trying to sell you magic mushroom omelettes, all pretty out there for someone who'd only been in the western travel bubble. Chaotic but calm at the same time. Next time i went back was 2011 and been going on and off since. Actually flying in for a couple of weeks next month; pending volcano ash conditions. Hopefully I get stuck there. Wouldn't be a bad thing :) Cheers.
Ha! "hopefully get stuck there.." Sometimes unplanned schedules work out for the best it seems. I also like the "chaotic but calm" phrase as it kinda fits in many ways for some parts of Bali.
1983 , my brother Thomas was involved in the Casablanca in Kuta , we had a wild time young and wild , he than had another bar ,Pink Panther , and last month I stayed in Sanur , more my speed now 🙄🤗
@@suetwyford1216 Peanuts was the follow up after Casablanca. I met the owner (I forget his name) about ten or so year ago - he was still wearing his hat and boots. :)
My first visit in the early 80s a young girl took us to her home up in the jungle, Very basic of course but lovely family, very welcoming. The children worked at restaurants and I'm sure she told me if your family wanted you to become a nurse or work at a hotel they had to pay more for her education. Not sure if it is the same now. I also found out what Sex Wax was, as I had never heard of it!! For surfboards, who knew.
I studied Bahasa in school for 4 years in the 80's. Flew right over Indonesia a stack before 2013 when the got a job in Darwin with flexible time, 20 days on 10 off, flights to DPS $100ish each way. Over the next two years got very familiar with south of DPS. Started off in 4 star hotels for $25-30 a night, ended up preferring bamboo fan rooms for $3. The friendliest most genuine people in SE Asia.
@@fiascodagama1 acclimatization is the biggest single cost saving measure living in the tropics. Takes some doing especially first time, but your body does get used to it & the adjustment gets down to just a few days. Saves a motza on hotels, power bills, transport (motorbikes always cheaper than cars) & opens up travel to many regions where there just isn't AC.
My first trip to Bali was about 35'ish years ago. My mum & I ran our family travel agency together in Perth, so it was a travel educational (freebie) for 2 days, 1 night. Best part was that my best friend from Perth (we grew up together) was living in Bali with her Indonesian husband. When she drove me to her house, the police pulled us over and asked for her licence to drive a tourist, which of course, she didn't have such a licence. I was sitting in the back with the dog. She tried to explain that we were friends etc but he wouldn't have a bar of it. A nice, subtle handshake with the officer (rupiah handshake), we were on our way 😅 I miss the cheap bribes 🤫🤐😂 That was a fabulous introduction to Bali for me, having your bestie there and seeing how the locals lived. I learnt so much in such a short space of time. I fell in love with Bali then.
Me again. I lived and worked in Jakarta 1972-76, so came to Bali several times then - VERY different, of course, the whole experience of living in the Indonesian culture(s) has more or less informed how I've thought about different cultures since then. Then came back again in mid-90's, with my wife and my £10 Pommie sister. We had happy times around Ubud, bought lots of sculpture and stuff for the garden, had it shipped home to UK, 2 cubic metres, some of it still survives! Been back several times since then, including two months earlier this year. We move around quite a lot as we enjoy lower-key stuff more, and snorkelling in the Gili islands. Will be back for a couple of months in Jan/Feb '25, introducing my sister's now 50+ year old son and his family to Bali, will be spending some time in Ubud, of course. (As well as Legian for the kids, Candidasa for his wife, then back to Legian to watch some cricket in a sports bar before we head off to the islands again. Enjoy your trip back to Perth. [By the way, I learnt Bahasa back in the '70s, reasonably proficient, and it was a joy to come back in the '90s and find that my rusty Bahasa came back since then. Keep practising your Bahasa too🙂
Hi kmcp. I must thank you as you're the reason we have this plethora of stories of people's first experiences in Bali. Working, living, and traveling in Indonesia in the seventies must have been a unique experience and it fair to say I'm somewhat envious. Thanks, kmcg.
My first trip was in 1984 - celebrating the completion of my nursing training. I stayed in legian- still have the old photos of the Denpasar market and Kuta streets and markets. So much simpler back then less tragic, hardly any scooters on the roads and less rubbish littered on the side of the roads. Still a beautiful island with beautiful sincere people.
I love looking at photos of the area from back then, Aly. I also remember the place with a slower vibe to it - it was all so wonderfully different then.
My first experience in Bali was when my boyfriend and I were invited by a friend to hold a Balinese wedding ceremony in her garden in Kerobokan. It was love at first sight!
I've heard similar stories of others not exactly loving their first trip to Bali but eventually finding a place that suits them. Glad you found your place, Meold.
I remember when we arrived that we had to walk across the tarmac into a shed with no aircon for immigration. As we drove to the hotel, there were open drains with water running through them and I noticed one guy washing himself just a bit down a guy peeing in the water and bit further down a woman washing her clothes. I thought christ do we have to pee there as well. lol. I remember the locals never pushed for you to buy anything. Kuta beach was flat with pure white sand. most roads were dirt. I loved how the food carts were everywhere. I nightclubs were great and so were the pub crawls. I always wonder who put my name down for the drinking race cause I never did lol Oh the best thing were the cassette shops spent a lot of time in there buying tapes. I miss those old days oh dont forget the fantastic bemos
My first time to Bali was in 1979 for three weeks when I was 22. Airfare, losman accommodation and breakfast (very ripe banana and tea in a rusty flask) included. I knew I was in for something different from Sydney from the moment I saw cows grazing next to the runway as we landed and an airport worker refueling a plane with a kretek hanging out of his mouth. The main reason for going was to surf ... and we did that every day at breaks like Jl Padma, Kuta reef, Medewi and Uluwatu. Surfing plus sightseeing on a 125hp trail bike left us exhausted and after having a whole bbq reef fish, a big bowl of nasi goreng and bottles of Bintang we just crashed though we did try some magic mushies once and used up a box of matches watching whitewater on the beach, getting entangled in spider webs and eating about 2L of ice cream. Been back many times with my girlfriend/wife, friends and eventually two daughters. Where I stayed the first couple of trips at Legian there were only coconut fields behind the beach - a good place to learn to ride a bike before going to Denpasar to be tested for a license which included a written road rule test (and someone kindly telling you the answers). The streets were virtually pitch black and very quiet apart from the music coming from the Rum Jungle club and the growls from marauding packs of dogs. Even though I've been multiple times, getting off the plane is the same - the heat, the smell of kreteks/incense, the sound of gamelan and the palpable energy of life in the air.
That's a great picture you've painted, Brad. Thanks so much. It's weird how even though a lot has changed here that feeling stepping off the plane as the senses are hit stays the same. That was a good read. cheers.
I now live here and what we see as bule. Is more building better roads and "progress" what the Indonesians see is completely different. I try to see Bali their way(:-)
Hi MrT. I think perspective is important and I completely understand how locals would be grateful for the infrastructure, health services, and perhaps improved quality life that has come with increased tourism. Cheers
1st time in 1994 and never left 😁 best life choice. Of course things changed. Some for the better some for the worse. But that also applies for my native country Belgium.
Haha that guy that shook your hand said his name was The Elephant (gaja) 😂 70.s and 80.s was.real paradise. 1500rp a.night Losmens, couldnt spend $20 a day. I think i was getting 670rp to the dollar in 78. Most things could buy with a coin. I remember going surfing at turtle island in a horse& cart from kuta 😂
I was flying back to the UK from Darwin in 1988. I had hitch hiked from Melbourne up the gold coast I got as far as Charters Tower which took about a week and stood there for a couple of days with no lift . The police pulled over and advised me to take a bus as there had been a murder recently on that road by a hitch hiker. I told them I had no money so they took me into town to the salvation army who fed me and got me a bus ticket to Darwin and gave me $20 spending money. I had a couple of days in Darwin living on the street where I got sandwiches each day from the local church . I then had a 3 day stopover in Bali. (Garuda airlines) I had no money except the exit tax . I asked the bloke sitting next to me on the plane if I could have his snack that they gave out as he had refused his. We got chatting and he gave me $50 plus a big load of Indonesian change. I slept for 3 nights in a large shelter that was right outside the airport in Kutu. I vowed I would one day go back to Bali haven't made it yet.
Wow. what a ride, wl, great story.That's some hardcore travel right there and an indication that you could get by on not much at all if required. I hope you get the chance to get back to Bali at some point. Thanks again for the travel tale.
First trip with the lads in 1988 still go back with the same boys at least once every 5 years to drink Bintang on the beach at sunset. A lot less stupidity than the old trips though.
I think you should make it more clear that you are reporting about a very small area of Bali (i.e. Ubud area) which is not really representative for the whole island. I would very much welcome if you would venture out of your "comfort" zone a little more to show the whole picture and to therefore avoid repetitive content.
Yes, daily vlogging in one small place runs the risk of repetition and as I mentioned in my "Leaving Bali" vlog few days ago, when i return I'll be doing a tour of the island. Thanks for your patience, TF, and I hope you find those videos a little more engaging.. Thanks for your thoughts.
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I am new to Bali at 58 yrs old just this yr in 2024. Living in the tropics in Cairns (was married for 30 yrs), I always thought that it was just another Aussie drunken beach party.. How wrong I was ! I find the mountains wonderful after 5 trips this year, riding a scooter all around the island with my girl from Jakarta.. I am planning on moving from Cairns to Bali to be with her. Now to re-invent my entrepreneurial self after working for the Australian Govt for 7 yrs. Thanks for your kind videos....
Hi martibtube. I think many people have had the same misconception about Bali only to discover the island is a lot more. Thanks for taking the time.
We have been coming to Bali since 1974. Originally stayed at Kuta beach in a grass losman on the beach with tea and bananas for breakfast - cost $1 AUD
These days we spend time in Bangli with a beautiful Balinese family every year and also Sideman.
It’s certainly changed over the years, and while the extra tourism gives the Balinese great opportunities we prefer the simple and beautiful Balinese life - hard to beat
Thanks for sharing their beautiful culture with us all
Hi Jill. I agree whuile tourism has afforded the Balinese with greater opportunities there's still many many places here to retreat to and experience a simple quiet Balinese existence. thanks for saying hi, Jill.
In retirement you can call several places home as you're not bound to live in one place. My first trip to my second home Bali was at 17 in 1976, ha you're a spring chicken Wayne, in '76 there wasnt much bitumen, mainly dirt roads with clusters of huts, local shops, no taxis just bemos, was very very lush, minimal concrete, steel, plastic, clear skies, small airport, smelt of frangapani, clove cigarettes and insence, no bike fumes, was at the beginning of the tourism boom, was lovely, still is 😊
Yes, having that freedom to roam is such a gift. I really enjoy hearing of the dirt paths, huts, and the simple living here at that time. Thanks, Jen.
@@fiascodagama1😅 Looks like you've got a "Jen" following 😉😅
@@jennynairn1388 You know what?? I was only telling a friend yesterday I've got so many Jens in my life right now I'm sure I'm going to mix them up sooner or later. Ha!
I first went in 1986 wth my then husband and 11 year old daughter who wanted to buy cassettes in Kuta when I worked at Qantas. Stayed in Sanur at Bali beach hotel then Campuhan hotel in Ubud. We rented an open top jeep and drove ourselves everywhere. Went up to Candi Dasa then too. One day tried to catch a public bemo from Sanur but we weren’t allowed on as bules. Have been back many times a lot has changed but the kindness & wonderful smiles of the Balinese people have never ! Really enjoy yr clips. I have studied formal Indonesian but am learning a lot about what to say informally from you and the tips a few people give you 😊 resumed my lessons after seeing yr first clip.
Hi Lesley. You have some great memories and traveling in an open top jeep sounds great. I'm excited for you picking up the language again. Thanks for taking the time, Lesley - I appreciate it.
Hi Wayne. Love your videos and find them so honest and refreshing. Our first trip to Bali was 20 years ago and my partner wasn’t excited about going and said that he would just spend all his time in the resort room. He did eventually leave the resort and after we put a whole family or maybe the whole village through school with our first attempt at bartering he fell in love with the people and culture and embraced everything Bali has to offer. So much so that within days of returning home we had booked to go there again 6 months later. Fast forward 20 years and we have been to Bali 30 times. Even though we have been to many other places in the world, we always find the time to book another trip to Bali. We love the place so much we are looking into retiring in Bali.
Hi Kylie, thanks so much for the kind words. And congratulations on having cut your bartering teeth in such a generous way. :) Bali's certainly an addictive place and finds so many of returning or retiring here, and of course it wouldn't be so appealing if it weren't for the Balinese themselves. thanks so much for saying hi, Kylie. Cheers.
My mum & dad ventured to Bali in the early 70s when they were in the 40s. Discovered Sanur & came twice a year every year. This then became my sisters favourite destination, now one of mine. They’ve all passed away now, but wonderful memories & stories of how it used to be.
Keeping the tradition going. Love it!
Been coming to Bali every year since my honeymoon back in 98. I tell my wife if I had of gone to Bali before I met her we probably would never had met , Beautiful people and the place just gives me a feeling of calm and serenity , even with all the chaos of that traffic 😊
Every year since 98? that's impressive, Ed. You have well and truly seen some changes here.
Hi Wayne
Well you just brought back many memories of my early days in Bali.
At least 35 years ago now, and truly thought I had discovered Paradise on Earth.
Not so busy then and gradually called Sanur my second home, now so many times and even last year for a month.
One of the fun things then was jumping into a Bemo and feeling the excitement like a child. The culture, the people, the smells, the atmosphere, such a wonderful contrast to Australia.
Infact, Bali did change my life forever. Usually stay for two months and never stop wanting to live there as much as possible. We live in tropical Queensland these days, next best thing. living on the Gold Coast. It's just like Ubud here, where we live.
Well keep them videos coming, you really give the impression you love it there, and fully understandable.
I always enjoy watching your videos Wayne, makes me feel I'm right there with you.
So nice.
Thanks for sharing your story. You pretty much encapsulated everything I love about the place. Cheers
What a refreshing Vlog to have someone like yourself celebrate Bali and the people. Really liking the subtitles to the language, learni g a bit from each of your videos each day. Keep up the smiling and positivity Wayne....just awesome 😀🙏.
Thanks, Michael. really glad you're enjoying them. Cheers.
Another great video . Thank you!
My first time in Bali was in the early 80’s as a 19 year old. The airport was tiny and you exited onto the tarmac. The heat was unreal as from Melbourne we had not experienced that before. The crush of the bemo drivers trying to get your fare was a little scary. Our first time in a developing country was an eye opener and we wondered what we had got ourselves into. Dirt roads, tin shack markets and shops . No glass front places. No beach road. It was wonderful. I loved it and went back two more times in the eighties. One with my now husband of 35 years. Fast forward to 2022, we have now rediscovered Bali after spending a lot of years traveling to Thailand once our family was older. I love it and sort of wish we had gone back a lot earlier. To me the Balinese, their culture and architecture is what I love most.! Even though I did love going to Thailand, I don’t miss it as Bali has really recaptured my heart. 😊
Hey Sue. Great description of what it was like and as I also remember it in the eighties - you brought back a few memories. It's so nice you're able to reconnect with the island again.
My first visit to Bali was in 1978. Kuta was just a village and Legian area was all rice fields. It was peaceful and quiet and we rode pushbikes everywhere and any mushroom dish on a warung menu was magic mushrooms😮.
1978 would have been a great time to see Kuta and I'm a bit envious, sheldar..
Munduk is really cool/cold if you need a break from the heat.Beautiful lakes and waterfalls. I'm from a village down the hill from it😊
Sounds nice, Treestory. Thanks.
I first visited with the intent of ticking it off the list, nothing more. I was working out of Darwin at the time and thought it being close and cheap flights, I'd just do it ,believing I'd not probably enjoy it after all the stories of being hassled in the streets and shear numbers of people. In the week prior, I'd been very ill but still decided to go ,even if just to stay in bed and recover. well I can only say that the energy , the calmness and balance of the happy Balinese people touched something unexpected in me that I can't truly put into words , I returned 6 times in the next 5 10:36 months ,spent time with the people ,learnt about their culture, and a little language, like you Wayne just chatted to people in the street ,simply observing and appreciating never judging ,and have had some wonderfull adventures. I often try to imagine what the pre tourism bali , even prewar Bali must have been like, I'm sure a true paradise, there are some great early images available on line .Thank you for your efforts, your vlogs are so my style of interaction, the people simply amaze me and following your adventures always leaves me in a happy positive frame
Phil
Hi Phil.Thanks for that, good read. I too sometimes try to picture what Bali may have been like ages ago and I also watch the videos of early Bali. Thanks for taking the time, Phil.
Hi fiasco, I have recently been to Bali this year with my family for a short visit. What I felt is that Bali is a place to be explored more at a leisurely pace like you do to get a feel of the locals and their customs. This place is addictive for its laid back vibes and nature. I will definitely plan a longer trip maybe in the next couple of years.
Sounds like a great idea, hctaw.
Gday from Freo!! Love your daily vlogs Wayne you’re clearly a natural, I’m really enjoying your journey. 1992 was the first time in Bali with my footy team and back then I remember you got mugged everywhere you went with people trying to sell you stuff .. been many times since and the people make it so special there ❤ cheers Wayne
Hi Peter. thanks so much. I do remember a time when Kuta particularly was rampant with so many hawkers harassing you. I've not really spent much time in Kuta over recent years and not sure if the same still applies.Thanks for taking the time. Cheers.
@@fiascodagama1 Gday mate, definitely cleaned up a lot , no way near like it use to be
My first time in bali Wayne was 89 some years after you, It was my first time out of Australia, i went by my self and had a ball, i traveled up to Lovina, Kintamani, Tanalot, Gitgit falls, and Tulamben for a scuba dive on the Liberty wreck, i even took a yacht to Nusa Lembongan, the Bounty in Kuta was a wooden ship that you would enter on a wooden swing bridge back then.
It was not all that long ago but even in my time i have seen many changes, 16 years ago i met the love of my life a local lass from Denpasar and we have been married 14 years now and have a 13 year old daughter together, we are building a house in Sanur now and will be moving there for good in january 25 as i will be retiring, hope i haven't bored you, love your channel mate keep em coming, cheers👍🏻
Hey Jonesy. That's some first trip to take by yourself - you covered a fair bit of ground. and congratulations on 14 years of marriage, the prospect of retiring, and the new build. You live a full life by the sounds of things. And no, you haven't bored me at all - quite the opposite! Thanks for the tales.
First time in Bali was 1980 when I was 11. I instantly fell in love! We stayed at Segara Village Hotel in Sanur, it was a very cheap hotel then! I had blonde hair and the Balinese were constantly touching my arms and hair 😅. One jaw dropping memory that really stands out was when our driver took us to a cock fight 😮 We went in Jan 1980, we came home and immediately booked again for Dec 1980 ❤️
Hey salram. 1980 must have been a wonderful time to see Bali. And it sounds like many of us just kept coming back. Thanks for taking the time, sal.
Selemat Sore, Wayne. Senang mendengar bahasa indonesia berbicara bahasa mereka. Dulu saya tingal di Indonesia sudah berberapa tahun lagi, 1970s i studied Balinese dance in Ubud(never get tired of your stories there) & met an American man fluent in Indonesian, desperate to speak English, who lived in Indonesia for 25 years & off we went traveling all over Indonesia, esp Sumatra, for one year. Returned over and over and spent a lot of time in the lesser Sundas, living on the island of Timor, where I learn to speak Bahasa out of necessity. The Timorese have such a unique sound when speaking Indonesian. Really enjoy listening to all the locals speaking Bahasa Indonesia. Were u in a public or private school field trip at 18? Lucky u live so close. No place like Ubud! 🌻🐾🍁🍀💃
Hi Liz That's seems like a great experience to have studied dance here and to travel for a year seeing more remote areas like the lesser Sundas and Timor. Thanks for taking the time to tell us of your travels. I went to Bali in 1985 with some friends independent of any schools - it was just a few young friends wanting to go to Bali for a holiday. I agree there's no place like Ubud. Thanks again, Liz.
I only went to Bali for the first time about five years ago ..I associated it with the Kuta drunken revelry scene which is not my style ...but when I came here I discovered that there is so much more to Bali than Kuta scene! I have been three times now and it definitely has got under my skin and is calling me !! Going back again next year ..can't wait!!
Hey, that's great, leanne. I think it's often a misconception that the Kuta scene and similar places is all there is to Bali. I'm glad you found out there was more to the place.
SNAP, like you my first trip to Bali was in 1985 with mates from school. Have been back many times since including last month with one of the 1985 school mates. Love your videos!
Hey lindsey. Cheers. You didn't spend any time in Bunbury growing up, did you?
Nice vlog again Mr prolific. It's becoming a nightly ritual now to check out what you have uploaded today. Your word of the day is 'yang mana' = which one. The lady selling the jajanan (small cakes) asked you yang mana.
Ah, OK. Thanks. Your daily words are words that are very useful in my day to day goings on. Cheers, Daniel.
I travelled to Bali in 95. I climbed the volcano, went to Lombok, and had a fantastic time. I thought I would never go as it was ticked off the list, however my close friends recently talked me into going over again for the month of September just gone. Well what a revelation again. Im in love with Bali. I would love to live there. Being there a month was perfect for getting into the grove and really making good connections both with local and travellers. I stayed in Canggu this time and I absolutely love it . I have been to Ubud both times and it is very special. A must vitis for us when in Ubud is the amazing vegan restaurant/cafe: Zest. Bali has Such beautiful people all over the place. It can be confronting on different levels but it really is a magical place. Love your videos from a more mature persons perspective. Cheers from New Zealand
Hey Dean. i've met people who have reconnected with Bali after a period of not considering it at all for a long time and I'm a bit jealous in a way as you get to fall in love with the place all over again. Thanks for taking the time. Cheers
70s was basically pre plastic so place was a lot cleaner without all that litter and plastic bags. Kuta was starting to get big but elsewhere you could live in a hut on the beach for peanuts, and the surfing was great, clean water, just the odd floating coconut you had to watch out for. Ive still got souvenir paintings I traded for a Golden Breed branded shirt and a couple of dollars. And magic mushroom shops were everywhere in Kuta, lots of tourist pubs/ cafes in Kuta in the 70s too. But I also remember not getting hassled for a bemo or jig a jig like I was constantly when I visited in the late 80s.
You conjure a great image, Ian. thanks.
And I stayed at a place cant remember now a little past Legian, they left us a thermos of unsweetened black tea and bananas for breakfast outside our villa doors every morning. If you didnt get up early enough the monkeys would steal your bananas.
@@ian-f5f I loved the flasks of tea outside your door. the little lamps you were given to walk around with at night. Simpler times.
Similar to you Wayne! First trip was 1990 with mates as a 20 year old, lots of drinking and partying. Can’t stop going back, these days for the Plants, Stone Carvings, Wood Carvings, Culture, etc! 🌴🌺🌸🥰
It impacted a lot of us as younger people, didn't it. We were infected at first sight.
You learn something new every day-it appears we are the same age-but you look much younger than me 😊
Never get sick of watching your videos-thanks Wayne.
Thanks Julia. I don't think I've ever been told I look younger than someone so I'll take it. :)
Salamat malam Mr Wayne!!! Thanks for the videos. My first visit to Bali was similar to yours, I was 18, it was 1988 and it was my first International travel without my parents. I went with a buddy and we had the best holiday. The sounds, the smells, the humidity, the food..Peanuts Pub Crawl, The Sari Club and Double Six (which in those days was considered a long way from Legian). But the most memorable part was the local Balinese, so beautiful, accommodating, polite and friendly. I have returned to Bali about 20 times since and most recently in March 2024 when I spent 6 weeks travelling the island by scooter. It was amazing!!! Surfing in Medewi, Fishing in Lovina, Sunrise at Mt Batur, Coffee in Kintamani (beautiful Kintamani), Besakih Temple, Diving on the Japanese Shipwreck in Amed, Virgin Beach in Candi Dasa....so many amazing places! Next trip booked for March 2025! Keep the Videos coming please.
Wow. you've sure covered some ground and seen a bit here, Jay. Thanks for taking the time.
My first time was '80. Very young, blond and skinny 😂 and up for the adventures, all of them and there were plenty of them to be had 😂 Used to stay in a little place on Poppys Lane, surf, sun, not much traffic, no a/c airport, not much refrigeration so Bali Belly often. I have grown with the place and now look for different, quiter experiences these days. I still go and ❤ Bali. Thanks for my favourite 🎶🎹 at the beginning. Take care 🙏
Hey Sandie. I really like the term "grown with the place". Yes, our experiences here change over time but our affection for the place remains firm.
Hi, just discovered u & enjoying your daily videos. I live in Melbourne & I first visited Bali with my family in 2016 & was hooked! Will be my 11th trip next month & have already been in April this year. I just love the people, weather, food & culture. I just love it there & feel so happy & and sense of calm. Wish I knew as much Bahasa as u. Love your friendly attitude too. 😍
Hi Megan, thanks for taking the time to say hi. You're certainly a regular to Bali now it seems and how exciting to only be a few weeks away from another trip. That sense of calm being here is very real for me also - it's kind of a comforting place, isn't it? Cheers.
Me and the wife first went to Bali in 2016, stayed a month and stayed in Sanur, Ubud, Munduk, Pandang Bai, Gili Air, Gili T then Kuta. We had a ball and fell in love with the place, our favourite places are Sanur and Ubud, but I also really enjoy Padang Bai.
Hi Sonny, I think Padang Bai is my favorite place after Ubud. You covered a few bases on your first trip.
@@fiascodagama1 👍
The first time I went, you still walked across the tarmac when you disembarked from your flight. No taxis, only bemos. The old Denpasar market was fantastic, and insanely cheap. The drains were still open in Kuta. Ubud was still quiet and beautiful. Etc etc.
Beyond all that, the first and strongest memory I have from all my many stays there, is the smell. It's unique to Bali, because their "open air" religious practice means incense is always on the breeze. That, coupled with cooking smells, flowers, and those open drains ... it's just so powerful. Nowhere else smells like Bali. Not even neighbouring countries with similar cultures. Not even Java. And weirdly, you grow to love that unique smell. I haven't been back for years, but I remember the smell like it was yesterday.
PS: I've never stayed in Kuta. Legian was as close as I got, and it was a separate town back then. Open fields between it and Kuta. I spent the majority of my time in the north and north west. Far from tourism. I used to go to the cinema in Singaraja, and watch cheesy Indian movies badly dubbed in Bahasa 😅.
Thanks, pm. You've brought back some memories - I'd forgotten about the open drain smell mixed in with everything else. Your first experience was considerably different to many others which suggests you go about things in interesting ways. Type of person who'd be good company over a Bintang or kopi Bali I'd wager. Appreciate it.
My first time to Bali was approx 2009. Did the typical tourist trip with my partner at the time. Spent most of the time around Legian and it was ok. I then returned 3 years later and the change in infrastructure was massive, even in that short period of time. I also got to explore a lot more. Spent more time in Ubud, Canggu, Gilli’s and Lembongan and ever since fell in love with Bali. I would regularly return between 2013 and 2019 then Covid happened, but returning this year and can’t wait to see old friends…
You mentioned the smell of Bali, that is one memory that lasts with me, I try and describe it to people as a mixture of incense, rubbish, bbq, tropical flowers mixed with the humidity and it’s Bali.
That's a pretty good description of the smell for me also, MWN24. I also think there was a sizable shift in development and tourist numbers around 2009/10, or it certainly seemed so. Appreciate you taking the time.
Pagiii Wayne! Good to see ya! First time in Bali for me was '94; was a 3-day stopover on the return leg of my Garuda flight itinerary back to UK after doing my 12 month backpacking visa thing in Australia. No idea why it was scheduled on there but I'm glad as it was such an eye-opener. Only stayed in Kuta but the sights, sounds, smells, the food, the Balinese craft shops selling wooden handcrafted items but also trying to sell you magic mushroom omelettes, all pretty out there for someone who'd only been in the western travel bubble. Chaotic but calm at the same time. Next time i went back was 2011 and been going on and off since. Actually flying in for a couple of weeks next month; pending volcano ash conditions. Hopefully I get stuck there. Wouldn't be a bad thing :) Cheers.
Ha! "hopefully get stuck there.." Sometimes unplanned schedules work out for the best it seems. I also like the "chaotic but calm" phrase as it kinda fits in many ways for some parts of Bali.
1983 , my brother Thomas was involved in the Casablanca in Kuta , we had a wild time young and wild , he than had another bar ,Pink Panther , and last month I stayed in Sanur , more my speed now 🙄🤗
My goodness, Casablanca? I remember it well. It was our evening spot in 1985 - we had some great nights there.
@@veronicabatteham9864 Peanuts club was our go to. No aircon the first year we went in the earlier 80’s. So much dancing and sweating. Awesome time.
@@suetwyford1216 Peanuts was the follow up after Casablanca. I met the owner (I forget his name) about ten or so year ago - he was still wearing his hat and boots. :)
My first visit in the early 80s a young girl took us to her home up in the jungle, Very basic of course but lovely family, very welcoming. The children worked at restaurants and I'm sure she told me if your family wanted you to become a nurse or work at a hotel they had to pay more for her education. Not sure if it is the same now. I also found out what Sex Wax was, as I had never heard of it!! For surfboards, who knew.
I still don't know what Sex Wax is - those surfers are one kinky lot. :)
I studied Bahasa in school for 4 years in the 80's. Flew right over Indonesia a stack before 2013 when the got a job in Darwin with flexible time, 20 days on 10 off, flights to DPS $100ish each way. Over the next two years got very familiar with south of DPS. Started off in 4 star hotels for $25-30 a night, ended up preferring bamboo fan rooms for $3. The friendliest most genuine people in SE Asia.
Hey Ghekko. There'd be a few envious at $100 airfares - nice. I also relate to the low-budget style of accommodation choice as well. Cheers.
@@fiascodagama1 acclimatization is the biggest single cost saving measure living in the tropics. Takes some doing especially first time, but your body does get used to it & the adjustment gets down to just a few days. Saves a motza on hotels, power bills, transport (motorbikes always cheaper than cars) & opens up travel to many regions where there just isn't AC.
My first trip to Bali was about 35'ish years ago. My mum & I ran our family travel agency together in Perth, so it was a travel educational (freebie) for 2 days, 1 night.
Best part was that my best friend from Perth (we grew up together) was living in Bali with her Indonesian husband. When she drove me to her house, the police pulled us over and asked for her licence to drive a tourist, which of course, she didn't have such a licence. I was sitting in the back with the dog. She tried to explain that we were friends etc but he wouldn't have a bar of it. A nice, subtle handshake with the officer (rupiah handshake), we were on our way 😅 I miss the cheap bribes 🤫🤐😂 That was a fabulous introduction to Bali for me, having your bestie there and seeing how the locals lived. I learnt so much in such a short space of time. I fell in love with Bali then.
Hey jenny. that's a great story of your first trip to bali and no doubt one you're unlikely to forget.
Me again. I lived and worked in Jakarta 1972-76, so came to Bali several times then - VERY different, of course, the whole experience of living in the Indonesian culture(s) has more or less informed how I've thought about different cultures since then. Then came back again in mid-90's, with my wife and my £10 Pommie sister. We had happy times around Ubud, bought lots of sculpture and stuff for the garden, had it shipped home to UK, 2 cubic metres, some of it still survives! Been back several times since then, including two months earlier this year. We move around quite a lot as we enjoy lower-key stuff more, and snorkelling in the Gili islands. Will be back for a couple of months in Jan/Feb '25, introducing my sister's now 50+ year old son and his family to Bali, will be spending some time in Ubud, of course. (As well as Legian for the kids, Candidasa for his wife, then back to Legian to watch some cricket in a sports bar before we head off to the islands again. Enjoy your trip back to Perth. [By the way, I learnt Bahasa back in the '70s, reasonably proficient, and it was a joy to come back in the '90s and find that my rusty Bahasa came back since then. Keep practising your Bahasa too🙂
Hi kmcp. I must thank you as you're the reason we have this plethora of stories of people's first experiences in Bali. Working, living, and traveling in Indonesia in the seventies must have been a unique experience and it fair to say I'm somewhat envious. Thanks, kmcg.
My first trip was in 1984 - celebrating the completion of my nursing training. I stayed in legian- still have the old photos of the Denpasar market and Kuta streets and markets. So much simpler back then less tragic, hardly any scooters on the roads and less rubbish littered on the side of the roads.
Still a beautiful island with beautiful sincere people.
I love looking at photos of the area from back then, Aly. I also remember the place with a slower vibe to it - it was all so wonderfully different then.
My first experience in Bali was when my boyfriend and I were invited by a friend to hold a Balinese wedding ceremony in her garden in Kerobokan. It was love at first sight!
What a loveley gesture to offer you such a beautiful place and style of wedding.
Hi Wayne, mum was born in Bunbury but no we never spent time there only traveled through.
Oh, OK. Thanks.
My first times was only 3 years ago.
I hated it. Spent two weeks in Kuta/Legian.
I’ve since been back 4 times since discovering Sanur.
I've heard similar stories of others not exactly loving their first trip to Bali but eventually finding a place that suits them. Glad you found your place, Meold.
I remember when we arrived that we had to walk across the tarmac into a shed with no aircon for immigration. As we drove to the hotel, there were open drains with water running through them and I noticed one guy washing himself just a bit down a guy peeing in the water and bit further down a woman washing her clothes. I thought christ do we have to pee there as well. lol. I remember the locals never pushed for you to buy anything. Kuta beach was flat with pure white sand. most roads were dirt. I loved how the food carts were everywhere. I nightclubs were great and so were the pub crawls. I always wonder who put my name down for the drinking race cause I never did lol Oh the best thing were the cassette shops spent a lot of time in there buying tapes. I miss those old days oh dont forget the fantastic bemos
I for one missed the food carts when they were removed from around Kuta - such a shame. Thanks Jos.
My first time to Bali was in 1979 for three weeks when I was 22. Airfare, losman accommodation and breakfast (very ripe banana and tea in a rusty flask) included. I knew I was in for something different from Sydney from the moment I saw cows grazing next to the runway as we landed and an airport worker refueling a plane with a kretek hanging out of his mouth. The main reason for going was to surf ... and we did that every day at breaks like Jl Padma, Kuta reef, Medewi and Uluwatu. Surfing plus sightseeing on a 125hp trail bike left us exhausted and after having a whole bbq reef fish, a big bowl of nasi goreng and bottles of Bintang we just crashed though we did try some magic mushies once and used up a box of matches watching whitewater on the beach, getting entangled in spider webs and eating about 2L of ice cream. Been back many times with my girlfriend/wife, friends and eventually two daughters. Where I stayed the first couple of trips at Legian there were only coconut fields behind the beach - a good place to learn to ride a bike before going to Denpasar to be tested for a license which included a written road rule test (and someone kindly telling you the answers). The streets were virtually pitch black and very quiet apart from the music coming from the Rum Jungle club and the growls from marauding packs of dogs. Even though I've been multiple times, getting off the plane is the same - the heat, the smell of kreteks/incense, the sound of gamelan and the palpable energy of life in the air.
That's a great picture you've painted, Brad. Thanks so much. It's weird how even though a lot has changed here that feeling stepping off the plane as the senses are hit stays the same. That was a good read. cheers.
I now live here and what we see as bule. Is more building better roads and "progress" what the Indonesians see is completely different. I try to see Bali their way(:-)
Hi MrT. I think perspective is important and I completely understand how locals would be grateful for the infrastructure, health services, and perhaps improved quality life that has come with increased tourism. Cheers
1st time in 1994 and never left 😁 best life choice. Of course things changed. Some for the better some for the worse. But that also applies for my native country Belgium.
Ha! And never left? That's knowing you've found your place. Nice.
We got caught up in the October 2011 earthquake on our first visit to Bali, quite an experience.
That's a first time experience that will stay with you for a while, sreach.
Haha that guy that shook your hand said his name was The Elephant (gaja) 😂
70.s and 80.s was.real paradise.
1500rp a.night Losmens, couldnt spend $20 a day. I think i was getting 670rp to the dollar in 78. Most things could buy with a coin. I remember going surfing at turtle island in a horse& cart from kuta 😂
Yeah, i got the feeling they were having a bit of fun with me.
I was flying back to the UK from Darwin in 1988. I had hitch hiked from Melbourne up the gold coast I got as far as Charters Tower which took about a week and stood there for a couple of days with no lift . The police pulled over and advised me to take a bus as there had been a murder recently on that road by a hitch hiker. I told them I had no money so they took me into town to the salvation army who fed me and got me a bus ticket to Darwin and gave me $20 spending money. I had a couple of days in Darwin living on the street where I got sandwiches each day from the local church . I then had a 3 day stopover in Bali. (Garuda airlines) I had no money except the exit tax . I asked the bloke sitting next to me on the plane if I could have his snack that they gave out as he had refused his. We got chatting and he gave me $50 plus a big load of Indonesian change. I slept for 3 nights in a large shelter that was right outside the airport in Kutu. I vowed I would one day go back to Bali haven't made it yet.
Wow. what a ride, wl, great story.That's some hardcore travel right there and an indication that you could get by on not much at all if required. I hope you get the chance to get back to Bali at some point. Thanks again for the travel tale.
Haha f*ck, that 3 day stopover must have been some Indo/ Garuda tourism incentive! Just posted a similar thing! Hope you make it back ;)
First trip with the lads in 1988 still go back with the same boys at least once every 5 years to drink Bintang on the beach at sunset. A lot less stupidity than the old trips though.
A lot less stupidity but I reckon a few well told tales of times gone by.
Its Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Oh it must be time for a ceremony. no disrespect, that's life in Bali
Hey Silvio. I have to admit I don't know of anywhere else that is as committed to their beliefs by action than Bali. it's quite incredible . Cheers.
@@fiascodagama1 yes, its as regular as beer o'clock. stay well.
Hope first comment stays up as it tells me....failed to post😡
I don't think it did, Vicko. That's frustrating for you, I'm sure.
Are you retired😊
I guess you'd say semi-retired. I don't work any more in a traditional sense.
I think you should make it more clear that you are reporting about a very small area of Bali (i.e. Ubud area) which is not really representative for the whole island. I would very much welcome if you would venture out of your "comfort" zone a little more to show the whole picture and to therefore avoid repetitive content.
Yes, daily vlogging in one small place runs the risk of repetition and as I mentioned in my "Leaving Bali" vlog few days ago, when i return I'll be doing a tour of the island. Thanks for your patience, TF, and I hope you find those videos a little more engaging.. Thanks for your thoughts.