Thread: Tina's Bali Love

Tina

So......what happened?

Well Jen I'll try to make a long story short.

Went over in 1981 with four girls our first overseas holiday. We were deciding were to go. We were all surfies - 60 minutes from the famous Gold Coast we did you expect. We were looking at South Africa - surf then one of the girls suggested Bali - 'where' we said then looked at the prices and were won over.

We went in August with no expectations just to have a good time. Meet up with some locals. One was a DJ in Denparsar part time and a uni student. One was a player in the surfing scene over their and the other was a fisherman from Benoa.
What a wonderful time. We have a ball, partying, riding bikes, surfing, drinking. We fell in love with Bali. Well I did. When leaving Wayan promised to keep in touch and to my surprise he wrote etc. I went back quite a few times over the next three years tlkng varous different friends.

Anyway after three years he did not want to come to Australian and even though I loved Bali I really couldn't see myself living thee. I obviously didn't love it as much as home. One of the guys did finally marry an Australian and got to Australia only to hate it. He lasted a couple and then he and his Australian wife went back to Bali.

I started going to other parts of SEA. Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. I loved Thailand reminded me of Bali out of all the other places I had been.'
Went back to Bali in 1991 before I married.

I was married to a voilent manic depressive who demolished our house with a crow bar and told me if I was there it would have been me.

Then from 2000 - 2003 I looked after his son because he was really sick and on the run from the police and mental health.

With everything over and just recovering finances I had the opportunity to go to Bali in March with only a months notice. A woman who I had meet at work said she always wanted to go to Bali and brings things back and sell them. I had that idea from early in the 80's but decided I wanted to do it so I did.

What rejuvenated me was that the people had not changed.

You have certainly been through the wringer!

When you were in Bali in March, did you see the ole Bali flame from years before?

Are you holidaying in Sept or trying to set up a work thing?

First went to Bali in 83 with 2 of my best mates. Eeeek! they were the
days of partying all night, shopping, eating, swimming and touring all day! Had to have a holiday when we came back. Ah the memories, how things have changed over there.

Jen a woman after my own heart. I was there in '83 we probably run into each other at Rum Jungle I was there all the time drinking Arak at night. Unfortunately no I did not see Wayan. I thought that he would have a life, wife and children now. But I did see Nyoman who was at the first place I stayed at in Bali. That was Joni's in Jalan Padma. He still works there today.

In September I am spending the first week buying with some other people from Brissy and then ther for a week by myself. It is the only place I would consider going/staying by myself.

Even though quite a few years older I still feel 20 when I am in Bali.

Yes

We stayed at Kuta Village Inn, back when there was no pool, no surrounding hotels and all the staff lived out the back in this one room, which at the time we thought was hilarious. Our drinking holes at the
time were the old Peanuts, Koala Blue, Kangaroo Bar, Gado Gado (which seemed to be in the back of bourke at the time). I remember catchin an open aired bemo, and bush bashin through coconut trees through Seminyak to get there! They were special times. It was our first trip overseas and when we got back, couldn't wait to save up and go again.

Those were the days when Legian was in the bush. Yes we went to Peanuts and a couple of bars where there was live music. Wayan was a muso and he use it get me to write down words to songs his band wanted to sing. We also use to hang out in Denpasar with Wayan in a shop. A shop a mother would send her child to buy some.....ah rice. We would sit along the front of the counter like a bar and drink Arak and eat from the vendor outside. That time I had taken a couple of male friends along and we had meet up with another guy from Perth who was just a crazy as us. I have a picture of us sitting at the bar in my bedroom - love it.

Do you still go to Bali.

Many times since then. Did a 3 year stint working there. Haven't been
for a few years now, have doing a lot of travel in Oz. Sort of all Bali - ed
out, but looking to go next May.