drbruce
Hi all,
After a 16 1/2 hour trip, we finally arrived in Bali from Sumbawa. My plans are to do a sunat ceremony for my son in Singaraja and then go down to Ubud on the 6th for one day, Kuta for one day on the 7th and then back to Sumbawa on the 8th. Roy, will you be around on the 6th?
Thorsten
[quote]Roy, will you be around on the 6th?[/quote]
Yes, but he will suffer a terible hangover on 6th :wink: 8)
best regards
Thorsten :twisted:
drbruce
Thorsten,
What did I miss here? Are you really on your way?
Roy
Dr. Bruce, I'll be tied up with a producer from the BBC flying in from London just after 12 noon. Sorry, but it looks like we are going to miss each other here in Bali once again! :( :( :(
Next time with luck! Have a great time :!:
drbruce
Too bad Roy. Good luck with the BBC. We'll try next time around.
Thorsten
[quote]What did I miss here? Are you really on your way?[/quote]
I'm here Bruce in Ubud now :lol:
drbruce
Sounds like you are having a good time. Enjoy yourself Thorsten. I never did make it down to Ubud. I'm back in Sumbawa after a classic trip home - cancelled flight to Lombok, buses full, hitching rides on motorcycles, but I made it back, battered a bit but greatly amused at the way I travelled.
Just a comment, don't know how you are finding it, but I was shocked at the lack of tourists in Kuta two days ago. Saturday night and the bars and restaurants were really empty. Only two tourists on the flight back to Lombok. The folks that I talked to were quite depressed about the lack of business. Really very sad to see.
Tommy
Yes, there's indeed a rough road lying ahead for many business-folks in tourism, although, in a way i think it's positive for Bali to become less dependant on tourism. This does not mean i overlook all the negative aspects going on. My view on things, i guess, is abit optimistic. I feel that something positive comes out of everything even if the ride there can be rough at times.
Roy
Dr. Bruce writes:
[quote]Just a comment, don't know how you are finding it, but I was shocked at the lack of tourists in Kuta two days ago. Saturday night and the bars and restaurants were really empty. Only two tourists on the flight back to Lombok. The folks that I talked to were quite depressed about the lack of business. Really very sad to see.[/quote]
Yes Dr. Bruce, this is sadly very true. Even the Balinese, who can put a good face on Rhangda, are having trouble being optimistic.
RCTV has run a few programs recently dealing with this issue. But, once again, as in after the 2002 bombing, the Balinese are learning to rely less and less on tourism.
Many of their expensive acquisitions, acquired when "the days were good" are now for sale.
My wife agrees with many balions and priests who point at these times as a "passive lesson" for what could come in the future. She, and they, (the balions and priests) agree that the Gods are very kind to the Balinese, but if they don't listen, then look out!
Whatever that means, I don't really know. But there is an "air" of despondence in Bali right now and its been around ever since October 2002.
Roy
Yah Tommy, I guess I painted a rather glum picture. I guess I should have searched for a more balanced view.
One thing is for certain...come hell or high water, the Balinese will survive. While depression has, in my view, set in, these amazing folks carry on each and every day. I see this all the time with my wife, and her family, as well as within my whole village.
Luckily, in my family, no one has lost their job, or means of livelihood. But others, many others, have. Empty hotels and resorts cannot afford to keep the full staff on, with pay. No one in my immediate family works in this industry, but many of their cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. do. And, they are hurting.
Right now though, as I live and breathe Bali, it's depressing and it won't be until April, the earliest start of the dry season, that prospects are likely to improve. If I was pressed to describe Bali right now, I would say without doubt....it’s dark.
Speaking of breathing...I think you are smart, now being in a cold and dry air climate. I swear, everyone I know is going through a constant "cold" or what some have called, "the constant Bali Flu.” Very few “bule” living here that I know aren’t going through this “Bali flu” which is climatic, (I hope). This wet season has been remarkably tough, and the worst is yet to come, in February, or so say the meteorologists.
But hey! Ask me if I’m ready to leave Bali? No freeking way, and in Lucifer’s best wet dreams! Bali is not the “garden of Eden” but it is the “garden of growth.” It’s amazing to me how many people on this forum understand that, and it’s equally amazing to me how many disparate parts of our planet these people come from.
OK...that's enough "soapboxing" for me in one night.
Salam melakum for those who will honor Idul Adah tomorrow. May this important day to honor Mohammed be spiritually rewarding, and enlightening.
Thorsten
While in Ubud it was really quit, Lovina here is almost dead.
Walked along the street with the bars last night and in none puv was any customer - [b]nobody ![/b]
Sitting on the bar as the only guest, I was speaking with the stuff there, the bar tender was desperate and almost crying!
He told me, the last three days he sold 2 beers, 2 fruitjuices and 1 cocktail!
Well I helped him a little bit :wink:
Yesterday, by visiting my sponsored kids, I have seen another bloody reality here on Bali, impossible to describe this by words.
Sad Bali now :cry:
best regards
Thorsten
Jimbo
Thanks Roy
Although not a Moslem one cannot help but be overawed at the shear happiness of those here doing the Haj at Makkah.
Geko
Hello everyone, had many years in the 90's and more recently mid 2014 on and off in Bali. I have posted twice already and othwerwise I reading the forum with interest, take care and thanks,
Geko
