Ok Driver

Bert Vierstra

[quote]But I still remember that drive.. [/quote] Me too, my first drive from Kuta to Lovina in a bemo is something that I still remember well. First time in Asia and flabbergasted.... Yes, I too wish I could look at Bali as I saw it then, now its just home... Ah, when I sometimes here a story from a dutch tourist about "home" I feel good......

Tracey

Thought I might try to think of a new topic & start to get some interesting conversations happening... Only I am not sure where to start or what to discuss..... Maybe.... If anyone thinks there is something so amazing they have seen in Bali that they have never been able to forget, maybe from their first ever holiday/stay whatever!? Or their first strange incident/encounter etc...? Or something about Bali that may have been life altering etc, etc.... My first holiday was 9.5 years ago. I had to get out of Oz to clear my head etc, so my best friend & I travelled for 14 nights to Bali, we stayed at Ocean Blue in Gg Camplung Mas in Kuta/Legain. My friend hated Bali & I immediately loved it, I extended & she went home after 4 nights! I made some very close friends, I ended up staying for 8 weeks & booked my return trip the day I got home, mind you I finally told my partner of 6 years it was over for good! Never looked back, I was 21 & loving life! I kept returning & each & every time I fell in love with the people & place more & more, then I met my now husband! We have a 5yr old daughter & life is pretty good. My first trip coincided with Nyepi & I remember thinking it was amazing, I have been back in Bali for Nyepi atleast 4 more times. We are working hard now to save for our much anticipated return to Bali in next 5 years or so... I will never forget the drive from airport to Ocean Blue those 9.5 years ago, I was thinking..."What the hell have I done!" Now I am not even fazed when driving etc in Bali... But I still remember that drive.. Hope this has atleast started something for Driver to carry on with & others to join in with too.

modernprimitive

gidday all, i have been reading your forum pages since i arrived back in australia. my wife and i stumbled onto your forum after looking up houses for sale. anyway to add to this forum our first experience in bali 3 weeks ago has been mesmerizing for my wife and i. the smell the architecture, the people, mountains ,drivers the whole experience has been bloody awesome. we have a 2 yr old and a 6 yr old and we feel we want to experience bali in a lot more personal way ie: relocate. do you have any tips,suggestions etc. regards tony i have never been in a chat room or forum so i probably come across as an internet virgin (i am)

Bert Vierstra

Welcome mp. Everyone was a virgin once.

Tracey

I always turn any a/c off when or if we get the luxury of staying in a hotel or something in Bali. As I reckon it causes my dry sore throat. Those HUGE gutters pianted in black & white, I had not thought about them... But yes they are certainly different from home. Plus I love the way you walk into a shop to find the staff asleep, ypu want to sneak out to let them rest, just as you turn you hear "Yes, Hallo hab look, hab look!" Damn your busted & feel guilty for waking them up, so I always feel compelled to buy something then!!! :oops:

NiLuh

[b]Ocean Blue[/b] Hi, you said you first went to Ocean Blue, so did I but in 1997. Did you meet your husband @ Ocean Blue or somewhere else. I met my Husband @ Ocean Blue his name is Brett, his boss Wayan is married to an Australian too and many of the others all paired off with Aussies and now live in Australia on Central Coast NSW. Poor Sammy is the only one who was left in Bali and he married a Balinese. Here in Oz is Blackie, Eddie, Duckie, Geng (Sony), Pablo. Do you or your husband know any of these, they were all Sport Boys.

Tracey

Hi Ni.Luh.. I can recall some of those names but not faces.. So I cannot say for sure if I know them. I met my husband through some really close friends in Bali. He worked at the airport & then in a friends shop. I think it must have been about 1994 when I was at Ocean Blue some time around then anyways. When you return to Bali what are you planning to do?

NiLuh

[b]On returning to Bali[/b] We are hoping to start up our own business, I won't say what yet, as so many things get built and I don't want to jinx myself and get there and it's already been done.

Tracey

Cool, but may I ask whereabouts....? I may decide to come visit you when we get back there next!!! :wink:

NiLuh

[b]Living In Bali[/b] We will be living in Bjr Dewas Canggu, but the business will be in Canggu further down near the beach, our village is about 5 mins from beach by bike.

Tracey

Just thinking & I think I may know of your husband... I recall a Brett, he was thin (well they all are) but had fairly good (OCKA) English. After my first stay I encouraged my cousin & others to stay there as I was living behind my friends restaurant, did you know of Billy's Bar??? I lived behind there most of the times I returned to bali after my initial stay & so used to go to Ocean Blue for a swim... Where abouts in australia are you from? We are from Melb. I will see if I have any pic's at home of the Brett I am thinking of from Ocean Blue... I did hear he was going to Australia....! Hey if you ever went up to Billy's, we may have even shared a beer together, in 1997 I was in Bali until June & agagin in December for 8 months. I will have a look for a pic over the weekend...

NiLuh

[b]Brett[/b] Hi, Brett (Made), was very skinny with long hair, everyone used to get him and Sammy mixed up, but they didn't really look alike, just both skinny with long hair. He was a bit of a rat bag, always joking and getting drunk with the help of the tourists. I had been to the old Billy's Bar it's moved now and had quite a few Illusions and Araks, Billy was always a bit of a lady killer wasn't he. What a small world. We lived at Kincumber, just moved to Budgewoi on the Central Coast. We have rented our house out and moved to my parents holiday house to save money to move to Bali. We have friends from Melbourne that have moved up here so her husband can be near Made, as they grew up together, but when we move to Bali they will move back. She's from Hoppers Crossing. Made also has a friend named Duckie, married to Rachel, but not sure where they live, her brother is John Barnes who used to play for Essedon. Will be interesting if you have some photos. Keep me posted.

Jen

Hi NiLuh You must know Kate and Car (spelling could be wrong) in Budgewoi. I heard Kate has recently had another baby. Good luck with the planning for your return to Bali.

NiLuh

No I don't know that couple. We have only been in Budgiwoi for 3 weeks now. I don't know if they go to any of the Bali things we have up here, but there is so many people I may have meet them. It would be nice to meet them, it's always good for the boys to see other Balinese. Made and our friends go fishing all the time, he might like to join them. Let us know how we can get in contact with them, that's if they want to.