MiSO
I have been on the forum quite often this week, yep I admit..I don;t have a life :D A week ago I decided not to be present at my friend's 40th birthday in Europe and go directly to Bali from Thailand. What was I thinking, going back to the cold for a week!The visa mission's completed now and I am arranging my stay and transport from the airport.It's been a tough week, I have been sick since I ate grilled fish (5 days ago), I could hardly leave my room, but I had to organise stuff for Bali, going to the Embassy, travel agency, bank...pfff... and no one to call to because it was always night in Europe when I needed a chat :cry: Boehoe...Haha..So basically the forum was my best friend to turn to ... I feel nervous...very nervous...I have never had a blind date before, but Bali feels as my first blind date. What it's (he's) like? As on the picture, as in the description, as in the reviews of others? Will I be able to have my own lifestyle or do I have to adjust too much? Will it (he) be my one and only? For 6 months, for a year, until "death do us part"? Let's see how things go and flow, starting by step 1: Landing safel[b]y[/b] on Bal[b]y[/b]Me and Mr. Bali...[b][color=#FF40FF]In love?[/color][color=#FF4000]Engaged?[/color][color=#FF0000]Married?[/color][color=#000040]Divorced?[/color][/b]To be continued in the next episode...
spicyayam
Good luck with the move. What did you think of Thailand?
MiSO
Euhm...euhm...I was in the north, middle and islands in the south and BKK. Spent in total 5 months in Thailand. -I loved the North, especially its people, but it was too cold for me. And it was very smokey in March. Chiang Rai Province.-Khao Ngu near Ratchaburi I was about the only foreigner, I liked it, for several weeks.-Hua Hin/ Cha-am - bweeeh...Hua Hin = Europetown-BKK = BKK, love the facillities, public transport, crafts material. But too much air and noise pollution.-Koh Samui- no thank you-Koh Phangan- nice, little, relaxed (the westside)-Phuket- no thank you. Resorts, resorts, taximafia. I thought the mentality of the Thai people was aggressive, definetely not the land of smile.I had a couple of conversations with Thai people about their country and they were worried about the changing mentality of the Thai. I think you can compare it with Kuta and other saturated areas of Bali. Loads of tourists, and money, change people. I think this is normal. Thailand is ok, but to live here...mmm...I don't know, the visa runs, the sound of the language.. is not very appealing to me.
mimpimanis
-Koh Phangan- nice, little, relaxed[/quote]I spent some time there in the 80s.... I wonder how it has changed. It was my favourite place in Thailand. Least favourite place was an island that had just opened up to tourism, Jum. And I have never heard of anyone visiting there since... and find no info on it on Lonley Planet's TT so I am guessing it didn't take off.
MiSO
Mimpimanis, I think you won't l recognise it...the Full Moon parties have become overly popular, that is the main activity there. And of course the Half Moon Parties (A Quarter Moon, Black Moon, No Moon...I'm just kidding) But it all is concentrated in the south between Thongsala and Haad Rin (where the parties are)The West t is nice (yoga & stuff), and the North is secluded (Bottle Beach is not easy to reach). Thongsala is also ok, it's quirky, but very ok ( I stayed there, very fine stay with a salt water pool and WIFI)[url="http://www.phanganisland.com/maps/index.php?edit_id="]http://www.phanganisland.com/maps/index.php?edit_id=[/url]I spoke an Aussie who lived there in the late 70s and he used to live on the tiny peninsula Koh Maa, he rented a basic stay from a fisherman. He told me it's a private terrain now.It's still a -peace- island, with artists, old hippies, but also an island with drugs, party, noise and mafia.About this JUM island: [url="http://www.google.com/search?q=jum+island+thailand&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:nl:official&client=firefox-a"]http://www.google.com/search?q=jum+isla ... =firefox-a[/url]
mimpimanis
Thanks for the links Miso. I have to admit I hadn't googled but I had searched on travel forums. We were rather uncomfortable with our Jum experience back then though we laughed about it later. We weren't the only ones, those we travelled out with left the next day... leaving me and mum alone and we lasted another 2 nights till we had to get out :shock: :lol: Looks like they have a bit more of a clue now which is good. It was(is) a beautiful island.
mimpimanis
I meant to add.... I am sure your relationship with Bali will be long and loving :D If you are down south sometime and fancy a coffee and chat drop me a PM :)
noodles
Thailand impressed me very much, Thai Royal airline,Spa,ladyboy and Royal place, It is one of the most impressive is Tsunamis, my friend's family had been killed and disappeared by the sea forever. No survivors... :cry:
waterdogs
my cousin, and her husband, disappeard forewer.... :cry: :cry: I also join this forum a lot... actually I should study... but once a evening i sneak into, to see whats up...... only 8 more days until we take of for Bali to make a [color=#0000BF]Marriage![/color] of the since 10 years ongoing [color=#BF0080]Love!...[/color]
MiSO
Mimpi, I couldn't be on Lombok without saying 'hi' to you...a cup a tea we'll share! Thailand impressed me very much, Thai Royal airline,Spa,ladyboy and Royal place, It is one of the most impressive is Tsunamis, my friend's family had been killed and disappeared by the sea forever. No survivors... :cry:[/quote]- am shivering...- my cousin, and her husband, disappeard forewer.... :cry: :cry: I also join this forum a lot... actually I should study... but once a evening i sneak into, to see whats up...... only 8 more days until we take of for Bali to make a [color=#0000BF]Marriage![/color] of the since 10 years ongoing [color=#BF0080]Love!...[/color][/quote]-am shivering again...-After I landed I was really calm... when I arrived at the airport, it all felt so familiar...the language, the people, the atmosphere... it all reminded me of papiamentu (language of Dutch Antilles) and the Phillippine language.. and I had Indonesian friends, so it felt quite normal... I hope you'll have an even more -hearted- continuation on Bali!
noodles
... only 8 more days until we take of for Bali to make a [color=#0000BF]Marriage![/color] of the since 10 years ongoing [color=#BF0080]Love!...[/color][/quote] :shock: Trust your wife's an angel! You're lucky, mine's still not been born.
MiSO
As I was thinking about my process on Bali, I remembered this topic I started. I have been on Bali for almost 2 months, and the fact that I am about to extend my visa tells me something is binding me to this island. Not sure exactly what it is yet. But to be honoust with me (and you)... I find life on Bali complicated and difficult. In other Asian countries it took me 1-3 days to feel "at home", and although I knew more about Indonesia (food, people, history) before arriving here, I am still not acclimatised after 2 months... For gudds sake MiSO...This confuses me and I try to understand why. One reason I came up with is the fact that I can not compare Bali with e.g. Thailand or the Philippines, because Bali is a (resort) island and Thailand & the Phills are a country. Phuket (or Boracay) vs. Bali would be a better comparison, even if Phuket is about 10x smaller. It is also the culture that is almost the opposite of how I am, which is more forward (and I am not) I had no problems to fit in Thailand, and even in vivid, joyful Manila I immediately felt as they all were my brothers and sisters. And I was treated that way. How come I don't have this feeling here? How come contacts with Balinese are somewhat rushed and superficial? Why do I have more contact, correction: a better contact with Western expats than locals? This is what really surprises me. Also on other continents I had no difficulties to connect with locals as I do here. Why oh why? Don't get me wrong, I am not criticising, just trying to understand the process.I have to confesss that I have been surfing for a ticket to Thailand last week. Just for a time-out from Bali. I longed for a place where life would be easier for me. Where I know people and people know me, where finding a house would not be an issue, where visa-hassle is less a hassle etc. etc... :wink: ...Bali Bali, what are you doing to me...? There is this attraction but it is so hard to get through to you......How I feel right now is that I need to take it step by step. I think I will be needing a break from Bali before my bigger break in June, because it is just too much to eat it at once. I am sure I am not the only one having newbie-difficulties on Bali. Can you recall how it was for you when you arrived on Bali? If you don't want to share publically, you can also PM me.[i]...The night is still sweet and made MiSO pour out her heart...[/i]Gracefully yours,MmmiSo
calitobali
For me personally I have found Bali to be extremely user-friendly...I can't compare it to any other overseas destinations as I have not traveled much besides visa runs to Singapore, but I found Bali easier to adjust to than I did in California when I moved there.The Balinese are definitely an interesting group of people...I know that you have been other areas besides the Kuta tourist areas, so I won't waste my breath telling you to get out of Kuta like I would say to many who are quickly disillusioned by Bali...maybe just give it some more time, or a break if you really need it. My impression from talking to other travelers and backpackers is that for my own personal reasons I would have a hard time getting as much value for both my money and/or time as I do in Bali in other countries.Just my 2 cents.
spicyayam
Miso, I would also suggest doing some more travel around Indonesia if you have the time/money. Thailand is clamping down on long stay tourists, so visas might be more of problem there. The Philippines has the best visa system. Have you been to Laos? Laos is a beautiful country and less affected by tourism than its neighbors.
MiSO
Your 2 cents were worth it C. Good to hear you're doing fine.Spicy:I heard about Laos, but somehow it doesn't whisper my name. I am actually done with traveling around. I am not a traveler by nature, you know. And for a break I probably go to a place I already know.Last Monday I went to areas Sukawati, Celuk, Denpasar, Kerobokan, Canggu, and driving around and being there made me feel really good. So I know it's there, somewhere. In the end things will sort out itselves and even finding a job would not be a problem (got an invitation to apply for one, but management=stress and that is not what I am here for!)I just hadn't expected that acclimatising on Bali would take me so long. I am slow, but this slow... Or am I just getting old... :roll: Haha...Good to hear your virtual voices, guys!And I am still interested in Bali-newbie-stories.
widder
MiSO I think the difficulty lies in matching our "hopes", "expectations" and "feelings" which are sort of intangible, to "reality" which is tangible. I almost feel (here's that word again) a sense of disloyalty when the reality of living in Bali (or Indonesia as such) makes me grumpy. Communication is so incredibly difficult due to cultural differences, as we verbalise our thoughts and show our feelings in different ways, which can be so frustrating, as there often tends to be that residual impression of being misunderstood. I hope you find what for you, personally, is the right balance. Maybe it's not so much a matter of "finding" it, but more of creating it.
MiSO
MiSO I think the difficulty lies in matching our "hopes", "expectations" and "feelings" which are sort of intangible, to "reality" which is tangible. I almost feel (here's that word again) a sense of disloyalty when the reality of living in Bali (or Indonesia as such) makes me grumpy. Communication is so incredibly difficult due to cultural differences, as we verbalise our thoughts and show our feelings in different ways, which can be so frustrating, as there often tends to be that residual impression of being misunderstood. I hope you find what for you, personally, is the right balance. Maybe it's not so much a matter of "finding" it, but more of creating it.[/quote]Dear Widder,This is a beautiful post, with a content larger than the text itself. Thank you. Hope is a tricky one, many of us survive by floating on hope. At the same you can drown in it or punch you in the nose. I don't walk on hope and expectations, because it can direct you to illusion & delusion. It just doesn't work for me.And you know, the easiest way is to look within yourself, and of course I have been questioning myself, after all the central factor is Me, Myself and MiSo. So the personal balance is basically between feelings and reality, and they go hand in hand. And reality...well, besides me it also involves a 2nd, 3rd, 4th... party. It is the interaction that creates reality and my 2-months-reality on Bali has given me (sometimes) not only heachaches, but also many questions. I can type down some examples of situations (that were really not OK) but I doubt if it matters. It think in the end, it is the combination that does or doesn't go well. Does the 'character' of an environment go with the person involved? Is this the right timing to combine? Will it work out eventually? Does it need a different approach? Or is it just too much hard work, and is a break, or even an ending, needed? You can create as much as possible, but God of Bali has to like you too, you know ;-)I guess I am being tested if I am a perfect fit for Bali. Or maybe it is me who likes to choose the hard way, the Masochist in MiSo...Anyway, this isn't done yet.Thoughtfully yours, and thanks again,MmmiSOPS.I am not sure if posts like this (personal) are meant for the public forum. But lately (after reading very old posts) I realise that BP is a special child. The founder had a different view on BP than other forum-initiators. What I also realise is that I show awfully lot of MiSo, but frankly, I don't give a...I don't care, this is the way it is.
