My first trip to Bali was 1982 and it nearly knocked me out from the moment the aircraft door opened. The humidity and the smell is something I've come to love but back then it was like a physical and sensory wall. I was one of the thousands of surfers in the early 80's that made the trek, spurred by the iconic surf flick "Morning of the Earth". I could go on about the way things used to be but the same could be said of beautiful places all around the world.
Eventually Bali became a leaping point for me, a couple of days or nights here and there to facilitate my explorations of Nth. Sumatra down through to the south eastern part of the archipelago, Sumbawa, Sumba.
The last two years I have made several trips to Bali, in particular, to decide if it is a place that I could live and I'm now about to commit to 12 months of living (not visiting) to help me make my decision.
There are lots of things to dissuade me but the tourist pits have actually provided me with a new perspective.
They are simply not the reason that I have ever travelled to Bali and it tends to keep my Aussie yobbo compatriots in a few small pockets. Good luck to 'em.
I hope that I don't come across as holier than thou because I really do understand that once you visit a place like Bali, despite all its faults, you just wan't to return.
For me, it's got into my blood. The people, the history et al.
In 12 months time I might decide that it's not for me. But I won't know until I give it a committed try.
Here I go.
Eventually Bali became a leaping point for me, a couple of days or nights here and there to facilitate my explorations of Nth. Sumatra down through to the south eastern part of the archipelago, Sumbawa, Sumba.
The last two years I have made several trips to Bali, in particular, to decide if it is a place that I could live and I'm now about to commit to 12 months of living (not visiting) to help me make my decision.
There are lots of things to dissuade me but the tourist pits have actually provided me with a new perspective.
They are simply not the reason that I have ever travelled to Bali and it tends to keep my Aussie yobbo compatriots in a few small pockets. Good luck to 'em.
I hope that I don't come across as holier than thou because I really do understand that once you visit a place like Bali, despite all its faults, you just wan't to return.
For me, it's got into my blood. The people, the history et al.
In 12 months time I might decide that it's not for me. But I won't know until I give it a committed try.
Here I go.