I love Bali

Blowin's picture
Blowin started the topic in Thursday, 19 Mar 2015 at 6:55pm

I love Bali.

You wouldn't think that such a thought could be controversial . But it is.
Many people don't love Bali, in fact they proclaim to hate it. Bemoan what it has become, it's lack of purity, it's lost innocence.

Sure, I can see their point. I can't imagine anywhere on Earth that has been transformed as radically as Bali over the last thirty years. From rice paddies and coconut groves to six story discotheques . It's totally unrecognisable in the most built up areas.

But that's not what this post is about. It's about why I LOVE Bali.

I love Bali because ...

- it's still the home of an intense cluster of world class waves. Roping lefts : Uluwatu, freight train right barrels : Sanur, backlit mega tubes : Padang Padang. Rip able reefs, fun beachies. Short , slabby pits and long mellow points. River mouths and bombies. It's got the lot.

- it's still possible to get uncrowded quality waves in 2015 when it seems as though the entire planet has discovered surfing. I was trading crystal clear , rolling right walls with only two other surfers just this morning.

- it's still freaking beautiful. Watching the mist reveal Mt Agung in that unique Bali morning light from a black sand beach as the sun comes up is still special.

- the food is amazing. Walking around town building up a hunger and knowing that at any given time you are within shouting distance of fresh, exotic and delicious meals with enough variety to make your head spin is priceless.

- the Balinese are legends. Friendly, happy and always keen for a joke. Unfailingly polite and welcoming. Healthy, spiritual and decent.

- the Balinese surfers rip their waves and they still own them. A visiting Brazilian would not think twice to drop in on an Aussie local at Kirra. But you won't see the same in Bali. The Balinese surfers are treated with the respect they deserve. Because as everyone knows, if they are not treated with respect there is consequences.

- the water is so warm it's like swimming in silken angels tears.

- telling people that you are going to Bali will often elicit a response along the lines of ......"why would you go to that traffic ridden, noisy shithole ?" And then as you're kicking back with a Bintang watching the sunset over Uluwatu you can imagine them sitting at lights in their car on their way home from work in Perth. Which , for those that have never been , is a noisy , traffic ridden shithole. And this makes me laugh. Which is something I enjoy doing.

- The fruit is incredible.

- despite the millions of tourists, the fast food franchises and the Aussie over familiarity with the joint it's still exotic. The smell of clove cigarettes, the ogo ogos of Nyepi, the Buddhist offerings , monkeys , food and language are all enticingly foreign.

- there is no overreaching nanny state. You want to ride your motorbike with all four of your children and the missus on the back...whilst texting. Go for it.

- you can live like a king on a regular Aussie income. Maybe not such a great benefit for the Balinese themselves though.

- it's close to Oz. Twenty hour plane ride and a shot at developing deep vein thrombosis.....ummm no thanks. It's actually faster to fly to Bali from Perth than it is to drive to Albany. You can fly from Port Hedland in less than two hours.

- you get an opportunity to regularly witness some of the most foolhardy behaviour imaginable on a daily basis. You ever seen a man being doubled on a motorbike through traffic whilst holding a large pane of glass ? What about seeing someone hold a nail between his bare fingers while his mate tries to grind the tip off it ? It's all there folks.

- you can see people making do with not much and making it work. An exhaust system held on with a T Shirt ? An outboard motor attached to a boat with no anchoring system, just held on with a man's brute force ? Why not ? It might not work forever but it'll usually get em over the line.

- the winds can blow offshore for months at a time and when they blow onshore, well , that just makes it offshore somewhere else. It's an island !

- you haven't seen glassy oceanic conditions till you've seen Indonesian sheet glass. It's like an oil slick. And if you're ever near Benoa Harbour that could well be what it is.

- old people are accorded the respect they deserve.

- it's exciting. It's a melting pot of the world. Wide eyed villages from remote Asia, jaded techno princesses from Russia, sleek surfy chicks from Canada , your next door neighbour from Ipswich....it's a party and everyone is invited.

Including YOU. I'll see you there. You can't miss me.

I'll be the sun burnt drunk in a head to toe Bintang ensemble with hair braids and a fresh tattoo of a unicorn across my back . Don't be shy. Come and say hello.

Ash's picture
Ash's picture
Ash Friday, 13 Sep 2024 at 12:54pm

It seems you get more than you expect doing adventurous activities in Indo
We did a 1 day Komodo trip recently, which was absolutely nothing like jumping off a cliff on Nusa Penida, but was one of the most active days I've had. Legs were shaking after endless steps up a small mountain, knees aching on the way down. That was the start to the day, followed by swimming, trecking and 3 different snorkelling sites in rips. Fun but buggered at the end of the day.
I would never bunjy

Supafreak's picture
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Supafreak Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 12:17pm
basesix wrote:

(that bali foreign correspondent ep just starting on SA abc free to air, anyone who's forgotten)

?si=ioSqXo2i8wPdujQf

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Supafreak Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 12:18pm

Double post

andy-mac's picture
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andy-mac Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 1:03pm

Got in yesterday, Airport has improved re immigration, polite smooth and special queue for families.
Went to one of my old favourite warungs for sensational nasi campur.
Went for paddle out front seminyak, tiny but nice to be in warm water. Restaurants busy and good vibe on street.
Yep Bali has changed but still has its magic, laying in hammock in villa away from sound of traffic listening to bird song looking out into garden, it could be 1990.....
Just need some swell now.
Am prepared for traffic!

Edit, the Balinese still as friendly and warm as ever.

Ash's picture
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Ash Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 3:23pm

We're leaving on Saturday and have had a great 6 weeks. Bali is still good. Change is inevitable and rapid change can overwhelm at times, but the Balinese are still the same, friendly and always smiling.
Surf has disappeared so the plan of surfing as much as I can in the last week won't happen nearly as much as I'd hoped, but it's hot, I'm not working, can swim in warm water and hang in one of my favourite places makes for a close second prize.

andy-mac's picture
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andy-mac Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 4:47pm

Hopefully the bump comes through as forecasted!

seeds's picture
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seeds Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 8:19pm

Hey Mr Mac
Did they check your temperature in customs?
States in what you linked that have to be 37.5 or under.

Ash's picture
Ash's picture
Ash Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 8:51pm

Little bump tonight, head high plus a bit on sets at Middles

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andy-mac Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 10:26pm
seeds wrote:

Hey Mr Mac
Did they check your temperature in customs?
States in what you linked that have to be 37.5 or under.

Na very smooth through immigration, just wanted to see that u had downloaded satusehat doc, I just had screen shot, and had done customs and visa online beforehand.
If not done prior easy to do on arrival.
Still had to wait for boards, but pretty busy when I arrived.
Just got back from sunset at 66 beach , little bump in swell ..
Busy......

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seeds Sunday, 15 Sep 2024 at 10:32pm

Jealous!
Have a great trip.

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andy-mac Monday, 16 Sep 2024 at 8:14am
seeds wrote:

Jealous!
Have a great trip.

Terima kasih!

flow's picture
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flow Monday, 16 Sep 2024 at 9:12am

How's the crowds at Middles these days?

basesix's picture
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basesix Monday, 16 Sep 2024 at 9:15am

which would we choose?
middle reef or middle-ton...
hmm.. (bet you're missing home @Ash!)
https://www.swellnet.com/surfcams/middleton-bay

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seaslug Monday, 16 Sep 2024 at 11:27am

Water's cleaner at middle-ton..., that's for sure

Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Monday, 16 Sep 2024 at 12:21pm

;)

https://m.

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andy-mac Monday, 16 Sep 2024 at 1:05pm
Jelly Flater wrote:

;)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Nef-jKxPySs

Funny cause it's true. :)

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Ash's picture
Ash Monday, 16 Sep 2024 at 1:41pm

Not missing home, family yes, apparently the SE's have started already, I'm not looking forward to that.
Middles was very lightly crowded, since September began things have quietened down.
Surfed glassy, very nice 3' KR with 3 others this morning, and no surf schools. It bucketed down at dawn, went back to bed and hit it at 9 and most were surfing further towards the airport. No complaints from me

amb's picture
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amb Monday, 30 Sep 2024 at 12:11pm

@Supafreak (or others) where's the best place to get your board fixed on NL?

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Supafreak Monday, 30 Sep 2024 at 12:33pm
amb wrote:

@Supafreak (or others) where's the best place to get your board fixed on NL?

Depends what needs doing , if it’s a simple ding fix then Lhaerun Made from Newbro surf school is the go, for a snapped or creased board I would go to Naruki surf shop in Kuta , Jalan benasari just off poppies 2 , these guys do an awesome job for $50 a snapped board takes about a week or express service takes 2 days and $70 .

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amb Monday, 30 Sep 2024 at 12:54pm

Thanks Supa (its a simple ding fix)

maddogmorley's picture
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maddogmorley Monday, 30 Sep 2024 at 3:37pm

Can anyone recommend a ferry from Bali (Sanur) to Gili T? Preferrably incl transfers like Rocky Fast cruise to NL but not essential.

udo's picture
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udo Thursday, 3 Oct 2024 at 8:08am

Did that Brazzo that Punched Sara Taylor ever get Dealt with...Some Serious Threats Made to Him..

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udo Thursday, 3 Oct 2024 at 8:43pm
burleigh's picture
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burleigh Thursday, 3 Oct 2024 at 9:00pm
udo wrote:

Did that Brazzo that Punched Sara Taylor ever get Dealt with...Some Serious Threats Made to Him..

Don’t be silly. He’s still in ulus doing whatever the fuck he wants

udo's picture
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udo Thursday, 3 Oct 2024 at 10:08pm

Yes i did see his IronSurf U-tube Channel after i had Posted.