Archive for November 22nd, 2006
Air Paradise (’Bali is our home’) is a local airline that was launched in 2003 and folded in 2005, after Bali Bomb II. Wonderful things can happen, and the latest news is Air Paradise is to fly again in March 2007.
Back in 2003, I went to the launch party at Gado Gado. At that time Bali was deep into its Bali Bomb I recession, and Air Paradise agve everyone fresh hope. As eTravelBlackboard reports, Air Paradise is also looking for investors for its second shot at the big time. Let’s wish Air Paradise success and hope they can bring back the much needed tourists to Bali. If that doesn’t happen, there’s always Delta.‘At Air Paradise, we luvs us some flyin’
source : www.baliblog.com
November 22nd, 2006
Can the Real Bali / China / Thailand, Peru be saved? That question has for a long time, appeared on travel message boards, and will in the future.
All About Bali talks about the rapid development of Bali, how greed inspires a lot of people to look the other way, and keep building. I agree with his comments, and would like to add, that if you think its bad now, come back in 10 years, or even 5 years. We will look back in wonder, at the thought of seeing the sunset, over fields across the Sunset Rd. We will look back on the days, when Jimbaran was a sleepy fishing village, where expats only went to buy fish, as a Golden era. The Bukit, that’s a whole other beast. In 10 years you won’t recognize the Bukit, it will be ‘trendy villa city’.What can be done, should anything be done? I know I can only control 1 person, myself. What other people do, is beyond my influence, other than to whine about it online. The Bali dream, of tropical relaxation, everlasting sunhine, cheap costs and exotic culture will endure, even though the Kuta / Seminyak versions, will end up more like a trip to Disneyland, than a cultural experience. The fact is, when given a choice, 95% of tourists choose creature comforts, over culture and tradition. You make your bed, you have to lay in it.
source : www.baliblog.com
November 22nd, 2006
Baliblog got a mention today, on the personal website of internet travel guru, Sean Keener. Sean has been instrumental in developing travel websites and online communties, as well as a soccer website.
Baliblog has been online since 2002, that’s a decade in internet time. We have tried various mechanisms (as well as laptops) and could probably write a ‘How To’ on moving to a foreign country and starting a website. Sean’s blog is packed with interesting comments and links. I especially like the one about how Starbucks handles customers. Why should I care about how Starbucks does things? They do business on a massive scale, and always make money. The article on Sean’s site, talks about Starbucks asynchronous approach to cusotmer service. Basically, they put ‘aces in their places’ and let the cashier bang out as many orders as is possible. Here in Bali, Starbucks does that too, its the other 99.9% of Balinese businesses that could do with a tune up.
The other day I was on the beach, and approached a beer stall. Spotting a space on a bench seat, I paid for the beer, while the young owner, quickly hustled his 3 local buddies into the space. “Okay Bruda’ he said, ‘have a seat’, there now being nowhere to sit. ‘No worries’ I said, “I’ll just take it with me.’ There’s your local business strategy, work the ‘Hello Boss, hava nuda beer Bruda’, and watch your customer walk off, because your down-and-out mates want to hang out.
source : www.baliblog.com
November 22nd, 2006
Tonight’s Bali news mentions another Australian, who has been caught ( or entrapped), by the Balinese police for drug possession. Michelle Dawn Condon, from Melbourne, was caught near the Poppies Lane area in Kuta, with a tiny amount of methamphetamine. Sounds like a set-up to me.
In civilized countries, there are rules of engagement for police. I’ll give you an example. When I drove Yellow cab in California, in the late 80’s, one of our drivers got busted for selling coke out of his cab. Naught boy, you might say. Fact was, he picked 2 women up at the airport, who without encouragement, badgered him to get them some ‘blow’. He said he wasn’t into that stuff, but they said they’d make it worth his while, if he could hook them up. He made some calls, did the deal, and was arrested on the spot. In the US, that is called entrapment. In Bali its called ‘kasihan deh luh, you’re screwed, give me money’.
There are drug dealing monkeys hanging around Jl. Legian, most nightclubs, Pantai Kuta and Melasti, in full view of the police, who are probably their cousins. When a deal is made, the cops swoop, and its ‘naughty tourist , bad tourist, how dare you bring down the name of Bali by taking drugs’. The latest person to fall into this trap is Michelle Condon.
This stuff is no good for business, no good for Bali, no good for tourism. For every Michelle Condon that gets caught, 100 tourists make alternate holiday plans. No point in being serious on drugs, if its only the users who get hammered.
source : www.baliblog.com
November 22nd, 2006
Tonight I had dinner at Yut’s in Legian, with a friend who is moving out to Canggu Permai. He is the fellow, who got booted out of his place after 12 years, with an off-hand comment, that basically said, “Oh yeah, father wants to knock down this house.â€
My friend’s office is in Canggu Permai, which for those who don’t know the area, is a tight set up of kampung concrete housing, off of the Barewa turnoff. The only 2 good things about Canggu Permai, are, its cheap and its the closest part of Canggu to Seminyak. Over the last 3 years, I’ve helped 2 different people look for a place in Canggu, both ending up moving closer to Seminyak, as Canggu is just too quiet.
My friend can’t ride a motorbike or drive a car, which leads me to think he’ll find living in Canggu , rather frustrating. I know from past experience, the idea of driving back and forth to Canggu after dark is not something I’m into.
Who is Canggu good for?
Canggu is good for surfers, who want to live at a break. Canggu is good for people who want a place close to the beach with a rice field view. Canggu is good for people renting a holiday villa, seeking space and quiet, and for people on a budget renting a local place.
Land is cheaper than in Seminyak, and once you get west of the road the joins Tanah Lot to Tabanan, prices drop. Very few ‘bules‘ living west of that road, as it puts you just out of reach of Seminyak / Kuta, to be considered, within easy reach. I’m sure in 10 years, there will be some new superhighway, that extends west to Negara. That will open up all kinds of real estate to westerners, who want that little patch of paradise, with a croissant around the corner.
source : www.baliblog.com
November 22nd, 2006
One recent arrival in Bali, log’s his adventures on a website called ‘Where we are’. This guy isn’t much of a writer, but tells about his experience of exploring Bali.
His first experience of Bali was a getting hit up for money, by the Indonesian Immigration officers (Bali’s answer to the Hawaiian ‘lei’). After spending some time in Kuta, he decides to rent a car and explore, but that a car with driver would be the best way to go.
Dreamland was this guy’s favourite place, with a $4 bamboo bed on the beach, the closest thing to Nirvana, that he could find. With some kind of transport, quieter parts of Bali open up for you, enabling you to access the type of places, you are looking for.
Hiring a car with driver is easy. For the smallest car, a Suzuki, you might pay 130,000rp per day for a car and driver. Laura from Perth recommended a good driver named Roy, who who might consider.
source : www.baliblog.com
November 22nd, 2006