My Bali party last Saturday would not have happened if the Bali Travel Forum had not existed.
I became involved with the BTF a few years ago & although I dont post as much as I used to I still read it almost every day & am in touch with many of the people that used to post & those who are regulars.
About my seventh trip to Bali a friend of mine said he had found a site about Bali & the people that go there & suggested that since I was becoming addicted to the place I should have a look at it.
He gave me the BTF & the first posting I read was from Graeme Hunter who posted under Shar^kie with his wife Liz who also posted but under Koala, soon after a meeting was arranged at the Crown Casino & myself & Anne met Shar^kie & Koala.
Graeme has become a great friend of mine, especially as a top Foxtel camraman where he filmed the funeral service of my wife Anne in March 2002. My family owes him so much for this and will never forget his help over a very hard time.
After our meetimg it just snowballed, reading & posting on the Forum all the time & then we were invited to our first Bali Bagus Night at a restaurant in Richmond.
There we met Grant & Wendy ( Brookesy )Andy & Jan ( Andy 01 )Maggie ( Maggs then Malu now ) & many others that were a part of the BTF.
There has been many Bali Bagus Functions since then with people from the Forum, a huge day party at Brookesys house in Brunswick, three nights at the Bali Bagus Restaurant also in Brunswick, bbqs at the park in Braeside, my first Bali Party at my previous house in Rowville & the other two I have had in Ferntree Gully.
I think the best one we had was at my house in Rowville when Shar^kie set up the live cam in my back yard over the swimming pool & entertainment area & we had over two thousand hits including one from the US military satelite plus many from other countries.That was a great weekend.
Since I have been involved with the BTF I have met so many wonderful people with having a drink on the beach at Sammy & Susys.
This was started by Ted ( Roo-ted ) from Perth who is a lovely chap with a wonderful wife called Jean who I think a lot of.He introduced me to the S & S scene which I have pushed ever since.
There are a lot of new people posting on the BTF these days & most of them have the same ideas as far as their love for Bali.
The other night I sat down & put eighty names on paper that I can now call my friends from all states of Australia & a couple from overseas all by being a part of the BTF.
This was highlighted last Saturday afternoon/night at my place when the people from all different walks of life most belonging to this forum came together to have a drink, eat & talk about the one subject in common BALI.
The Bali Travel Forum has bought so many pleople together & I feel proud to be a part of it.
Thanks to Ken the FA as he has a job to do & does it great as it is a public forum & sometimes an idiot does try to stir things up.
To all the people that helped to make Saturday a huge success I thank you.
Brett from Barlow World in Glen Waverley for the name stickers.( I bought my Astra convertable from him a year ago )
Ian in helping me tidy up my Bali garden.
Tina G for posting the photos ( more to come. )
Juba Anne for her wonderful scrapbook.
Geoff ( Moose ) for running the ongoing bbq.
Bob-Bali for the great fish for the BBQ.
David ( Rumpig ) & Janette for flying down fron Brisbane to be a part of it and being greeter.
Derek, manager of Zgamies in Boronia for his help.
My friend Barry Hess, Deputy General Manager of Air Paradise International.
My Bali friend Jill coming over from Adelaide was a great supprise.
My two daughters Vikki & Cindy for doing so much in the running of the whole event.
Someone elses turn next time & I will be there.
Once again, Thanks Ken for the BTF & thank all the people that post & are a part of it.
FOOTNOTE.
To Milton & Kerry at the Indonational Bar & Restaurant I would like to thank you for the donations of T Shirt & Stubby holders for the free raffle.
Footy season coming on. GO SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back in Bali June.