In Reply to: See Bali & Cry posted by Rick Lowe on Thursday, 30. June 2005 at 09:29 Bali Time:
I last went 12 years ago (not including our recent trip) and this time I avoided the Kuta-legian and nearby areas because of exactly the reasons you have stated. I didnt want to walk the streets of a city, go out partying all night. So we headed up the eastern coast and it still retains the beauty of the bali I remember from years ago. Many love the night life, shopping and bars of the Kuta Area and while it is not my scene it is what many want.
On our last day we drove past Santika Beach Hotel which is where we always stayed when I was a child, needless to say I was extremely shocked, the little shanty stalls, dirt path and views of the ocean were gone, it was so built up, I really couldnt believe it. But I was also expecting this and didnt go blindly expecting the same, hence the reason we went to other areas. Candi Dasa, Amed, Lovina its all beautiful and quite a lot like Bali 'use to be' You just need to look in the right spots.
As many have stated, I grew up in a small country town and now that town is a big City, its lost the 'Know every local' atmosphere it had, its sad but its what happens when people discover little patches of paradise, the word spreads and the human enslaught follows. everyone and noone is to blame, its Human nature.
On the pollution. Well I think a little education could go along way but thats something the indonesian government needs to see and do. I will return (probably next year)and I will hope my little quiet patches havent been discovered by the thousands :)