Blogs from Padangbai, Bali, Indonesia, Asia - page 3

It was going to be a bemo (minivan) ride from Lovina to the main bus station in the next town across and then a bus ride to Tulamben but as the sole aim of public transport in Bali is to rip off tourists rather than convey people, we chartered a car and driver instead. As a typical tourists won't know the correct far from place to place, the usual trick of any bemo driver is to ask for as much as they can get away with whilst keeping a straight face. Even if you do know the correct fare that the locals would pay (say be asking a few locals), the bemo rivers will swear blind that their inflated price is what the locals pay and quickly becomes a battle of wills. As Lovina had very ... read more

After our return to the ship last night, we got ready to attend Lloyd Tinkle’s 100th birthday party. A veteran world cruiser and close friend of the Seven Seas Voyager, there was an incredible 1-hour celebration of Lloyd’s birthday in the Constellation Theater attended by a majority of the almost 700 people on the ship. Dr Tinkle, not a medical doctor, but PhD of law, was a professor at Joliet College in Illinois along with his wife of many years, also taught law. He still lives in the vintage home he was born, in Sioux City, Iowa, where he returned to after his long stint in Illinois. He plays bridge with us every afternoon during sea days, plays the piano in the atrium early each morning, and as a Mason, he reads and memorizes his book ... read more

Ah Bali! Images romantiques, douceur de vivre, doux hindouisme, parfums flottants. In your dreams or at the movies only! A la sortie du bateau à Bali nous avons été accueillis par une meute de vendeurs de “bébelles”, la meute la plus aggressive que j’aie jamais vue de ma vie. Et rappelez-vous que c’est Michel qui écrit ces lignes et le Michel en question a vu pas mal de places bizarres dans sa vie; Algérie, Tunisie, Guinée, Niger, Libéria trois semaines après un coup d’état, je vous jure que je n’ai jamais vu pareil comportement. Elaine était littéralement paralysée et s’est subitement retrouvée sous une pluie de bracelets, de textiles de toutes sortes; pour la sortir de sa torpeur et réussir à faire les 75 verges qui nous séparaient de l’autobus, j’ai du la traîner de force ... read more

I arrived here yesterday by motor bike. The one hour trip took over 2 hours. Time is very relative here. From Ubud to here, they said it was very close, only maybe one hour. From here to Ubud they say, "OH! Very far!" Go figure. Two ladies next to me are from Belgium. Evelyn was the first I met. She stopped through here for one day on her way to Lombok, came back and has been here for over 2 weeks enjoying the place and getting certified in diving. Later, I met her mate Fanny. They told me there is a virus in Padangbai according to some of the locals. Once you visit, you catch the virus and then you always want to stay or come back. They have the stay version at the moment. I ... read more

Geo: -8.5333, 115.5Salut tout le mondeNous allons bien.Nous avons ete silencieux hier puisque nous n'avions pas d'internet. Nous avons quitter Ubud pour un petit village nomme Paganbai. Nous avons decide finalement de quitte notre petite place douillet d'Ubub. Nous sommes donc arrive et pris une charmante chambre. Nous avons bien essayer de trouve internet mais ils etaient tous en panne. Desoler!!! Nous avons encore fait une belle rencontre quand nous avons croisee Barbara, une polonaise rencontre sur le bateau entre java et bali. On s'est regarder un moment et cherchions notre precedente rencontre. elle a devine avant nous.Nous avons eu droit a un cinema-bar en fin de soiree, a notre homestay. Biere mais pas de popcorn , 'the quiet americain' etait le titre.Nous etions bien fatigue et esperions une bonne nuit. Devinez quoi. . . Pas ... read more