holamundo&#39;s Guestbook

So Ubud of old is no more
I also remember Ubud as a nice cosy village. Now I know that it isn't so anymore. Well, I have also heard stories from other travellers so I sort of knew that. But Indonesia is large and there are thousands of other places worth visiting. /Ake

From Blog: Living in a wheeping bamboo treehouse and fighting our way through congested Ubud

14th March 2020

From Blog: Remote village in North Bali - hard to find, but there are still some spiritual and "real" corners left on this island

I have some fond memories from Bali
I travelled in Indonesia for a month almost 20 years ago. I really loved it. Thanks for bringing back som nice memories from that trip. /Ake

12th March 2020

Siewch
Siewch

Ubud is completely transformed
My first visit was in 1993. I stayed with a local family on Jalan Karna right next to the market. Those days, rice paddies were the predominant landscape, and the market actually sold vegetables, not tacky tourist souvenirs. I was completely enchanted with Ubud. I have subsequently visited in 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2019. Nowadays, I prefer to base myself at Penestanan, which is a little but away from the main crowds. Your treehouse accommodation sounds amazing; I may have to check it out sometime. Looking forward to learned about your additional Bali adventures off the beaten path.

From Blog: Living in a wheeping bamboo treehouse and fighting our way through congested Ubud

12th March 2020

Bali now and then
Bali and especially Ubud must have been beautiful at those times! You still can find these corners. When you walk through the villages surrounding Ubud, you can guess how it looked like. Must have been amazing in 1993!

From Blog: Living in a wheeping bamboo treehouse and fighting our way through congested Ubud

8th March 2020

From Blog: Remote village in North Bali - hard to find, but there are still some spiritual and "real" corners left on this island

Wonderful!
Oh, I'm so pleased you were able to find a quiet, peaceful retreat in Bali. Omunity sounds a wonderful place to stay, and the connection you had with the owners is lovely to read about. It's good to know one can still find quiet, tranquil places on the island of Bali ?

8th March 2020

Bali
Oh no, I'm so sorry to read how disappointing it must have been to see such a change in Bali since your last visit. I believe mass tourism is not a pretty thing, and to also have dropped your camera in the water must have been doubly frustrating. I do hope things improved for you in Sudaji.

From Blog: Not the best start in Bali - will it be the same like 9 years ago?

8th March 2020

Bali
Yes, things turned to the better. Still, I cannot really recommend visiting Bali. We will only return to visit our friends (in Sudaji and another corner of Bali). But not to visit the island. By the way - for the camera, it definitely was the final death :-(.

From Blog: Not the best start in Bali - will it be the same like 9 years ago?

2nd March 2020

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Bali -v- Java
What an interesting blog. As an Australian I am interested in European perspectives on Bali as it is the go-to destination for Aussies which is why we avoid it like the plague. Pristine diving spots saturated by tourists...coral possibly dying as a result...getting more pleasure from the bizarre combination of avocado juice with chocolate. And your camera having a sea water dip which is instant death. Has happened to me too. What a holiday! Yet your frequent reference to the joys of Java. Gotta agree with you there. Java maybe be population saturation...but hey...what a fabulous friendly and diverse island it is...sensational.

From Blog: Not the best start in Bali - will it be the same like 9 years ago?

3rd March 2020

Bali
Oh yes, Bali probably is for you what Mallorca/Spain is for the Europeans. We try to avoid it. Still, there are surprisingly many Europeans who consider Bali to be the perfect tropical paradies. Which it is not any more. Markus was curious what Bali is like and we went to 4 different regions which are kind of remote. Still, you come across mass tourism and on every corner you feel the consequences of mass tourism. But more about this in the next blogs :-). Cheers!

From Blog: Not the best start in Bali - will it be the same like 9 years ago?

29th February 2020

Instincts
Oh wow, well done! I completely understand you on trusting your instincts, especially on the travelling road. I do the same myself sometimes - if it doesn't feel right, just don't do it. I'm sorry to hear that Banyuwangi wasn't the greatest of places to visit, but it still looks like you had an amazing time there! I look forward to reading about Bali ?

From Blog: The coolest coffee shop in the world and no Mount Ijen for us

29th February 2020

Life lesson
Yes, travelling always gives you nice lessons which one should follow also in life - like listening to your instincts. Well, Banyuwangi itself is not a nice town. But, from there you can do fantastic trips to many nearby national parks which are still quite undiscovered. But you need a bit more time as we had. Anyway, worth visiting what we have heard and seen on pictures! Maybe next time.....

From Blog: The coolest coffee shop in the world and no Mount Ijen for us

23rd February 2020

Volcano and Sharks
I remember the circus of jeeps and tourists when I visited Mt Bromo 13 years ago. I imagine it must be even more chaotic today. I'm glad you were able to find some quiet spots to enjoy the beauty. And I'm so pleased you were able to see the whale sharks!! Wonderful to read ?

From Blog: Only us and 9 whale sharks - but hordes of people and 1 vulcano (Probolinggo and Mount Bromo)

24th February 2020

tourist craziness
Oh yes, it is a complete chaos especially for the environment. And it is a national park. A lot of locals are not happy with the situation and insult the government to just do nothing but taking the tourists money..... Sad thing and we feel bad having supported it.

From Blog: Only us and 9 whale sharks - but hordes of people and 1 vulcano (Probolinggo and Mount Bromo)

22nd February 2020

Yogya
Wow, what a great start to your trip! Very brave of you to take on the Indonesian traffic on your moped! Though it sounds like you enjoyed it and it added to the fun of the journey ? I look forward to reading more about your adventures in Indonesia ?

From Blog: Yogya blew us away in the most positive way

21st February 2020

Indonesia!
Ah, your big trip holiday destination is revealed - Indonesia! Very exciting ? I love your stopovers on the way - great idea to break up the long-haul journey into manageable chunks, and see some amazing places along the way. Your love for Kuala Lumpur is clearly evident ?

From Blog: Room with a view - and what a view!

21st February 2020

Winter Travels
Great to see you are on the travelling road again, seemingly for quite a big trip - I look forward to reading more. Sorry to read that Istanbul wasn't quite as friendly or welcoming as one might assume, but I'm glad that you were able to find some cosy and friendly corners ?

From Blog: Let's go east - first stop: Istanbul

16th February 2020

view from the crater rim down to the hindu temple in the sea of sands

Cool pic
That temple has a pretty stunning setting. I really love volcanoes and reading your blogs brings back some fond memories from my own trip many years ago. I have to brag a bit now. I have slept one night on Krakatau Volcano. /Ake

From Blog: Only us and 9 whale sharks - but hordes of people and 1 vulcano (Probolinggo and Mount Bromo)

24th February 2020

vulcano
wow, sleeping on a vulcano is surely quite an interesting experience.

From Blog: Only us and 9 whale sharks - but hordes of people and 1 vulcano (Probolinggo and Mount Bromo)

16th February 2020

I never visited Prambanan
I went to Indonesia once and just like you I absolutely loved it there. But I never got to visit Prambanan. I see now that I need to return and see more of Indonesia. /Ake

From Blog: Yogya blew us away in the most positive way

16th February 2020

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Borobudur
I haven't made it to Yogyakarta or Borobudur yet and really want to visit. I'm glad you essentially had the temple to yourselves - what a treat. Enjoyed your photos of the architectural details :)

From Blog: Yogya blew us away in the most positive way

24th February 2020

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Yogya
Yogya is really worth visiting. It was on our list for a long time and we are really glad we came there. 4 days was good but longer would be even better as there are so many amazing things to do and experience there.

From Blog: Yogya blew us away in the most positive way

16th February 2020

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Wow!
How amazing it must have felt to see those sharks! I can totally understand how you felt because I feel euphoric whenever I'm around animals in their own habitats too. I'm so happy your gamble to hire the boat paid off, especially in contrast to the hordes of tourism you'd experienced earlier that day.

From Blog: Only us and 9 whale sharks - but hordes of people and 1 vulcano (Probolinggo and Mount Bromo)

14th February 2020

We like KL also
We've only been twice but suspect we may go back. We have friends who say KL is the best place to buy eye glasses. I'll do that on my next visit. So much to see and so little time.

From Blog: Room with a view - and what a view!

14th February 2020