Rob from Sydney is back in Bali and we met on Monday afternoon at Bali Corner on Poppies II in Kuta.
Rob came over with his wife Bev and 3 girls last year and I can tell is in the same boat as Barrie, Tracey and Andie…can’t get enough of the place.
He was having a drink and a bite to eat (Rob’s wearing blue) with newcomer Nick from Sydney and faithful Bali friend Made. He told me that he and Nick had come over and unfortunately their wives couldn’t come with them right away. I am hopefully meeting them tommorrow night to help them get over it.
Rob owns his own pool supply business in Sydney which seems a cool gig. He’s telling me I’ve got it made here in Bali and I’m telling Nick he’s got it made (Nick works for Toohey’s and gets a free case a week plus free beer at work).
Rob is showing Nick around and both being motorbike fans will have no trouble handling the little pipsqueak 200cc Honda Tigers (Rob own a 1000cc Aprilia…Mick’s was 125cc and could do 180kmh).
Rob commented that Made with his easy going lifestyle of driving tourists around and renting his vehicle has a good life which sometimes would be preferable to the western rat race.
Rob also commented that Kuta seemed busier than the last time he came. I looked around at a few restaurants later I have to agree. Two weeks ago for example I talked to the staff at Taman Sari restaurant on Poppies II and they said it was quiet…’where were all the tourists?’ Now the place is packed. I think many of the recent arrivals are Aussies on short term trips.
With the Presidential election still to look forward to Indonesia asked East Timor to block an arrest warrant for one of the candidates.
In the Kuta area we had a pretty storm this morning which was quite a treat. I got to wear my rain jacket and the lawn got watered. The new storm drain system seems to be working as there were no puddles by the time I made it downtown. The road construction has reached as far as the back of the Adhi Dharma hotel on Jl. Benesari and on certain days is open to motorbike traffic all the way through to Poppies II. Jl. Kartika Plaza is a nightmare so is Jl. Pantai Kuta.
My mate Palu who rents the big yellow boards on Kuta Beach isn’t renting anymore, although he still makes custom boards and if you are coming to Bali he will have your new board ready for you on arrival. The reason for the rentals closing is a mixture of personnel and political reasons, but anyway you’ll still see Palu teaching people to surf right there in front of Poppies II on Kuta Beach.
I’m going for a workout before I bump into Rob and plants a large Bintang in my hand.
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Atleast Rob is back, we are stuck here working to afford our next trip….
Plus we are planning to buy a small house in coming few months!!!!
So next year!
Hi Tracey,
Would that be a house in Melb or a house in Bali?.
If ya will be in Bali next year, around what month?.
Barrie,
We will be buying something in Melb & looking at building on land we have in Tuban…
But we want to have something here before making the big move so if all plans go amiss we have something to return too. So something small in Melb to start off with.. The land in Tuban might be required for future development plans at the airport,which means it might not be worth building there, instead waiting for the offer from them to buy it & buying land elsewhere & building!!!
As Gede’s parents have seen the (5 year plans) for airport & it looks to buy up a lot more of Tuban, so they are happy to accept money & move… So we will see!
G’Day Nick,
Interesting comment about the Oz tourists being on short term trips. I’m not surprised with this damn visa fee. It sure makes it hard for say a family of four on a restricted budget when they have to pay for the visas and on top of that Rp100,000 departure tax.
G’Day Rob,
Enjoy your stay in paradise but be wary of Nick flexing his muscles. He’ll probably do that if his bintang isn’t in front of him on time!!