Back home at "Riverbend"

As I shiver through an early morning here at wintry "Riverbend", my thoughts go back to Bali and the expats I met there who chose to make it their home.

I am reminded of Louis Becke who once wrote about life in the South Seas, "Return? not they! Why should they go back? Here they had all things which are wont to satisfy man here below. A paradise of Eden-like beauty, amid they wandered day by day all unheading of the tomorrow. Why - why, indeed, should they leave the land of magical delights for cold climate and still more glacial moral atmosphere of their native land, miscalled home?"

Life in Bali is gentle and cheap: $500 A MONTH affords you a comfortable Western lifestyle. Compare that to the $1000 A WEEK in Australia as suggested in this article.

Are you interested in living in Bali? Read this ebook, published by www.baliexpat.com, to get you started.

Indonesia-Australia Travel & Business Services

We met John Penrose totally by chance at Banjar Hills - and we are so glad we did!

He is a retired Australian school teacher who has lived for the past fifteen years in Bali. What he doesn't know about Bali isn't worth knowing and, of course, he speaks the language like a Native.

He gives personalised guided tours in a lovely, laid-back way - no hassling, no pressures - and assists with just about anything else you may need help with - making hotel bookings, buying and shipping home Balinese artifacts ... you name it, he does it.

Here's his business card if you want to contact John:

Click on card to email John

Bali's best hotel manager is now Bali's best General Manager

Bali's best hotel manager, our personal friend Hengky Tambayong, is now General Manager of the four HARRIS hotel properties in Bali. Congratulations, Hengky!

He arranged a late 5 p.m. check-out for us as our flight was not until 11 p.m. and he saw us off in his usual friendly style. We look forward to seeing you again next year, Hengky!

Batik Keris Discovery Shopping Mall Bali

You could, of course, go shopping for batik in any of the thousands of shops but we always go straight to the best, Batik Keris, who have shops all over Indonesia, three of which are in Bali.

Our favourite is the one in the Discovery Shopping Mall, an easy walk down the road from our hotel HARRIS in Tuban.

Tucked away in a corner of the large shop, and barely visible, was a Reflexology Massage Parlour and so, while Padma was trying on expensive batik-dresses, I indulged in a relaxing foot massage.


As I was the only customer, I asked the young girl if she had been busy, "No", she said, "you are only my second customer." She was only paid 10% of the takings which meant that on this day she had so far earned Rp.8,000 - that's not even ONE DOLLAR! On days when there are no customers at all, she goes home with nothing! And yet she smiled and performed her work enthusiastically and with dignity.

Of course, I tipped her very handsomely as I reflected on the tens (hundreds?) of thousands of Australia's so-called 'unemployeds' who have been spoilt by our generous social security system.

Kupu-Kupu Butterfly Park

At first glance, the Bali Butterfly Park, with its Rp.50,000 per person admission seemed to be another tourist rip-off as there were few butterflies in sight.


However, once we had entered the 'hatchery' - or whatever they call the place where the pupae change into butterflies - , we were enchanted by all the colour around us.