To Bali

I am sorry Bali - you are beautiful, but I just couldn´t enjoy you very much. You just have to many stupid Australian and Europen Tourists that ruin the whole place. Acting like they own the place - no respect for foreign cultures, people and their arts. I know I´m very judgmental and biased but I belive Bali has somewhat lost it´s originality and Indonesian heritage to foreign money. We only spent one week and for me, that was enough. The town of Ubud overtaken by a huge crowd of female "Eat Pray Love" fans. The price of food and accommodation close to an European standard. Locals who quite often only see you as a money cow always ready to give milk. Balinese architecture is in itself very interesting, detailed to the core and very distinct. Wood carvings and masonry with fancywork, such as animals, people, figures of Hindu worship. Traditional doorways into the homes are symbol to a families wealth and fortune. Kind offerings on the doorsteps keep away evil spirits and nurture the good ones by presenting them with food, herbs and cooked rice. The aroma of incence wafting through small side streets. The semi wild dogs barked at me, walking through the outskirts of town. Forming gangs they easily get very aggressive and out of control. I was quite glad to leave Bali for Lombok - although I really enjoyed the last few days and my birthday snorkeling Menjagan island and wandering the realms of Balai Taman Nasional Park.