TRAVEL

Sunday, August 4, 1991 ~ North Shore News - 37

Bali resorts maintain high standards

PVE SPENT the past two
days struggling with this
column,

At first, it seemed like a simple
thing to do —- my friend. Rass
Ireland, spent x wonderful vaca-
tion on Bali (indonesia) and. at
my request, 1OOk notes.

Did Ross do a good job? You
bet. Six pages, typewritten, single
spaced.

Is Bali a wonderful place to
visit? Id bet money on it, So
what's my problem?

Um a lousy armchair waveller.

J cannot, 48 some writers ap-
pear to do, translate the experi-
ences of others into convincing
prose. It just doesn’t feel right!

Once, | was commissioned by a
magazine to write two articles on
ski resorts. I'm so dumb when it
comes to skiing that Fd believe
someone who told me it was a
good idea to chill your boots
overnight in the fridge before
making the morning run.

My ski articles were so bad that
the fact they paid me for them is
attributable to their spirit of char-
ity.

Back to Bali:

The airline of choice is Garuda
(Indonesia), out of Los Angeles.
ve never flown with them but
here’s just one place where | ac-
cept my friend’s analysis.

Ross is a former airline execu-
tive and he can spor stuff that the
rest of us wouldn’t.

First, the maintenance on
Garuda’s pianes is faultless. The
cabins are shiny clean, indicating
to an expert that the airline cares,
both inside and out.

The staff is meticulously train-
ed. .

The food is way above average
— can you believe that they were
served smoked curkey and
deliciously sauced sea bass in
economy?

The flight to Bali is a long one

hours to Honolulu (but
they allow you otf io stretch),
nine hours to Biak (a refueling
Stop on ane of the 13.667 ishinds
ef Indonesia) and three more
hours an to Bali,

The stop in Biak is great from a
eroges passenver’s point of view
— the airport is delightful. Native
dancers entertain, the shops are
tasteful and the money exchange
bureau is ong of the best ins Ine
donesia.

Now,

— fie

here’s where FE cur inte
trouble. How can | describe a des-
ination Eve not visited? First,
I've got a grasp of the technical
stuff.

The beaches are that clean white
sind that we all hope to find.
And, thev’re ‘pristine."" Don't
expect pap-can lids or other Huer
~ you won't find it.

Ross raved about his horel, the
Bali Padma. It has everything a
visitor would expect in’ a fine
resort. More iniportant, though, is
the fact that hotel standards for
the whole island are high.

That appears to be partly duc to
the innate kindness of the staff.
Ross remarked on the
‘“gentleness’’ of the people there
and their thoughtfulness.

They maintain high standards,
not because a supervisor is crack-
ing a whip, but because they want
to make you comfortable.

Even if 1 didn’t stay at the Bali
Padma i’d make a point of drop-
ping in for tunch — the poolside
restaurant makes ‘‘the best
lasagna this side of Venice.”’

Guidebooks warn about mos-
quitoes in Bali. Ross didn’t find
them a menace at all. U'd pack
some safe repellant but assume I'd
not necd it,

Bali's temperature sounds like
paradise to me! Tropical, yes, but
not steamy. [ hate to have to rely
on air conditioning, but in Bali an
open window is fine.

There’s a tot of interest in Bali
here on the North Shore. So much

Cycling trip offered

EAGLE HARBOUR Com-
munity Centre is offering a
three-day Gulf Island cycling
trip for adults who feel stressed
out and left out of the summer
activity agenda.

The trip takes place from
Wednesday, Aug. 7 to Friday,
Aug. 9, and includes cycling,
hiking, campfires and special
meals prepared by a gourmet
chef.

The camp sites are picked,

the ferries are booked, and the
routes are planned. ‘‘Let us
pamper you in. the stunning
natural setting of Pender
fsland,’* say organizers.

Participants are expected to
bring a bike, tent, comfortable
clothes, and a sleeping bag.
The trip fee of $129 includes
meals and all ferry and camp
site fees.

For more information call
Jill at 921-7425.

PUIGE
(maa

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Cruise Holidays difference.

® Cruise Holidays stores are locally owned and

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vou pay 10 surcharge.) No G.S.T.

Come in and visit. Call us today.
2383 Marine Drive, West Vancouver.

926- 7245 CELIA

¥

Barbara
NicCreadie

TRAVELWISE

that two travel agencies are put-
ling together packages for us.

Elizabeth Rollins of Discover
Your World has excursion fare
booked that § find hard to beat.
For $1,599 CDN you can visit Bali
for 10 days (eight nights —
remember, it’s a long Might).

This includes air fare, transfers,
baggage handling and hote!
(Sativa Hotel) and some optional
tours. If you want to include
breakfast, add $60.

This package isn’t one of those
tiresome “tours’' that has you
tunning from dawn to dusk, but
the tour options are there for
those days when it seems like a
good idea.

The flights depart Sundays,
Wednesdays and Fridays unti! fur-
ther notice.

Gus Mendoza of Time Out
Travel is also working on a tour,
but this one is more specific. He’s
focusing on golfing, which has
Brian’s ears twitching. I know
about as much as | want to know
about that sport but judging by
both Gus and Brian it ought to be
a winner.

The problem with Gus is that
Vve been trying to light a fire
under him for weeks to get the
details but he’s not parting with
them until he’s satisfied with all
the golfing arrangements. {f this
has your attention, nag him!

BALI - 10 nights, Hong
Kong 3 nites, from $1818.
Tuesday departures.

—CRUISES—

MEDITERRANEAN
This year low prices. Sep. 21
Crown Odyssey / 12 days
Venice - Lisbon.

PANAMA .- Nov. 29.
Corwn Odyssey. 16 days
from $2766 inc. air.

BERMUDA .-. Oct. 4

2 Nights New York, 7 days
on Nordic Prince, optional
golf 3 days Bermuda escorted
Tom & Irene Rose.

SINGAPORE-SYDNEY
- Feb 20, new Royal
Odyssey. 16 days from
$3266 CDN. + $1695 air,
stopovers available. Join
Tom & Irene and friends.

ATLANTIC/EXPO ’92
Ft. Lauderdale, Spain, Rome.
Apr. 27, Royal Viking Sun.
17 days, from $5715 inc. air,
less special Roseway credits.

Don't miss “‘Our’’ Boats

926-4344
106 “0 Park Royal South

igcound floor office tower}

Talk to Elizabeth at 980-4526 of
Gus at 987-8244. Elizabeth doesn't
need any nagging -— her arrange:
meats are firmly in place.

Now, a few hints from
ahout the systems in Bali:

* Best money eschanve — Biak
airport,

* Carrs any cash in U.S., not
CDN. Indonesian money changers
have less trouble with U.S.

* Do not bring any worn Amer-
ican dollars — they are unaccep-
table in Indonesia. Crisp and new,
please.

¢ Drink only bottled water (and
soda, beer, ete.) Bottled drinks
are good and cheap.

© Agree on taxi fares with your
driver before vou get in the cab.

ef you ure approached by
street vendors and want them to
leave you alone, say, ‘‘Jalan,
jalan." This means “‘! am just
strolling’ and is effective.

¢ Don't xet impatient with In-
donesians. They truly want to be
helpful and temper tantrums upset
them.

* You must use sunscreen —
tropical sun is the same every-
where and we often forget how

Ross

& (at Lonsdale)

devastating it can be.

© Unless a store clearly states
“Pixed prices’ prepare to
bargain,

e Pack fiehtly — don't barden
yourself with a big wardrobe.

NORTH SHORE
VENTURE TRAVEL
& CRUISES

CRYSTAL CRUISES

J SAIL THE CRYSTAL HARMONY ff
BON A7 DAY CRUISE TO HAWAII

: rromus *L699° ppd

# Price is inclusive of return airfares
from Vancouver and one night's hotel &
a accommodation in Honolulu on Jan. §
13th. 4

a Your stay in Hawaii can be extended.

110 East 14th St.g

4 986-1377 |

# North Vancouverg

VEE nrnearrarmarneanas

Bak Y Onient Holidays "lita le U

Exotic

BALI

$1599 CON,

Per Person, double

Round Trip Air Fare Wednesday, Fridays

First Class Hotels
Sightseeing
Transfers, Hotel Tax
and Services Charges

*$100 Supplement for
departures July 15 - Sept. 7
and Dec. 10 Dec. 24

a

Geruds indonesia

10 days/8 nights
Departs Sunday,

221 SHOP THE FLYERS
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