European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine indonesian offic Lali Hope Ever Lna eating numb in of taut Nti won t ruin the it and Paramito thai ii Bali. Tourists still High on Bali by John Hail United press International Bali Indonesia never was As great As i used to  tourists to this Lush tropical Island in the Middle of the Indonesia archipelago should not be surprised to encounter fellow travellers complaining about How Ball has been spoiled by the Proll Feralio of new hotels souvenir stands and Kentucky Fried Chicken  you think it s Beautiful now you should have seen ii a Tew years  Sard a Veteran traveler wearing a to shirt inscribed with the message been there done  True the number of Swank High Rise hotels has increased dramatically along the Island s Southwest coast in the past decade while dozens of Small guesthouses known As los Emens have mushroomed along the Palm studded Kuta Beach Legland Beach strip. But the Sun soaked beaches still Are among the Lynest in the world the legendary sunsets at Kuta still Are Awe inspiring and the unique hindu and most culture and arts of the balinese Are As Strong As Evar. And the tourist Boom shows no sign of petering out. According to a government Survey 159.995 foreign tourists visited Bali in the first Nina months of 1965, a 10 7 percent increase Over the same period in 19b4. And 72 percent said they planned to visit the Island 89auslrallans, who come on eight Day package Tours or As Little is $500, account for the largest number of arrivals followed by the japanese. British and americans. Hotel end tour operators expect a big jump in the number of american tourists now that Garda and Continental airlines have introduced a direct flight via Guam from the . West coast. Sali t Lourim Industry already is gearing up Tor a Stampede of foreigners hoping Tor a Good. Southern hemisphere View of Halley s Comet Early in 1986 when i was a boy. There was nothing Here just Little Trall Sand fishing huts said Wayan Olgra 35 who runs a Strina of budget bungalows at Legland Beach. Held the Tehling villages of Kuta and Legland began to attract Large numbers of tourists shortly after the abortive communist coup and subsequent Bloodbath that swept Indonesia including Ball in 1965-1966. First came the hippies and surfers from  Olgra said. To found out we could make a lot More Money from tourists than from fishing so Many people opened restaurants and lose men. Then it really started to gel Busy in the late 1960s." he said the tourist Boom also Al Kracl a. Ril Nese and other foreign businessmen bul balinese Lane owners managed to retain control of most of the  a Foch property especially in Kula and Legland. Some javanese from Jakarta triad to open a big hotel on the Beach Here a few years  Olgra said. But a have a Law that says no one is allowed to build anything higher than a Palm tree. So that hotel project was  he said australian and european businessmen have formed partnerships with a Alnese to open several restaurants and nightclubs in Bat but few have been successful. Olgra said the influx of tourists has done Little to disrupt the intricate arts and rituals of the balinese. Symbolic offerings of Rice and incense Are placed in front of virtually every Home and shop in Ball every morning. Travelling along the Back roads of Ball visitors frequently encounter processions of colourfully dressed villagers Enro Ute to traditional dance performances or elaborate hindu cremations. The vast majority of Bali s 3 million residents tend their terraced Rice Fields and remain indifferent to the trappings of tourism end Western action. Olgra who leads performances of the famous Keck or Monkey dance in his spare time said Evan the most westernized of Ball s Blue Jean Clad youngsters participate actively in the Island s arts and culture. Kabul Sukadi. 29, manager of topples one of Kola s oldest and most successful tourist restaurants said the interest of foreigners in balinese dances helped to keep the old arts alive. The Young people still perform the traditional dances he said. The foreigners like to watch soil s Good for the Economy  Ball has hundreds of shops overflowing with Batik paintings Ebony Wood carvings jewelry and credible imitations of Western designer fashions at ludicrously Low prices. Hard bargaining tourists can buy fashionable swim suits for As Little As $2, eat gourmet meals Tor $5 and slay in comfortable air conditioned lose Mons for $10 a night. In fact the bargains Are hard to avoid. Tourists Are i he targets of thousands of itinerant Knickknacks and postcard salesmen Many of whom Are children. It really bothers me to see All these Lille kids Selling stuff said Lewis Abrahms 83, from san Maleo. Calif. I love kids but 1 Don t like to bargain and chisel All the Lime. The people Are so  Abrahms who came to Bali on a package tour with 18 other american senior citizens said he bought Batik fabrics and carvings and visited a Volcano. It was real enjoyable so tropical and exotic. I never really expected to come All the Way to Ball he said. A Pool traditional dances rate High Vilh Rou tfx visiting Bali. Saturday january 11, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13