1 February 2017 revised Peter Neely’s comment on 1980s Kuta Beach locals image.
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Perth based photo-journalist Ric Chan started going on surf trips to Bali in the early 80s. In 1985 he was lured to Bali to help set up and run Cheaters Night Club in Kuta’s entertainment strip, near the famous Peanuts Club.
Ric lived in Bali until ’91 and then returned to his native NZ after his wife Sami passed away. Ric and his sons Taron & Tao settled in NZ’s North Island.
This is a glimpse of Ric’s 80s Bali photo gallery and a taste of quieter times in Bali.
Ric Chan – Peter Neely is an old mate who was in Bali when I was there.
Peter runs the web site INDO SURF and LINGOwww.indosurf.com.au and has provided background comments on some of Ric’s 80s pics.
Photo: 1980 Kuta Beach locals.
Ric Chan –One is Ketut Menda and I think the other is Froggie.
Peter Neely – I too first thought the surfer on the right was Little Froggy from Legian who later worked at Troppo Zone for 20 years. But Bobby Radiasa, Mr Gragajan Surfcamp himself fromwww.grajagan.com corrected me: “Surfer on the left is Made Muditha and right (smaller one) Nyoman Dira both from Banjar Legian Tengah”. Bobby would know! He was probably surfing with them this day at Kuta Reef, straight out from his family home.
PS. Most of those palm trees have been replaced by beachfront hotels now. Hard Rock Hotel and McDonalds.
Photo: 1981 Cremation Procession at Kuta
Photo: 1980 Bali grommet Kuta Beach
Peter Neely – This goofy grom looks like Little Froggy at Legian. He was always the fastest zig-zag turner in the water.
Photo: 1980 Traffic jam down-town Kuta.
Peter Neely – Looks like the carpark at Kuta Reef ? The open top VW Safari was ideal for cruising around Bali, shame they don’t make them anymore.
Photo: 1981 Steve ‘Hog’ Hannett surfing Sanur.
Peter Neely – One of the best action photos I’ve seen of Sanur, Ric must have used a 1000mm lens or been in a boat
Photo: 1980 Bali pig on a spit
Photo: 1985 Aerial shot of surfing line-up Bukit Peninsula.
Peter Neely – Another excellent historical photo by Ric. Balangan peeling off at high tide, with Dreamland on the right. Now covered with a Suharto golf course, multi-level hotels carved into the cliffs, villas and cafes. But the waves are still the same.
Photo: 1981 Buffaloes in rice paddy.
Photo: 1985 Ric’s wife Sami with Bali kids at cremation ceremony.
Ric Chan –A cremation in Bali is a joyous occasion, not as sad depressing as in the West!
Peter Neely – You can still see colourful cremations like this on Kuta Beach every week or two, on the sand in front of the Jalan Kartika Plaza cemetery. This is where every Kuta local ends up before their ashes are spread into the surf inside Kuta Reef. Where I’d like some of my ashes floating around eternally, in the far distant future.
Photo: 1983 Jimbaran Bay
Coming soon 1980sBali Photo Galleriesby Ric Chanwith comments from Peter Neely #2.
Updates:
23 November 2016 included comments by Peter Neely www.indosurf.com.au .
1 February 2017 revised Peter Neely’s comment on 1980s Kuta Beach locals image.
———————————————————————
Perth based photo-journalist Ric Chan started going on surf trips to Bali in the early 80s. In 1985 he was lured to Bali to help set up and run Cheaters Night Club in Kuta’s entertainment strip, near the famous Peanuts Club.
Ric lived in Bali until ’91 and then returned to his native NZ after his wife Sami passed away. Ric and his sons Taron & Tao settled in NZ’s North Island.
This is a glimpse of Ric’s 80s Bali photo gallery and a taste of quieter times in Bali.
Ric Chan – Peter Neely is an old mate who was in Bali when I was there.
Peter runs the web site INDO SURF and LINGO www.indosurf.com.au and has provided background comments on some of Ric’s 80s pics.
Photo: 1980 Kuta Beach locals.
Ric Chan – One is Ketut Menda and I think the other is Froggie.
Peter Neely – I too first thought the surfer on the right was Little Froggy from Legian who later worked at Troppo Zone for 20 years. But Bobby Radiasa, Mr Gragajan Surfcamp himself from www.grajagan.com corrected me: “Surfer on the left is Made Muditha and right (smaller one) Nyoman Dira both from Banjar Legian Tengah”. Bobby would know! He was probably surfing with them this day at Kuta Reef, straight out from his family home.
PS. Most of those palm trees have been replaced by beachfront hotels now. Hard Rock Hotel and McDonalds.
Photo: 1981 Cremation Procession at Kuta
Photo: 1980 Bali grommet Kuta Beach
Peter Neely – This goofy grom looks like Little Froggy at Legian. He was always the fastest zig-zag turner in the water.
Photo: 1980 Traffic jam down-town Kuta.
Peter Neely – Looks like the carpark at Kuta Reef ? The open top VW Safari was ideal for cruising around Bali, shame they don’t make them anymore.
Photo: 1981 Steve ‘Hog’ Hannett surfing Sanur.
Peter Neely – One of the best action photos I’ve seen of Sanur, Ric must have used a 1000mm lens or been in a boat
Photo: 1980 Bali pig on a spit
Photo: 1985 Aerial shot of surfing line-up Bukit Peninsula.
Peter Neely – Another excellent historical photo by Ric. Balangan peeling off at high tide, with Dreamland on the right. Now covered with a Suharto golf course, multi-level hotels carved into the cliffs, villas and cafes. But the waves are still the same.
Photo: 1981 Buffaloes in rice paddy.
Photo: 1985 Ric’s wife Sami with Bali kids at cremation ceremony.
Ric Chan – A cremation in Bali is a joyous occasion, not as sad depressing as in the West!
Peter Neely – You can still see colourful cremations like this on Kuta Beach every week or two, on the sand in front of the Jalan Kartika Plaza cemetery. This is where every Kuta local ends up before their ashes are spread into the surf inside Kuta Reef. Where I’d like some of my ashes floating around eternally, in the far distant future.
Photo: 1983 Jimbaran Bay
Coming soon 1980s Bali Photo Galleries by Ric Chan with comments from Peter Neely #2.
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