The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-21
nv INV ,Rn NsSu~
BALI, Dutch East Indies-wherc Is IN

One hundred different Amerie
confusing locations. In
the fact that Bali being an iSlal
is. To be technical. the iSlat
north by the Java sea. to the {
TO the south by the Indian q
of Bali. this latter b,
which scarcely separates Bali
heart of the Dutch East Indies
Bali has an area. they tell us.
about one-siS,h that Of Holland.
some 2 500 square miles, and a
population Of better than one mil
lion. which gives this strange isle
= density Of AL persons per square
mile Hut William Van Loon. in
a recent book has shown us that
the entire earth's population could
with comfort be eomported in =
cube one mile on y side. said cube
pushed over The rim Of tho Grand
Canyon Of the Colorado all Of
which rather ohliterates statistical
research on Bali or any other given
spot
MAYBE u viii mean something
TO know that Rail Is the fufthest
west Of that group known a. the
lesser Sunda Islands OF these les
ser Sundas, one other island may
recall associations through media
Of the literature and screen. Timor,
the ma 3or eastern member OF the
lesser Sundas. will go down In his
tory as the spot where n certain
Capt Bligh, commander Of HIM s.
Bounty. found haven after mancu-
vering tiny longboat over several
thousand miles Of South Pacific
ocean. II is interesting TO specu-
late on what might have been the
course of events had Capt Bhgh
and lis unfortunate companions
beached their frail craft ON this
island OF Bali We know the story
of Fletcher Christians descendants,
their strange history on Pitcairn
Island but Bligh and Bali what
paradox
tnforgettable Sight
Geography. though has little 10
do with the real Bali our first
sight OF this island WAS unfnfgct-
table. There ahead. across the
CLASSY surface Of the Java Sea,
magnificent cloud rose 10 meet the
sky As we neared. II took form
to reveal beneath its skirts, palm
fringed shores. backed with ter
raced rice fields rising. one upon
the other tai they disappeared IN
this mysterious haze by noon the
sun mad dispellcd the vapors some
what. and We steamed along "a
coastline dominated by the ma1es-
tic peak OF Bali, rising 10000 feet
from the sea. "A great volcano quite
active even today.
Bali is not too small an Island
for cycling fans We realized now,
being some 80 miles in its great
est extent. We caught pictures Of
ourselves "steaming" over those
great green slopes on cycles.
Embark on Sampnn
Then Boeleleng our port Of dis
cmbarkation No hnrhor. nor
wharvcs. mere cluster Of tin
roofs. glittcrinR in the afternoon
sun. Our ship halted for a scarce
20 minutes 10 transfer 10 tiny
sampans those Bah-bound pass
engers We grabbed our knsr~-ck.
containing our very seant Bali,
bike kit. and armed with our In
evitable cameras swung down the
ships ladder into tossing sam
pan.
From above on deck. came the
whine Of an electric winch. then
whisk out Of the ships hold In
a cargo sling and oversize. our
precious bikes Deposited care
fully in the bottom Uf our tiny
shore bound craft. We breathed
easier A handful Of tourists bound
for Bali clambered down the ships
lsdder. filled cur waiting tender
10 capacity. and with farewell
wave 10 the captain and officers
uf our Dutch vessel. We were off
for shore
Arm with ieiisrs of iDtr0-
durtlon 10 the Dutch officials
In this tiny settlement of Boz
IeIeng, We made our way 10
their headquarters.
BIKE across this island >" They
smiled. Mr. Moore. Mr. Mason. We
warn you. u - very hllly, very
warm during the day
We gtIlped bit the sun was
already only too evident 80 We
were told by the Dutch officials
In America But have not others
mixed this island surely Ne ean
make It Oh bikes. taking II IN easy
stages
Then Comes BoDb.hsli
Our Dutch friends rsieDtsd q III
al this 1t Is true tWO years
ago two young Germans came 10
Bali. walked the isle Tor . month 20
Ne explained our intention "
staying only few days. then
crossing h. sourabayn. Java for
our cross-Jsya bike tTip. Then
csu.- TIE bombshell Our Dutch
friends notified us 10 our horror.
that the sailing NJ our sap from
Batavia On the farther t3p of Java.
and presumably me terminus u
our cross-Jaya trip. had been de-
lsyed one week She would not
connect nth or hDmeWard bound
vessel in iionRsonRi We had come
II 600 miller. equipped with What
We considered ~ u an alriiEbi
Itinerary. only ~ have a last mln-
ute upset Our only alternative
Nae 20 erOEs Java thence back
aga.n % Sour baya 20 catch AT
alternate yesae tedious. most
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