A Message From The Owner

John F. Groom is the founder and owner of Global Fast Fit, a Groom Ventures LLC company.

I first visited Bali in 1988 as part of a trip to visit a friend who had founded a furniture company in Java. Not only did I have a great time, but it was the beginning of my Bali love affair that has continued up to this time, despite the many changes that have taken place in Bali over the years. 

It was also the beginning of my interest in the culture and art of Bali; amazingly enough, despite the onslaught of tourism, that culture, while evolving, is very much alive and vibrant. Over the years I’ve also accumulated a very significant collection of Indonesian art, much of it commissioned in Bali from the artisans with whom our team has established relationships.

The Bali you’ll visit today is not the Bali I first visited in 1988; traffic is much worse, the number of tourists is far greater, and there has been much overdevelopment in South Bali. But there are still many excellent reasons to stay in Bali; in 2023 I spent much of the year there and a couple months in 2024.

But Global Fast Fit is all about getting the most out of your trip, while avoiding potential pitfalls.

I’ve traveled all over the world, but I still find the Balinese to be generally the most hospitable people I have encountered. Sure, stereotypes generally are to be avoided, but you have to really work at finding a rude or difficult Balinese connected in any way to the tourism industry. And their kindness is generally quite genuine, which is kind of amazing considering the vast numbers of tourists who visit Bali. 

The unique Balineses religion, sometimes called Balinese Hinduism, still very much permeates the island, and it’s almost impossible not to run into festivals. Some of the events at hotels are stage for tourists of course, but the culture is still very real and very integral to what it means to be Balinese.

I am convinced that no country in the world has a more interesting and diversified collection of artists and craftsmen; this includes painting, sculpture, batik clothing, temple architecture, jewelry, masks, wood carving, and much else. With our affiliated company, Indo Art House, we’re uniquely positioned to introduce you to the best artisans and can even help you commission truly astounding art or craft projects.

-John F. Groom