Greetings,

You’ve heard me talk of this fruit platter many times. Part of the reason I just can’t go home again for a bit is because of things like this. If you earn your money online, why would you NOT live somewhere tropical where you can get a fruit platter like this for $1US?

What will $1us get me back home? Oh yeah, not even a coffee.

Crazy, yes?

Cordially,

Note: To see the image larger, right click “view image”.

While in Bali, Indonesia I ran into two Swedish girls I had met on Khao San Road, Bangkok, Thailand. They told me they were going north to see the black sand beaches near Pemuteran. They also informed me that I was welcome to join them, obviously I said “sure”.

We hired a private driver and he dropped us off near the ocean. We stayed at a small guest house that also ran a non profit to help educate the local children and orphans. Spent Christmas with the orphans and local children playing soccer with a ball that barely rolled.

The kids were incredibly friendly and seemed to be extremely happy. It was a memorable Christmas and very different from any other I’ve had. I will say this, if you get something caught in a tree in the tropics, don’t just shake it, you may be completely covered in red ants, not so fun.

Tips hat,

Note: To see the image larger, right click “view image”.

Greetings,

This photo was taken at sunrise on Poppies Gang 1 aka Poppies Lane 1 in Kuta, Bali. This was after one of the best nights I had on this trip and it only cost me $2.85 for a party from 8pm to ~whenever this was taken. I was just leaving a 7/11 of sorts when this was taken.

Turns out I ran into some other friends still going on my way home and we went down to the beach and had some drinks with this local crew who weren’t ready to retire yet. Kuta, Bali is a great time. The place doesn’t look so nice, in fact it looks kinda creepy / seedy at night but it’s totally different during the day.

Regards,

Note: To enlarge image, right click and select “view image”.

Greetings,

While in Bali there was this large ZTE party on Kuta beach. Having been in Kuta for a while at the time I was looking for one of those $0.50 lunches that the local guys eat. My Finnish friend and I had gotten into them heavy, I was spending almost nothing daily. By that I mean if I spent over $15 a day, including room, I woke shaking my head thinking I was a spend-thrift.

A random walk ended up in me doing the bungee trampoline. It’s a lot of fun you can do back flips, front flips, whatever you want and you go really, really high. Let me explain how it happened.

I went looking for that food but could find nothing. Suddenly I was at the main stage and they were auctioning off a new ZTE cell phone. For some reason I found myself lifting my hand to out bid these Chinese guys. Then they said X price which was like $60 was the max bid, ends auction immediately.

A few others started bidding and suddenly I started to feel like I might not win this auction for a phone I didn’t want or need. I told them max bid. I did all the paper work and came back without lunch but a new cell phone. My friends started laughing and one of the Balinese guys opened it up and said it’s not GSM, you can’t use it outside of Indo, fyi.

I went back and wanted a refund, no refund… Waited around for them to unlock it but they took forever. At first they said they can’t unlock it but later caved. After 2-3 hours they said I could wait 10 more minutes or get my money back. I took the money, obviously.

Everyone who bought a phone got a “free trampoline session”. While I was waiting, I used the trampoline. If you ever get the chance, I recommend it, feels like total freedom. Personal favorite is the running backflip. That said, for whatever reason it’s incredibly exhausting to get yourself to the top over and over again. One of my friends from the guest house took that photo.

Tips hat,

P.S: Love how there is a dude filming with my camera but he hit “record” after I did right as I started so it was all lost. That said, he did film it like I was his kid at some little league championships, props to him.

Note: To see the image larger, right click “view image”.

Greetings,

This photo is of a “bouncer” at one of the clubs in Kuta, Bali wielding a machine gun.

Every once and while you forget that you’re not home anymore but actually, you’re in say “Indonesia”. Many of the night clubs have guys with machine guns as their bouncers. I have never seen anything that would require a guy with a machine gun but I was only there for 3 weeks so who knows.

Also probably has to do with the large bomb then went off in Kuta a few year ago killing all too many people.

Regards,

Note: To see the image larger, right click “view image”.

Greetings,

This photo is of the “Gora Steps” in Kuta, Bali. To most they are just known as “the steps”. Basically at night the store above puts out a boom box and blares house music or something of that nature. It’s like a meeting place for many travelers as well as locals from Kuta. People basically just hang out listening to music while drinking before going to the clubs.

Often times the “steps” rages all night and you don’t even go to a club. It has a central location on Poppies Gang II so people are always walking by some stopping, some leaving, that kind of thing. If you’re in Bali, definitely go have a drink there a few times, it’s good fun.

Tips hat,

Note: To see the image larger, right click “view image”.

Good day,

I am not sure what to call this thing… A mascot? A monster? A float? A creature?

While in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia in December 2009, I was walking to a coffee shop to use the wifi. On the way I saw a whole street filled with floats and people playing music. I had no clue what it was. That is when I saw them loading bodies into one of the floats. Quickly realized it was a traditional Balinese cremation ceremony.

I followed them and will one day make a post dedicated strictly to this ceremony. Once they got to the beach, they removed the bodies and did more rituals before burning them on the beach with blow torches. Not sure where or what this “thing” is used for but they had several of them. It looks very meticulously put together so I doubt they will burn it. That said, what do I know?

It was a moving experience, a celebration of sorts with bands, people selling food. Sort of like a celebration of the lives lost. Perhaps it was because it was a mass ceremony. I am not sure but it is one of those events on the trip that stand out as particularly moving.

Tips hat,

Note: To see the image larger, right click “view image”.

Greetings,

The first night I got into Bali, I had to pay $20us for a room not much better. The next day I found this “gem”. It had an awesome patio, great guests and even cooler staff. The room wasn’t much but it had more than I needed. The cost was $4.50 a night as it was “high season”. The people there grandfathered us in as I believe it went to $5.25.

The name is the Puri Agung and is situated about ~5-8 minute walk from Kuta Beach. Each room comes with it’s own cold shower, toilet and a fan. When there are blackouts, you don’t want to be in the room as it’s insanely hot. You may see the odd cockroach from time to time but it’s like that everywhere in Kuta.

This place and 2-3 others are in the price range and are usually taken up by long term guests / beach bums. Be ready to pay a high price first few days and if you are lucky, you can get into one of these. Also, next door has  extremely cheap food. Doesn’t look like much but it fills the void and the lady is super sweet.

Crazy how you can get a room near the beach for less than a burger combo.

Tips hat,

P.S: They will change your sheets free every few days.

Note: To enlarge image, right click and select “view image”.

Greetings,

This video was filmed in December 2009 at Bounty Bar in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. Bounty Bar is one of those “hate it or love it” type bars. It’s crazy, it’s intense and it’s a meat market. It’s also the largest bar on the Legian Street which is the notorious party street in Kuta. Personally, I love Bounty and always end up there for at least a drink or so if hitting the streets.

Not sure who that girl was, will note that she ~sorta~kinda~ looks like the model mentioned in the last update. Then again, that’s Bali, one of those “anything can happen” places.  So you know, Bali is incredibly cheap and incredibly fun.

Good day,

P.S: Click here to win a free 1st class Eurail global pass, only from SHABL.

P.P.S: LOTS more to come.

Random Search?: “Lisbon Picpockets” – Search.

Moving on to Java, Indonesia tomorrow. Booked a bus / ferry shuttle for 170,000Ru from Kuta, Bali to Probolinggo, Java. You can get it for ~150,000Ru if you go to the station but it’s not so close. As a result for an extra 20,000 they pick me up near my hotel, sounds good to me.  Leaves at 5:30PM and arrives in Probolinggo @ ~2am the next morning, great. From Probolinggo I go to Cemoro Lawang, right near the base of Mount Bromo which is pictured above.  Then make my way to Yogy to hang out for New Years before heading to Jakarta for that flight to Vietnam.

Through the power of social networking, some Canadians I ran into in Thailand are in Bali, staying just down the street. Going to meet them for a drink in 1 hour. Also supposed to meet up with some Spanish ladies for a drink. Time to combine the parties, indeed.

Now that I’m going tomorrow, I am already thinking I may switch ticket to stay one more day. Truth be told, I’ve had a great time here but it is very much time for a change of scenery.

I’m also “changing my mind on guidebooks”. This girl has done the same trek I am taking through Java. From Bali -> Probilinggo – some other town – Yogy – Jakarta. I asked her a bunch of questions and she said “it’s all in Lonely Planet”. I may have to break down and pick one up.

Anyways, it’s the holidays and web traffic besides social media sites are slow as sin. As a result I’ll save my breath and hands and get busy doing whatever it is that I”ll be doing after this.

Good day,