Travel Talk

Looking For a Ticket Out of Here

Good day,

Time flies when you are having fun, yes? As a result I feel as though I went to bed one night, awoke and wow, I’m nearing day 100 of this most epic adventure, indeed. I sit here in a coffee bean with a good friend from Finland. We’ve been having a “sick” time here for lack of a better word but my visa expires soon and as a result, I must make some moves or pay an “over stay fine” like I did in Thailand.

I’m looking at tickets to Tanzania. I can get them for ~$1,000US. My decision is to maybe fly to Singapore and chill for 1 day with my friends then go to Tanzania. This option is $50US cheaper but if I take it, I will have 2 7 hour lay overs in India and Kenya. Layovers suck, big time and I typically find myself drinking egregious quantities of coffee, talking to anyone who will listen and spending money like a drunken sailor on over priced airport garbage.

I digress.

The $50 is a non consequential in my decision, it is just the layovers which will make me want to grab a stewardess pen and jab it into my right eye, it’s treu (sic).

Another thought is to fly to Kuala Lumpur and then contact my friend in the Philippines as he will be free after the 10th of January. Ok that is totally backwards, obviously I will email him first. I flipped an email to my friend in Tanzania today and waiting a reply.

Another option is to fly to Bangkok, once more. Hang out with my American friend eating cheap food and drinking the occasional Chang beer while dodging tuk tuk’s and watching movies in the VIP theater on the regular while haggling vendors in the MBK mega mall.

Another option is a visa extension for ~$20-30US and just “hang out in Indonesia” until I get sick of it.

Finally another option is to fly to Singapore, then back to Indonesia but this time, Borneo or Java or Sumatra and make this a “working trip” where my goal is to visit all the territories including Brunei so when I leave Indonesia, I will not have to come back, unless I choose to. You see, Indonesia has numerous distinct territories which besides its geographical make-up, make it a very unusual and unique place.

Oh decisions.

I saw a funeral ceremony today, it was a very cool experience and very different from anything I’ve witnessed on this trip. I also know what death smells like when I was downwind from the numerous bodies being moved to their final places where they were cremated, on the beach. Anyone who has seen a traditional ceremony like this knows what I’m talking about. This one was different as it was a mass ceremony and a massive parade which I followed.

I won’t say anymore as I plan on making a detailed update about this tomorrow, for you. I have many photos and videos and will share with you, except the cremation, I believe that would be poor taste and  simply, not this gentleman’s style.

Now, I will venture off with my Finnish friend in search of food and then probably end up at the Gora steps to hang with our friends. I will note, stay tuned in the upcoming days for a somewhat details “Bali Night Club & Bar Guide” where I’ll discuss 5-7 good places YOU SHOULD visit, SHOULD YOU EVER make it here.

Tips hat, “kuulemisiin” as the Finnish would say.

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