Getting Situated

Pictures courtesy of Google image search: Nusa Dua aerial shot, fat-ass monkey at Uluwatu and Uluwatu sunset. Pictures of my own coming soon.

Arrived a couple days ago after a 24 hour flight, exausted. Went to take my first picture and... no camera battery. Damn. Left it on the charger at home. So here I am writing sans pictures for my first few eventful days.

Feels good to be back in Bali. All the nervousness I had about traveling alone has left and is now replaced by the excitment of being in such a crazy place. My friend Nicole won't be joining me until April 15th now so I am on my own.

First night, took a taxi straight from the airport to try and find a battery. This proved to be futile. I then had the driver take me straight to Bingin beach to where we last stayed. Reunited with Sticky as he came in from his canoe squid fishing, hung out for a bit, drank some Bintangs and then passed out from sleep deprived economy airplane travel.

So far it has rained everynight here, which is fine because the days are sunny (and humid as hell).

Yesterday (Friday in Indo time), got my motor bike and set out to do some exploring and get used to being back on one of these things. No surf yet so I figured I'd just motorbike around all day to get my bearings. Took off into the absolute chaos that is Balinese traffic. No kidding this shit is dangerous. I can't even explain. I tried to white-knuckle it into Kuta to find a camera battery but quickly realized I was getting seriously lost. I don't think the Balinese believe in street signs.

Change of plans, headed to Nusa Dua beach (a feat in itself) which is supposed to have the good surf this time of year. Approached a busy intersection and the light turned red but all the locals kept going so I naturally did as well. Bad idea. Pulled over by a cop. Had a nice conversation about our new president Obama and then was relieved of about 17 dollars U.S. Then he suggested me and him go have a beer later and he could get me a nice Bali girl. I politlely declined his offer and went on my way. I guess I couldn't really be upset about it. Back home, running a red light would have cost me $400 and the cop wouldn't even have the decency to offer me a prostitute.

Found Nusa Dua which turns out to be one of the nicer beaches I've found. Surf was too small, but clean on this side of the island. Met a cool Czech couple who have been traveling South-East Asia for two months now, hung out for a bit and it turns out that were planning on going to the Uluwatu Temple at sunset for the Kecak dance. This happened to be close to where I was staying so I showed them the way and joined them at the temple. Amazing place full of monkeys, rythmic dancing, insane sunsets all on 200 foot vertical cliffs. Yakim and Dagra are going to email me the pictures.

Head back to Sticky's and am reunited with Kannish! Our friend and driver from last trip. Shot the shit, drank some bintangs and arak (local palm liqour) and ate Mee Goreng (fried rice noodles with egg) and crispy sweet squid which Sticky had caught himself. After rinsing off my all-day accumulation of sweat, I passed out for the night.

Today Kannish and I took off on my my motorbike (nothing wrong with two men on one tiny motorbike) and into Kuta where I just now finally found a battery for my camera and this cheap internet cafe (.60$ for one hour). Great success!

Gypsy Magic

One of the smallest ethnic minorities in Asia, The Sea Gypsies were virtually unknown by the outside world until the 2004 Tsunami ravaged South East Asia. One of the most amazing stories reported by the international press was that not one of the Sea Gypsies died.

The Sea Gypsies are either that in tune with the ocean or they used thier gypsy magic.

Either way, I must become a Sea Gypsy.

http://www.xpeditions.be/publication/seagypsies/seagypsies.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/18/60minutes/main681558.shtml

Sea Gypsys

As an aspiring gypsy myself, I decided to do a little research using the powerful internets and came across this:

"Travellers" is a wider term for groups of people with a nomadic lifestyle, traditionally including but not restricted to the Romani. The Irish Travelers and Scottish Travelers are often included under the term "gypsies". In Central and Western Europe, the Yeniche are known as gypsies (or Ziguener and other local equivalents of the term) although they are not considered part of the Romani people.
Similarly, the Indeginous Norwegian Travelers are unrelated to the Romani, not to be confused with the Romani Norwegian and Swedish Travelers.
In India, the Banjara are sometimes dubbed gypsies. Various ethnic groups in South-East Asia are known as "Sea Gypsies". Colloquially, gypsy names also any person perceived as fitting the Gypsy stereotypes (compare Bohemianism). -Wikipedia

It turns out that these Sea Gypsys migrated throughout South-East Asia, including Indonesia, to escape escalating conflict in the Sulu archipelago of the Philippines. The Bajau people, as they are called, are peaceful sea-faring people who live through trading and subsistense fishing. Perhaps I will have the opportunity to encounter these Sea Gypsies and learn thier gypsy ways.

The Chosen Two

6'6 x 191/4 x 25/8 GH Step-up Round Pin 5-fin Bonzer

5'8 x 201/2 x 2 3/8 Hynson "Black Knight" Quad Fin Fish

Too bad they can't all come...

I'll miss you guys...