BNG Villa Kuta

... 15 games in a row, which really rubbed this group of lads up the wrong way. Especially when they were adamant that a 'Sheila' couldn't beat them.

Our time in Bali has been amazing, one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. The people here are so nice and want to help you all the time. Tourism is huge here and their only means of a life in some ways, so we understood why it was so important to them to look after us as best as they could. We were totally ...

... and centre and the next I’m scraping my self and my bike off the road. Except it wasn’t really that dramatic. We managed to get lost firstly and so stopped to ask directions. As we were pulling out of a little lay-by on the side of a lane I managed to get the turn all wrong. Sarah and Stephen had scootered off and I was waiting for Disco to go and so wasn’t really ready however the traffic had stopped and so Disco waved me on and said I could go. I misjudged ...

... my price bracket. Luckily he managed to find one other, not particularly nice place for 200k per night. Within five minutes of checking in the guy at the desk offered to source me a prostitute, a service he has continued to offer me on a daily basis and he's not the only one to offer either, far from it, and I daren't get a massage! To be honest, I feel a little emasculated by the conception that I must need a prostitute!
The following day I found ...

... less, than head up into the heart of Bali and soak up some actual culture before heading east into the Gili islands (where I've been waiting to go for ohhhhhh 3 months!) and Komodo/Flores. After that, who knows. Money is still good with both of us so we're just cruisin. Hope all is well with everyone. Satu is now outside haggling with a man for cheap knock off ray bans.... I better go check on her. Love to all!

More pics in a day or so.... so hold yer horses.

... although he claimed he was 'ill'), so Andy, Chris and played cards alone. After 2 or 3 hours the power came back on and Tom and Andy decided to head to the internet cafe whilst Chris and I chatted until they returned. Once they returned we played cards and drank whiskey until we were ready to hit the clubs again!


(Tom: Disclaimer: The majority of Rich's views on the following events are distortions of the truth! Bear this in mind whilst reading and note my version of ...

... spending any money that would benefit Java! As I've mentioned, all non-Javanese HATE Java. He asked if I was married. For the first time, I didn't laugh and hold up a ringless hand and celebrate singledom. It was weird! He could not understand why my fiance was not with me. I arrived at the terminal, picked up some snacks and was off promptly at 3pm (on the dot!), serenaded by heinous Bahasa pop music videos, on my way to Yogyakarta.

... and my Dutch heritage came up and I was pulling out all the facts - to her genuine interest. Turns out Johan, her boyfriend (*******mit), went to Eton and is now running the U.N or something. Well it was fun while the dream lasted! We parted ways, but she's keen to meet up when she comes to New Zealand. With Johan. Immigration in Indonesia is a joke. You pay 17 different taxes and visa's and are manhandled twice before being told you are going to get the death penalty ...

... were pretty mediocre. So, shall I impart some final nuggets of wisdom on this last entry, the lessons learned, or the ways I've changed? Nahh. Okay, one. They say to err is human, but it's also true that to have expectations is human. One thing I constantly faced on this trip was the clash between my expectations and the reality of all the different situations I found myself in. I think ...

... PC, who is meeting up with friends to go diving in bali. he's from new zealand, but grew up in jakarta and went to school in the states. glad we became friends, because he helped me find hotel and direct my lost luggage. amazed that i was able to fall asleep sitting on the concrete floor with my head on my knees and my bag wrapped around my legs. kuta beach is cancun for australians. get a good feel for the town ...

... favor at the airport in Guatemala, the man tried to charge me $3.00! One of the girls working at my guesthouse lent me a sarong last night so I could attend the local temple's festivities, again for no charge, and today her sister taught me how to make an offering out of young coconut leaves. Many of the friendly men on the street have been trying to convince me to hire them as taxi drivers, it's true, but even after I declined they were more ...