Leaving Paradise

East vs. West Differences. Blue = West, Red = East.

Things that are new

Handling of problems

Punctuality

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Ah, such a sad, sad, day...my last day in SE Asia for awhile. The past few weeks here have been incredible to say the least. Have been cycling, surfing, exploring, meeting really cool people, and just all around having a blissful experience. The Bali Spirit Festival is going on right now, so many of the high profile gurus of yoga, massage, dance, etc. have migrated here from all over the world. Has also brought many other conscious people from across the globe, whom I have been meeting on a daily basis.

So what am I going to miss from here? Off the top of my head...

1. Climate - Of course who wouldn't like a steady 80 degrees, sunshine, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world? No doubt it took some getting used to walking in the blazing sun with a big backpack and a guitar, sleeping in rooms without A/C, and showering in cold water, but now I wouldn't trade any of it. Will be interesting to see how I feel back in the "cold" U.S.
   
2. Fruit stands - I don't understand why they don't have these around in Hawaii or California (at least not that I've seen). On just about every street you can find little stalls where they have everything from pineapple to papaya, cut up in little bags ready to devour. A lot of them also will make fruit shakes too...oh so good when out in the hot sun.
3. Durian - "The king of fruits" and rightly named so. Asians treasure this fruit, as it is unlike any other. Spiky hard outside shell, with an aroma that has caused it to be banned from many hotels and trains/buses/planes. But damn it is good...and there's so many varieties. It's one of the rare fruits that has a lot of fat and protein, which gives it such an incredible sweet creamy flavor. They make everything from durian chips to durian pancakes here...truly amazing!
4. 7-11 - These things are everywhere in Thailand and Malaysia! I remember days as a kid riding my bike over to 7-11 to get a slurpy back in Chicago, but I thought that they all closed down long ago. Not in Asia! Definitely an essential stop for travelers, for everything from water to toothpaste, and all super cheap!
5. Internet Cafes - These are just about as common as 7-11s. For as little as $0.50 per hour, they're not a bad deal. They have a bunch of gaming cafes too, where you can see the young hardworking Asians killing people or building an army 24 hours a day...God bless technology!
6. Monks - It still cracks me up seeing these guys just walking around doing normal things like shopping at 7-11. But they are the kindest people that just love practicing their English with you. I sat in many a Wat talking about life and learning Thai with them. Talk about discipline though...they are up before dawn, don't partake in any of the "sins" of life, and don't eat after 12pm!
7. The Backpacker Scene - So many incredible people from all over the world (mostly Europe) flock to SE Asia for the weather, cheap prices, and beautiful scenery. It's amazing how easy it is to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger who may not even speak English very well, yet become the best of friends for a short time.
8. Sunshine - How/why did we ever migrate to colder darker climates? When did we start to have to fortify our diets with Vitamin D? Ludicrous. Nothing can compare to the real thing.
   
9. Surfing - I have surfed California, Hawaii, and now Indonesia. Considering I'm just a beginner, this is quite a feat. I can still totally see why the pros and wanna be pros from all over the world come here. The water is pristine, warm, and there's ALWAYS surf!
   
10. People - Thailand had the nicest people, with Bali coming in a close second. Sure many are super friendly because they know we white men bring the powerful dollar. But I've been in many situations where I don't buy anything, and just strike up conversation with a local. They are truly fascinated with the Western world, and love to hear everything we have to say about it, as well as what we think about their country. America/Europe has a huge influence on the teen culture here, as they idolize most famous Hollywood actors or Billboard musicians. But even for the tourists here, it's so incredibly important to set a good example. Even little things like using a cloth grocery bag can go a long way in the eyes of the Balinese. I can't tell you how many times I've seen the locals just throwing paper/plastic in the street or on the beach like it will just magically disappear or turn into a plastic producing tree...definitely not a good thing on a small island!
    
11. Scenery - The beaches are the best I have ever seen. The mountains, waterfalls, and gardens are all up there with Hawaii and California. The difference is that here it tends to be a lot less touched by man. Call it laziness or just being better in tune with the land, whatever it is we could learn from it!
    
12. Reggae Bars - Guaranteed to be at least one of these in every city in Thailand. Also guaranteed that you will hear the same songs being played in every one. Cannot tell you how many times I have sung along to No Woman No Cry. Love it!
13. Squat toliets - You've got to be kidding me, right? That's what went through my mind when first encountering these things. But I tell you what, it's the most comfortable position ever, and great practice if you're heading out into the backwoods on a hiking or camping trip. With that said, no matter of convincing could get me to part from the luxury of TP!
    
14. "Transport? Taxi? Motorbike? Tuk-tuk?" - It took a long time for me to get over the constant harassment from these guys every few feet walking down a street. But now I've gotten to know some of them and can joke around. Really nice guys down at heart, just trying to make a decent living.

And here's a few pictorial descriptions of some differences between cultures:

Blue = West, Red = East.

Things that are new

Handling of problems

Punctuality

Check out MountainRunner for more

Well, that's just a fraction of my experiences here, as you can see it's been incredible. Off to say goodbye to a good friend tonight and have my last durian, then hop on a plane at 2 a.m. for the long journey back home!

Durian Adventures

View from my bungalow in Kintamani

Just as I was getting used to my life of eat, sleep, surf, a friend of mine lured me into a LONG bike ride from Ubud to Kintamani, in search of the elusive durian fruit. The plan was to start very early to beat the heat and traffic, around 6:30 a.m. Of course this was merely wishful thinking, as the night prior was a late night.

So after a cup of coffee, some fruit from the morning market, an ATM stop, and mini-market stop, we were off around 9:30 a.m. In planning, we figured it would take a couple of hours to get there, after all, it was only twenty-something kilometers. Positive thinking is good, but can be shattering to the ego as well.

As is usual of a couple of guys thinking they know where they are going, the day turned into a physical and mental testament. The sun was hot, the entire way around a 3-4% grade with some sections much steeper, and my clunky rented mountain bike that loved to rub its chain against the derailer being the only sound taunting me on the way up.

Finally sometime between noon and 1pm, we decided to take a break at one of the many mini markets scattered along the roadside. Hydration was of prime concern, so we opted for some coconuts. The first ones we got must have been sitting for a very long time, as both of us spit out the first sip immediately. So what did the shop owners do? Sent a man who must have been about 50 years old to climb up a tree across the street and get us some fresh ones! How many people in America do you think could do this?!

Relaxing at Little K after an intense yoga session

Life in Bali

It's about 2pm, and I just finished up another epic round of surfing at Kuta beach. This is the life I say. Eat, sleep, surf, repeat!

I met up with a friend from Oregon in the spiritual center of Ubud. Yoga studios, massage parlors, meditation retreats, herb shops, organic raw vegan restaurants...this is definitely the heart of the conscious movement in Asia as far as I have seen. Beautiful scenery with tropical forests, rice fields, and Balinese architecture. Lots of artists abound with paintings, jewelry, sculptures...you name it they have it. My kind of place!

So after a few days there, we got the fish out of water feel and decided to head back to the beach for surf. That was a few days ago, and so far every morning I've been out there totally losing track of time and just enjoying the moment.

I read a book awhile back called West of Jesus, which follows a guy from L.A. searching the world for the perfect wave, and trying to make sense of the spiritual side of the sport. I can totally feel what he was going through right now. Just being out on the water sitting overlooking the most beautiful part of the world in the morning just puts me in a state higher than any drug.

So I am going to call this place home for the next few weeks, until I head back to the States. The surf, people, and vibe are the perfect mix for me right now.

Off to put in an afternoon session and then catch another incredible fire red sunset over the water!

P.S. - Have had many ask about the riots in Bangkok, but thankfully I got out of there a few weeks ago! Crazy how the timing works out, and definitely someone was looking out for me in Bali as they called my name to surf :)

Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Endless Summer

Petronas Twin Towers

Quick detour in my Asian route...decided to hit up Bali for my last few weeks in the East. Heard many good things about the place, from epic waves to beautiful art and a mixed culture of retired expats, Balinese, surfers, and hippies...heaven?

But to get here, I had to spend a few days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was not much different than Chicago or Los Angeles as far as big cities go, with enormous shopping malls, crowded streets, and huge sky scrapers. But I have to admit that it was really nice slipping back into that kind of thing for a few days. But a few days max, because after that I longed for a quiet beach, clean air, and cheap prices.

Low Yat Plaza

But I did get a nice Starbucks fix...my first one in over a month! Apparently they (Bucks) started a free wifi trend throughout the city too, another bonus for this cheapo backpacker. Some people even setup mobile offices around the city this way!

It was an incredible experience too walking through these enormous shopping malls on Bukit Bintang. The States has nothing compared to these monsters. It was such a stimulating experience I just sat there for hours people watching sometimes. Crazy to think back to my days living in downtown Chicago where this kind of thing was the norm!

But besides the tourist areas, I ventured around through Little India and Chinatown too. It felt like I was on another planet. Not a single other white foreigner did I see in those areas...nice!

The worst part of the experience was the accomodation. Out of all the cities in Thailand that I had been through, this was the nasty. The entire backpacker district is pretty much littered with hole in the wall places that are waaaay overpriced. I ended up paying about $15 per night for a dump with shared bathroom...but at least it had A/C.

The really cool thing about Malaysians? They love durian! I stumbled upon several durian stalls, and can safely say that I am now a true addict! Had D24, XO, Montohng, and Mau Sang Wang varieties....WOW! The stuff we get back in the States, even Hawaii, can't touch the ones here!

Durian "The king of fruits"; XO type

This was the best durian I've ever had. Mau-Sang Wang - King Cat Durian!!

So I left for Bali on Monday, and of course had another adventure of a travel experience. You would think that the KL airport would be relatively close to downtown, but such is not the case. A two hour bus ride is what it took, which included reversing down the freeway to get to a gas station, yet another moment where I feared for me life! But I made it to the airport, with plenty of time to spare before my 7pm flight. Which of course turned into a 7:30pm flight, touching down in Bali around 10:30pm. Add in time for getting a VISA, Customs, Taxi, and I arrived exhausted in Kuta around midnight! So I snatched the first place I saw, which was like a resort in the center of town. Definitely the nicest place I have stayed at yet. It had a swimming pool, beautiful garden, and complimentary breakfast...all for the bargain price of $19 per night! And as for bargaining, bargain hard is the game in Bali. Even that first night at the hotel started out at $27 and I talked them down. Same thing with these things I've bought:

2 Sarongs Starting: 160,000 Ending: 55,000
Travel adapter Starting: 60,000 Ending: 30,000
2 Billabong shirts Starting: 750,000 Ending:100,000

The best place on Earth, Bali.

But surfing is on my mind right now, and that is the culture here. I've met so many Aussie surfers, who have told me endless stories and places to go. Even met a Balinese surfer kid from Mendewi, supposedly one of the best spots on the island...offered me to stay in his home if I make it up there!

Now it's off to Ubud for a few days, where I'm meeting up with a friend and getting my organic fix. Supposedly it's the heart of the conscious/green movement here, with more vegan restaurants and yoga studios than you could imagine!

Another blow...

I can't believe this...just found out that my uncle Gene lost his battle with cancer this week. This is just crazy. Two huge influences in my life gone in the same month! Seriously, what is going on?!

But alas, I stand by the belief that everything happens for a reason. To be honest, I have no idea what that is at this moment, but in time I'm sure it will be revealed...it always does. If anything, it's another reminder to keep waking up everyday with a passion and don't let it slip away. If that's not the case, then it's time to take a good hard look at your life. Call me a dreamer, but nothing's impossible. Both of these people knew that, and lived extraordinary lives. They definitely did not leave with the music still playing.

But any thoughts/prayers should definitely be headed the way of my aunt Lina. I lost a grandmother and an uncle, she lost a husband and a sister. I know that I feel devastated to lose such important people, so I can only imagine how it feels to her.

Please everyone take care of yourselves! Some things cannot be prevented, but some can. Let's have these two events be the only ones of their kind this year!