Touchdown in Bali

Thanks y'all who came to the dinner at Picaro. It was good to see everyone. It was quick... sorry about that. I originally thought my flight was at midnight. I'm a big flake. The flight did end up delayed by a little over and hour which was getting my slightly concerned about catching my connection in Sydney. I didn't book the flights together so I had to do a full entry into Australia (stamp in the passport and all) and a full exit from Australia (stamp in the passport and all.)

I hate 5 hour flights. They're a pain in the ass. They feel like they should be short and I'm never mentally prepared. Set me up for a 14 hour flight and I treat it like a big deal, I take off my shoes, I nap and read and nap some more. I make it work. I figured it might be horrible but it worked out just fine. I spotted several kids on the plane who still hadn't finished their Harry Potter. Shame. They had a whole 4 days already.

A few things struck me as different about Sydney right away. Firstly, the Soy Chicken flavoured chips in the vending machine. Secondly, how nich and chill all the airport security people were. They didn't have rods up their collective asses like the TSA folks back home tend to do. Thirdly, holy crap, at the Sydney airport they make you walk through a big duty free shop just to get to your gate. It's like trying to go the the Pretzel place at the mall and having to walk through two floors of JC Penney in order to get the the center of the mall where the little stores are.

I did like the outdoor observation deck at the airport. I had a little bit of time and made my way up there for a few photos.

Flying over Australia is crazy. There's nothing there. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Well, dry stuff and the occasional canyon. I mean, I knew all this conceptually but it's different to see it from the air. It'll be a whole new ballgame when I get to Alice Springs... hopefully later on in the trip.

For ten years now I've been telling the story of me on Bali with dreadlocks in 1997. The locals often didn't have anything to associate with my hair other than "Hey. Bob Marley!!!" Fast-Forward ten years... I just paid my $25USD for my on-arrival visa and was getting my passport stamped by the passport stamping guy when he looked up and made to say something... oh boy, I'm staying too long? Oh no, I'm denied a Visa... no... "Reggae? Bob Marley?" :) Oh boy. Image is evetything. I need a guitar to travel with and just sit on the corner playing "No Woman No Cry" or something... that way I'll fit into everyone's world view. It doesn't help that one of the two shirts I brought is my Augustus Pablo shirt. Yeah Melodica.

The taxi to Raja Gardens cost 60,000 Rp. about $7. It was a good 15 minute ride. In SF that woulda been $50 probably. Like to the airport. I showed up at Raja Gardens and settled into a nice room with a mosquito net, some power outlets (charge camera! charge iPod!) and a shower. A shower felt amazing after all that flying. Brushing the ole teeth wasn't too bad either. It's just mad chil here. So many smiles from the locals. I went for a 40 minute walk on the beach amongst tons and tons of youth playing soccer and German and French (assumedly) men strolling around looking white and showing off their package in swimwear that I'm just not used to anymore after all this time in the US.

The water is warm. So warm. I can't wait to go for a swim and try surfing and snorkeling and all that stuff. I didn't feel up for a swim and there were signs about strong current. Anyway, I was just going for a stroll and then quickly cruising for internet and food.

Nasi Campur, here I come.

Tomorrow Ali should be getting here. Saturday, Johanna and Nick should arrive from Tokyo. Ali is Nicks friend, I think from college. She's doing Bird Flu work out this way (Jakarta I think) and is coming down to Bali to hang with the crew. I think we're gonna go surfing tomorrow. We'll see how that turns out. Also, my Dad and his wify Hilde will be out sometime as well... Saturday or Sunday, I forget.

Ok, Mad Hungry. I'm off.