Today is Saturday. Like everyday. Yesterday was Saturday too. And so was the day before that.
So 2 Saturday's ago we motorbiked our way to Ubud, which you can read about and watch about in the best selling novel and Hollywood film, Eat, Pray, Love. It is a small town pretty much in the center of the island, home to rice fields, a pretty strong western influence, Yoga retreats (mostly run by Westerners), lots of arts and shopping and plenty of beautiful accommodations. We are still staying at the Puri Bambu in Jimbaran until Saturday, 2 days from now.
Today we went back to Padang Padang and surfed and hung out for a few hours. The waves were small, there were not more than 10 people out there at any time, and for a while there were just 3 of us. Small but perfect and fun for me, pretty long rides, joy in my heart. I haven't been in the water in at least 8 months, and it was great. I had some good rides and a lot of fun. The water was warm but so was the sun and now I am in pain. Its a pretty bad sunburn, you'd think I'd know better by now.
Oh yeah, and my camera miraculously started working again.
Sittin on a dock of a bay. Watching the tide roll away.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
To Infinity and Beyond
We started the fun proper at SFO right off the bat. Checking in to our flight, China Airlines told us they could not allow us to board because we had no return or onward flight booked from Indonesia. They insisted Indonesian customs was very strict about this and did not want to be held responsible for our deportation upon arrival.
Thinking fast, we told them we would sign online and buy an onward ticket. We didn't have return or onward tickets because we planned to get to Bali, play around for a while and then decide when and where to go next. I can't imagine we are the first and only people who have ever tried this and found it pretty hard to believe that Indonesian customs would be too worried about us. Nonetheless, China Airlines was overly concerned about our return ticket and was sticking to their guns.
We quickly found $80 one-way tickets from Jakarta to Kuala Lampur and bought them on Orbitz. With the confirmation page still on the screen we returned to the airline check-in, proud of ourselves and hopeful. Well, we had not received the confirmation email yet, and the confirmation page did not show our names or enough flight information to satisfy the manager on duty at the check-in counter. We scrambled around on the internet some more, and we able to pull up the "My Trips" page of Orbitz which showed us that the reservation to Malaysia had been canceled already without explanation. This cancellation page, however, showed more information about the flight and date and had our names listed. Unfortunately the words "Trip Cancelled" were branded across the top of the page. Clever, crafty and resourceful, Facundo took a screen shot of the page, photoshopped out any information the suggested the reservations were not good, we returned to the China Airlines manager, showed him our false documents, and were given boarding passes and 22 hours to think about what we had done.
Well, 22 hours later we arrived at the airport in Bali, purchased our 30 day visas, and cruised thru customs without even so much as a bag check.
I'm sitting on the 2nd floor breakfast buffet balcony at the Hotel Puri Bambu, overlooking the pool and surrounded by tropical vegetation and birds. A rooster crows over and over again, and has been doing so for quite some time now. It's about 730am, and he's certainly been at it for over an hour. It was still dark when I first noticed. I'm basically wide awake and restless. I began stirring very early this morning after a very busy day yesterday that had me sound asleep by 10:30 last night.
Yesterday we rented a small motorbike, costing us about $6 for 24 hours. Right now we are in Jimbaran, which is a relatively quiet fisherman's village just south of the airport and at the northern end of the South Bali Bukit Peninsula. Accommodations here are absolutely wonderful, but certainly a little more expensive than I want to spend as a daily rate on average.
So, we rented the motor bike and went exploring for a place to live for a week or a month or whatever we decide. First we headed south. Leaving Jimbaran there was a good amount of traffic on the main roads, and I promise you of anything I have ever done in my life, and I don't live the most reserved or cautious lifestyle, riding these motorbikes around on streets the seem to have very loose interpretations of traffic laws is probably the most life-threatening activity I have ever taken part in. The further south we got, however, the more open roads we found. The southwest part of the peninsula is very green and open and the shoreline seems to be lined with rocks and cliffs and bluffs. We were headed in the direction of Ulu Watu which I would say is a good 20km from Jimbaran. We ended up finding Padang Padang beach, which is a small secluded cove beach with large rock cliffs encasing a patch of white sand. Friendly waves break about 100 meters out, weathered Balinese try to sell you sarongs, illegal DVDs, and food from a dirty grill with picnic tables under a canopy.
After a dip in the Indian Ocean, we hopped back on the motorbike and went to explore the towns just north of the airport which had more traffic, more tourists, more shopping, more congestion, and just overall a lot more chaos. We barely made it to the first corner of the first town before we decided that this was not really for us. If the objective is to drink heavily and partake in general debauchery at a lower cost than your home country, then this is surely the place to be. Already exhausted, sunburnt, and on edge from navigating a motor bike through the crowded renegade streets may not have helped to sell us on Kuta or Seminyak. Whatever the case, we quickly gave up and made our way back to the Puri Bambu which is where I am now, at the 2nd floor balcony breakfast buffet, about to get a $5 hour long massage. It is now 8:15.
Oh yeah, and somehow my camera is broken already. I would. Cameras and cell phones simply are not safe with me.
Wish you were here.
Thinking fast, we told them we would sign online and buy an onward ticket. We didn't have return or onward tickets because we planned to get to Bali, play around for a while and then decide when and where to go next. I can't imagine we are the first and only people who have ever tried this and found it pretty hard to believe that Indonesian customs would be too worried about us. Nonetheless, China Airlines was overly concerned about our return ticket and was sticking to their guns.
We quickly found $80 one-way tickets from Jakarta to Kuala Lampur and bought them on Orbitz. With the confirmation page still on the screen we returned to the airline check-in, proud of ourselves and hopeful. Well, we had not received the confirmation email yet, and the confirmation page did not show our names or enough flight information to satisfy the manager on duty at the check-in counter. We scrambled around on the internet some more, and we able to pull up the "My Trips" page of Orbitz which showed us that the reservation to Malaysia had been canceled already without explanation. This cancellation page, however, showed more information about the flight and date and had our names listed. Unfortunately the words "Trip Cancelled" were branded across the top of the page. Clever, crafty and resourceful, Facundo took a screen shot of the page, photoshopped out any information the suggested the reservations were not good, we returned to the China Airlines manager, showed him our false documents, and were given boarding passes and 22 hours to think about what we had done.
Well, 22 hours later we arrived at the airport in Bali, purchased our 30 day visas, and cruised thru customs without even so much as a bag check.
 |
| Taiwan Layover. Facebook, Facebook, Gmail, Gmail, Facebook... |
I'm sitting on the 2nd floor breakfast buffet balcony at the Hotel Puri Bambu, overlooking the pool and surrounded by tropical vegetation and birds. A rooster crows over and over again, and has been doing so for quite some time now. It's about 730am, and he's certainly been at it for over an hour. It was still dark when I first noticed. I'm basically wide awake and restless. I began stirring very early this morning after a very busy day yesterday that had me sound asleep by 10:30 last night.Yesterday we rented a small motorbike, costing us about $6 for 24 hours. Right now we are in Jimbaran, which is a relatively quiet fisherman's village just south of the airport and at the northern end of the South Bali Bukit Peninsula. Accommodations here are absolutely wonderful, but certainly a little more expensive than I want to spend as a daily rate on average.
 | |
| Cavernous Stairway, Padang Padang. Walk into the light. |
After a dip in the Indian Ocean, we hopped back on the motorbike and went to explore the towns just north of the airport which had more traffic, more tourists, more shopping, more congestion, and just overall a lot more chaos. We barely made it to the first corner of the first town before we decided that this was not really for us. If the objective is to drink heavily and partake in general debauchery at a lower cost than your home country, then this is surely the place to be. Already exhausted, sunburnt, and on edge from navigating a motor bike through the crowded renegade streets may not have helped to sell us on Kuta or Seminyak. Whatever the case, we quickly gave up and made our way back to the Puri Bambu which is where I am now, at the 2nd floor balcony breakfast buffet, about to get a $5 hour long massage. It is now 8:15.
Oh yeah, and somehow my camera is broken already. I would. Cameras and cell phones simply are not safe with me.
Wish you were here.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Today Is The Day
Here we go! Tonight at 12:05am, so technically Wednesday, January 12, we take off for Bali.
Plans have changed a bit since I left Los Angeles 3 months ago. I originally intended to depart for Australia from the West Coast around this time, but unexpected and welcomed twists and turns are already underway and the new plan departs for Bali from San Francisco in 4 hours with Facundo.
Facundo joined me for the Act I (Road Trip) Scene III (Chicago to NY) portion of the Adventure saga. In Act II we spent a good amount of time commuting around the Northeast to spend time with each other. Somewhere in there he became part of what is now Act III (Bali) as a romantic male companion. To Be Continued.
I spent two action packed months on the East Coast, with an unbelievably rigorous traveling schedule, but I was able to relax for the last couple weeks in some state of holiday hibernation in Syracuse. I made this list at some point:
October 5 LA
October 6 San Fran
October 7 Stillwater Cove
October 8 Honeydew, CA
October 9 Portland, Or
October 10 Mt. St Helen's OR
October 11 Portland, OR
October 12 Seattle, WA (Lake City)
October 13-14 Seattle, WA (Green Lake)
October 15 Vancouver, BC
October 16-17 Lake Louise, Alberta
October 18-19 Banff Springs, Alberta
October 20 In the car Montana - North Dakota-Minnesota-Wisconsin
October 21 Chicago (Greg's House)
October 22-24 Chicago (Fairmont)
October 25 Ohio Somewhere (Random janky Motel)
October 26 Syracuse
October 27 Albany
October 28 Burlington, VT
October 29 Overnight Bus Burlington-D.C.
October 30 Overnight Car Ride D.C. to Cambridge, MA
October 31 Burlington, VT
November 1-2 Burlington, VT
November 3-5 Syracuse, NY
November 6-7 Albany, NY
November 8-10 Syracuse, NY
November 11-12 Canton, NY
November 13 Syracuse, NY
November 14 Albany
November 15-16 Syracuse, NY
November 17 Buffalo, NY
November 18 Syracuse, NY
November 19-20 New Haven, CT
November 21-23 Boston, MA
November 24-26 Westport, NY
November 27-30 Syracuse, NY
December 2-5 NYC
December 6-8 Boston, MA
December 8-12 Burlington, VT
December 12-14 Westport, NY (snowstorm trap!)
And then back to Syracuse I think. I made one more trip to visit cousins, and then Bri again in Albany for NYE. Anyway, I was busy, and I spent a lot of money.
And now its
Jan 5-9 Los Angeles, CA
Jan 9-11 San Francisco, CA
I got to see my brother's band play twice, once in Boston and once in NYC before they took off for their European tour commencing with the Trans Musicales Music Festival in Rennes, France. Ava Luna, check them out. Here is a clip from the festival with the first several minutes dedicated to none other than Brother and Band.
Dad and I got to go for another plane ride across the state of New York, which always excites me about the possibility of being my own pilot sometime.
I really love all of my people so very much, and wish I could be with everyone all the time to do everything. But, as that cannot be, I will just be grateful for the privilege to have had them for any time at all.
As for now, better bid adieu and grab my passport. Adventure Act III Scene I - commence.
Plans have changed a bit since I left Los Angeles 3 months ago. I originally intended to depart for Australia from the West Coast around this time, but unexpected and welcomed twists and turns are already underway and the new plan departs for Bali from San Francisco in 4 hours with Facundo.
Facundo joined me for the Act I (Road Trip) Scene III (Chicago to NY) portion of the Adventure saga. In Act II we spent a good amount of time commuting around the Northeast to spend time with each other. Somewhere in there he became part of what is now Act III (Bali) as a romantic male companion. To Be Continued.
I spent two action packed months on the East Coast, with an unbelievably rigorous traveling schedule, but I was able to relax for the last couple weeks in some state of holiday hibernation in Syracuse. I made this list at some point:
October 5 LA
October 6 San Fran
October 7 Stillwater Cove
October 8 Honeydew, CA
October 9 Portland, Or
October 10 Mt. St Helen's OR
October 11 Portland, OR
October 12 Seattle, WA (Lake City)
October 13-14 Seattle, WA (Green Lake)
October 15 Vancouver, BC
October 16-17 Lake Louise, Alberta
October 18-19 Banff Springs, Alberta
October 20 In the car Montana - North Dakota-Minnesota-Wisconsin
October 21 Chicago (Greg's House)
October 22-24 Chicago (Fairmont)
October 25 Ohio Somewhere (Random janky Motel)
October 26 Syracuse
October 27 Albany
October 28 Burlington, VT
October 29 Overnight Bus Burlington-D.C.
October 30 Overnight Car Ride D.C. to Cambridge, MA
October 31 Burlington, VT
November 1-2 Burlington, VT
November 3-5 Syracuse, NY
November 6-7 Albany, NY
November 8-10 Syracuse, NY
November 11-12 Canton, NY
November 13 Syracuse, NY
November 14 Albany
November 15-16 Syracuse, NY
November 17 Buffalo, NY
November 18 Syracuse, NY
November 19-20 New Haven, CT
November 21-23 Boston, MA
November 24-26 Westport, NY
November 27-30 Syracuse, NY
December 2-5 NYC
December 6-8 Boston, MA
December 8-12 Burlington, VT
December 12-14 Westport, NY (snowstorm trap!)
And then back to Syracuse I think. I made one more trip to visit cousins, and then Bri again in Albany for NYE. Anyway, I was busy, and I spent a lot of money.
And now its
Jan 5-9 Los Angeles, CA
Jan 9-11 San Francisco, CA
I got to see my brother's band play twice, once in Boston and once in NYC before they took off for their European tour commencing with the Trans Musicales Music Festival in Rennes, France. Ava Luna, check them out. Here is a clip from the festival with the first several minutes dedicated to none other than Brother and Band.
Dad and I got to go for another plane ride across the state of New York, which always excites me about the possibility of being my own pilot sometime.
I really love all of my people so very much, and wish I could be with everyone all the time to do everything. But, as that cannot be, I will just be grateful for the privilege to have had them for any time at all.
As for now, better bid adieu and grab my passport. Adventure Act III Scene I - commence.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Baby You're A Rich Man
How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?
Now that you know who you are,
What do you want to be?
Just saw The Social Network on my flight from Chicago to LA. It ended with a Beatles song and Mark repeatedly refreshing his ex-girlfriend's Facebook page. I silently, uncontrollably, genuinely clapped my hands together with childish amusement.
The movie ended and an hour and a half later I landed in Los Angeles. Kristy greeted me at the airport. I love Kristy!
I realized that I like to write when I'm moving. Traveling inspires me. Being on the go makes me feel alive!
I live for this feeling.
Snowboarding is pretty good too.
Anyway, I have to keep going. Like a shark - if I stop swimming, I die.
Now that you know who you are,
What do you want to be?
Just saw The Social Network on my flight from Chicago to LA. It ended with a Beatles song and Mark repeatedly refreshing his ex-girlfriend's Facebook page. I silently, uncontrollably, genuinely clapped my hands together with childish amusement.
The movie ended and an hour and a half later I landed in Los Angeles. Kristy greeted me at the airport. I love Kristy!
I realized that I like to write when I'm moving. Traveling inspires me. Being on the go makes me feel alive!
I live for this feeling.
Snowboarding is pretty good too.
Anyway, I have to keep going. Like a shark - if I stop swimming, I die.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
These Things Take Time
This is what happens... I want to write things in a timely manner, but I've never been good with deadlines. Or, I take it back, I'm fine with deadlines, but I always somehow time assignments and projects so that I start them with exactly enough time to finish them by the deadline, down to the second.
With this thing here, there are no deadlines. Sure, I'd like to tell you all about the Rally to Restore Sanity the evening of, or day after the event. But one thing leads to another, I'm back in Burlington hanging with the sis and her friends, not updating and posting in my blog and all 9 of you are left sitting there at the edge of your seats with no idea whats going on. (Sorry)
The other thing is, I want to post pictures, and maybe relevant links, and I'm self-conscious about the grammatical errors I know I make and the general flow of the entry. I think about you people, and I want this to be pleasant for you and I start to get a bit of anxiety about it all and I think about how much time this is going to take. Then, I get overwhelmed and either waste a lot of time doing absolutely nothing productive on the internet, or decide to read a book and drink some tea instead. Then more and more time passes and I feel silly about posting anything at all because I already feel silly about it in the first place, let alone days or weeks late.
Eventually, like right now for example, I get to it and decide to just do it regardless of all that because it is kinda fun for me, and maybe I'll even get better at it. But then I can't remember things. So I start to sort through the pictures I have and tell the story of them the best I can remember.
I was at Bri's house last. Loving just being in the same room as her. That's all it really takes if you ask me. If I love you I just want to share your air, thats all!
The next day I drove to Burlington, VT and finally got to experience the 12 person commune style living my sister currently calls home. The house is on the edge of Burlington, and is a house that has been divvied up into 3 separate apartments. They rent the entire house and basically share all the space. The main, largest apartment has a big living room and kitchen. Emily's room is in a smaller apartment with its own small kitchen that she only shares with 3 other people. There are 2 bedrooms in her section of the house, and one extra room that is always housing a squatter. They've had a friend in there for the past month I guess. There is a front door that enters in the kitchen area, but the easiest way to get to the main part of the house is through a window in the squatter's room. So there is a small sturdy end table on one side of the window, and a mobile 3-stair block set up on the opposite side of the window that leads to a hallway that leads to the main living room. They have a large front yard with a tree and a rope swing, and a large backyard with a chicken coop (home to 8 chickens) and a turkey in a pen. A little scruffy mutt named Fi runs around, and although she isn't the easiest on the eyes she is quite lovable. They eat eggs from the chickens, and the poor turkey's days are numbered with the approaching holiday season. This thanksgiving remember to be grateful you are NOT a turkey.
After the intro we went to see a show at Higher Ground, a good number of reputable musical performances pass through this venue. This particular Thursday night we had tickets to a the 2nd of two sold out shows for the Yonder Mountain String Band. A very pleasant folky, bluegrass ensemble. It was a lot of fun but went on a bit to long, in my opinion. During the break between sets we wandered next door and caught the encore of the Slavic Soul Party, which was friggen' awesome. A bass drum, snare drum, and variety of brass instruments, the musicians just standing around in the middle of the crowd bringing a great deal of joy to everyone in the room as far as I could tell. Go see them if you ever get the chance. I mean it. Do it.
Friday night Emily and I, plus another Emily, loaded ourselves into one of 2 charter busses leaving from Burlington to Washington D.C. for the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity or Fear. It was about a 12 hour overnight bus ride that brought us to join over a quarter of a million people in Washington D.C. who gathered for some reason, even if they weren't totally clear why. I think collectively we were all pretty sure we were there for a monumental moment in history and we were glad to gather from all walks of life sharing in the sentiment that we care about something and we are in this together, and we are many!
Fill in the blanks with a few more days in Burlington. I little trip out to a Vermont winery where one of Emily's roommate's works, a stop to get hot cider and a maple creamy (maple ice cream) on the way back, and a look at some silly animals at a petting zoo. Winery was separate, but the rest was all-inclusive at one establishment.
I am now back in Syracuse, where I found a nice yoga studio to pass my time. I applied for one job, but I'm starting to think I don't even want to have one at all and maybe won't try too hard for that after all. I can easily spend a couple of months doing yoga, reading books, drinking tea, visiting with loved ones, and writing about anything that may be considered interesting. Oh yeah, living with the parents is A.O.K. If I had to pick a pair to spend some time with, I'm quite happy with the ones I got!
Kbye.
With this thing here, there are no deadlines. Sure, I'd like to tell you all about the Rally to Restore Sanity the evening of, or day after the event. But one thing leads to another, I'm back in Burlington hanging with the sis and her friends, not updating and posting in my blog and all 9 of you are left sitting there at the edge of your seats with no idea whats going on. (Sorry)
The other thing is, I want to post pictures, and maybe relevant links, and I'm self-conscious about the grammatical errors I know I make and the general flow of the entry. I think about you people, and I want this to be pleasant for you and I start to get a bit of anxiety about it all and I think about how much time this is going to take. Then, I get overwhelmed and either waste a lot of time doing absolutely nothing productive on the internet, or decide to read a book and drink some tea instead. Then more and more time passes and I feel silly about posting anything at all because I already feel silly about it in the first place, let alone days or weeks late.
Eventually, like right now for example, I get to it and decide to just do it regardless of all that because it is kinda fun for me, and maybe I'll even get better at it. But then I can't remember things. So I start to sort through the pictures I have and tell the story of them the best I can remember.
 |
| Bri, Ashley, and Abbey (Pup) in Bri's Backyard |
I was at Bri's house last. Loving just being in the same room as her. That's all it really takes if you ask me. If I love you I just want to share your air, thats all!
 | ||||
| Squatter Accommodations. Bedside table on the right leads to the rest of the house. |
 |
| Clothing Line |
The next day I drove to Burlington, VT and finally got to experience the 12 person commune style living my sister currently calls home. The house is on the edge of Burlington, and is a house that has been divvied up into 3 separate apartments. They rent the entire house and basically share all the space. The main, largest apartment has a big living room and kitchen. Emily's room is in a smaller apartment with its own small kitchen that she only shares with 3 other people. There are 2 bedrooms in her section of the house, and one extra room that is always housing a squatter. They've had a friend in there for the past month I guess. There is a front door that enters in the kitchen area, but the easiest way to get to the main part of the house is through a window in the squatter's room. So there is a small sturdy end table on one side of the window, and a mobile 3-stair block set up on the opposite side of the window that leads to a hallway that leads to the main living room. They have a large front yard with a tree and a rope swing, and a large backyard with a chicken coop (home to 8 chickens) and a turkey in a pen. A little scruffy mutt named Fi runs around, and although she isn't the easiest on the eyes she is quite lovable. They eat eggs from the chickens, and the poor turkey's days are numbered with the approaching holiday season. This thanksgiving remember to be grateful you are NOT a turkey.
 |
| That's Pablo Delicious. Wednesday isn't looking good for him. |
 |
| Sleeping Chickens |
 |
| This is what a Slavic Soul Party Looks Like |
 |
| Protesting? |
Fill in the blanks with a few more days in Burlington. I little trip out to a Vermont winery where one of Emily's roommate's works, a stop to get hot cider and a maple creamy (maple ice cream) on the way back, and a look at some silly animals at a petting zoo. Winery was separate, but the rest was all-inclusive at one establishment.
I am now back in Syracuse, where I found a nice yoga studio to pass my time. I applied for one job, but I'm starting to think I don't even want to have one at all and maybe won't try too hard for that after all. I can easily spend a couple of months doing yoga, reading books, drinking tea, visiting with loved ones, and writing about anything that may be considered interesting. Oh yeah, living with the parents is A.O.K. If I had to pick a pair to spend some time with, I'm quite happy with the ones I got!
Kbye.
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