Bali Cruisin'

This is my first post in Bali, though we have been here about ten days, as internet is scarce and super slow. But here in Singaraja there is little to do, so blog ho! We spent the first few days in Ubud, in central Bali, which was very pretty, but a little bit touristy. Still cool though, and we went on an awesome hike through the jungle and rice paddies. Very cool landscape. We also visited the sacred monkey forest there, and got some quality simian time. Micah made one of them angry, but was able to outrun it. Some of the little ones were friendly, going as far as climbing onto our heads to look for bugs. None found, thankfully. We have since left Ubud, on rented motorbikes, and are now biking around the whole perimeter of Bali. It has been very interesting, and we have definitely seen the more authentic Bali. The driving has been challenging at times, as traffic laws are more like traffic suggestions, and the roads are often no more than 6 feet wide. Staying alert is the key. We stopped in East Bali, in Amed, to hang out on the beach, snorkel, and go fishing with some local fishermen. They then decided we were friends, and invited us to eat dinner with them. Very cool. Micah even went to a cockfight with one of them the next day, but I was asleep at the time. He loved it. We are now in North Bali, in the town of Singaraja, which is a bit hairy, sort of like Bali's mexico city. We did encounter Balinese Keith Richards though. Pretty funny. Tonight is Hindu new year's eve, and hopefully we will find some Ogoh-Ogoh, or giant evil spirit effigies, which they parade around then burn. Everyone loves an effigy, right? Tomorrow however, it is mandated that everyone stay inside and be quiet and not turn on any lights all day. Bummer. Especially since I finished my book, (Another Roadside Attraction, by Tom Robbins, Excellent) and could only find Indonesian language books here. After that, we head to a nice beachy kind of area in North Bali, called Permuteran, and from there, who knows. It is hot, humid, and overwhelming at times here, but overall the people are friendly and the scenery is beautiful. Stay well, my intrepid readers, and keep your internet eyes peeled for more dispatches from the tropics.

-Jack