BALI HAI, INDONESIA

Sleeping on the plane felt like I had gone to heaven.  My plans were to go to Denpasar where the population is primary muslim, but I learned that it had no night life so I went to Kuta in Bali Hai. 

The beaches were beautifully white and it is great for surfing and scuba diving along with a party atmosphere.  Bali Hai is that mystical place that was popularized by the light opera, South Pacific that I saw when I was in high school.  The song had lines that went like this -- Bali Hai is where I will find you, come to me, come to me.  Little did I know that years later it beckoned me to come.

This is a great place as many Australians use this as a holiday getaway.  It is cheaper for those in Pern or Sydney to fly here and stay than to go to Carnies and see the Great Reef Barrier Reefs.  Besides the Aussies' love to have a holiday away from home where they really can let their hair down.  And boy, do they let it down.  Bali Hai fits it to a "T".

After checking in to the hotel, Simpang, I thought I would do a quick check around, and crash.  Wrong again.  I went to the Bounty and later to the Paddy Pub, a discotheque with a band.  It was interesting to watch the beautiful Bali women work the place and compete with the Aussies.  One came to my table and sat down, but I wasn't interested. In a few minutes three Aussies came over and asked to sit at the table.  This was Kim and the other two's last night before going back to Australia.  Immediately the Bali left.  I offered Kim and the other two a drink, but the other two wanted to go back to the Hotel.  Kim reached in her purse and gave them the key and they left.  It was another 24-7 night.  I'm sure I will see Kim in Australia again.

When I was going to Bali Hai, I didn't think I wanted to stay there 4 or 5 days,  but I needed at least two weeks.  With the shopping bargains, white water rafting, Scuba diving in the Bali Sea and Indian Ocean, beaches, volcanoes, temples (Hindu), and surfing.  It has a lot to offer.  Needless to say, I managed to squeeze all of the above in and operated on that same 24-7 schedule.

The white water rafting was simply fantastic.  It lasted for over 3 hours down stream with 17 waterfalls emptying into it and having a 20 to 25  foot freefall drop over a dam was the high light of it.

The next day, I went Scuba diving in the Bali Sea and Indian Ocean.  On one of the dives, I was able to dive the USA Liberty vessel that was sunk by a Japanese torpedo on Jan. 11, 1942.  My dive master took some great shots.  Even though, I got some scraps and cuts from the wreck.  It was a very memorable dive.

The beaches and surfing was next.  I did some surfing, but mostly wiped out every time.  It too was great, especially the scenery.  My teeth got sun burned.

The night life was something else.  It was a helleva of a party time.  I can't wait to get back on the plane so I can get some more sleep.

The last day on the island, I rented a car and driver to take me over the island and see the sights.  Great time.  Had lunch overlooking two volcanoes, went to the Tira Empura (Hindu) temple.  This is the most important one as it is the only one that supplies the holy water for the others and any special events on the island.  I had to wear a sarong and hat, and was allowed to be purified.  I really needed that, even though I strayed again that night.  Great time, but all I can say is where is the plane?

JAKARTA,  INDONESIA

After spending the night in the Regal Hotel in Hong Kong, I flew out the next morning to Jakarta.  By cab, Jakarta is over an hour drive to the center of the city.  It is truly a third world country.  Jakarta is ninety percent muslim.  The sights and infrastructure are not the greatest.  I am waiting on a visa for India and then I will head to Singapore.  They just had an election and soon a run off.  Eight five percent of the population voted.  This was their first election for a President.  Needless to say, the primeminister looks to be coming in third.  It is a very poor economy with a high crime rate.  As a matter of fact, as we neared the city, the taxi driver requested me to lock my car door.  Night life is interesting and tonight, I  will go out with a guy named Bennie from the hotel who will show me the town. (I have been instructed by my "mother" Rebecca, to clean up the content as small eyes are reading and questioning everything.)  Anyway, it will be a long night.

I got a decent hotel in the center of the city.  During the day, I started working on getting a visa for India.  Unfortunately, I was told it would take over a week to get it.  I told him I couldn't wait that long and with a smile, I managed to get it the next day.  This region is nothing like Bali Hai.  It is mostly muslims.  The night life isn't bad, but not too much to see during the day.  Bennie took me out again the last night in Jakarta.  I had to telephone his wife so he could stay out late.  He took me to some seedy places and I was even beginning to wonder about him.  It was an all nighter that I don't need to explain here since "mother" Rebecca has said to tone it down, little eyes are reading.  All I can say it was an extreme time.

 I had planned to go to Skri Lanka, but they just had a bombing in which 4 people were killed and several injured.  It was a terrorist attack.  I will go there in about two weeks or sooner.  Anyway we are back on a roll and it is going to get interesting.

I left for the airport at 5:30 am so no sleep.  Thank goodness for long a airplane ride (4 hours) to Singapore.