Kuta, Bali

Indonesia

March 31, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Because of the schedule and booked flights on Garuda Indonesia Airlines, I needed to spend two nights in Bali before departing for Perth. So a short stop. I will return next month.

One of my friends said that Bali is not a very good place to visit. I have to admit that he is correct if he is referring only to the popular area called Kuta.

Kuta, with its lovely beach and pounding surf, is just like other overbuilt, overdeveloped, overrated and noisy Southeast Asian resorts, teeming with backpackers, surfers, divers and shabbily-dressed budget travelers rushing from sunset temple to sunset temple and over-drinking and over-eating at Italian, Japanese, and Mexican "restaurants." McDonald's, Swenson's, Haagen Dazs and Dunkin' Donuts. And you guessed it again! The Colonel is here, too. Larger than life.

{C}

Kuta, Bali

Indonesia

May 07, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

One of the advantages of traveling solo is that you can indulge in slightly flirtatious, harmless conversations with members of the opposite sex without worrying about whom you may be ignoring or offending.

On arrival at the Denpasar-Bali Airport, Surya, the hotel booking agent, insisted on calling me "honey" so I mentioned that I might be on the lookout for a nice Bali girl. She said she had a friend for me.

One hour later, after a few telephone calls back and forth, Nina showed up at the lobby of my hotel. Cute, cafe-au-lait complexion, 25, divorced, three year old son.

You want to know why I love Asia? Well, I'll tell you why I love Asia.

{C}