Arrived in Bali

I gotta keep this post pretty short, cause there's so much else I'd rather be doing that sitting here in the Hard Rock internet cafe... :-)

I arrived yesterday, exhausted, eyes bloodshot from two days straight of traveling... but got to my hotel safely from a very nice cab driver (who I overpaid, but I didn't care, cause it was still cheap for me)... then took a nap, a shower, had some room service, some caffeine, and some beer, and I was in much better shape. Totally wide awake, refreshed and ready for action.

I missed the guys I was planning on hooking up with here at the Hard Rock to head out with, since they decided to do an impromptu surfing trip down to Uluwatu and I hadn't checked my e-mail since leaving Portland... but I went out to some of the biggest spots in Kuta (Paddy's and the Bounty Ship) and had a great time anyway. This place is so surreal... "off the hook" one might say, in more ways than one. I'll describe it in more detail when I have some more time to write... impatient sitting here indoors... anyway I'm planning on hooking up with those two guys for beer and women-chasing tomorrow night. :-)

I got back fairly early, around 12:30, after getting badgered for rides and women the entire walk home. That was actually pretty fun... ya gotta have a sense of humor. Got a great, full night's sleep and an early breakfast. Strangely, I don't think I'm going to have jet lag at all.

On the agenda for today: gym, then the famed Hard Rock pool (supposedly the "best pool in the world", certainly the biggest in Bali), then Kuta beach, then I'm supposed to meet up with a huge group (27 and counting) for drinks/dinner/nightlife. Surfing lessons will probably start tomorrow. I'm not overdoing it on the partying, cause there's so much I want to do during the day... plus I'm very wary of my surroundings... people who'd like to take advantage of you abound here in Kuta.

I won't be able to post any pics while I'm here in Bali, as my image-posting software is client-based, and I don't have my laptop (though I'm finding out there's more wi-fi here than I was told! damn, oh well). There's TONS of internet cafes, so I should be able to check e-mail at least every couple of days.

Talk to y'all again soon! Having a blast here.