Jim's random thoughts

Totally random thoughts by Jim:
Our place for the first week is very nice. Andrew who owns the place is from Wales who married an Indonesian girl and they have a 1 month old baby girl. Surf trips are run 2-3 times a day and go to places that meet your ability. We surfed Uluwatu this morning in glassy conditions. The go out is a hike down steep stairs into a cave at which point you start paddling out through the mouth of the cave into a strong rip which sucks you down the point. You then need to paddle out and back around to the line up. Dillon caught a beautiful wave ( the surf was not small) . Jonathan got the barrel of his life supposedly. I saw a picture of it which I will try to post when we get it. My back is bothering me so my surfing is limited, I just hope it gets better instead of worse. All the places we have surfed so far include a steep walk down a maize of stairways that winds through, above, and below Houses, eateries (warungs), and small places to stay(losmans) All packed on top of each other. Finding your way back the same way you climbed down is difficult especially in the dark after staying out for just one more wave! When I say maize I mean it! The surf has been crowded except for this morning when we hit it at first light. My favorite surf spot is impossibles. The name says it all as you can not make it to the end of the wave but trying is great.
Kuta (the tourist center of town) is totally nuts! Every walk of life you can imagine. A million motor scooters mixed with about as many cars and everyone driving on the left. I am glad we did not rent a car. The taxi guys do a good job. Every one is trying to sell you something/anything you might walk by. We could only take it for about 2 hours! Prices are very cheep. Last nite we ate at a really nice Tai place tuna/crab/padti drinks etc for 30 dollars (or350,000 rupia) . Rolex watches sell for 25 bucks if that tells you anything. DVDs go for 50 cents. We are staying about 45 minutes from all that mess where it is fairly peaceful.
I have not seen a single mosquito yet. We are sleeping with the windows wide open and no screens. We did worry about malaria before coming though. The only annoyingsounds are the roosters about 5:30 am. I can still hear them now and it is noon.
Fun people staying here with us. There are about 8 rooms here. Most surf but more beginner types from Wales, France, Switzerland, and Singapore. All younger people traveling 1 month to a year. Breakfast is served 7-9 , lunch 1-2 , and dinner is own your own. So far good food. Coffee is great!!
I used my waterproof camera surfing this am. I had fun with it. I will try to post a pic. Water is clear and clean. Bottom is 100 % reef. I already have a couple of mementos on my body from it. I am wearing reef boots every go out so far to save my feet. It is taking some getting use to though.
Most people speak English in some form or another so the language barrier has not been a problem. They all speak enough to try to sell something. So much for this ramble. If I try to make it too perfect it just take my slow fingers too long. I hope you enjoy.
So far one run of about 3 miles. Good heat training though.
jim