From Indo to Wahiawa

I had a good thing going, posting pictures and words about my recent return to Indonesia. Things were really coming along and I know my parents and girlfriend (if no one else) were appreciating the ability to stay updated on where I was and how I was doing on the other side of the world. Then a generator powering a Sumatran bungalow blew out my ac adaptor. Now the majority of my photos are locked inside a dead laptop with no hope of being released until I get a new one. Until then, I leave you with a picture of my girlfriend Lisa looking sexy on a secluded beach on Maui. Aloha!

Babi Guling

Now down at Uluwatu I can breathe a little easier. The surf has been fun shoulder to head high with no wind and a new swell is expected any day now. Since I got here I have been trying to live like a local to the best of my ability. It's not easy. Most Balinese speak basic English, to try their language proves to be more of a headache for both me and them. But everyday I try to memorize one or two new phrases to practice and repeat it to everyone I come in contact with. More interestingly I have been eating only the local food. Because Bali is so westernized you can go an entire lifetime without eating where the locals eat, but where is the fun in that? I have a rule that states if there is a white person in the warung, I can't eat there. Sure the occasional bout of stomach pangs and dysentery might occur but if you view it was an extreme evacuation or complete bodily cleanse it isn't so bad. All of the food is extremely spicy and filled with garlic to kill the bacteria growing inside your stomach. This in turn means that it’s going to burn on the way out anyway. So take your pick, hot lava or cold sweats?

White Walls, Concrete Floor

Upon landing in Bali at 1 in the morning it dawned on me that it was going to be next to impossible to find proper accommodations for the night. No drama I thought, I know this island pretty well and should be able to make due. Fast forward 3 hours and I'm wandering the streets of Kuta lugging about 50 lbs of camera equipment on my back and
a surfboard over my shoulder desperately in search of any place with vacancy. Sleeping on the beach wasn't an option because the rainy season was taking its sweet fucking time transitioning into summer.

Just as the first trickle of rain came down a Balinese man zoomed up on a motorbike offering me drugs and/or prostitution. "How bout a cheap place to stay," I said. His response? ...No problem boss. Normally I wouldn't hitch a ride with a drug dealing pimp but there I was zig-zagging through the back alleys of this third world hedonistic hell-hole barely holding on to my bags. Once we got to the losmen I breathed, slapped his hand, and said goodbye. I don't know how good he is at slanging and pimping but he sure makes on hell of a tour guide. The room was pretty nice too.

Konban Wa

8 hours on a JAL 744 jet and I feel surprisingly fresh. I'm sure the free booze and entire row of seats for me to sprawl out on helped. Three seats for the kid means two extra pillows and two extra blankets, in which case I had no choice but to drink for three as well. Now I’m in Tokyo awaiting my flight to Denpasar. As the gate is starting to fill up with passengers I'm getting the feeling that my spacious seating arrangements are over and it will be back to the usual arm rest elbow dance.

Glass Peaks

Being unemployed in surf paradise one would think that I have a lot of down time in which to post some pictures. However, I am a little behind on my blog postings. To bring those interested up-to-date I have been shooting Rocky Point from the water and getting incredibly dusty doing ding repair. Nothing new I suppose.

Bodwhomping

Thanksgiving gave me the opportunity to reflect on how good it all is. My girlfriend cooked a gourmet feast for all the hungry vagrants that is the Cleghorn boys. While the fellas and I rejoiced with Natty Ices before a good beating in Waimea shorey.

This is a photo of my buddy Mark who found time to go balls out in between stuffing his face with fixings and spending time with his closest friends.

Rocky Pt.

For the first time in a long while I dusted off the water housing and swam out at Rockies. They waves weren't that good and the water had a greyish tinge but I was desperate to go get some shots. Here is what I came up with.