Indonesia: Adventures with Apes, Arts & Dragons
Monday, July 26, 2010
Bali:
After two days of total and complete time-out in the idyllic Tugu Bali Hotel, Will and I were driven to Kuta to meet our group. There’s little to justify the existence of Kuta, or even a single night here — it’s all noise, congestion, hustlers, American fast food and junk for sale. “Beach” hotels are so huge that it’s a ten minute walk through a confusing maze of room blocks to get to the beach, while the balcony of a room in the next-door hotel is spitting distance from our room. We’re here because Kuta and Sanur are near the airport and so they’re good choices for one-night transit stays. Sanur is nicer but it was all booked up, so here we are. BUT, the very very very good news is that our group has assembled, spirits are high, and there’s not a hint of complaint. They “get” it — that Bali is the kind of place that ranges from the crazy to the sublime, and they are all very clear that they are here for all the stuff that awaits us. Orangutans… Komodo Dragons… Borobodur… Flores man… the double-masted schooner… Yes!