Sunday, January 8, 2017

Photo Album Link and Getting SCUBA Certified

Dana and I made this trip together and a photo album from the trip is available here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pFY4XuOzgB9PpVrX2

A blog follows:
January 5, 2017: As posted on Facebook, 16 months ago I never even thought about ever SCUBA Diving -- but in my preparations for my first Bali trip in September/October 2015, I decided to give it a try. I blogged about that experience here. During that trip I completed 4 "Discover SCUBA" dives - no certification required - here at Bambu Divers located within the Pondok Bambu Seaside Bungalows. For me, SCUBA is a supreme challenge of trust -- both in the person(s) you dive with but also in your equipment -- and it gave me great comfort to continue to dive with Balinese dive master Danill:

in this Dutch owned/operated dive center -- where I also got to know the owner/dive instructor Gerard:

So when I returned in October 2016, I enjoyed two more "Discover SCUBA" dives here and committed myself to becoming certified -- completing the course work/exams online (e-learning) and practical training and four dives with Gerard. Today I completed all that and earned my PADI Open Water Diving Certification:



Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year!

Well -- my hoped-for blogging just isn't happening -- we've been too busy having a blast in all my favorite places in Bali, and introducing Dana to the family of friends that I have been fortunate to establish here.  We spent a night with my school friend in Ubud, and a night at Balian Beach -- a respected surfing spot but in this case just a good over night stop after having a traditional Balinese meal with the family of Made's wife Ekha.  Thereafter, we headed to my favorite part of Bali near Amed (the northeast side) where the balance of affordable tourism and local culture come together to create a truly special experience.  Days of motorbike adventures, spectacular snorkeling, beachside accommodations, and, thanks to some luck during prior visits -- a growing community of Balinese to count among my/now our friends.

One highlight was a Christmas Day spearfishing adventure. Thereafter, the wives of the fishermen served a wonderful meal that included these fish grilled as well as made into Balinese Satay.

We've enjoyed many family meals - including on New Year's eve; visited with travelers from around the world; stayed in three different places; and, spent many hours sitting in a nearby village surrounded by family both teaching English and trying to learn Indonesian and Balinese.  I even repeated yet another early morning fishing trip as I did in October 2015 here and September 2016.

Today - January 2 - We are leaving Amed to return to Candidasa where I am scheduled to complete the practical exercises for my PADI Open Water SCUBA certification -- having already passed the exams online.




Saturday, December 17, 2016

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness".

The entire Mark Twain quote is: 


“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

Seems like a fitting introduction to my 3rd trip to Bali in two years -- coming just shortly after the election of Dump -- who clearly enjoys the support of lots of Americans who haven't traveled. If you've followed by prior blogs about travel to Bali here and here,  you know that I've loved traveling to Bali.

I am not sure how much I will try to blog -- but since I write as much for myself as for anyone else, I may add a few memory-joggers here.  And I'm also excited to tell you that I've already planned/purchased tickets for my 4th trip to Bali this coming April -- an opportunity to share Bali with my youngest brother Todd who is an avid scuba diver.  It will be Todd's first visit to anywhere in SE Asia -- and I can't think of a better starting place than Bali.

Since I know many ask the question:  travel time is 23 hours:  Flights are 14 hours to Taipei and then 5 hours to Bali (Denpasar) -- and while there we will be 15 hours ahead of the time in the Pacific Time Zone.

And to begin the trip, I am wearing a T-shirt that my older daughter got me for Christmas -- that I love: