Our time is Bali is officially coming to an end (at least for this trip). We have had some really amazing times here and met a huge number of characters. Meeting different people all the time really makes you think about how many life paths are available to every person. For instance: you could run an organic farm and restaurant in the middle of some rice patties, you could party your little dancing butt off on the weekends and be a “black light painter” during the week. You could travel the world going to backpackers camps and persue your inventions as a hobby (an adjustable desk with a hammock chair, multi-purporse travel shoes, a language bar...). You could research tourist places with a group of Dutch students. You could divorce your wife and devote your life to teaching Raja yoga meditation.You could sell jewelry overseas, sell all of your possesions and pick up a new talent, like learning to speak 6 languages or learning to play guitar and surf. You could sit in front of your sticker shop and do absolutely nothing. My point is, there are so many options and lifestyles in the world. Traveling allows you to meet people who each seem to have something new and interesting to offer. Every person that we talk to shapes our trip not only through our experience of converstaing with them, but they also guide us in some way; offering advice, setting examples, or changing our perception.
Jordan and I have had quite a few instances of having to defend America or the American people. It is really astonishing how few Americans we have come across while traveling. Time and time again people are surpirised to hear “America” when ask the standard travel question :”where are you from?”. People from all around the world act differently towards us because of where we are from. Mostly, we choose to avoid talking about the war with people, because both of us are so against it and people think that we are just saying that we are because we think that is what they want us to say and then it just starts a huge mess. However, here is a quote from the book that I am reading that summarizes some of our thoughts about the current government: “How long this present order, based on an absurd idea of castes, will last is not within my means to answer, but it's time that those who govern spent less time publicizing their own virtues and more money, much more money, funding socially useful works” (Che Gavara).
Hmmm, enough about that. We have been attempting to surf. Once on a reef break in the middle of the ocean...the currents were too strong and we were defeated. Yesterday I gave in and had a surf lesson in Kuta. It was a mellow beach break and this time the board I was using was actually big enough, so I actually caught some waves. It is so amazing to be in the ocean and be able to ride on those powerful waves. Missing all of our friends and family a great deal!