Cliff's Notes - On Travel

   Today, for my last full day in Bali, I really tried to take in the neighborhood and culture. It was a beautiful, sunny morning so I took the easy 20 minute walk to the beach and soaked in the sun. Semenyak Beach is beautiful and I kind of wish I had stayed here for the entire week in Bali.    As the rain clears and Bali enters their summer season, I know I will be back. Of the 10 new countries I have visited in the last year, Indonesia and Thailand are at the top of the list to visit again. And that's considering how humid it gets and how easily I sweat, lol! I just think they are both beautiful countries, with equally beautiful and welcoming people, rich culture, delicious food.     The above pictures are all from Seminyak Beach. Below are pictures of my neighborhood. Every morning, offerings in the form of small plates are made to the gods and you see them everywhere. Like in most Asian countries, Indonesia has a great reverence for their gods and...

     Yesterday I switched hotels for my final 3 nights and am staying in an area called Semenyak. I like this neighborhood a LOT more than the last. There is way less traffic and the streets are actually walkable.     We decided to check out the local nightlife since the clubs were nearby. We stopped by two different places: Bali Joe's and Mixwell. Both were fairly crowded and both had drag shows going on. The performers were very good and the crowd was lively. We had fun watching but didn't stay too long.    Today was another day of lounging by the pool, reading, and going to the gym. It didn't rain much today but it was still cloudy most of the day. The highlight was by far the meal we had for dinner. We went to an upscale local place that Mike's friend recommended. We both did the tasting menu and it did not disappoint! Easily in the top 5 meals I have ever had.    Tomorrow is my last day in Bali as I will be taking a red eye to South...

     Yesterday we had some sun and nice weather for most of the day, so we made it a beach day. We took a Grab (Asia's version of Uber) to Canguu beach and paid for two sun beds and an umbrella. There were a lot of people out but it didn't feel overly crowded. I started a new book and Mike listened to some podcasts while we enjoyed the scenery.   The water was pretty rough and the waves broke very close to shore, so it was not ideal for swimming. The water was also not as clear or pretty as I've seen at some other beaches, I think because of the rough surf. It was pretty comical watching the inexperienced surfers try to catch waves, and even more funny watching them try to get out. With the big breaks and strong undertow, many struggled to get out of the water and the locals had to help them. I know the feeling!    We've had some great meals so far. Eggs Benedict and avocado toast in the morning, tacos for lunch, pizza for dinner. We have a reservation tomo...

         After a couple of days in Bali, I am in love! I have a beautiful, spacious place as you can see in the photos. The grounds are very green and peaceful. The pool area is serene and relaxing. It has been raining quite a bit, but it adds to the whole rest & relaxation vibe.    My friend Mike landed last night. Today we met up and had dinner. We did not go to the place I originally wanted - on a cliff overlooking a temple on the coastline - because of the rain, but we will go there another night. It was good to see him again and we talked about what we wanted to do over the next few days    This part of my vacation will be a mix of site seeing, beach days, and spa days. We have two plans for tomorrow, depending on the weather. The weather can be very unpredictable, even the weather apps change constantly. Apparently we are at the tail end of the rainy season and I've heard April-May is the best time to visit. Nonetheless, it is a bea...