新年快樂!

Happy New Year! January 31/February 1 is officially Chinese New Year, which means it is now the year of the horse. Most people travel this time of year to visit family, but I went to Bali for five days. I stayed in Taoyuan Sunday night, and flew to Bali on Monday morning.

Highlights:

Got to hang out with some awesome people, and meet some new friends.

Tuesday-I went snorkeling in the Blue Lagoon

I don't have an underwater camera, but I saw some of the most amazing underwater life. I was cautious getting off the boat, because I didn't want to hit the bottom. Then I realized that the water was so clear, and the bottom was at least 15 feet down. There were times when it felt more like flying than swimming. Watching the coral, and the fish, it makes you think: these creatures are not beautiful by coincidence, there has to be some design involved that we can't begin to understand.

Unfortunately, the sunscreen I so diligently applied that morning washed off quickly in the salt water. So by Wednesday morning, I was a little....crispy. I got a massage at the hotel spa that morning, which was nice. And a little painful on my sunburned back. At one point, the masseuse rubbed a sunburned part of my leg, and the other leg flipped in the air involuntarily. She asked "Too hard?" I told her no, because I figured if she tried to take it easy, it wouldn't do me any good, but I think she thought "Then why did you stop breathing a few minutes ago?" in Indonesian.

Spent a little time on Kuta beach. Watched the sunset several times.

Got to ride and feed elephants. Again, almost a spiritual experience. The ride was so peaceful, and I was amazed that such huge animals could be so gentle, and have such personality.

We fed them bamboo shoots. When a two-ton animal reaches for the food, you give it to them, ha ha.

Since a large portion of the population on Bali is Hindu, elephants are sacred here. Jacie, who I met on this trip, is a commercial producer who frequently works with elephants. When they use the elephants for a shoot, the crew is required to wash the elephants the next day, as a "thank you" for their work.

Spent some time at the hotel pool. In the shade.

Took a carriage ride through Kuta.

I went to several markets, the one in Kuta was for tourists, but the one in Badung was more traditional. They had everything, four floors of spices, fruits and veggies, fabric, toys...