These kids were on the same bike. One in front of dad and one on the back.

I made a mix of ten songs that I still have not gotten tired of, no matter how much I play them! Let me know what you think...

PLAYLIST

1. Dominant Legs - young at love and life
2. Cults - Go Outside
3. Mathemagic - Breaststroke
4. Millionyoung - Youthless
5. Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision
6. Washed Out - Feel It All Around
7. Devendra Banhart - I Feel Like A Just Like A Child
8. Smith Westerns - Be My Girl
9. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home
10. Wise Blood - MI+AMORE

Eat, Pray, Love has obviously had quite the effect on single women in Bali.  I wonder if Italy's bistros were swarmed or India's religious ceremonies had to add a few extra chairs...or did finding love in Bali take the cake? I have a feeling these ladies, turned newly awakened Yoginis came to Bali to find an open-minded, free bird of a guy.

Not that I could blame them for coming here to do it. Bali has got to be one of the friendliest, safest places I have ever been. It's the perfect environment for a single woman to explore her mind, body, and soul. Tons of delicious, organic foods, inexpensive places to stay, $6 massages, and yoga and meditation galore. Hello, you should be here too! But, honestly, there is something faux about this type of lady...

Firstly, we all know she watched eat, pray, love and only attends male-run yoga classes at the Yoga Barn, the most 'popular' place to go get your stretch on.  Often times you may spot her coming or going outside Kafe (one of my favorite spots). She's draped in six or seven, too-luxurious silky sarongs...sometimes one is even wrapped around her head; Gawky silver and wooden jewelry that she paid too much for when she got here a few months ago and is now drenched around every appendage, ankle bracelets, two yoga mats strapped to her back, all while trying to maneuver a $2 a day, 1,000 lb motorbike...laughing orgasmically loud when her shopping bags get caught on the bike next to hers.  Argh...I both cringe and enjoy that sight! And there's only one kind of love this lady is going to be sure to attract...the Kuta Cowboy! Yeehaw! I'm talking female sex tourism! It is real, existing mainly in Kuta Beach, about an hour and a half south of where we are in Ubud. I had never heard of these cowboys before but you wouldn't have to hear about them to know that they aren't the good ol' boys next door! Long hair, flashy jewelry, big motorbikes, tight pants...they're the real deal and they mean business! 


Women come here alone or with a girlfriend to pick up one of these boys, no charge, and boogie down.  Though they usually don't get paid, they are generally rewarded with some extras...not to mention a couple nights in a 5 star hotel, good food, and pampering by a lovelorn lady.  (Come on girls, what are you doing with these dodos??) I hate to be the nay sayer...but I think a simple vacation consisting of early to bed, early to rise, good food, inner zen...now that sounds like the perfect holiday, single or not!

C'est la vie...what can you do? I suppose women need a place they can call their own. The men already have Thailand!!



If you have an extra few, check out these 2 minute clips:


Kuta Cowboy
Eat Pray Love
Love Crystals

Jelila's "Eat, Pray, Love" Ubud Map
Find Love in Bali!
(Or the nearest ATM)

Roosters to the older men are the equivalent to children and their kites.  Around 1 PM and 6 PM everyday, about ten men gather around with their prized roosters.  They usually squat around together, smoking cigarettes and gently holding and stroking their roosters.  They are very colorful and seem to be pretty well-behaved, so I guess I can understand why they are so proud; but, really, this passive-yet-macho rooster time is still a mystery to all of us at the house.  Michael had to capture some portraits of these men with their pets, who wake us up with their crowing around 5 AM every morning.

Lucky for him, the men were more than happy to pose.  They even went to far as to have their roosters fight each other in the street!  We've been told that cock fighting is a popular past time, and though none of the birds were hurt, a few lost some nice, big feathers.


Needless to say, the boys are now making a lot of "cock" jokes...most of which are pretty hilarious.  Please enjoy Michael's now famous "cock pictures". : )

Caught with his cock out

Everyday we see dozens of kites in the sky.  The kids here all ride their bicycles around with their friends and almost each one has their own kite strapped on their back. After school we see them flying over the rice paddies and all the way up into the hills. It seems like such a nice past time that I'm tempted to get my own kite the next time I go to town.  They are mostly animal shapes, like birds, cats, and owls. We were thinking of making a RACI kite perhaps...?  

 *Photos by Michael Lawrence

When we first arrived in Bali, Michael and I wanted to get some coffee and asked Made (who picked us up) where we could get some.  He pointed and said, "take your time, you're in Bali now." and it's been that kind of easy going vibe since. I work better when there is less pressure surrounding my projects.

Indonesia