Familiar in a Strange Land: Home (?)

The last few days were a whirlwind. I will try to give us as much detail with as few words as possible.

The last update was from Saturday morning Bali time, its now Wednesday morning San Diego. Much has changed, but it feels good writing this last section no longer in Bali. Adds to the memories and solidifications.

First stop; the same place we went Friday night. Red Drum. Very cool place. I got some different food and decor photos, as well as some really terrible pictures of myself.

Lamb stew with dates

Fat and Happy

I meant to get this photographed but kept putting it off. Tickled me to no end. All the english is very phonetical in Bali. Spesial. Internasional. Taksi. Its awesome. Really awesome.

The Kuta "strip", complete with costumed ppl on stilts.

Raving lunatics

After all that, it was time to get the hell out of Kuta.

So we went shopping....in one of Bali's three malls. This is the best one I hear. Ace Hardware. Grocery stores. Bizarre center of consumerism. But I'll take it.

Gotta have your Baskin Robbins

Beer selection

Really? Is it that good?

Oh, this one was great. There's a store called the Athlete's Foot. I was punning for days. Where can we find The Athlete's Foot? In a sweaty dark corner of course!

Grilled Rice in Banana Leaf

Idyllic Rice Paddie near the compound we stayed out

More happy views

The Italian in me was lovin' it. This place is called Pizza Bagus. They do the best Italian I saw in Bali. Based out of Ubud. Check out the Deli fridge.

Something like cheddar won tons, they were an interesting complimentary "bread"

Mozzarella in Bali. Getting me excited for home

The locals don't like big tourist buses

Bali Dog: Matilda

We went to the main market in Ubud and did some serious shopping. It was beautiful noisy stinking chaotic spiritual place. I really liked it. Fresh coffee, a pig being softly pulled apart right behind you. The din of business being negotiated.

fish

Flowers for offerings

donuts!

Babi Guleng

Babi Guleng with fried pork skin on top

And then we shopped more...

So many fabrics...

The uplifter

Then, because you can really never have too much pork...We went to the best Babi Guleng (slow cooked pork) restaurant in Ubud. There is a serious pig theme going on.

Deep Fried Meat

Deep Fried Skin

Another Bali Dog

Our next stop was at a gentleman named Madra. He ran a boarding house my brother stayed at 2 years ago. Too cool. Nicest man I met the entire trip. He dries flowers to make his own incense...

And is an internationally recognized artist! This stuff is too cool. Just sitting at his house. I was blown away. The intricacies are insanity.

Prita in a fun mask

All that eating and shopping and you work up quite the appetite. So we made pasta...again. Delicious! and I remembered to photograph the cooks this time.

This is a strange coffee beverage I made the next morning to nurse the hang over. Egg. Ground Coffee. Sugar. Pour Hot water over. Froth agressively. Creamy slightly coffee ensues. Try it!