07 June 2007 -Thursdy - Denpasar, Bali

Supper time..

I made it to Bali safely. Back at the Puri Kelapa Hotel I stayed at on the last trip here. Today was steaming! Now sitting here at Pappions restaurant at 19h04, I know I am in the tropics just shy of the equator. I'm tired, but more importantly, I'm hungry. So tonight I'm sampling the tuna steak in Bali.

It seems even more busy than the last time. I'm told the local school holidays are taking place but I've also seen a lot more tourists - especially surfers - around.

One t-shirt at a local stand proudly proclaimed "Osama don't surf" while another suggested that one "F*ck a terrorist" as a way of reducing the threat perhaps. Clearly the memory of the Bali bombing by the radical Jaamiyat Islamiyya in 2002 is still close to the surface.

The Hindutva or Hindu-ness of the island is very evident. The facade of many buildings is adorned with scenes from the epic tale, the Ramayana. All sorts of mythical creatures -some humanoid, others not at all - baring very sharp fangs as they guard their portals to an inner sanctuary.

Now as I sit quietly sipping my soto ayam - a yummy spicy chicken and egg soup - I wonder which came first and why the chicken wanted so desperately to cross the road. And I recall the article in the Straits Times that Singapore has banned poultry imports from Indonesia because of a confirmed outbreak of avian flu. Nonetheless the soto ayam was delicious, the tuna steak a little more oily than I am used to; but filling nonetheless - and tropical. On my next trip to Bali I will rent a scooter (About R50/50,000Rps). Already I saw more of Bali on my 2 km walk to the shopping centre earlier today.