Indonesia, Jawa, Genteng So, well on our way now to Yogya. We loaded up our Toyota with 200 litres of water, 250 kg of rice, medical supplies and some other badly needed items. We will pick up more stuff on the way. After a brief ferry ride from Bali to Jawa, we arrived in a totally new world without leaving the country. Jawa is primarily Muslim, where Bali is primarily Hindu. We made our first step in Genteng and as we checked into the hotel (circa 4am) the people from the local mosque asked if their morning singing would be a [View Full Entry]

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So, I have decided to do my bit for the people of Java... Not much to say about this yet except that we have set off. The van is now loaded with 200 litres of water, 250 kgs of Rice, countless noodles, medical supplies (yes John, extra needles found!) and we have set off. I don't know what net access will be like as we travel, and we WILL try to stay safe and away from the volcano. For more information about what we are doing, visit EricEdmeades.ORG [View Full Entry]

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This is not a long entry, just adding it for the shots. I went back to Patong for a last day on the beach and built a massive Sandcastle. (Nick, imagine my horror at not having Taz, Leon and Dan with me for cover! People knew I was building it because I WANTED TO.) Anyway, I built this massive Egypt themed thing and became a beach celebrity, all the tourists, mostly Korean, wanted pictures of the castle but not just the castle, them WITH ME and the castle. It was fun. And then, the one day I do not lug [View Full Entry]

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Everything I Ever Needed To Learn About Sales I learned in Thailand. I thought I was a good salesman. I really did. And by western rules, perhaps I am. In Thailand I am about as good a salesman as I am a footballer in England (that is to say, I am bloody useless.) The refresher course I got in Thailand reminded me of the following principles of selling: 1) Assume the Sale The Thai Salesman does this automatically - everyone is a customer. They address you as though you are going to buy, hand you things as if they are already [View Full Entry]

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www.PhuketVacationApartments.com After my motorcycle accident I spent a glorious week at Club Lersuang through Phuket Vacation Apartments. I could not have found a nicer place to recuperate. Just down the road from the famous Amanpuri resort, the apartments (which are more like hotel living) are a brief walk away from Surin Beach -- a nice, quite beach without all the noise and vendors of Patong and other similar places. (Also, in the middle of the beach, there is a little shack that sells a mean fruit-salad!) The apartments themselves ( [View Full Entry]

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The problem with paradise beach is that it is very distracting. I mean, there I was planning to tour most of the island when I got to a dead end. The Monstrosity and I looked up the hill - narrow partially paved track into the jungle and a sign, worn and unclear, that indicated that Paradise Beach was 1.4 k ahead. I slid The Monstrosity in to gear and started up the hill. Now, for those of you (Robin, Baz, Jenny and others) that have gone off-roading with me, it can be an adventure. Just a few months ago Jenny and [View Full Entry]

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So I decided to take another look at Patong, in the day. I had heard that the beach was rather like Kuta (Bali) so I headed out to another look during my drive around the Island -- a drive that was seriously interrupted by Paradise Beach (see next article). Anyway, the first thing to know about my island tour and revisit of Patong was that I did it in The Monstrosity -- my day-glow green "American Style Jeep" that was apparently made by Honda (or at least the steering wheel was). The Monstrosity and I headed out to see the island [View Full Entry]

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Patong Beach... it even sounds a little sleazy. Actually, the beach itself is rather nice. Soft sand, big waves -- went for a relaxing walk (is it wrong to listen to California Dream'n in Thailand) on the beach this afternoon. The town, though, is another matter. The main drags are littered with little kiosks selling CD’s and DVD’s, Gucci sunglasses, offensive t-shirts and a variety of beachy clothing, tacky objet d’art, switch-blades and flick knives. Oh, and then there is the countless massage places (most of which do not appear to offer the ‘happy endings’ t [View Full Entry]

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Hello all! I am in Phuket now... my injuries (see previous entry) are healing... I still can not sleep on my right (bruises and scrapes on right side of body) or on my back (stitches to back of head) but it IS getting better. I can walk without a limp now and the bandages are gone from my head (that was a drag! Everyone asking "you crash bike". Anyway, not much to say about Phuket at the moment... it is quiet here so far, the weather is a bit cloudy... Will take some snaps and post more as it happens. Not [View Full Entry]

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Returned from Gili to Kuta. Stayed in small hotel directly in Kuta, nice, but no Conrad! Mind, for $23 per night with air, who can complain?! Anyway, I do have a complaint, while there were nice dinners and fun beaching, this is where my trip turned a little dark... I was in a motorcycle accident. It started with a really nice night out with Steph and Sally... we had an excellent meal at Ku De Ta. The place is stunning, really nice. If you get there early enough you can catch the most amazing sunsets! Anyway, most of the pics in [View Full Entry]

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