Spearlocator: Java, Indonesia

I’m not dead. Actually, if this is what dying feels like– consider me a goner. This place is like heaven on earth! While I apologize for the radio silence (the internet is terrible on this side of the world), this has been an incredibly rejuvenating time away from the blogosphere. It’s so great to see the site in such great shape– kudos to the whole team for working overtime in my absence. When I arrived, I spent a few days in Bali, both in Kuta on the beach and then traveled into Ubud where I was exploring villages and artist communities on an eco-cyling tour, as well as the sacred monkey forest (it makes a zoo look pitiful, pictures coming soon). I just arrived a hop, skip and a jump away from Bali in Java— the place where my Father setup relief camps literally this time last year, after the massive earthquakes rocked this otherwise incredibly peaceful region. Tomorrow we rise at dawn to visit Borobudur, and then go for a long drive into the middle of the jungle to Bantul, near the epicenter of the recent earthquakes, to play games with the children and check the progress of my father’s past relief work. My brothers and I are spending our two nights here at Amanjiwo— easily the nicest home away from home I have ever seen. Zagat gave it the highest honors with second in the world for an overall ‘extraordinary to perfection’ rating– this place makes The Four Seasons look like a Marriot– full review and pictures to come when I get to solid-internet ground. I’ve got lots to report on, great gems I’ve discovered and more when I’m back stateside!