Indonesia Part 1

With plans to travel all over Europe already set in motion, we suddenly received an offer to work in Bali starting almost immediately. With funds dwindling, we decided to take the chance and accept knowing full well that Europe's accessibility could be tapped into at a later stage. Perhaps one of the enticing aspects of this new decision was the need to fly back home to the Republic for 10 days for several logistical reasons including visa applications, cheaper flights and to offload 2 bags full of ski and winter gear. Our brief stay spent at home was a joyous occasion spent with friends and family that rejuvenated us in such a way that only ones' home can do. But a new experience lay in waiting, this time heading East to the tropics. The first 2 weeks spent here in Bali have been eventful and full of wonderment. In this time, we decided to turn down the job offer. This difficult decision was taken for many reasons but what remains most relevant is the opportunity afforded to us now to spend an extended period of time exploring the island at our leisure. And after 14 days here, that's exactly what we've done. With a centralized apartment as our base we have been able to venture North past Canggu and South into the Bukit peninsular for surf and beaches. The Balinese culture is such an appealing one, filled with happiness and goodwill and their land is such a paradise that to explore it is not only possible on a shoestring budget but is so rewarding in the treasures you uncover around every turn of the motorbike. Then there is the surf...

Sam; composed in Saunr

Our evening surf and run is always capped off with a shower and swim in one of the many luxury resorts dotted along the beach. Just smile and wave to the guard.

Kuta, for all the madness, does still have its charms.

Hungry Eyes.

Uluwatu at 6 feet with 8 foot closeouts. This day saw many a broken leash and one gnarly swim from the top of the point.

Padang Padang looking ever so beautiful in the evening glow with no hint as to what lies beneath.

Arvo surf check.

The culinary experiences in Bali are nothing short of magnificent with the local Warungs our best source of an authentic Indonesian meal. 

Padang beach in the evening

Jimbaran bay heading South.

Balangan dreaming

Balangan lunch with a very distracting view.

Our chariot.

It's all a bit overwhelming for a goofy-foot.

Lazy days in Bingin

Bingin pickings.

East-side, West-side.

Unbeknown to us at the time, our last and final stop in Germany and penultimate in Europe would be the historic Berlin. As capital of the country, and with a history so remarkable, it was truly apt that our 5 week German sojourn would end in Berlin. Although the countryside will always hold first appeal over a city, Berlin is one such city where you are able to truly immerse yourself in it's offerings without that bitter discontent so often left by others. Our host and guide was Sam's eldest uncle Dieter, his soft-spoken wife Karen and daughter Maike along with Paul her boyfriend. Together they turned 4 day's into a historic whirlwind of sightseeing, eating and informative conversation. As a former political radio host, Dieter is so well versed in Berlin's history that his enthusiasm becomes truly contagious. We were therefore fortunate enough, tour guide in tow, to visit many of the historic sites that comprise the cities rich and chaotic history including the Brandenburg Gate, the last remnants of the Berlin wall, the Jewish Museum, Holocaust Memorial, Check-point Charlie, The Berlin dome and the imposing Reichstag. It truly is a fascinating journey through Germany's troubled history. Yet the entire process is juxtaposed by the liberal modernity of the developing city and its young and culturally diverse inhabitants. This is perhaps why you get the feeling that the city is embracing it's new identity. The restaurants and bars only fill up after 11pm and stay open right until sunrise. We sampled the nightlife via Paul and Maike who took us out for drinks and dinner and then to play beach volleyball the following day. When it was eventually time to leave, it was with saddened hearts; Berlin is a rad place and so embraces it's history and re-invention that you can't help but feel like you want to jump on and join the ride. 

One of the last remaining pieces of the Berlin wall now stands in shame, covered in chewing gum.

Gum-free remnants of the infamous wall that literally divided a city

With the exception of an absent Dieter, this was our Berlin family for a few days.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church; a hauntingly beautiful inner facade.

Giving the legs a rest in downtown Berlin.

Beach volleyball right in the center of landlocked city

Sam and Uncle Dieter waiting for the train.

The Berlin Dome; still blackened from fire after almost being destroyed during the second World War.

We were fortunate to time our visit a few days after the birth of cousin Kei's (Sam's eldest German cousin) baby boy.

Shopping shenanigans.

The sombre Holocaut Memorial. This public space of concrete statues symbolizes the death of 6 Million Jew's by the Nazi regime. These concrete blocks are totally graffiti-proof but perhaps more interesting is the fact that the company who built and supplied them is the same company albeit under new management who manufactured and supplied the death gas to the Nazi's that was used in the concentration camps.

The beauty of the memorial is the unsymmetrical design of the blocks 

The dramatic Brandenburg gate; the only remaining gate of a series through which Berlin was once entered and now famous German landmark. Incidentally it is was also the backdrop for the Euro 2012 fanpark that saw a record 1 million German fans converge together to watch the semi-final.

These bikes are everywhere and allow a group of humans to cruise around town, using collective power while storing cold beers in the fridge behind.

The imposing Reichstag. This is the center of German parliament and requires a 2 hour background identity search on each person who chooses to visit as it's status as high-risk terrorist target. It was also the building that Hitler's SS famously burned down which was to be the start of his rise to power.

Currywurst is Berlin's traditional meal and is essentially a fried sausage coated in a curried tomato sauce. There is currywurst stand on every street corner.

The Jewish Museum and the haunting 6 Million dead faces. Nothing truly prepares you for a visit to this Museum.

Frankfurt en Mein

To be thrust into the commerce of Frankfurt city after a week in the countryside was an adjustment for sure. A three hour car trip North-West and we had navigated our way through the Autobhan, across the Mein river and parked below Jan and Isabelle's third storey apartment. Jan is Sam's second eldest cousin and Isabelle his long-standing and very dear girlfriend. Jan works as the events manager at the Frankfurt Film Museum, one of many such museums that line the Mein river. Isabelle is a darling Kindergarten teacher. (yes the word is derived from the German translation) Frankfurt, we were to learn, is the Financial Capital of Germany and second only to London in terms of European commerce. Subsequently is is the only European city with an established skyline, aptly nicknamed 'Bankfurt' or 'Meinhatten'. However, the city limits remain relatively compact and it is very easy to navigate the entire breadth of the city on foot or via bicycle. Frankfurt, like Hamburg before it, encourages the use of bicycling so fervently that several government-funded companies have established bike-share depots across the city. Essentially, each depot allows for 20-30 heavy-duty bicycles to be magnetically locked. With a simple swipe of your registration card or request on your mobile phone, 2 bikes per person are unlocked and yours to ride for the next 30 minutes before you must return them to any of the hundreds of depots across the city. You can then collect 2 more bikes if your journey is not yet completed for another 30 minutes. It is an effective bike-share system that see's thousands of Frankfurt locals cruising to and from work and play on the little red bikes. It works without incident and has been adopted so well by the city and it's residents. Beside it's bicycle's, Frankfurt is famous for it's Apple Wine Bars which serves, in big blue clay jugs, a type of localy made unsweetened cider. These are always accompanied by traditional German foods, and in our case, German football games for Euro 2012. Frankfurt was also the location, obscurely though it was, for the fulfillment of a childhood dream to see Blink 182, returned from Hiatus, live in Concert. Needless to say, it was a music show never to be forgotten, one in which the events that unfolded are best described in person.

Hand-made love above the train station.

View from Jan's Apartment

Jan's fathers German-made record player complete with every Police LP, among others.

The Bridge of Locks. A strange tradition where couples come to symbolize their everlasting love by locking an engraved padlock onto the bridge and then throwing the key's into the Mein river below.

Sam and Jan with the newest addition the Meinhatten skyline in construction.

Empty streets during German football game.

Two Tickets to the Rock Show.

The Doner; a tradtional Turkish influenced lunch option bought here on boat-cafe

Travis, midway through his life-changing 7 minute drum solo.

Carousel

Daily dose of delicious Apfel-wien

They ended the concert by bringing their children onto the stage to throw out band merchandise.

Selection of traditional meals sampled during our stay in Frankfurt

Sam and her beloved Rose gardens.

A medieval Monastery turned vineyard that still hosts art exhibitions and musical concert.

Mein River

The aforementioned ingenuous bike-share system.

Jan's apartment; our adopted workspace.