Indonesia, Java - A Most Productive Day

Ever have one of these? A day that you look back on and feel deservingly proud of all the things accomplished in the sixteen hours you've been awake? Today was that day for Chris and I.

Today:

1. Rode out early and caught the island hopper ferry to Java.

2. Found a decent place to eat lunch that not only was kind enough to let us hang our wet clothes on their laundry lines (the owners live above their restaurant), they also have the particular distinction for making the best one dollar smoothies on the road thus far.

3. We found our first cyclist traveler!! More like he found us. As we navigated the city of Banyuwangi, I heard a man catching up behind us, trying to get our attention. Normally, this means a local man on a scooter trying to sell off his home made rum or asking us if we have a place to stay the night. So, mildly annoyed, we ignored the unrequested attention. Oh brother, how shocked I was to find another tourer on the road with us - and so early in our travels. His name is Stephen, a Scottish man who has been on his bike for just over a year now. We exchanged info and plan to traverse Java together, as long as we can. Really nice guy with the advice of a cycling sage.

4. We also hooked up with our second couch surfer contact, Ardy. Free room and company, couch surfing is the way to travel. Although only twenty, Ardy has invited us in and proved a great city guide as well as an excellent partner to practice translations with. He's even picking up a little if my Spanish. Not to mention is also a published journalist in the Banyuwangi Times. This kid is sharp; someone get him a semester abroad at UCB.

5. Took a loooong walk through the City streets; trying out almost every food and fruit stand. I was hopping for a bike shop, but no dice.

6. We bought a needle and threat. I mended a small rip at the pinky of my left glove, Chris has a tear on his camera bag.

7. We bought a (cheap) cell phone! Still working out the configurations, I hope to turn the phone into a mobile internet hot spot. Look at this thing, can you remember when cell phones had antennas?!?!

8. Ate our first real dinner at a real authentic Indonesian dugout. How authentic? Sit on the floor, delicious fish on the bone including head, spicier than Satan grandfather's back country home made hot sauce, and, when it began to rain, the power went out. In a good way. No one actually paid it any mind other than the owner who automatically brought a candle to our table. The rain forced the people to stay inside and many small conversations jumped across tables as time went on waiting for the rain to stop, and many laughs were had.