Welcome to Bali

"Ladies and gentlemen we have just landed in Bali. We thank you for flying Eva Air and wish you a pleasant trip". I huge ear to ear grin grows over my face. I catch Paul's eye and we exchange a distance high five. The hot humid air hits you the moment you step off the plane, a faint odour of flowers accompanying it. Welcome to the tropics. We grab our bags, clear customs and are greeted by Paul's cousin JJ. He's wearing jeans and seems completely unfazed by the incredible weather. Exiting the airport we're mobbed by taxi drivers offering rides, mushrooms or both. JJ opens up the cooler he's been carrying, revealing ice cold Bintang pilsners and a set of matching singlets. Best welcoming party ever! We hit the road, surrounded at all times by a constant brouhaha of horns and zippy mopeds. The traffic rules are essentially non-existent here, as long as everyone can eventually get by its allowed. We drive past bustling intersections with packed streets and make our way towards rice paddies and small winding country roads. The sun is setting as we arrive at Paul's uncle Tim's house. The place is incredibly gorgeous and the faint smell of teak pervades every room. We are greeted by a Korean-Indonesian fusion feast and discuss at length all the possibilities this island has to offer. As I write this watching the sun rise over the palm trees to a morning cacophony of roosters, crickets and cicadas, I know this leg of the trip will be an incredible experience.