Love Island Travel

Although the famous animated film featuring a young clownfish and his father was held in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Indonesia is the real Nemo Country. The island of Bali welcomes up to six different species of clown fish in its waters; a real hotspot of biodiversity.

In a land blessed like Bali, it is not surprising that even small fish as "Nemo" have decided to settle and establish their permanent home here. Nemo, otherwise known as clownfish or anemonefish live in tropical seas off the Indo-Pacific Ocean, from Japan to the Andaman Sea, the Maldives and the Red Sea. Clownfish live in symbiosis with sea anemones, which are colorful polyps that live on the seabed attached by an adhesive foot, called a basic disk, and the column-shaped body ending in an oral disc and many stinging tentacles. Some species of clown fish are very picky about where they live anemone, while others are more general, so can hold more than a single species of sea anemone.

De many anemone species change generalist specialist in different places, particularly in areas of high biodiversity and density as the Indonesian archipelago. It is something similar to what happens when the different species of monkeys live in the same area; some of them like to live in a specific tree, while other monkeys prefer to stay on the ground, and others in a tree at all.

The use of clownfish in anemone as shelter is a wonderful example of a symbiotic relationship mutualism where the anemone protects the fish with its stinging tentacles, and the small fish fighting against any predator who may be able to eat or harm anemone. The skin of a clownfish is immune against the tentacles, so it can live in security anemone and indulge in food scraps left by the meal of the anemone tentacles and occasional dead anemone.

Clownfish have a strict social hierarchy within their host anemone, with great woman at the top of the company, followed by a mature man and a lot of immature individuals. If for some reason the dominant female dies, the male changes sex to become women, and the first immature fish in the hierarchy becomes the adult male. This strange phenomenon of changing sex is called hermaphroditism and is typical of many fish families. In the film Finding Nemo , when the mother of Nemo was killed by a giant barracuda, father would have changed sex, turning into a great woman, but perhaps this phenomenon was a little too complicated to explain to young people of this film!

In the surrounding coastal waters Bali, it is possible to observe up to six different species of clownfish, perhaps even considering some rare species are difficult to find . Each clownfish has a special place to live, called their habitat; coral reefs, shallow lagoons and sandy bottoms. But all of them follow the same way of life, although some are more aggressive than others when an observer approach. A number of these small fish brave can even bite the fingers or break in diving masks, trying to fight against the potential danger to the anemone and clownfish family.

The most common species in Bali is the clarki Anemonefish ( Amphiprion clarki ). It is a very competitive and general case, an ordinary black and orange with two white stripes, actively defend its host anemone against predators, even very large stressors, including divers. You can find this fish in almost all places, including Nusa Penida, Lembongan, Amed, Tulamben and Menjangan, the most common destinations for divers and snorkelers. The "real Nemo" ( Amphiprion ocellaris ), orange with white stripes, is also present, although less common, but it is easily observed in corals slopes like those present in Nusa Penida (Southern Bali) and Pulau Menjangan, in the north of Bali.

With the closing of 2013, the strategies of the industry for 2014 and beyond are being defined - and redefined - by health travel sector and welfare continuously growing, which is booming in and go a long way beyond its niche. Interest in wellness related activities is great company in the travel industry and Bali in particular to gain significantly with the change that consumers have access to a booming industry; one that has already developed to a degree locally in a powerful in its own market, and not incorporated as a second level of service in the broader ecosystem to travel together.

Concern with healthy lifestyles has given rise to exceptional growth in well-being of the global economy tourism sector. This trend is now worth $ US438.6 billion per year and is set to swell to $ 715.6 billion in 2017 - an increase of 9 percent annually. This represents nearly 50 percent faster than the corresponding growth in conventional tourism market, with Asia should form the "epicenter" of the new tourism market of well-being in the future, the opportunity is abundant Bali.

The times are changing and consumers took on vacation substance. Mentalities spend what we might consider the "typical tourist behavior holidays looking for a deeper meaning for the mind, body and soul. Consumers look at the holiday as an important means to improve health, happiness and productivity. Holiday travel is often a catalyst for transformation and consumers consider wellness travel as a personal investment.

How this sector to evolve during the coming year and beyond? In this edition of Bali Expat we take a look at the key trends in wellness travel for 2014, some are smart and practical, others a little on the esoteric side (suitable for Bali) that show a change in the collective mentality to one of personal care at a deeper level, not to mention experiential memories that break down the old views on how we ourselves, our world and our fellow colleagues see

Snapshot :. Top 10 Wellness Travel Trends for 2014

1. Mind Matters
2. The Rise Wellness Travel Agents
3. The local Vita
4. Breaking the bread with wellness travel
5. holiday RX
6. looking for Personal Enrichment
7. burgeoning market secondary wellness
8. slow travel
9. Affluent & altruistic
10. Spas on a Mission

Mind Matters
consumers have taken on conscious vacations that offer mental restoration. practices learned while traveling such as meditation, yoga, qi gong and logging can be incorporated at home to help manage stress, improve cognitive ability and maintain emotional balance.

The Rise Wellness travel agencies
With the growing interest in traveling to strengthen the mind, body and spirit wellness tourism has created a new niche for travel agents to grow or expand their businesses while providing a rewarding specialty personal and professional career.

the local Vita
consumers have developed a better appreciation of relevant and authentic local experiences, with a focus on life "the local vita '(the local community). Attitudes have changed travel behavior away from well-trodden a keen interest in exploring community-based learning to know where the locals significantly deepens the experience.

Breaking bread with wellness
food tourism is a big trend intersect with travel wellness. . In addition to the physical aspect of food, culinary tours, cooking classes, agriculture and the experiences of the farm to table talking to the emotional, social, intellectual and lasting wellness

Vacation RX:
"Take two weeks and call me in the morning." Doctors now prescribe the holidays as an antidote against stress. the prescribing doctor's physical activity in places such as parks and the natural environment are increasing to help relieve exhaustion, and also the fight against obesity and diabetes in children.

Looking for Personal Enrichment
With the understanding that welfare is more physical and nutrition, consumers choose trips that either focus only on personal enrichment or As part of their travel plans. In search of fulfillment and meaning, many consumers are displayed holidays, weekends and retreats as a catalyst for change.

slow travel
Have you ever felt compelled to run through your holiday by checking sites to see and things to do? slow travel defenders are changing the pace to taste, enjoy and revel in the holiday experience.

Affluent & altruistic
Rejected by personal growth and discovery, affluent travelers appreciate the binding experiments to charitable causes and local communities. Volunteering on vacation has become increasingly popular and research shows altruism can improve well-being.

Booming market secondary welfare
There are a large portion of travelers who can not opt ​​for pension wellness or visits but pledged to maintain their healthy lifestyle on the road. Airports and hotels are investing resources to attract those customers who are business and leisure travelers.

Spas on a mission
The spa industry is staking a claim on tourism wellness and well-being. Eager to shake the image of pampering for the rich, spas are repackaging and rebranding as welfare providers to attract a larger market.

Dr. Steve Fabes bike mountainous terrain

Picture the scene. On two wheels, handlebars to show the way, free from the shackles of modern life with the wind in your hair, not knowing where you go to sleep every night, as you make your way through the world, continent to continent while, for a period of six years. This is the life of Dr. Steve Fabes and it is four and a half years through this incredible journey that has so far led by five of the six continents of the world, cycling a staggering 60,100 kilometers through 47 countries. During his short visit to Jakarta, I caught up with this young doctor for more information.

"I have always been looking for an adventure and have always had a passion for travel," Dr. Steve said. "I feel more alive when I . in the desert and I was looking for a new challenge and a less complicated life Everything is simple, on a bike - you just need to think about where you go up, you go to camp, what you will eat and that is what subject "Six bicycle was also an opportunity for. 33 doctor to raise money for charity, so far raising £ 20,000 for Merlin, an international charity providing medical expertise to the toughest places on earth.

The trip took Dr. Steve England, across Europe, through the Middle East, the entire length of Africa against Argentina to Alaska, the Alaska to Australia, across Australia and East Timor in Jakarta. The next step is the return section, taking Steve throughout Southeast Asia and in Asia, Europe and the hospital where he works in London.

Why did it have to be all six continents? When Steve was 19 he traveled to Chile with his brother and spent five months cycling in South America and that is where the idea was planted. He estimated that it would disappear and "normal life" would take the hand, but it never happened. "I took a map and tried to trace a route and I decided that six continents would be the thing to do." Estimated to originally take five years to complete, the trip is more likely to take six, leaving two others for the wheels to cross.

Riding on his trusty bike tourism 'Belinda', the last four years for Steve involved the campsite next to the road before sunset with a small stove to cook noodles and a cup of coffee, then the bike about 110 km or seven pedal hours turning a day, with breaks where he was able to talk to the locals and eating local food. the calendar is similar to that of a work week; bike for five days and take two days off, with a standard every four or five weeks to take a week off

.

Dr. Steve Fabes on faithful 'Belinda' - a touring bike that drove through 5 of the 6 continents

the first five months, Steve was alone. "I learned that I like to have time to think. You will find what you are capable of; Sometimes you push yourself hard enough, and you see how much you can deal with, which is usually more than you think. "

Steve pedaled through 20 degree Celsius temperatures in the Alps and more than 50 degrees Celsius heat in the Sahara desert. In Africa, he was joined by his friend Naomi Rousell who cycled with him for seven months, leaving him alone again until South America, where he teamed up with the occasional cyclist that he would meet on the road. in Canada, he was joined by his girlfriend Claire Press, who met with him again in Sydney and was cycling with him since. Claire, whose background is in mental health, plans to join Steve to the end.

"J 'like the way the bike allows you to travel, "Claire said as we discuss his motivations for joining the mission Steve, having cycled some 4,500 kilometers with him. "We often end up sleeping with local families and ended up meeting people who are community projects. A particularly Indonesia was mothering, and we learned that women often have babies at home and not in hospitals, so there are complications surrounding what seems mainly down to the community here to solve rather than down the government. "Claire was also overwhelmed by the generosity of people." The goodness does not stop, regardless of what they have or have not got, which is incredibly humble. "

The journey through Indonesia Steve and Claire took the East Timor to Kupang, take a ferry to Ende, cycling Flores in Labuan Bajo, then through Lombok, cycling through the Gilis, Bali, then flight from Bali to Jakarta. Java does not were cycled due to security problems. When asked what word sums up his experiences in Indonesia, Steve's response was "hospitality." "I find it hard to think of somewhere that I have traveled where I had as much hospitality as in Indonesia. "

In Jakarta, Steve and Claire were welcomed by Simon McCrum, who made contact with Steve when he discovered their journey would take them through Jakarta, and generously offered a place for them to stay. In Jakarta, Dr. Steve gave presentations at BritCham and the British International School in an effort to raise awareness and funds. They also spoke at Sekolah Kami, a school providing education for children Pemulung in Bekasi.

The journey of Dr. Steve surprisingly taught him that the world is a safer place as people make it out to be. Locals often warn Steve about his next destination, but when he does, people are always nice and friendly, often the warning on the next place. During his trip, the garbage was a problem, particularly in Bolivia, Albania, Syria, and parts of Indonesia, where the waste is scattered on the road side litter and people their car windows.

Steve is now raising money for his "noodle funds", which is needed to make it back to the house through the last continent of Asia. Once it has raised enough go home, the doctor plans to raise new funds for charity. "I'm out of money completely when I arrived in Mexico," says Steve, who was about three years in his journey, "and I got to try to earn money through public speaking in schools or bike clubs. I also sell pictures at events and through my website, and I write freelance for magazines adventure travel. "the noodles funds for the home stretch can be given through its website, where a PayPal button is available to help get Steve home.

for someone who was voted "most likely to fail in his bike competency test" at school, Steve has managed a feat that only a handful of people. Once he comes home in two years, Dr. Steve plans to return to his job as a health care professional and to write a book about his experiences cycling worldwide.

To help Dr. Steve go home, please donate to: www.Cyclingthe6.com

Playing With Fire

The fastest punch in the face I ever received was from a dense fist of tobacco smoke.

I'm in a cafe when a stranger sitting next to me lit a cigarette and exhaled. It was like a physical assault as the smoke hit me in the head. I recoiled. I almost slapped him in the face in retaliation. But he was unconscious of what he did, and threw another upper cut and then a jab as he puffed away, making me duck. He was young, in his early twenties, at an age when health consequences of smoking are a distant problem in the future, they can be ignored.

When I arrived in Indonesia in-a-day smoker thirty and seen how cheap cigarettes were, I knew I had found paradise. When I seen how almost everyone smoked wherever they pleased, I wondered if my plane had indeed crashed into the Indian Ocean and I had gone to heaven. In no time, I had graduated from being a smoker sixty-one-day. It was said that most Indonesian men needed just one portion every day, to light their first cigarette, the rest being informed of "dog-end." This was one aspect of Indonesian culture in which I was very happy to assimilate with the natives.

The choice of the so-called coffin nails was extensive, although I did take for kretek cigarettes clove infused ubiquitous, hating the fragrant fumes. Instead, I stayed firmly in the saddle Marlboro cowboy. But boy did I smoke. When I got a job teaching English, I built my lesson plans around cigarette breaks. When ill and admitted to one of the few hospitals in Jakarta, which imposed a no smoking rule, I hung in the window fifty times a day. I wound down the windows in air-conditioned taxi for me to smoke. I was smoking in bed, during meals, in elevators. I had a homosexual in my mouth before, during and after sex.

food or smoke? The latter, hands down. Ashtrays were my waypoints. Bins around me were quick to overflowing with empty packets of Marlboro wrinkled. In English we have the saying "to smoke like a train. In Indonesia, it is "smoking like a truck. I thought I was smoking more as Krakatau in training for 1883.

And then I tried to quit. I took this decision because now I am forty years old, smoking was to make me feel decrepit. I was tired of my lungs being the first thing I noticed each morning. I'm sick with coughing, rasping, nausea, as were the closest to me. I was sick of worrying about the insidious damage I was doing to myself, shorten the odds against longevity. Most of all, I'm tired of being dominated by cigarettes, whipping my ass "tobacco companies such as Marlboro, one might say. Also, I had a fit of coughing at exactly the same time an earthquake hit Jakarta. For a moment I thought he was the convulsive power of my lungs affected rocking the huge building that I put my forearm against the wall to steady myself as I coughed. I recovered from the shock of this illusion

Believing that it is important to avoid stress when to quit, I took to relax in a restaurant on Jalan Jaksa, the first street of Jakarta -. Keeping things simple - backpackers, prostitutes, alcoholics, drug addicts, free riders and scammers. I was none of these. I just loved mischievous and colorful atmosphere of the street, and I enjoyed drinking cheap beer. Yet there was often a threat to threat. There were two burly Irish brothers who embodied the stereotype of Irishmen short tempered drunks. We will call the moodier of them Aidan. One night, Aidan brooding at the bar with a group of friends, one of whom had started questioning me in a tone not unpleasant.

He asked me if I came from Ireland. I said I was not. So maybe I had just New Zealand? No, I replied. Australia then? Not there either. Wales? Uh-uh. Aidan, who had grown increasingly irritated throughout this exchange, turned to me and scolded me so hard to stifle the room, "Are you f-ing English or what?"

"Er, yes, I am," I croaked.

I wondered how fast I could drive a 650ml bottle of beer and go. Before I could empty my glass, Aidan got off his stool like a cowboy dismount a horse, and headed directly toward me. So this was it. Prophecy fulfilled.

, my mother would try to dissuade me from drinking by saying that I would eventually die in a bar. It lists all my parents had indeed perished in pubs, failing to mention that most of these deaths were caused by German bombs dropped on London during the Blitz. So, was about to be Aidan equivalent to a German, or perhaps an Irish bomb?

There was a hope left. Many times in my life, entering a boor had inexplicably taken a liking to me at the last moment retracted his fists and engaged in banter instead of the battery. I can not say why. Sympathy? Empathy? Or some kind of superpower I own: "... he disarms his enemies with his near fatal powers cower" Not that it always worked, as my dental crowns and broken nose testified

. but he worked with. Aidan. he paused, reached out his paw and has apologized. he even refers to himself as the equivalent of a despicable person, using a word that can not be printed here. and then he invited me to join his band at the bar for a drink. I would rather have accepted his apology and been done with it. But he insisted, so I asked for another large Bintang.

This was not the beginning of a beautiful friendship. We never sat together again. the next time I saw Aidan in the same bar, I was recklessly drunk. a friend had been annoying me, so in the wrong I flicked a match on him. Unfortunately, he looked at his ear before continuing toward the back of the head of the girlfriend of Aidan, landing in her long black hair, smoldering and then turned on my friend was able to turn around and quietly retire the match and extinguish the flame before his head could surprise everyone in the eruption bar. Aidan and his crowd wondered aloud where the smell of burning hair came, then they checked each other locks.

The memory of this disaster narrowly averted makes me shudder even now. This was the last game I ever hit. Not a lighter I buy. That night, I went down the horse of the Marlboro for good. Impressions of my earthquakes causing coughing have been behind me with buying fags instead of the food and the setting almost innocent on fire. I kicked the smoking habit and became a part of the minority Indonesian easy breathing.

The Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival - photo by Angela Richardson

What is a look at a music festival? Of course, there are many different types depending on the type of music you're after, but in general, we have our ears fixed to the sounds of large groups, vibes edifying, great food and beverage choices, a unique location with many camping opportunities and value for money. In Indonesia, we get more and more choices for live music, and although the scene is definitely better, I have not met a music festival that has a real atmosphere. A particular festival, situated where neighboring Australia to the east, has the potential to be an annual practical escape for blues and roots music lovers in Indonesia and I went there to check it.

Blues and roots music is a wonderfully eclectic mix that covers many genres, with something for every music lover; blues originated in the late 19 ^e century African-American communities in the "Deep South" and the roots of the music that identifies with a particular culture, including folk, Americana, reggae, bluegrass , country, traditional and world music. The Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival celebrated its 25 ^e anniversary this year, with more than 100,000 present and great acts such as Dave Matthews Band, Buddy Guy, The Wailers, John Butler Trio, Jack Johnson , the Doobie Brothers and John Mayer were some of the names on the range in six tents. There were also acts that were recently hosted at Java Jazz Festival, including Allen Stone, Erykah Badu, Joss Stone and India.Arie.

Vacationers at the beach in Byron Bay

festivities in Byron Bay take place over five days and still cross the weekend Easter. Located at Tea Tree Farm Tygarah, just 20 minutes by bus idyllic beaches in Byron Bay, it's hard to top spot. Byron Bay in New South Wales was first settled by Europeans in 1770 when Captain James Cook found a safe anchorage and named Cape Byron after John Byron. Ironically, what was once a whaling town in the 50s is now a hippy magnet paradise - a hub for surfers, lovers of music and good vibrations - winning reputation hippy when the Aquarius Festival held Nimbin in neighboring countries in 1973. the positivity of the people of the host city was even noted by Dave Matthews, during his speech to the audience at its first performance, "I'm here for a week and it is beautiful. The hospitality was amazing! "

Staying in Byron Bay, you can spend your mornings going for a swim or surf in the crystal clear waters and a good break and listening to buskers amazing as you ask around town admiring fashion everyone, enjoying delicious food from raw, organic vegan pub grub, before jumping on the festival when it opens its doors at noon, spend the rest of the day singing and dancing until midnight . If camping is your thing, the festival grounds have many options, whether in a tent or a camper, and buses to and from the festival run regularly. said weather can sometimes be a problem rains often accompany the feast, but I went twice and both times it was hot and sunny throughout.

the festival was opened by the Director Peter Noble festival, which is a resident part time in Bali, spend about three months a year at his home in Canggu. Peter gave a few words of thanks before introducing the popular Arakwal, the original inhabitants of the Byron Bay area. Peter is an advocate for the preservation of indigenous cultures and has another festival called Boomerang Festival, dedicated to indigenous music, which takes place in October, also Tygarah.

The first day saw Buddy Guy headlining the tent Crossroads, and this 78-year-old legend of the blues guitar, melts the audience with his smooth grooves and cheeky personality. As said Jimi Hendrix, "Heaven lies at the feet of Buddy Guy listening to him play guitar." As a lover of reggae, I am delighted the next day to attend the remaining band of Bob Marley members, The Wailers, play a game of 75 minutes of classic Marley, including Buffalo Soldier Jammin ' Stir It Up and I Shot the Sheriff . The atmosphere was electric as fans Rastafarian group danced all the way through.

Dave Matthews Band performing at Bluesfest 2014

The third day (Saturday), packed John Butler Trio the main stage, engaging the fans with his solos guitar and political talks. the proceeding was the headline act, Dave Matthews Band all the way from the United States. Dave Matthews is known for its unique rock live performance, accompanied by brass and funny jokes, and has captivated audiences for a staggering 150 minutes. At each show, he brings a special guest, and this performance we were honored by the presence of Warren Haynes playing a solo electric guitar introduction of All Along the Watchtower . He was goosebumpingly enchanting.

Day four and five amuse us by the positive vibration man (and adopted son of Byron Bay) Michael Franti, who brought in crowds and younger families, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, not to mention blues legend Booker T. Jones. An older crowd enjoyed KC and the Sunshine Band on the final afternoon, playing classic dance as Keep it Comin 'Love .

The Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival - photo by Angela Richardson

what I like most about this festival, however, is a walk small tents to discover the acts I'd never heard of before. Such an act, I found kept the crowd jumping through their, funk, hip-hop, eclectic vibes Latin jazz; September 1 coins bank called Ozomatli LA. Another new law in my ears were the Barbes, an Australian comedy, folk-rock band made hairy men singing about the beard - They have four albums of songs related to barbe-

The Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival is a music festival as much as it is a food festival, tasty treats from around the world - from Indonesia, China , Japanese, Hungarian, South American, Italian - not to mention bars and cafés, and even a coffee Chai tea. A second VIP bar area was added this year and the VIP group can give you access to some agitation breathing space of the festival, where you can relax on the sofas, not to mention access toilet queue less waiting, more spacious and more pleasant. shopping stalls beautifully decorate the festival, selling anything artistic fairy lights in alpaca ponchos. During the day, acrobats and buskers performing secondary performances, and once the sun sets, a parade of giant lanterns turn the magical atmosphere.

Now, if all that does not seem amazing enough already, the icing on the cake is that everyone at the festival is down-to-earth, friendly and warm the heart, including the staff. Australians really have a nice temperament and this festival will make you fall in love with their casual means. Not a single arrest was made at the festival this year, but that does not mean that everyone is not a good time!

The Bluesfest is up there with Glastonbury and the New Orleans Jazz Festival, and there is not much of a flight distance. I can not recommend enough this festival for everyone in Indonesia who loves real music and wants to completely relax and remember what it is to smile to strangers.

Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival
Easter Weekend
early bird tickets for 2015 now available
http://www.bluesfest.com.au
www.facebook.com/bluesfestbyronbay

direct flights available from Jakarta and Denpasar to Brisbane or Gold Coast, Australia, Garuda Indonesia, Emirates, Qantas and Virgin Australia. Brisbane or the Gold Coast, daily buses are available in Byron Bay.

The Man Shed

Late last year, I was invited to attend a "motor show 'in Sanur, who told me would be spectacular, which is of course if you have a passion for classic cars or bikes. Well actually, I'm not fond of either, but it was a request from a friend so I felt compelled to go. For me, I just like the thought of getting from A to B in air conditioned comfort rather than having a love affair with the car that I travel in or out.

The day was exceptionally hot and I reluctantly dragged myself away from the pool and came to what was a huge deal over several acres of land next to the beach. It was a bit like attending a country fair except this time the main attraction was an amazing range of vintage motorcycles and restored classic cars.

My friend Igor Blas, one of the event organizers was more than willing to show me around the exhibition provided that we can weave our way through the thousands. A festive air reigned with families fleeing the heat sitting on picnic blankets eating ice cream while children ran wildly through the crowds of arrival and departure of visitors.

I must admit that I was even impressed by the rows of lovingly restored Harley Davidson, Indians, BSAs and Nortons on the screen, not to mention the wide range of classic cars from each decade of the century latest. Besides the US and European motorcycles, an extensive collection of Japanese machines strutted their stuff alongside their more exotic cousins. Restored Suzukis, Hondas and Yamahas perfectly restored to their pristine original condition and presented as they were in the 50s and 60s

I'm not exactly convert to what is obviously a passport serious time on the island, but I must say I'm intrigued by a whole industry exists to make these relics back on the road in absolute mint condition.

Bugger

There was a story to tell here.

I decided to track down the smart guys who really take the time to travel the landscape for dark rooms and spend months and sometimes years to rebuild a bike from scratch. With the help of the faithful Igor I started in the streets of Denpasar, Sanur and Kuta in search of artists with greasy hands and dirty overalls. Seems that there are hundreds to Bali and they do some of the best restoration in the world.

In these backstreet garages there is genius at work, but where on earth can we find a carburetor for a 1942 BSA who is lying in pieces on the floor? "Sometimes we do," I was told by an enthusiast who did not look older than twelve, and make them what they are doing. Pistons, camshafts and other pieces that make up the engine of the bike are often made from scratch or adapted from other machines whose parts are similar.

There are no textbooks here, but ingenious invention is on site. These guys work from drawings downloaded from the Internet or sent to them by other bikers. I watched fascinated as a young "mechanic" painstakingly recreated a speedometer for a Harley Davidson using pieces of metal and pieces of tin, faithfully copy a photograph he had taken on his phone of a bicycle that he had seen on a rally.

There is a growing market for these animals restored to Bali and now, having taken an interest, I see them whistling around the convoy country roads, which would make any cry passionate with pleasure to attend some of the best bikes on the road worldwide. Motorcycle clubs are actually quite prolific and weekend warriors that take the asphalt roads and paths throughout the day which sometimes take up a full circumference of Bali in a day.

Classic

My trail eventually led me to the aptly named MANSHED in Sanur, which is really a revelation. Basically it is a huge hangar, but a shed with a difference. Genius was at work here, for basically this giant space is actually a restaurant / bar, which is dedicated to the bike and all things mechanical.

The decor would any man worthy to feel like home. Tables and chairs were welded together to form a scooter eclectic collection of comfortable pods where diners can sit in comfort and watch the bikes on show. For those who love motorcycles this place would be like dying and going to heaven!

A gallery upstairs sports rows of Japanese motorcycles of the 50s and 60s, everyone saved, cleaned and rebuilt so that they look as if they never left their original showroom. The place feels as if it is after hours in a cavernous garage and mechanics packed up their tools, slipped out of their suits and retired to the bar for a cold beer. The clientele is as eclectic as the place itself and in the night I visited the place was packed with families, boys and girls in leathers proudly displaying their club colors and a multitude of business types retaining up to the bar.

Igor told me that on most Sundays at 24:00 the place fills up with customers who came for an early lunch. At 14 hours everyone gets up, puts on their helmets and the whole place "go for a ride", if you drive a humble scooter or a Harley Davidson thunder.

The convoy left for a fun ride in Denpasar and beyond, then back heads and tales are told as he sat on padded barrels informed of skillfully crafted hanging lamps from old helmets. The bar is often five or six deep, conversation is rowdy, camaraderie is palpable and, more importantly, the beer is cold.

Again this is Bali at its best, where innovation thrives and genius abounds. What's not to like?

The MANSHED is open 7 days a week from 10am to the end
Jl. Tirtanadi No 9
Sanur
Bali

After living in South Asia and forth for over twenty years, I have come to realize that most expatriates living and enjoy this complication of life are just what you might say 'off'. This is not to belittle or degrade, but rather reflects the personality of an individual who goes out of their way to leave their homeland and live in a place where they will never fully understand the host society or how things really work below the surface. These are people who adopt new crops and difficult situations and most of all the changes.

Given this situation, I also like change and new experiences. One of my passions in life include the miraculous gas contact the liquid phase. As the supposed intelligent beings, we take for granted the importance of this phase change, which places the planet in the category 'greater than one percent. Sport experience this is just a way or stand on the way of achievement. You can say, well, what does this have to do with being a bit "off"? There are only a few weeks after church, my wife introduced me to a young Indonesian woman who had just returned from Gorontalo, Sulawesi. She took a long weekend for a short dive trip. At the time, I had heard of Gorontalo, but was very ignorant of its offerings. Apparently, this girl got sick on the trip, but began to make at least some of the dives. Later, I heard reports of his tearing deep into her regulator. Simplistic mind, I got to thinking the region has to offer something unique enough that people go out of their way to visit these sites, even when they are sick.

I started to do some Google search and found the answer to be Salvador Dali sponge. Why would anyone in their right life risk of the mind and steal four hours to a remote destination for a towel? I went into action. The following Thursday was a holiday from work, so that planning began around a four-day trip. My wife had just returned from a mess in Singapore with girlfriends and our son was deeply in the crowd of IB tests, so my chance materialized that family approvals were obtained for my trip of a person. Arriving at the airport of Gorontalo on time and lost luggage was a godsend. I was taken to the "best place in town" known locally as Big Q Hotel. I can confidently recommend Grand Q Hotel for their incredibly soft pillows. They were just too good!

One hour on arrival, I'm on my way up to the mark of 30 meters. Where are those who raved about sponges? Being a late afternoon dive, I had set up my DSLR camera unit with a macro lens, thinking lighting conditions would be too dark for good shots from wide angle. I'm glad I had, as it was the only dive during the next two days, where the wide angle was not a necessity. the area is not particularly known for macro critters but they were abundant on this initial dive. this was the first time I finally got a "decent" shot of Orangutan crab all to pile on. the reef top front and top reef teeming with life that night.

The next morning, I was quickly greeted to my great Q Hotel by none other than Rantje Allen, the owner of the diving Miguel. Rantje moved to Indonesia there are about eleven years in Miami, Florida and is one of the most well suited foreigners living in Indonesia I know. Rantje is very discreet but rest-assured that it has hosted a number of photographers and world-class submarines in Gorontalo organizations over the years. He started our day of diving by giving the dive briefing Bahasa three local amateurs Jakarta before moving to English for us disabled people.

The first day included Caves Jinn, which is a fantastic site multiple vertical walls, caves and look-through cubbyholes. This site, like many other dive wall in Gorontalo, can be intimidating at first because of their mesmerizing grandeur. Relax your breathing and take in the sights. black coral, white fans, gargantuan red sea fans, batfish and thousands of glass fish adorn the undulating walls, slope breaks and caves. You need not look far to find the mysterious sponges El Salvador Dali. Finally, I saw for myself what all the fuss is about. These monster sponges, as fragile as they are, adorn Gorontalo like nowhere else in the world. They are really beautiful because of their unusual texture of the brain like the color and undulating forms

The first day resulted in two days rather quickly. three dives and tons of fun. The day began with a serious dive full of beautiful barrel wall, vase sponges and purple tube. Of course, my friends, the Salvador Dali, were all showing off. Many of these species oversized looked like they had too much to eat. I'm sure the macro creatures were there, but you can not take everything so when marine life is completely packed together. The second dive at West Point was particularly interesting that the morning sun's position was first to hear the sunburst rays above the wall, which was also littered with hard corals too far. These views were mesmerizing.

In total, I took over 0 pictures on this two-day dive trip. I highly recommend a visit to Gorontalo if you are a little "off" and the exciting love, thriving underwater life associated with the original Indonesian culture

Location :. Gorontalo is located in the Gulf of Tomini North Sulawesi

population :. Gorontalo city is a mixture of about 300,000, but up to a million people live in

Getting there: Garuda Indonesia Airlines, Lion Air and Sriwijaya Air offer several daily flights with a stopover in a normal time in Makassar. Jakarta, the total travel time door to door is about five hours, not including possible horrible drive to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. On arrival you can expect courteous pickup and no traffic jams

the surrounding area

Local Transport: .. People are very proud of their home vehicle transport consisting of a motorcycle on a tricycle frame. I got these machines throughout the city and the views were fantastic

Diving :. I highly recommend scuba diving Miguel. This is excellent in all aspects; Booking communication, logistics, travel, dive operation and organize secondary accommodation. I find Miguel diving operation to be executed in a very safe manner. Miguel diving employees have a passion for the preservation of their underwater treasures, and to ensure that their visitors get the most out of the experience. Diving in Gorontalo may be seasonal so check please local conditions before booking a trip. The prime diving season is from November to April. Whale sharks sightings are not particularly rare and can occur any month of the year.