BALI

I came to Bali with nothing but excitement!

A beach location that I'd always dreamed of, with a deep culture and unmatched beauty. This island is everything I dreamed it would be, and more, but while Bali itself did not disappoint - I've had a few challenges!

LOCATION: BALI, INDONESIA

FOCUS: DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, AND ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS.

LOCAL PARTNER: Mission Pawsible, Bawa Bali, Little Steps Matter, Bali Orphan Day Center, Slb Negeri 1 Denpasar

TOTAL DONATED:  $5500 so far, much more TBD

THE GOOD, DIFFICULT, and the LOVELY:

After a fairly heavy month in Vietnam working with typhoon disaster relief, I really wanted a change of pace, and I thought Bali sounded like the ideal location to recalibrate a bit.

I signed up for a surf camp and hostel, and found my way to Kima Surf camp in Canggu (Chain-goo). What a vibrant little place - both the town and the camp!

Canggu was a sleepy little beach suburb not more than 5 years ago, but after Covid, and the invention of digital nomads, it exploded into a crazy little touristy/surf town. Traffic is insane, there are tourists and surfers everywhere, and I loved it. I joined a little gym, got back on a surfboard, and started planning the next few weeks.

The best part of all of this, is since everyone here is a transplant and have only been here a few years, the town is open and friendly, and everyone welcomes a new friend. My gym trainer introduced me to his girlfriend, hooked me up with an amazing massage therapist for my back, and the hosts at surf camp became fast friends. Within one week I had community, and they all felt like long time friends.

I'd reached out to the surf camp before I got there, told them what I did, and if they had anything that we could do together, and boy, was it incredible! They'd been wanting to bring kids from Bali Orphan Day Center, and give them a day on the

I became determined to get into shape quickly, spend time surfing again, and find some good things to do... but, I was quickly met with disaster. My joyful soul thought it was 20 again, and that I could workout like I was 20, and surf like I was 20, and not sleep like I was 20... But my body was in my mid-50's, and there was a disagreement brewing.

After multiple workouts, on my surfboard paddling out into a wave as hard as I could, both my shoulders started screaming at me, and I made my way back to shore. After a very difficult night, I made my way to the hospital