Location: Bali
After a delectable cheesy egg Breakfast with optional chocolate protein powder and creatine out of the 3-gallon surplus barrel, Finn purchased on the previous day. Out in Bali, the crew studied the science of the ocean before snagging a slice or two of some day-old pizza from Costa to get some energy for the long journey ahead. The bus ride started with a mix of open-mouthed sleepers and party people listening to everything from Jimi Hendrix to orchestra music, and all was well on the way to Uluwatu. The picturesque thatch or “alang-alang” roofs mixed with the intricate stone altars decorated the edges of the high cliffs sitting hundreds of feet above the waves, which were FIRING before sunset. As the big orange flame in the sky was extinguished by the waters below, a new fire was lit in the center of the floor, and all eyes became fixated on it as the monk in all white began to bless it and started the ceremony. The crescendo of rapid-fire chants soaked the Cliffside in a sonic trance, and all eyes were magnetized to the accentuated movements of the dancers, which perfectly echoed the tones of each character in the Ramayana. The dance was done to perfection, so dense, rich, and yet deliberately balanced like baklava. The humor, the pain, and each emotion the crowd felt during the dance was a step along the journey of a great tale about the lover and the beloved being separated, the battle between light and dark, and the eventual reunion and magnificence of coming back home. After the applause, we began our journey back home, but not before stopping by an unreal dinner venue, which we had rented out and enjoyed thoroughly until we were ready to get back to our bunks. After our arrival and some much-needed showers, as bedtime approached, the night had disaster looming in its plans. All of a sudden, as a few were listening to tunes and reading on the chart house roof or bow, an ungodly smell wafted over the harbor. Panic ensued, and the boat was put on lockdown. Not everyone was lucky enough to get into the airtight cabins in time, and unfortunately, we suffered the casualties of Wes and Nico. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Jackson is quite the illuminating author, but the situation he is describing is a fart smell on deck). Apart from that, the day couldn’t have been any more spectacular.