08/07/06 On my way to Bali. Well being upgraded to Business Class was a wonderful surprise. Must have had the right grin. A great start to a potentially wonderful time in Bali. On board-Good wine & food followed by a double chocolate chip H Daaz pot -with The Pink Panther staaring Steve Martin(Actor not Doctor Sneed!) I was in heaven.Laughing out loud at HImself and Kevin Kline playing the pompous French official. Marge,you have to watch it -I think it will tickle your laughing ducts. Judy was there to meet me and I had a few emotional happy tears- to see friend after 4weeks it felt good. A great joy of bali is that it takes very little time to get started. Plane lands-get visa-taxi no hassle and arrive at chosen destination.Ours was Kuta- much maligned and somewhere I did not think I would go but, as it turns out-quite fun for a couple of nights.Extremely touristy but fun and welcoming with plenty of vendors to keep you busy. Kuta is full of colourful goodies, stuff you think you do not want but actually do!, lithe surfer bodies in soggy wet surf shorts guiding their way through the thin streets clutching massive long boards and sunnies, sizzling peanut clad satties and smiling vendors. It simply makes an enjoyable equation. The beach -we hit it on a Sunday- mad,mad mad- full of tourists in the sunny parts and the locals in the shady partys. Great beach for surfing and body boarding but exhausting due tothe hawkers and constant requests to buy both crap and other. A relaxing lie on the beach it isi not but a feast for the eyes. The KUTA COWBOYS are extremely cute and muscley and edible with their long hair- More later.Have to catch a bus into town with Jude the shopaholic!