I arrived in Bali safe and sound, no problems getting through customs etc. no bag search just the usual scanners.

I got to the airport at about 9am but couldn't check into my hotel until 2pm so just sat around drinking coffee and people watching.  At around 1pm I got a taxi to Kuta, a very tired and sweaty Paul turned up to the hotel and was informed I had been 'upgraded', however the room was in another building so if I didn't mind I'd be taken there instead.  I agreed and then proceeded to jump on the back of his scooter! Yep his scooter, he put my backpack between him and the handlebars and off we went.  Hat's off to him we made it without a scratch even with his whizzing between cars.  The hotel it turns out is quite nice, I've got a double bed, en suite and balcony all for about £10 a night.

Kuta is to Australians what Magaluf is to the Brits.  It's known for its partying and many think it has destroyed this little town.  I've spent the past couple of days walking around taking in the sites and sounds.

The streets of Kuta are full row after row of market stalls/shops selling the usual tat: clothes, statues, t-shirts.  The roads are mental, normally it's just a single road full of scooters, to cross the road you have to just say a little prayer and walk out.

Outside every stall is a tout, insisting you take a look at what they have to offer.  Anyone who as been to south-east Asia will already know about this.  Being my first time it took a little getting used to, a 20 minutes walk turned into an hour walk, but I've adjusted now.

Little bits of Bali culture poke through the masses of stalls now and again, for example on a lot of street corners are statues of an empty chair.  Three times a day someone walks up and places a gift to the Gods, this being made up of rice, incense candles, petals and what looks to me like mini cheddars.  Their gifts are also outside most stalls and shops, again put there three times a day then swept up at night.  The amount of them I stepped on in my first day is not even funny, you get bad luck apparently.

The food here isn't as cheap as I had hoped, Kuta being the centre of tourism the prices are quite high (by Bali standards) with Maccies and the like also being present.  I have tried some of the local food and now understand why the Balinese and so short and skinny, there are a distinct lack of carbs in their food.  Yesterday I had fruit and noodle/chicken soup for breakfast then 'cur cat' for dinner, this was vegetable and chicken soup (well she said it was chicken).  Today I was starving so went to Burger King.....

I'm moving to a hostel tomorrow (I feel like I need to talk to people who are not just after my money!).  I'll just be chilling the rest of the week, maybe try my hand at surfing, it's really big here in Kuta and is supposed to be perfect for beginners.   Helen then arrives here on Friday just in time for her Birthday! So we will celebrate that then decide what to do from there, hopefully travel into Bali's centre where monkeys and mountains are to been found!