In many ways Kuta Beach is a pain in the arse. It's about 200 metres from Un's Hotel—our oasis in Bedlam—to the sea shore; a dangerous alleyway-like walk filled with people and cars and motor scooters. It's a journey where every few steps you're asked to buy something you don't want. But once there all of the anxiety goes away. Each morning after breakfast we walk the beach for an hour, then frolic in the surf for another hour or more. It makes for one very pleasant experience. Near sundown we come back, grab a couple beers from the local vendors and watch the big firey ball dip beyond the horizon.  

There's a 7/11 type store across the street from Un’s. I went in to buy a candy bar. The cashier, whose English wasn't quite there, wanted to know everything there was to know about Canada. When I finished my nutshell explanation he came all the way around the counter to where I was standing to do the high-five. Later, I went back for beer. As he was about to give me my change he said, "For me?" 

The bugger couldn't have cared less about Canada. I was flummoxed in more ways than one. I'm the epitome of anti-tipping. Back home I argue that if we're expected to tip waiters in restaurants why should we not tip helpful grocery clerks or Federal Express delivery people. Caught in my own Catch - 22 I waved off the change with a silly smile.    

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Real time: we're sitting in what's called a hotel/lounge at Kuala Lumpur International. The best and most practical flight we could get from Bali to Hong Kong was with an overnight stopover in KL. No problem, there are many hotels in the vicinity with airport shuttle service. But when booking time came all of the rooms at all of the inns were full. It was all because of a bloody motor car race somewhere in the area. But just like Ampana fortune smiled upon us. We tripped over this hotel/lounge place at the airport. For the equivalent of $45US we get all the food we can eat, $50 worth of wine, shower facilities, and a comfortable chair ... until four in the morning. Way better than trying to sleep in the main terminal area where security poke you with a stick if they see you with your eyes closed.