Adventure Guide, Chapter 2: Bali, Indonesia!

Greetings from my sister's apartment in California! In a little less then 12 hours, Liz and I will be flying over the Pacific Ocean to Taiwan and then on to Bali, Indonesia. The adventure will be three weeks long and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I am young, single, (finally) healthy, not (yet) broke, and not held down by any commitments to work or attend school. I have packed enough clothes for once, about every over-the-counter drug we thought might be necessary, plenty of sunscreen and ALOE VERA (I learn from my mistakes sometimes), and of course, my trusty bunny, Rabbit. Aside from a little broken suitcase (TIP #20: Always make sure that the extender zipper on your carryon suitcase actually zips.), we are good to go. However, in the words of the character Mark in the movie JUNO, "I know we're prepared. I'm just wondering if... I'm ready."

On every flight, I always kinda hope that fate will give me a new found friend from afar to sit next to. However, I haven't truly made any flight friends since I was maybe fifteen on a school trip to Europe. She was an older Indian woman with several sick daughters who advised me dearly not to get married or even think about boys until I was well traveled and not to travel until I was well established in my career. She told me about her regrets for marrying right away and how it has messed her whole life up. :) She was a fun and colorful human being. When I look back at all my flights prior to our meeting, I realize that I pretty much always made a friend on my flights. So why haven't I made one since? Is it because society has changed and it is now considered more creepy to talk to complete strangers? Is it because I have become shy in the last few years? Or maybe its even worse; am I subconsciously waiting for someone more interesting to sit by me and talk to me? On the flight to LA yesterday, I was assigned general seating. I sat in an empty row by a window, passing seat upon empty seat, I chose to sit alone, leaving fate to determine my flight partner. It ended up being an old man who was on his way to visit his son who lives in California. After a couple details about our trips were exchanged, the conversation ended, and we pulled out our reading material for the rest of the 3 hour flight. 

It was lame. I never even asked where he was from, what his name was, or what he did for a living. And these are the three necessary questions of any Midwesterner (christened by my lovely professor, Kim, as the Theory of Dakotativity). This leads to TIP #21: Always follow the Theory of Dakotativity when meeting someone. You never know who might share a mutual friend or connection. Unless maybe he or she is holding you at gunpoint, swearing to shoot if you say a word. That might not be too wise. 

So my first goal of this whole trip is too make a new flight friend. Or at least a few Balinese friends. I have a feeling my sister and i will be sitting together for the 16 some hours of future flying, splitting our time between watching movies and sleeping. :)

At least I made this new friend. His name is Dexter. 

If you haven't noticed, today is July 4th, aka INDEPENDENCE DAY. A day where Americans gather together to celebrate the freedom and independence that our country has celebrated since the Declaration was signed. The same day I am going to take flight across the ocean to celebrate this independence by striving for.... well.... independence. Granted, I will be traveling with my sister, but we have barely any plans, have no obligations in the way, and have the opportunity to test ourselves, our wit, and our abilities in a foreign country...freely. Independence, here I come.  

Unlike dear Mark in JUNO.... I am ready. :)

...I think. ;)