Kuta, Bali, Indonesia (that’s city/island/country) is a crazy place. I’ve never been ANYWHERE in Asia so I’m in a bit of a culture shock. Indi is absolutely loving it, as she felt New Zealand was too easy. We’re staying with an amazing woman tonight (and she picked us up from the airport last night – after our 25 hr journey no less. So thankful!) and have an inn reserved for the next week here. We took a walk around the area to acclimate ourselves and I spent most of it trying not to look overwhelmed.
Traffic is nuts; there aren’t any rules, really, except the bigger vehicle gets to do what it wants. Scooters are EVERYWHERE (seriously, like 12 to 15 scooters per car) and move about the street like ants on a mission. Wrong lane? No matter. It feels a bit like Vegas did on the first day; lots of people wanting my attention for this or that (it’s quite touristy). When I saw the beach, I was awed. See, I woulda thought that the beach is the beach, period. It’s been totally different every time I’ve seen it. It was gorgeous! Lots of surfers, I’ll try to get some good pictures.
Oh, and McDonald’s and KFC delivers. I’ll try not to take advantage of that offer.
Rhys Martin is an author and photographer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. His love of travel was awakened in 2009 when he sold all of his possessions and left the country. For ten months, he lived out of a backpack and explored southeast Asia and Europe. When he returned home, it was with fresh eyes for his home state.
As he drove the back roads of Oklahoma, Rhys discovered the significance of historic Route 66 to the greater American story. He has traveled all 2,448 miles of the Mother Road and continues to seek out the quiet Main Streets of the Midwest.
Rhys's travel writing and photography has been featured in numerous publications, including Tulsa People Magazine, This Land Press, ROUTE Magazine, Nimrod Journal, The Oklahoman and Tulsa World. He wrote the book Lost Restaurants of Tulsa, which features the stories of nearly 50 iconic eating establishments from the city's past. He has also been a contributing author to multiple Route 66-based travel and history books.
Rhys is the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and serves on multiple boards and commissions related to the Mother Road and its upcoming Centennial in 2026. He loves to connect with people and share his experiences.
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Rhys' Pieces 