The latest step in this adventure begins with Hotel Tugu in Bali, Indonesia. I started working here to help with an amazing establishment project, shortly after the unforgettable experience at Nihiwatu. The name of this project is Ji at Bale Sutra, which houses an original Kang Xi period temple from 1706. The temple was almost demolished in Java in the 1990's, but it was dismantled, transported, and reconstructed in its entirety at Hotel Tugu in Bali. It was just a historical monument until recently, and I came at the perfect time with the opportunity to help turn it into a bar and restaurant called "Ji", with a majestic influence of old Japanese, Chinese, and Balinese cultures. 

In the past two months I've helped organize the operations of the bar and restaurant, including the supply orders for the bar equipment, wine list, sake list, cocktail menu, and dining menu. I interviewed staff candidates, helped with the hiring process, and am currently training and developing their skills in customer service, wine/sake knowledge (domain, origin, grape/rice variety, food pairing, etc), and menu memorization before opening. I really enjoy training the staff because I get a strong feeling of satisfaction when I see their outstanding results during role-play and questionnaire. 

It was an interesting learning process when I did a manual input of all our menu items into the Point of Sales system that we recently installed. The fun part was designing the table and bar layout with the software to simulate the actual appearance, which makes it easy to keep track of what the customers order and where they are sitting. It was surprisingly simple to create with the user-friendly software, yet I know it will have a huge impact on the operations and speed of service. Most restaurants have the same system installed on a large touch screen computer, but we're going with the flow of modern technology and using the application on iPads, super cool! Even more remarkable is that staff can take customer orders with their smartphones, and it shows up on the iPad POS for checkout. 

Another proud accomplishment is the music playlist for Ji. I love music, and I specifically love this selection. Most of the songs are electronic upbeat lounge with vocals, which creates the perfectly chill environment to have a few drinks and tap your feet without busting a move. There is also a second playlist that is more ambient and less upbeat for dinner time. Combined with the antique display, modern music, top quality food, beverage, and service, I can only visualize how successful it will soon become. Ji at Bale Sutra is opening in one week; I'm very excited to see it in action. 

'Pa' means game, and 'sola' means spear. This traditional Sumbanese game of spears is so ancient its date of origin is uncertain. It's played by men with great skill in horse riding and spear throwing, who are divided by their ancestral tribe or region. The game has symbolic meaning, where the aim is to hit the opponent and draw blood. According to legend it's necessary for blood to be spilt in order to ensure successful harvest and fertility for the whole of Sumba. A long time ago the spears were sharpened but are now dulled, as its underlying purpose is to be a medium for maintaining peace and settling disputes. For onlookers it's also an event for socializing and making friends.

I had the opportunity to take a day off work and attend the Pasola for the first time. It took place on a massive field in Lamboya, which was surrounded by hordes of cheering spectators. The game had started, and every time an opponent was hit the crowd from the same clan would go wild, jumping up and down yelling "mati!" (dead). Even though opponents rarely die when hit they say this because many years ago the same hit would be more fatal. But don't get me wrong, even the momentum of a blunt spear being thrown on a galloping horse can do damage. One player was hit in the face and his cheek was torn by the impact, spilling the first blood. The crowd roared, I even saw an old man look up at the sky and yell "hujan!" (rain). It's amazing how strong their beliefs are, how the blood could even bring rain for the season, resulting in a good harvest for the year. 

I thought that attending this event and watching from the sidelines wouldn't be dangerous. I was proven wrong the very moment the Pasola finished. The horses were being taken off the field, and I was still taking photos. I was focused on the camera, but in my peripherals I see everyone disbursing and running, fast. That's when I saw the rocks flying overhead, coming from opposing crowds from both sides of the field. A riot had started. I was frozen, and my heart was racing. I only started moving when I heard the rocks landing nearby. Seconds after running to shelter tear gas was shot into the crowd by the police, who were also firing their guns up in the air. Even under shelter, people were holding their hands above their heads as the rocks were crashing on the roof. 

The riot ended minutes after the police intervened. Thankfully I'm okay, not a scratch. I've never witnessed anything like this before, and the adrenaline rush was such a high it shrouded my fear. Weirdly enough I was more excited than scared, especially knowing that it was quickly controlled. Apparently it's common for the rival crowds to get nasty, so they bring rocks to the Pasola. I was wondering why people showed up wearing helmets. The final Pasola of the year could be any day the first week of March, so I'll just wear a helmet this time. Stay tuned!

Today was a very productive and rewarding day. In terms of all three projects, everything is set in motion. The tomato rain roof is being built, with its bamboo foundation already elevated and filled with concrete. The barrel in the compost tumbler will be made from an old water tank that used to hold 5,000 liters. It's currently being worked on, I'll soon post pictures on the progress. The mushroom box is also getting started in the Engineering department and needs guidance on the right dimensions. It's hopefully going to look like a rectangular bamboo box with a hinged door, and a horizontal shelf throughout the middle for maximum space utilization. 

​In the afternoon I went to organic garden #2 and noticed the security guard, Soleiman, looking down and literally twiddling his thumbs. He was bored, so I walked up to him and asked if he would like to help me plant corn. He swiftly got up in excitement and cupped both his hands so I can pour some seeds. We found a few spots to randomly plant but all the soil beds seemed to be occupied. However there was one bed full of old pumpkin vines, so we cleaned it out with some help from Gusti. While he was chopping the vines I couldn't help but admire the traditional Sumbanese machete he was using. I jokingly said aloud in Indonesian, "I need one of those!". Gusti said, "Ya, like Sumbanese Warrior!". Gusti pointed to Billy, "Ini dia Parang (This is his sword)". Billy smiled as he helped clean the vines we pulled in order to plant more corn.

The rest of my day continued with germinating the seeds that can't be planted right away, supervising the creation of the second rain roof foundation, and stacking rocks along one side of the pathway to look nice (still more to go). I was pretty tired by the end, but nothing prepared me for the surprise on the way up to my room. Soleiman must have overheard my comment to Gusti, because he was waiting for me with a traditional Sumbanese sword and colorful fabric! I was overwhelmed with joy as he handed me the sword and showed how to use the fabric as a belt. I gave him a big hug, then quickly realized that hugging isn't really a thing in Sumba and he wasn't so prepared for it. He was stiff as a log, so I just shook his hand and kept telling him how happy I was to receive such a generous gift. I asked him what he wanted in return, and after a few seconds of thought he replied in English, "smoking"? I had a gut instinct that a moment for gifts would come, and I particularly knew that most Indonesians love to smoke. While in Bali I bought a few packs of rolling tobacco to bring with me to Sumba, and it really came in handy as I suspected. He was just as surprised to receive tobacco as I was with the sword, and I don't think he expected something in return in the first place, so we both parted ways, extremely happy. 

​The next morning I head to organic garden #1 and there's Soleiman again. He wasn't on his shift, but told me in Indonesian that he has another piece of fabric for me. What got me really confused is when he said it's in my room. We walked up to my room and outside my door was a bag with a bigger fabric, which he then wrapped me in, along with the second one he gave me earlier. Last was the sword to be tucked in on the side, and right away he stuck his thumbs up and told me to take a picture. I gave him my i-phone, but he was seriously struggling. It was funny though, how the only decent photo accurately describes the moment. The angle is slightly off. 

My first day was a tour around the entire hotel, which is a lot bigger than I expected. There's so many behind-the-scenes departments that are running this world-class resort, I can't even fit them all on this post. However my favorite department is Engineering, where there's a massive backup generator and a giant reverse osmosis tank for purifying water. Not only that but everything in need of fixing gets sent there, wether it's a broken water dispenser or a broken boat engine. 

Every day after the tour I've been working my first week. I've germinated and planted a little over 20 kinds of plants, at least two of each throughout all organic gardens. In the process I've gotten closer with the gardening staff, who are all very nice, diligent, and smile from ear to ear a split second after eye contact. I happened to spend some time planting with one gardener in particular, and he asked me in Indonesian if I am living here for long. I said "Ya, untuk enam bulan (Ya, for six months)". Lukas replied, "Saya senang (I'm happy)". I was touched by his kindness. Having recently moved and still adapting, these simple words were very comforting. 

​Over the next week or two I'll be working on three different projects for the gardens. First I'll be supervising the creation of a detachable rain roof for growing healthy tomatoes. They love the sun, but since it's rainy season the torrential rain will drown them overnight. The next project is a giant tumbling composter to speed up the process of decomposing organic material in order to conveniently supply fertilizer to all the gardens. I'll be in the Engineering department for this because I want to help build and integrate sustainable innovation to the design. Last but not least I'm hoping to make a diverse mushroom farm, where it will be enclosed in a shaded box full of old logs and coffee grinds. Mushrooms don't have seeds, they have microscopic spores, so I'm still in the process of figuring out how I'll acquire them and control its growth.

Since I consider these to be projects, my next few posts will be found within the PROJECT SUMBA link on the homepage, or right --> here <-- 
​

Here's a couple of cool shots I took throughout the week, some while working, some while exploring: 

The last day in Bali I took off like Superman. I wasn't anxious to leave, I was just dirt-biking Mt. Batur (Inactive Volcano) and flipped over my bike with two full seconds of flight. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to speed downhill into a volcanic fishbowl that's near impossible to get out of? It's all okay, I waved the white flag and Pak Kadex (Dirt-biking Guide, who happens to be the champion Enduro-Racer of Indonesia) helped me get out. I was shocked to see he wasn't mad about damaging the clutch on one of his prized Husqvarna motorcycles. In the moment he was dying of laughter. He captured a photo of me crashing, and the potential worry was non-existent. 

​Luckily, the only thing broken was my daredevil spirit. But let's just say "sore" is the basic term for what I felt the next morning, the day of my flight to Sumba. 

I arrived in Tambolaka Airport and the first person I met was Dr. Claus Bogh, who has been associated with Nihiwatu for 12 years and is an expert on Malaria. He is the Health Director of the Sumba Foundation, and has multiple Malaria training centers for doctors and students, dedicated to educating and raising the quality of treatment in which is currently among the best in the world. 

The car ride to the resort was magical, I felt as if I stepped in a time machine. There is so much land and so little establishments that are stripped to the rudimental necessities of life. Cars, motorcycles, mini markets, stores, schools, Sumbanese style homes (usually clustered within a village), livestock, beautiful mountainous landscape, and flourishing wild flora.

 
​On arrival I was greeted by the ​Activities Director, Sean, who introduced me to almost everyone the first day. I suddenly became a mastermind with memorizing names. The rest of my day continued as Sean introduced me to Carla, the General Manager, as well as Chris, who is in charge of Business Development. Business Development encompasses a lot of aspects to the resort, including government relations, acquiring permits for construction, expansion, sustainability, and agricultural growth for the kitchen to provide organic foods for the guests. That's where I come in. During the meeting with Carla and Chris I was assigned to manage the growth and expansion of all four organic gardens on-site. That means I'll be planting, picking, pulling, and navigating the staff that speak only Bahasa Indonesian to do the same. For those of you who think this isn't business, reduction of costs is very much part of Business Development! Call me the Sustainability Manager, in charge of managing the exotic gardens and composting in order to create more output with less input, cost-effective! I'll be working hard on this for the next two months and will hopefully make every garden a sanctuary for Vegans... and other guests that are interested where their fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices come from. 

This blog is about my travels in the world, the projects I pursue, the interesting people I meet, and the lessons I learn. The sole purpose of this website is to share my experiences and give new insight to the places others have not yet traveled to, in hopes of inspiring people to step outside the comfort zone and explore the places they are foreign to. 

In the middle of September I was put in contact with the General Manager of a world-class beach resort on the island of Sumba, Indonesia. My step-dad, Will Travis, helped me strategically plan the approach and pursuit of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for one of the most pristine resorts on this planet, Nihiwatu. After exchanging a few emails and Skype calls with the G.M. I finally received the magical phrase, "Welcome aboard the Nihiwatu family."

Although there is not a strict job description, I have been assigned to help with sustainability and waste management, but I want to do so much more than just help the hotel. I want to help the indigenous villagers, who are not yet doomed by industrialization. I want to help educate them about recycling, separating their plastics, composting, farming, and help inspire the foundation for an effective waste collection infrastructure. By doing so ahead of time, this island can be the healthiest and happiest of them all, simply by being sustainable.

If you believe in protecting the environment and recognize the inherent worth of all living beings, the positive impact of a foreign explorer is mutual... I will start working/studying in January, where all my eco-projects will be taking place. I will post the process as well as the final product, which will soon be found on the 'PROJECT SUMBA" page. 

I'd like to end this post with one of my favorite quotes by the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". This applies to a journey around the world, and the goals you pursue in the world. This is my first step. 
​