Bali - Post 4

... And finally, the big workshop day arrived!! For the full-day shop the company rented out the Presidential Suite at the hotel. Unfortunately I didn't get any picture of the entrance, so I'll try and describe it as best I can. The design of the Suite reminds one of entering a castle, as the main building is surrounded by a 15 foot stone wall with the entrance resembling the stone carving overlooking the pool. After passing through the main entrance, the visitor must walk on a cement and pebble walk-way sitting atop a reflecting pool filled with goldfish and lilly pads. The walk-way leads directly to the steps to the main building which is built as one would imagine a tropical paradise house. It was quite a sight and it made most of the group stare around in excitement. The back of the Suite (I did get pictures of this!) included a sprawling lawn, a personal pool, and non-stop views of the rolling ocean. The pictures really show the scene well. Needless to say, the 10 minutes breaks were spent playing in the pool and entertaining the workers, especially the one who was wedding the lawn with a fork.

The outline of the workshop was basically all the exciting news in the industry, where the future is headed, and how Meerkats will evolve. Over the previous week our two directors were in France attending the Cannes Advertising Festival learning all about the advances in the industry. From the many number of ads viewed, watched, and listened too, and the hundreds of presentations (by various industry and company leaders), our directors put together incredible and very interesting summaries about where the advertising industry is headed. If you can believe it, my industry is trying to move away from standard, annoying ads; Instead it is moving towards consumer involvement where the ads are created by everyone, not just big companies. Pretty cool concept.

When the workshop ended at about 5:30 in the afternoon, it was back to the main pool to get started on the big night to come. Bintangs all around and a setting sun were all we needed to get our spirits up to reek some havoc once again. Our first stop of destruction was the Zanzibar restaurant, a local place just down the road overlooking the beach. With everyone feeling the effects of alcohol before we even arrived, our group settled on the 2nd story and quickly cleared the deck with our thunder-like voices. It didn't take long before the pink wig was passed around as a few games of pool got going and the subject of America v Australia got discussed. I didn't make any friends when I referred to Australia as "America's little whipping boy," but that was besides the point. America 1. Australia 0.

With dinner done and many black-mail style pictures taken, we decided to head out on the town with Tom as our tour guide once again. Looking for something off the beaten path, he headed us down a back alley which lead to certain kidnapping, but we pulled just short and ended up walking into a mobster bar which lead to death. The inside of the place was practically pitch black with shadowy tables, booths set up in the blood red walls with curtains covering them, and not a soul on the dance floor. Quickly 3/4 of the group ran out, but a few of us decided to have a seat and enjoy our last night. It wasn't 15 minutes later that we realized that most of the bar was staring at us, so we killed our beers and got out of dodge before we ended up as luggage. Luckily though, about 50 meters away we found an open-air bar with a live band playing all American hits. Here we spent the rest of the night dancing and drinking with a group of Europeans. By "the rest of the night," I am actually only referring to the next few hours because once again, a few of us found ourselves swimming at about 4 am... clothing optional for the girls.

With the final night complete and a good night's rest, the last day was spent taking care of business as a few of us did a bit of shopping, walking around, and getting massages. Now in the states clothing and massages are fairly expensive, but not in Bali. To purchase any clothing from street vendors (this is how it's done everywhere) it is expected to haggle until the price reflects how cheap the clothing really is. I think I paid about $5 for two t-shirts. The massages were incredible and even cheaper, as an hour only costs about $10. Very well worth it. It was also fairly cheap to get around, as we only paid about $6 for a 20 minute cab ride and about $10 for a 35 minute scooter ride!! Yup, I rode on the back of a scooter without a helmet as it wove in and out of traffic. It was more scary than riding in a car with Kristyn McKee driving!

Our flight home left at 2 am and arrived back in Perth at about 5. This was the third time on the trip, and 2nd day in a row that I got to see the sun rise. Very tired but so well worth it as I had the trip of a lifetime. Bali is such a unique place. It has such stunning natural beauty, but also has an open sewer system running along some roads. It has all the modern conveniences, but still most of the people don't wear shoes and unkept dogs run wild tearing through garbage bag which line the streets. It is a country where lady-boys attempt to earn money on the corner and people can dance nude in dance clubs without getting kicked out, but strip joints are illegal (my dirty co-worker tried). It is a very far cry from the modernized West. This is one trip I will never forget, because no place I have ever been has made me feel so far away from home.