Indonesia

18th December, 1978. Bali 

Dear folks' 

The longer we travel, the more we see, the less we feel like writing home about it. Since my last note, we’ve covered a lot of kilometers: Nepal, India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and now Indonesia. But the motivation to put it down on is almost entirely lacking. Travel is with us 24 hours a day, to the point where we have banned it as a proper topic of conservation except for absolutely necessary. 

Instead, our thoughts turn to other people's travels, especially if they’ve been to China! Talk about one-upmanship! I can’t wait to learn your itinerary, your impressions, your menus. Any big surprises? Is China the answer? Or is it just a horrible nightmare? Sure hope you took some pictures; and I’d appreciate a book title or two so I’ll have some background before I start quizzing you first hand. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I know absolutely nothing beyond the occasional Tme magazine article. Now I’m motivated to learn a bit. Did you buy any art? You probably arranged to get distribution rights of the dynasty scrolls, you western devils...

Nicola and I will most likely still be on Bali for Christmas – but I suspect the day   will pass with little fanfare. We’re staying in a lovely little “hotel“ by the beach ($1/night), surrounded by palm trees, temples, fighting cocks, lovely, smiling Balinese maidens, the whole tropical paradise bit. Breakfast of tropical fruits, black rice pudding, and tea; other meals center around seafood – turtle steaks, shrimp, lobster, crab, grilled fish. Now and then we get a gang together and organize a whole roast pig. it won’t be a white Christmas, but we’re not complaining.

We hope to be in Greece  (via India and Sri Lanka) by summer, but write us c/o of New Delhi until further notice. Hope to be in California before another year passes. I have honestly no idea where I’ll end up, or what I’ll do when I get there: the list of possibilities as much too long.

love and hugs from good old Sam.

I wish you a happy Christmas with most of the family around. We are starting to feel a little bit homesick and we certainly be with you next year. 

All my love to everybody, Nicole