KUTA BEACH – Its 6:30am in the morning. I wake suddenly. I peer over at the adjacent bed to find Desirae sleeping soundly propped up on a mountain of pillows with a mouth open so wide you could fit an entire danish in it. Perhaps it is what she was dreaming about. I on the other hand had been sleep just under three hours. I was restless thinking about the prospects of parting ways to finally reach the destination that I had longed for. Ubud.

I didn’t want to hang around the room to wait for my ride that was supposed to arrive at some point in the early afternoon. I got up, brushed my teeth and headed straight out the door with my backpack in tow. I figured I’d get some of that delicious breakfast the hotel was offering and spend the morning exploring a bit on the motorbike I had rented. The mornings in Bali seem to always be sunny. This one was no different.

Kuta Beach’s streets seem to always be full with cars and motorbikes. I was lucky this morning as the traffic was light. I was able to pick up the speed a bit cruising down the streets. My aim was to get lost… and that I did. I hadn’t strayed too far outside of Kuta before and kind of expected most of the streets to be similar to the narrower crumbled streets I had grown accustomed to. I made one turn too many and that’s when I saw the first traffic light I had ever seen in Bali. I thought there were none up until this point. The street became wide filled with cars, but mostly motorbikes and it suddenly dawned on me, “I am in morning rush hour traffic.”

I hadn’t yet become fully adept to driving alongside the Balinese. In Bali, the lanes painted on the road seem to be there only as a suggestion of where to drive. People drive on the left here mostly but it is very customary for vehicles to cross over into oncoming traffic regularly to pass slower driving vehicles. Imagine a racetrack with cars going in both directions. I started to understand why so many tourists were getting into accidents. It takes some getting used to. My lone respite is that I am a good driver (on 4 wheels) and that I don’t hesitate. Hesitation will kill you.

The only problem I was having was being carried too far down stream in this raging river of motorist. I figured I would just keep going and hope that the path would lead me back around to the beach. A couple of twists and turns later and I was back in familiar territory… Kuta Square. I walked into my favorite spot, Gloria Jean’s Coffee, ordered a latte and took out my laptop and began to work on some projects. I am lucky that my profession affords me to travel the world as I see fit. All I need is an internet connection.

Its 11:30am now and I am about to head back to the hotel. My aim is to time it right so that all I have to do is shower and leave. As soon as I pull into the hotel Gusti is pulling in right behind me. Impeccable timing. I lend him my bike so that he may run a quick few errands. I rush up to the room, take a quick shower, gather my things and meet back with Gusti who is waiting happily in the lobby.

Gusti is your typical Balinese sized man standing about 5 feet 5 inches with long wavy black hair fashioned in a single braid pony tail speckled with chestnut brown highlights. The first thing you notice about Gusti is his bright endearing smile that almost always is followed by a clever joke that would lighten anyone’s mood. I was incredibly happy to see him. He wondered at first why I was coming alone, but that didn’t last long once I told him about my ordeal. He explained that the first night he was driving me and Desirae around looking for a hotel the way that she was treating the Balinese people had them all calling her “Gila!” That’s the Indonesian word for “crazy.”

We both had a good laugh about it. I told him about my situation with my lost debit card and that I had on my person roughly 700,000 rupiah ($67). The humble and gracious nature of the Balinese began to shine through as Gusti asked me if I wanted to stay with him at his village. I quickly rescinded his kind offer for I needed to take responsibility for myself. He told me of a hotel where I could stay for roughly 300,000 rupiah a night. I figured I could hold out until one of my clients wired me a payment.

Before you know it we were where I had hoped to be the entire time… Ubud. The first thing Gusti asked me once we had crossed over into Ubud was, “Are you Hungry?” I didn’t even answer with a word. I just looked at him with a look of, “Hell yeah!” Then he said a few words in his clear but thick Balinese accent, “Come, now I show you… the Real Bali.”

Not soon after it began to pour down raining. I guess the gods of Bali wanted to emphasize that today was the first day of rainy season. We pulled up to this restaurant that was on the side of desolate street. It was raining so hard that Gusti decided to get out on my side which was the shortest path to dash into the restaurant.

In Bali, many of the restaurants are open to the elements. This one was no different. It was no bigger than a two-car garage; and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually a converted garage. There were no front walls, only steps. We quickly sat down as it was a nice shelter from the rain. Gusti grabbed some rice chips. Rice chips are about half the size of tortilla chips with a Styrofoam type texture to them. They are quite tasty depending on your preference of chip. Immediately after popping one in my mouth I got my first taste of what is unavoidable in most of these open-air eateries… the flies. If you’re not used to flies buzzing here and about trying to grab a mouthful of your food it may at first be off putting. After awhile you get used to it and just accept that you are eating outside with nature.

The dish was mixed rice with chicken and Balinese style mixed vegetables. The food was spicy but really tasty. I was actually taken by the flavor of the food. It explodes in your mouth! Satisfied with a good lunch I reached for the money in my pocket to cover the bill, but Gusti had already paid for it. Gusti was quickly showing me what type of person he was. He knew I was in a bit of a jam and offered his hospitality as if it were he in the same situation.

My First Real Balinese Meal

The rain died down just enough for us to make a quick escape back into the truck outside. The next order of business was to find lodging. Gusti offered to bring me to Puri Manik that was right off of the main road in Ubud. We pulled in and I was half expecting to be staying in a rundown motel type of place where I’d have to just grin and bare it. I didn’t expect much for 300,000 rupiah (about $30). That notion was quickly erased as soon as we pulled up. Although the hotel was no Ritz Carlton it was nice and quaint with a nice decor about the grounds. Statues and carvings were all around adorned with flowers and the greenest of shrubbery in every direction. We got the keys from the hotel attendant Made and checked the room. The room had everything you need for Balinese life. The floors were tiled and the windows big in order to let in that beautiful Bali sunshine in the morning. The bathroom has a translucent glass roof where bits of the foliage from outside had grown through the cracks giving it an earthy feel. The only thing that seemed out of place was the 19inch television sitting on a stand against the far wall. Without a moments hesitation I exclaimed, “I’ll take it!”

Once my bags were brought into the room I asked Gusti where could I rent a motorbike. Still being as gracious as he could be he told me I could borrow his bike as long as I needed it. I was elated to hear this news. I had no idea how key this gesture would become. He told me that he had a place he rented right around the corner from the hotel where he kept the bike. We were off.

Entrance to Gusti's Place

The place was literally about a minute away on the same road. This was my first real Balinese style dwelling I had ever entered. The entrance is an arched cutout of stone bricks where a deity figure stands right before you as you walk in complete with daily offerings. The Balinese people put offerings at the entrances, nooks and crannies of every building and living space. The offerings all include an assortment of flowers, food (usually a small amount of rice) and burning incense. Bali is called the “Land of the Gods” and the offerings scattered literally everywhere prove the devout faith of the Balinese people.

Once inside I noticed how all of the people that lived in the dwelling communed with each other in a fashion that I felt that they were all related. We walked over to Gusti’s bike and I couldn’t wait to get on it. Not that it was anything special, I just love the freedom that it provides. We walked the bike outside and Gusti began to give me a few instructions on how to navigate around Ubud. Just outside there was a man on a food cart cycling up the road. Gusti asked again if I was hungry. I wasn’t but I was interested in what was on the cart. The carts are common in Bali. They sell bakso. Bakso is chicken meatball in a broth. The man has to wait until you’re finished eating because he does not carry disposable bowls. The soup is good but, as I can see I better come accustomed to, spicy.

Bakso

Before I leave Gusti asks me if I want to attend a dance. I have no idea what its gonna be like but I need and want something to do. He tells me he will pick me up later in the night and then I motor off back to the hotel.

Later on after I rested a bit at the hotel Gusti showed up. I gathered my camera bag and we were off. This was my first taste of the country side of the Island. It was dark now. The seemingly infinite twisting roads make you uncomfortable at first because they are very narrow and there’s barely enough room to fit two cars side by side. Watching Gusti manage the roads as he does coming mere inches to the sides of roads and the mirrors of cars and bikes is something to behold.

We arrive at the temple where they are holding the dance. It is filled with vans and tourist buses. We get there just moments before the show begins and find our seats near the back of the outdoor theater. Normally the dance is held completely outdoors, but alas this is the rainy season. I pull out my camera and then they start the show.

The dance that we are to see performed is called Kecak. Kecak (pronounced [ˈketʃaʔ] is a form of Balinese dance and music drama. Also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, the piece, performed by a circle of 50 or more performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting “cak” and throwing up their arms, depicts a battle from the Ramayana where the monkey-like Vanara helped Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana. However, Kecak has roots in sanghyang, a trance-inducing exorcism dance. Really the story plays as the Balinese version of Romeo and Juliet. A man fighting for the heart of a woman.

This was followed immediately after with an amazing “Fire Dance.” One of the performers dressed in a grass skirt the shape of a horse or dragon with a long tail sat patiently on the floor as a stage-hand prepared a fire in the middle of the stage.  Once the, what looks like, hay bricks were set a blaze in a 5 foot high fire the dance began. The performer did a serious of gestures that seemed to psyche him up to jump into a blazing hot fire bare foot. He jumped right in seemingly ass first into this heap of burning material and put the fire out. Not that it was enough he had to do it about 8 more times as the stage-hand kept lighting the fire back up. The performance ended in a literal blaze of glory.

Kecak

Kecak

We raced out to the car afterwards because it started raining. I don’t mean your typical drip drop it will soon pass over rain. This rain was making an all out blitzkrieg to the ground. It was relentless. The strangest thing to me was how the Balinese people sucked it up and road through it in their motorbikes with only Pancho style raincoats for protection. The thing about Bali roads are they are extremely curvy, hilly and narrow. Couple that fact that it was pitch black dark and there are no street lights to illuminate the streets. It was starting to concern me that we might get stuck because it inevitably started flooding. We arrived at one intersection that was at the bottom of a hill where three roads met. The water which was nearly a foot high in spots became a raging river at this fated intersection. I literally saw an Indonesian girl get swept from her motorbike with several Balinese rushing to her rescue. There was a gas station on the corner of the road where several motorist who found it too harrowing to attempt to drive upstream settled in to wait it out.

I was looking at Gusti who seemed calm and confident that his newer vehicle could get through this onslaught of street river current. The key was not to stop for risk of stalling out. Somehow through it all we made it back to the hotel. Gusti drove past a couple of buildings down to drop me off at what would become my favorite restaurant while in Ubud. L’nuriani restaurant.

Once inside the restaurant I was greeted by the nicest and charmingest of people, Erix. Erix is tall for a Balinese man standing at approximately 6″ and is rail thin with a very endearing smile like no other. I was glad to be out from the rain and thrust into this amazingly charming restaurant that offered a fusion of traditional Balinese food with other Asian foods such as Thai. What I didn’t expect was how good the presentation of the food would be. It looked magnificent and taste even better. I was very impressed. I saw a white gentlemen who came over to greet me after my meal. His name was Jan. Jan is a tall slender middle aged Dutch fellow with spiky hair and rectangular shaped glasses. He speaks perfect Balinese as he has lived there for 6 years. He began to inquire about my stay and how long I’d be in Ubud. When I told him of how unfortunate my time was in Kuta and how impressed I was with Ubud he told me, “Your troubles are over my friend. Welcome to Ubud, this is the Heart of Bali!” He was right. For the first time I knew it in my own heart… I was in Bali.

NEXT UP: NEIM’s Bali Adventure: Wedding Crasher

Related posts:

1. NEIM’s Bali Adventure: Lost and Found
2. The Living Room (Afterhours)
3. One Man Without A Home, The Other Without A Heart.

Ron Artest

I must say… I love this guy’s competitive fire. He is who he is and he does not compromise… I love that.  To hell with the people who don’t understand him or think he’s crazy. He’s not crazy. He just wants to compete and will not back down from anyone.

Its unfortunate that he has that Detroit baggage hanging over him. I think people wouldn’t see him as that bad if not for that incident. Kobe Bryant is one of my favorite players, but that elbow he gave Ron Ron to the neck was hella dirty. Ron understands that we are men 1st… don’t disrespect me.

I will let him tell it…

Related posts:

1. Touring Thailand: Day Two
2. Everyone Struggles
3. Amazing – Aaron Brooks

Never Have I done this… but I loved how I wrote my final response to this facebook question/note I had to keep it for all time! Read as I blast this chick into outerspace!

This is from Marcus Howelton III… ( I Highlighted  My response all the way at the end… Don’t challenge NEIM unless you’re prepared.)

Marc writes…

Updated 20 hours ago – Comment – LikeUnlike – Report Note

You like this.

Camille Patterson at 8:18am February 26

Too long to read this EARLY in the mawnin’… Is there a shorter version??

Marc Howelton at 8:27am February 26

This coming from the person that tagged me in a note that had 100 questions…. FAIL.

Camille Patterson at 8:28am February 26

I didn’t tag you… Stalker…

Marc Howelton at 8:31am February 26

Riiiiiiiight!!!!!!!!! FAIL. You’re right, you must still be sleep. Hit me after you’ve had a big bowl of “Wits” for breakfast.

Camille Patterson at 8:33am February 26

I don’t EAT “Wits”… *humph*

Angela N. Evans at 9:39am February 26

You a cynic? Never would I dream of calling you a cynic!

Marc Howelton at 10:07am February 26

Peanut gallery hater.

Rhonda Johnson at 10:07am February 26

I imagine when you marry it will be somewhere that supports polygamy, no?

Marc Howelton at 10:09am February 26

Yeah, I’ll actually call you to find out where you got your license. Deal!

Rhonda Johnson at 10:19am February 26

I would say that was a low blow but I did start it huh.

What am I saying? I will be the picture of monogamy.

Tanisha Boyd at 10:23am February 26

what in the name of the Je Simpin Hova kinda fukkery is this? Isn’t it too early to be sucka mc’ing like this?

Marc, you getting soft in your old age…

Marc Howelton at 10:28am February 26

*cancels flight to Aruba* Who’s taking the drunken photos of this ninja from this upcoming weekend? Let me load up my pre-paid black card.

Tanisha Boyd at 10:34am February 26

I gave up drinking for Lent

*quickly moves away from window*

Rhonda Johnson at 10:41am February 26

Which reminds me Tanisha. I am working on my public image and i’m not sure if being with some of you guys would be a good idea.

Shaana Sweazie at 10:45am February 26

Tanisha, to say Marc is getting soft would imply he was hard at some point in time. Not the case!

*runs*

Angela N. Evans at 10:53am February 26

I was backing you, big dummy!

Tanisha Boyd at 10:57am February 26

@ Rhonda…okay, Marc won’t be allowed to come…you should be good…

@ Shaana…maybe I should have said SOFTER in his old age…as in, the hardness level of say, a ripe banana, to the softness of this message which is like month old bananas…feel me?

Marc Howelton at 11:01am February 26

@Tanisha *blankest of stares*

I got my hood stripes Shaana… The streets know me. I take tours on the weekends thru my old stomping grounds in Hillwood bay-buh! *throws up H*

@Anglea My bad dawg

*ignores anything Rhonda is talking about just on GP*

Shaana Sweazie at 11:04am February 26

any talk of bananas makes me think of Belly.

AJ Cyr at 11:07am February 26

Amen! You’re definitely getting wiser in your old(er) age!

Neiman Catley at 11:10am February 26

So you’re thinking about getting married, huh? To hell with the whole institution. If two people are together… then two people are together. Why do people need a piece of paper to prove that they will be faithful to one another? I don’t want to hear that corny shyt of pledging your vows before God either. If “God” is supposed to be this omniscient being, he/she/it should know what’s in your heart. I think if people want to become husband and wife, they should make the vows between each other without all of the fanfare.

Hell… all sorts of beasts have monogamous relationships. Take the North American wolf for example. One partner for life. No wedding, yet the wolves are committed to one another for life.

People get married for all sorts of artificial reasons. That’s why the shyt doesn’t last. About 90% of the women I meet (mainly the good-looking ones) are looking for that “meal ticket”, not love. Most guys are looking for a Trophy or a girl to be their servant, not love.
…

Rhonda Johnson at 11:11am February 26

Why am I bring ignored? They just called you a mark.

Neiman Catley at 11:13am February 26

…(continued)
Once people begin to see what’s real in life and one another, than there can be these blissful relationships that some of us used to dream about as kids. I once heard a girl tell me… “You can learn to love a man.” WTF? Because he has $$?!

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

Marc Howelton at 11:15am February 26

*watches as page takes a serious turn* *smacks on banana like Big Headed Rico*

Marc Howelton at 11:17am February 26

@ Alicia I’ve always been wise, whatchu trying to say?

Tanisha Boyd at 11:31am February 26

<—is NOT looking for a meal ticket…I can feed myself just fine…

God may know your heart…but meanwhile keep screwing each other’s brain’s out until the Viagra supply is fully depleted and the chick has dried up like the Sahara…I’m sure God understands that…

a piece of paper does not prove that two people will be faithful to one another…that piece of paper does however prove that two people have come together as one, specifially speaking as a legal entity…the monogamy only comes into play when 2 people actually want to be committed to one another…no piece of paper can make them do that…

and FYI, a true marriage does not exist without God in it…it’s kinda His institution and until people start recognizing that they will continue to fail epically at it…

*no bible thumper*

Marc Howelton at 11:33am February 26

*smack smack smack* I don’t, I don’t like that shyt, I don’t like that shyt dawg….

Tanisha Boyd at 11:40am February 26

zaggin is you bout it, bout it fool!

Neiman Catley at 11:43am February 26

to T. Boyd

“…and FYI, a true marriage does not exist without God in it…it’s kinda His institution and until people start recognizing that they will continue to fail epically at it…”

World Population (as of 2005):
33% Christian (decreasing)
21% Islam (increasing)
16% Nonreligious ( Atheist, Agnostic, theist nonreligious)
14% Hindu
8% Other
6% Buddhism
6% Chinese Traditional
6% Primal-indigenous (incl African traditional/ Diasporic)

So I ask you… which “God?”
And what of the 16% of people who don’t particularly have one? Does it not exist or is it not valid for this group?

Shaana Sweazie at 11:55am February 26

most of the aforementioned religions are based on the same grassroot belief that there is a higher power(s) which exist for guidance in our spiritual and waking life, so the ‘which God’ is neither here nor there.

as for the percentage who don’t subscribe to a particular religion, it’s safe to assume they live a life of mostly good according to societal norms, which in most countries are based on the dominating religion.

aside from that aspect, i can agree that people tend to focus on the idea of mariagge (the ceremony) and not the actual application, however that does not mitigate the bond that ‘piece of paper’ represents. The same could be said for a college diploma.

Marc Howelton at 11:56am February 26

^^^black Catholic right here. You’re like .0002 percent of the population right? *goes back to smacking*

Tanisha Boyd at 11:58am February 26

does it matter which God? I can’t choose that for people…God, Allah, Jehovah, Big Baby Jesus, whatever you want to call your Supreme Being…makes no matter…

you are an aethist, devil worshipper, Beezlebub B-boy, etc. the concept of civil union seems much more suitable than marriage does…

Shaana Sweazie at 12:01pm February 26

*wonders who told Marcus she was giving up cursing for lent*

Don’t make me get creative, ok?

Neiman Catley at 12:03pm February 26

Shaana Sweazie makes a good argument. Screw paper, save the Earth.

T. Boyd is scaring me “affixes index fingers to represent a cross”

Tanisha Boyd at 12:05pm February 26

Tanisha “Blasphemus” Boyd strikes again! YES!

*moves farther away from window*

Neiman Catley at 12:11pm February 26

“Grabs pistol and silver bullets”

AJ Cyr at 12:11pm February 26

Yes, for the most part, you have always been a mature person, despite your age. However, there were other areas (only your words in previous conversations can be referenced) where growth was needed and it appears you have matured in those areas as well.

I can agree with Nieman to a point; people get married for the wrong reasons and I believe your commentary states that. However, as a good looking woman (*ahem* Marcus can attest) that is NOT looking for a meal ticket, but for a man that God has prepared for her and ONLY her; paper is not what defines the relationship, but the covenant made before God. The paper is man-made, yet necessary in the event of sickness or death (which are apart of your marriage vows before God).

I think many women, myself included, have also had to mature past wanting the “wedding day” and to begin preparing for marriage as a life partner and true help-mate. Enjoy your banana!

Neiman Catley at 12:14pm February 26

Marriage can work if you are truthful… seek the truth!
(Shameless Plug)
http://muzzlewump.com/blog/2007/11/19/the-truth-is-it-in-you/

Tanisha Boyd at 12:22pm February 26

*scared to click the link*

Marc, you’re an azzhole…you might as well start prepping for your elderly role by stocking up on canes to shake at the neighborhood kids whenever they get close to your lawn…

Neighborhood grumpy (drunk) old man with a bad liver…my crystal ball never lies! Don’t worry…I’ll be down the street starring as the Candy Lady…*goes to Sam’s Club and Costco to stock up on quarter waters, snack sized bags of chips, and other hood candy staples such as Nah’laters and Chick o Sticks*

Neiman Catley at 12:29pm February 26

Be afraid… be very afraid.
(More Shameless)
http://Muzzlewump.com/blog

Marc Howelton at 2:40pm February 26

*comes back in* Banana gone!

Leanetta Shug Avery at 6:19pm February 26

They aren’t really ready for your self made corporate thug original pimp scholar-ness

Marc Howelton at 7:10pm February 26

That’s what i’m sayin! lol

Valerie Long at 9:49pm February 26

Dear Marc… I enjoyed your mini dissertation… you have matured so from the old A&M days of burning out tires fish tailing in your lil mustang to impress the ladies…

Dear Neiman… Please don’t knock what you clearly have no knowledge of. If you don’t understand how God works then there is no need for the cynicism. Marriage was designed by God. People have ruined its sanctity by putting superficial needs before what should actually be first. I think this may be the “meal ticket” you speak of. You seem to think that “be together” is an answer/solution? When actually its part of the problem. That is so vague. Be together to what? Screw for a while? Make a baby? Go to dinner a few times? A life long marriage take a lot more than just “be together”. I guess that is why you can compare us to animals? They really don’t have to get to know each other they just “be together”.

Valerie Long at 9:50pm February 26

**not quite finished**
Dear Tanisha & AJ… Well said. I totally agree. Tanisha I too, am fearful of clicking the links. Ya’ll were on point. Well I have never really seen the “azzhole” side of Mr. Howelton … Well Marc you didn’t respond to my email about Dubai …what’s up that??? Wait a flashback just popped in my head… I think I got pretty ticked off at you when you lived down the hall from me in those old a** dorms in summer school waaaaay back when.

Speaking for myself … a wedding is an event that I can do without. I wouldn’t mind a SMALL ceremony. I don’t by into the whole bridesmaid thing. The last wedding I participated in was the last. I have friends that have this coveted day planned out from the colors the dresses to the napkins on the table. To me it’s quite hilarious when I remind them that they don’t even have a date for dinner … not to mention a boyfriend.

Marc Howelton at 10:08pm February 26

I ain’t matured not a lick! Don’t put that negative energy in the air Val. *leaves trying to figure out what Dubai, smoking tires and the summer of 98 or 99 has to do with anything* lol

Valerie Long at 10:34pm February 26

*recanting sentence about not seeing Marc’s azzhole side**

Camille Patterson at 11:07pm February 26

*finishes bowl of “Wits” & refuses to comment on the subject at hand*

Camille Patterson at 11:17pm February 26

*Sheesh, who am I kidding*

Marc, I hate choo for making me have to exercise my brain cells…

Personally, I’d love to be loved by a man as Christ loves the church. Money may be long, but life is short. Money can’t buy happiness, but faith can. Marriage may not be for all, but I hope it is for me. It only takes one other, of a like mind, to make that happen.

Screw the decisions of the many. This planet is being destroyed by all those who choose to disregard the effects their selfish ways have on it. One shouldn’t consider the actions of these same people when determining how to spend the rest of one’s life with a person they love. In other words, who the many choose to serve/not to serve is worthless information.

Needless to say, my marriage will be as personal as my relationship with God. I tend to Him as He tends to me, therefore, I’ll tend to him as he tends to me. It will be between us. “Nothing even matters, at all…”

Neiman Catley at 3:27am February 27

Awwwww shyt…. Marc… you hear your girl?

@ Valerie Long
{“Dear Neiman… Please don’t knock what you clearly have no knowledge of.”}

You don’t seriously want to get into a theological battle with NEIM? Do you? I would turn your world upside down. Don’t mistake rationalism for cynicism. I am a connoisseur of knowledge. More so… the truth. The union between man and woman is just a natural one that predates recorded history. Even before there was organized religion.

Let me school you…

As hunter-gatherers settled down into agrarian civilizations, society had a need for more stable arrangements. The first recorded evidence of marriage ceremonies uniting one woman and one man dates from about 2350 B.C., in Mesopotamia. Over the next several hundred years, marriage evolved into a widespread institution embraced by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. But back then, marriage had little to do with love or with religion.

(to be continued)

Neiman Catley at 3:31am February 27

(continued)

Marriage’s primary purpose was to bind women to men, and thus guarantee that a man’s children were truly his biological heirs. Through marriage, a woman became a man’s property. In the betrothal ceremony of ancient Greece, a father would hand over his daughter with these words: “I pledge my daughter for the purpose of producing legitimate offspring.” Among the ancient Hebrews, men were free to take several wives; married Greeks and Romans were free to satisfy their sexual urges with concubines, prostitutes, and even teenage male lovers, while their wives were required to stay home and tend to the household. If wives failed to produce offspring, their husbands could give them back and marry someone else.

As the Roman Catholic Church became a powerful institution in Europe, the blessings of a priest became a necessary step for a marriage to be legally recognized. By the eighth century, marriage was widely accepted in the Catholic church as a sacrament.

(more…)

Neiman Catley at 3:37am February 27

continued…

For much of human history, couples were brought together for practical reasons, not because they fell in love. In time, of course, many marriage partners came to feel deep mutual love and devotion. But the idea of romantic love, as a motivating force for marriage, only goes as far back as the Middle Ages. Naturally, many scholars believe the concept was “invented” by the French. Its model was the knight who felt intense love for someone else’s wife, as in the case of Sir Lancelot and King Arthur’s wife, Queen Guinevere. Twelfth-century advice literature told men to woo the object of their desire by praising her eyes, hair, and lips. In the 13th century, Richard de Fournival, physician to the king of France, wrote “Advice on Love,” in which he suggested that a woman cast her love flirtatious glances—“anything but a frank and open entreaty.”

It seems that your postulation that God created marriage is apocryphal.

(still more…)

Neiman Catley at 3:50am February 27

final continuance…

Too often we just accept what we are told because we are too apathetic to do the research or challenge anything that seems out of place due to its acceptance as the law of the land. Most times we are just fearful of the truth because it is frightening to think that what we thought we knew is just smoke and mirrors.

It is sad that so many of us accept Authority as the Truth instead of Truth as the Authority. Oh, and please… don’t argue the Faith/Truth thing… Faith is the antithesis of Truth. It is simply to believe what you cannot prove whereas truth = proof.

Lack of knowledge… I scoff at your false avowal that I lack thereof.

“cuts it… stuffs it… rolls it… smokes it”

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“Start spreadin’ the news…”

I thought I’d share my 1st New York trip with the world… enjoy!

Day 1: The Arrival

August 13th, 2008. I haven’t slept purposely so that I can sleep on the plane. It helps me reduce the anxiety of flying. Its about 9 a.m. and my plane leaves at 11:30ish. I haven’t packed. I just realize that some of my clothes are in the cleaners. I haven’t arranged a ride to the airport either. Hell I just got an ID (lost my old one) 2 days prior. I call moms. She talks to me on the phone still sleep. Then she asks me to get her some special type of Coffee from a store that’s not up the street. WTF! I am forced to agree.

Somehow, we get outta there by around 10:30 and to the airport at about 11. I like to travel in the middle of the week to avoid the crowds. I’m traveling cheap though so I don’t arrive to New York until about 7:30. On the plane ride I got the birds eye view of the Statue of Liberty. She seemed small, but I guess I was high in the sky. At the airport I meet up with ol Kevo and we catch a cab to Hasan’s place. While in New York we stayed with Hasan. Big ups to my homey for showin’ us love.

The cab driver must have been a retired Arab race car driver or something because homeboy was gettin it! We arrive in Midtown, Manhattan in what must have seemed like 15 minutes in traffic! By far the best cab driver I have ever seen. Scary though.

Hasan stays in a great area on 37th St & 9th Ave.

We settle down at Hasan’s. Then we get lucky and Hasan had some chicken he needed to cook so he threw down for his boys. Check it out:

Click here to view the embedded video.

After we ate we were tryin to figure out what to do. It was wednesday and “Tropic Thunder” just came out. (Check out my review over on XtraButter.com.) The fellas were talkin bout goin to this premier strip club with some hot Dominican dancers. I don’t enjoy teasin myself all that much so I decided to go to the movie instead. I thought I persuaded Kev & Hasan to check it out to, but then they ditched me right at the box office. I guess I’m lame. I just prefer a good movie over strip clubs. Call it what you want.

Day 2: The Jew

Hasan shows us this corner store across the street where they make these great bacon egg & cheese croissants. They were damn good! Its Thursday and I needed to work on the computer while Kev and Hasan went shopping. This became a familiar pattern because I needed to finish up some stuff while in NY.

Fast Forward to later that night. My friend, Hasan’s sister, Chandra’s husband Jameel’s friend the coordinator from “Making the Band 4″ was having a birthday at this little Kareoke spot. We were having drinks and enjoying ourselves. Jameel gave his rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” He was rather good. It was funny at the time to me because I had already signed up for another Prince song off of the same album “Beautiful Ones.” At the beginning of the song I was not doing so well. The mic was terrible and it wasn’t picking me up. I should have done a mic check 1st.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I kept thinking that if I could only get to the bridge I’d be ok. Once I got to the middle of the song I started groovin. I felt the crowd pick up a little bit and so I started flowin with them. I dropped to my knees in some parts and was on the floor trying my best to mimic Prince in that scene in the movie Purple Rain:

I joined the crew back at the table and then we took a pic.

*Top to bottom left to right (NEIM, Kev, Tarv, Hasan, Chandra)

After that night of drinking etc. I decided to not sleep so I could on the plane… didn’t happen. I over slept and realized I lost my bank cards in the cab on the way home. In my drunken haze I didn’t feel them slip out of my slacks! I missed my flight and had to catch stand-by. It was $15 to check my bag which I did not have because of the bank card situation so I had to use my FedEx account to ship my big bag. I was at the airport around 6am and didn’t get home till around 10pm. So, I guess it had to even out.

Last thing… You will see why in the next post of the Athletic Challenge… Kev still hasn’t spoken to NEIM. I wonder why.

New York I love you! Special thanks to Hasan, my brother from another mother. Jameel, your mentoring and hospitality is priceless. Chandra, I’m so proud. Tarv, you’re still great! Hugh & Blyss my surrogate family. I will miss NY, but you know I’m comin baaaack! To stay… to be continued.

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“She has the beauty of a spring sunrise and the mystique of a tiger peeking through tall blades of grass looking in on its prey.”

-NEIM

There are those moments… the moments where it seems as though time and space has ceased to exist. Those that claim to be able to foresee the future have described it as though they were looking in on a dream. Time and space stands still while everything happens all at once. These visions are usually seen through dreams and/or meditation. Enlightenment is what the Buddhist’s call it: to unite the conscience mind with the soul.

What if our soul is like a timeline; and through meditation or dreams we can see the events that have already come to be and moments that have not yet come to past. I wonder is that when Déjà vu comes into play? When we think that we have already experienced something when we haven’t.

I have heard that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Can you look in on someone else’s timeline? What if you see the reflection of times that she has felt sorrow or joy… triumph and defeat? What if you stare right into her essence… and as you enter the abyss of her soul you see yours staring right back at you?

Have you ever experienced a moment when you looked into someone’s eyes, which you just met, and there was something that seemed familiar? You look even deeper and then a sudden rush of tranquility hits. You find yourself in a state of soliloquy as you try and figure out the connection. All of a sudden time passes without your knowledge as you engage with this person next to you, oblivious to anything happening around you. You are lost in the moment.

I believe our souls, time and space are all connected somehow. Through our dreams we have visions of our experiences and our future. Our conscience minds are sometimes limited to the realm of the world in which we live and cannot fully comprehend what it all means. Can you imagine or have you experienced what its like to meet the actual entity of your dreams? Would you know? Most people forget there dreams soon after they wake. Sometimes we have those moments though where everything has a familiarity to it.

Love at first sight. Is it a myth? Is it possible? How can you truly love someone that you have never met? Maybe you are drawing feelings from experiences that have not yet happened… through a dream perhaps. Love is an emotion right? It is a feeling. I’m sure you have had dreams where you have experienced intense emotions. Is it fair to say that these emotions that you were having in those dreams were not real because they were dreamt? Have you ever woken up scared, laughing, or crying? I have. Those are real emotions.

So, according to the aforementioned theories love at first sight is possible. It is possible to recognize one’s self in another by looking into the eyes of another discovering that this person’s soul has a path that inexorably leads to yours that makes it seem as though time and space has stood still parallel to your dream or unconscious state of mind. You see a path to unite your conscience mind with her soul. The feeling now that you get from looking into her eyes is euphoric because this woman has become the very definition of enlightenment.

The energy of life goes in a circle in a perfect flow, balanced. Until you find your center, you will never be whole. Your soul’s recognition of its counterpart brings you happiness because that is your center. It is what makes us whole. I’m just saying there are those moments.

NEIM

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Day Two: Now we boarded the Thai Plane around 4:30pm Japan time which is around 2:30am Houston. BTW, it was Tuesday afternoon! Our flight to Bangkok, Thailand was a 6 hour flight. Unlike the Continental, flying coach in Thai Airlines is like flying 1^st class in the states minus the close seating. First we were givin a snack. Some assortment of god knows what kind of trail mix. It was different, but overall tasty. Imagine having Sushi trail mix. The refreshments came next. Get this… OPEN BAR w/virtually no limit. What’s the Thai word for hit me again?

When it was time for our meal, me and my Japanese buddy sittin next to me had a good buzz goin; although he was only drinking beer… wimp. I was having an assortment of drinks myself. We had a choice at dinner time between pork and salmon. I don’t eat pork (except the occasional bacon crave). The Salmon was curried though. I guess that is an acquired taste. It came with 2 different kinds of noodles, a very good shrimp salad, roll, steamed rice, fruit, orange juice & some kind of coffee cake (I think) that was absolutely divine.

During the meal, servers came by offering either red or white wine. I had to keep the buzz goin. Next there was an offer of Green Tea, English Tea, or Coffee for the end of the meal. I decided against because I saw that there was also an offer of cognac coming up. I love cognac! After the Cognac and being that we were 40,000 feet in the sky, I was categorically drunk. Nice. Needless to say, I slept the rest of the way. I hope the 2 guys to the left didn’t have to take a piss .

We arrive at a very colorful looking Airport. There are all kinds of paintings and statues which give it a very artsy vibe. Once through customs I say to the fellas, “We are in fucking Thailand!”

Thai people are used to seeing tourists, but they were not ready for what I had in store for them. Hell, I wasn’t ready for the reaction myself. My Mohawk was garnering all sorts of attention; way more than from the states. I kinda felt what it was like to be a celebrity. All eyes were on me. Old eyes, young eyes, it didn’t matter. To my chagrin they were all marveling on how neat it was and were smiling and giving approval in Thai and with thumbs up.

We needed to get to our hotel. It was close to 11:00 pm Bangkok time (11:00am Houston). That’s 24 hours of travel time. As nice and kind as the people are in Bangkok, they are some hustlers too. There was a taxi/limousine service inside the airport, but we opted to go with the girls who were snapping their cameras away at my braided doo. What a set up, lol.

The girls tempted you outside, just to lure you into a taxi… er mini-van that took us to the airport (We have video coming soon of this exploit). It was cool until we found out we overpaid. Ah well.

Once at the hotel we really observed the relentless kindness of the Thai people. I mean damn, they were making Americans look like down right Assholes! Don’t want tips, bowing all over the place and just plain respectful of other human beings.

We got to the room, freshened up, and were out the door by around 1:00am. Let this mark the day that Pony Boy was born. When we stepped outside dressed in mere T-shirts and jeans/shorts we were garnering all sorts of attention. I’ll try to say this as modest as I can… my Mohawk had these Thai people sick! I couldn’t walk 5-10 feet (literally) without people smiling, pointing, wanting to touch, or asking me how much or how long did it take. I was soon overwhelmed by the attention. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like all of the attention, but it was a bit much. Gonna try and get some video of the reaction on Wednesday though to show you what I am talking about. Nick started calling me Pony Boy. We were getting free beers and all of the ladies attention out of it, so it was cool. This little girl even gave me a rose. How sweet. I felt like Buddha himself if you know what I mean.

The rest of the night consisted of a lot of partying and drinking until and after the sun literally came up. Insert montage here. I’m getting some shades for tomorrow. I now know why celebrities always don the glasses. Its hard to ignore people when everyone you look at is making eye contact with you.

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