I enjoyed the first 2 books in this collaboration:
So was enthusiastic about The First Gentleman (2025).
I’d say it’s the best of the three. And it would make a good TV mini-series.
The President of the United States is up for reelection. Her husband is on trial for murder.
Is the First Gentleman a killer?
A pair of investigative journalists set out to answer that burning question about the NFL star-turned-political spouse.
I’m not really the Yoga / Beach Bum / Party Harder kind of tourist — but how could I avoid Bali forever? 😀
… are you concerned for the eldest backpacker on the beach?
NO WORRIES. I had a Spa give me a Bali makeover. Now that I have a man bun, I fit in better with the kids.
For advice on this super popular island, I relied most on The Broke Backpacker, Will Hatton, and his team — many of whom live in Bali.
I use Broke Backpacker quite a bit deciding on hostels around the world.
Will opened Tribal Hostel in Canguu and recommends it as a good starting point for first time visitors. He promotes it as a digital nomad coworking environment.
Pretty much everyone in the public areas here is on a laptop. Seemingly doing something important.
I popped open my MacBook Air and edited my Bromo Volcano VIDEO.
I believe this makes me officially a legit YouTube creator. 😀 Working out of Bali is a requirement, I believe.
August is highest season in Bali — but there still seems to be next day accommodation everywhere.
The restaurant at Tribal is quite good. If consumed by some project you are working on online — you can chow down while keeping at it. 😀
From the hostel I walk parts of the 10 km-long beach a couple of times a day.
Surf lessons are popular here. Beginners tend to get drowned quickly. NOT ME, of course. I stay dry and use A.I. to create a totally believable image of me mastering the surf.
One slight problem is the number of dogs running free.
There’s no shortage of lean beach bodies. Drop-in at the fitness club across the street is CAD $50!
Everyone is out on the beach for sunset. Many enjoying dinner and drinks.
A tourist trap, for sure. But that didn’t bother me. Traffic and second hand smoke are the biggest hassles.
Though Indonesia is mostly Muslim, Balinese Hinduism is practised by more than 80% of the population on this island.
Looking to join me?
Walk down the beach until you see the Statue Gajah Mina (fish body and elephant head) ➙ turn inland a few blocks and you’ll find the hostel. 😀
Arriving in Surabaya, I was quite disappointed with that huge city. Very tourist unfriendly. Transportation nearly impossible around town due to traffic unless you download one of the Indonesian ride sharing apps.
I took the bus to Malang as it’s the jumping off point for Bromo Volcano tours.
Bromo was fantastic. It made Malang a very worthwhile stop.
On arrival at the Malang bus station, there were no taxis. No bus. No way to get to my hostel. Weird.
It seems very few use taxis here. Everyone does ride-sharing. I finally downloaded the local Grab app and got logged in.
Finally one of the staff found a guy who was happy to overcharge me for a gypsy cab ride.
BEST thing about my hostel was proximity to Rainbow Village and the train station.
Three days in Malang, I finally started getting skilled in crossing impossibly dangerous looking busy streets. Just go. The drivers will probably miss you. 😀
According to INRIX, Malang is one of the most congested cities in the world.
I found some nice parks. They love birds. Tolerate cats. But I only saw 1 dog over 3 days.
Beautiful tropical trees.
Of course the mosques are impressive.
I visited the Bird and Animal market. Rabbits for food or pets!
I stopped by one of the universities. Looked great.
I learned that some of the small side streets where people live are quiet and clean. At night kids run free and everybody sits outside to chat.
I learned that you get up before the traffic IF you want to exercise. This photo was taken at 6am.
Foodwise … I’m still eating mostly at McDonalds or western style malls. They have menus in English. And I trust more the hygiene.
Also, HOW can you beat the McSpecial of CAD $2.31 for fried chicken with a side of spaghetti. AND coffee.
I departed via an inexpensive Executive train car. Excellent!
I’ll take train over bus from now on.
The Malang train station (built 2022) had 2 information kiosks and were super helpful with tourists. (Tickets are paid only by cash, not cards.)
One of my goals for Indonesia.
PHOTOS and trip report posted on my hiking site.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Another great book by one of the best authors working today.
Void Moon (2000) is the ninth novel by American crime author Michael Connelly.
… the third of Connelly’s books not to follow the character Harry Bosch.
It was also his first novel to feature a female protagonist, Cassidy “Cassie” Black, and a protagonist who is a criminal instead of an investigator of criminals. …
She had served five years in prison for conspiring with her previous partner-in-crime, Max Freeling, to steal the winnings of casino visitors while they were asleep. …
Cassie decides she needs just one more big score to disappear overseas with her daughter.
A good Stone Barrington novel.
Millions of dollars from a long ago robbery were never recovered. Until now.
Standup Guy (2014) is #28 in the series.
After giving some legal advice to a walk-in client, Stone Barrington thinks he’s done with the man.
But several people are keenly interested in John Fratelli’s activities and how they relate to a long-ago crime…and some of them will stop at nothing to find the information they desire.
On a hunt that leads from Florida’s tropical beaches to the posh vacation homes of the Northeast, Stone finds himself walking a tightrope between ambitious authorities and seedy lowlifes who all have the same prize in their sights.
Jodipan Colorful Village is often called by tourists the Rainbow Village.
This was a slum area in the city of Malang, Indonesia, ready to be demolished. All residents relocated.
However, a group of students from a university in Malang came up with the idea to give the area a fresh and remarkable splash of paint in the hope of attracting the attention of tourists.
In June 2016, the Air Force troops painted the entire village (named Jodipan), and directly after it became a major tourist attraction.
Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.
It’s not easy to take a bad photo here. 😀
Look up. Way up.
This success inspired another Indonesian Rainbow Village ➙ Kampung Pelangi, Semarang.
Arema Blue Village was originally another slum right next door.
This area was painted April 2018.
It reminded me somewhat of the traditional blue city Chefchaouen in Morocco.
The Blue Village is not nearly as tourist ready. It’s mostly a neighbourhood painted blue in honour of the local football team.
Both are close to the train station and my hostel.
The 2025 murder mystery from Shari Lapena is pretty good. It kept me guessing.
Bryden and Sam have it all – thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter.
The perfect life for the perfect couple.
Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden – working from home that day – has failed to collect their daughter from daycare.
Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.
Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.
How can she have disappeared from her own home? And did she even leave the building at all?
With every minute that passes – and as questions swirl around their community – Bryden and Sam’s past seems a little less perfect, their condominium less safe, their friends, neighbours and relatives no longer quite so reliable . . .
Doing Hard Time (2014) is the 27th book in the Stone Barrington series.
A good one.
Stone Barrington is a rich New York lawyer who, over the years, has become increasingly adept at eating at fancy restaurants and spending huge amounts of money on airplanes, cars and houses. Also sleeping with every beautiful woman who comes along.
Best in this novel is the return of arch criminal (or maybe he’s really a good guy) Teddy Fay.
Teddy is on the run from just about everyone, having killed a number of people he felt deserved an early exit from their time on earth.
Stone’s son and his 2 friends are on their way to Hollywood to make a feature film. Teddy saves them in a typically insanely unlikely way.
The book is mostly set in L.A.
A Russian mafia boss from the past starts sending hitmen after Stone and family.
Entertaining, as always. An easy read.
A fun, light feel-good comedy.
You MUST pay attention, however, as half the dialogue is in Spanish.
Regina Reynoso who plays Sara Gallardo Ramos was a gymnast.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Rick McCharles 