Villa de Cow

Bali, Easter 2007

Travelling with Jamie and Luke on a Thursday evening flight to Bali, we were greeted by Kevin on his 6th beer, and that was how the long weekend progressed. Stayed up chatting the first night, woke early on Friday and Luke went straight for a scotch on the rocks. Chilled in the afternoon (Luke didn't move for 4 hours) and had sundowners at Ku De Ta - beautfiul swim in the sea with Jamie.

Yatin and Craig arrived later that night, and after welcome drinks they headed out to town. I stayed in and greeted them for late night drinks back at the villa. Yatin scored a Korean air hostess thanks to a gracious hand-off by the attached Kevin.

Saturday saw a rude awakening by Craig aka Danja, who was served his just desserts later that night with a gang beating while sleeping. Delicious Soto Ayam was followed by more scotch, swimming and napping, before we dressed up in white pants and Hawaiian shirts for the main event - Neil and Liza's wedding.

Staying still and quiet during the ceremony proved challenging to all of us, but we put on our best behaviour as long as we could. Kevin befriended his own personal midget, Liza's sister's friend blew the boys away, the food and setting were gorgeous and the funk & soul helped us rock the dance floor. Finished up at the villa with more debauchery and a smashed camera.

Sunday was a little ill for all concerned, but still we returned to Ku De Ta where I had a fantastic purging swim in the sea. We feared we became the poseurs we ridiculed and we felt bad. The plane ride back at 10pm was even worse, but getting only three hours sleep at home was the icing on the cake. With lots of injuries but no casualties, we live to party another day.

Goodbye New York

Kept rolling on Sunday with next to no sleep and met Zigman on 79th St on the west side of Central Park. Worked the feeling back into my body with a lovely stroll in the cool spring weather. Paid respects to John Lennon at Strawberry Fields in the customary manner, attempted to enter the Guggenheim but only just managed to stay standing. Instead wandered in the Upper East Side and managed to find a great place for brunch and a Bloody Mary. Said our farewells, packed up at the hotel after my one and only purchase ($8 sunglasses off the street), then checked out and hung out in the hotel lobby till the flight. Final meal and ale at Newark Airport, then fell right asleep before the plane even took off. Straight up and over the north pole, the longest flight in the world worked like a charm. What a city.

Tiger Translate NYC

Saturday - walked to 53rd and 9th for brunch with Reena after a few hours sleep, and checked out her studio pad up the road. Got down to the venue at 3pm and first impressions were a great party was a brewin'...the setup went on as the artists and media engaged in a creative exchange. Met up with the Michaels, Mike and Dale at Cook (?) restaurant a few blocks down in Chelsea, quick bite then off to host my first Tiger party! The crowd, art, beer, venue and vibe all kicked ass and I was really blown away by the world-class and coherent execution. Thank you Electromogatronica! VIP guests included Jared, Zigman, Henry, Kat, the Michaels and Levers, and I connected with a couple of interesting US people in the Translate space.

Post-event we rocked to the Stanton Social in the East Village, another really nice spot (with Jared and his crew, Mogan and his, plus Zigman and his cousin Jen). A few doors were closed after that so we had to bounce around a few times before entering Cielo - thanks to Putri. This place simply blew my mind; the lighting, sound, music and vibe were quite possibly the most yummy dance club experience I've had. Warmed up and into a monster dance set with Mogan and Jared, destroying the dance floor with our Auckland Grammar stylee. They kept trying to put the ugly lights on (though the crowd was pretty premium) but only after three encores did the crowd let the DJ stop. Fantastic end to an amazing week's partying.

Walked back to Jared's flat in the West Village and finished off with a cleansing ale before sunrise. Cabbed down to Battery Park with Mogan and watched the sunrise from the tip of Manhattan. Pure peaceful beautiful bliss. NYPD police drill, bacon eggs and coffee, then an hour of sleep from 9am till 10. 24 Jam.