Fortune cookies tell you so much...

As much as I wanted to go on this trip, there was still a bunch of trepidation in my mind. Finances, timing, apprehension about the waves and my ability level or lack thereof, length of the trip, etc. I needed that one final push over the edge to make this trip happen and I finally got it. Here's the setup...

It was Friday 8/25/06 and I was waiting to see Beerfest, which was a damn funny movie, but that's beside the point. I decided to get some Chinese food from this place called Pei Wei next to the theatre before the show started. I finished my meal and cracked open the fortune cookie and much to my surprise, here's what it said:

You will take a pleasant journey to a place far away...

How's that for a kick in the ass? I mean if a fortune cookie tells you to do it, how can you deny that cosmic sign!?

So, as soon as I read the fortune, I sent Anthony Marcotti @ Sariana Koat Mentawai an email on the spot telling him I was a go and to tell me when/where to send the funds. I then put my phone on vibrate (like any responsible movie watcher) and went and watched Beerfest with a big smile on my face before the picture even started. Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket with my supposed "lucky numbers" also found on the fortune...

And THAT, is the final push I needed to make this trip become a reality :)

Welcome

First off, welcome to my blog! Most of you probably know me but I'm hoping that maybe some new faces stop by and learn a little more about me, surfing and the Mentawai islands. I ask that you do me a favor and tell a friend or 2 about this blog and have them check in and hopefully learn a little, laugh a little and think about the things I write and the images I'll be sharing. I've created this blog to record my upcoming journey to the Mentawai islands off the Western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia from October 13th - October 29th. This surf trip is several years in the making as I've been wanting to travel to some of the more exotic surf destinations around the world pretty much since I picked up a surfboard almost 5 years ago and I'm finally in a position to make this first surf trip a reality.

So, again, welcome to my blog and I hope you enjoy reading these entries as much as I'll enjoy creating them.

Bryan