For the first couple of days in Bali I tried to get myself sorted and ready for the second annual Nusantara Cup Tournament. I was determined to be as sore as possible, before the tournament, so that I would be accustomed to it over the three days of the tournament. After relaxing on the beach the first afternoon, my heart leapt as I looked down the beach and saw frisbee floating through the air. I cruised over to join the ever-so inviting world of ultimate. We threw around for a couple hours as the sun slowly set over the ocean. It was amazing! The beach is so flat that a small film of water settles over a large part of the sand near the water, reflecting the oranges, blues and reds of the setting sun. I was so inspired that I ran about like a maniac and threw until my arm was ready to fall off. Getting sore before the tournament was not going to be a problem!
The players I met were great. Initially it was mostly the organizers form Jakarta. Although they had lots to do, they took me right in. As more people arrived from accross Asia things started to pick up. Teams came from China, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia and various other Asian cities. The drifters pulled together into an International All-star Team. Going into the tournament I was sore as hell and my arm, after two days of inspired throwing on the beach, didn’t want to move. If you’re wondering, you can’t get ibuprofen in Indonesia.
The tournament started with a traditional Balinese welcome, including traditional music and dancing, moved onto to transvestite cheerleaders, professionally choreographed by a friend of the team, sideline massages, boat races, lots of ultiamte........... and then came the greatest ultimate party of my career.
The international all-stars where a motley group of people from all over asia. i was about the only "traveler". After morning introductions - "can you handle?" - we took on the defending champs the first game. We managed to score a point. This buoyed our spirits for the next match. We played the Jakarta A team and had a great battle. We prevailed at the end 5-4 on a time cap. Our next showing was nowhere near as impressive, and our team members began to drop like flies from various injuries and illness. It was mid-day and hot, but it was a quick game. The wind allowed the opponents to put on a zone. Our inexperience in playing together, proved too much for us. Our final game of the day was for NOT being last. We won. We weren’t last!
Normally, after the first day of a tournament it is time for the party. In the infinite wisdom of the planners, the tournament began on Friday so that the party would take place after the tournament was finished. Brilliant! I think that they actually planned an outrageous party and threw in an ultimate tournament just for fun!
That night we ate at a nice restaurant on the beach and then most retired early. The next day saw less wind, good for us, but it was plenty damn hot. Bali, in general, is a scorcher. OK, the next day saw us lose our first game, but we came rearing back to take charge in the second. The third game, which would have decided the winner of the consolation bracket, was wisely decided by a boat race during halftime of the final. For those who aren’t sure what a boat race is, it begins with each team lined up, each participant with a full can of beer. On your mark, set, go…..and the first person chugs their beer. When finished they turn it upside down on their head and the next in line can start. The all-stars pulled off an incredible upset by beating the local Jakarta team by a hair. I pulled anchor, but had my life made easier by some true interantional all-star beer chugging professionals.
More boat races broke out, some how the finals ended, then more boat races broke out. I stepped in as a ringer for the Singapore team in the lead off position to take the final boat race championship. Now it was time to party!! We had a huge meal that evening, and after the hot day and beer we were dragging pretty hard. It seemed like a long wait for things to get going.
The party was held at a bar/club right on the beach. The specifics for the entertainment were kept under wraps. The wrapping came off in an unexpected "fashion". The Jakarta players had a fashion designer friend who organized a complete fashion show, runway, professional models, scant clothing, music, the whole bit. It was amazing! Some of the player-models did really well, and were hard to differentiate from the professionals. Others, not so. The show lasted about 30-40 minutes and was brilliant, bizarre and most certainly entertaining. There is just no way of describing the scene. No way!
The music pumped up and we all got on the runway and began to jam. The place was packed and the energy incredible. Walking around the place, one of the tournament directors handed me a free pass to go bungee jumping, right there at the club, right then!. I didn’t need to be asked twice. I rushed up the tower and asked them to dunk me in the pool – never done that before. I leapt off the tower flying down, music pumping, blood pumping, everything was pumping! I was so enjoying my fall that I forgot that I asked them to dunk me. It was quite a surprise when it happened. I quickly remembered, but was shooting back skyward by this time. I bounced up and down for a bit enjoying the feeling of free falling and looking out over the ocean. Ya’ll gettin all this?
So, back to the party, wet head, wet body, ready to go! The music kept pumping and the crowd was loving it. The “party trophy” was passed around for all those who wanted to hold it for a bit, although anything too long brought harsh looks form the defending champions, Jakarta. They weren’t about to give it up without a fight. It was so incredible to look around and see all the ultimate players jamming to the music, with huge smiles on their faces and sweat dripping from their bodies. Inspiration! The ultimate women, as is usually the case, were the stars! It made me think fondly of all the great women players from New Orleans.
When I looked out over the beach and saw that it was getting light, my heart dropped. We had just begun! The music, and a good number of ultimate players, kept going until about 7:00. After that, it was back to the resort for a few minutes before the party moved to the alternative dance spot that was open all morning. Kind of like the I-HOP of dance clubs. If you wanted to win the party, you had to be there. About 9:00 am Bangkok conceded defeat to a far too strong Jakarta squad. I stayed around for a bit and then a group of us went to the beach for a swim and some frisbee. I was getting tired. I finally headed back to my place about ten o’clock, tried to stay awake through breakfast, and then went to bed. What a night! What a party!
