it was over 10 years ago when my bali boys took me to check out a secret spot in nusa dua. i remember driving through some back roads up a cliff, got out of the car, took a little walk into the bushes, and seen this perfect right hander. little after this, they built the 5 star Grand Nikko Hotel right there on the beach. there went the secret spot.

throughout the years, i’ve been back there many of times. mostly took a motorcycle there to surf the perfect right hander, use the hotel shower, and even borrow their beautiful pool. it was amazing memories.

now look what just happened!!! the hotel built a freaking jetty right into the surf spot!!!! omg!!! this wall will create backwash, change the wave, and totally ruined the spot. this is so shocking!!! what the heck are people thinking these days????? for a surfer like me, all i can do is hope a giant south swell hits and demolishes the wall. i know that mother nature will win. she always does.

i’ve been looking for some summer fun. this tube carries 2 people and if i tow it behind Mayuki, 2 people will have the ride of their life. i will check it out tomorrow and if i buy it, get ready for some crazy summer fun!

surfed my secret spot today. good waves and nobody. winds backing down as a solid overhead swell is on the way for the weekend. can’t wait to get barreled again!

watched my nephews compete in japan today. both lost so i was super bummed out all day long. surfing contests in japan is very challenging for hawaiians because there is absolutely no place to practice in hawaii for that. i makes me remember when i first competed there. i was totally lost at sea. anyway, hope the rest of the hawaiians and japanese competitors do good!

so stoked to see Kaori-chan and Asaka-san doing an awesome job commentating on the web. both of these cool surfers i know very well throughout all the years. great to see them representing japan. awesome!

did you hear about this gay couple that sued hawaii for discrimination? a police arrested them for kissing in foodland. anyway, they won $80,000. not bad for a kiss.

i use to always dream about going to aculpuco, mexico. a mexican tourist destination that is getting bad publicity from all the gang/drug related killings recently. now the police is in full force so you better be good.

many killings each day. right in the daylight. maybe i’ll put off my plans to visit there in the near future.

check out my friends cool pineapple plant! so cool!

another blog i forget to post. Cuba was one of the most fascinating countries i’ve ever visited. now it’s open to america so i no longer have any desire to go there again. Cuba will never be the same.

more photos from my cuban trip. gosh, i miss it already! here is a typical cuban shop selling fruits.

here is my cuban local friend. or should i say, my cuban bodyguard.

a local vegetable shop.

a local meat shop.

a very classic elevator. i actually rode in it and it was pretty cool. you can only see these kind of things in movies in america, but in cuba, it’s as real as it gets.

the cuban lifestyle is very fascinating. i’ll say this over and over: go visit cuba soon! it is changing very fast and in a couple of years, it will never be the same. cuba is one of the last countries america didn’t ruin yet. so book a flight through the backdoor, mexico. take a backpack and check it out. you won’t regret it.