Balance - rest - mindfulness. And a competition.

Climbers I have just returned from a family holiday in Bali. Again. And I'm not entirely happy about it. Returning that is.

However, while I was there I dropped in to Ubud Adventure, across the road from my sumptuous accommodation at De Ubud Villas. More on that later.

There's no rock climbing to speak of in Bali, but the trekking is absolutely spectacular. So you'll need gear.

Win this T-Shirt from Ubud Adventure.
Just become a follower of jjobrienclimbing, leave a comment on this post, and check your letter box for your new T-Shirt.
First, you need a google account to become a follower.
Then scroll down the right side of this page to where it says "Follow" and join. Easy.
The rules:
The winning comment will make me laugh, impress me, or make me weak with pity. Or all three.
Your chances of winning are good.
I've only got 10 google followers and at least half of them don't want a T-Shirt. I'll give you a week, or so.

Ubud Adventure stock the Indonesian Consina range of gear.
Packs, T-Shirts (like the one above), clothes, tents.






Madé and Sudanti look after the store.
They are so delightful.
If I had a shop I'd poach them.

Sudanti with the range of packs.

Hundreds of them.

Cheap.

Look for the big sign down the end of Hanoman st.where it swings in toward the Monkey Forest.

Ah, back to the Villa.

I think Willow sums up the mood of the holiday here, relaxing in the poolside balé.

 Sandra and Lotus at one of our fav restaurants, Casa Luna.

The extended fam. On the walk from Bentuyung to Ubud.

10 days. No climbing.

Just cafes.

Attending the Legong dancing at the palace, three times, I love it.

Hanging with the family.

Q. Did you visit any agricultural areas during your visit?

A. Um.....No?

Q. Are you bringing in any more than $10,000.00 in cash?

A. Are you kidding, have you seen how my family can shop?

 We did a photo shoot for the Red Phoenix range of Jewellery and clothing while we were at the Villa.
Willow wearing "Black Jewels" necklace from the Red Phoenix range.

Lotus wears the "Batik Bella" shift and "Limoncello" necklace both from the Red Phoenix, Dolce Vita collection available from The Tribune

Location: Ku De Ta, Seminyak, Bali.

 Climbers, I'll come clean. I didn't climb Agung this time, but here's a couple of shots from my last climb a year ago.

Mt. Agung - 10,300 ft or there abouts. It's steep, high, freezing cold, it smolders with sulphur and probably my very favourite place.

I've walked along this ridge a few times over the years. The path from Bentuyung, down to Ubud, through padi, deep dark gorges on either side.
I have often stopped and wondered how the village priests decide where to place the small shines that can be seen everywhere. Shrines to Dewi Sri, Goddess of the rice. I know the placement is important, but what is it about a particular place that makes it important?
Back at my forest home in Australia, one night, I dreamt that I could see the subtle energy that gives power to place. It was so effortless and obvious.

I felt fresh and strong. It reminds me to stay aware of subtlety as I hammer my way through the day.

Qld Comp 2011 Cont'

The team here at jjobrienclimbing are currently out of the country on a non-climbing holiday.

Here's a post I phoned in from Bali. Some selected scenes from the Qld Lead Comp 2011 

Meanwhile climbers, if you need more style updates, I've been guest blogging over at redphoenixstyle.blogspot.com

An honor and an awesome responsibility, they have catwalks of followers and a good post will  push the google servers into the red.

Qld Lead Comp 2011

Who else found themselves getting all inexplicably nervous?

A few quick asanas to sooth the jitters.

That would be me in the qualifiers.

There's room on the route for a Rastaman. Liam keeps the vibrations good. Haile man!

Climbing was not compulsory on the night. Elise came along to keep the vibe up.

The dynamic Team Cujes in "Boulders and Nuts" gear from upskillclimbinggear.com

Lee and Sam Cujes have recently launched their slick new online store with some fresh ideas about hardware and clothing.

I still can't believe how cheap those Climbtech ascenders are!

And the girls tell me the Boulders and Nuts halters are excellent quality.

 

Lee in the open finals. Something about you have to clip the draw from the black "X" and no higher.
Where I come from you clip if you can, you go if you can't. Rules! What are they good for...

Post comp noodle box - Eddie, Kaylee, Joe, and I forgot...

Kaylee sports a kooky cool owl bag she bought at the South Bank market.

Loesje Fletcher, looking supercool under pressure, uses unfair advantage with Red Chili Caronas.
Guaranteed to win any comp, if the judges know anything about style.

Nate, my precious blogstar, you know you are just here to push up my blog stats. Even the super styled
Elie Moubarak couldn't bump you off the popular post top spot.



The Big Chili

Meet the sponsors.

The "Big Chili", Steve Foster, came out from the UK.

Matt Adams came up from Sydney.

And I took the day off work.

Photo: Lee Cujes

Team Chili

 We talked shoes. We climbed. Matt crushed. I ate carbs for lunch for the first time in yonks.

What a perfect day!

Matt knocked off Screaming Insanity in no time at all.

How much do I want these little beauties? I got a special preview today. I love them. I want them.
So much rubber, so much style.
             The new Matador lace, by Red Chili of course.
                                      I can't wait to test drive them.

                                  Click the photo to enlarge the image.

In the mean time I've got these sharp new Caronas.

What to wear, what to wear?

Thanks guys, I love them. jj

Queensland State Comp 2011 Results.

So many excellent competitors. So many categories. Shall we start?

In the Masters, jjobrienclimbing is utterly convinced that Brisbane urban style leader and Popeye's nemisis Elie Moubarak was robbed with Second position.

Are the judges blind?!

This tough guy oozes style.

I mean, the man behind Brisbane’s successful West End cocktail joint Lychee Lounge and the new Fortitude Valley swank pad Laruche.

How stylish do you have to be to get First?

 

 He makes young Nate Foster and Joey Driver look like sweet little kids. 

 They're just a lovely bunch of boys, aren't they?

Seriously? Second?

I can only imagine the judges were trying to bust up those Ferguson boys,

who they placed First and Third.

Sure, they did look cool in their uncarvedblock promo T-shirts. But I still think it was rigged.

I've got a sneaky feeling the offical

 photographer for the night was in on it too.