24 May 2004
Patrick and I were eating lunch at a restaurant in Uchi Umi and Patrick pointed over my shoulder and said, "Wow!" I turned around to see what had caught his attention and it was this photo. I said, "That's me." We were both skeptical so after examining it further, we realized that it was me. It just happens that a professional photographer was taking pictures while we were surfing a typhoon swell last year. The restaurant must have dug my shorts and decided to frame the picture and hang it on their wall. Click on it to see the full sized version.
 

11 May 2004
Bali was an epic adventure and I already cannot wait to go back. Our last day in Bali, we were blessed with incredible surf at Impossibles. Unfortunately, Alana got a nasty beating from the merciless reef but we all had amazing waves. It was pretty tricky in a way because everytime we got off of a wave, we were standing in a couple of feet of water. Paddling back to the line-up without ruining our boards proved to be a challenge. I've made up my mind and decided that Indo is my current favorite destination in the world.
 

5 May 2004
We've been surfing Uluwatu for the past two days and it has been going off! Fortunately, we've all managed to escape the wrath of the reef. We'll probably spend the rest of our time here surfing Uluwatu.
 

3 May 2004
Yesterday we were in Nusa Lembongan and took a boat out to Shipwrecks and surfed for 3 hours straight on empty stomachs. The waves were great and the line-up was packed especially with over forty guys fighting for the same peak. I met a ten-year-old kid named Putu, who was out in the line-up doing his thing. He didn't speak English, but after exchanging several smiles I think we both knew that we shared a common bond. More than anything, we were both pretty happy to be out there. There was even a guy filming on the outside, just like what you would see in a magazine. It was a great day to say the least, despite the crowds. The fresh snapper is quite delicious here. One night all eight of us gorged ourselves and ate over two pounds of it each. Now we're back at Impossibles beach and it feels like home. The search for the perfect wave continues...
 

28 April 2004
Bali is amazing. Falling asleep and waking up to the sound of crashing waves, and surfing past sundown are all part of another typical day in Bali. Today we surfed some backside barrels at Bingin and had the time of our lives. We've been staying at a sweet bungalow type place right on the beach, spending all of our time surfing and eating. So far only Michelle had a run-in with the reef, but she's definitely alright. I think that I could stay here for the rest of my life. Embrace the journey. Enjoy the destination.
 

24 April 2004
Reuben will be surfing in Bali, Indonesia for two weeks. Please pray that him and his friends don't get too thrashed up against the reef!
 

19 April 2004
Congratulations to the Pepperdine University class of 2004! Enjoy it while it lasts and continue to take advantage of every single opporunity. I'm thinking about you guys.
Shine On,
Reuben <><
 

                 

15 April 2004
Reuben had a not so friendly run in with the reef surfing at Oura. He got caught between a rock (several to be exact) and a hard place. The damage: 3 minor boards dings and a lot less skin on the bottom of his feet. In fact, the board made it out in much better shape than Reuben did. That's what he gets for calling in sick and going surfing though he claims that he really was sick. I'm sure his office will believe that one. He's adamant about claiming victory over the reef in Indonesia.
 

27 March 2004
Reuben takes on Okinawa, thanks to his office which gave him a week off of work to study Japanese at a private school on Ishigaki island. He nearly missed his ferry from Kagoshima to Naha, which took 19 hours. He probably won't be using the ferries anymore after sleeping on the floor sandwiched between two random Japanese dudes. Reuben got kicked a few times throughout the night, which was nothing compared to the bumpy ferry ride. He hopped on another ferry from Naha to Ishigaki which only took 14 hours and was much better because he had a bed to sleep on. Okinawa was sweetness minus the rain.
 

19 March 2004
Reuben, Patrick, Michelle, and Garth have the time of their lives snowboarding deep powder in Niseko, Hokkaido. Patrick comments on the snow conditions by saying, "I can't believe it's not butter." In fact, the conditions were so good that Patrick and Reuben snowboarded for 11 hours straight without even breaking for lunch. They rode deep, untracked powder each day until their bodies failed them, and then afterwards they would feast on Hokkaido delicacies such as king crab. They were so desperate for fresh powder that they even rode an unmarked area laced with warning signs claiming that "most people found in this area were found dead." Reuben went on to say that Hokkaido rivals some of the most world renown places such as the Swiss Alps. They had a trip of a lifetime to say the least, and it's safe to say that Hokkaido is one of the greatest treasures that Japan has to offer.
 

                 

24 October 2003
Reuben got hit by a car while racing to work on his bicycle. Luckily, he walked away with no major injuries, a day off of work, a brand new red mountain bike, and enough insurance money to cover a brand new pair of sneakers and a winter coat. He was moving much faster than the car that hit him. The funny part is that the bike that got hit was a very old bike without brakes and was given to Reuben for free.