Forbidden Nights at Ocean Beach Club

On Saturday night I was billed as the headline act for the Ocean Beach Club - a massive outdoor club and restaurant with a huge pool and a floating dance floor. Justin and Natalie, our generous hosts, joined us as we watched the pre-gig show with fire dancers and acrobats.

At around midnight, I climbed up to the DJ booth to get ready for my set (the DJ booth is on top of a tower overlooking the club). As soon as I played my first record, the crowd went wild. To say that it was a great gig would be an understatement. The club was at full capacity with 2,000 people. At one point, people started jumping into the pool and a couple of professional dancers dressed in kinky outfits joined us in the DJ booth!

Justin, Natalie and Lisa (our new San Franciscan friend) escaped the mayhem down below and joined me up on the tower to dance the night away. However, one of the club's investors, Chris, decide to create mischief by ordering plenty of Redbull and vodkas for us.

At 2am I finished my set and handed over to the German DJ Andy D'Lux while we all headed home for quiet drinks.

Amy and I woke up the next afternoon at 3pm! Having totally missed our opportunity to head surfing, we went straight back to the Ocean Beach Club so that I could DJ again, this time while the sun was setting over the ocean. Speaking as a DJ, it doesn't really get much better than this.

I know I shouldn't show off, but I can't help it!

This is the ridiculous Balinese villa that we have for the next 5 days free of charge, simply because superstar DJ Adrian Ma is playing a few gigs here this weekend. We have our own POOL, people!

I don't quite know how I can return to normal backpacker mode after this, sigh.

DJing at a beach party & a public apology to the thirsty customers...

Last night I DJ'd at a beach bar here on tranquil Gili Trawangan. It was a miracle that they have the equipment I need, seeing as though technology isn't this place's forte. In fact the most sophisticated form of transport here is a horse drawn carriage (there are no roads) and most places don't have electricity until sunset.

Anyway, Amy and I arrived to a packed party at around midnight and quickly made friends with a Dutch couple who introduced us to more people. Amy chatted with them while I set to work behind the turntables. I surveyed the crowd and decided that a 90s megamix of classic house tunes was the order of the night.

While I was playing, reports were coming back to me that the bar staff were too busy dancing to serve any customers. The problem of getting served at the bar was further exasperated by the fact that a load of revellers had taken to dancing on the bar too.

So to the thirsty customers of Tir Na Nag last night, I'd like to apologise for the long wait for your drinks. He hee...

More friends of the deep

Another day, another dive - my 10th already, and Adrian's 13th. We saw three white tipped reef sharks, and several of these beautiful green turtles (sadly this shot is complete with annoying arm of fellow diver - does he not know you aren't supposed to touch marine life/ruin other people's photos??!). And below is an Oriental Sweetlips - sweet!

If you go into the sea today....