Phantom Sweepstakes winners receive a warm welcome in Bali. All Photos: PK

When things are bad in Indonesia, there’s only one person you can call. His name? Rizal Tanjung. And he immediately stepped in yesterday and made it all happen.

With rescue efforts fully underway in the Mentawais region and more horrific stories surfacing, our crew – including the Phantom Dream Trip winners -- handed off Waves for Water filters to Martin Daly and spent another day in transit yesterday to reach the fabled island of Bali. The place where people turn two-week “vacations” into five-year “spiritual transformations.” Where anything you want is available, all the time, for a very good price.

We’re currently located in a pair of villas overlooking Temples at Uluwatu. Waves are small, but winds are calm. Rob Machado is our spiritual leader.

The alaia-riding Moses led us through a “secret trail” this morning to the first surf we’ve had after five solid days of travel. “It’s definitely the kind of trail where you look over the edge and go, ‘Woah, that would suck if you fell,’” said Rob.

He was right. Lots of hesitation and tenderfooting. A few out-loud wishes for reef socks or booties. And, eventually we found ourselves paddling out for a fun little session at Temples. Combine that with an even better afternoon session around the corner, a barbecue with good company and a view that will never get old, and our Dream Trip winners are starting to sing praises of the “Bali Life.”

We continue to keep our eyes glued to the news and learn about 18-month-olds surviving in trees after the tsunami washed through their village. But for us, right here, right now, we can only do what the local people here do three times a day with their incense-infused “banten” offerings: say thank you.