What is the main conflict in The Rum Diary: The Long Lost Novel by Hunter S. Thompson?

Paul Kemp gets drunk before boarding the plane to Puerto Rico in order to better endure the flight. Before he boards, he sees a beautiful girl who he would like to meet boarding the same plane. Paul rushes to grab the only two open seats side by side in order to entice the girl to sit beside him, but an old man takes the seat Paul has saved for the girl. Paul attempts to move the man and is accused of battery. The girl gets away, setting the tone for Paul's entire night. Once Paul arrives in San Juan and settles in his hotel, he goes out to find a restaurant for dinner, but cannot find a suitable one. Paul decides to go to the offices of the paper he has come to work for, The San Juan Daily News.