More From Ubud, Bali

Greetings From Ubud, Bali!

We are up in the hills away from the beach in Ubud.  For those of you who have read Elizabeth Gilbert's book, EAT, LOVE, PRAY, this is the town she lives in on Bali for four months.  I know Glen has already told you a bit about it.  It is beautiful here.  A lot more people than I expected, but still has a small town feel.

Today we did the tourist thing and took a bike tour, which was great fun.
The tour company picked us up at our hotel a bit before 8:00 am and drove us to the rim of one of the many volcanoes on Bali,  We had a wonderful breakfast of banana pancakes and fruit at a restaurant looking over the volcano crater.  The last time this particular volcano erupted was only four months ago!  I made my own fire and smoke at breakfast!!! I didn't want to admit this particular incident, but I guess omitting it would not be fair~ so I give you permission to all enjoy a little laugh at my expense, as this was such a typical 'Carrie' type move!  (I don't know how Glen put's up with me!)  Anyway, we went to the breakfast buffet where I picked up a plate and napkin.  As always, my napkin was just sort of tucked under the plate in my hand, as I proceeded to get a bit of pineapple from the buffet, my napkin caught fire from the little candle tucked in among the fruit.  Since my napkin was under my plate, I didn't even know it was on fire until my hand got hot and flames were licking out from under the side of the plate.  I just put the plate down and tried to snuff the napking fire out, our wonderful guide grabbed the napkin with a pair of tongs and stamped it out!
So, after a wonderful breakfast, we loaded back in the van, and went down the road to a coffee plantation where they were growing, picking, and roasting the coffee on site and had a bit of a sampling.  For those of you who have seen the movie the BUCKET LIST, you might remember that one of the things on his 'Bucket List' (Things to do before you die) was having this special coffee which was made from coffee beans that a particular monkey eats, then poohs out, then they go around the forest and pick it up & clean the beans and make coffee.  They make this coffee at this plantation.  They don't sample it though as it is very expensive, and sells for about $40.00 per cup!
(Speaking of Bucket lists, the Giant Manta Rays we saw diving the other day were one of the things on MY Bucket List, But I digress ~ This post is getting a bit long winded!)
After the coffee plantation, where we also tasted some wonderful tropical fruits I haven't had before, we drove down the road a little bit more and got on our bikes.  The tour brochure says that the bike ride is 25km downhill, no problem, all downhill I can handle that, even though I am not in the best shape ~ It doesn't however mention the 10km UPHILL, at the end of the ride!  We had a great time flying down the hills of Bali, greeting the HALLOO's of the children, while avoiding the potholes, trucks, and many motor bikes!  Great fun!  When we got to the uphill portion of the ride, the tour company gives you the option of riding or hopping in the van.  I only made it uphill for about 2-3km, Glen did the whole uphill trip in good form.
At the end of the bike ride, we were rewarded with a fantastic Lunch of Smoked Duck & Chicken, along with other Balinese specialties.  All washed down with a large cold BINTANG beer.  Bintang isn't really the best ever beer, but it was better than usual after the bike ride!
Finally, back in the van, and dropped off at our guest house.

After a quick shower, we walked a short bit up the road and went to a spa for a 1 hour traditional Balinese Massage. This was one of the best massages I have had, all for the grand sum of $70,000 rupiah (~$9.00).
We are going back for another one tomorrow!

Cheery Wave,
Carrie

Shrines!

One of my favorite things about Bali are the shrines.  They are everywhere.  These are not temples, but small shrines where offerings are made to the gods to bring blessings & safety.  First thing in the morning everyday, an offering of flowers & incense, as well as rice, and sometimes a bit of fruit is  placed in each shrine, or on the porch or walkway leading to the door, the offering is sprinkled with water (By a flower blossom dipped in water) and prayed over for a very brief moment. 

We have watched this ritual take place each morning since arriving the Bali & now Nusa Lombongan. Regardless of religious beliefs, Glen and I have both been very touched by this act.  It seems a fitting way to begin a day ~ a simple act of recognition of the blessings in your life ~ and the hope that good fortune & good health will come your way!

Blessings to you all,
Carrie

We're diving now

   Ok this could take forever because I have the worn out keyboard and I have to guess at some of the letters. Ok we made it to Nusa Lembongan... to catch up, we got to Sanur at just before  4 pm ...the same time as the last ferry to Nusa Lembongan and of course it pulled away as we were paying for the tickets. It was actually allright cause they we're trying rip us off anyways, they had us paying for the fast boat and were going to put us on the slow public boat. Speaking of the ripping off stuff... you know your paying the foreigner price, they know ,you know, your getting ripped off, or at least after a while you realize your getting ripped off. But really they're ripping you off by 20 or 30 cents , maybe a dollar, in the long run maybe it makes a difference, but really in my mind it's the game you play. They play it , you play it, sometimes you lose , sometimes you win ...no harm , no foul.. we won on the bus the other day, he shrugged it off, just the way it goes.
  So we ended up staying in Sanur for the night, we ended up staying at the hotel right next to the ferry dock, right on the beach, all for $20 US...who would have thought.OK not the greatest hotel in the world but close to all the happening stuff, ( not that, that mattered , cause I think we were in bed by 9 or 10 , something old like that) decent mattress, NO call to prayer and tea waiting on our veranda ( fancy huh!!)( is that the word for table outside our room?) in the morning.
  So the guide book says: and I can't remember the exact quote, but it's something like: there is no dock, the ferry just comes into shore, YOU WILL GET WET!! so.... don't be a dumbass and bring your wheeled luggage through the sand...people will laugh at you. TA DAH...a whole bunch of dumbasses.
   We're staying at a pretty nice place on the beach, the island is a little more developed than we expected, but still it's very nice...hmmm seem to be doing alot of staring at the screen so I will get out of here with this: Saw Nemo today, I was very excited to see him , we exchanged pleasantries, he said to say hi and hoped everything was well...great fish!!

love you all
glen