2012
Eventful Last Day
13 October 2012
Oh no! Writing in Notes on my iPad I have just accidentally pressed "cut" and lost my entire description of the wedding! No "undo" button on an iPad. I am learning the hard way.
Back to the beginning. Am sitting by the pool of my hotel down at the coast the morning after the wedding. Yesterday was the historic 10th anniversary of the Bali Bombing and our PM is down the road at a memorial ceremony as I write. This hotel is only a kilometre away from the bomb sites. Such terrible things occurred here 10 years ago. My heart is with the victims, both Indonesian and foreign, of those criminal acts, but I have decided not to try to take part in any of the memorial events today. Not through fear of further terrorist attacks, but a horror of the crowds and traffic down here. Can't wait to get back to peaceful Ubud. My Ubud driver friend Ketut is coming to get me soon.
Now to the wedding, again! A grand affair indeed. Handsome couple and entourage. Will let the photos speak for themselves. The guys all looked like federal police, in their black suits and sunnies! (Some of them are!) Most of the attendants were Peng's siblings and relations - half the Chinese population of Christmas Island was there!
Back to the beginning. Am sitting by the pool of my hotel down at the coast the morning after the wedding. Yesterday was the historic 10th anniversary of the Bali Bombing and our PM is down the road at a memorial ceremony as I write. This hotel is only a kilometre away from the bomb sites. Such terrible things occurred here 10 years ago. My heart is with the victims, both Indonesian and foreign, of those criminal acts, but I have decided not to try to take part in any of the memorial events today. Not through fear of further terrorist attacks, but a horror of the crowds and traffic down here. Can't wait to get back to peaceful Ubud. My Ubud driver friend Ketut is coming to get me soon.
Now to the wedding, again! A grand affair indeed. Handsome couple and entourage. Will let the photos speak for themselves. The guys all looked like federal police, in their black suits and sunnies! (Some of them are!) Most of the attendants were Peng's siblings and relations - half the Chinese population of Christmas Island was there!
It took place in a luxury hotel, on the rooftop with a view of Kuta Beach below. Magnificent setting. Short ceremony with an English speaking Protestant pastor - just the vows, no religious input. Then down to the beach garden for photos and drinks as the famous Kuta Beach sunset strutted its glorious stuff! Back up for a magnificent buffet dinner and an endlessly flowing bar. Beautiful table settings and a gift bag with a big fluffy towel for each of us on the chair. I sat with Mike's colleagues, all international investigators of some sort. Nice to be surrounded by so many handsome young men. Knew the big guy in the photo from before – a gentle giant, also AFP - had given him some lessons too, when he was up visiting Mike a few years ago. There were some Indonesian police heavies too, but although I had been seated at a table with them, they did not stay for the reception, so I did not meet them. Having left the AFP, Mike is now specialising in investigating international crimes in the sporting world. He is moving base back to Jakarta later this month from KL.
Entertainment with exotic fire dancers, doing dangerous things in a confined space. Also a clever slide cum video presentation of Mike and Peng's life and messages from family who couldn't be there. Great disco music but I left by about 10.30 before all the young people really went for it on the dance floor. A photo booth was set up too with lots of silly props. Needless to say I avoided being lured into it in a silly wig! There was a wonderful atmosphere of joy and fun the whole night. I am so pleased I was in Bali and invited to be part of it. Lucky me!
Best thing was seeing Mike and his parents again. Big hugs with Mike. He really believes his lessons with me were vital to his success with the language which has made his career up here.
Dropped by for lunch with Alex and her mum, and Yoga was home too. My only chance to visit their beautiful place this trip. When Cathy and I are here in December after the Spice Islands boat trip, we've been invited to stay a night or two.
Off home tomorrow night.
Best thing was seeing Mike and his parents again. Big hugs with Mike. He really believes his lessons with me were vital to his success with the language which has made his career up here.
Dropped by for lunch with Alex and her mum, and Yoga was home too. My only chance to visit their beautiful place this trip. When Cathy and I are here in December after the Spice Islands boat trip, we've been invited to stay a night or two.
Off home tomorrow night.