2010
Salam from Sleepy Ubud
14 October 2010
All quiet on the paradise front. Reading, swimming, playing scrabble and Boggle, going on short trips with friends, watching the rice grow. (It's getting a hit of pure sunshine at the moment- no rain for two whole days - wow!)
One of the neighbour's chickens is laying her eggs in our shrine- an ornamental box set on the wall outside where offerings are made to protect the house. She is obviously offering her eggs to the gods - direct! I am taking the four eggs to the neighbour on my way past later- he can raise the chicks- or eat the eggs!
One of the neighbour's chickens is laying her eggs in our shrine- an ornamental box set on the wall outside where offerings are made to protect the house. She is obviously offering her eggs to the gods - direct! I am taking the four eggs to the neighbour on my way past later- he can raise the chicks- or eat the eggs!
Josh's wrist is still very swollen and not functioning - he is doing all the right things in terms of bandage, ice, elevation - and has been given a herbal poultice by the silat teacher who does not think it is broken, but I would like confirmation of that. It has been nearly four days now.
Saw Jasmin and Putu, the pembantu's daughter yesterday, for Putu's birthday - she is two months younger than Jasmin - speaking amazing English just from being around Jasmin and the family. We had bought her a bright cotton dress in pink and purple, like the ones I bring home as gifts for kids in Oz. Stunning designs and patterns. Putu gets lots of Jasmin's hand-me-downs but I wanted her to have a new pretty dress of her own. The one I got is long, but she looks so gorgeous in it. She seemed pretty pleased with it! Jasmin of course wanted to open it for her, and to open the card. Putu had been back to the village the day before with her mum to see her father for her actual birthday and had had a cake there, but no presents. Not the Balinese thing, but Putu has seen enough of the fuss made at Jasmin's birthday parties to know what they area all about..
On Tuesday I went back to Kamasan village with two friends who stayed on after the Festival - one of them Barbara Bicego, is another PhD student with the same supervisor at Sydney University as Siobhan, so was keen to see her set up. Having been there twice before, I was happy to go yet again, as "guide", but also to go on later to lunch at a place Siobhan had told me about in the hills nearby. Siobhan did not join us for that though, as she had to get on with her work after being a volunteer at the festival for a week in Ubud. The village she sent us to is so lovely and unspoilt and has a beautiful losmen called Lihat Sawah ("Look at the rice fields") where we had lunch up on a high balcony of our own, overlooking the view. It is so perfect that I am only going to tell you the name and location of this little valley on special request. We are going to keep it a secret from the travelling hordes, OK? I will take you there when you come to Ubud with me one day. The very swish losmen is only the equivalent of $55 p n for two with breakfast and dinner and there are lots of walks from there.
Yesterday morning the same two women, Barbara and Deirdre were keen to see the Bird Park where we took Jasmin for her 3rd birthday last year. Alas, Jasmin was in school or we would have taken her again. Great bird show of all the exotic macaws and hornbills flying free (they must know they are on to a good thing there and do not try to fly off) Amidst these exotics creatures, out waddles a huge flock of ducks following the keepers flag on a stick (he was dressed up as a Balinese peasant!) Also we got to watch the mating rituals of a male peacock - they brought out a peahen and he paraded his finery in front of her for a long time while the bird show took place over their heads, but she showed no obvious interest. Fabulous photo op for all us tourists! Also later watched the raptors doing their stuff and flying free - catching food in mid air and swooping down to take it off a tray on the head of a volunteer from the audience. The park has an excellent breeding and conservation program. Apparently all the birds that get to fly free have been bred in the Park and are conditioned to come back.
I have been visiting Deirdre at her nearby Hotel Beji (named for the spring there), to swim laps in their excellent pool, overhung with great trees and with a beautiful gorge below. Will soon be back at the city indoor pool in Sydney with a roof instead of such a pretty view. Deirdre is a keen swimmer too.
So as you can see, not much to report compared to last week, but could not keep up that pace for long! Am reading India Dark, the novel about the Pollard scandal.
I have been visiting Deirdre at her nearby Hotel Beji (named for the spring there), to swim laps in their excellent pool, overhung with great trees and with a beautiful gorge below. Will soon be back at the city indoor pool in Sydney with a roof instead of such a pretty view. Deirdre is a keen swimmer too.
So as you can see, not much to report compared to last week, but could not keep up that pace for long! Am reading India Dark, the novel about the Pollard scandal.