2011
Bali Bird Park
2 October 2011
As you can see we're back in business! The camera that broke when I was here in August and left with Yoga, has been repaired and is working like a dream so there are photos today! Missed a lot of opportunities of Jasmin twirling in her red poppy dress, and standing at the stove on a chair in her blue and white chef's cap and apron, but they might arise again. However yesterday at the Bird Park there were many more! I took Alex and Yoga's youngest, Alby with us, picking him up on the way. The two kids had such wonderful time tearing off to see yet another amazing colourful bird, with me tearing along behind them. Many of the birds fly free and sit on perches throughout the gardens, others are in large cages or huge aviaries like the one at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Peacocks wander at will. The kids took in the information about each bird from clever little illustrations on the signboards showing how they nest and what they eat - at their age they don't recognise maps yet. We saw the raptor show - grand birds diving over our heads and swooping down for food, or catching it in the air. Even saw the Brahminy kite perform that is the subject of one of the stories I’ve just translated for the festival - its cry is like a cat! And in the story, the village people (Bataks of North Sumatra) are terrified when one flies over their local graveyard and lets out its cry - it means someone in the village will die. Four huge colourful macaws were let fly free during the show - they zoom off into the distance and come back a few minutes later - except they didn't - or not for quite some time. They were determined to make the most of the adventure - but know where the food source is.
When we got home I was weak-kneed with exhaustion. Anne had stopped off at a spa for a manicure and Jasmin, after a nap in the car, was ready to play - she brought 5-6 of the neighbours’ kids in and they played at full volume while I tried to rest a bit. Later after some of the noisier ones had gone home I got up off my couch and went outside to find three little girls creating a beautiful floral arrangement over Snuffler's grave. Then all the little girls and Jazz had a hot shower together and washed their hair - a real treat for them as they don't have hot water. (We didn't either, for some time after!!) The bathroom looked like Noah had been there, but fortunately Indonesian bathrooms are designed for this!
Not sure what Sunday will bring. No plans as yet. It's been raining all night and the mist is just rising from the rice fields now as the sun rises.
Not sure what Sunday will bring. No plans as yet. It's been raining all night and the mist is just rising from the rice fields now as the sun rises.