Wedding in Bali!

Tues, Jan 26, 2010
Today I was invited to a wedding! Like so many things in Bali, this was an impromptu invitation. Komang is a wonderful young Balinese boy (all of 19 years old) who works at the bungalows as a security person. I can't imagine how he could possibly protect property or person with his tiny frame and boyish grin, but he walks up and down the stairs past the 4 bungalows all through the night, keeping us tourists safe and secure. He also serves me breakfast each morning before he goes home for a sleep. So this morning he offered to take me to his friend's wedding. Keep in mind today is Tuesday....who gets married on a Tuesday? And the wedding starts at 10, I'm told. "I'd love to go, but will it be okay?" I ask. Komang laughs, "Of course okay! He will be happy you go to his wedding."
So the plan is secured: I dress as appropriately as I know how: sarong, sash and blouse. I organise to rent a motor scooter from Kadek; I go to Komang's house and have coffee while he and his wife get ready (yes, he is married and his wife is 4 1/2 months pregnant); Ketut, his wife, takes me inside and re-dresses me (I thought I looked good but they obviously thought otherwise); photos are taken, and then off we go!

I have only once before ridden a motor scooter and that was over 30 years ago in Barbado's. I took more risks then and had no fear of the what if's. You know, what if I fall off? What if a car hits me? What if I have to be taken to a hospital? Is there even a hospital close by? Will the insurance cover the costs? These are the things one contemplates after growing older and wiser. Yet for some reason I feel so free and fearless here in Bali! Yes, free and fearless, that's me. So, I throw caution to the wind, pull up my sarong to my crotch, hop on my scooter and fly off down the road, following close behind Komang and Ketut (K & K).

We arrive at the wedding 20 minutes later and the festivities have already begun. It has been raining so tarps are covering the compound and guests are sitting on bamboo bures, the men in one section singing and drinking Arak (the very potent local alcohol, tasting a bit like metho), the women in another section, laughing and chatting. Another group of women are making offerings and in a far corner I can see the food being prepared on open fires. I sit and smile and try to look like I'm having a good time. It's a bit awkward. I've never been to a wedding that I wasn't actually invited to.
They all seem happy that I am there. Some of the men take photos of me.I am a novelty to them. I ask Komang if it would be okay for me to take some photos. "Of course!" He assures me.So I walk arund, trying to be discreet, taking photos. When I get to the men's section, many of them, in their Arak induced merry state, summon me to point my camera in their direction, smiling and giving the V sign.
Lunch was a banquet of spicy dishes: pork, satay chicken on sticks, hibiscus flowers and other vegetables, and lovely looking pig intestines! We served ourselves on bamboo plates with brown paper and ate on our lap. It was like good Aussie BBQ! There was a lot of laughter and high energy and I enjoyed it very much.
In my next blog I'll continue the story because after the wedding, we headed off on a 1 1/2 hour scooter ride up into the hills to visit Ketut's Mother and Grandmother.

 

Ketut and Komang, dressed for the wedding.

The Arak is in the jug and was being poured and shared amongst the men.

 

  

The Bride with Ketut

Snorkeling and Meditation!

Two things I wanted to do while in Amed: snorkel and meditate. I just realised today that they are both the same thing. For 5 days in a row, I have awoken to the amazing chorus of birds, the soft lapping of waves, roosters crowing, and the drone of motorbikes. Before leaving my super king-size bed, I do a few yoga stretches and settle into meditation, still surrounded by mosquito netting and a gentle breeze from the overhead fan. Finding that alpha level comes easier here than anywhere I have ever been, perhaps due to the spiritual energy of Bali, perhaps simply because I have no distractions, no plans for the day, no job to get to, no phones that might ring.
Twenty or thirty minutes later I emerge from my bed and greet the world outside my door. "Ah, what a beautiful day!" I say the same thing everyday, because, quite frankly, it is beautiful in every sense of the word. I am surrounded by green shrubs and vines with colourful flowers and scents; in the near distance are palm trees, shimmering and vibrating in the early morning sunshine, and then off in the distance is the Bali Sea, calling to me in her enticing way, to walk the kilometre or so and enter her world.
Under her spell, I devour my breakfast and I head off for my second meditation of the day: snorkeling.
Winding my way along the narrow, hilly road, motorbike riders frequently stop and ask: "Where are you going? You want a ride?" Young children wave from their besser brick homes or small shops: " Hello. You want to buy a necklace? I have beautiful necklaces." "No thanks," I call back. I stop at the headland to catch my breath and to admire Jemuluk Bay from this vantage point. Excitement rises as I approach yet another day of experiencing this incredible underwater aquarium.
The water is almost as warm as the air, and as I slip into its hidden realm, I am instantly transported to a different place. Meditation is the same.In both the mind is emptied of all trivialities as it is given something to focus on; in meditation a mantra, the breath or a specific concept; with snorkeling, each fish, each piece of coral, every movement. There is inner silence in both endeavours. Both have the ability to bring inner peace and a joy that is indescribable. I think it's because they both suspend time and one can experience living in the present.

The Blue Star Cafe has a laid back charm about it, fantastic, inexpensive meals and juices and the kindest, most genuine Balinese people running it.

They also have a bungalow next to the cafe that they rent. You can get up in the morning and be from bed to bay and exploring the reef in less than 3 minutes. It is very similar to the bungalow I am staying in.

The road from Bunutan to Jemuluk.

Along the road to Jemeluk Bay, I pass a small shop. This young boy is there most days and his exhausted mother takes a morning siesta (she's probably been up since 4:30 getting the kids, husband and shop organised for another day). I love the tv. I don't know where the electricity came from but it was working!

The bungalow is basic but adequate. A huge bed downstairs and another double bed in the upstairs loft, make it suitable for 3 people.

Beautiful Jemuluk Bay, where I go snorkeling everyday. Only 50 metres offshore is a coral garden, teaming with fish life. The colours, shapes and silence take me into another world.

I can take a cool shower in the great outdoors and under the moon at night.

Every morning I have a plate of fresh fruit delivered to my veranda and either eggs on toast or a pancake (with lemon or banana) and a cup of tea. It's such a healthy way to start the day.

My fellow resident! Actually he has a wife and a child as well! So, the 4 of us happily sit outside in the evenings; they busily catching moths and mosquitoes; me reading or writing. In Bali the gecko represents good luck, so I am happy to share my veranda with them.

 

My front veranda for the next 6 weeks. It's a welcoming sight when I've been out for the day.

 

Sunrise from the loft.

Side-by-Side Farm Visit

I have always felt drawn to do some sort of aid work. When I was in my early 20's I wanted to go to Africa and help with all those poor little kiddies with swollen stomachs. Realising I needed something to offer, I embarked on a nursing career, but found I hated it! Then I had 2 children of my own and of course got distracted with them for 20 or so years! I realise everything happens as it is meant to happen, so I have no regrets. But when someone says there is a need somewhere that I might be able to help with, I get excited. Such was the case when I met Pamela, on the night before I left Bali on my last trip. Call it destiny or serendipity....Pamela and I became email buddies and her project in Bali is one of the reasons I am returning there. Pamela is quite an amazing woman who has dedicated her life to helping Balinese women who are disenfranchised....women who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves on their own, sometimes with children. The culture in Bali dictates that these women are no longer valued. They were dependent on their husbands and now that their husbands have died or left, they are alone, with no skills to earn a living. So, they and their children suffer immensely. Is this fair? Of course not. But it is the way it is. Pamela found a group of women in this predicament and decided to help. Thus was born the side-by-side farm project.
If you want more details, please check out this link:
http://sites.google.com/site/sidebysidefarmorg/

One of the plans when I go to Bali is to visit the Side-By-Side Farm. I hope to offer something to them, perhaps some of my permaculture skills. Maybe something more concrete: I will be taking 3 little pigs and 3 fruits trees as donations on behalf of my 2 children (Christmas presents) and my sister (who is celebrating her 50th birthday in Bali). Stay tuned for photos of the 3 little pigs as they are delivered to Side-by-Side Farm on Feb 3, 2010. It should be fun!

Where on Earth is Amed?

Here is a map of the area in East Bali that I will be spending 5 of the 6 weeks. Bunutan is the name of the village where I'm staying. This whole coastline is only 11 kms long and as you drive along, you pass through one small fishing village after another. There are hotels, backpacker places and restaurants and cafes, but it's all very low key. That is what I love about it. 

I was just thinking that in one week from right now as I write this I will be in Bali either snorkeling at Jemeluk Bay or sitting on my veranda relaxing after a morning of snorkeling! Whichever way, I will be living out one of my dreams:

Spending time in an exotic place

Far away from the rat race

Living day to day

Moment to moment

Adjusting to a slower pace.

 

Amed: Here I come!

This will be the view from my little bungalow in Amed, Bali. Sunrise is a beautiful time of the day to get up and meditate and do a few yoga asanas before having a delicious breakfast delivered to my patio.

Surrounded by frangipani, palm trees, and bougainvillea, the patio encourages a lovely balmy breeze.

My New Blog! First stop: Bali!

I don't know a lot about Blogging, except it is a common vehicle for transferring lots of information to lots of people. Did you know that something like 150,000 people in Brisbane alone have a blog? Wew! that's a lot of people sitting in front of a computer screen, doing exactly what I am doing right now. Why am I doing this? Well, basically, I love to write, and as I am heading off to Bali in 11 days (not that I'm counting!) and am leaving behind family, friends, husband, children and clients (sorry everyone!) I thought maybe people might like to follow my journey. It will be an inner as well as outer journey as I embark on this new stage in my life. I am hoping to blog at least once a week, perhaps every Wednesday (since I'm leaving on a Wed), as long as I have computer and internet access. Actually, I will try my best to blog every Wed, but may not get internet access for a few weeks so I will publish all the posts at once when I can. Does that sound fair?
I'm going to Bali for 6 weeks. The first week I will be in Amed, a place 2 1/2 hours from the Denpaser Airport and Kuta Beach and all the touristy attractions. I chose this place last August when my husband, my girlfriend and I spent 3 weeks travelling around Bali. We arrived at our accommodation in Amed and I had this overwhelming feeling that I would be back at this place for an extended break/retreat. As our time in Bali progressed, I didn't want to return home. I fell in love with the country and its people.
So, as I prepare to return to this beautiful Island of the Gods, come with me! Experience what I am experiencing and enjoy the journey!