Things Move Slowly, but the Time Goes By Quickly

(Note:  Our internet connection here is very spotty, and to avoid running up huge international roaming charges, I may have to dial back on the number of photos.  I’ll post more when we get a solid connection in town some afternoon or maybe later this evening.)

Greetings from beautiful, wet, and friendly Bali! We originally thought this would be a very laid back trip, and certainly the longest that we've ever stayed in one place.  However, since Shanti and Skyler are with us for only a few days, we decided to do as many tourist things as possible this week.  Easier said than done, given the logistics, traffic, heat,  torrential afternoon rainstorms, and the slow pace of Bali.  But where did the time go?

As near as I can recall, we: 

• Wandered through country roads, paths, fields, forests, and village streets

Mini temple in the UNESCO site

• Shopped in the tourist town of Ubud
• Attended yoga and/or stretching classes at Yoga Barn (yoga and spas are a huge business here.)

Yoga Barn

• Attended a Rotary meeting (more about that sometime later)
• Hiked through some spectacular rice paddies, which are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Rice terraces at the UNESCO World Heritage Sit

Typical offering shrine

Traveled to see the sacred Batukau mountain and temple in a rainstorm of biblical proportions

• Had very good $12 massages in a nearby village spa
• learned a lot at a half-day cooking class in a rural home, which included a visit to the market beforehand
• Enjoyed many spicy and delicious local dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Feasted on papaya and mangos for breakfast, and cheap smoothies or Bintang beer at lunch and dinner
• Wandered into numerous art galleries in our village
• Engaged in countless conversations with the locals and with each other.
• Played cards and read books

About to eat our own cooking

Going to market before our cooking class

Tomorrow (Thursday) we are going to take an organized bicycle tour in a different part of the island, then we have reservations for a renowned place that serves Balinese crispy duck.  Skyler leaves Saturday and Shanti leaves Sunday. 

After that, Kathy and I will try to do something we really don’t know how to do—simply do nothing.  However, it might be easier than we think.  With the friendly people, the lush greenery, ornate architecture, sculptures, the fragrant aromas of flowers and incense, music, and art, there is an abundance of beauty to simply savor.  (We’ve learned from previous trips to countries like these to see past the garbage, pollution, noise, and dysfunctional infrastructure.)