We have been really enjoying Bali. It is a wonderful place, no doubt. Many restaurants, activities, culture, shops, spas, scenery, art, and so much more. So different from any other place in the country, likely owed to the prevalence of a local variety of Hinduism.
There are an awful lot of tourists here, we can only imagine what it must be like during dry season (high season here). What is unique is that tourism does not seem to have modified the Balinese way of life. They are as respectful and joyous, and greet you with big smiles, just the same, they are not pushy, and prices are really no higher here than anywhere else we've visited. It's mind-blowing how you can go from being in total tranquility and silence to being stuck in traffic in a vibrant environment.
So, what have we done these past couple of days? Well, to start, we've visited a temple located at the edge of a beautiful forest, where more than 1,700 macaque monkeys live. There is a monkey park in town, but it is so overcrowded, that the monkeys have become very aggressive, and all feeding is strongly forbidden. We had to drive a bit to get here, but these monkeys are very docile, friendly, and want to be fed. Just don't look them in the eye, to them it's a challenge. It was a great stop.
Hindu Deity
Diane didn't really want to. The monkey has a smirk.
Loved this place!
We did a bit of shopping, and in between, stopped at the Ubud Palace, the former residence of the local king. It was interesting and harmonic, but truly, there are so many similar places on this island, even in people's backyards. It's downright amazing how it all is so unique here.
We finally made it to a Balinese dance. This was more of a local operetta type of thing, but it was quite well done. The cast was comprised of 300 people, that filled a pretty large space. Most were men, singing local chants that were quite guttural and distinctive, it is difficult to explain. But man were they talented! And there were five ladies dancing to the story, with other costumed characters. My cellphone did not take well to taking photos with so much movement and diffused light, so pictures are scarce. Video did better.
They are not wearing masks, they are made-up yo look identical
Today we enjoyed morning at Tegenungan waterfall, a few kilometers away, then, after a nice lunch with a view, we headed to Keramas Beach, on the southeast coast, on the Indian Ocean. It was a pretty scene, but it is not a swimmer's beach, as the waves and undertow make it only ideal for surfing. But it was such a serene day; Diane enjoyed it, and that's wonderful.
The lady on the left, a Russian, owns this animal, who is actually a wolf, and not a dog.
Lastly I treated myself to a Balinese massage (sorry no photos). If I lived here I'd have one a week, it's so cheap! Like going to the bathroom (Forgive my humor, real sign).
Wednesday the biggest Hindu celebration will take place on Bali. It's to acknowledge al the people of Bali. Every native is contributing their labor is some way. I can only imagine how great it will be. Every street is being decorated with fronds of bamboo and palm, and who knows what else will be added. We have been told that all local women will don their Balinese traditional dress. We will have to miss it. If you are interested about Bali's amazing celebrations, I recommend you take a minute to peruse through this great synopsis https://finnsbeachclub.com/guides/bali-festivals-and-celebrations/
Tomorrow we'll be leaving this island very early in the morning. We have a 9 am flight and the airport is about an hour and a half away. We'll be heading somewhere vastly different, the island of Sumba. To give you an understanding, Bali receives approximately 30 million visitors a year, but Sumba only 20 a day, and the island is twice the size of Bali. That should sum it up. There are very few ATMs on Sumba, and we need to have a lot of Indonesian Rupiahs, since most transactions are cash only. Wi-fi will be spotty, if at all. We thought we'd tell you this, in case we won't be able to post the blog while there, but that may not be so. Either way, we'll let you know. Ciao, ciao from Diane and I, for now.
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