Monday, April 2, 2012

Bali - Day Six

Well after a couple of days nursing my injuries in my hotel room, it was time to make the most of our last day in Bali. After our taxi driver picked us up we headed to Pura Besakih, also known as the Mother Temple. This is Bali's most important temple and has 23 separate but related temples within it. Upon arrival we had to purchase sarongs for all of us in order to enter the temple. I must admit... this was my favorite part. There were hundreds of beautiful batik fabrics to choose from. With such a huge selection narrowing it down to 4 took quite some time. The boys were good sports and allowed me to choose for them.
In the above photos is the main temple. It is here where you see a huge table of offerings and people praying. I'm not very knowledgable about Hinduism, but our guide was telling us this is where they worship the trinity.
As we climbed further up the steps toward the top end of the temple the view was fantastic. Our guide as seen posing with the boys toured us throughout the vast area.
As we reached the top of the temples we took in the view. The temple, as with most sights in Bali was absolutely beautiful. For me it held no religious significance, but for the people of Bali this is a sort of pilgrimage for them. I believe at least once a year they make their way to this place of worship perched in the mountains.
After leaving the temple we stopped en route for a photo op. Please excuse the miserable look on my face. With a mouthful of stitches I was unable to show my delight. From this spot you could see the ocean and the amazing rice paddy fields. For our last bit of fun in Bali we again headed to Ubud for some more shopping. I could have brought home a whole 20 ft container with all the things you could buy. The carved wood and baskets alone were amazing. But their was such amazing art and batik paintings also. I would love to come back as this truly was a trip of a lifetime and one that I can now cross off my bucket list!

Bali - Day Five

Today we woke up bright and early ready for an adventure. After speaking with our guides from our bike trip, they told us about a great place near our hotel for snorkelling. Apparently there was a Japanese wreck that was near the shore to see while snorkelling. So the night before we rented 2 scooters to take us on our journey to the dive sight.
Well, an adventure we had, but not the one planned. I took my scooter out for a bit of a "test drive" so I could get the feel of it. I must admit, I didn't feel confident on it. But I pressed on knowing what a day we had planned.
Hindsight - the ability to understand, after something has happened, what should have been done or what caused the event
Of course I know the definition of hindsight, but why do we so often ignore that voice in our head?
So as I made my way up the driveway from our hotel to the road with my pretty pink helmet sparkling in the sun... that still small voice was still ringing true.
There was a small lip that I had to ease my scooter over before I was officially "on the road" I'm still not sure if it was the small lip and I gave it too much gas, or the fact that I was now white knuckled with the throttle in what seemed like full speed ahead. But suddenly the bike was out of control and the inevitable happened. I hit a "parked pole" head on. So there I sat on the ground with the mangled bike at my side and my dear children rushing to pick me up.
I picked myself up and walked to the doctor praying that I still had my teeth. Funny how vanity still creeps in! So in broken English we managed to explain to the doctor what had happened. From there they started to stitch my mouth back together.
I can't tell you the fear that took over me. Had I broken my jaw or teeth? Was I going to be left with a huge scar on my face?
People talk about how life flashes before their eyes. One minute we were on our way for a fun filled day and seconds later mopping up blood on the side of the road.
I can only tell you I was lucky... or should I say blessed. As I sat in the stillness of my hotel room in the aftermath, I was overwhelmed with emotions.
There is a verse in the bible that immediately came to my mind.
Psalm 91:11 - For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
There were so many pieces of that day that all melded together in thankfulness. I came away with a big cut on the inside of my mouth, when what could have happened makes me shudder.

While we were away enjoying our holiday I didn’t feel particularly close to God as I
have been. If fact, if I’m honest I was
quite distracted and didn’t give God all I should have. If I compared my actions to my earthly
relationships my relationship would have been lacking. However, in that split second when I crashed
head first into the pole, God was there.
He sheltered me and made the impact hit where the damage would be
minimal. He was close regardless to the
distance I had put between us. That
kind of love is what any girl dreams about, a prince who would come to their
rescue. A prince who would lay aside
everything in order to save the girl he loves.
So even though I am still nursing my injuries... I am thankful!

Bali - Day Four

After a busy few days we decided to have a quiet day enjoying the hotel where we were staying. For the morning we spent the day relaxing by the pool, and then in the afternoon we went to the little town that was near to us. We rented a scooter so we didn't have to rely on taxi's for the 10 minute journey to the town. The boys (who were not driving the scooter, just posing for a shot) loved riding on the back of the scooter. In Bali, there are hundreds of scooters on the road at any given time. It was fun to ride like the locals with the wind in our face. After dropping the boys off at the hotel, Rob and I went for a ride on our own. We drove to a beach called, White Sand Beach. It was a really beautiful stretch of beach. We stayed for a short while and then started back to the hotel. On the way, we stopped for gas. The line ups to get gas for the scooters are always lengthy. There is usually 20 people in line throughout the day. We finished the day having dinner in a local restaurant. It was a great day, one that recharged our batteries ready for the next adventure.

Bali - Day Three :: Part 2

As we continued our ride with the wind blowing in our faces we came upon my favorite part of the trip. Down a small lane we crossed over into a rice paddy field. We rode along this narrow path next to a small stream that watered the rice. Along the way we came upon a man taking a bath in the stream. It brought a smile and a small giggle to our faces. As we took in the view of the fields I felt a sense of gratitude. The view was so lush and serene that I wished I could have sat there all day to take it in.
Further along we came upon some villagers harvesting the rice. They were gracious enough to let us try our hand at thrashing the stalks of rice. These people were such hard workers. Young and old were working the fields to ensure their staple of rice was available. It takes about 3 months from planting to harvesting for each rice crop. After harvesting they lay the rice on huge mats in the streets for about a week for the sun to dry them. From there the rice is put through a machine to remove the outer husk. In the bottom right picture of Rob is a sack of rice that the villagers will carry out on their heads. Each sack weighs approximately 50lbs.
As we carried along our route the boys would look for anywhere where they could jump their bikes.
Continuing down the way, our guides suddenly came to a stop. They grabbed a long branch and started to get this huge spider out of the tree. As for me, I was happy that it stayed in the tree, but the boys were eager to see it. The spider was not poisonous. I was shocked that Evan wanted to hold it. I was even more shocked as the spider wandered up to his face that he didn't bat it off. I wasn't so brave and kept my distance to take the photos!
After riding about 30km which was mostly coasting downhill, we were almost at the end. There was an option if you wanted to ride all the way to the restaurant (which was mostly uphill) or jump in the air-conditioned van and drive to restaurant. I'm sure you know which one I chose. The boys however, still had some energy to burn. They were such troopers. It was a hot day and they biked up the hills and rode on the busy rodes alongside the traffic. I enjoyed watching them from my cool location with my cold towel on my face. Finally when they looked like they had no more steam we pulled into the restaurant. We had an amazing Balinese feast including smoked duck and chicken satays. Such a perfect day and one I will remember forever!

Bali - Day Three :: Part 1

While planning our trip to Bali, a friend recommended a bike trip that she thought was amazing. And indeed it was. This really was the best day we had in Bali. We started that morning rather early. The tour company picked us up at our hotel at 7am and we drove about an hour and an half before arriving at our first stop. We had the most amazing breakfast overlooking the smoldering volcano, Mount Batur and the crater lake. This was the most stunning view we had seen in Bali. The boys were so eager to get on the mountain bikes that they ate their breakfast at record speed.
After breakfast, we again boarded the van and headed to a lush plantation full of crops like coffee, vanilla, cocoa, cloves, and fruits and vegetables. In the above photo of Evan we were able to taste cocoa straight from the tree. We were also able to roast and grind the coffee beans.
Before leaving the plantation we were given several types of coffee to try. Along with hot cocoa, lemongrass and ginseng tea. In the bottom left photo of Evan is an assortment of condiments on table. Nestled against the salt and pepper for your enjoyment was some tobacco and rolling papers! A first time I have seen this in a restaurant! Finally we were ready to board our bikes and start our tour through the heartland of Bali.
We traveled gently down the moutain, through village roads and were able to experience typical Balinese life. Our first stop was a visit to an actual Balinese home. The Balinese people share their compound with several other family members. It is tradition that any male children live in the family compound for life. That way there is always someone to take care of the aging parents. These people live so simply. In a way, I am envious. They are not reliant on electricity, fashion or material possession. They live peacefully with what they have and seem to be full of joy. One of the things I noticed about Bali was the way they use the land and what is available around them. You don't see empty styrofoam take away containers. Instead things are transported in beautiful woven baskets. The primary religion in Bali is Hinduism. In each family compound is a temple. 80% of the family's income is set aside into beautifying the temple. As you can imagine there are thousands of temples and it brings such beauty to the landscape.

Bali - Day Two

The next morning we had arranged for a taxi to take us to Ubud. It is a little over an hour from where we were staying. Ubud is perched on sloping mountains near the center of Bali. The town focuses on the Balinese culture and is lined with shops, restaurants, markets and temples situated throughout central Ubud. We knew this was one place we wanted to visit as we were told once you are there you will want to stay for a few days. This was definitely the case. We spent a little over an hour in the market haggling over the beautiful Balinese handicrafts. We came away with several woodcarvings, baskets, and beautiful fabrics.
We left the market while there were still so many souvenirs calling to me to take them home. But I knew we would be back to again fill my bags with more gems from this beautiful village. We headed up the center of town along Monkey Forest Road until we found a restaurant to refuel in. While away the boys found a new dish that they loved, Black Pepper Beef. After licking the plate clean we again headed to the main street to take in more of the quaint shops. Evan who has been playing the drums for a little over 6 months found a store tailor made for him called The Drum Factory. He practiced his beat on all of the unique percussion instruments and brought home one for himself. This really was such a neat place to stroll along. It was filled with not only shopping, but had the feel, not of a tourist trap, but of real culture. I love it!

Bali - Day One

A few years ago I read the book Eat, Pray, Love. Not only did I love the book, but I loved the visuals the movie later provided. From that moment my heart was pulled to visit the beautiful island of Bali.
From our home in Brunei, we flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and stayed one night there taking in the sights and the shopping. The following morning we headed to the airport for the 3 hour flight to Bali. Initially I was immersed in all the sights and sounds of the big city where we landed. But as we continued into the countryside where our hotel was, I was breathless to the beauty that existed naturally.
Upon our arrival to our hotel, the character of the Balinese people was apparent. They are the kindest, and most peaceful people I think I have ever met. We had a necklace of flowers draped around our neck and were ushered to our awaiting home away from home. After we dropped off our bags we wandered around the resort taking in the beautiful landscape of the Balinese resort. There were beautiful water features in several areas and lush landscaping. The scenery was a treat for the eyes. We finished the evening with a traditional Balinese dinner and had an early night, ready to explore the next morning.