A Walk About With Larry

It’ll be two weeks tonight that I arrived back home. And I’m still adjusting. The first few days were a blur as I settled into a “return home” rhythm. I slept when tired, ate when hungry, did nothing, read, shopped, and listened to the rhythm as my body adapted. Slowly, I began sleeping through the night. When I did, I slept 12 hours.

And then there was the outside world to contend with. The pace of life her is shocking compared to where I had been for six weeks. Fast, harried, impatient, scheduled, structured, moving through this “now” to get to the next moment but experiencing neither, move, accomplish, be busy, collapse and repeat. The external world always has an impact. I monitored my dosage to the outside so when I was engaged, I was engaged on my terms.

What were my terms? Staying centered and connected to myself. Moving in a pace that appealed to me. Smiling, and feeling happy, in spite of the strange looks a happy countenance provoked. Gentle, ease, flowing, listening, moving when inspired. When I noticed “hurry” emerging, I stopped.

I unpacked and listed every thing in my pack to evaluate it’s importance to future trips. I made a list of items to buy either because my old ones were worn out or they appeared on my trip and were very valuable. And I drank good coffee! Ah, glorious and delicious good coffee courtesy of my sis who ordered in my favorite Stumptown Hair Bender Espresso blend as a birthday gift. One sip and I had to completely focus on savoring that experience. AhhhhhH!

Now feeling more settled, I’m exploring what to do next. Coffee came up on my trip nearly every day. I trained staff at another coffee shop and once I landed back here, met people at the new coffee shop on main and they’ve asked me to come play with them regarding milk. My friends Steve and Ellie gifted me with “Perk Up, LLC” as a name for potential future coffee shop. I won a commercial blender at a coffee event at the Barista Pro shop (and I thought I made good smoothies before!).

The biggest question mark in my life evolves around getting clarity on what to do next? Everything I have focused on doing in my life, I’ve done well and been very successful at. However, many of the things I’ve chosen have come from the analytical mind choosing and they haven’t been fulfilling at a Soulful level. THus, I’m listening and asking for what my Soul wants to express. Nothing else will be sufficient at this point in my life. Yes, I could do anything. No, I wouldn’t be happy doing anything.

While reflecting on what I know, exercises and affirmations, meditations, quiet space, methods for listening to the Soul’s response and asking what I know that would be helpful, I stumbled upon an interview with Wayne Dyer. It was very helpful. The first interview I found isn’t available any longer, but this one is.

In the late 70′s when I felt like I was going through a nervous breakdown and a friend introduced me to Leo Buscaglia and Wayne Dyer, my life took a noticeable shift. When I left Salt Lake City and a Christmas trip returning to my teaching position at the University of Louisville and suffering a devastating relationship break up, I was concerned how I would survive??? I’d been miserable, lost weight, and felt lost. At the airport, I saw a book by Wayne Dyer displayed out front. I picked it up and began reading. That book and my experience reading it literally changed my life.

I learned a valuable lesson: live what you read, don’t just read what you read. While reading Wayne’s words, I’d keep them fresh in my mind and look at the world through those eyes. Experiences changed, challenges showed up and were tiny bumps on the road rather than a devastating detour like they might have been days before. I learned to internalize what I was reading, if it felt right, and integrate those ideas deeply into my life.

This video reminded me of what I know and is one more moment where magic showed up in my life giving me exactly what I needed when I needed it. It’s approximately 45 minutes long.

Enjoy!

I have arrived home. Marnie picked me up at the airport and I’ve been home long enough for a shower, to till up and turn on my espresso machine and to do a hot water infusion bath. I had a nose bleed on the airplane already so moisture is important. I left the hostel this morning before 6:00 Singapore time and it’s now 12:15 pm the following day by Singapore time. One thing that means is that I’ve spent roughly 28 hours in the artificial and extremely dry air of airplanes and airports. After immersion in the humid environment, it’s quite a shock for my system returning.

My sis turned up the heat in my house, filled the humidifiers and got them running and provided me a stash of milk for my morning latte. I’m home and now starts the process of my body adjusting back to this time and environment. Before going to bed, I wanted to capture a some strong ideas pushing themselves on me. They grabbed my attention and I feel like I won’t be able to sleep until I get them down in writing.

Energy and Spirit

Reflecting back on the six weeks of my journey, several messages leap to the forefront of my consciousness to remember, keep close and live diligently to express them in my life daily.

Healers and energy: I met Charlotte one day at the herb place. She is traveling around the world receiving training at Four Season’s SPA’s preparing for a full-time position with them. As we talked about Bali and the energy of Ubud, I shared that one prime reason I returned to Ubud was to spend time with the healers. She asked me questions about them and in the course of conversation she mentioned how hard it is for healers to maintain that level of energy all the time. In that moment, I realized that isn’t true for the healers I’ve met. They don’t hold energy, pull energy together, motivate themselves to work on clients or practice any other method of managing their energy. My experience of them is that they are constantly connected with energy, it is never lacking, always flowing and is an ever-present source to them. Because of that, they are always bright eyed and energized. Nyoman is that way, so is Eddy, the Holy Knife and even Gregorio (the healer from the Philippines I’ve met here).

If a rechargeable flashlight is unplugged and used without recharging, it will drain the battery, the light will dim and eventually fail. What if it wasn’t even unplugged? What if there was a constant flow of energy available to it? What if there was a constant flow of energy to us, we could tap into it, allow it to flow easily and effortlessly through us, and never block it or live in such a way as to shut it off.

Nyoman gets up early and drives to Denpasar to teach school around 6:30 in the morning. He gets back in the early afternoon when a few clients start showing up. The evenings are generally pretty busy for him and the work often continues to midnight. He never showed signs of being weary or exhausted, was always smiling and beaming me with those bright eyes. I’ve witnessed it, experienced it and now intend to express more of that in my life every day.

Gede is the silver smith I bought my birthday present from. I’ve been looking for an OM symbol after seeing several and feeling like I wanted one. Most shops had them but none felt right. Alyz gave me one which is lovely but didn’t feel quite right either. One afternoon, I walked by Koman Silver and something about it caught my attention but it was closed for a few days after NYEPI. A couple days later, I walked in to look around and spoke briefly with the silver smith. I didn’t see any OM symbols so left. On my way back, something grabbed me pulling me back into the shop. So I introduced myself and told him what I was looking for.

He smiled and told me me makes those but doesn’t ever put them on display. They are by order and only go to those people who seek them out. Then he told me his story. In 1989, he started working in the tour business. Until 1994, that’s what he did. Then, in 1994, his grandfather appeared to him in a dream and told him it was time to go back to the silver smithing and jewelry business. He’s fifth generation jeweler in his family. He pulled out a couple books and showed me an image of the proper Balinese OM symbol which includes parts missing on all the others I’d seen. I got goose bumps as he explained not only the way he makes them but that the next day was a very auspicious day in the Balinese calendar to make one. He’s make it the next day.

Two days later, I stopped by to pick it up. It’s really lovely and feels wonderful. Gede explained that he does everything in alignment with spirit. When he thought of opening his own jewelry store, he had a dream with Krishna appearing to him, a dream that occurred three times, telling him that he could do whatever he wanted. Whatever he does, his work and intention has to come from Spirit first. More goose bumps showed up as he explained this to me. He’s on a very quiet back street, does no advertising, and people constantly show up and find him. He has plenty of business. Why? How is that possible? Because he is so very aligned with Spirit in his work and his life.

He speaks with such certainty and trust when he explains that to me, a calm presence and bright eyes speaking to me once again. How can I capture more of that essence back here. When I’m tuned in and listening, when my intent is clear, the same thing has worked over and over for me. When traveling, it’s a normal and essential part of my traveling style. Back here in the normal world, it gets lost a little. Now, back home, I’m intent on working with that more clearly.

Listening, yes, listening is so crucial. This morning, I arrived in the lobby of the hostel before any of the staff was there and picked up the phone to call the number listed. I had a $10 key deposit to pick up. Without dialing, I put the phone back down. Looking up, the back door was opening and through it walked the man working the desk in the morning. He looked at me asking if I was leaving, got his keys out, handed me $10 in exchange for my room key and I was off. The MRT arrived moments after I did. I had one exchange on the way to the airport. I walked out the open door of one MRT, across the platform, and in to the open door of the next train heading directly to the airport.

Check-in, baggage check, immigration and customs went very smoothly. I sat in an area near the computers to write a quick note letting people know I was traveling. I had no signal so put my laptop away thinking I should just skip it. When I stood and looked around I noticed an information desk across the lobby so went and learned they had password codes for travelers. Looking for a place to sit there, all the chairs were full so I headed back where I started. Approaching the seats, I noticed something black laying on the floor where I had just been sitting? Drawing closer, I recognized it as my passport wallet with my extra money and credit card, it had apparently fallen out of my bag earlier. Since I listened, it was now back in my possession.

In Seoul, after a six hour flight, we had to leave the plane with all our things, go through security again, and then reboard the plane. I’ve had practice in doing this so it was one of the first to arrive at the new gate. Something nudged me to the agent so I approached asking if they had an exit row. Two people in Singapore had already told me there were none all the way to San Francisco. He found one available so I was in much more comfortable seating for the next 10 hours of flying.

At this moment, newly arrived in my Colorado home, those are experiences and reminders from my trip worthy of holding onto!

Ciao….

There’s a crab apple tree out front of the duplex back in Colorado. When it blooms, it’s really glorious! It’s fragile, the bloom doesn’t last long, the fragrance fills the air and the color is stunning. My favorite part is sticking my nose up into the tree and listening to the bees buzz. Ripe blossoms bring them in by the droves. Putting my head up into the blossoms, it’s surrounded by the buzzing of all the bees. Amazing!

Tonight, I experienced the same thing but in a human sense. I went to Little India for a light dinner and then walked into Mustafa’s for a bit of shopping. It was very bizarre shopping in Mustafa’s tonight. First, I wasn’t allowed to enter the building and didn’t understand why? The female guard pointed across the street. Mustafa’s is six stories and two city blocks in size, a huge place.

Across the street, having my bag “locked” by security, I was then allowed to enter the building. A short distance from the entrance is an escalator that goes up to the next floor and a walkway back into the building I was not allowed entry into. It was PACKED by Indian shoppers who are apparently much more adapted to packed shopping conditions than I am. I’ve never experienced it so crowded. Once finished, I headed outside to the money changers as I was out of Singapore dollars. At the exit, the one I was denied entry into, I learned that they couldn’t allow more shoppers in as it has surpassed the total number of shoppers allowed. I’d guess at least double that amount were inside, probably triple or more.

So focused was I on the money changers, I hadn’t noticed the crowd in the street. Once I finished changing dollars, I turned and looked down a street that was SOLID people as far as I could see. Most of the crowd was men and all were engaged in small or large groups. The buzz was astounding so of course I had to go walk amongst it! It really was an amazing feeling, all those conversations taking place around me, the street so packed I had to literally shoulder my way through. And this went on for blocks and blocks. Yes, there were thousands out there.

It felt like I had my head in the tree of buzzing bees, minus the lovely fragrance of course.

This morning I received an email from my friend who lives in Singapore. She didn’t write earlier because it took her longer to adapt to being back home than she anticipated. She was gone for one month. It takes time and there is nothing a person can do but give it time, be patient and gentle with yourself and let the transition occur.

Last night, I said my good byes to Nyoman, Wayan and friends staying there. It felt like I was leaving family behind. It’s a natural part of travel, attachments form, people move on, there is an organic rhythm and it will happen if you travel. Knowing that with certainty doesn’t diminish the emptiness inside when parting company with wonderful new friends.

This morning, my friend Putra stopped by to say good bye. I was surprised as he’s working more than 15 hours a day between the store where he works and the Bali Spirit Festival where the store has a booth. He sat with me the final hour I was a Dewa’s talking and he invited me to come stay at his house next time I am in Bali. Saying good bye to him and the Dewa family was the start of my day today.

Lugging a heavy pack is not a fun experience. This trip, I’ve done a minimal amount of lugging. Now, toward the end of my trip, with the extra weight added from shopping, it’s really heavy and awkward. Sometimes, I feel like it’s tossing me around. Yes, I’ll be looking for something with wheels for future travel OR traveling with one tiny pack taking only essentials along. Since my last visit to Singapore was so grueling and miserable in the heat, I have learned. This time, I took the most direct train which meant only about 30 minutes of travel and less than 10 minutes walking. Last time, I traveled nearly 1 hour 15 minutes to reach the same location, got lost twice and walked for half an hour. Much better this way!

How’s this for fast travel transition. My flight landed at 3:40. By 4:10, I was through immigration, had my backpack, passed through customs and was getting on a shuttle to the train into Singapore. By 5:00, I was checking into my room. By 5:30, I was in the local swimming pool exercising and cooling off. Quite a fast transition into Singapore!

Stomach pain: yes, I have stomach pain tonight and it’s the first time on this trip I have had any trouble. I’ll blame it on Shirly! I left Dewa’s after having breakfast at 7:30 and didn’t have but a light snack at the airport. Once I arrived at my hostel, after a full day of travel and then having a swim, I went out into Little India to eat. Shirly recommended a restaurant. I found a way to get there quickly by MRT. Once there, EVERYTHING looked great and I didn’t realize how much I ordered until it arrived. Chicken Tika and Butter Chicken, Samosa, two nan, dipping sauce for the nan bread and I was so stuffed! I walked all the way back for some extra exercise. Fortunately, the stomach seems to be smiling along with me so I’m sure I’ll be fine by morning. Pleasantly stuffed with amazingly good Indian Food my first night in Singapore, a gentle wander through the streets listening to the sounds of music and meditation, smelling spices and fragrance of Indian food in the air, what a nice way to experience Singapore.

Photo pain: notice there are no photo’s of the dinner I had tonight. Since dropping my camera, it’s such a pain to open manually and close it the same way, I forgot to take it along. Add photo’s to the list of travel pains. Not only for the pain of a partially functioning camera but the pain of always having one with me. Some times, having a camera causes me to see the world differently searching for a lens angle rather than simply being with what surrounds me. Yes, that’s what I did, I savored my dinner without even a thought to taking a picture. Of course the photo’s in my mind will always be there.

Ciao….

It’s my last day here. I’ve been up since before the sunrise listening and writing. Now, I’m headed to the pool. Later, I may go for a massage or healing session with Nyoman and have dinner with friends. I know, so many plans for my final day. First, the pool for some reading and relaxing. I’m feeling very complete today.

Last night, I organized my pack and stuffed everything I don’t need. Since I had practice before, I’ve loading everything I might need at the hostel in Singapore at the top. Gradually, things are going into the pack that won’t come out until I’m home.

Time is winding down or winding up depending on what perspective I see though. Being present pervades both views.

Yesterday, I went out for a day long adventure through the Bali countryside. For years, I’ve intended to do the bike trip with Bike Bali Baik. They are the original company that started the route, are locally owned, hire only local guides and all the money stays with that family and their employees. Other companies have sprouted up, some foreign owned, so I prefer to spend locally here.

I was picked up in the nicest van I’ve ridden in maybe ever while on an adventure. Two families from Melbourne joined me and we set off for Lake Batu to the North and breakfast overlooking a marvelous view of the sacred lake. The lake is special and only used for ceremony so no jet ski’s, etc.

Breakfast was delicious, the coffee noticeably different than most of the Bali coffee I’ve had. They are in Kintamani which is coffee country here so it figures they’d have good coffee.

We visited a coffee plantation and you’ll see the chart of the different types of coffee and tea we sampled. The coconut coffee was especially delicious and surprising.

Once we mounted up on bikes, we traveled about 25 kilometers though Balinese villages, through rice terraces, past temples, amongst villagers going about their daily life and really had an amazing day. I’m posting photo’s below and there is something in those photo’s you probably haven’t seen in my previous photo’s. Brace yourself for the surprise and I’ll explain it for you so you understand clearly. That bright blue space you see is a CLEAR sky on a SUNNY day!!! Amazing, the nicest day since I arrived. It didn’t rain at all until we were returning to Ubud.

Tonight, I’m going back to Nyoman’s and meeting friends who I got acquainted with while staying there. We are going out for some type of dinner. Lisa’s birthday is April 2nd, it’s my final night, we are going to share some time together. I stopped to have desert (chocolate cake drizzled with white mango ginger sauce) with Teet and Yuen who where at Nyoman’s and a friend of theirs.

Desert was great, made by Dayu who showed me how to make peanut sauce the other day. Amazing that even here, while having dinner together, foreigners spend a lot of time checking emails, surfing and talking on the phone while supposedly spending time together? What a phenomenon this is?!

I’m off now for the pool.

Enjoy the photo’s and arm chair travel through the countryside.

Hello!
Yesterday was my birthday and it was a lovely day. Actually, as my friends from England would say, it was “Brilliant”. After a lazy start to the day, I went out for coffee, shopping for some herbs to bring back, bought a necklace for myself and went back to drop things off at Nyoman’s. Teet was there and I told him I was thinking of getting a massage. He recommended a place just up the road that had been recommended by Raylene who is a massage therapist from Australia. She’s the woman in the picture with me and the head of the Ogoh-ogoh. He also suggested I go by and set up an appointment as there are only two people working there and they get busy.

I went by to schedule, walked in as they were finishing a man and the table was open and I got right on. Lovely massage! I traded books at a used book store so have a new read and went back to Nyoman’s where I was promptly told to go “take a shower”. Secluded in my room, I knew everyone was up to something. When they called my name, I walked out to see a flaming cake headed my direction. The family, guests staying there and a few friends all sang me Happy Birthday! Here are some photo’s. What a lovely evening it was!

Today, I moved over to Dewa’s Bungalows for my final few days in Ubud. Everyone at Nyoman’s was going to Sebatu to the healing waters this morning at 7:00 am. When I got up before 7:00, Nyoman, his son Wayan and Teet were talking. Nyoman got up, looked at the Balinese calendar, and realized it was NOT a good day to go so we canceled plans. When breakfast was finished, everyone went about their day, I finished packing and headed off.

Wayan told me to take their motor bike rather than carry my big pack, now heavy with shopping items. I dropped it off, got my room, and had Bayu call Eddy to see if he could fit me in? He confirmed an 11:00 appointment. That was very short notice and I felt happy to be able to see him.

I went back to drop off the motor bike and pick up my little pack. Wayan told me to keep the bike today even when I told her I was going to Sukawati. I dropped what I didn’t need and headed to Sukawati ahead of my appointment with Eddy and finished some shopping. I’ve got everything I want except vanilla and powdered red ginger.

After Eddy’s amazing work, I had vegetarian lunch next door and got on my motor bike heading back. However, I felt a strong pull to go see the healer Tjokorda Gde Rai on my way back. Eddy was very slow and quiet today because of the ceremonies taking place today. That’s how I got in on such short notice.

I headed up the road and was feeling adventurous so drove a different way feeling like it would take me there as well. I stopped where a small shelter by the road said “police” and two men were sitting inside. I asked if they knew where Tjokorda Gde Rai was? After consulting each other and another man sitting near by, one officer got on his bike and told me to follow. Now, I was off with police escort.

He stopped at a shop with similar name and the two men there, after me re-pronouncing the name several times, realized who I wanted to see. They pointed up the road I was on, did the windy thing with their hands and I realized I knew exactly how to get there. I was off.

Once more time, listening and following brought me to the right place at the right time. The day before, I was first in line for the next massage. This morning, I was able to get in to see Eddy on short notice and not even one person was waiting for him so we had lots of time to visit. Then, I walked in to see Tjokorda Gde Rai and he was sitting chatting with two people he had worked with. It’s very unusual to see Tjokorda Gde Rai without a line waiting. By the time he finished with me, four or five people had arrived for sessions.

He told me there wasn’t much he could do for me as I was very good! The issues from before were gone and he consulted the Balinese Calendar letting me know my birthday yesterday was a very good birthday!

On the way back, I stopped at Kopi Bali for a good coffee. I remembered one of the staff had a daughter with a birthday near mine and asked her about it. She remembered mine was close so I told them it was yesterday. The coffee was great and as I spoke with Dode there, he asked me for some tips on making latte art. He also brought out a journal so I could write the names for a couple of video’s I thought would help him and then he asked me for the proper spelling of my name since sounding and spelling can be really different. I got behind the bar nervous as I’ve not made coffee in nearly two months but was able to pour some art for him and the staff to see.

As I sat back down sipping my coffee, my table was surrounded by staff when one member came through the door with a brownie and flaming candle on a “birthday” plate. What fun!

Now, I’m tired and relaxing at Dewa’s ready for an early night.

The evening before NYEPI is the Ogoh-Ogoh ceremony. I hesitate to call it a parade although that’s the closest word we have for it. However, a parade goes all at once, this doesn’t. The Ogoh-ogoh’s are so large, men with loooonnnnggg bamboo poles accompany them lifting power lines and telephone lines out of the way. Every few hundred meters or less, they stop, play loud music, swirl around the street shaking and rattling their Ogoh-ogoh making it look wild and ferocious. That action scares the bad spirits away! They rest, pick up the platform, more down the street and repeat. The Ogoh-ogoh of a large demon pig was outside Nyoman’s built by the local temple. They were putting on makeup and dressing before 5:00 pm. I went out to take photo’s. The last Ogoh-Ogho reached the cemetery in Monkey Forest shortly before midnight.

It takes a long time for them to circulate around town yet that makes sense. Their job is to scare the demons away and that’s a job you can’t rush. When they reach the last big intersection in the village, they really get wild. Officials guide the corners or the crazy Ogoh-ogoh keeping it from crashing into the large crown gathered around! Up and down, shaking wildly about, loud music, dancing from competing teams, the effort they put forth is amazing and inspired. Crashing on the pavement, raised overhead, jerking and thrashing, the groups make the Ogoh-ogoh as scary as possible. There really are no words to describe the experience of witnessing this. The closest I can come are these two video’s I shot. It was dark so the visual aspect isn’t great but you’ll get a feel for the enthusiasm from the music they played.

Here’s one, a demon over two stores high that once it cleared the overhead wires, shuddered and thrust about frightening demons away.

The next video is of the huge pig with fangs that was made by the temple near Nyoman and Wayan’s home. Their son helped with this one from construction through the parade ceremony. This is the Ogoh-ogoh you see in the photo’s below in the first few frames beginning with chicken wire through the end result. Amazing how they build these and how sturdy they are to endure all the shaking and jostling.

By six the next morning, everything is quiet. The only sound heard is roosters and occasional barking dog. Silence, deep stillness settles on the village creating a rather eerie feeling. Locals talk in whispers if at all. Many take it so serious, they don’t speak a word! For 24 hours, 6:00 am until the following morning at 6:00 am, silence prevails. I woke the next morning shortly after 5:00 and there wasn’t a sound of a motor bike. After six, they started up once again.

At Nyoman’s, everyone was very respectful and generally quiet. I didn’t leave my room until 1:00 pm savoring the quiet. Once it’s over, it takes several days for life to return to the pace normal before NYEPI. Many businesses are closed for one or two more days. By Sunday, the 25th and two days after NYEPI, things had pretty much returned to normal business operations although life still felt like it was operating at a slower pace.

For more information on NYEPI, click here: NYEPI

We sat and talked quietly for short times. Wayan cooked for all of us and we had an early dinner since they lit no outside lights after 8:00 pm. With no city lights clouding visibility, the night sky was brilliant when the passing clouds parted.

Here are some photo’s.

Once I left the Gili Islands, I had smooth sailing all the way to Padangbai, Bali. The captain on the boat said the water the day before was still very choppy and he had to steer around surges. This day, the water was calm and smooth. I went up to a bench behind the captain at his invitation and saw five or six dolphin jumping along side us on the way back.

I’d booked transport to Candidasa with my ticket and after a brief wait, I was the only one going to they loaded me up and headed off. The place I picked in Candidasa was very random. It was the only name I could remember so I gave it to my driver and he knew where it was. It was nice but a bit noisy at times with voices from the back bungalow carrying through the bamboo roof. The noise wasn’t a bother and since I got there in time to get their last bungalow, I was pleased!

My full day there, I rented a motor bike to see the old traditional village of Tenganan where they do a form of weaving practiced only three places in the world. I hadn’t realized how pricey they were compared to other weavings. Soon, I realized the process of making one weaving can take two years or more from the preparation of the cotton through the dye process through aging the colors and finally the weaving. Amazing!

I headed on to Tirta Ganga from there stopping, of course, at the German bakery I’d discovered along the way. Tirta Ganga is described as a temple of healing water but the center piece of the property is a hotel. And, the holy water there was empty so I gathered it’s not as popular with local’s who do water ceremony before every major celebration so I was a bit disappointed in that aspect of it. The disappointment was only brief though as I feel fortunate to have visited other special places where water blessings take place. Guess what, it RAINED on the way back!

People in Candidasa told me it was only an hour to Ahmed but it’s closer to two hours so I skipped that for this trip. It was a lovely day and I headed back to Candidasa, visited with friends from Vancouver and went out for dinner. I stopped at a restaurant that had Dadar Gulung, the crepe filled with coconut palm sugar mixture and oh so delicious. This was a tourist restaurant and one of the few places I’ve found that had Dadar Gulung. Desert along cost me much more than my dinner at the local Warung I’d found. It was good but not my favorite. I’ll be buying more palm sugar here to take home with me so I can make my own!

It’s been a while since I updated here. The last I wrote, I was stranded on Gili Air. The boats were to start running on Sunday when I was there. I arrived early for the 10:30 boat only to find it had already left. Surrendering quickly to the reality that there was no boat, I headed back to Scallywags for one more night of relaxing. The next morning, I arrived even earlier getting there before 10:00 since the boat left around 10:00 the day before. This day, the boat left closer to 10:25. Such is the meaning of schedule in Indonesia, it’s at best a rough estimate. The best policy is to ask multiple people the same question, and arrive extra early.

I spent two days in Candidasa, Bali once I returned here. For years, I’ve wanted to visit that area and was finally able to fit that in. Since so much time was spent on the island, I wondered if I would do justice to the Candidasa area with only two nights and it was fine.

It rained a lot while I was there and continued raining once I returned to Ubud. I’d sent an email letting them know I was arriving early. They didn’t receive it and they were full. “No problem” Wayan said. Ten minutes later, I was settled into a new bungalow at the neighbors. Wayan told me to leave my bags and take only what I needed. The experience of being here, of staying here, is marvelous. What a loving family! Wayan cooked dinner the other night and insisted I join the other guests for dinner. The food was very good!

People I had met before were still staying here so it was a reunion of sorts. The next morning, I moved to one of the deluxe new rooms that weren’t here last year. That was the day before NYEPI and I thought I’d have Nyoman work on me. When I mentioned it to him, he said “you have no problemmmmm” and said it would be OK if I wanted. The day filled with other activity and I didn’t have a session with him.

My ear has been bothering me. He saw me rubbing it and grabbed a spot on my thumb leaving me ducking in pain. It’s a point for the jaw and ear. I’ve been working it for the two days since he showed me.

Yesterday, I hooked up with Alyz, a friend I met on Gili Air and a friend she is traveling with, Melinda. We met for coffee, and I would up bringing them back here to introduce them to Nyoman. Both had sessions which were very good. I asked Nyoman once again if he had time to work on me. Once again, he smiled and said “you have no problemmmmm Larry”. Alyz, Melinda and I went to an organic local Warung for lunch, where I’d been before and met Dayu. She’s such a lovely lady, made wonderful lunch for us and told me to come back for lunch and she’ll show me how to make peanut sauce for my lunch! I spent the rest of the day with my friends and got back to Nyomans around 7:00. I went out for coconut ice cream and came back tired expecting to turn in early.

The family and guest gather together here throughout the day and evening. Everyone sat about chatting and laughing last night. There’s always a lot of laughter! I thought several times I’d go to my room for an early night. At one point, Nyoman saw me rubbing my thumb, pointed at my ear and asked if it was still bothering me? Moments later, I was on the table and he was working on me. The pain in my ear went away, the tenderness in the thumb point is gone, and before I knew it, I was heading to my room at 11:00. So much for an early evening or needing one.

Here are a few photo’s of Nyoman’s and my rooms here.

It’s been a couple days since I wrote an update. I’ve been told to check with the “agent” near the jetty for the Sea Marlin fast boat schedule and information on when they will resume travel. I have, did again, did again, did again…it wasn’t a pretty picture as they knew nothing.

Via Skype, I called the office in Bali three days ago. The man sounded weary, frazzled and completely overwhelmed telling me “we don’t know”. Yesterday, I had a very “non-Indonesian” experience when I asked the man at the desk of Scallywags Mango Villa to call for me. He called and got a recording. He turned over the ticket cover, found another number and dialed it. A voice answered telling him another number. He did, chatting away in Indonesian, before he gave me a summary of the conversation. The department responsible for “sea” travel hadn’t lifted the ban on boat travel. They might today. He told them where he was calling from and they said they would call to update us on boat status.

What was unusual was initiative. Having someone here be proactive and aggressive in helping is extremely unusual among Indonesian’s. Most are content to tell you they don’t know and ask tomorrow. One other man called for me the day before and gave up when he heard the recording. I was impressed with the level of help!!!

This morning, hopeful, I had an early breakfast and headed to the jetty. Several days ago, the agent told me the boat leaves at 11:00 am. Yesterday, they told me to be there at 10:30 am. I arrived about 10:15 with time to spare.

I had only one small problem though: the boat had ALREADY left!!! I was early, it was gone, and there was nothing to do about it. That’s the more usual experience in Indonesia, misinformation, confusion, and such. Tomorrow, I’ll go back extra early to make sure. I thought about leaving earlier this morning but was having a visit with my friend Dina and thinking I had plenty of time saw no need to go so early.

Fortunately, this is still a very nice spot to be stranded! I came back to lounge in the beach chairs reading. Then went for lunch at the local Warung. Then a dip in the pool and visiting with two ladies who are also guests there. Now, I’m sipping an iced latte at Scallywags sitting in a huge oversized cushion chair, listening to the ocean and writing. Not a bad place to be! Perhaps tomorrow the ocean will be even more smooth and calm?

If all goes well, I should be in Candidasa Bali by mid afternoon, find a room, have a day or two to explore and then travel to Ubud. If I need to, I’ll travel on March 22nd, the day before Nyepi. Traffic will be really heavy as everyone is heading back to their home village for the Balinese New Year celebration.

Below are some photo’s of where I’m being forced to chill and wait. Rough job!