Our Bali Excursion is Winding Down, Our Life Long Love Affair is Just Beginning

Sol 61: Coming up on three weeks in Bali. We’ve had some highs and some lows. The awe at the constant beauty around us has not waned. It seems every time I look up I see something unique, amazing, delightful or a bit different and quirky.

My husband is tallying a list of ‘things I have seen being carried on a scooter’ and it just about contains everything possible. I’ve seen tiny, tiny babies nestled between ma and pa, panes of glass being held aloft, piles of branches, sticks and grass, complete mini-stores where one might make a meal or sell you a plethora of snacks. All of this wheeling by you.

The places we have stayed have been varied from an estate/villa such as the place we are at now to a house in the middle of a more tattered neighborhood where our point woman was amazing. She arranged for our boys to fly kites with her sons and made the best Nasi Goreng.

We ended up leaving early though as we found a dead bird under our bed and a bird nest above our son’s bed in the thatched roof that was less than sanitary. Bird poo on your sheets and pillows? We had to draw the line somewhere. The host (whom we never met) told us by email ‘that is nature’ and I am inclined to think it is but, it doesn’t have to be on my son’s head.

We are getting more adaptive in the heat. I wouldn’t say more used to it. You can see why people have plunge pools to dip into and wash off the heat of the day.

We can see Mt. Agung from our current house and she is still resting. We are grateful for this but, also are acutely aware that there are several thousand people still living away from their homes out of the evacuation zone in refugee camps. This is heart breaking and a struggle.

Our boys have adjusted to mom and dad being the guides/teachers for the interim.

They are adjusting and we are soaking up our last week here as Friday, we head to Malaysia

There are very typical Bali experiences I am committing to memory. I share 10 of them with you here.

• the sweeping up of all the flowers that fell overnight with a broom made of palm leaves.
• the sweet smell of incense and tiny offerings that show up before most doors or walkways.
• the low, guttural mooing of the cows with giant bells around their necks.
• the assortment of flying bugs some bedazzling with colorful, sparkling wings and others just larger than I have ever seen before.
• houses with open walls that get transformed in the evening to a closed in space with the pull of a curtain.
• the frogs that take up residence in the bathrooms or guarding the end of  our bed.
• the offer of a 100 cab, scooter rides if you are merely standing on the side of the road.
• the vibrant color of fruit smoothies that rival any modern painting
• the intricate carvings in wood and stone that are done with a hammer by the roadside
• the absolute kindness of most people who wish to see you well.