An Alphabetical Stroll Through Bali and Australia-A is for: A BIG, FAT FINALE!! Link to new Africa TR (4/5)

The night before I’d ordered my breakfast as usual but elevated the morning meal by adding “breakfast in the pool”.
Awesome!

You might be asking how I managed to actually EAT floating around. I didn’t. 😉 After I got my photos, I swam my basket back to the pool steps and ate immersed up to my chest or so.
Haha I was wondering 🤔

One was the Water Palace that hordes of tourists end up at, so I didn’t spend a lot of time there.
Looks like you missed the hordes of tourists at least! Looks like an interesting place to wander around.

I also now, at this point, realized why I couldn’t get a reservation on the day I’d wanted and planned my itinerary around. The spa was closed for the holiday!
Ah, that would make sense. Sounds like it was well worth the hassle or re-arranging everything!

Mine had a massage table, bathtub, and shower surrounded by the most gorgeous gardens. The view from the tub was over the rice fields and just absolutely stunning.
I love that it's all in one like that in a little garden room. I've only had a couple of package deals like that and have always had to wash off in the shower room

By then the thunder had started to add even more to the exquisite ambiance and by the time she came back my bath was drawn in all of its weedy glory. She guided me to the hot, scented waters and all was heady in my outdoor Nirvana. The thunder rolled, the rain came in steady downpour and I closed my eyes savoring this precious time.
That sounds blissful 🥰 What perfect timing for the thunderstorm!


(The view from my tub)
I was wondering if we would get to see... I'm assuming they weren't able to see you!

I was glowing and so relaxed, and ready to tackle the next days of touring Bali and traveling to a whole other continent soon enough.


You look super refreshed!

I gotta say, Aussies are just some of the nicest folks around!
Well shucks :blush:

The conversation made the walk go by really quickly and I still had time to enjoy the scenery and grab a few photos to show you.
More great photos!
 
The pool breakfast and Spa day all for under a $100 bucks! Wow sign me up!
It looks wonderful! You look relaxed and rejuvenated after the Spa time!
Excellent choice and totally worth changing around your plans!
 
without having to show my butt to the world for clicks and likes.
Well, that's unfortunate...


:duck:
I also don’t have to trade bowing to advertisers’ demands
This is a thing? I have no idea.
risk rude comments from an “audience”, or have any other deadlines or expectations for a “free trip” either.
Like this semi-famous example?
https://www.boredpanda.com/social-media-influencer-hotel-free-stay-white-moose-cafe-elle-darby/
The night before, I’d ordered my breakfast as usual but elevated the morning meal by adding “breakfast in the pool”.
I have visions of staff throwing scrambled eggs and toast into the pool where it bobs, getting progressively soggier while a crying (and hungry) patron attempts to retrieve it.
I opted to float away the morning eating a variety of tasty goodies.
This sounds suspiciously like this:
1720696267032.png
As I’ve mentioned probably 100 times before, by 8:00AM it was already boiling hot and humid, so there really is no bad time to be in the water in Bali.
Actually... fair point. Heat is a lot more tolerable when you're in the water.
Is this not the most gorgeous presentation ever?!
Very much so!
IMG_3646-L.jpg
You look pretty darned happy there! :goodvibes
You might be asking how I managed to actually EAT floating around. I didn’t. 😉
Of course not. You take a bite, sink to the bottom to chew, then come up for another bite.
It's self-evident.

:rolleyes:
The extra cost was only $10 so didn’t break the bank either!
:eek: Wow! Practically free.
With a side of escargot, no less!
Pretty
The big draw is that it was once used by the royal family for their worship.
I wonder how long ago was the last time that happened. I read that the royal family essentially ended with the Dutch in the mid 1800s.
but with having to wear the hot (and gross from years of sweaty tourists wearing it) sarong and robe,
Surely they wash them... :scared:
It was pretty, but not nearly as gorgeous as the ones I’d seen with my guides for sure.
Then you chose wisely.
(Did I mention that all of the frilly stuff on those is HANDCUT?!)
You did not, but... I'm both very impressed and simultaneously, not surprised.
I assume those are the seats for the royal heinies.
That looks like the orchids are diving into the pool. :)
this place was said to have the best selection of authentic masks at the best prices. Here is the one I ended up with:

Quite detailed, but I imagine it took up a fair chunk of luggage real estate. Or did you ship it back home?
I’d made my reservation months prior and couldn’t wait to begin my 4-hour treat-yoself-time.
Four hours!!
It was $65 for ALL of what I’m about to share.
That's it????
Walk with me to the reception area!
I did! Well... I watched the video.
(Don't know if you meant to, but you posted it twice?)
Heh. The way I feel, I'd just draw a big, thick circle around the whole thing.
(Samples of the scents to choose from)
That's cool. So you just smelled each in turn and picked which one(s) you wanted?
I wiped my face with the warm washcloth, breathed in the beautifully-infused scent, and sipped my cool water while I waited for what was next.
That alone sounds so relaxing.
Holy cow, does that ever look... decadent? Inviting? Relaxing?
All of the above?
No way! That was on the floor, directly under your head, right? What a nice, thoughtful touch!
I almost titled this chapter: Coffee in my Crack, Honey up My Nose, and Weeds in my Toes ;)
:lmao:
She guided me to the hot, scented waters and all was heady in my outdoor Nirvana. The thunder rolled, the rain came in a steady downpour and I closed my eyes savoring this precious time.
WOW
I'm shocked you stayed awake. Has all the elements of lulling one off to dreamland.
She took a few photos before she left me to my 25-minute soak, but the internet is no place to show old lady boudoir shots.
Um... she did what???

And... no, no... not at all... perfectly fine to post those here.

:rolleyes1
You might notice on the side of the tub (below) is a little cup and dish;
Actually, I noticed all the twigs, leaves, etc...
I took a little video of all the different goodies in my bath:
Must admit, I was very surprised when your arm came up with all that... detritus.
I expected a few leaves, but... an entire forest????
Ahhh, where was I? Yes, soaking in a hot bath that resembled a Louisiana bayou, except it smelled better and there were no alligators.
Are you sure? For all you know, there could have been one or two hiding on the bottom under the tree limbs.
A new tech took over for the next phase- the facial. It was basically a series of facial massages with oils, lotions, exfoliators, and ended with another short, but wonderful full body massage.
Are you sure you only paid $65?
Lastly, I was handed off to my last attendant where I got an incredible hair creambath.
A what? What the heck is that?
Something I'll never experience. I would require hair for that, I would suspect...
You sure look happy (and refreshed and great!)
It’s a lovely paved pedestrian-only walk that travels along a river valley back from the area where the spa was located into Ubud City.
Nice!
Yes, I know you have to be careful as not all arak is made under an inspected eye and can be a bit dicey,
Um... did I read... methanol poisoning???
"completely vile"...

:lmao:
Back on the trail,
Okay... so you didn't get poisoned... were you weaving a tad??? ;)
I joined a couple of other lady hikers who were from Australia. We chatted about Australia, and they approved of my upcoming itinerary.
Good to have the locals' approval
I would imagine these streams wax and wane quite a bit, season to season and even hour to hour.
Quite the 'shroom!
Nice suspension bridge. Did you cross it?
I've seen photos of these, but never in real life. Cool that you got to see that.
Define "HUGE"
Is it this huge?
1720696035376.png
Or this huge?
1720696056750.png
 
I wish I was half as witty.


wait...
;)
Hey! That's great! Good for you. :)
And I turned in #3/6 about 2 hours ago. Half way done with those.
Best part?

1719979088990.png


Harvey Korman won.
:lmao:
Of course.
While I get wanting to avoid the crowds... if you go to... say, Paris. Someone will ask if you went to the Eiffel Tower. You better be able to say yes or you'll never hear the end of it!
That's definitely true! :) But, some places, like your example, for me at least, are a one and done.
May have to put this on the bucket list. :)
Given the chance, I'd certainly go back again.
I think it's more the way of people who have lived with those storms and understand them and understand drainage.
Very true, and they've had centuries of perfecting the channeling down the mountains to the sea.
 
The scenery is so gorgeous in every photo, but even more so, I love the pictures of the local people, the children, and YOU enjoying all of the amazing places.
I really tried to break out of my landscape-loving usual self and intentionally focused on getting more of the people-y shots because, A) the local, traditional clothing was so beautiful and the people so absolutely photographic, but also B) they add life and beauty to an already beautiful background. :)
 
Breakfast looks delicious. It looks like you needed more coffee. ;) I have a tray that looks just like that one, but probably doesn't float.
I did. In fact, I asked for a 2nd cup a couple of my mornings. It did seem like that the coffee in Bali was a bit stronger and honestly quite nicely flavored.
That sounds very gross.
Yes. Very! 🤮
Actually, the downpour sounds like a bonus! There is nothing like being dry when it is pouring outside. :)
It was very magical and relaxing for sure! Loved that the timing was absolutely perfection. By the time I left the spa it had cleared up and I walked home dry.
The trail looks fascinating, but I would have been tired after the spa treatment.
I was, admittedly, feeling very relaxed, but in some ways it also invigorated me enough to explore a little more. This trail was something on my bucket list and there was no other place to fit it in. It was a bonus that I planned it so I only did the downhill trek back down into town.
 
Looks like you missed the hordes of tourists at least! Looks like an interesting place to wander around.
I wished the full fountain display had been working, but there were parts that were really pretty. I actually took about 10 minutes to sit and "contemplate" life in one of the few beanbag seats that were provided to pass a bit of time in.
Ah, that would make sense. Sounds like it was well worth the hassle or re-arranging everything!
In the end, I think the itinerary worked out really well. Sometimes
I love that it's all in one like that in a little garden room. I've only had a couple of package deals like that and have always had to wash off in the shower room
Having a private area totally to myself was just absolutely amazing. It really elevated the whole experience.
That sounds blissful 🥰 What perfect timing for the thunderstorm!
I had just so many blessings like that pop up on this trip. :)
I was wondering if we would get to see... I'm assuming they weren't able to see you!
If memory serves there was a low half wall on that end that faced out towards the rice fields so no, no chance of lookyloos. ;)
You look super refreshed!
I felt so relaxed and refreshed for sure!
More great photos!
Thanks!
 
The pool breakfast and Spa day all for under a $100 bucks! Wow sign me up!
It looks wonderful! You look relaxed and rejuvenated after the Spa time!
Excellent choice and totally worth changing around your plans!
I thought it was VERY affordable! And far more luxurious and nice than a lot you can get here. I'm glad it all worked out and I could still fit in all the things I had wanted to do.
 
Well, that's unfortunate...


:duck:
No. <self-respect>
This is a thing? I have no idea.
It absolutely is a thing. :/
I remember that! So trashy!
I have visions of staff throwing scrambled eggs and toast into the pool where it bobs, getting progressively soggier while a crying (and hungry) patron attempts to retrieve it.
LOL!! I'd starve.
This sounds suspiciously like this:
1720696267032.png
Awww, how cute!!
Actually... fair point. Heat is a lot more tolerable when you're in the water.
It certainly is! And even if you get out, you can still be cool for an hour or so with a book on a lounger.
You look pretty darned happy there! :goodvibes
Sigh... Bali is truly a place to let the world's worries go and find true relaxation.
:eek: Wow! Practically free.
I know!!!
I wonder how long ago was the last time that happened. I read that the royal family essentially ended with the Dutch in the mid 1800s.
That's a really good question. I didn't do my research on this one unfortunately.
I assume those are the seats for the royal heinies.
I think at this point they are solely for posterity.
Quite detailed, but I imagine it took up a fair chunk of luggage real estate. Or did you ship it back home?
I should have given something for scale in that photo. It's only about 5" x 6". So pretty small, but with really nice detailing and I love the vibrant colors.
That's it????
Yep! A steal!
I did! Well... I watched the video.
(Don't know if you meant to, but you posted it twice?)
Fixed. ;)
Heh. The way I feel, I'd just draw a big, thick circle around the whole thing.
It was all so wonderful. Just the choosing part was fun in and of itself. :)
That's cool. So you just smelled each in turn and picked which one(s) you wanted?
Yep, exactly. I wasn't rushed and took my time choosing my favorite from each part.
Holy cow, does that ever look... decadent? Inviting? Relaxing?
All of the above?
Oh it was!! VERY! It was so serene and pretty and felt so private and like it was all my own for that hour and a half.
No way! That was on the floor, directly under your head, right? What a nice, thoughtful touch!
Yes, that's what they provide to give some aesthetic interest while you get the massage.
WOW
I'm shocked you stayed awake. Has all the elements of lulling one off to dreamland.
It was very tempting and I did come close for sure.
Um... she did what???

And... no, no... not at all... perfectly fine to post those here.

:rolleyes1
Nice try... ;)
Actually, I noticed all the twigs, leaves, etc...
There were definitely a LOT, but holy smokes did it impart the most intoxicating and wonderful aroma that steamed up onto my face.
Must admit, I was very surprised when your arm came up with all that... detritus.
I expected a few leaves, but... an entire forest????
I just sort of swished them to the side so it wasn't too terribly bothersome.
Are you sure? For all you know, there could have been one or two hiding on the bottom under the tree limbs.
LOL!! I still have all my toes.
Are you sure you only paid $65?
I am! Crazy, right?!
A what? What the heck is that?
Something I'll never experience. I would require hair for that, I would suspect...
Basically, shampoo, hot oil, nice conditioner and best of all... yet ANOTHER massage on my head, shoulders, neck...
Um... did I read... methanol poisoning???
There is, apparently, a small risk of getting a home batch of bad brew, so best to stick with places where tourists are served regularly. I don't think I'd have accepted a drink or taste in someone's home had I had the chance.
Okay... so you didn't get poisoned... were you weaving a tad??? ;)
It was strong, and yes, a very slight buzz, but made me even more relaxed for my walk home.
I would imagine these streams wax and wane quite a bit, season to season and even hour to hour.
I'm certain that is true! It's so steep there that it drains off pretty quickly.
Nice suspension bridge. Did you cross it?
I didn't. I couldn't find the way onto it, but also didn't see ANYONE on it, so doubted it was even open for traffic. Might have been left for show. ?
Pretty close!

Ok, just kidding but it was probably about 3, 3 1/2 inches across? Ish?
 
And I turned in #3/6 about 2 hours ago. Half way done with those.
:thumbsup2
That's definitely true! :) But, some places, like your example, for me at least, are a one and done.
Oh, sure. I don't have a need to see the Eiffel Tower again. Been up it twice. That's more than enough.
It absolutely is a thing. :/
Huh.
LOL!! I'd starve.
Or drown.
Sigh... Bali is truly a place to let the world's worries go and find true relaxation.
So just this side of heaven, huh?
I think at this point they are solely for posterity.
Posteriors.
I should have given something for scale in that photo. It's only about 5" x 6". So pretty small, but with really nice detailing and I love the vibrant colors.
Ah
Yep, exactly. I wasn't rushed and took my time choosing my favorite from each part.
Very nice. :)
Nice try... ;)
Darn. ;)
LOL!! I still have all my toes.
:laughing:
It was strong, and yes, a very slight buzz, but made me even more relaxed for my walk home.
:laughing:
Ok, just kidding but it was probably about 3, 3 1/2 inches across? Ish?
That counts as "huge" ::yes::
 
S is for: Stories in Song and Stageshow
***** Mostly photos and videos this time! *****

Fully refreshed and rejuvenated, it was time for the final event of the day. I’d decided to skip dinner entirely in lieu of making it to the show. As you know, I’d done a LOT of research on the things you could do while in Bali and found that there was MORE than plenty of wonderful things to do right in Ubud itself. One was taking in an evening performance of traditional Balinese dance, so that’s what I’d put on the agenda. I’d arranged with one of the boys that worked at my hotel for a scooter ride to the Ubud Palace (not the Water Palace I’d visited that morning) where a nightly performance takes place at 7:30PM.

I had wanted to be there more near to 7:00 so I could get a front row seat but showed up closer to 7:10. I still managed to get in the front row, but unfortunately was off a bit to one of the sides rather than centered. I’d brushed up quite a bit on photography techniques for low light shooting with movement; I even have a special lens given as a gift that is specifically for low light occasions- like Disney rides, for example.

Like I said, I wasn’t front and center, but front and side-ish on the floor, cross-legged with only a slightly obstructed view from a box was close enough, . (Speaker? Light?) It'd have to do....




(Close up on one of the instruments)


(Close up on one of the instruments)

Within just a few minutes a mostly empty venue became pretty full; by 7:30 when the show started it was a packed-out house. My plan worked out great!

The music began and played for 5 or 6 minutes as a prelude.






After that, a couple of what I assumed were “priests” anointed the musicians with sprinkled holy water. Along with them, a few women came on stage carrying the first act’s headdresses along with some fruit baskets of offerings and those were sprinkled as well.




When all was blessed, the dancers were carried out and blessed by the same priests and the dancing began. I won’t even attempt to type out the storyline and just let the brochure that was handed out do the work; suffice to say it was absolutely fascinating. (The translation is abominable, yet, better than I could do at Indonesian/Balinese, so there’s that.)

The first act was “Legong Trance”.



I can tell you that the dancers most definitely looked as if in a trance. Every cliché thing you’ve ever heard about hypnotism was played out with creepy, yet mesmerizing rapid eye movements. They swayed and danced with the most amazing finger work imaginable.




Here is a snippet of the first movement of Legong Trance:



Then next part was a solo dance called Jauk. It was an interesting bit as well!







The third movement was call Lencana Agung Ubud which is a tribute to the town of Ubud. This was my least favorite, but there was none in the evening’s performance that I wasn’t enthralled with.








The fourth dance was done by a male playing a female part. There is a reason for this beyond drag. The technical blending of playing the instrument (a “tromping”) with the athletic dancing generally requires a male performer. Most professional musicians are men. This was explained to me by the locals when I asked. This act, too, was really quite amazing!


The last dance was fairly long and took up about half the show’s length of the hour and a half. The Ballet of Bimaniu. This was performed in 5 acts and tells the story of love and witches and all sorts of other drama. (That I can barely understand due to the cryptic nature of the brochure text.)




Here is a website page that explains it a tiny bit better:

https://nart-tineke.nl/Indonesia/Indonesia_04/Bali/Ubud/Palace/Bimaniu/index.htm

Some stills from the Ballet of Bimaniu:












Anyhow, by the time the show was over at 9:00, I’d almost completely burned up my phone battery and wasn’t sure at ALL if I’d have enough to reach Agus, the kid who drove me to the Palace and my ride back home. Luckily, with 2% left I told him where I’d be standing, and he immediately texted back he was already there waiting for me and would drive around to the other side.

Hanging on tight to his shoulders and sitting side saddle, we buzzed up the hill the short way home and I fell into a trance of my own dreaming of the amazing vacation so far and all that was yet to come. The next day was full of the most tasty delicacies ever, so stay tuned for the most epic cooking class you’ll ever see!
 
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Looks like you managed to snag a pretty great seat!

I find the Indonesian performances fascinating too. One of my trips was part of a school tour, so there were several cultural performances involved. My favourite was the Cecak dance, and I also enjoyed the shadow puppet performances. The highlight should have been the Ramayana Ballet on an outdoor stage at Borobudur, but of course as a 14 year old, I didn't fully appreciate the magnitude of that experience. The elaborate costumes for all their performances are just incredible.

Also on that trip, we were taken to a cultural school in Yogyakarta to try our hand at traditional dance and playing gamelan music. It's much harder than it looks! Such controlled movements requiring a lot of strength and balance.
 
Fully refreshed and rejuvenated, it was time for the final event of the day.
:faint:

You sure are packing in a ton on your days!!
found that there was MORE than plenty of wonderful things to do right in Ubud itself.
You don't say. :rolleyes:
I think you've already more than made your point.
Heh. I love how the Dis forces these links into the narrative.
Um... no, Dis. I'm quite sure these aren't the same scooters. :sad2:
I’d brushed up quite a bit on photography techniques for low light shooting with movement; I even have a special lens given as a gift that is specifically for low light occasions- like Disney rides, for example.
Based on what you posted, I'm going to guess a very fast prime.
And... I will not quote every single picture... but I could. Stunning. Tack sharp. Beautiful. Really well shot photos!
(Close up on one of the instruments)
Never would've guessed that was an instrument.

(Close up on one of the instruments)
So ornate!
by 7:30 when the show started it was a packed-out house. My plan worked out great!
Nice move. :)
The music began and played for 5 or 6 minutes as a prelude.
I listened. Pretty sure that was an Aerosmith tune.


Pretty sure.
After that, a couple of what I assumed were “priests” anointed the musicians with sprinkled holy water. Along with them, a few women came on stage carrying the first act’s headdresses along with some fruit baskets of offerings and those were sprinkled as well.
I like that, actually. :)
I can tell you that the dancers most definitely looked as if in a trance. Every cliché thing you’ve ever heard about hypnotism was played out with creepy, yet mesmerizing rapid eye movements. They swayed and danced with the most amazing finger work imaginable.
I love when they hold still and only move their heads back and forth. So cool.
The third movement was call Lencana Agung Ubud which is a tribute to the town of Ubud. This was my least favorite, but there was none in the evening’s performance that I wasn’t enthralled with.
Yeah, it looked a little dull. Too bad you didn't film any of the Jauk dance. That looked interesting.
The technical blending of playing the instrument (a “tromping”) with the athletic dancing generally requires a male performer.
Huh. Would not have thought that.
Anyhow, by the time the show was over at 9:00, I’d almost completely burned up my phone battery and wasn’t sure at ALL if I’d have enough to reach Agus, the kid who drove me to the Palace and my ride back home. Luckily, with 2% left I told him where I’d be standing, and he immediately texted back he was already there waiting for me and would drive around to the other side.
Yikes! How far would you have had to walk?
Hanging on tight to his shoulders and sitting side saddle,
:eek:
You are one brave (or crazy... or risk-taking) lady!
I fell into a trance of my own dreaming of the amazing vacation so far
I'm... pretty shocked at everything you've seen and done to this point.
The next day was full of the most tasty delicacies ever, so stay tuned for the most epic cooking class you’ll ever see!
mmm... can't wait!
 
One was taking in an evening performance of traditional Balinese dance, so that’s what I’d put on the agenda.
That was an amazing experience. It reminds me of the dance in the movie, The King and I. But I'm sure that what you saw that night was much more elaborate.
 
T is for: Tine to Relax Again and a Tasting Menu To Cook!


Part 1:

Each morning, I was sleeping a bit longer and was it was glorious not being awake at 4:30 or 5:00; jet lag was a major issue until about now- Day 9 of this trip. Phew!

At 7:15, I was up and lounging in the gardens catching up on Trip Notes while I waited for my breakfast of scrambled eggs and tomato, fresh fruit, coffee, and fresh squeezed orange juice. It was absolute bliss to have a slow, leisurely breakfast and have a great conversation with my new Turkish acquaintances I’d met who were also staying at my hotel. We had quite a wonderful chat about politics in both countries (I used to keep up better with Turkish news when I lived in Kazakhstan) and current events; it was friendly, civil, and actually quite stimulating while agreeing about much and finding our differences, respectfully sharing our points of view and insights. <<< THIS is certainly one reason I love to travel so very much!!

After breakfast in the covered area of the gardens, I walked the block or so to the laundry to pick up the load I’d taken there yesterday and to drop off another small batch. Somehow, I’d stepped in mud with my shoes and needed them completely clean and ready for the next portion of my trip. Since we’d only packed for our entire month away in a carry-on, laundry needed to be done a bit more often. Laundry in Bali was sooooo affordable! I think I paid like $6 for an amount that probably equaled what I could fit in 2 plastic grocery bags. It was pressed and folded too. I also popped into the bank and exchanged another $50 which I thought would take care of my meals and incidentals for the rest of my time in Bali. (It did.)





About that time, I started to really not feel well at all. It was hot and I was likely a bit dehydrated. But, let me backtrack a bit…. All the way back to my treehouse stay in the Philippines. While I did sleep under a mosquito net, I remember waking up with a couple of bug bites near my armpit which I didn’t think too much about at the time. But by now, Day 4 in Bali, the lumps had grown really big and both hurt and itched. While I can’t definitively say that things were related, I also started to feel really kind of sick too. I had a low-grade fever, was run-down, and developed a bit of the “traveler’s scourge” too. Not bad, but enough that I decided to cancel my plans of going back to the Monkey Forest for more monkey shenanigans in lieu of a bit of rest.

My next activity didn’t start until 2:00, so I had all morning to do just that. The pool was a perfect place to lay down with a book and, while I can’t remember, I probably even fell asleep for a short bit. I do recall that at one point a HUGE palm frond fell out of a tree very nearby with a CRASH and I was very grateful it wasn’t onto my head. Yikes!! They are very heavy. I also found it a sweet gesture when one of the gardeners brought me a freshly opened coconut with a straw to sip on while I was in the pool. It was a total surprise and was EXACTLY what I needed to rehydrate and replace some of the electrolytes I was probably missing after my morning.





As for the lumps... they persisted until well into the next portion of our trip. I honestly began to worry that I'd need to go into an urgent care thinking I might have gotten a bite that was going to turn into a systemic, long-term illness (like Lyme, but not). At the very least I was also concerned the bites had become infected (in hindsight I think this may have been the case, or a localized reaction that my body was having a tough time clearing). Either way, if it had gone on much longer, I probably would have tried to get an antibiotic.

At 1:00, I showered off and started to repack and get organized a bit. Then I got changed for my 2:00 adventure. Are you ready?!

Part 2:

Balinese food is phenomenal… spicy, flavorful, textures galore. It’s colorful, ingredients are healthy and inexpensive and in general a fantastic cuisine. What better way to spend an afternoon than to learn how to cook a variety of Balinese dishes in the perfect setting of a local family’s lovely home and gardens! (10 in all!)

Here's the website of the one I chose: https://www.periukbali.com/

What are you waiting for?! Let’s get cooking!

Our trip starts with a hotel pick up right about 2:00. I was the first one picked up, but soon we had a carful: Myself, Wayan, driver/head-of-the-household/tour guide, a sweet young couple whose names I have completely forgotten (or never even knew), and Divya, a single, gregarious, lovely young gal from India on vacation in Bali.

The village we were headed to was about 15 minutes away, but our first stop is at a small rice field where I learned even more about rice. I’m pretty sure I’m a functional expert now in all things rice. If I only had a functional back that had the strength required to grow it. By now I’d had no less than about 3 other lectures on the rice growing process, but I did learn that ducks are used to fertilize the soil and then eaten for special occasions. Mmmm, duck!






The 5 of us piled back in the car and were off to Wayan’s home in the small suburb of Ubud called Laplapan. It was nice to be in a quieter, more rural area and get a glimpse of village life in Bali. Imagine yourself entering a complex of buildings, perhaps 6 or 8 of them that serve various purposes from sleeping to cooking to worship. Several temples line the northeast side of the property, each more decorative and fancier than the last. Fragrant incense rises in air along with the scent of spices and smoke from kitchens in the neighborhood.


Our host, Wayan invites us in with a big, warm smile while one of the family’s women greeted us with a refreshing drink of ginger tea sweetened with palm sugar. Wow it was good!!! While we all sipped, Wayan told us a little about how Balinese families live together in a multi-generational compound with each immediate unit having their own small room. There is a central kitchen and there is at least one room dedicated completely to worship and ceremonies.




After our little refreshment, our host takes us on a little tour of the compound gardens where many of the herbs and spices they use are harvested fresh. Imagine Wayan affectionately showing us his work of tending the fruits and herbs such as ginger, pepper, banana, coconut, and lime.


(Pepper)


(Soursop Apple, not originally native. Imported later from S. America)


(Ginger, the root is eaten)


(Passion Fruit)


(Kafir Lime)

Wayan uses this as a nice segue to lead us to the kitchen where there are several family members getting the last prep work done for our class. Meanwhile, in a small alcove where a wood fire burns, he gives us a thorough demonstration of how both coconut milk and coconut oil are made by hand. During the garden tour, he’d already explained that only one variety of coconut palm is used for the cooking products he is using; and he only has one tree of that variety left. He shared that all of the others had been pilfered and ruined by the local monkey population. So, while his family does still do the tedious process of making coconut milk and oil by hand, he gets his nuts from other neighbors or growers right now.



In a nutshell, the meat is grated on a handmade grater, hot water is added to the bowl and the milk is squeezed out by hand. Oil is cooked out of the meat and husks over a fire, given time to rest and then skimmed off from the top. I wish I had videoed more of that process, but here are some stills for you to see.


Then Wayan takes us to the kitchen to sort of say good bye and hand us off...



From there we are taken to a table where the things we would need to make our own little offering baskets were laid out. One of the ladies of the family gave us a 20 or so minute lesson on making the little palm leaf basket using bamboo “toothpicks” to hold them together. We were then given the freedom to “decorate” our little handmade offering baskets with the various flowers provided. Imagine having to make about 40-50 of these EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!!




Continued in Next Post...
 
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Part 3:

Now it’s time to cook!! I’m not going to belabor the entire 3 hours of cooking that we did. I’ll just say… we did a LOT of chopping, grinding, cutting, frying, and preparing. Here are also some random shots of the kitchen and the general experience:

Be sure to click on the videos too!! Like this VV:




In all, we made this menu:

(I've found some recipes of each dish online to give you because the photos of the recipes from the book they gave us didn't turn out. But best I can make out, they come very close!) I'll put in the recipes directly from the school at the end... good luck! ;) )


Balinese All-Purpose Spice:



(The ingredients)


https://joannetracey.com/2017/10/21/make-bumbu-bali/

Balinese Peanut Sauce






https://littlegreendot.com/magical-peanut-sauce/

Balinese Sambal






https://whattocooktoday.com/sambal-balado.html

Steamed Rice the Balinese Traditional Way



(The steamed rice is a LONG process, being steamed twice with a time of cooling in between.)

Chicken Satay


(You can see the cooked satay chicken with peanut sauce at the bottom, and the green bean salad to the right.)

https://www.food.com/recipe/authentic-balinese-indonesian-satay-chicken-270449

Chicken Curry Soup (Kare Ayam Bumbu Bali)




https://feastoftravel.com/kare-ayam-recipe/

Steamed Fish in Banana Leaf (Pepes Ikan)



(They chose tuna today)


https://feastoftravel.com/pepes-ikan-recipe/

Tempe Manis (Fried Tofu)

https://food52.com/recipes/84108-best-tempeh-kecap-sweet-soy-tempeh-recipe

Balinese Coconut and Vegetable Salad (Sayur Urub)



https://quitegoodfood.co.nz/urab-sayur-balinese-coconut-vegetable-salad/

Pandan Rolled Pancakes (Dadar Gulung)







(Topped with palm sugar syrup. They plated this for us.)

https://bellyrumbles.com/dadar-gulung/

We all took turns with the mortar and pestles, both the small table top ones and the large wooden standing type. It was fun to see peanuts turn into peanut butter, and chilis and garlic turn into spicy sambal! We laughed and chatted while we sliced and diced and then enjoyed a huge feast until we were absolutely stuffed. Some, like my new Indian friend, Divya, wanted her food as spicy as they could make it. The other lady was strict vegetarian and they accommodated her with vegetable bouillon and extra tofu for her dishes. We each manned our own cooking plates for the sauteing parts of the class and yes, we each stuffed our own fish bites into the banana leaves and sealed them with the same handmade bamboo “toothpicks” that we’d used for our offering baskets.



(The finished sambals for topping anything we wanted to)

We skewered our own chicken to make the satays/kebabs and made our own pancakes flipping them over like professional chefs. LOL!! We giggled the whole time sharing the laughter of people from very different cultures and places becoming friends for an evening. I couldn’t help but to think on how the differences we all had torn away and transcended during the simple act of cooking and “breaking bread”. While I will never cross paths with any of these folks again, I wish them well in wherever their paths may lead and whatever they put their hands to.

Let’s EAT!! Balinese music played and the chorus of ooohs and ahhhhs filled the covered porch while a gentle rain fell punctuated while an occasional rumble of thunder added to the idyllic scene. All of us served ourselves seconds at the buffet we ourselves had created while the family left us 4 to our own beautiful meal.







It was all so delicious and, with an almost far-too-full belly, Wayan drove each of us back to our respective hotels with some memories of a lifetime shared among us.
 
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