Asia Adventure 2012: Bali

We had a wonderful jog along the beachfront that runs amidst a sea of Bali’s gated hotels. It is so beautiful, you hardly hear your legs complaining. After a dip in the pool we headed out in search of a delicious breakfast and were not disappointed. We lingered at the President’s Club lounge to access the internet. Greg’s Tilley hat was found by our friends at Deep Sea Diver’s Den and arrangements for getting it back are being discussed. ;-) The earring is still lost! ;-(

We spent a very, very lazy day on the beach. I was journaling while Greg was deep in engineering thoughts and scribbling away in his notebook. We were visited periodically by local merchants selling wares such as flowers, shells, fabric/saris, watches, silver jewellery, etc.

Soot arrived at 4pm sharp to take us on a surprise excursion arranged by WorldWide Quest. Laurielle does enjoy throwing in those added touches, like the 25^th wedding anniversary treats and flowers she sent to us the night before we started our trek up Kilimanjaro. This time, she arranged for a visit to the Uluwatu Temple located on a Cliffside, 70 meters above the Indian Ocean’s wave crashing over the shoreline. This was followed by a beachside dinner at the Jimbaran Beach Club’s Beach Bistro Bar.

At the entrance of the Uluwatu Temple, built in the 11^th century, visitors were fitted with sari’s prior to entry and were offered for purchase, food for the monkeys. Greg and I were provided with purple sarongs with yellow sashes. We were told to watch our glasses, cameras, jewellery, and just about anything that was not secured to our person. We took that advice seriously which means that Greg enjoyed a very blurred view of the temple for the most part, clinging dearly to his glasses. I removed the one earring I have left and tucked it safely inside my camera bag. Immediately upon entering the temple grounds, visitors are greeted by a receiving line of monkeys awaiting and demanding food. If one did not provide bits of food immediately, they would try to steal the entire bag of food. So best to keep it coming! Should they succeed in obtaining your treasurers, they gladly return it with the offer of food. Well, it’s more like they free up their hands for treasurers of their own. Apparently, they can store food in their cheeks (like a hamster), so they keep seeking to expand their stores.

Soot then settled us into the amphitheatre for a Balinese theatrical performance, Kecak Ramayana and Fire Dance. The coles notes version of this performance which combines ancient ritual, dance, drama, a gorgeous sunset, involves the Rama fulfilling his wife Sita’s request to catch a golden dancing deer. While he is gone, Sita is kidnapped by Rhawana, the villain and told that Rama is dead. Bad guys seem to be incapable of attracting women except by force and lies! Hanoman, a white monkey with magical powers, ends up being the hero, by finding Sita and offering her a ring as a sign that Rama is still alive, just before she commits suicide in despair. Then, in retaliation Hanoman tries to destroy the palace where Sita was held. But the palacial giants attempt to burn him to death. Hanoman escapes the ring of fire and creates mayhem in the village. On stage, a ring of kindling is set on fire, and the performer jumps out of the ring, wildly kicking the burning kindling all around the stage, in his bare feet. It was quite dramatic. At the end Rama and Rhawana meet for a dual. Rama wins, of course, and is reunited with Sita. Good guys always seem to win! During the entire one-hour production a crew of dancers chant and sing from beginning to end. What extra-ordinary vocal chords they must have.

Afterwards we headed towards Jimbaran beach to the restaurant. What an exquisite nighttime view of the sea, in a very private atmosphere. We watched folks and dogs out strolling along the beach. The menu was extremely tasty; garden salad, mushroom soup, seared tuna steaks entrée, and chocolate mousse to wash it all down.

Thank you Laurielle and WorldWide Quest for a wonderful, surprise!