Earthquake

6.4 Richter scale
I know I said it was my last post in the previous message, but I couldn't help noticing this news item. It's good to be home, yet I'm hoping everyone out there is okay.
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Strong quake hits off Indonesia's Bali
AFP – Mon, Sep 3, 2012

A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian resort island of Bali early on Tuesday, but there was no tsunami warning and no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The quake's epicentre was at a shallow depth of eight kilometres (five miles), the US Geological Survey said, putting it 278 kilometres south of Denpasar, on Bali. The quake hit at 2:23 am (1823 GMT Monday).
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

My last post from Bali

Going to Bali?

If you're considering a trip to Bali and you would like to do some sightseeing, this is your man. He knows all island roads by heart, knows all the major sites, speaks English, and will help you put together a program for a day, half a day, or however long you need him. Our experience has been that he'll try to accommodate your every wish, and he'll help you in whichever way he can. You're supporting a good cause if you'll work with him, and I hope you'll help spread the word on this one.

His cell phone service won't allow for calls from abroad, so the best way to reach him is through sending text messages/SMS.

And with that, my dear friends, I will end my travel journal. I'm leaving with over 5,000 pictures on three memory cards, and countless new memories. The latter are the visuals that cannot and will not be erased.

Sayonara,

Frenniepennie 

p.s. Going home to Mr B, woohoo!!!!! Hiephoi! Hiephoi!!!

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert's book

My closing comments should be dedicated to this book, as I'm convinced that many girlfriends and wives convinced their significant others to spend a vacation in Bali because they'd read it. (Or, had seen the movie with Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. It actually was showing on HBO one night while we were here). However, as much as I love that book, and even though I think Gilbert did an amazing job of trying to capture the spirit of Bali, it is so much more than that. And much more than the pretty scenery from my blog or the excellent cinematography from the movie.

The people

From the moment I set foot on this island, I've been mesmerized by the kindness and gentleness of the Balinese*. My perception is that much is guided by the main religion, but also by a genuine respect for others, regardless of who they are. You can see it especially while being on the road. Many times, I was convinced we were going to crash into that oncoming car, or hit the family of four on their scooter, but there is none of that. Quite the opposite. Somehow they'll manoeuver until there is space for all, and most of all they show the utmost patience with one another. If someone needs help crossing the street, or backing their car out of the parking lot, a helping hand is found quickly.

*) The people running the immigration office - and lots of other things so I am told - are people from Java, most likely Jakarta.

The setting

I've shown you the pretty sights and scenery, and none of the rest. You have not seen the many shops in all shapes and sizes lining these streets and roads, the sometimes messy architecture of a tourist hotspot such as Sanur or Kuta, the crazy traffic in downtown Kuta, or (thorn in my eye) the roadside garbage one can spot regularly. There's also plenty of shacks, run down or unfinished buildings, and the usual tourist traps. It's all there, but if you look carefully and if you are willing to go beyond the swimming pool of the hotel, there are a gazillion gorgeous sites to see on this island, and there are little picture-perfect gems everywhere.

Famous last words 

So is Bali worth it? To me personally, absolutely. Yet I'm also seeing the flipside of tourism. The yin is Tanah Lot, the yang is the mass tourism that's flooding its premises, with all the good and the bad that comes with it. Our guide and driver won't earn a dime if he has no tourists to drive around, yet he's responsible for feeding a family of four. One of the waitresses in the restaurants down the road told us that her monthly wages are roughly 150USD. It's less when the restaurant's revenues are down. Yet she has two children to send to school. In short: these people would be nowhere without tourism, yet tourism can do so much damage. You decide for yourselves what the right thing to do is, in this matter.

Last evening in Kuta

Sunsets

My favorite. That's why we drove over to the other side last night to enjoy the sunset in Kuta. I realize our trip is coming to a close, and there's so much more that was worth sharing with you. But alas. My iPad only has so much memory left, and with the current tally at over 5,000 pictures..... I rest my case.

Swim, little turtle, swim!

Releasing baby sea turtles, Kuta

We stumbled upon this collective baby sea turtles (hatchlings) release just before sundown, and I .......loved it. You just want to urge them on and at a certain point I actually said "Run little turtle, run!" without noticing it. I would not have been surprised if one would have looked up and said "Right on, dude", like the turtles in 'Finding Nemo', but that's just my twisted mind. 

Too many pretty flowers

Flowers

The locals must think I'm nuts. Because what's common to them as a tulip is to Dutch folks, is very special in my book. I've stopped dead in my tracks many a time, just to photograph a flower from close by. And you can tell from the body language of those around me that they think I can check straight into the looney farm. Cuckoo.

Pink, too

Pink.

My favorite. Not. Yet, if I'm picking my favorite flower from this trip it must be this one. They can be found everywhere on the island, and if I would have had 'green fingers', I would have wanted to see if I could have them at home.

A myriad of colors

Pretty, huh?

That's what I'm sayin'. And this is only a fraction of what we've seen.

Yikes

Speaking of 'Just-in-Time'.....

Yeah, so today we experienced yet another adventure at the immigration office, where it appeared this morning that we could not pick up our passports until September 5. Whereas our flight leaves tomorrow, September 1. Right. After a lot of back-and forth, we were allowed to pick them up at 3:00 PM today (which actually is the time the immigration office closes, but apparently that's just details). Right. So, we decided to go early, and then I made the bold decision to go by myself, without my Mom. Wrong choice. 

Lucky seven

I'll make a very long story short though. After yet another round of lots of back-and-forths, and our driver racing down the streets to fetch my Mom at the hotel who all of a sudden needed to be present, I unexpectedly received both passports about 40 minutes afterwards. Don't ask me why, don't ask me how. But 10 minutes prior to the office closing I walked out with our visas and our passports. With my Mom not anywhere in sight yet. We did the math afterwards, and calculated we visited the immigration office seven times, and we spent a total of two days at the immigration office to extend our visas for three days. Right.

Loving immigration offices?

So for the young and careless amongst you: if you love to wait for hours on end, and come back to the immigration office countless times, then don't worry about a stay for longer than 30 days. If you're not into this type of thing, then I seriously recommend you to take care of your visa before you leave. Just a thought.

Monkeys!

Monkey Forest, Ubud

Make sure you buy a dozen or so bananas, and you'll be golden. Personally, I loved the monkeys. And they're not cheeky, like the ones in Uluwatu, that steal slippers, sunglasses, and everything else they choose to from unsuspecting tourists. My best shots of the monkeys at Monkey Forest below.

Museum and monument

5 years old

Even though this building looks much older, it was only built five years ago. It's both museum and monument, and marks the independence of Indonesia for Bali.

Galungan

Hindu religious event

We had a bit of a mishap on Wednesday, so we completely missed these festivities. From a glance, it must have been a great opportunity for lots of beautiful pictures, but alas... It simply seems I'm going to have to come back for this some day.

Happy B'Day M!

Mankewiecz!

I'm hoping you're chillin' on a beautiful and romantic Italian lake right now, and that you're having an absolut blast! For lack of having a 'real' gift to give to you on your birthday, I'm hoping you'll accept this 'virtual' sunset as a gift for the time being. Enjoy your time off, and have a fabulous birthday!!!!! Big hugs, F

Prepping for the festivities

Important religious event

Over the past few days, all across Bali, people have been preparing for the festivities of Galungan. Traditional dishes are being prepared and eaten the day before, but mostly, everyone is busy preparing for their street decorations and offerings. The decorative bamboo poles that line the streets are handmade, and mostly decorated by hand. This one is being adorned with rice. The pole in the picture measures approximately 12 metres (36 ft).

Pura Taman Ayun, Mengwi

Royal temple of Mengwi

The literal translation of its name, 'Taman Ayun', is 'beautiful garden', as you can read in this post about its history and origin. Built in 1634 AD, it served as the family royal temple of the first Raja (king) of Mengwi, a city not far from Denpasar.

The outer courtyard

The gate to the elevated grounds

The inner sanctum (pictures taken from across the surrounding wall)