Welcome to Ubud!
The past week has flown by! Some of that has been me being busy receiving massage, healing sessions, relaxing, helping and such. It’s been great being with the family here and I can feel it’s been difficult for them. Very few guests for the past two years. I’m their only guest currently. When I asked “Mama” how much the rooms are now, she touched her heart. “Up to you. Whatever you feel in your heart is good.”
As part of the family, I make my own breakfast when I’m ready, help out where I can and have simply been resting. The heat and humidity have taken a toll in terms of energy and I’m finally adjusting, as much as I ever do, to the humidity!
And essentially, I’m once again inspired being here. The people are so warm and friendly! It’s a lowing and welcoming culture!
I still love being off the main tourist areas. Even though they are quiet now, this feels more like home territory! People remember me. Three times in two days, my walking path was cut by people stopping on their motor bikes. Lifting their visor, they asked “remember me”? Nice!
Photo on left is of the swimming pool at Sandat Bali. They had a pool man come clean and balance it yesterday. Pappa was concerned that it looked more green like the plants than blue like the sky. No guests but they still take care of things.
Bali Now...Things that are different!
Throngs of tourist arrived after the movie “Eat, Pray, Love” came out. Shops
sprung up, tiny shops, side by side, everyone sitting out front trying to sell you something or get your attention. Now, maybe 30-40% of those are boarded up. Gone!
Many other shops have sale signs in their window. Not a lot of tourist now but its improving.
Tiny but powerful!
It has been so long since I travel, I forgot about my ear issue. Colorado is so dry. Ear wax builds up for protection. Once I get into the ocean swimming, or a pool, my ear plugs up and I am unable to hear. It gets a bit painful. One morning, I asked Mama where I could get ear candle? She got on the phone. Within moments, Ketut from Juman-Jie massage arrived with candles and a such. We used Papa’s healing table. My left ear was packed and not clear when she finished. I waited a couple days then went to see her last night. She and her husband are such happy people! Always smiling and joking even though they are suffering the hardships of Covid.
She did a candling of the left ear only and then used a tiny tool to clean things a little better. What a deft and soft touch she uses. I believe anyone in the community that has ear issue calls her.
When I pulled out some money to pay her, she waved me off. I paid her once but it didn’t work. I handed her $100,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah), about $7 US. “You helped me so I’d like to help you” I told her. She finally accepted. No money but still a simply life and happy!
More Serendipity and Travel Magic!
Lovely long walk this morning playing with my camera. Monday, I’ll be heading to the jungle so am playing with adjustments for that experience. One view I came across just outside Ubud, this rice field! Peaceful and gorgeous!
Little Talks Cafe, my friend Erma. Stopped here for coffee. What a location! And, they are going to the coffee farm next week. If so, I’m invited to come along!
Open heart and friendly!
Bali is the warmest culture I’ve visited. Others have been recommended but I’ve never experienced a place where people are so warm kind and loving!
Seeing and Looking!
Little things, normal here, but I’d never see at home. Like this gas station, pictured on the left! Labeled by volume, how much you want. Uncle Ed had a farm version of this when I was a kid vising his farm!
Local method of transporting things, including cement on construction sites and 40 pound/5 gallon water jugs.
Examples of seeing!
Travel day!
Tomorrow I’m off to Sanur! I’m having dinner in the evening with a friend I met in Queretaro, Mexico. The next morning, my flight departs at 7:00 am for Surabaya, then onward to Pangkalan Bun in Kalimantan, Indonesia Borneo. I have the afternoon to explore the village, hire a boat for a short excursion seeing the jungle along the river and then leave the next morning. When my guide Nur picks me up, we head up river by boat for 3 days and 2 nights of experience.
I’m excited to see the orangutan again, and the proboscis monkey, and all the birds and, mostly, to simply absorb the peace and quiet and energy of the natural world!
Experiences?
That’s Papa (Nyoman) in the photo above. Healer, friend, grandfather of Made, wife of Wayan, bird feeder, always happy, every day a good day…. that’s probably enough to give you the idea.
I came to Bali for an energetic tuneup. I’ve had acupuncture (different types), trigger point therapy, massage, acupressure, Chinese massage and chiropractic care. My body has felt OK but something was off.
When sciatica hit, I was immobilized for months. Sitting, standing, walking or sleeping, I was in pain. I’m not used to that!! After months, I felt like if I was in pain sitting but not more pain moving, I started moving. Then, smoke from California fires hit and walking was like smoking.
Acupuncture discovered it was not sciatica issues but a locked up “trigger” point
in the hip socket. Two sessions and that was gone. However, residual things remained. Burning sinus for months, heart burn that was NOT usual for me, consistent back pain, neck issues, and so forth.
When I realized that my chiropractor was trying to help me, I also realized we did the same treatment every time. Good intentions but no results. That’s when I started dreaming of coming back for a tune up.
I began feeling GREAT and was sleeping really well. Nyoman has a new device he wanted me to stand on. I was barely able to keep upright with a lot of assistance. He suggested I do this three times a day. I started doing it five times a day. Within a couple days, I noticed my gait was different walking down the stairs. My body felt different walking down the street. My posture was more upright. Tension left my shoulders.
Today, my left heal felt like it was “bruised”. Nyoman worked on me again! OUCH! Painful! He said that all the stretching had loosened up and changed
some things so this was at the surface now. Painful as it was, I knew it would feel better. I could feel my knee shifting, my hip shifted, my neck loosened more. When I stood up, the pain was almost completely gone and I had no tightness in my knee!
How does this happen? I don’t have the faintest idea how I cold explain it so I don’t. I’m simply open to receive, let go, and allow my body and energy to balance itself back to perfect health.
Even though I’ve experienced this many times, it’s been over three years this time. And once again, I’m amazed at how different I feel after only a short time here!
Frida influence in Bali!
Entry door to Muse Cafe. Look closely and see the quote from Frida Kahlo. Yes, here influence is worldwide. Wise words!
Now, packing to travel tomorrow!