Travel stories written while I’m on the road exploring. So many adventures and experiences pop up each day, I’ll begin by managing them under travel stories and invite you to follow along.
Yesterday was the first day of the Balinese New Year. I wrote about NYEPI earlier. I left Dewa’s around 5:00 pm the day before heading toward the royal palace and the Ogah Ogah Parade, the parade of the demon effigies they build. It’s not as large of an event here in Ubud as in other […]
Today, I had a lazy start to the day. It’s the first time in weeks I haven’t gotten up before 5:30! I went back to sleep and got up at 7:30 happy I missed the dolphin watching trip. The guides are so hungry for money, they parked on my friend Mono’s bungalow porch, signed up
Lovina and Balinese New Year Read More »
My friend Jim is now roasting coffee beans in Longmont. He got some very good beans last fall from Bali and shared the result with me. Here’s how that works. One the beans are ripe, they are harvested and then dried. The dried cherry is either washed off or taken off through a mill of
After a restless night Friday, I woke Saturday morning groggy and unsettled. I woke often, hot and thirsty, drifted back to sleep, woke again, was up from 3;00 until 5:00 am, and finally got up at 6:30. My energy felt unsettled to say the least. The day before, I’d heard something about a baby naming
Lovina, beach, dolphin and hungry touts! Read More »
Busy…. In a few short weeks, I’ll be returning to the US and am finding myself preparing for that re-entry. The time I have left is perhaps more vacation than many people in the US take! I read last year that less than 20% of American’s take all the vacation allotted to them. The US
Preparing for re-entry: cultural and work change! Read More »
I’ve been here almost one week. It doesn’t seem possible it’s been that long?! Ubud has it’s own vibe and while it’s a spiritual center of sorts, there is definitely a buzz in the air to get out and do something, go somewhere, have a massage, try a different meal, or take a walk. Hitting
A quiet lull in Ubud Read More »
I left after my last writing to meet the car. The woman who was going and had walked by much earlier was still sitting there in the center of the family compound arguing with Dewa about a price he’d given her for the tour she wanted to do the next day. She’d been up there
Another perfect twist! Read More »
I was having lunch at Artini’s before going by motor bike with Dewa to Kintamani and the markets. During lunch, I realized I felt so mellow from the work with Eddy this morning, it would probably be better if I waited until tomorrow morning to go. Eddy did acupuncture with me for nearly two hours,
Another amazing moment AND more healers! Read More »
I’ve only been in Ubud a few days and time seems to be flying by. Now that I’m here, I’m not traveling anymore. I’ve got no more long bus rides, don’t plan to involve any ferries, no flights to book, lodging it taken care of and my most demanding activity is deciding if to get
I heard that phrase several years ago. It was used in reference to how much life is changing. In the past, people looked “down the road” at their life goals, where they wanted to be, what they wanted to do, planning for retirement and career and life. Recently, with the changes in the economy, culture,
The light shines on your next step Read More »
I made it here to Seraya Island. My French friends I met early in my trip, when I landed in Penang, were so enthusiastic about it and wrote down all the instructions for how to get here. I put those instructions in my computer case so they would remain handy for the duration of my
Our boat cruised noisily through the islands, no muffler on one of the engines only added to the uniqueness of the experience. The green hills were unlike anything I’d seen on my trip and reminded me a little of photo’s of Ireland. After a long haul, sitting on top in the sun, and watching several
Komodo and Rinca Island Read More »
I went to Kuta Beach yesterday from Ubud to be closer to my flight this morning. I ran into “Yoda” again and he remembered me! I guess I’m really a Jedi Knight now!!! Kuta is still busy and a bit crazy. I love the people watching and forgot how much walking was involved in getting
Komodo: it’s happening! Read More »
Remember when I went shopping to six different stores in Penang looking for the book “Shantaram”? Many people told me about it in the US before I left, even a man while I was waiting in line to be admitted to The “GoLite” factory sale. Once on my trip, more people mentioned it and even
“Shantaram”, what’s in store for me Read More »
If you are bothered by reading about decidedly unmanly behavior, stop reading now! The following information may be disturbing to you! On the other hand, if you are flexible, curious and open minded, read on. Before leaving Makassar, I went shopping for an external hard drive. My laptop was quickly filling up with the 5,500
Caution: “UNMANLY” behavior described below!!! Read More »
As I’m writing from Ubud, you are guessing correctly, I was unable to find a flight out of Denpasar two days ago to Labuan Bajo. My flight in from Makassar was good, I was moved to an exit row that I had to myself, and the Lion Air Flight landed relatively smoothly which they are
Ubud return, a few days later Read More »
As I’m writing from Ubud, you are guessing correctly, I was unable to find a flight out of Denpasar two days ago to Labuan Bajo. My flight in from Makassar was good, I was moved to an exit row that I had to myself, and the Lion Air Flight landed relatively smoothly which they are
Ubud return, a couple days after arrival Read More »
My first day here, I hired a guide, a man named Newman, to give me a tour of the Southern part of this country. I hadn’t intended to go with a guide. When I stumbled upon his “tourist information” place on a side street and asked him a couple questions, he got out a map
Touring Toraja with Newman Read More »
A cloudy Saturday here and rain is threatening. I’ve been very fortunate with the weather! Many travelers I meet are planning their trip by looking up weather forecast on the web. It’s driving them crazy!!! They ask me what I think about going to the Togian Islands because they heard….blah, blah, blah, rain every day
Rantepao reflections, leaving on the overnight bus tonight Read More »
Today, I’m NOT traveling. One long day to Tentena, one day in Tentena on motor bike exploring, one long day yesterday on bus to get here and now, walking and relaxing. It’s strange being around a city again after being on the islands for so long. I’m carrying wallet and watch, found ice cream, am
Travel pause in Rantepao and Tana Toraja Read More »