Ubud

After my jet lag wore off, I was able to actually process the rich culture and really begin to appreciate the colorful villages and warm people. I visited at the time of the full moon, when there are many ceremonies and offerings to the Hindu gods. The women of the village make daily offerings made out of leaves, flowers, and grasses, and place them in the entrances of homes, businesses, and temples.

This was also the week where they gave thanks to all things metal and machines, by decorating these things with offerings, too. It was really cool to see motorbikes, cars, faucets, and the stove covered in beautiful, intricate decorations. Although, I wish I would have made an offering for my computer because a few days later my computer crashed! Something to do with the RAM. But, Jackie came to the rescue and called a friend who could fix my computer for about $55 USD. 

I spent my down time sleeping, lounging, eating well, and enjoying the beautiful and lush Ubud, Bali. The week's highlights include:

Riding the motorbike all around town- zipping along narrow, two-lane roads, through villages and jungles. 

A tour of Green School- A sustainable school all made from bamboo where their 200+ students are not only taught the standard subjects, but take part in growing their own gardens, raising livestock, composting, and re-establishing the endangered Bali starling;  their aviary has produced 70 new birds in the last few years!  

Visiting the cashew factory, Alamente- The factory sits in the mountainous region of Desa Ban, Bali where most families have an average income of $2/day.  East Bali Cashew company saw an opportunity to employ the people of this region, mainly women, to help improve their lives and teach farmers to maximize their production and improve the poor soil.  In the first three months of production, Alamente is off to a really successful start and now employs over 100 people from the surrounding villages. They grow, pick, steam, dry, shell, and flavor their cashews at this factory. These are seriously the best cashews I've ever tasted; I didn't know cashews could be this soft, creamy and delicious! 

Participating in the bathing ceremony at the water temple, Pura Tirta Empul (Temple of Holy Water)- Although we had to wake up at 4:30 AM and drive 45 mins, it was a experience of a lifetime. Pura Tirta Empul spills out sacred spring water from 12 fountains which fill a large rectangular pool (with koi fish!) Worshippers come here to make offerings, bathe, and pray. I was lucky enough to be invited to join the bathing ceremony! When we arrived the sun was barely coming up and at 6 in the morning the water is freezing!  I had to wear a traditional sarong for the bathing, where we all got into the pool and dunked ourselves under each fountain. Then we walked to the other side of the courtyard and did some more offerings; this time we sat and prayed, burned incense, put flowers behind our ears and finished with wet rice on our forehead and throat (called Bija). A really awesome experience.

And not to be forgotten- eating huge, fresh avocados off the tree in the yard; eating fresh mint and basil from the garden; trying snake fruit, passionfruit, mountain apple, mangosteen and rambutan for the first time; waking up to rain storms and huge lightning and thunder storms; seeing bugs everywhere! butterflies in my room in the morning, a praying mantis on the top of the toilet in the afternoon, the sound of 1 million cicadas at dinner, lizard mating calls in my room all night, massive ants, spiders crawling on the floor, and a mosquito or fly on your skin every couple minutes. I've made sure to put my hair up in a braid or bun not only because of the heat but to avoid little critters making a new home on my head. The heat and humidity- today was 86 degrees with 74% humidity, but my skin loves it.  Even after all the bugs and the heat, I loved seeing the colorful buildings and houses; all the village roosters and dogs; the statues, temples, and offerings; rice paddies, jungles, and trees with dangling, pink roots; And the men and women in traditional ikats and batiks. 

Now I'm ready for the next part of my trip, Timor Leste. I fly into Dili tomorrow morning.