Eat Pray Love- Ketut Lyier

Its 10am and Putu (my taxi driver for the day) picks me up right on time. He immediately asks if I'm married I explain yes, and my husband is surfing. I explain he likes to surf and I like to explore so it works out great. We will spend the rest of the week together. Putu is 32 and is single. He comes from a family of 6 siblings and he is the oldest. His two younger brothers and sisters are married. They are of the Hindu faith and do not believe in divorce. Once you are married you stay married. For this reason he has not married. He says he has not met the "special good girl" yet. We talk about the economy in Bali and he tells me his dream. His dream is to travel to Australia, start a business, and make enough money so he can help his family. He would like to help his father to retire so he can enjoy his life. His father works in a rice field 10 hours a day 7 days a week. I get tears in my eyes, I think how in the past I have strived for more money to aquire material possesions, and here is a man who just wants to help his family. Putu himself works 10 hour days and 7 days a week. He says his boss is very easy going and if he wants a day off once a month, its ok.
I'm enjoying my day with Putu. We are singing American and European dance songs while laughing at his accent. His English is pretty good. He has taught himself with help from his customers. Once we arrive in Ubud we look for Wayan and Tutti. In October I stumbled on the book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I was in the middle of preparing for my trip at the time. I read this book and couldn't believe all the similarities with her life and mine. We had gone through the same trials and tribulations in our marriages, had the desire to travel, and gained the awareness of spiritual insight. This book could have been my life. In the end we had both learned who we were and came to love ourselves in a new light.

On to Wayan, Tutti, and Ketut Liyer.... Wayan is a woman who takes in children who have been left on the streets in Udub. Tutti is one of these children. Ketut Liyer is a well known palmist, healer, and artist. Elizabeth had met with Ketut Liyer and found him to be very insightful and accurate while reading her palm. I'm always in for a new experience and was quite curious to see what he would say. Putu and I searched for Wayan and found her healing shop. She blessed me, wrote down my birthdate and continued to pinch areas of my body to diagnose my problems. She came up with low blood pressure (which I already knew) and said I should increase my calcium, vitamin E and vitaminC. She assured me she could heal me at the low cost of $180 US. I thanked her and said I would buy some vitamins. Her business seems to be thriving since the release of the book. She wears "I Love NY" t- shirt and has photos of Elizabeth through out her shop. She is quick to give Putu directions to Ketut Liyer's home and says he should hurry as he gets very busy and there is a long wait. On the way Putu starts to ask why I want to meet Ketut and what information I hope to gain. I tell him about the book and explain I'm not after certain information, just curious as to what he will say. He smiles and I can read his mind. He thinks I'm foolish.
We arrive at Ketut Luiyer's home- temple-art gallery. I am one of 5 people waiting to meet with him. Ketut stops what he is doing and immediately comes to greet me. His wife pinches my face and compliments my fresh skin. He asks where I come from and why I travel alone. After I explain he says he will be with me just be patient. He then asks his son to show me the art for sale. His son takes both Putu and myself to the gallery. While I am looking at the art, Putu is in deep conversation with Ketut's son. He aplogizes for the long talk, I explain it was no problem. Putu looks at me and thanks me for bringing him to meet Ketut. He says he understands better now after talking to his son. He says Ketut had had 45 people visit the day before and has helped many people in the villages with health issues.
He then says he may come to see him on his own. I offer to wait if he wants to see him today. I'm paying Putu for his time and taxi. We agreed on roughly $5 US an hour. He says no but thanks me.
I ask Putu if he will ask Ketuts son how much Ketut charges for a reading. His son says $20 US.
After waiting for an hour Ketut calls me forward to the ivory temple. He asks me to take my shoes off and join him. He looks deeply in my eyes, checks my ears, jaw bone, neck, and then tells me about my past. I'm extremely shocked at how accurate he is. He tells me things about myself no one else knows. He feels my back and then points to my problem area and explains what is causing it. I have no health issues but I'm amazed at what he sees. He then looks at my palm and tells me how old I am, he sees my birthday is coming soon, he is right. He also tells me about my past experiences, jobs, money, family, and fears. He also goes on to tell me about my future. I won't reveal everything but I will say he says I have very strong energy, good karma and I am very lucky. He is right I am very lucky and very grateful. He smiles as I know he can read my heart and my fears. He then carries on telling me more information. After 45 mins, he begins to sell me his art for $200 US. He also wears the tee-shirt "I Love NY". I explain that I am unable to take it with me because of my continued travel. He thanks me anyway. I ask if I can take his photo and he says yes for $25 US. I bow out graciously.
I understand why Wayan, and Ketut charge the high prices. They need the money and they are able to get what they ask for. There may come a time when people stop coming and they will not have the money they need. Its dog eats dog here.
I go to greet Putu where he is frantic. "Oh Miss Jennie I'm so sorry, you can choose not to believe him". He is not always right. I will pray to Shiva for you. I ask what he is talking about. It turns out Putu overheard the marriage part and thinks I would be getting divorced from my current husband. ( Putu thinks I'm married) Uhht Ohhhhhh! I got myself in a huge mess now! I explain that you never know what will come your way and you have to be open to change, it can be for the better. God knows I have had many changes in my life! I now embrace them, they are always for the better. So anyway, after some quick talking I calmed him down. He was really worried. It was cute. He said "you are so calm, I look at you all the time and you just smile". I explain I have no worries, I live for today and the adventures everyday brings. This is why I'm grateful.
Thank you Ketut, meeting you was inspirational.
I love the city of Ubud it is very dofferent from Kuta. Fewer tourists. No vendors haggeling. This city is known for its art and its natural environment. Next time I will stay here.

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