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Published: March 12th 2010
Making the Ogo Ogo
With boobies! You can see hundreds of these all over the island being made for the Balinese New Year. Giant demons, or spirits meant to be displayed on Nyepi (New Year) and then burned to ward off evil spirits. As we hopped on our motorbike this morning to head off around our now very familiar little neighborhood, K and I both noticed that the Bali sky was the bluest we had seen since we arrived here, especially next to that oh so green everything as far as the eye can see. I can only compare it to that final moment you see a loved one off at the airport; when they turn around and you can't remember them ever looking so beautiful...it's very clear to the both of us that we have been completely overtaken by what most of the Europeans, Australians and other non-Balinese who have come and stayed here call the "Bali-bite." I think the only cure will be a quick return...
With that out of the way, our trip back to the mainland was quick, too quick, but definitely had unexpected moments...more moments of which we will never forget. We decided to head back to Ubud for the day on Sunday to meet up with some of Nea's friends and attend an event in honor of International Women's Day. We quickly learned that we as the group were neither enlightened enough or womanly enough
Temple in Ubud
We liked this one cause Ganesh was waiting through open doors... (we had a group of about 5-6 guys and just a couple of women) to be welcomed into that situation so we did what anybody would do...we brought out the vodka. Thanks to Avi and Jan, we had a beautiful setting, at their home deep in the heart of Ubud, to sit back, enjoy a few cocktails and discuss the amazingness that is Bali (as if K and I needed to be anymore persuaded about this place). We decided to stay the night and hit the town where we met a new friend Dale, an ethnobotanist from S. Africa and spent the rest of the evening listening to the amazing world in which he lives and studies plants, herbs and mostly mushrooms and their healing powers. He even showed us his rare poisonous snake collection while we all sipped Jameson neat! I think both K and I agree that that night was one of the most interesting nights we've had on our trip by far.
The next day, we hung out in Ubud with everyone and even managed to run into our Gili friend Hanna, in front of a Circle K to be exact, which was perfect because
Masks in Ubud
I wish I bought 20 of them...so unique and cool! we never properly got to say our goodbyes. Serendipity...it has happened a lot here, especially when we let the wind take us where it will or as I've grown fond of saying, "go with your gut before I punch you in it!"
We spent our last day and a half doing a little shopping and a lot of hanging out with our beloved Nea and family (and where K found his rarer than rare Freddy Kruger Nike Dunks he is oh so in love with, just ask him!) and fighting back the tears, we hopped on our plane back to Thailand to explore the south part of the country...and enjoy the much missed delicious cuisine!
We arrived late last night after a long day of traveling (and with the annoying dry eye issues i've been dealing with for the last week or so) and did a quick walk around Phuket before we decided to call it a night. Our first impression was not much of one at all really...the streets were very empty and quiet and I think we both just needed a good nights sleep. When we awoke, so did the city! It's been a
Avi & Jan's
This was the view from their seperate kitchen...such a peaceful home! pretty full day of walking around Phuket, which really resembles New Orleans in both architecture and charm, and needless to say, we've both gotten our fix of pad thai, pad se ew and Chang. Tomorrow we head to Ko Pha Ngan to meet up with a friend and see just how the Thailand beaches compare to those of Bali. I guess that's all for now. We are so excited to spend the next couple of weeks getting to know S. Thailand before we have to head back to Bangkok and then back to reality. That's all I got! Until the next blog....<3
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Carrie
non-member comment
Rice paddies and Ogo Ogo's ... Oh my!
First off - amazing pics... I feel like I am there! Love the stories, keep them coming. Four star travel blog! Learn how to make some amazing new dishes and get fun recipes in the land of Thai food!! Travel safe, travel far, travel well. Love, Carrie