Language Study with Putu
As a language teacher myself, I often told my French students that when learning a new language, you are also discovering a new culture and ways of viewing the workd. It is very exciting to be going down this path again with my excellent teacher Putu, who delights in sharing the nuances of the language and culture. For example, she informed me that the Balinese will rarely answer in the negative to a question about unknown future scenarios. They will always reply with "maybe", or "not yet", always retaining a positive attitude. Even if the possibility is remote, it is still possible.
Ubud, You Are Still My Spiritual Heartbeat
May 1st 2015 We have now completed our third stay in Ubud Bali, over three consecutive years, each one longer than the previous year. Yet instead of it becoming a little old, tired, boring, and "same-same", Ubud seems to have the opposite effect on us. The longer we stay, the more we appreciate the diversity of all it has to offer, so it feels we are continually peeling away layers, discovering and appreciatin
... read more Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud
The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; the islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hos... ... read more 
