Blogs from Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, Asia - page 13

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Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud March 22nd 2014

The sub-title for The Continuing Adventures of Dreamchasers 2014 is "Slow Down, You Move Too Fast". Although we have had longer stays in one place during this year's travels than last - at least three of which lasted over a week - we have still done a fair amount of moving around in the past three months, as you will have noticed if you've been travelling with us through our twenty two blog entries. But we have now arrived at our final destination, where we will remain for the next four weeks, having committed to daily yoga classes and a studio apartment that we have rented for the month. We have also rented two scooters, and I, for one, appreciate the practice we had riding on some of the badly rutted roadways in Kuta, Lombok, as ... read more
Our Front Yard View
Pool Overlooking Rice Paddy
Studio Living

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud March 21st 2014

I am about to run to another yoga class, so I will do my best to fill you in on the past few days. A year ago today, I would never have guessed that I would be across the world and enjoying the sweltering heat of Bali, Indonesia. I really can’t believe it. I have probably pinched myself over 5 times just today!! Before I tell you about Bali though, I want to tell you a funny story that happened a few days ago. My bags were packed and ready to go and I was about to head to the airport to catch my flight to Bali. I even called a taxi and then I decided to look at my boarding pass. Guess what? I had an extra day in Australia! My flight did not leave ... read more

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud March 18th 2014

Several weeks before Balinese New Year or Nyepi, youth groups get together and plan the construction of 'Ogoh-Ogoh'. They are giant, scary figures formed on bamboo frames, intricately woven with wire and then covered with paper mache. They are made in the form of creatures of the underworld known in Balinese as 'buta kala'. The creatures are based on characters taken from traditional myths and legends, however, in modern times many also take the form of modern characters. It is a challenging project and the first step is to raise the funds to pay for the project. On the eve of Nyepi, the figures are paraded around the streets, with main roads closed off, many people come to see the parade. It can take up to 30 people to carry one figure.Often electric wires have to ... read more
JALAN KAJENG
End of the parade
Gamelon and cymbal musicians

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud March 17th 2014

The group decided today to go somewhere not on the beach but towards the mountains and we came across an activity where we can bike 25 KM's which is around 14-16 miles through Ubud's rice paddy fields. We left the house around 10AM and unfortunately, traffic was so bad through the island that it took about 3 hours + lunch to get to the destination. I like to take a moment and point out why EVERY DAMN BUG in this country is huge. I saw centipedes 6 inches and now this. Look at the spider...it was about 7 inches in length and chilling there. (see picture) We pick up our tour guide which was in charge of the bike tour and we agree to give him a ride anyway to the destination. As we are driving ... read more
LARGE FREAKING SPIDER
MANY FREAKING SPIDERS
MORE FREAKING SPIDERS

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud March 8th 2014

Hello again from Bali! After a few weeks of hanging out at Kuta Beach, we find ourselves into a daily routine. It's funny how even on a holiday a routine seems to develop for us! We spend the morning enjoying our patio and pool while we do our social media and phone calls to family and friends. Next, we make the 20 minute walk to our place at the beach where we enjoy people watching, reading, talking with the local people and vendors and enjoying a few beverages. I had my eyebrows plucked the other day. You can get absolutely any service on the beach. Warren even had his ears plucked!! We have a late lunch on the beach at a local stand (noodle soup, rice & veggies etc). Some days I walk across the street ... read more
Hindu Offerings
Cremation Bed
Balinese musicians

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud March 7th 2014

5 mars Je quitte le quartier touristique de Kuta ce matin alors que je me colle sur d'autres voyageurs dans un minibus inconfortable. Le véhicule s'éloigne de Kuta en traversant la cité mouvementé de Denpasar... pour se rendre à Ubud, un peu plus au nord de l'île. Ubud. Il paraît qu'on en parle dans le livre Mange, Prie, Aime de cet endroit, mais bon. Comme je ne l'ai pas lu et que je ne suis aucunement influencé par ce bouquin, je ne pourrai pas vous dire si on y mange, y prie ou y aime. Mais je peux vous dire qu'on y voyage beaucoup par contre. ... C'est après une bonne heure et demie de transport que je pose mon corps suant devant le portique de chez Donald Home Stay de Ubud. Aucune idée c'est qui ... read more
Ubud Dance
Fontaines sacrees
Hanuman

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud February 26th 2014

Stair rods - trapped! Unable to go anywhere right now unless we wear our attractive ponchos! Important info for travellers: the ATMs are quite unlike those in the UK. Last night, discovered my debit card was missing, last used in the ATM on the main road. Must have forgotten to take it out, but how? Discovered today when resorting to taking out cash with my credit card that the money comes out first, then a delay, then it says transaction over and asks you to exit. No sign of card until you press it - stressful, as it looks like the machine has eaten it, and very easy when chatting with your travel buddy to get over-excited by the appearance of cash and forget that you haven't got your card. No warning beeping. Sad face!!!! No ... read more
Banana overload at breakfast!
In a restaurant
Scary artwork!

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud February 26th 2014

I showed some views of Ubud sixteen posts ago. I returned there in June 2012 and paid what must be my 4th or 5thvisit to Ubud, mindful of the town’s fame as the centre of Balinese art. I bought some traditional paintings there twenty-five years ago, and this year visited with the intention of studying the art properly. I head the name Bali for the first time back in London in the Swinging Sixties. A girlfriend recounted how, travelling the ‘Hippy Trail’ she and a friend arrived in a new place and were dropped off at the market. She said that the king looked out of his palace and sent a servant to fetch the visitors to stay in the palace: which they did … for at least a week. She described a paradise and my ... read more
... and my second.
My second teacher
Mid Twentieth Century Painting

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud February 25th 2014

Transport arrived to pick us up from the hotel. Oldest. Minibus. Ever. We meandered through Legian and Seminyak, picking up folks and their huuuuge bags as we went. there was a seat for all passengers (7) but not so much room for our luggage, so we had our feet on a Chilean backpack for the entire journey. No, Sam would not move and sit in the back. Mimicked retching noises to reinforce the point. On arrival in Ubud, the driver said he wouldn't go down Monkey Forest Road - too much traffic, and the very forthright and not-helpful-at-all Dutch lady in the front said she would pay him the 10,000 requested to do so. Chorus of disapproval at this, led by us. The agent had said he would stop at 3 places along it, and others ... read more
Ubud market
Poor birds in cages at the guesthouse
Rice paddy and buddha in the restaurant

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud February 23rd 2014

Arma was opened by the Indonesian Minister for education and culture. It is more than a museum, it is a centre for visual and performings arts and provides opportunities for the visitor to enjoy the collection of paintings and temporary exhibitions. To name just a few of the work exhibited: classical Kamasan paintings on tree bark; pieces by Banian artists of the '30 and '40's; the only works to be seen on Bali by 19th century Javanese artist Bastman and German painter, Walter Spies. Foreign artists who lived and worked in Bali are represented by, Willem Hofker, Rudolf Bonnet, Adrien Mayeur de Merpres and Willem Dooijewaard. The buildings are Balinese style, amidst gardens, lotus ponds and fountains. There is also an Arma Resort, located on the grounds along with two restaurants. It is surrounded by lush, ... read more
Making our way to the purification waters
Warriors
Balinese firedancer




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