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Published: October 7th 2009
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Day 6 Oct 6th
The crash
Well I might as well just get it out of the way. Today wasn’t great. We had a terrible crash on the scooter and Peter was left with significant road rash.
It could have been a lot worse. At dinner tonight we agreed to the fact that if there was on coming traffic we would have become Balinese road kill.
We were about 30 minutes into our trip to Uluwatu Temple. The roads to this village are narrow and windy in most spots. The area offers such an amazing flavor of the Balinese culture. The streets are full of old architecture and local elders tending to their stores.
I was taking in the sights snapping pics as we drove.
Peter made a sound, I looked up and we were in the wrong lane, headed right for the guard rail. I really don’t even how it happened. The corner was sharp and some how he lost control of the bike. We ate it bad. Seconds after the fall people were stopping to help. The first guy to stop was a young expatriate from the US. NO KIDDING! This was the first US voice we
have heard the whole trip! He said he was from Encinitas (could this get any weirder?) but hasn’t been in the states for a while. The guy gave us water to clean Peter’s wounds and offered a lot of information.
Peter was in shock and had to sit for a while. I got some damage to my elbows and my right knee, but Peter got the worse of it. After we gathered our thoughts we got back on the bike to find some beers. We don’t advocate drinking and driving but a beer was exactly what we needed to cool us down and take the edge off.
We stopped at the entrance of the park and the guard noticed Peters arm. He immediately pulled some kind of balm out of his fanny pack and motioned me to put it on him. The medicine was of oily consistency and I was unsure how to apply this product. The guard could see I didn’t have a clue so he took over the job. Peter was wincing as this foreign stranger is rubbing his raw skin, but what else could Peter do but let him help?
There was a small restaurant just past
The shrine of a local man that just died
We passed this hand made ornimental structureon the way to Uluwatu. On the way back from the Temle we noticed a comotion and realized it was this mans funeral. Everyone from the village seemed to be there. Costumes were worn and drums and singing were heard. They had the structure in a pile in flames. I would have pictures of the funeral but the camera had a work out this day and died on us the guard stand where we pulled in to get the beers. It is here we realized how much attention Peter’s arm is going to get us. The local workers were having lunch when we got there. The Balinese are engaging, curious folks. Some might find it intrusive, I think its endearing. They think nothing of coming right up to Peter looking at his arm and saying “What happened to you?” They look you right in the eye and expect an answer. And you want to answer because they seem so genuinely concerned. They all ask us if we have medicine or if he had medical care. They have a serious look when examining the wounds, some thing we’re not used to in the States. The locals are focused on you and your situation. They aren’t distracted or disconnected like most in our culture. They are fully engaged in life!
We got to Uluwatu and were dazzled by its beauty. This is the most sacred Temple on the island. It was thought to have been built in the 11th century. It was rebuilt some 500 years later by a reformer priest.
We had come dressed to the temple in shorts so
we had to be properly attired. The Balinese consider below the waist evil and above the waist good. If you show up to the temple and your knees are showing you must ware a sarong. The sash separates good and evil. They have these traditional pieces available at the front of the entrance.
After being properly dressed we entered the park. There were two elderly women selling peanuts and fruit to feed the monkeys. As all the signs warn of feisty monkeys I am hesitant to make the purchase. One of the employees even called these monkeys “Mean”.
After seeing several people bit at Monkey Forest I was nervous but bought the peanuts anyway. I watched others feed and things seemed calm so I got up the nerve. I started with the smaller monkeys they seem like they could do less damage. Peter and I had a great time with the monkeys. I could watch them all day! Sounds unbelievable but I’ve realized monkeys to the locals are like squirrels to us. They are abundant and part of the daily scene so they are nothing special.to the locals
The view of the Temple from the stairway is breathtaking. The cliffs
rise 600 feet above the ocean. We continued on the stone path till it ended and noticed a dirt trail and choose to follow it (surprised?) only to find ourselves next to another steep cliff. There was a little stand with 2 locals selling cold water and souvenirs. We bought some water and a blond woman in her 30s noticed our voices and struck up a conversation. She is a writer on vacation and traveling for 1 year. I was blown away when she said she was from Del Mar! She was only the second American we’ve heard, and they were both in one day.
We weaved around the path making our way back toward the Temple. We walked in and out of the ancient compound taking in all the details.
There a tour bus dropped off a large group of Chinese tourists. One observation I’ve had during our trip is how different we all are as foreigners when vacationing in another country. The Chinese are adorned in high end designer clothes; all of them are clutching the newest in cameras and recording devices. The women are in heels donning hats and umbrellas. I was looking at the right place
at the right time when an older Asian man takes off his glasses to take a video and in a flash a monkey came up and grabbed the glasses and took off over the wall. In an instant three men Peter dubbed “the keepers of the Temple” were over the wall going at the monkey to find this guys glasses.
The job description of these men must be to keep the monkeys from behaving badly and keep them in line! This was an interesting scene to watch.
We spent hours at this sight and it was getting after 4:00 PM. It was time to get on our chariot and get back. One thing Peter and I have talked about is never being out after dark on the scooter. Peters has lost a lot of confidence riding the bike. I have told him I am fine with parking the thing if he isn’t feeling right. It is OK to go as slow as we need to and just let every on pass us. I don’t want Peter to feel any pressure. I don’t want us going back to the States maimed of even worse, in a box. We had a pep
talk and went on our way.
There is a host for every restaurant standing outside explaining their menu and discounts. They are all pleasant and smiling. There’s is no pressure to go in the restaurant, they just like to chat. All restaurants are outdoor patio seating with music and soft lighting. Peter chooses a German restaurant for dinner. “Where would you like to sit sir?” the host asks. Peter replies “We’d like the best seat in the house”
“But sir, all we have is outdoor seating” We just laughed!
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cathy
non-member comment
you are nuts
Ok I am convinced that both of you are crazy. you crash, drink then have a stranger rub oily germs all over a fresh wound. I would be worried but you always push things to the edge and get away with it so I'm sure again you two will be fine with this too. I hope all of your other days have been good and I'll message you soon. c