Geo: -8.27944, 115.606This beach is so gorgeous. It's a small little town, with just a few shops and even fewer restaurants. And I thought Ubud was small. All eight "beach sellers" knew me by name after day 1. And I was only on the beach in the evenings after SCUBA. Great town for doing nothing at all. Or maybe getting your SCUBA certification!... read more

Geo: -8.16799, 115.027Traveling from Ubud on the south side of the big volcano in Bali to Lovina Beach on the north side of the island means going up and over the biggest volcano on the island. On a road barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other, with no line down the middle, no guard rails and a wing and a prayer. On the way down the other side, even though I was sitting in the front seat, I had to open the window and breathe deeply. My driver had just a little English, and I managed to communicate "many turns" to him, to which he replied, "yes, 175 I counted once". So, just a few switchbacks to get up and then down the other side. Good thing I had the good fortune to ... read more

Geo: -8.31653, 115.183In the afternoon, after the morning's cremation ceremony, Faith, Timshell, Made, Ketut and I hopped back in the jeep and headed up the Gunung Batur volcano. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Batur) It's the largest and most sacred volcano on Bali, it's erupted two in the last 100 years. At the top is a big crater, with two big summits inside it, and also a big fresh water lake.We had lunch on the crater rim at a little local warung (warung = bodega, general store, restaurant place). The warung had a patio with tables overlooking the volcanoes crater, lake and middle summits (I'm sure there is a name for the large hills that sit in the middle of a volcano's crater, I just don't know it)After lunch, we drove back down the volcano a little ways to Pura Besakih. ... read more

Geo: -8.51927, 115.263Today I went to the Ubud market to buy a new blouse and belt/scarf for Temple. I actually did it too, and of course I got a few more things. After the market, I went to a restaurant called the Dirty Duck. I'd been there before for dinner at night, and remember thinking that I had to go again during the day to see the fantastic fountains in the light. I've put some pics of them here, as well as some pictures of the rice fields that lay just behind the restaurant. I got the new Temple clothes because I am going to an important cremation ceremony in Ginyar tomorrow. A high-priest died about 2 months ago, and the town has been preparing his cremation/burial ever since. It's a big deal; people from all ... read more

Geo: -8.51927, 115.263One morning I got up early and visited the Farmers Market in Ubud, and this is what think I thought I saw.... read more