Ubud Life

The place I’ve come to call home here in Bali is PERFECT. I am up on the second floor of a house, of which the entire thing is open save for a paylapa style roof. There are a few bamboo shades to drop in the event of a torrential down pour (which I might add, would do jack shit in terms of keeping things “dry”), but other than that, I am one with nature. From my deck, which is a funny term to use because the whole place is really like a deck, I over look the jungle and river bed bellow, while off on the horizon rise the three volcanos, Mt. Batur, Mt. Agung, and the third of whose name I do not yet know. The view is simply stunning, and I have found myself just staring out at it for hours. I always stop when I feel the droplets of drool pooling at my feet.

In my hours not spent gazing out on the landscape, I have made myself a wonderful little home. There is a nice big open space where i have put out my yoga mat. Near that, a chase lounge where my ukulele lives. My books have made their home on one of the tables and all of their covers are curling up in response to the almost liquid air. There is a round table for eating that holds a big bowl of mangosteens, and other native fruit that i love but don’t know the names of. And then there’s my computer, the object that has no specific location, which looks so out of place among its rustic counterparts, but makes me smile every time I see it. There is something absolutely wonderful about feeling totally alone and out in the middle of nowhere and yet having the ability to be connected to the world in a matter of clicks! And so, I am in heaven.

My body is LOVING the heat, humidity, and constant state of wetness, while my soul is loving being surrounded by so much life. Everywhere I look there is an animal or plant that is beautiful beyond words. I feel like I’m wrapped up in the arms of mother nature, and there is nothing more comforting than that. So yes, Bali is healing. And if the plants and animals weren’t enough, then the people complete the circle. They are so caring, graceful, and present, smiling at everyone who passes. I have already taken over a thousand photographs just with my eyes of all their smilies, and I will store them in my heart for whenever I need a smile of my own. The majestic statues of buddha and various hindu gods and goddesses that are mixed in among the greenery give an ever present sense of mystery and mysticism that I find absolutely fascinating. The rituals that are performed on a daily basis are equally impressive. I have watched the same woman bring the offerings and incense to each of the statues every evening as the sun is setting, and each time she does exactly the same thing, but her movements and expressions are such that it is as if she is doing it for the first time. There is so much devotion and love in every step, I am humbled simply by watching.

Yesterday morning I came out to my parked scooter (yes I got a motorbike), and sitting on the handlebars was a small offering of flowers wrapped in large banana tree leaves. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and I knew then that my motorbike was now blessed by the hindu gods and would keep me safe out on those totally chaotic roads. There’s a reason they put offerings on the motorbikes!!! It’s their attention to detail, and the TIME they take to do the LITTLE things that make this place so special.

But there is another side. Not a bad side by any means, just a more “real” side. Let me now paint you that picture: It is 6am. I am lying in my mosquito netted bed, which consists of more holes than protective material, itching the 20 new bites on my arms, legs, and face. The roosters are crowing non-stop as if they have just lost their beloved brother in a cock fight. The noise of the roosters stirs the pigs, so now the pigs are squealing equally offensively creating the most horrific orchestra of noise which rivals that of a slaughter house. No more sleep for me. Miraculously I feel rested, despite waking up every few hours to the howling stray dogs and mercilessly crying cats. Ah the lovely sounds of nature. Top that off with the constant buzz of insects, the distant ritual chanting, and a few other very unidentifiable, mildly concerning sounds and you have a new button on the Sharper Image noise maker entitled “Bali”.

But I love it. I love it all so much that I must look like one of those annoying people who walks around with a shit eating grin on their face at all times. I wouldn’t know this however because my new home does not have any walls let alone a mirror!

My days thus far have consisted of becoming familiar with my new environment, which seems to have an adventure lurking around each and every corner. I had a very interesting trip on my scooter to the “grocery” store yesterday in which I spent hours looking for some form of soap with which I could wash my many clothes (all 2 pairs of shorts and 2 shirts I so modestly brought). They sell the most bizarre things at the Bali grocery store, which only adds to the confusion. I would love to give you some description of what they are, but they are such completely foreign objects I wouldn’t even know how to start describing them!
Simply being on the motorbike is an adventure in itself, but that truly deserves an entire email to itself, so you shall have to wait for those stories to come.

Aside from the joys of pure survival, life in Bali is very relaxing. I have already spent hours reading, writing, lounging, and sleeping. It feels amazing to function with a complete and total disregard for time. I function almost entirely on the clock of the sun, rising around 6am and falling asleep around 7pm, allowing the natural rhythms of my body to fall in line with those of nature. It just feels right (and prevents me from completely loosing it at the roosters and pigs when they go off at 6am).