Flying snakes! (5 May 2010)

This snake thing is probably getting a bit boring for you now but there has been yet another sighting, a bit different this time! I was happily sitting reading under the sun umbrella this morning when something dropped onto it and bounced off onto the floor. I thought it might be a small coconut but it sounded a bit squishy so perhaps it was a frog – they can leap all over the place. It wasn’t until I took a look that I saw it was a snake! It looked a bit dazed as I think it had fallen from a very high tree, and then bounced onto the ground. I was quite impressed with myself that I was collected enough to get the camera and take this pic before calling the housekeeping lady to take a look. She called one of the men who arrived with the usual big stick but too late, we had seen it slithering away into the undergrowth. They were quite upset that it had gone as they would have been able to sell it to the factory down the road who use them to make bags, shoes and belts. Apparently it was such a nice pattern it would have been good for this..... The guy sprinkled a little salt around as snakes are not too keen on this and Listi the Manager who came later said that they would put some stuff down tonight..... So yet again, I am on permanent snake watch, but this time from the sky!

A rainy bank holiday (3 May 2010)

Today is Bank Holiday Monday and the Bali weather is true to Bank Holiday form – it’s rained all day – so much that the level in the pool has gone right up to the edge and is almost overflowing – oh well, just because I’m not in the UK doesn’t mean I have escaped it! But Bali life goes on. The offerings are still being laid out each day – lots around the villas, one at the door to mine, one in the little temple just across from my pool and one appearing on my cooker in the little kitchen area – perhaps they have heard about my cooking.... These offerings have leaves and flowers and also some food, often rice. I notice the one on my cooker has a little fish – perhaps because we are in a fishing village... but the fish is actually one of those little pastry ones you get, not a real piece of fish at all, Must check if the rice one’s are really rice krispies....

Oh, and yet another snake sighting – on the way back in the taxi yesterday one slithered across the road in front.....

Becoming satay (2 May 2010)

Now I know I am in a Hindu area, but I haven’t got mixed up with India and widows becoming suttee, this is more of a shaggy dog story.... Here at the villas, there used to be a guard dog – he’s mentioned in the online reviews and also in the bumph they leave in your room. I hadn’t seen him, so today I asked about him. Yes, apparently he was here, but in his life he made two big mistakes. The first was taking a bite out of one of the guests, not good. The second was that he used to eat up all the scraps of the guest food, so was the fattest and best fed dog around – every other dog you see here is Supermodel status with ribs clearly defined. But that was his undoing, after the bite incident he was taken back to the village and soon after disappeared – the word on the street is that as he had so much meat on him he became Satay.....

Lovin' the li-lo (1 May 2010)

The people here at the villa arranged to have my li-lo inflated and it works a treat! It’s great just having a float around and looking at the sky. I had planned to do some star spotting this way tonight as the pool gets even warmer at night, but unfortunately the clouds have blown in.

But I don’t just lie in the pool all day, just most of it! I am making the most of the dry weather (by getting wet in the pool....) but the forecast says back to rain in a few days. I still manage a walk in the village in the morning. Snake sightings have increased by two, luckily both dead again on the road......

I walked down to the fishing bit today – and there were a group of women squatting on the black sand negotiating with some guys to sell pitiful bits of fish out of a red washing up bowl. The sound was a mix of serious bargaining and cackling laughter, the smell was fish and clove cigarettes. I then walk round to the other slightly larger beach by the big temple, and on the way meet two ladies who had been obviously clearing some stuff. One had a big bundle of dead vegetation carried on her head, and the other was carrying the machete..... They said hello and after that I couldn’t understand a word which is frustrating. Even sign language didn’t help. But I was able to use my third Balinese word I have learned – “nama” which is name. So the total understanding of this conversation was that she knows my name and I know hers! But I have to say it’s not often I walk down the “High Street” with a lady sporting a machete....

Down at the beach, there are loads of local kids as it’s Saturday, young teenagers on bikes and kids flying kites that look as if they have been home made from black bin bags. And I might be missing the election at home, but there is one here – take a look at these two candidates – who would you trust more, them or Gordon Brown......

Li-lo Gill (29 April 2010)

Mission accomplished! I finally find my Li-lo. I ventured to Kuta today, Bali’s party seaside as I was sure I’d find a bucket and spade shop there. Kuta and Legian beaches both merge together, and are a long yellow sand beach, with surfing waves, which is probably why it’s so popular with the Aussies. Kev, Ant and I watched the last sunset of last millennium from there, so it had special memories. The beach is big but not crowded and the streets that run parallel are full of bars, clothes and souvenir shops. It’s not a peaceful place to be – they are desperate for business and you can’t walk more than a few metres without getting harassed to buy something or go into the shop. And as well as the D&G, Versace and other “designer” stores there is also a Paul Smith – full of stripey looky likeys! But if I want a beach holiday in Bali, this isn’t the place I’d visit. Lots of life but very busy – the traffic is a nightmare – so it would be good to party but not for peace!

Yet even with all these shops, I still couldn’t find a li-lo – plenty of surf shops, but guess you can’t surf on a li-lo. Not sure what some of the shops thought I was asking for as I mimed what I wanted and used simple English (my Bahasa Indonesian hasn’t progressed too far yet....) – by the look on some of their faces, I think they may have thought I wanted a blow up doll! So I make one last try and decide to visit Carrefour – it’s always fun visiting a European brand in Asia. Carrefour is huge – on the fourth floor of a shopping complex and as big as the one we go to in Calais. Only difference is that the wine section is miniscule and very expensive. But as I did get my li-lo that's probably a good thing - can you be done for beiing drunk in charge of a li-lo?  – full report tomorrow!

Full Moon in Bali (28 April 2010)

The good news is that the singing last night finished at about 11pm. It started again today mid afternoon and is still going on. They tell me here that today, being full moon, is the best time to be in Bali with temple ceremonies everywhere. There is one at a small sea temple a few kilometres from here – Batu Ngaus Temple, a temple like Tanah Lot but actually joined to the mainland by a small bridge and no tourists as everyone goes to Tanah Lot. The ceremony is planned for midday. I set off through the rice fields on a bike, realising that I am a bit like a mad dog or an Englishman, the sun is fierce, and the bike uncomfortable. Just the usual bike seat but the roads were very bumpy. After a few wrong turnings I finally find it. It’s a lovely baby size temple and decorated with yellow flags and banners but no sign of big activity, just a few women sorting things out. The setting is impressive – jutting out from a black sand beach with the white surf crashing into it. But the women in there were far from friendly which surprised me as everyone says they welcome visitors and it’s always ok to take photos. I was wearing the temple sarong and sash but could tell I wasn’t welcome so I left. Back on the mainland where I had parked my bike were a few older men in traditional dress. They were really nice and welcoming and they tell me that the ceremony was to be held at about 3pm – time is obviously flexible here. But too long to wait in the heat so I make my way back.

The men had told me that there is another big ceremony in the village next to the one I am staying in tomorrow at 3pm, so I may go and take a look at that. There were also various women dressed in traditional costume walking down the road towards the big temple with some rather fabulous and complicated offerings balanced elegantly on their heads, but when I take a look at the temple, nothing seemed to be happening. If only I could get a proper timetable out of people rather than the vague “might be’s or “arounds” I might get to see something in full flow – but perhaps I am being too Western again! On the bike ride back, I stopped to have a drink of water and realised too late that I’s stepped on what appeared to be an ant’s nest – I ended up doing what appeared to be a very un Balinese mad dance to try and shake them off!

But back at the villa I decide to investigate where all the music and singing that has started up again is coming from. It’s not from the big temple down the road, but from a private compound. I’m sure it would have been fine to go in, everyone smiled as I walked by, but after this morning, I didn’t want to risk offending anyone. There was some talk of Balinese dancing at this place later, but Joto, who works here says it’s not good. Even though they wear the traditional dress, it has become “erotic” and in his view, not nice to see. I think they want to protect my obvious Western modesty.....