Our third and final home exchange in Ubud, is a shining jewel in the rice paddy. Even though it is super tiny, when inside it feels very spacious as the doors on 2 sides and windows all open up to…
Bali, Indonesia ~ Preparing offerings for the ceremony: a woman’s domain
Riding through the countryside near Tinkup we stop next to a temple where many women are congregating ~ wondering what all the action is about… The stairway to the temple is decorated with woven coconut leaves announcing upcoming festivities. Yellow…
Petulu, Bali, Indonesia ~ village of the sacred herons (and returning souls)
Petulu is a quaint wood carving and painters’ village, just outside of Ubud. Petulu’s profile changed after a massacre in 1965 when Indonesia was rocked by the Indonesian government policy of radical “purging” of communists (inspired and financially supported by…
Live, from the streets of Ubud, Bali. Indonesia
We often wonder, before arriving at a new destination: “But what does it look like?” and by this we mean, what does one find, say, taking a walk in the streets. So… for those who share this basic curiosity, we…
The destiny of Balinese chickens ~ Bali, Indonesia.
At the request of one of our loyal readers and friends, curious about chickens in Bali…. (Sharon ~ this is for you!) In descending “pecking order”, forgive the pun… Royalty chicken: They roam free in a beautiful village… Fighting chicken…
Good karma brings exceptional Bali home exchange! Indonesia
Before we left Nicaragua, I was having a conversation with my father on skype about our upcoming departure for Southeast Asia, when he said to me rather incredulously, “You two live as though you are millionaires!” To which I replied,”…
30 year cycle ceremony at Gyanyar Temple, Bali, Indonesia
Jubilant! Amazed! Awed! Honored! These are the words that come to mind as to the opportunity we have been afforded. One of the workers at the home exchange house where we are staying, belongs to a temple in the regional capital of…
A luxurious meander in East Bali, Indonesia.
I’m lying on a white sand beach, the sun warming my back, getting a massage while having sips of a fresh watermelon juice and waiting for our lunch of fresh mahi mahi satay with peanut sauce. I am on a…