Sa wrong about what travel can change

Dawn breaking over the dolphin chase
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The morning was early.  We caught the same boat at 6am for dolphin viewing.  Actually dolphin chasing.  Two dozen small craft darting across the water at the breaching of this sleek little teasers.  It seemed rather silly at one point and then they pop up right in front of you and you spazz trying to take a picture as the boat bobs up and down and they speed through the waves.  It began to rain so we headed back to the beach and stopped at the boatman and his wife's house.  They live in a dirt poor little cement house.  Grandma lives in a small rattan shack on the side.  The yard is full of chickens and there is the most affectionate cat in all of Bali.  Mini the wife fed us tea and potato pancakes.  I was their first customer in a week.  They were so happy.  No customers no money for rice.  Most Indonesians live hand to mouth.  Very few jobs actually pay enough for a family thus the constant angle to offer a service that they can get a cutback from.

About as good as it gets with my camera. I must have taken about 100 pictures just to get this
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The afternoon was taken up with a drive around to various sites.  Nothing really spectacular except for an exceptional tree.  This really large Banyan which you could climb into.  At least a dozen people and I think many more could be hidden inside this amazing bit of natural architecture.

I had all these notions that I would be a different person while traveling.  But the cliche that wherever you are there you are is true.  I did not suddenly develop a sense of direction.  I am just a scattered when I feel the slightest bit unbalanced.  I remain the fool open to experience and trusting the forces that be to lead me to the next watering hole.

Mini, her husband Nyoman and their youngest daughter bringing the boat up on shore
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So my unexceptional day consisted of a waterfall, traveling through the lake country of Bali up in the mountains with stormy weather, misty shrouds, cool temps, open views of terraced farms, The formentioned tree, A buddhist temple which would not be too remarkable in Thailand but here in 85% Hindu 14.9% Moslem Bali it does stand out.  I finally had to wear a sarong to go into the temple.  We also made a stop at a hotspring which had these garish beast heads as spouts.  Some figure no doubt from the Ramayana.  If you know the Ramayana tale you pretty much have a running start on the religious iconography of Bali.

You've heard of chicken of the sea. This is chicken by the sea
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The day ended with hanging out at the hotel.  I met the owner, an Australian and his wife, Balinese who built the place from scratch.  I even won a game of chess from someone less skilled than me ( amazing to think).

Now back in Kuta and preparing to leave tomorrow I cannot believe how lucky I am to be here and see all this.  And I feel I have barely scratched the surface of this small mysterious world of continuous religious action.