Java No Mo

Ubud sucked us in and we are still here - almost 2 weeks! If we hadn't met our new best buddy, Linda, the aussie chinese medicine doc, we would have moved on but we had to figure out where we were going anyway...

We've nixed Java. Checked the websites, talked to travelers recently coming from there and to locals and have decided not to go for safety reasons. Instead we'll fly to Padang in Sumatra this Monday, with our new batch of herbal tonics in hand (or 'jamu' in Inodesian). Wouldn't you know it, both Daniel and I have kidney system deficiencies... what does THAT mean? Anyway, we feel great now, despite all this rain.

Ubud has worn heavily on us because we have moved accomodations 7 times in 9 days. We feel like we're jinxed - if it's not the ducks or the roosters, then it's heavy-duty construction (did you know that the women do all the hard labor here? they move rocks and boulders on their heads, can carry up to 130lbs! it makes Daniel cringe... and makes me smile that he's cringing :)ANYWAY - we moved to this beautiful setting in the hillside, bungalows, clean, spacious, own balcony overlooking ponds and banana trees and the tucked-away pool and that time it was the rooster. We were ushered to their sister hotel hidden in the rice paddies set way back from the main street and it was even more beautiful. We could see mountains, watch the rain clouds roll in and the farmers do their thing... But the sink leaked the next morning so we moved into the nextdoor room and got locked out - had to break the door down, there were baby roaches and hoards of ants.... and the dog! There are dogs that roam all over town, some stray, some belong to people but with the open 'villages' no one pays attention to where they go. This one dog, obviously trained as a guard dog, kept blocking our path to and from the hotel. Finally Linda made some calls and now we're in yet another place that is a duplex....we have a living/relaxing are downstairs outside that is a platform with tatami mats and a low table, and the shower is downstairs (who knows why?) and the bedroom is upstairs. It has a great view of more paddies and is pretty secluded. We will stay there (thank god) til we leave for Seminyak.

Seminyak is near Denpasar and a friend of a friend is there who conveniently works with a villa accommodation specialist so has a room set up for us - maybe our bad luck streak is ending? dare I even write that?!

A definite highlight of our stay in Ubud was the Herb Walk. Found this small company that grows herbs for spas here and the 27 yr old guy who does these walks comes from a family of farmers and home-grown herbalists. He knew a ton and we learned 2 tons. It was supposed to be 2-3 hours and we spent 6 with him! Good info....

Knowing that we're leaving, finally, we've made our purchases; I bought an intricately carved coconut shell and a bottom rest so that I can turn it into a lamp. Got it from the young artist himself and it was the most detailed one I saw in the shop, don't think he really wanted to part with it! Daniel is still looking at some paintings but has gotten a neatly woven rattan box with a carved turtle atop the lid, and we got a coconut wood rice paddle, 2 wine 'glasses' also of coconut wood and coasters.

Big D, it's your turn.....I feel like I am reporting or something like that, never done this sort of thing before. Laura types faster, me more accurately. Ubud did suck us in and has afforded us the opportunity to really interact with them. we feel like we are prey at times as so people on the streets are always asking, 'you need transport, I will take you, very cheap.' and selling art and other items. they all know that the US dollar is strong here. they know that we are Americans as well, even before we speak. the art scene here is very strong and well represented which is great to view. Linda has been wonderful to us and a fine resource for most things in medicne and Bali. Looking forward to Sumatra as it sounds remarkably different from Bali in many ways. we are resting better now that the accomadation situation is more stable.

we are off to listen to some Balinese guys sing Latin tunes, who would have thunk?