Heré's the lowdown on Bali

It appears that the last short message saved so I will try to give you the historical perspective and my perspective on Bali.

Bali is a huge island that devoted itself to tourism a decade or so ago to survive. There are thousands of Australians here. It's only a 6 hour flight from Sydney to Bali so many of them use this as a holiday place. I''ve been asked so many times, 'Are you Australian?''Yeah, with my northern/southern accent, I'm surely not an Ozzie. However, when the taxi drivers ask, I always say yes, just to shut them up. I've told so many lies on this trip. It's just that some people ask questions that I don't feel like answering so i just make up stuff. I may forget my real identity by the time I return to NC. I'm sure you will remind me of who I truly am.

Average salary: $95-$120/month

Ave. Housing: $45/month for efficiency; $115/month for apt; $225/month for house

Ave. cost of vehicles: $11,000 for motorcycle; $16,000 for a car

Cost of Gas; 30 cents a liter or $1.00/gallon

University: $675/year

Acre of land: $450

The prices seem so cheap to us but when you're only making $1,500/year, it's hard to make a go of it in Bali. The Bali men try to pick up the western women because they know they have money. I've had to rely on my husband Cecil trick time and time again.

Furniture, electronics, clothes and shoes are cheap.

CD's-$8.00

Cassetttes-@2.50

VCD (a cheaper DVD movie)-$3.50

DVD's-$5.00

Play STation 2 games-$5.00

Meals are dirt cheap. Last night, I had a small pizza, salad and ice tea and it cost $2.25. I've had pork chops, salad, baked potato and tea for $4.75. I've had cheeseburger, fries and Fanta for $1.75. It would be really hard to spend more than $10.00 for a meal. I haven't had steak yet but the prices seem to be about $8-9 for a steak meal. Not sure about seafood since I don't eat the stuff.

Bali was first founded and ruled by the Portugeuese. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, the Dutch began to try to invade the territory. In 1906, they made a definite move to overpower the Portugeuse and rule this island. The King realized that they did not have enough manpower to defeat the Dutch. Instead of just handing over Bali, he along with his family and 1,200 citizens dressed in all white and committed suicide with kris's (knives).

In 1941, those darn Japanese took over the island from the Dutch and ruled until 1945. The Dutch ruled again for a few years until 1949 when Bali was finally able to take control of their island.

80% of Indonesia is Muslim while 80% of Bali is Hindu. You can't get away from the HInduism. There are 1,000 Hindu temples here.

There are 4 types of temples. Personal/family Village (built by the villagers) Funtctional (careeer-teacher, farmer,etc) Public

The Hindus give offereings to the God (Brahama) 3 times a day. The offerings are bamboo baskets filled with incense, food, and grass . These darn baskets are sitting everywhere and you have to walk around them.

The govérnment is ruled by the Muslims which the Balinese people do not like. Kind of like good ole Bush being in power and those darn democrats not liking it.

Hinduism in Bali is similiar to Hinduism in India yet different. They both believe in the same God (Brahma).

Bali Hindu's creamate their dead ones. All dress in black (unlike Indians who dress in white) and creamate their loved ones. It is quite a ceremony I understand. It cost $1,200for a creamation and often the loved ones don't have the money. They bury the body, sometimes up to a year, until they can get the money to have the cremation. One couple went to one and said the family let them see the dead body (pulled back the sheet so they could see the face). Yikes, doesn't sound like something I want to see. The cremation is to return the physical body back to the earth while purifiying the soul of the dead.

Hindus have ceremonies for many things. In particular, the following:

42 days after child is born

age 3 months

age 6 months

adolscent

age 17 for tooth filing (actually file down a couple of teeth)

adulthood

marriage

funeral

Interesting, women on periods can not enter a Hindu temple. Like who is going to tell them that.

Only young girls can do certain dances because they haven't yet had a period or sex. They are still pure.

The whole point of hinduism is tp purify yourself to Brahma. The offereings they give each day are to rid oneself of evil spirits.

The other day, went to Denpasar to the Bali museum. Very informative. Then to the local market to see people trade spices, fruit, vegetables, clothes, Hindu ceremony stuff. I aksed a lady how to get there. She took me there (one block away0. Couldn't get rid of the women. She followed me everywhere in themarket. When I finally left, she demanded money for being my guide. I told her very firmly NO! She kept following me, 4 blocks later By now, she was very angry and yelling god knows what at me. I quickly crossed the street to get away from her. No traffic utnil I got to the middle of the street. A van came whipping around the corner. Like to have gotten it good. Good thing he had good brakes. Guess the lady decided she wasn't gettting any money from me, espeically if I were dead, so she left me alone.

I've done four tours while here.

WEnt to Ubud to see batik, woodcarving, silver and gold making and pinting demonstrations

Went to Kintamni, a volcano with two large craters. Apparently it erupted 4 times in last centur.y. Surely, it's not time again.

Went to Monkey Forest. Literally, a forest filled with monkeys. Tame monkeys. I could hold a peanut in my hand and they would take it out of my hand and eat it. If i put the peanut on my shoulder, they climbed on my shoulder and ate it. I have some good photos of that.

Went to Uluwatu, a Hindu temple on the coast. The temple wasn't much but the steep cliffs were spectaculeur. Beautiful. The Indian Ocean came crashing into the cliffs and made huge waves. Watched the sunset at Uluwatu. HAd to remove all glasses, earrings, hats, etc before you entered the temple area due to aggressive monkeys. These monkeys were horrible. Many people ignored the sign and I saw the monkeys take so much stuff from them. Once they got it, there was no getting it back.

WEnt to Lake Batur and Mt. Batur, the highest point on Bali.

Went whitewater rafting. Unlike any rafting I've ever done. Steep walkd down through the terraced rice fields to the river. River only 10 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Which meant you felt every boulder as you rafted. Both sides coveredd with terraced rice fields and huge boulders, (beautiful). Raft would bounce off boulder and spin around. Also, bamboo bridges crossed the river . Bridges only 2 feet above raft so had to lie down in bottom of raft or get your head knocked off. Plus, had to raft under a huge waterfall that beat the shit out of you as you went under it. That was fun. Finally, had to go donw a 3 meter (not sure how many feet that is) damn. Again, had to lie in bottom of boat or you'd be tossed out.

Yesterday, took a sailboat cruise to Lembogan Island, about 1 hour across the Indian Ocean. The waves were huge. Glad I was on a larger boat or seasickness would have hit for sure. Once there, went mountain biking, canoeing in a dug out canoe through the mangrove forest, learned about seaweed farming (see notes below) and explored an underground house.

Most of the people on the island are very poor. They make their living from farming seaweed. First, catching it on a rope. Two kinds of seaweed, one worth more than the other. They then lie it out under the sun to dry for one month. Next, they bunch it up and export it to coutnries who have processing factories. The seaweed is used in cosmetics. The people also get coconuts and dry them out. Send to factories to be used in cosemetics and suntan lotion (the oil). Now, tourism is becoming a more popular way to get money.

I've also spent some time lying on the beach, swimmning in the Indian Ocean and in my hotel pool. I guess it's been a good way to end my vacation, just relaxing and reading books.

I do like Bali but it would be more fun with a group of people to hang out with, go to the beach, go out to eat and party. However, on the whole, the island is a bit dirty. No, not India dirty but definitely not Singapore clean.

I must be getting ready to return to USa. I'm so sick of these same phrases I hear from people (locals). I do not want to hear them anytime soon.

Taxi? Tuk tuk? Tranport? Special price for you. Bali Bargaining. Excuse me. Where are you from? What do you do? Are you married? If you buy, bring good luck to me. Please madam. $1.00 only. Looking loooking in my store, please. Where are you going?

What's your name? , etc.

I've begun to make up crazy answers when these people ask me the same question over and over again.

I will spend several days recouping in San Fran with my friend, Gidget. KK, if you can't get that e-mail to go through to her, I have her number and I can call her from the San Fran airport. No problem.

Also, KK, thanks for sending that stuff to Shelly Myers at Ecu and Rhonda and Saint Debbie. I hope Shelly will forward the message to Leslie RAnd PIckett at UNCW.

I just realized that I won't have anything to tell you since I've put all in my tripjournals. Oh well, I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Bonnie Edwards at News Argus, I will give you a buzz when I return. I think it will make for an interesting story.

Patti O, hope life is treating you well. Not sure if you or someone else will pick me up at the airport on Sunday, August 4. KK, I will leave that up to you to decide who will pick me up. As long as they don't greet me at the baggage claim area saying, ''transport'? taxi? tuk tuk, madame.''

Thanks for your many notes of encouragement throughout the summer. It's been so great to hear from each of you. I will see your smiling faces soon.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I get through my next week and have safe journeys to NC.

I may try to send a quick e-mail from San Fran to let you know that \205'm back in the States.

Love,

Julie/wild woman/saint/jules/heifer/jj