Seminyak

Well we are pretty settled here in Seminyak, Bali. Our hotel is a complex of rooms, suites and villas. The rooms, where we stay, all face onto a nice pool area and are usually full of folks from the land of Oz. They are a Friendly bunch and are all surprised that we came here from Canada. Bali is to Australians what Mexico is to North Americans but seems to be a lot safer than Mexico is now.

We are getting to know our way around pretty good now and I don't feel too bad when I get a bit lost. The locals probably wonder who the heck these white folk are, but they'll nod and grin, as I try out my three words of Indonesian:
Pagi- good morning
Apa kabar- how are you
Bail, Baik- good, good
and Sing Ken Ken- no worries

Bali Cowboy

Temple Princess

We have seen a lot of livestock in our travels, cows (usually tethered), ducks following the farmers around in the rice fields. Some farmers have their ducks trained to follow a flag to the rice paddies, the farmer sticks the flag up and the ducks go about their day. When they want to go home they'll flock around the flag till the farmer come and leads them home.

 New Zealand cows

 Bali cows

Today while walking home from a late lunch we saw a mother hen in front of a Dolce and Gabbana store on a busy, busy street, gathering up her flock of chicks and trucking off down the back alley. Loreen loves the excitement of the back alleys!

Everywhere we go there are offerings to the spirits - morning, noon and night you see people putting out offerings. In temples and trees, on the sidewalks, in front of homes and stores. These are offerings to the good spirits and the demons and for good luck. The ones for the good spirits are up high and the ones to demons on the ground. They are little baskets made of banana leaves and have flowers, rice, crackers and other edibles. The dogs eat a lot of the demons offerings, but the philosophy is the spirits partake spiritually as soon as the offering is set down so the good is gone before before Mr dog gets there. I was quite startled as I watched a lady walk out into the middle of a fairly busy intersection and place three or four baskets on the white line, I thought boy they do bring good luck, as it was the first time I actually saw any vehicles come to a full stop. Some baskets have cigarettes and at the big temple we went quite a few had little bottles of arak, the local brew. Maybe that's why the preist was sleeping?

 Offering to the demons

There are gas stations here, but have not been to one yet. The main mode of selling fuel seems to be from little racks in front of little hole in the wall establishments in Absolute Vodka bottles at 5,000 rupiah per bottle. That's about $0.50Cdn/liter.  Makes one wonder, when we pay a buck a liter. A twenty minute taxi ride costs $20 and here a ride is an average of a couple of bucks. Doesn't quite compute.

 Absolut Petrol

Meals for two average about $20, with appetizer and beer. About the only thing that is as expensive as home is wine. I got my hair cut today - cost me $4.50, I felt so generous I left a fifty cent tip.

Keenan arrived at midnight on the 14th or 15th, whichever, and we spent yesterday wandering around in new parts of the tourist areas in Legian, which is part of the Kuta-Seminyak area tourist/beach scene here. Although this beach is full dress, apparently there were some ladies here yesterday that were topless, at least that is what Loreen and Keenan told me. I didn't notice!

 Loreen, Sucita, Keenan

Keenan had a fish cleaning of her feet and legs where you put your feet in a little tank and100's of little fish nibble the dead skin away. That northern Canadian skin must be good as there was a an Aussie girl using the same tank and the fish just attacked Keenan. This middle ages Indonesian man kept hanging around and he asked Loreen if Keenan was married, she said "yes", and then sidled up to me and said "Poppa, I like your daughter". He didn't offer any cows or chickens, so I was not tempted:o)

We had Indonesian Mexican last night, no different than at home, except for price. $22.60 for two appys, three drinks and three mains.

Other than the topless ladies, that I didn't notice, we had a pretty quiet day. We will go exploring inland tomorrow.

Until later...