A trip was coming up, but first I met with Jennifer Altmann from PAW about an article she was writing about retirements.
And, on the next day, we had the luncheon for Mr. Birkelund which as catered by Prospect and so Robertson and Merci came by to deliver the food.
Then, it was time for the trip to begin and so I made my way to Newark Airport for the very long flight to Singapore where my flight was delayed and so we departed after midnight and so on Saturday, not Friday. The food service began with nuts
before a vegetarian appetizer was served
with dressing
and a roll with EVOO
which were splayed on my tray
and followed by the vegetarian main course (in two views)
and liquids -- water and white wine --
and grapes
It being a new day, the pancakes came many hours later
as we moved towards South Asia having taken an easterly route to get there.
The final meal consisted of a fruit salad
and coffee
with the usual decorative elements to the tray
as marmalade
arrived for the croissant
along with yogurt to round out the meal
and tortillas filled with eggs
before the entry cards were produced.
Once I cleared customs and found my driver, I appeared at the Swissotel and rode up the surreal elevator
to my room
with the remarkable view of the harbor
After a rest, Vibeke came by and we took a taxi to Little India where the decorations were not yet lit as we looked down the street
and I recorded the decorations on the temple
as I noticed the Jungle restaurant across the way
and the street sign for Karbau Road
and the vegetarian restaurant
though we went to the Banana Leaf restaurant where these were the wipes
before this drink
came for Vibeke
as I watched
before varieties of nan arrived
along with our first curry
and crispy bread
as we poured curry onto our plates (which looked very much like placemats)
before the second curry which was spiced with tomato flavor and had a wonderful taste arrived.
We then walked around the neighborhood observing the flowers
used to make these decorative necklaces
as I observed even more flowers
before we went to the store where saries and fabrics for saries were sold.
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with these okra
and carrots
among others.
After the obligatory phone booth picture
we eventually made our way back to Raffles and to the Long bar
where many Singapore Slings were offered
on this menu
along with peanuts (not to mention pigeons in all directions)
and I had the traditional as Vibeke improvised.
Monday was a work day but I began with breakfast at the hotel including fruit (with a few vegetables)
some Indian food
and seconds.
That afternoon, I recorded these signs for the collection
and then I returned to my hotel room where they had left me fruit with a nice note.
Tuesday, my meeting ended and I headed to the airport
where this plane
took us over Singapore
and so I recorded my first words of Indonesian
as we flew over a massive volcano
before I arrived at Densapar and then got a ride to Ubud where I checked in at the ARMA resort into this room
with this pond below my window
and these ornamental fruits in the room
along with the orchid
and the nice pillows
with the flower decoration
before my Thai appetizer arrived
along with the local beer I drank from the minibar
before the pizza finally came and was consumed to make me ready to get to sleep.
The next morning I woke up and took a photo of the view from the back of my room
which looked better with the flash off
and then I recorded my front door
and walked past the elephant structure with its daily offering
as I passed the monkeys
and made my way
past the orchid
to the reception area
where I met Agung Rai who was going to take me on a morning tour
and so he recorded me
and pointed out the rice fields to me
before we drove off to one of the neighboring villages where a girl was going to school.
as the road lay ahead with views
and these structures
as we headed off
with jungle-like growth by the side
and a stream below
along with rice fields
and many views
before we arrived at a temple for the community
and noticed these two girls walking off to school
with reflections in the rice field
as more children headed off to the school
and we saw a rice field that was in the process of having seeds germinate
with school children approaching
and the reflection being impressive
and so the kids
and the rice field
where I posed in front of the reflection
led me to pose with the school children
and then alone
and even in the rear view mirror
as we saw the ducks in the water who are part of the rice process (think fertilizer)
and there were still more reflections
with a local house
and reflection
and a man working on his rice by hand (as they do it here)
and then we were at the school
with this symbolism
and these grounds
not to mention the rules.
The children were cleaning the school yard
as I admired decorations
and language instruction
and the omnipresent Mickey and Minnie
as I peeked into the classroom
and noticed the blackboard
as these friends were getting ready for the day
as were these
even as the cleaning continued
with a student who was still waking up
as the scenes at the school
and the rice field opposite gave a good representation of life in the villages near Ubud
while the girls cleaned
and the man planted his rice seeds
and Agung watched the scene that was very familiar to him
even as the two girls carried out the brush they had gathered
and more cleaning happened
to the school grounds
as more kids arrived
and the photography continued
when a mother and her 3 kids arrived
and she posed with Agung
even as children walked across a path in the rice fields to school
even as the workers tended their areas
so that this was what the children would see as they approached the school
and I noted the hallways
as more children approached
more work went on in the fields
and this was the planting at the school
before I re-entered the school yard
and spent time with the children
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before a final return to the school.
Next we went to the local temple
which was by the rice fields
and consisted of many inner structures
with offerings
some of which were carefully constructed
as I went up the stairs to enter one
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after which I toured the other chambers
including myriad offerings
after which I posed
and saw some goddesses
and handed my camera to Agung who took photos of me before we prepared to leave the temple
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and more offerings
and artwork
and some unique offerings
leaving the grand structures
and this carved stone
and the throne-like structure
with its detailed mask
as I admired many of the stone carvings
and after a few more photos
including the television
and final structures
we drove on past a man in his rice field
and another
and then captured the rice fields
in their broader setting
as this man was planting his seeds
with egrets in the background
as we drove on to the next village where we entered a family compound and explored the many structures sparsely furnished
meeting a mother and child
as Agung took pictures of me exploring
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and drove on to a place where the village women were taking their offerings to the temple.
We drove past scenery
and architecture
and came across a rice field ready for harvesting
and so I posed
and we observed the morning dew on the leaves. Somehow, we were trespassing a bit here as there was a conversation in Indonesian that seemed to result in using paying a few bills for the privilege of taking the photos.
We went on down the road
where I admired this woman walking with her wares on her head
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to his house
and then this woman carrying her things on her head.
Our next stop was at this banyan tree which was a gathering place for the village
and I captured a rooster of which there were many joining the dogs as guardians of the houses
not to mention many interesting structures
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and many thing of beauty
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including the cock on the roof.
Moving on, things were carried on heads
as this man worked in his yard
and while traveling along
I took this picture of my sarong and my shoes
as we approached a rice field ready for harvest
and a local preparing to do so.
We also came to the village laundromat
and after this view
we passed some children drawing at their home
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by this waterfall
and at the top of the steps was this rice field
with this view going down
where I sat for photos
and then walked
to more photos
and then walked back
to see this fruit hanging in a tree
with these bags protecting the low hanging fruit from animals
and saw these coffee beans
as we looked out at a view
and then drove past these structures
were this cock was being prepared for a fight.
We continued on
and came to this house where the matriarch had prepared breakfast but before it could be served, she needed to leave out food (in many directions) for the animals to eat keeping them in harmony with nature.
Ahead were ducks on the road
as food was placed for the lower animals (insect) to share in the family breakfast
even as a neighbor approached
and we drove past this structure
and then stopped to see pineapples growing
as we stopped in a tiny village on a narrow street and I walked off
to explore
and see the fruit hanging
and then I sat on the front stoop of a house which caused the dog to bark in protest
and then we observed the ducks on the pond
as life in the village continued
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we stopped at the Ubud Palace
where Agung posed
and then I did.
Back in town, structures were being created for the cremation that was about to happen
including this multi-tiered one
and the animal which would serve the first cremation
and then these structures for the second
and the bamboo that would be used to carry the structures
which were being completed
and this one. The structures were representative of the caste of the person who was being cremated.
Back at the hotel, I posed with Agung
and then headed to breakfast where this was the menu
and my fruit
croissants
with jellies,
my coffee
and omelet
topped off by watermelon juice.
Once home, I went through the arch to my room for a rest.
Soon it was time to return to town to see the cremation but began by noticing that they have Kumon here as well
and made my wall into town where one of the cremation structures was
and another
and so studied the structures
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as the parade began
led by this musical accompaniment
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The carrying was lowered
and then restarted
and so on they went
with the crowd following
including banners
and women with flowers on their heads
as the people carrying the structure occasionally went in circles (so to cause the evil spirits to lose sight of the cremation)
and the women followed also in circular pattern
as this rod was brought out to raise the utility lines so as to avoid an electrical issue
and the parade continued
as the tower that needed a higher utility line came out. These structure used to be even higher (often up to 30 meters) before electric lines made it impossible to go to these heights.
as the assembled watched
and the procession continued
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as photos of the deceased appeared
and the group prepared to lift once more
as the next body arrived
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and attachments to the structure where a holy man was
and its own music
as the motion continued
and needed to be recorded as movies
until we arrived at the cemetery where the structures were studied and often climbed upon
as music played
and structures continued
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as groups did the relevant preparations (many of which were beyond my scope of understanding)
and the music played on
to set the tone
and the secondary structures were put together
though the structures with bodies in them were separated
with the holy men climbing aboard to do further preparations (involving sprinkling of holy water, dealing with organs, ... )
and the structures were admired
before the first fire was set
and raged
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from the fires.
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together with this more traditional (for my way of life) tomb.
I noted what was left in one burnt structure
as the support structure was lying flat before being prepared
for incineration
after which I walked towards the center of town stopping to admire these stone cuttings
and ending at the Kafe at ARMA for lunch which began with a beer to deal with the heat
accompanied by nuts and eventually followed by a second.
Then I had this salad
and accompanying spring rolls.
Later, dinner was partly a repeat of food I had had earlier with beautiful cone of rice
and curry
followed by dessert
Thursday morning began with photos of some of the flowers outside my room
before I made my way to monkey forest where the monkeys were just hanging out in the street
as the scooters came by
and the monkeys enjoyed their morning.
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and a street sign
with another head carrier
and the parking authority
along with merchants selling all manner of items
many of whom brought their items on the back of their trucks
as another carrier went by
and I focused on what was on truck bodies
and this lady selling flower pedals for offerings
as others also sold their wares
not to mention mangoes and papaya
and things made of bamboo
cantaloupes
and another head carrier
before I came across this statue of a family
and a reminder that I had gone to the monkey forest earlier
until I returned home and took this photo of today's offering
to the elephant.
I met up with Michael Walsh at breakfast and together we connected to Wayan Tabeng for our guided tour of the day. Our first stop was Gunung Kawi, a temple that had been there for over a thousand years. The temple was placed in a remarkable setting, clearly being a shrine to the nature that was there.
we were greeted by a sign giving the prohibitions (here you needed a sarong as well as a scarf around the waist)
and then made our way into the environment (which meant walking down 300 steps)
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as we went on
and arrived at the place where we needed to sprinkle the holy water
as Michael did
and saw the structures in the distance
in their environment
as we went past a shrine
and saw the jungle-like stream
before we reached another entry
where offerings had been assembled
and we came across a series of spouts which we would understand better at the next temple
as we found our way
to these structures built into the rocks
and many banners of yellow since there are 3 deities -- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva-- each of whom has their own color.
There were many interesting structures
before we came to the place where shoes had to be removed
and we went through this area
to see into shrines
and pass others
looking at structures near and far in the forest setting
and near us
and this structure with statues
as we came away from the major structure in the rock
which Michael was recording
and the flowers by the canal
not to mention the holy water warning
where we didn't go
as we made our way through the flora
and saw these tourists across the way looking towards us
before we headed to the structure where they were
taking one last shot of where we were
and walked through the flora
across the stream
and through the jungle like vegetation
away from where we had been
as I admired this croton
even as I saw the jungle growth
and we made our way to the other side
which we explored
following the rules
and we then looked across at the tourist girls on the opposite side
as we still enjoyed the jungle growth
and the layered rice fields
until we were in the shops area.
Next, we went to Tirta Empul, another remarkable temple. At this one, there were ceremonies taking place wherein the locals were going through various stages of ceremony.
Here was the major statue of the locale
in its setting
as we came upon the banana ladies
and recorded the cultural importance of the place (the Subak System as a manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy where we were visiting the Supreme Water Temple Pura Ulun Danu Batur)
and so we made our way through
and entered into these pools
where a ceremony was taking place to our left
with the pools lying ahead of us
attracting the occasional dunker
as the ceremony continued
with materials being moved
and fish being in a different pool
as we saw the prohibitions for entering the inner sanctum
and watched as participants made through way across the different spouts each of which brought a different kind of power
and watched as others
brought offerings
and a group assembled to pray
having brought offerings
and we saw the warning about not interacting with them (which made sense)
and so we admired what we saw
as they prayed
and we saw remarkable buildings
before we made our way
through people carrying things on their heads
and recorded the scene
music and all
before departing through the gift shop area
to the parking lot where I recorded a police car.
On our way to the next stop, we came across a number of women parading to the temple to have their fruit blessed
and we ended up at the coffee plantation where we saw some beans on the tree
and this beautiful flower
in its setting
and this fruit
which was a mangosteen
and a cinnamon tree
with these bananas hanging from a tree
and pineapples
along with the beautiful flowers
before we had a snakeskin fruit
with this interior
and then these fruits
of the lyche family
with the rooster making his presence known
as I tasted this non-citrus tasting citrus-like fruit
as we were given samples of 10 teas and coffees
and I tasted the ever famous luwak coffee that is processed in the most unique of ways (thank you Mr. Luwak animal for taking care of mine).
As we left for the volcano, we saw a parade heading towards the temple (this was a continuation of the women with fruits on their heads).
Next we went to the volcano which was completely remarkable
but the vastness made it difficult to capture the enormity of the scene but still we had a good lunch with these remarkable views in all directions. It was here that I heard about the locals who do not bury their dead but rather leave them in the forest where the climate preserves them and the animals eat them.
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Next we went to the rice fields
which had been made famous by Eat Pray Love.
As Wayan explained, there is a special system for controlling the water flow so that things are shared
and so we took in the many views
before taking a three musketeers photo.
Michael and I explored a bit and ran into this gentleman who was happy to have his photo but then asked to be paid. Oldest con in the world and I fell into it.
We ended the day at the Discovery Kartika Plaza hotel where this was the room
and the view.
After a break, I went out to see the sun set over the Indian Ocean
and also looked back at the town
with the sun setting
and the lights under the palm providing foreground to the sunset background
as I took more sunset photos
and more photos the other way.
By and by, I reconnected with Michael and we noticed that we had each been given two certificates for free local beers and so we dug into Bali Hai
before proceeding to dinner which was accompanied by this pitcher of Bali Hai
which looked much better in the light
and went well with my pina colada
as breads
and dips were brought
before our caprese salads arrived.
