My favorite spot in Bali

I have been back for over 2 weeks and the first question that most people ask me is "what was your favorite spot?" I loved many parts of India, Jaipur, the elephant sanctuary, the full moon on the Ganges River in Varanasi but my favorite 3 days was my trip to Amed a small beach town in Bali. We drove about 2 hours east to the this tiny town. Found a place called "Good Karma" with little houses built right on the beach. I could put on my snorkel and mask and swim an amazing reef right in front of the resort. At low tide, the coral came al the way to the waters edge. We could see great coral everywhere. The fish were colorful and plentiful! I swam for hours every day. One day we drove about an hour on a new road. Village children ran to wave at us as we drove by. We found a small restaurant with a covered table built over the sea. Issac ordered for us. First we had mango lassies (smoothies) and lunch took a while. On the property, was a small fresh water pond and the owner caught our fish while we sipped our lassies! Simple, delicious, FRESH fish!

Back at the Good Karma, I enjoyed my "do nothing "place. A view of the sea and a hand full of other quiet tourist, the perfect place to think, journal, meditate and do nothing. I felt that after 60 plus days of travel that I finally unwound. I have had time to heal. I fell complete with this part of my sabbatical. I have 3 more days in paradise. More later.

Jogjakarta November 28, 2008

I am in a place I have never heard of with a new friend, Issac Zikri. Issac was the coordinator for parts of my Yoga trip in Bali. He is a fantastic handler. He speaks 7 languages and knows his way around the block. He offered to show me Jogjakarta, a city about one hour flight away. We went to a typical local place for breakfast that had a great local band, at 9:00AM. Then we drove to Borobudur, a 6th century Buddhist Temple that was covered for hundreds of years by volcanic ash. Excavation began about one hundred years ago. It is built so that you can climb it. Steep steps up to a circular walk way, once or twice around you see wonderful Buddhas. The walls tell stories of family life, religious ceremonies, deities, nature, animals all in stone work. Amazing. I meditated and did some yoga and tried to see what it must have been like 1500 years ago.

That night we went to an AIDS/HIV fund raiser at the University. The hottest Indonesian female singer performed for hours. Her name is Syaharani and you can see her at Queenfireworks.com. Lot's of energy and very spirited.

The next day we toured the palace. We were treated to a wonderful puppet show with very ornate Indonesian puppets and classic music accompaniment. So the history of the kings in painting and photographs-then a bicycle rickshaw ride.

Our next stop is Prambanan, a world famous Hindu Temple built around the 8th century. It is beautiful and crowded with hochers try to sell you anything. It's really hot we see what we want to and decided to talk a walk away from the crowds. Issac found a nice quiet shady spot for a rest and I decided to wonder on. I discovered another quiet Hindu Temple with no other tourist. I found a stone room up about 15 steep steps the perfect size for meditation. Because it was stone, it was cool inside. I felt myself able to float into a deep and profound meditation and tuned into the ancient energy of this sacred place. I then continued through the garden and discovered another ancient Buddhist temple. No tourist. It has only recently been re discovered and proclaimed a World Heritage site. Excavation began in 1999 and they are still working on it. I felt that I was living a Indian Jones movie! A very exciting and culturally rich experience! Next we visited a Muslim Mosque and a Catholic Church. Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian , in each place I prayed for World peace and was touched by the spiritually committed people I met. We had a great 2 days and we are back to Bali.

I'm back!

I have been back a week and have found myself at Pro Mortgage most days. Tasha and Paula Macenski have been rubbing things while I was gone. I see that things have changed in the industry. I see lots of opportunity and great rates and programs available for the well qualified borrower. Seems to be a buyers market with lots of properties for sale.

I love being with Kat and Carlos and Paolo and we have Roderick this week end.

I want to finish my story here and plan to do some entries from the last week of my trip and to add pictures so stay tuned...

Quick message from China

I'm on my way home. Happily, I was able to reroute myself away from Bangkok and I am transiting through Taiwan. It feels very different here. Serious, sterile, the workers wear face masks. The computer keys are in Chinese. I have a short lay over and then a very long flight to San Francisco 2 days early. Looking forward to seeing Kat at the airport and a weekend in Marin. Anyone up for a walk around Phoenix Lake? I have been 66 days out of America. It seems as if the world has changed since I have been gone. As CFI slogan says "let the world change you". I know that the world has changed me. My knowledge of world geography has improved. The amazing sights and sounds of India will always be a part of my internal slide show. The calm, happy people of Bali softened my spirit. (the $8 dolloeas massages helped too) I have enjoyed my sabbatical so far. Have met and connected with delightful people from all over the world. Had time to meditate and do yoga and swim and do nothing. I will write about my last week in Bali that was so fun filled I did not have time to post but I have kept my daily journal and will update and post more pictures soon. Thanks for the emails and comments. With a happy heart, I am on my way home. Namaste.

Thanksgiving

My favorite holiday. My plan was to spend it by myself, in silence. I woke up early and meditated in my favorite "do nothing" place withthe sounds of the breeze and the bugs and the frogs and a little Balinese temple music in the background. I feel happy, peaceful and content. Then I checked my email and got a message from my friend Susan that a terrorist attack happened in Mumbai. A few minutes later my phone rang and Anne Marie was in tears, worried about me and the world. If I was at home I would probally be at her table for Thanksgiving. As soon as we hang up my sister Robin called. The silver lining...alone on Thanksgiving I feel the love and comfort of my friends from a million miles away. I have been carrying Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth, Awakening to your Life's Purpose around with me for months and decided to open to a message, page 224 " This, too, will pass". This was my message and so I let go of my fears and my idea of a day of silence and called a woman I met through a connection with Sherri Baptiste.

Ni Wayan Murni invited me to lunch at her stunning home about 15 miles outside of Ubud. Her driver picked me up at her resturant (Murni's Warung) and along with couple from Holland, we had a delightful day! Far from the noise and traffic of Ubud, Murni and her husband Jonathan have a beautiful home filled with antiques and collectables from around the world. The view is breath taking of the jungle and rice fields. The gardens are filled with statues, typical Bali structures, little bridges and an infinite pool. Yes, I considered extending my trip and staying, forever. But my VISA is running out so I enjoyed hours of great Indonisian food, conversation about world travels and then a tour of Murni's unbelievable personal collection from around the world. Textiles from Afganistan, puppits from Bali, jewelry, carvings, statues, masks. She could open a museum just from her personal collection. Check out www.murnis.com. Murni travels to San Francisco every year for the Arts of Pacific Asia Show at Fort Mason, Febuary 6-8. Anybody want to join me?

I spent the evening with Brian Johnson at the Yoga Barn. (BaliSpirit.com) Ever week he offers Philosophers Notes. An incredible evening of conversation about great books. Tonight was Rumi's Daylight. Tuesday we discussed Joseph Campbell. Big Ideas that help us on our heros journey-great quotes-something positive to think about. Brian offers a free subscription and as soon as I figure out how to pass it on I will! You can try philosophersnotes.com.

That is all for now. My travelers Thanksgiving was very special. I am grateful for this time away and that soon, I will return to my family and friends. Take a moment to listen to the wind or watch a butterfly and think about 5 things you are grateful for. Breathe...Peace...Breathe...Love, now smile:)

PICTURES FROM BALI

Bali Real Estate

Today I decided to do something different. I connected with a Real Estate agent from lovinarealestate.com. Ginny has a new listing for a property suitable for a yoga retreat property. Ketut, Ginny and there assistant took me to a lovely property about 10 miles from Ubud. It's about 3 acres of jungle with views of green for miles in every direction. Room for a dozen guest, very private, a pool and hot tub. Wonderful statues that look like they have been there for ever. We where served fresh scones and coffee on one of the many decks by Kevin the caretaker from Canada. Let me know if anyone is interested in partnering. Ginny says there are many great properties closer to the beach but this one was really special!

Off to yoga.

Lovely Lovina

The lonely planet guide describes Lovina as calm. The waves are calm,the people are calm, the bars are calm. Allyson and I had a very calm time. We left the busy Ubud with or adorable driver and our guide books. I love that Allyson had an itinerary planned and I could just enjoy! Our first adventure was a very non tourist waterfall called Sing Sing. Several locals greeted us at the car and we said that we did think we needed guides. They laughed and came anyway. We are off the beaten path in minutes and very glad to have our guides. I have always loved rock walking and this path really gave us the chance. Back and forth across the creek we come to the first waterfall. We uhhh and ahhh a bit and they point up a steep rockie path and say let's go. At this point I am very happy to hold hands with my guide as he carefully shows me the way and pulls me over the rough spots. We are delighted with a 40 foot crashing waterfall and big swimming hole. We enjoyed a lovely cool shower Bali style. After the barefoot climb back down we are delighted to pay our guides $5.

The next stop is a remote Chinese Buddhist Temple and monastery. It is quiet and serene, filled with reclining Buddha, Buddhas adorned with flowers and other offerings and lots of cushions for meditation. I enjoyed this sacred place and practiced my favorite 2 minute meditation that I learned from Swami Rama.

A few minutes down the road we stopped at a hot springs that reminded me alot of Harbin. Lot's of locals and a few tourist (all with clothes on) enjoyed the warm healing waters.

At last we arrive at the Sea Breeze, a darling little resort owned by an Australian couple. It is calm. We relaxed by the pool and walked the beach at sunset. Then enjoyed fresh tuna and Bintang beers. A local group of musician entertained us. Early to bed and early to rise, we take a small motorized canoe to a great snorkeling site. The coral is sadly dieing but the fish are amazing. I feel like I am living with Nemo and all his friends. Paolo would love this! Tiny blue fish, schools of black fish, clown fish, angel fish, colorful fish all easy to see from the surface. A few hundred feet away we can see Balinese fisherman standing in thigh high water fishing for our lunch. We are driven back and forth from our dive site on the back of motorcycles. A taxi was not on option.

Before we head back to Ubud our Australian hosts wants to talk real estate and walks me down the street to meet his real estate agent. For less than $100,000 you too can own a piece of paradise. Tempting! Can I call this a business trip?

LolvelLovina

Monkey Forest

This afternoon I toured the Monkey Forest in Ibud. As I entered the forest dozens of friendly monkeys run to greet me. They are adorable and of course I open my backpack to get my camera. A young monkey thinks I might have food in my pack and jumps on my back. I scream which only gets the monkey more interested. He climbs on my head and peeks around at my face. Another visitor tries to calm me down and offers to take my picture. Proof will follow when I can post some pics. The forest is filled with monkeys, playing, schutping, swinging from trees and begging bananas. There is a beautiful temple with a ceremony in process. It is the Monkey Temple and all the statues depict monkeys. While in the temple and older monkey gets pisses that I am meditating in his space and he snarls at me and makes bad faces- again I scream and the temple attendant scolds him and he snarls again and leaves. I am far from home and this is a very usual experience

I have moved into a Homestay. It's $10 a night and beautiful. I have a nice room with a balcony over looking a stunning garden. I am looking forward to doing nothing. All but one of my new retreat friends have gone home. It feels strange to again say good bye to everyone and stay one. This is an amazing time of my life and I feel unbelievably lucky to have this time.

Very early this AM Allison and Rayna and I climbed the Batur volcano and then soaked in a beautiful hot springs by a lake, Toya Bringkah then had breakfast in Kintamani. Loving my Bali experience and enjoying my sabbatical.