Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Bali-- Land of Temples and Happiness

Calm. Peace. Temples. Flowers. Dresses!

Bali has brought nothing but wonderful since we landed yesterday morning. It is actually as beautiful as we have always dreamed of. We are actually all feeling at peace just being here. Stacen actually has been seen just... Sitting. 

It is known as the "Land of Temples," and you really can't walk more than a few feet before seeing a family shrine or temple. The Balinese are proud caretakers of their faith, placing offerings almost anywhere you look (we all have to be careful not to step on small bamboo boxes filled with flowers and food in the sidewalk!). They also live in beautiful compounds where the entire family shares a beautiful maze of interconnected buildings, rooms, and of course, temples. We are lucky enough to be staying in a family compound that overlooks the only remaking rice paddy in the town of Ubud (the town in Eat, Pray, Love!). The family that owns it had been in this very spot for over two hundred years, and in Bali for much more.

Today we spend much of our day indulging in delicious food, drink, shopping, and sneaking into compounds whenever we could. Although there are some very touristy parts of Bali (mostly in the south of the island where Australians go to party), we are for the large part blissfully removed from resorts. 
We just can't stop looking at each other enough to say-- we love Bali!!

View from our front porch-- rice paddy with ducks!!

Lucy enjoys our wonderful front porch, reading about the history and activities of Ubud

Inside a family compound. This is standard.

Another view from our hostel porch-- we wake up and this is what we see!!

Another typical family home; this is what the Balinese live in!!

Another picture of juice. We LOVE our juices!!!

Happy elephant idol that made Nicole particularly happy!!!



1 comment:

  1. Thanks for blazing the trail. We now know where in Indonesia WE want to go!

    ReplyDelete