Any good day start with a training session in the morning, or what? Today is Sunday and we got up with the call of the roosters and set out for a morning run. There are great views in Ubud, and specially if you go out from the beaten track. We stopped and took some pictures today as well. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Bali
Thai yoga body work, something new
After a superb late lunch at Bali Buda, great place, we were ready for our class of Thai yoga body work at Yoga Barn. We had read that this class would be massage and pair work so this was hopefully something to look forward to. The class was full with lots of excited faces. Then Carlos arrived, he definitely falls in to the yogi category described by Arne earlier. A handsome dude with a guitar under his arm and his long dreadlocks tucked into a sarong on his head. Arne and I looked at each other, my og my what are we in for…. Continue reading
Tai Chi Chuan @ Yoga barn
Dave West teaching
Picture from TripAdvisor
Today we tried something new (for us) – Tai Chi Chuan. I guess there are as many branches of this martial arts as there is in Karate, Jiu jitsu, Kali etc. The one we tried were the one available, and therefor the one most right for us. There was an English teacher Dave West, who’s been living here on Bali for the last 15 years that held the class.
Roosters, hens, cats and dogs
It started with stray dogs and cats in Sanur. In Lombok the roosters and hens had the leading role, they were everywhere 🙂 Running freely around all over the place. Making rooster and hen sounds at all hours and “bobbing” around digging into everything they could find. In Jl. Hanoman today (the main street of Ubud) 3 hens on the loose made the traffic even more chaotic than it already is. All this makes me wonder:
Bugs
Coming from Norway the biggest bug problem is the mosquitos in autumn. We have wasp, bumblebees and bees during summer, but the common fly and the mosquitos are the worst.
Here in Ubud it’s the ants that take charge. They are small and everywhere: on restaurants, shops and in the yoga studios.
It doesn’t seem like they bite or otherwise cause any discomfort, but they tickle as the crawl in the underbrush of my calfs.
And as they days passes we get more and more used to the little buggers. You notice the itch, and it takes a few seconds to realize it’s not a fly who moves away when you shake your arm or leg. Then you pinch it and flicks it away. No drama, no fuzz – even for Katja. 😉
Yoga @ Ubud
Ubud is said to be the creative and cultural capital of Bali. There are lots of arts and crafts elements here. Both from local artist but also the general junk available all over the world.
When it comes to yoga, I don’t think there is any place on Bali near what Ubud offers. A lot if this is because if Yoga Barn.
We had our first session there yesterday and again two today. The campus is huge. Basically Yoga Barn is an industry in itself. There are several yoga studios on the premises, a cafe with food and drinks and a healing “department” as well. Continue reading
Ubud update
Those who have followed or blog since the first small post may remember our boasting about “renting a house in Ubud”. This was, after buying the plane ticket, the first thing we booked for the trip. Six weeks in a house with others, living happily ever after…. (Insert picture of cute cats, adorable babies and beautiful sunsets)
But NO! Mental note to self and fellow travelers: Never book so long a stay over the internet. Continue reading
Goodby Lombok, Hello Bali (again)
Green Asri hotel has been a great experience. It is located a little distance from Senggigi center (5 minutes with the local Bemo which costs 4000 IDR or 18.000 for taxi).
It is quiet, very well maintained and with a very friendly staff. They have been very helpful on all occasions. They really live up to their slogan: small, comfortable, friendly. The rooms are large with really comfortable beds. Katja especially knows this as she spent most of yesterday in bed with a bad stomach, she’s better now but skips breakfast this last day here before we head back to Bali, Ubud, by boat. Continue reading
Balinese culture
It’s hard to do a short post on Balinese culture, but I’m gonna try.
For a long long time ago the Hindus of Indonesia fled to Bali to avoid the rule of the Muslims. They brought with them (naturally) their customs and the Hindus and the local Balinese merges into one big happy religious family. That means that a lot of the local arts and dances is religiously connected. Balinese dance is widely know for its form. It is vibrant, colorful and unique.
(we have some videos of the local dancers and a little surprise for you as well. Right now the internet connection is to slow)
And most visual is maybe the offerings everybody put out. Small baskets containing avert thing form sweets, money, cigarets and flowers. These offerings are meant to please the nice spirits and keep at bay the bad ones.
It is not so much WHAT you offer, but the fact that you DO make an offer that counts. These offerings you will find in front of stores, restaurants and houses. All for receiving good fortune and prosperity.
And all people (Hindi) in Bali is connected to a shrine of some sort. It can by decided by your inheritance, workplace, geography or something else. To the shrine / temple you belong, hyou make offerings as well.
Last but not least is the thing called Karma. As we got it explained it can happen in three dimensions.
– instant Karma
you reap what you sow. Immediate and swift repay for your actions
– Tomorrow or the day before you die.
You don’t know which but it will happen one of these two days
– your bloodline
Your action reflects on your bloodline as well. So your kids have to carry your burden or reap your reward.
This is what keeps a lot of people pretty honest.
We can pretty much rule out that the Police (Polisi) are good Hindi, if we are to believe what we here around here.
Good bye Puri Santrian
It’s Monday morning 0600 and we are ready for take off. Next stop Lombok, by ferry. The stay at Puri Santrian has be a pure pleasure! The compound is beautiful, the staff lovely, the walk along the beach good for walks at all hours and the surrounding area full of nice little restaurants. Off course you also have all the small sales stalls and massage places. The “vendors” always have a “good offer” when you pass by but they are not pushy or “touching” and accept a no thank you. The drivers and taksis are everywhere and honk every time they see a “prospect”. If you don’t go with Bluebird, which drive by meter (starting price 6000 IDR), we noticed that the running price for “everywhere” is 150 000 IDR that is if your going just down the street or going across the island 🙂
We took yoga classes at the hotel in the morning and the instructor felt a little like Ketut (from Eat, love, pray) and gave us a good start of the day.
When you are up early it’s amazing to see all the stuff that falls down and “stirs” up the pathways and grass. So from dusk to dawn you always hear the soothing sound off brooms, brooming the grounds so it always looks nice.
The hotel also offers 2 happy hours! The normal one in the bar from 1600 to 1900 and, the one I liked :-), buy one and get one for free in the SPA from 0900-1300! So I got myself a 2 hours tension release massage and the 1 hour “free” facial 🙂 The spa is a beautiful house with the nicest atmosphere and really makes you feel calm and relaxed.
We even “got” ourselves a dog while here. It was this black dog that showed up out of nowhere and followed us around everywhere. Lots of dogs all over the place but all friendly (but Nina, not a place for you :-)). There was also this one light colored dog that we found in one of the chair groups outside our room. He was there every evening and when we went by he didn’t move an inch sort of “if I don’t move they don’t see me and then I can stay”. This was obviously his “house” so we just greeted him a good night 🙂
We just said goodbye to the nice “oatmeal” lady that made us oatmeal for breakfast and are now waiting for the buss to take us to the ferry, so tudela, and “see” you in Lombok!
If the pictures are not showing, they will be uploaded later 🙂 so stay tuned!!!
Happy day 🙂
kogatravel 