Dharma: 'do I have a death wish?', Once again he's transporting me - this time from
Ubud to Tejakula. He showed up with a frangapangi flower tucked behind his ear, smilin'
and smellin' (just like a flower) and was a reformed man. Dharma drove as slowly as a Richmond resident on a Saturday afternoon on #3 Road (Richmond Centre). He apologized to me for the 'crazy driving' on Saturday when Sandra and I hired him for the trip back to Ubud. Then proceeded to ask me an awful lot of personal questions: Did I miss Sandra? Was I married? Did I have children? (I stressed my daughter and 2 GRANDSONS), How old was I? (REALLY old) Did I have a boyfriend? Where was he?...... I asked back: so what is your WIFE's name? how long have you been married....! It was a long drive over the mountain!
GIAI OASIS YOGA RESORT
No I am NOT becoming a yoga/spa resort groupie. NO, NO, NOOOO!
Maybe I have just a little backpacker shame. Have I lost my edge? Become a softie?
India will tell the true story!
Snokelling off the Beach Resort: I'm the only one in warm green waters. Yawn.
same old, same old. yellow and black striped fish, the purple with yellow eyeliner and green-
touched fin guys, oh! there is my fav, the boring grey fish perfectly outlined in florescent
blue/green; then some colorful coral. I think this is a pretty nice way to wake up to the day.
Suddenly, barely in my perithial vision a large movement to my left. my heartrate increases
rapidly. 'Flight or fight' adrenaline and my nasty (hidden) companion
'Fear and Insecurity' hits my brain. What AM I doing wayyyy out here all by myself???? My
relaxed, comfortable state of mind and body is suddenly a distant memory. Then 'IT' rapidly
comes into view, swimming just below me: a gorgeous very large turtle!!! Deep red back,
greenish sides and fins! He acts as if I am not even there, gently swimming beside me, then
rising up to the surface for a breath of air. I am thrilled. All common sense flees and as he
picks up speed I follow him, heading to open waters, into dangerous pounding surf and crashing
reefs fraught with wild hungry sharks, terrible dolphins..... (yeh, sure!). My first Bali Turtle sighting.
Note to self: Not all yoga instructors are equal. Giai is a fraction of the costly dwellings Sandra and I
had for 3 days, and yoga classes were extremely good, but with a fee. Heard of 'you get
what you pay for'? Well, yoga is free here at Giai. So. Our guy is very skilled at yoga poses. He can tie himself in a knot; stand on one leg with the opposite foot tucked into his testicles for 10 minutes while arms are straight up to the ceiling and head back to shoulder blades; followed by the next
impossible pose and breathing exercise:
Inhale at MAX EE MIMM (maximum) for 30 seconds; SUSSS-PEEND for 45 seconds, release slowwwly (yeah right) while also moving from sitting to push up position, then to 'cobra' and to back flip in co-ordination with the breathing (sure thing, toots).
Finally he moves us into our final position for the 7 am Yoga for No-One Class. Lay-on-your-back pose, a mind control/concentration exercise. I don't want to brag, but I excel at this position. He instructs us to close our eyes, visualize our selves outside our bodies (this actually happened to me as soon as he started the class), I am now desperate for a cup of coffee. I am visualizing my body dashing upstairs for a cup as I lay there. And lay there. There is only me and one other participant.
We continue to ....lay there. Nothing is happening. I crack open one eye just a fraction of an eyelash. Can't see him. I wait another few minutes, try the other eye. I see a white clad Yogi in a very still prone position. Minutes tick by. It's now wayyyyy too long to have mine, or anyone's body separated from itself. The other woman starts to twitch as well. Finally our eyes met and in silent agreement we sit up. There in front of us is our fearless leader. Exhausted after his great yoga work out, sound asleep!!! We got up, rolled our mats and limped away, leaving him in dreamland!
Didn't do yoga this morning!
I am surrounded by women. German and Swiss Women. I've heard a few very interesting Stories That Women Tell. Most of them regarding Balinese Men and more specifically Taxi Divers. However, in spite of some juicy confidential tid bits, I feel a bit of an 'English only' odd ball - combined with being an obvious 'budget backpacker' who is not eagerly booking massages, facials, and other forms of pampering. Nevertheless, I find my basic posh needs are met very nicely thank you. A lovely room with ocean and jungle views; queen sized bed with a really good mattress (not the sweaty foamy at Gusti's) and linens (the sheet is fitted! and no knobby round things), REAL pillows I can actually lay my head on and snuggle in; mozzie net with no holes, a fan that does not squeek or wobble, an amazing outdoor Bali Bathroom, my very own fridge, tea kettle, outside lounge and table, two nice chairs. Free tea, coffee, bottled water, tropical fruit and afternoon 3 pm goodies: cake and tea'. The place comes with all the sound effects you could possibly want: 24 hour roosters, chickens, twilight frogs, crickets, geckos.... and other various forms of noisy life! Oh and I must add
a very interesting frog porn show beside the pond, in the valley, and the streams: apparently a monthly (full moon) event!!!
There is a free shuttle to the village and the beach. My current expenses average CND $35/day - room and dinner. Being the (cheap) smart cookie I am, I brought food for breakfast and lunch for 4 days :) OK you can bet I am the first one showing up for complimentary cake at 3 pm... !!! Oh I forgot to mention the salt water swimming pool! Sandra: please note, it is complete with little Bali
swallows that skim the water constantly! So I think your experience at Gusti's was not likely bats? However that being said it's a bit disconcerting to have these guys constantly skimming the water all around me. They are hyper little feathered missiles - the kind that test my nerves. They LOOK like they have decent flying abilities, but how close can they really swoop by without getting tangled in my hair?
Shaman Session with Jero Dar
1) Massage, Chakra check-up, health scan,
2) Meditation
3) Temple Blessing
4) Consultation with Shaman and translator.
Selective Information (additional details MAY be provided upon request, in person only :)!)
Tejakula Village
Balinese speaking only, interpreter present in person prior to and following the session, and present outside a curtained area during treatment session.
Environment: family compound and temple
Initial Consultation: seated at a small wooden table with Shaman and Interpreter. Served sweetened tea, sipped while chickens and chicks clucked around my feet, dogs roamed through, and children playing in the yard.
I asked for some history:
I learned that, from a very early age, as long as he can remember, he could see non-physical presence as well as physical bodies. Jero Dar was unaware he was able to see what others could not, and that he had a gift, Then, as a young man, he became very ill and consulted with a healer. At the same time he was seeking help, he met another young man having a similar experience. They were both advised to return to the temple in Tejakula for prayer, meditation and guidence. Eventually he was advised by a healer of two choices: become a priest or a healer. He wanted to work with people directly and choose to become a healer .
Prior to my session, a family member brought him several bright green leaves just a bit larger than his hand, which he held in both hands, then brought to his forehead in prayer.
I gave verbal permission for the shaman to physically touch me. I was advised I needed to take my clothes off. I thought this meant outer clothes. This was an incorrect assumption. The 'room' was similar to a 3 -walled patio with curtains pulled on the open end. A thin mattress was flat on the floor, and the shaman sat in lotus position beside it. Massage oil base was coconut oil with unidentified flowers and herbs. He gestured for me to lay down, belly up at first. Next position was belly down/butt up followed by seated with back to him. Final position was seated, facing him. At no time did I feel uncomfortable, I intuitively trusted him and he was kind, gentle and as professional as you could expect a non English speaking Balanese Shaman to be!
First: A full body massage with strong focus on each specific chakra area. (as described above)
Second: Meditation (seated, facing each other).
Third: Temple Blessing
Dressed in a sarong, my 'payment' was an offering to the temple of R 150,000. Prior to
entering the temple I sipped water out of his cupped palms 3 times. The water had various
flower petals, twigs/herbs in it. The rest of it was splashed over my head and face.
Note: I need you to work with me here. Just to be clear: Did you notice I've been thoroughly soaked and rubbed - hair included - with a liter of coconut oil. With herbs. Then I slurp holy water -with twigs, flowers, etc - not once but THREE times from closed palms, THEN about 2 litres of water - with twigs, flowerc, etc is dumped over.... oily hair. This is not a lovely vision!!! I guess I shoudl add: to top it all off, I drank a whole entire glass of water to help me swallow 'something' on my tongue - herbal 'remedy'.
Now, I am able to enter the temple for a blessing and on completion, a woven black, red, and white string bracelette is tied on my right wrist. I am not to deliberately remove it for 6 months.
The colors represent the Gods of Protection: Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu (as mentioned several blogs ago
- remember?).
Last: Consultation with Shaman and Interpreter
First: a brief overview regarding both my physical and spiritual health, and then I am
invited to ask my questions.... and so I did!
How about you - any questions???? Smiles to you too!
36 Hours Post-Drinking Holy Water
all morning in the bathroom (no futher details necessary!), all afternoon with ginger tea and water, evening, veggie soup and dry toast! Hey the next day good as new!
Monday 12 December 2011
Monday 5 December 2011
Abandoned in Bali!
Oh - Oh after 10> days where to start?! Please... read on with NO expectations of orderly thoughts and certainly not chronological order!
Sandra: although she is no angel (oops, 'nough said!) she sprouted wings and flew into yesterday.. leaving me here in the tropics alone. I'm only missing her when it's morning 'do you want to swim after breakfast and before we head out for the day? Or miss the pool and come back by 2 pm?' and when it's time to share happy hour 2:1 Arak Mojitos at Mingles, or splitting Nasi Goreng and Black Rice Pudding with Coconut milk (oh, and one scoop vanilla ice cream pls). Well I could go on and on... it was so sad to see her leave after a fantastic month together in Bali. I do recommend her as a travel companion but you need to understand a few quirks (I of course have none) about Little Hawk:
- She is prone to unintentionally insulting smokers. Example in an Ubud restaurant/bar sharing a table with smokers (and being surrounded by... smokers. and changing tables to avoid/minimize... smoke). A 'new' couple sits down to share our table. Sandra identified them as non smokers by the fact they were not (currently) smoking. She leans over and in a friendly manner states 'it's so nice to finally have people who don't smoke... sit with us. Then a little additional side note which we both blanked out on, but the gist of it being 'it's great to enjoy our drinks without .... (you fill it in). They turn a shade paler, appear somewhat less than comfortable, and yes admit in fact they DO smoke. Sandra then says 'oh, but that's FINE, REALLY just go ahead it won't bother us at ALLLL) Use your imagination here. We did not engage in any idle chit chat with this nice couple! Nor did they light up!
- Sandra has been known to scream out loud in the middle of the night SHERRRRYYYYYY! Or AHHHDGGDGG!!! Normally this occurs in the darkest hours, when we are both in our REM cycle. It can be just a little troubling..... :) but also entertaining!
- She's an awesome mozzie attraction, but tends to look a little ..well the only word is 'lumpy' at 67 red swollen bites
- Is a relentless sarong shopper....
- Does not share her (beautiful, new) TWO dresses purchased in Ubud
- Has Nicole Kidman hair when she let's it go in ocean breezes (personally my biggest resentment)
So we made it back from Shangrila Spa and Meditation Resort on the North Island in Bondalem. Yep that was our big 3 day get away and we relished every single moment. Loved the yoga classes. Crazy about the pool and gardens. Our 'Krishna Villa' was simply amazing. We made the most of our exotic, luxerious surroundings and was a fantastic finish to our trip together.
Dharma - our 'found' Balinese Taxi Driver. We could write a book on the way this guy drives! Dharma is a gentle, kind, communitive 50-ish man who turns into an absolute terror behind the wheel. We've white-knuckled our way on 2 long distance trips and 3 local jaunts. Why you ask, do we keep doing it? Because he keeps giving the best deal in town, has a nice air-con car, and makes me feel like a survivor. I hired him yet again today for a trip to the International Travel Clinic in Ubud (for immunizations, which turns out to NOT be cheaper here, but $250 more than Canada. Kind of a wasted trip, but there you go!). Once again he gave me a great price, now saying because Sandra and I are his friends. Today I watched and learned how to use the 2 turn lanes to advantage by: scooting over to pass every one in our lane, nudging 2 motor scooters, one bike, and a bus out of the way, then JUST as it's too late to do it - squeeze into a 3 foot space between a heavily loaded truck and a mini bus.... There! back in our lane!
Motor bike rental
Sherry was a cowardly failure, wobbling over cobble stones, nearly wiping out the local rooster, and even more humiliating diving to the wrong side (right) of the road whenever someone came towards me. Sandra is the local hero (another grudge I have) by taking to it like she was a local, plus she looked great! Actually I looked pretty good too, I have to say. The huge helmet covered up sweaty, stringy hair and I appeared happy (in the photo you may get to see. if I ever get them on here.)
Kokorans
Whatz it?? The most lovely heron ever, that's what! The reside for several months of the year, during baby season, 3 kms out of Ubud in Banjar. Dressed in soft, fluffy white feathers (body) and even softer gold feathers on head and part of the wing, with bright round beady little eyes, and a long-ish sharp-ish yellow beak, they cover local trees preening, stretching, and fluffing. And posing for photos. (will post one, honest...)
Sherry's Rented Villa
You just have to believe in serindepity (SANDRA!!! spell check please). Well you guys are smart and know what I mean! Four days after giving a deposit Sandra and I ran into one of the (two) room mates at a little blues bar/restaurant. Now this lady is sitting no more than 4 feet from us, with her back to us. We notice her. When the band takes a break, I go over to say 'hi'. Not only does she not say hello, nor does she turn or acknowledge us in any way other than a 'grunt' noise. Over the next hour, 'Joyella' walks by us 3 times with... no joy at all for the likes of me! The other roomy was leaving end of November and I was due to share paradise with a very hostile, or wierd, or ??? woman. Sandra and I looked open-mouthed at each other throughout the evening - and the next morning I called cancelling the whole arrangement. I did get my deposit back, which I am grateful for. I'm even more grateful to be exposed to this behaviour BEFORE moving in.
NOW
Tomorrow I am heading to Tejekula (North again) for a much less expensive (aka cheaper) yoga 'retreat'.
Thank you for the emails, I really appreciate your prayers, good wishes and thoughts for Sheryl. She is constantly on my mind, and it will be so good to get home soon.
Sandra: although she is no angel (oops, 'nough said!) she sprouted wings and flew into yesterday.. leaving me here in the tropics alone. I'm only missing her when it's morning 'do you want to swim after breakfast and before we head out for the day? Or miss the pool and come back by 2 pm?' and when it's time to share happy hour 2:1 Arak Mojitos at Mingles, or splitting Nasi Goreng and Black Rice Pudding with Coconut milk (oh, and one scoop vanilla ice cream pls). Well I could go on and on... it was so sad to see her leave after a fantastic month together in Bali. I do recommend her as a travel companion but you need to understand a few quirks (I of course have none) about Little Hawk:
- She is prone to unintentionally insulting smokers. Example in an Ubud restaurant/bar sharing a table with smokers (and being surrounded by... smokers. and changing tables to avoid/minimize... smoke). A 'new' couple sits down to share our table. Sandra identified them as non smokers by the fact they were not (currently) smoking. She leans over and in a friendly manner states 'it's so nice to finally have people who don't smoke... sit with us. Then a little additional side note which we both blanked out on, but the gist of it being 'it's great to enjoy our drinks without .... (you fill it in). They turn a shade paler, appear somewhat less than comfortable, and yes admit in fact they DO smoke. Sandra then says 'oh, but that's FINE, REALLY just go ahead it won't bother us at ALLLL) Use your imagination here. We did not engage in any idle chit chat with this nice couple! Nor did they light up!
- Sandra has been known to scream out loud in the middle of the night SHERRRRYYYYYY! Or AHHHDGGDGG!!! Normally this occurs in the darkest hours, when we are both in our REM cycle. It can be just a little troubling..... :) but also entertaining!
- She's an awesome mozzie attraction, but tends to look a little ..well the only word is 'lumpy' at 67 red swollen bites
- Is a relentless sarong shopper....
- Does not share her (beautiful, new) TWO dresses purchased in Ubud
- Has Nicole Kidman hair when she let's it go in ocean breezes (personally my biggest resentment)
So we made it back from Shangrila Spa and Meditation Resort on the North Island in Bondalem. Yep that was our big 3 day get away and we relished every single moment. Loved the yoga classes. Crazy about the pool and gardens. Our 'Krishna Villa' was simply amazing. We made the most of our exotic, luxerious surroundings and was a fantastic finish to our trip together.
Dharma - our 'found' Balinese Taxi Driver. We could write a book on the way this guy drives! Dharma is a gentle, kind, communitive 50-ish man who turns into an absolute terror behind the wheel. We've white-knuckled our way on 2 long distance trips and 3 local jaunts. Why you ask, do we keep doing it? Because he keeps giving the best deal in town, has a nice air-con car, and makes me feel like a survivor. I hired him yet again today for a trip to the International Travel Clinic in Ubud (for immunizations, which turns out to NOT be cheaper here, but $250 more than Canada. Kind of a wasted trip, but there you go!). Once again he gave me a great price, now saying because Sandra and I are his friends. Today I watched and learned how to use the 2 turn lanes to advantage by: scooting over to pass every one in our lane, nudging 2 motor scooters, one bike, and a bus out of the way, then JUST as it's too late to do it - squeeze into a 3 foot space between a heavily loaded truck and a mini bus.... There! back in our lane!
Motor bike rental
Sherry was a cowardly failure, wobbling over cobble stones, nearly wiping out the local rooster, and even more humiliating diving to the wrong side (right) of the road whenever someone came towards me. Sandra is the local hero (another grudge I have) by taking to it like she was a local, plus she looked great! Actually I looked pretty good too, I have to say. The huge helmet covered up sweaty, stringy hair and I appeared happy (in the photo you may get to see. if I ever get them on here.)
Kokorans
Whatz it?? The most lovely heron ever, that's what! The reside for several months of the year, during baby season, 3 kms out of Ubud in Banjar. Dressed in soft, fluffy white feathers (body) and even softer gold feathers on head and part of the wing, with bright round beady little eyes, and a long-ish sharp-ish yellow beak, they cover local trees preening, stretching, and fluffing. And posing for photos. (will post one, honest...)
Sherry's Rented Villa
You just have to believe in serindepity (SANDRA!!! spell check please). Well you guys are smart and know what I mean! Four days after giving a deposit Sandra and I ran into one of the (two) room mates at a little blues bar/restaurant. Now this lady is sitting no more than 4 feet from us, with her back to us. We notice her. When the band takes a break, I go over to say 'hi'. Not only does she not say hello, nor does she turn or acknowledge us in any way other than a 'grunt' noise. Over the next hour, 'Joyella' walks by us 3 times with... no joy at all for the likes of me! The other roomy was leaving end of November and I was due to share paradise with a very hostile, or wierd, or ??? woman. Sandra and I looked open-mouthed at each other throughout the evening - and the next morning I called cancelling the whole arrangement. I did get my deposit back, which I am grateful for. I'm even more grateful to be exposed to this behaviour BEFORE moving in.
NOW
Tomorrow I am heading to Tejekula (North again) for a much less expensive (aka cheaper) yoga 'retreat'.
Thank you for the emails, I really appreciate your prayers, good wishes and thoughts for Sheryl. She is constantly on my mind, and it will be so good to get home soon.
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