Scary repeat experience…Alarming reminder for Tom…

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Big Buffalo was not happy to see Tom once again, coming out of the water to show his displeasure.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

Note this little kid in a narrow part of the river as this motorbike with a family of four. We’ve seen six on one motorbike but have yet been quick enough to capture it.

It was about three months ago that Tom had the scary buffalo-ready-to-charge experience when he went for a walk to explore a dirt road he was curious to see. At the time, he said it was the “second biggest scare of his life.” See the link here.

Of course, the biggest scare of his life was while we were living in Marloth Park, South Africa when a Mozambique Spitting Cobra dropped from the ceiling and landed (alive) close to his bare feet as we lounged on the veranda waiting for “visitors” to arrive. Some visitor, eh?  See the link here.

The boys were walking the buffalos along the beach.

In the late afternoon, a few days ago, we were both standing at the edge of the veranda watching a wide array of activities on the beach; people swimming in the ocean and river; motorbikes zooming by, some popping wheelies; fishermen pulling in their nets and a variety of walkers with an end of day purpose in mind.

As soon as they entered the water facing our direction, the big buffalo Tom had previously encountered spotted him standing on the edge of our veranda.  We could hear him snorting, the buffalo, not Tom.

Camera in hand, we were at the ready for any interesting or unusual sightings we’d like to share with our loyal readers some of whom may have wondered if we’d have anything worthy of posting on a second two-month visit to Bali.

Now, with 25% of our time on the island behind us, we’re piling up photos and stories we’ve yet to share with the hope that our readers will enjoy, along with that which we’ve posted to date. 

Tom stepped back several meters.  Big Buffalo did the same. Smaller buffalo was oblivious.

In actuality, personally, I’m having almost as much fun this time in Bali with our photos as I’ve had when we were living in some of my favorite places. Our long term readers know exactly which locations are forefront in my mind. Hmm..

Tom stepped up on the short stone wall of the veranda. Big Buffalo comes out of the river, moving toward us.

As we stood on the veranda observing the beach, two familiar buffaloes were being led to the river by boys, who most likely are sons of the buffalo owners. Noting the red wooden bells they were wearing Tom was immediately startled. No other buffaloes in the area wear those red wooden bells. 

Tom was certain the larger of the two bulls was the one who’d just about broken loose of his rope only three months ago with the intent of charging Tom. It was a frightening experience as Tom slowly backed off, hightailing out of the area, returning to the villa sweating and out of breath, anxious to tell me what had transpired.

Big Buffalo inched forward as Tom did the same.

The buffaloes didn’t see us as they walked along the beach in front of the villa. Heads down, they were busy sniffing the sand and most likely anticipating cooling off in the river. 

Tom backed off less than a meter.  Big Buffalo did the same.

Although Tom was a little guarded, we held our ground and continued to watch them entering the river while I was hoping to get a few good shots. Only moments after they entered the river, everything changed.

The larger of the two, Big Buffalo, spotted Tom. Keep in mind, there were other humans on the beach and at least of dozen motorbikes driving on the sand close to the river. It wasn’t as if we were the only people in the vicinity.

Testing further if this was really happening Tom again inched forward no more than a meter toward Big Buffalo as he stepped right out of the water.

Apparently with great vision, Big Buffalo never took his eyes off Tom. Oddly, from a distance we could easily tell his serious gaze was directed at Tom, not me. He must have had a good memory, still angry from their last encounter three months ago. That’s not surprising. We often underestimate the ability of animals to recall past encounters.

Tom, feisty sort that he is, and curious to determine if the bull did in fact recognize him, only moved a few feet (less than a meter) toward the river and boom!…the Big Buffalo snorted, coming straight up and out of the water toward us. 

“I’ve had enough of you,” said Big Buffalo as he totally emerged from the river.

The interaction and test of wills continued. This time, on the safety of the veranda (supposedly), Tom was a bit more daring. However, this didn’t diminish his caution in us staying safely out of range of being charged if Big Buffalo became angry enough. 

This all transpired in only a matter of minutes consisting of Tom never moving more than three feet, one meter, from our original position. I didn’t know if I should have tried to stop Tom in his somewhat subtle buffalo game or if I was so excited taking photos that I kept my mouth shut.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Tom is going for another walk where Big Buffalo lives!

Finally, we had to go indoors for dinner and Big Buffalo returned to the river for his swim as we began to walk away.

Soon enough, the two Ketuts alerted us that dinner was ready and we went indoors for yet another wonderful dinner and evening. Ah, we anticipate the adventures in Bali will surely continue as time marches on during our remaining 45 days.

Yesterday, prepared to leave for Negara, we noticed the van had a flat tire. As a result, the trip was postponed until today. Ribut removed the tire and took it to a repair shop, returning it later in the day. 

With an early start today, (we were both awake before 5:00 am) we’ll have this post uploaded a few hours earlier than most days and be on our way by 10:00 am, back tomorrow with more photos we’ll enthusiastically share.

Have a lovely day!

Photo from one year ago today, September 15, 2015:

While living in Savusavu, Fiji we visited the hot springs located in the village where locals who don’t have a stove cook their vegetables in heat proof bags.  For our video, please visit the year ago post, here.

Cultural differences abound…The proverbial WC (water closet), the beach and more…Far removed from our own reality…

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At this beautiful stopover, we walked halfway to the ocean, but we didn’t spend much time. We were looking forward to returning to the road behind all the vehicles we had already passed. It was Tom’s rationalization, not mine. (Previously we posted a similar photo at this place).

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

Sunset from the veranda.

We knew so little about the lives of those living in poverty until we began to travel the globe almost four years ago. Yes, we saw homeless people living in some less-than-desirable areas as close as 30 minutes away from our home in Minnesota.

However, over these years we’ve traveled through countless impoverished areas, at times a short walk from our vacation home. Today’s post is not a “political piece” on our views on poverty throughout the world. Clearly, it speaks for itself.

Instead, it’s an eye-wide-open observation of how many people must function in this world without the benefit of indoor plumbing and electricity, often living in makeshift three sided shanties with barely any protection from the elements.

The restroom areas are unisex. When we opened the door and looked inside, we wrongly assumed this one was missing a toilet.

Others may live in the streets without a permanent place to rest their heads at night, while in richer areas, may reside in their cars, public shelters and camps. Every public space becomes a possibility, far away, isolated or not.

In many countries like Fiji (where we lived for four months and Bali (where we’ll have spent another total of four months) from what we’ve understood from the locals, most citizens care for their own, whether family members, friends or neighbors. But in doing so they too can live in poverty without the conveniences and comforts that the rest of us easily take for granted.

In neither country does the government provide financial support to the poor, people with illnesses and disabilities, or the elderly. In Fiji, healthcare is free. In Bali, one must pay (prices are relatively low for medical care as compared to other parts of the world) or obtain pricey insurance which is beyond the reach of most.

After further inspection, we realized that the narrow bowl was really the toilet. The bucket of water and scoop were for tidying up, not washing hands. Fortunately, we keep antibacterial wipes handy at all times. This facility was clean in comparison to the other facilities we encountered.

In Bali, there is no such thing as government provided food stamps, no welfare, no unemployment benefits and no Food Shelf. The Balinese people aren’t waiting for a handout from anyone. Their joy of life clearly illustrates their independence and fortitude. They work, they share and they’re resourceful. 

Beyond all the challenges of the poor maintaining some form of shelter and finding sources of food, they have the reality of such basic human functions as finding a place to go to the bathroom when perhaps half or more of the population don’t have a toilet in their place of residence.

In yesterday’s post we touched a local tradition of cleaning the entrails of a cow in the river next door and thus contaminating the water, but, also the deification of humans and buffalo in this same body of water. 

Apparently, there was some type of museum here, but we continued on the long drive rather than take time to see it.

Seeing both children and adults swimming, bathing and playing in the toxic water is disheartening and yet they do so with considerable joy and laughter. Our personal concern for their contracting a disease is irrelevant. Most likely, their bodies have adapted to the bacteria. Most likely, they don’t give it a thought.

Yesterday afternoon, as we lounged under the cabana, our eyes scanned the beach in hopes of finding more interesting “Sightings on the Beach in Bali” a daily activity we’ve found to be quite enjoyable, not unlike searching for unusual seashells on our walks along the shore. We’ll excitedly share what we’ve found in an upcoming post.

Tom’s eyes widened and then squinted as he attempted to focus on a man, pointing him out to me, who was on the beach several paces from the water as we observed him removing his pants and underwear in plain view of us and others. It only took a moment to determine what was to transpire next.

A hut on the property, purpose unknown.

Not that far from us, we watched him, bare from the waist down, digging a hole in the sand to use as a toilet. Once he was satisfied with his handmade toilet in the sand, he proceeded to use it with nary a thought of being observed in the open space.

At first, we were a little taken aback. We’d seen people using the river as a toilet, but not the sand on the beach. The man stayed “seated” on his sand toilet for some time, occasionally pushing the sand around and tossing sand in the air. After about 15 minutes, he arose, covered the hole with sand, put on his clothes and went on his way.

Click here to see the video of beaches in India used for the same purpose.

Another statue.

At first, our normal human reaction was, “Oh, how dirty, how unseemly!” But, then as we spoke to one another of the sighting we came to understand and appreciate that such a use of the sand on the beach may not be unusual in an impoverished country. 

Surely, if the man had a home of his own with indoor plumbing, most likely he wouldn’t have come to the beach for this purpose. Then again, could a taxi driver unable to find a restroom, choose this option? Possibly. In a desperate situation anyone could possibly choose this option, although perhaps more discretely.

What a lovely rest stop halfway through the long drive!

There are few places to stop for a restroom on the highway, as we experienced in the four to five hour harrowing drive from Denpasar to the villa. It was halfway through the long drive that we found a place to stop which was originally the basis of today’s cultural story. It was only yesterday’s coincidental sighting of the man on the beach that inspired us to also include the man’s choice of toilets.

We didn’t take photos of the man on the beach. However, we found this interesting video on YouTube about how this is common in India and perhaps, more often than we’d expect, here in Bali and other parts of the world.

Monkey faced statue.

When we were in Bali during May and June this year, we shared a story and photos of an embarrassing experience I had, using a WC at the Monkey Temple. It was a lesson learned about cultural differences that I’ll always remember. 

Today’s photos illustrate a separate experience we encountered only 12 days ago when we stopped to use the restroom at a beautiful spot on the way to the villa only this time, experiencing an entirely different type of toilet as shown in these photos.

The young cow on the right with her newly born calf checked us out, surely concerned for her calf’s well being. Zoom in to see the tiny calf at her side.

Soon, we’re off to Negara, drinking minimal liquids in the interim, preferring not to bring any beverages with us, other than a bottle of water for a few sips during the heat of the day.

We remain in awe and humbled by our surroundings, grateful for our lives of relative ease while becoming all the more profoundly aware of the lives of those throughout the world. 

Be well on this day and always.


Photo from one year ago today, September 14, 2015:

After we arrived in Fiji one year ago we shopped at this tiny grocery that didn’t have much of a selection for us with only three grocery aisles. But, as always, we figured it out and managed to make good meals during the three month stay. For more details, please click here.

Shocking to us…Natural for those of another culture…Not for the squeamish…

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This morning, kids playing in the river.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali” (All of today’s photos were taken during “Sightings on the Beach”)

If we never left the villa other than for our daily walks, we’ll never run out of photos and topics for our posts. With 47 days until we depart the villa to head to Denpasar for another stay in the Kuta hotel while we await our upcoming red-eye flight on October 30th, we’re surprised by the experiences that just keep coming and coming.

No doubt, getting out will also be worthwhile when tomorrow after uploading the post, we’re renting Egon’s van for a half day outing to Negara, the closest good sized city on the highway.

When we watched this activity on the river, we had no idea what was transpiring especially with the large cart used to haul the cow’s carcass which appeared to be cut into huge pieces.

Our intent is to do some sightseeing, take photos ending at the largest supermarket in the area to pick up some cheese and a few other items we’ll need during the remainder of the stay. 

Also, we’ll stop at an ATM once again. Our supply of Indonesian Rupiah quickly dwindle when each day we’re providing the two Ketuts with enough cash to pay for the meals. We only pay for the actual cost of the food and a small sum for fuel for their motorbikes. Daily, they provide us with a neat hand printed receipt with the change. Its at the end of our stay that we happily give them generous tips in appreciation for their hard work and fine efforts.

Yesterday was quite a day. With numerous “Sightings on the Beach” that both shocked and astounded us, we were picking up the camera time after times for yet another round of photos.

It was hard to tell what was going on, especially with the large white bags.

Today’s story and photos are not for the squeamish. We apologize if this upsets or offends any of our readers. That’s not our intention. Nor is today’s post based on a possible shock factor.

Our goal in sharing this story and photos is purely predicated by our desire to share cultural differences we strive to embrace, rather than criticize, to graciously accept, rather than turn away.

We’ve discovered over time that many of the local’s perception of the ocean and other bodies of waters is very different from many of our own. Many of us may perceive the ocean and rivers for their beautiful eye catching scenery. Many of us take a hard stance and commitment on making every effort to preserve the cleanliness of our world’s oceans, each in our own small way.

We wondered, “What was a long white stringy stuff? Were they cleaning squid?  Nope.

The Balinese people see the ocean as a source of revenue and work hard using its resources to earn a living by fishing, providing tourist activities and as a personal resource in their daily lives.

Early on, when we first arrived in Bali we delighted in watching children playing in the nearby river.  At times, the children were naked joyfully running to and fro often for hours at a time. The river consists of fresh water, as most rivers, flowing from the mountains, rivers and streams inland to the sea. 

When the high tide occurs twice each 24 hour period, the fresh water is mixed with ocean water, creating a number of pools in which children and adults play, wash clothes and bathe. There’s more.

Under no circumstances is that water clean. Why not? We’ve observed both humans and buffalo defecate in that water. Can we even imagine the volume of poop coming from a 1,500 to 2,650 lbs, 700 to 1,200 kg, buffalo when standing in that river for an hour each day?

The mysterious activity transpired over a period of a few hours.

The fact that we’ve spotted many humans using the pools as toilets, there’s no doubt these waters are contaminated with toxic bacteria. Perhaps the locals immune systems have adapted to the bacteria and don’t become ill when swimming in the river. We can only surmise this. 

Last time we were in Bali, beginning April 30th, leaving the villa on June 27th, I became ill from eating squid I requested for a meal. The taste was fresh and appealing, but hours later and for several following day, I had an outrageous case of “diari” for which Gede took me to the pharmacy for meds. 

I should have known better than to eat squid caught close to the shore. How many times have I mentioned that we must exercise extreme caution in avoiding seafood caught near the shore? I’ve finally learned my lesson. Now we only eat fresh tuna caught out to sea in deeper waters.

Dogs crowded around giving is the impression they were dealing with some type of animal.

For us foreigners aware of the situation, swimming in that toxic water would never be a consideration. We haven’t ventured into the ocean in front of our villa for this very same reason when we’ve seen endless piles of garbage resting on the sand after the tide wans. 

The sea undoubtedly is beautiful to observe mesmerized by its sounds and tide. Is it safe for swimming? Perhaps not so much in this area and others.

After taking this photo I asked Tom what was the longest section they were handling. Later we knew.

Yesterday proved to be a day adding to our knowledge of cultural difference as to the use of the water in the nearby river and pools which most likely is prevalent in many parts of the world including Bali. We always knew this, but hadn’t actually witnessed vastness of these differences until yesterday’s experiences.

Today’s post and photos is all about “Sightings on the Beach” in its truest form. Nothing we’ve seen to date has surprised us quite as much while also further educating us in the ways of life in other cultures. 

Once they were gone and the two Katuks arrived to make dinner, I showed them the photos and they explained the kids/adults were cleaning and eviscerating a cow. Although this may be gross to many throughout the world, it’s a part of life for others.

Details of our discovery are contained in the photo captions as local Muslims cleaned the carcass of a slaughtered cow in that same river, while dogs gathered around waited for the pieces of the cow entrails, later running down the beach with white matter hanging from their mouths.

Today, again, another peaceful day. The weather has been considerably less humid and cooler than during our last visit, at times, feeling cool when we’ve exited the pool soaking wet. It’s ideal now as we’re appreciating every moment.

We hope your day brings you opportunities to appreciate your surroundings.

Photo from one year ago today, September 13, 2015:

These colorful flowers were growing close to the house in Fiji. For more details as we adapted to a simple life in Savusavu, please click here.

Remembering 9/11…15 years ago…

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Citizens of the United States are sadly aware that today is the 15 year anniversary of the devastation and loss of lives on 9/11, that changed life as we knew it forever.

We extend our heartfelt sympathies and prayers for the families and friends whose loved ones were lost, leaving sorrowful memories that will remain in  the hearts and minds of generations to come.

For the rest of us, we’ll always recall the day, the time, the place we stood as we watched the events over and over in a state of horror from wherever we may have been at the time, a memory deeply ingrained in all of us.

To the firefighters, the paramedics and all other rescue personnel, whether professionals or passersby, we extend our gratitude and love for all that you risked, all that you gave and all that you continue to carry deep in your souls for the remainder of your lives.

Who among us, personally untouched by the events of the day can even grasp the magnitude of the loss suffered by so many, the loss of loved ones and for many, the loss of a dream they’d expected and hoped to fulfil with those that slipped through their fingers on one fateful day?

There remains a vast number of rescuers who have since lost their fight for life who suffered severe illnesses from residual effects from the toxicity inflicted upon their bodies on that day and for many days to come, as rescue effort continued for weeks. We offer of deepest condolences for their suffering and the subsequent suffering of their family members and friends.

There are few Americans that weren’t emotionally changed on that day and for days and years to come, as we were all bombarded with horrifying images on the news that will be emblazoned in our minds forever.

There is no story in our simple, uncomplicated lives of world travel that warrant telling today. Thus, today we’re posting a few photos and no “Sightings on the Beach in Bali.” We’re including our “year ago photo” to maintain the continuity of the dates.

May all of us bow our heads in reverence and prayer for those who lost their lives, for those who were left behind and for those who bravely and unselfishly risked  and lost their lives to save the lives of others.

May we all remember this day forever and strive for peace and harmony in this uncertain world. Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, September 12, 2015 (the 11th in the US)

The first night in Fiji, one year ago, the bed was infested with thousands of ants. The next day, the owner replaced the mattress, pillows, beddings and fumigated the bedroom. We never had the problem again in the bedroom during the three months in Savusavu although there were ants everywhere else in the small house. For more details, please click here.

Plans for upcoming mini vacation/immigration office run booked…We’re attempting to make a tedious task an enjoyable experience…

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A beautiful beach scene from a stop halfway through the four to five hour harrowing drive.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

A coconut husk becomes an interesting find on the beach.

This particular Sunday morning with the household help off, we lazily lingered in bed, reading email, checking FB and drinking Tom’s delicious French pressed coffee. Six days a week we get up earlier, shower and dress (in swimsuits), exiting the bedroom earlier for the two Katuks to make the bed and clean.

On Sundays, alone the only morning all week, we find ourselves experiencing a day almost similar to our old lives, minus the physical copy of the Sunday paper, the possibility of family or friends visiting and the constant energy expended in cooking, laundry, household maintenance and repairs, and yard work or snow removal.

Eliminating all the above tasks and here, we’re left to our own resources; a daily walk on the beach or in the neighborhood, quietly staring out at the sea, preparing our daily post while often engaged in idle chatter.

Statue shop on the highway from Denpasar.

As I prepared today’s late post, Gede stopped by to say hello, the second morning in a row, giving us an opportunity to ask him questions about things we’ve seen on the beach that are yet unfamiliar.

Yesterday morning, Gede also stopped by after a week away visiting family in Lovina during the Hindu holiday. The 10 days of reverence and celebration was quickly coming to an end. He’d returned from almost a week in his home town of Lovina spending time with his family and friends. 

The time for us to visit Lovina was fast approaching (a two hour drive each way) where it’s necessary to begin the three day process required over a period of five days, applying for and hopefully receiving the 30 day visa extension. For new readers, we’d completed this same process during our last stay in Bali a few months ago.

Many shops in Denpasar sell decorations for Hindu holidays.

Over these past few months Tom’s been somewhat angst ridden about this lengthy process. While in Singapore for a week, starting at the end of June, we didn’t have ample time to apply at the Indonesian Embassy. 

At the time, we had to leave our passports for a few days at both the Vietnamese and Thai embassies. Shortly prior to the Mekong River cruise and subsequent trip to Phuket, it was more important to get the required visas for Vietnam and Thailand.

I could tell his angst continued while we were in Phuket, occasionally mentioning the dreaded process of driving four hours a day for three of five days. Aware of his angst, one day an idea popped into my head…Why don’t we book a hotel in the resort town of Lovina, starting on Monday, checking out on Friday while we take care of the visa extensions while staying in the resort town? 

We were surprised how well the decorations held up after it had rained.

If we had a rental car for the five days, we could drive back and forth to the immigration office from the hotel as required on Monday (drop off documents), Wednesday (photos and fingerprints) and Friday (pick up visa extensions).

Doing so could make the dreaded experience a fun adventure even though we’d have to spend a total of three to five hours at the Immigration office. Finding a rental car and hotel proved to be a tricky proposition when the weak WiFi signal easily inhibits online searching. 

We knew we needed Gede’s assistance in finding both a rental car and a hotel with his vast knowledge of the area. We hoped to find a hotel close to the immigration office, but with “maps” not working well, finding a good location nearby was cumbersome and time consuming.

Driving in Lovina is not unlike driving in Denpasar, a usual 10 minute trip could take an hour or more. A hotel with a close proximity to the immigration office was a must.

Statue shop on the highway from Denpasar.

Gede easily solved both concerns. First, he explained we could rent Egon’s van that sits in our garage unused most of the time for US $15.17, IDR 200,000 a day for a total of US $75.86, IDR 1,000,000 plus fuel, certainly no more costly than having a driver take us back and forth.

Secondly, Gede suggested some hotels within five minutes of the immigration office.  We opened the link on our site for Hotels.com enabling us to review the details of his suggestions and to search for prices and availability. The hotels he suggested didn’t appear to have availability. Leave it to Gede to figure out a solution.

He called the top rated, closest hotel and speaking in either Indonesian or Balinese, he was able to get us a booking, we’d never have been able to get on our own.  Plus, he negotiated a rate savings of US $50, IDR 691,125 per night for a total savings of US $200, IDR 2,636,500. The nightly rate he’d arranged is US $130, IDR 1,713,725.

On occasion, we’ve noticed vacant land for sale.

With four nights in the hotel, we’ll spend US $520, IDR 6,854,900, plus the rental vehicle and fuel at around US $100, IDR 1,318,250 plus meals estimated at US $50, IDR 691,125 for four nights at US $200, IDR 2,636,500. Breakfast and free WiFi are included in the hotel’s rate.

For the grand total (minus the cost of the visa extensions), our four night mini holiday will cost an extra (over and above what we would have paid for transportation) an approximate US $720, IDR 9,491,400. 

Is it worth the extra expense to reduce angst?  Absolutely! Besides Tom will be more at ease doing the driving himself. I get this. Also, it becomes a part of our time in Bali, we’re anticipating with enthusiasm instead of dread.

Balinese design on business.

First thing in the morning, two weeks from tomorrow, we’ll be on our way.While there, we’ll take and share photos of our accommodations, dining, the beautiful beaches in Lovina and sightseeing between trips to the immigration office.

Thanks, Gede. No words can express how much we appreciate your help in booking the five star hotel in Lovina at such an affordable price and spending time helping us figure this out!

Have a fabulous day filled with sunshine.

Photo from one year ago today, September 11, 2015:

These are the sizes of the aubergine we purchased at a farmers market in Savusavu, Fiji on the day of our arrival. We had a big hiccup that night which may be read here.

Bye, bye, perfectionism…Is low stress living possible?…

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Balinese food truck.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

We wondered who’s claws, these could be.

I used to be a perfectionist, a people pleaser and outrageously organized. Over these past four years I’ve come to grips with the fact that being a perfectionist is only useful when it comes to booking vacation homes, cruises and flights, to ensure we have the dates, times, pricing and circumstances done correctly. 

Tom, who’s become more detail orientated than me, is my backup, as I am his when we make plans for the future: checking and rechecking to ensure we don’t encounter any trying situations at the airport, cruise check in or when arriving at a vacation home.

A grocery shop along the highway.
As for the rest, I’ve lost interest in attempting to be perfect. It’s an unattainable goal. Anyway, who cares? After these four years, my goals are wrapped around the things I “want to do” as opposed to the things I “have to do” or “should be doing.”

Whew! That makes a huge difference in life. Living in the states fed into my need to do everything …the Martha Stewart syndrome …not the insider trader part (we trade on the outside), but the constant attempt to have everything perfect in our personal lives. No one can live up to that.  Certainly, I didn’t.

Hand made decorative exterior wall hangings.

Living this life with few expectations placed upon myself (it was always my own expectations, not anyone else’s) I feel free, unencumbered and ultimately content. The only alarms we have to set in our lives is for travel days; traveling by car, traveling by plane, cruising, etc. We both appreciate the sense of ease and freedom during the remaining days.

Tom spent his life in the US working for 42 years on the railroad, being ruled by the clock. Railroad timelines are unforgiving. My life’s work was equally demanding in meeting certain time limits and constraints. 

Exterior of neighborhood home.

Even as children, we had to catch the bus, get to school and make it to activities requiring that the clock ruled most of our day. That’s a lot of pressure for kids when growing up in itself is a huge responsibility, but, it best be learned in youth to prepare for the inevitable responsibilities of adulthood.

Sure, the two Katuks come here every morning around 8:00 am and clean our bedroom most days before 9:00 am. But, we’re up early anyway. There’s no stress associated with that. Even the walks each day don’t feel stressful when they’re so enjoyable with our encounters along the way.

Restaurant seating.

Hmm… some may ask, “Does preparing this post every single morning 365 days a year cause stress?” None at all. When and if it does, I’d stop. This is post #1503. I’m still not tired of doing it, nor have I ever experienced “writer’s block” although on occasion I may stare at the ocean to think for a moment or two before I begin.

Recently, my injury has created an amount of stress. But that stress has motivated me to walk, maintain good posture, exercise in the pool and to sit and lay ergonomically. As the benefits of my efforts continue to become evident, the stress wafts away, leaving hope and optimism in its path.

Police department in small town outside of Denpasar.

Life is complicated.  No doubt there are people we love and desire to please. No doubt there are obligations and tasks we perform to illustrate that love. And without question, we have responsibilities including filing and paying taxes, preparing a plethora of documents from time to time, renewals of this and that, applying for visas, paying off credit card and overseeing and managing financial matters.

There’s no “free lunch.” Some people assume that “living off the grid” would be an ideal escape from the trials and tribulations of life, that growing and managing their food, livestock, water sources and power supply would be easy. It wouldn’t be. Therein lies an entire litany of new responsibilities and subsequent stresses that wouldn’t be as easy as one would think.

Exterior of a nearby home.

This is evident in the lives of the locals we see with water wells in their yards as shown in yesterday’s main photo; chickens, pigs, cows and buffalo living in their yards as shown in many of our photos.  Its not easy. Then again, what about making a living? How’s that done without some amount of stress?

Perfectionism is a stress inducer, but reducing that element of behavior doesn’t guarantee a life free from stress. Accepting stress as a normal part of life in itself reduces stress. Balancing the degrees of stress we experience in life to ensure we maintain good health, happiness and a quality of life in our longevity, is a little trickier.

Special building along the highway from Denpasar.

I truly believe each and every one of us was placed upon this earth to find something meaningful to accomplish, a true stress reliever, whether it’s as simple as sharing a little piece of who we are as individuals, or as complicated as pursuing and executing a lifelong dream.

Two holiday dressed young women walking on the road.

We’ve opted for a more complicated fulfillment of a dream neither of us ever knew we possessed until it happened. With that comes a certain amount of stress which we attempt to balance each day within our blissful surroundings and the companionship we share. 

Perfectionism has no place in this life since moments ago, a giant flying thing landed on my mug and I brushed it off and kept drinking and, I trade off wearing the same two swimsuits day after day.

It’s all good. We hope you’re finding your life fulfilling as well.

Photo from one year ago today, September 10, 2015:

The captain made a safety speech before we took off for Savusavu, Fiji in this little plane. See here for more details.

Paperwork time…A reality and responsibility of traveling the world…

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It’s a well operating out of a local’s house in our neighborhood.
“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”
Buffaloes swimming together in the river alongside the villa.

There are currently three batches of documents to complete and process:
1.  Absentee ballots for the upcoming election on November 8th in the US
2.  Visa extension for Indonesia
3.  Tom’s driver license renewal

In just over two weeks, we’ll have to go to Lovina’s immigration office. The forms we used previously must be redone with the correct dates and information.

We’ll continue to post photos from the harrowing four or five hour drive. This is a glass shop which surely had glasa blowers in a back room making these items for sale.

This time when we apply for the visa extension we’ll be driving to Lovina on our own without Gede with us. He’ll have to create a somewhat complicated letter as our sponsor which is written in Indonesian. He was with us last time we visited the immigration office and processed the sponsorship in person.

This time, since we’re going on our own, Gede will have to sit beside me while I type the information into a document  while he translates the form which we’ll print and bring along when we apply. 

We weren’t near the airport.  This is a display of a jet engine atop a building behind many power lines.

Tom’s driver’s license expires on December 23rd. Nevada DMV doesn’t allow an applicant to submit the paperwork sooner than 60 days prior to the expiration date. The paperwork can be submitted by fax so we’ll prepare it all, email it to son Richard in Nevada and he’ll fax it from his office.

Once the renewal license is issued it can’t be mailed to our address in Nevada per their regulations.  It can only be mailed to an outside Nevada address. Daughter Tammy will handle this for us; receiving the license at her home address and placing the license into another envelope with a stamp. She’ll immediately mail it to our mailing service in Nevada.

Vegetation growing on the roof of a restaurant in Denpasar.

Once the mailing service receives it, they’ll ship it to us wherever we are at the time to arrive within 3 to 5 days by expedited international shipping. If we don’t receive the license in time for the rental car we’ll need in Tasmania, we’ll rent the car in my name since my license doesn’t expire until February 20, 2017.

I’ll have to go through the same process 60 days prior to my license expired.  At least, this one time, we’re allowed to do this by mail and fax. Next time, in four more years, we’ll have to appear in person. We’ll certainly keep this in mind when we begin to plan far into the future for 2020.  Gosh, that sounds like a long time away, but it’s only four years.

This is a modern furniture store in Denpasar.

The next item, the absentee ballots, must be processed by this upcoming Monday in order for us to actually receive the ballots in time for the election. That’s a little tricky as well with regulations varying from US state to state. I won’t bore you with the details.

All of these tasks require a huge amount of printing, scanning, copying and preparation. The printer here isn’t so good, although we can manage to get it to spew out what we need for all three of these transactions.The rest we’ll figure out.

An upscale Italian restaurant, likely visited by tourists in Denpasar.

There’s no doubt that preparing all of these documents is cumbersome and time consuming. To a degree they weigh on our minds. When we work on these types of tasks we do it together, making it a lot easier than doing it solo.

Thank goodness we still have our trusty portable scanner which proves invaluable for many aspects of these types of processes. A camera just doesn’t do a good enough scanning job on letter or legal sized documents.

Colorful display of shop on the main highway.

Once we have these tasks completed, we’ll be relieved and able to spend the remaining days in Bali with our minds free of some big responsibilities other than taking good care of ourselves and continuing to enjoy the balmy breezes, sunshine and exquisite scenery before us.

Take good care of YOURSELF and have a good day!

Photo from one year ago today, September 8, 2015:

We shot this photo from the air on our way to Savusavu. Fiji is comprised of approximately 330 islands, of which one third are inhabited. The two major islands are Viti Levu, the most commonly visited and Vanua Levu where we are staying for the next three months. When boarding this flight we had to be publicly weighed along with our baggage, an experience we’d had in the past.  For more details, please click here.

Have any cruises booked?…Want to save money?…Please read this!…Its a “piggy day” in the neighborhood…

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Each morning, we’ve seen this huge pig, but he/she hasn’t been in an advantageous spot for a photo when the yard in shrouded in greenery. This morning, we had a chance to see “a pig in the mud.” We howled.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

One day soon, we’ll walk in this area,  quite a distance from the beach in front of the villa.

Sure, we were worried that topics for posts would be sparse during our second stay in Bali. That’s not been the case thus far. With a huge list of future topics for our remaining 52 days, we doubt we’ll be struggling for fodder.

As each relatively quiet day passes in pure splendor in this peaceful and relaxing environment we find ourselves entrenched in the local culture and busy walking to regain my strength along with considerable time exercising in the pool.

Now this sounds like a boring life which may in fact be typical for some seniors. But for us, we’ve learned that intense observance of our surroundings, of the most seemingly innocuous situations brings us laughter and pleasure beyond what we may have felt had we’d been settled in one place.

Side view of the huge muddy pig.

No doubt, if we stayed in Bali much longer (which we won’t) eventually we’d run out of photos and topics. We can easily manage 52 more Bali posts to hopefully hold the attention of our readers who may be chomping at the bit for our new locations with subsequent photos and experiences.

Sit tight, dear friends. We have so much upcoming once we leave Bali, you’ll have to hold on for the ride along with us. We’re excited to say the least. 

Even during next summer’s two months in the US we’ll have plenty of photos and stories of our former home state, photos we hadn’t considered when we lived there. Certainly, these past years of travel have created a new perspective, we’ll both utilize during the two busy months. 

As we walked on the newly paved road, at first, from quite a distance, we thought these were two dogs. As we approached, we realized they were piglets. They scurried about as we approached, but stayed long enough for a few photos.

Our readers will get their fill of Minnesota and Nevada, both states, of which have plenty to see and do. I don’t know how much time we’ll spend outdoors in Nevada in July and August when temperatures average 103F, 39.4C and 106F, 41C respectively. That’s toasty. However, there’s plenty of stunning indoors and evening outdoor possibilities warranting a plethora of photos to share.

Funny, but I keep forgetting that once we arrive in Seattle in May, 2017 we’ll be embarking on an Alaskan cruise. That in itself will be quite the adventure, one that many of you have already experienced which we, old timers that we are, have sorely lagged behind. 

We’ve met countless cruisers who’ve sailed Alaska. Being close to Vancouver next May, it made sense to book an Alaskan cruise especially when we’d hoped to get to Minnesota closer to the time the grandkids would be getting out of school for the summer. This nine night cruise made the timing to Minnesota almost perfect.

We expect the piglets must be about two months old. They grow quickly.

Speaking of cruises, yesterday while Tom was engrossed in his usual “searching for cruises” mode he examined the pricing on cruises we’d already booked. Many cruise lines and cruise booking agencies have a “best price” policy prior to the due date of the final payment. 

As we happily continue to use Vacations to Go for all of our cruise bookings with rep Brooklyn Earnhardt, we appreciate her enthusiasm is ensuring we get the best possible price and perks. However, its the traveler’s responsibility to check for price and perk changes. 

Cruise booking companies don’t spend time researching the best daily price for 1000’s of cruises worldwide and then contact their customers with price reductions. At this point, there may be software that performs such as task on a moment by moment basis. 

I can’t explain why we’re so fascinated with barnyard animals.  We literally squeal ourselves when we get close.

There are online apps Tom can use to check although there are nuances in our bookings that may make the latest pricing, inaccurate when we’ve chosen to book upgraded balcony cabins within a variety of categories. As a result, almost every day he spends a little time checking directly into the cruise line’s website for changes. 

Yesterday, he spotted a price reduction on an upcoming cruise on March 1, 2017, that changed a few major points for us. To make the changes, it’s necessary to speak to a live person at Vacations to Go while they call the cruise line to confirm price reductions/changes.

Here are the details from when we originally booked this cruise in January, 2015.

With the huge time difference, when they’re open, we’re sleeping and when we’re up, they’re closed. The only good times to call is either very early in the morning or after 9 pm. 

Flowery offerings left on the ground for the holiday celebration.

When our rep from Vacations to Go, Brooklyn (here’s her email address) wasn’t in yet, we spoke to a manager to get the ball rolling with the changes but Celebrity’s office was closed. The manager made notes in the system on our requested free upgrades and last night at 9:00 pm, we called back. It was 8:00 am in central US (one day earlier). 

After the 30 minute Skype  call with considerable hold time, we were able to lock up the changes. We called their business office’s landline using our Skype phone number. Our cost of the two call was well under US $1, IDR 13,077.

Scurrying away together to get out of our way.

Here’s what we received for taking the time to call:

Perks we received at our original booking for the March 1, 2017 cruise:
1.  Free gratuities (valued at US $26.90, IDR 352,390 per day for two)
2.  US $300, IDR 3,923,100 onboard credit
3.  Regular drink package (valued at US $55, IDR 720,500 per person per day

More offerings left upon the paved road.

New perks with free upgrades:
1.  Free gratuities (valued at US $26.90, IDR 352,390 per day for two, same as above)
2.  US $300, IDR 3,923,100, onboard credit (same as above)
3.  Regular drink package upgraded to premium drink package for 12 day cruise at an additional US $10, IDR 131,000 per day, valued at US $65, IDR 851,500 per person per day with a total savings valued at $240, IDR 3,138,480
3.  Unlimited WiFi for two devices, valued at US $300, IDR 3,923,100
4.  Price reduction for cruise itself for two, valued at US $315, IDR 4,119,255

Busy backyard of a hour on the morning walk. Few yards are landscaped.  Most don’t have garages, let alone cars, and yards are used for “stuff.”

In total, the added benefits are valued at US $855, IDR 11,200,500.  But, the value isn’t all about the money, per se. Having these perks enhances the overall cruise experience.

The onboard credit of US $300, IDR 3,923,100 will be interesting when trying to determine how we’ll spend it when our usual expenses during a cruise include the cost for the above perks which for this particular cruise are included. Guess we’ll try a few of the specialty restaurants while I replenish a few cosmetic items at great, duty-fee prices, usually my favorite Lancôme mascara.

The total 30 minutes we spent on Skype plus another 30 minutes Tom spent researching, made it well worth the trouble. We realize we’ve written about this topic several times in past posts, but many of our readers have since booked their own cruises, making this information most relevant to them at this time.

Blooming in our yard in Bali.

Remember,  in order to reap these benefits, it’s necessary to ask for the price change before the final payment for the entire cruise is due, usually 60 to 90 days depending on the cruise line. Plus, many promotions have a short window, as short as a few hours or as long as a month. Otherwise, they will not be provided.

We hope this information is helpful to any of our readers who book plan to book cruises in the future or currently have a cruise booking pending. For those of our readers who don’t cruise, we apologize for repeating ourselves.

This morning, we had another exciting walk in the neighborhood with fun new photos we couldn’t resist sharing today!

Have a fabulous day!


Photo from one year today, September 7, 2015:

Kangaroo family resting under a tree on a hot day. No photos were posted on this travel date, one year ago. Instead, we’ve included a favorite Trinity Beach photo posted on the prior date. Please click here for the post.

The Hindu holiday continues…Friendly locals greetings us on a walk…A cultural experience…Safety…

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This family was busy finishing this morning. The air was hazy from incense burning.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

Fisherman returning from fishing all night and kid on a bike.

The sweet smell of incense permeates the air. The colorfully dressed locals greet us as we walk by. The elaborate decorations in the front yards, the music, the chanting and the non-stop sounds of roosters crowing made for an especially interesting walk this morning.

A lot of effort had gone into decorating homes, not unlike decorating for Christmas in other parts of the world.

There were twice as many festive lanterns and decorated shrines than we’d seen on yesterday’s walk and we could readily sense the celebration of this special holiday was in full bloom.

This religious service area was ready for the evening gathering.

As described in yesterday’s post, this is the holiday the Balinese Hindus, the majority of the population of Bali, are celebrating:

“Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day Hindu festival celebrated to honor the elephant-headed God Ganesha’s birthday. He is the younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Ganesha is known by 108 different names and is the Lord of arts and sciences and the deva of wisdom.”

These were newly placed last night or this morning.

How fortunate we feel to be here during these festivities. These gentle, kindly, peaceful people remind us of how the world could be, would be, with more citizens like them, with a commitment to honor their faith, their traditions, one another and their families, ensconced in a constant sense of harmony with the world.

When we asked Gede how the Hindu people relate to those of other faiths, he expressed enthusiastic assurance that peace and respect were forefront in their hearts and minds.

As we neared the end of the newly paved road, we saw this new decoration.

This is clearly illustrated to us as we tread upon their turf, strangers in their land, unfamiliar with their ways. Now, during our second two-month stay in Bali, we’re beginning to understand and embrace who these people are and the deep rooted principles that shape their often simple existence.

They are not violent people. It’s sad that in many countries there are those who defy the principles of centuries old philosophies of maintaining a stance of love, beauty and simplicity.

More decorations had been added over the past 24 hours.

We feel safe here. At times, at sunset, we may occasionally spot a shady looking character, meandering on the beach on foot or on a motorbike. We keep our doors locked and also find comfort in the fact that this small grouping of vacation homes has an all-night security guard on the premises who’s number we have readily available.

In Phuket, we noticed military police and security everywhere, even at the grocery store. Here in this remote area one seldom sees a police vehicle or any military presence. Of course, that doesn’t make this location exempt from crime. No place in the world can claim that unlikely status.

The umbrellas, the fabric cloths and hanging decoration create a beautiful scene.

In Denpasar, the capital city, there’s been a history of bombings along with a variety of terrorist attacks, not unlike in most large cities anywhere in the world. 

We’re often asked why we choose to live in remote areas, away from tourist venues, popular restaurants and sightseeing. The answer is simple for us since the beginning of our travels, next month coming up on four years. 

Offerings are placed in this cubicles as will be shown in more photos over the next few days.

We treasure our safety and well being. We prefer the quiet, easy existence of a life far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. It bring us joy and happiness to live in close proximity to the locals, to learn their ways, wander through their neighborhoods somehow feeling we are a part of it all.

Today, as yesterday, the walk brought us a revered sense of appreciation for the people of Bali, in this quiet beach town, as they celebrate a special holiday.

We pray for the safety and well being of all our reader/friends all over the world.

May peace be with you.

Photo from one year ago today, September 7, 2015:

Pond view at the Cattana Wetlands near Cairns, Australia. Final expenses for our three months in Australia were posted one year ago today, here.

A Hindu holiday season in Bali has begun…Indonesian facts…Holiday photos…

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The homes and shrines of most locals are adorned with a variety of decorations during the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, a 10 day Hindu festival.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

Tom shot this scene this morning before the sun arose.  Good job, Honey!

When we first arrived Gede explained he’d be leaving Sumbersari for Lovina, a two hour drive, for several days to celebrate a religious holiday with his family. With everything under control here at the villa, we wished him well for a meaningful holiday with his loved ones.

He suggested we call or email if we needed anything but with the staff of three still hovering over our potential needs, we hoped there would be no reason to interrupt him during his holiday. So far so good.

This elderly local woman was clearing sticks in front of her home.

Isolated on this strip of beach, it’s unlikely we can determine what’s transpiring all around us. The only curious indication of a holiday in progress is the fact we haven’t heard or seen the hundreds of fishing boats visible most nights close to the shore of Java, the most populated island on the earth with over 141 million people crowded together, part of the Indonesian chain of islands. As to the location of Java:

“Java lies between Sumatra to the west and Bali to the east. Borneo lies to the north and Christmas Island is to the south. It is the world’s 13th largest island.”

Many holiday decorations are hung on long bamboo poles.

Regarding  the country of Indonesia:
“Indonesia comprises 17,508 – 18,306 islands and 8,844 that have been named according to estimates made by the Government of Indonesia, with 922 of those permanently inhabited.”

A few readers wrote and suggested we visit Java, which is across the Bali Strait, where Jakarta is located. However, traveling in a boat across the rough waters  is out of the question for me at this time.

Some shrines were decorated elaborately.

Instead, we stay comfortably situated in the villa, with little required of us other than our twice daily walks, posting each day, taking photos, and continue to work on future travels, financials while improving my strength and stability.

This morning, once the two Katuks and Ribud arrived, we commenced the walk in the area.  Unexpectedly, we found many locals busy decorating homes for the 10 day Hindu holiday, as described below the photo:

Umbrellas or parasols are a symbol of royalty and protection of the Hindu faith. Many statues are adorned with umbrellas with added decorations for this month’s holiday.

“Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day Hindu festival celebrated to honor the elephant-headed God Ganesha’s birthday. He is the younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Ganesha is known by 108 different names and is the Lord of arts and sciences and the Deva of wisdom.”

Once we stepped onto the newly paved road where the locals live, we realized we were in for a wonderful experience with dozens of homeowners, busy preparing their homes, yards, and driveways with traditional decorations as they commence the celebration of one of many holidays they observe throughout the year.

Almost every home was displaying a decoration.
We were warmly greeted as we passed each home. No one seemed to mind our photo taking  which we’d done with the utmost of respect, taking photos of the decorations, animals and not people’s faces.

Today, we walked beyond the end of the road, testing how far I could actually go. Each day, we’ve added a little more distance as I strive to achieve my goal of 10,000 steps a day, which is still short, hovering at 7,500 steps, including the walking around the house and grounds every 30 minutes. To date, it hasn’t improved my condition, but, over these past five days it certainly hasn’t made it any worse.

More decorations will follow in tomorrow’s post.

We hope everyone in the US is enjoying today’s holiday, Labor Day, as the long weekend winds down, school has started and back to work tomorrow for many.
Be safe.

Photo from one year ago today, September 5, 2015:

Preparing to leave Trinity Beach, Australia, we posted a few favorite photos including this mom and her joey. For more photos, please click here.