Part 2…A visit to new friend’s home in Sumbersari…A walk along the beach to more visions of paradise…Interior photos today…See yesterday’s post for exterior photos…

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Private outdoor massage space at Pia & Thomas’ house, often used when a massage therapist visits the house several times a week.
“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”
On the walk along the beach to Pia and Thomas’ home we spotted these two coconut shells. The one with the water had mosquitoes prospering in its contents and the other?  Who knows what may be living therein?

Today, as you read this post you’ll notice it was posted earlier than usual since soon we’ll be on the two hour road trip to Lovina where we’ll spend four nights in a one of the most highly rated hotels in the area, the Puri Bagus Lovina. We’ll be posting photos of our room, the hotel and highlights of Lovina over the next several days.

We couldn’t get over Pia and Thomas’ outdoor kitchen and the fact there was no indoor kitchen, a unique feature that only a climate such as found in Bali allowing this ideal scenario. It’s easy to imagine the pleasure of dining at this handcrafted table.

Returning to the villa on Friday afternoon, after the five day visa extension process, hopefully we’ll have the visa extensions in hand.  We’d intended to leave early this morning. However, yesterday I hadn’t completed the two comprehensive posts (click here for exterior photos) for our new friend’s, Pia and Thomas home on the beach. Thus, we decided to leave a little later while I finished the post as Tom watched the Minnesota Vikings football game.

Granite countertops and built-in grill.

As it turned out, we spent more time packing for this four night trip than we usually do when packing for our final departure in any location. Picking through our limited wardrobes, packing toiletries, computers, digital equipment, power adapter, HDMI and extension cords proved to take more time than expected.

The Balinese styled cabinets are a special touch.

Yesterday, alone in the villa all day with the staff off on Sundays, we had a wonderful day although it rained off and on. During a short period of sunshine, we swam in the pool and later chatted seated under the cabana thoroughly enjoying each other’s companionship. Gosh, we’re lucky we never tire of hanging out together! We never seem to run short of playfulness or topics of conversation!

Balinese statues welcome guests as they enter the side of the property from the front entrance.

We observed this same type of companionship, love and devotion between Pia and Thomas. They, too, love spending time together reveling in the joys of their daily lives, never failing to appreciate the gifts each day brings. 

We fell in love with the open air master bathroom.

In a few years, Thomas will retire and their lives will not be too different from ours, except that they plan to stay put in Bali for part of the year, traveling from time to time. 

Décor in the master bathroom.

As much as we loved their house, easily seeing we’d enjoy such surroundings, neither of us ever thought for one moment, that we wished for a house we could call our own even as a part time “home.” We like, no we love life just as we’ve chosen to live it on the move every few months or so, just as it is now.

The tastefully appointed master bedroom.

A few days ago while speaking to daughter-in-law Camille, she asked how long we may be traveling as we are. Admittedly, we miss family very much and also bear a certain degree of guilt for being away. That’s to be expected. As we all so well know, we can’t live our lives motivated by guilt or regret. Passion and joy must be the common denominator to attain great happiness.

The second level living room/lounge.  We sat on this comfy sofa while we chatted, enjoying the ocean breezes that cooled the humid air.

But, we’re indescribably happy, incredibly happy. How does one change what is working so well, so blissfully when life, so fleeting, so unexpected, often has other plans for us?

Inviting guest room with mosquito netting for breezy nights with windows wide open.

When that time comes, we’ll make changes to accommodate whatever fate has befallen us and move on to the next chapter, whatever that may be. How can one predict? How can one answer when asked what our long range plans may be? We don’t have all the answers.

Another view of the guest room. It would be easy to be a guest in this home!

Spending these past wonderful hours with Pia and Thomas further reminded us that we are hardly alone in our quest for personal growth and discovery in this distant life we live, not intended as a means to be “away” from those we love but to continue on a path we’ve chosen which befits our desires at this time. They, too, experience similar feelings. 

Each space is decorated to perfection.

As we make our way to Lovina during the two hour drive, once again we’ll find ourselves engaged in animated conversation, never failing for a moment to express gratitude for this magical life and the unexpected treasures we continue to encounter along the way.

Another well decorated area in the living room/lounge area.

It’s not always easy. It’s not always exciting.

At times, it’s downright frustrating. But, collectively, it’s a life we wouldn’t trade for anything in the world, as long as we’re healthy and committed to carrying on.

The closet is the size of a bedroom, neatly arranged with clothes they leave behind when they travel to other countries. They only haul carry on luggage when flying to Thailand or Germany.

We’ll be back within 24 hours with all new photos of our “holiday within a holiday,” our “vacation within a vacation,” sharing morsels we find interesting and entertaining along the way.

Happy day to all!

Photo from one year ago today, September 26, 2015:

A photo from our visit to a local “egg lady.” while living in Fiji. As we approached this pair atop this table, they turned away from us while others curiously meandered toward us. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…A visit to new friend’s home in Sumbersari…A walk along the beach to more visions of paradise…Exterior photos today…Interior tomorrow…

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As we approached the fascinating villa of Pia and Thomas which fully employs the concept of outdoor living.
Among the many views from the veranda. Wow!

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

  Does a crab utilize this coconut as an extra form of shelter as well as the hole in the sand?

When our new friends Pia and Thomas invited us to their home, a 10 minute walk along the beach, we were anxious to get on our way after we uploaded yesterday’s post. 

Pia found this adorable piece of wood on the beach that resembles an animal head.

We had no idea as to the beauty were we about to experience as we searched for a path toward the house which is set back a short distance from the beach. Thomas had described the landmarks which would easily steer us in the right direction with several villas scattered along the shore… many umbrellas.

Crystal-clear infinity pool with large veranda and fully equipped indoor kitchen, the only necessary kitchen on this charming property. More pictures of the open-air kitchen from tomorrow’s post.
All areas of the park have natural surroundings and yet have a well-planned ambience with Balinese culture in mind.

It was easy to locate. Finding the shortest route easily, we avoided maneuvering through dense vegetation. Within moments we’d entered a veritable paradise of beautiful grounds, flowers, trees adorned with traditional Balinese/Hindu décor and religious artifacts as we were warmly greeted with a kiss on each check from our lovely hostess Pia and then Thomas moments later.

A simple outdoor shower.
Driveway at the entrance to the street of the estate.

As we made our way toward Thomas, who was on the veranda finishing up a business meeting, Pia gave us the tour of the grounds, including the Balinese hut they’d built for an additional authentic feel, called “lumbung.”

Pia and Thomas built this lumbung on their property which can be used for guests as needed.
Ocean view from the lumbung.

They had designed the exquisite main house on a computer and gave it life several years ago, realizing a dream of a lifetime. As we wandered toward the house from the gardens, we knew we were in for a special visit, not only to engage with their delightful personalities but also with the opportunity to see their unique home. 

View of the sea from the interior of the lumbung.
Detailed roof in the lumbung done by local workers.

When they described their house to us a few days ago during their visit to the villa, we expected a simple Balinese style mansion.  How modest they had been in sharing the few details of their estate! 

Tom walks through the Pia and Thomas’ garden. 
Plants, trees and flowers adorn the grounds.

From the outdoor-only modern granite kitchen with full stainless steel appliances and local wood handcrafted cabinets to the upper level with expansive views of the sea, nothing was spared in design, décor and accoutrements in creating a supremely comfortable, functional and eye appealing living environment.

Fresh flower arrangement on the veranda.
Flowering plants and Buddha head similar to that our villa.

Each room as shown in our photos over the next few days has a unique persona and inviting presence, causing us to swoon with delight. How smart they’d been in their ideas and subsequent execution. 

View from the second story.

Often people dream of such a home in a tropical paradise and never are able to bring it to fruition. This determined couple did everything possible to make it happen even with a diligent budget in place.

Another ocean view from the veranda area.

As we slowly perused the house admiring each enticing element, we finally settled in the upper level lounge/living room where cooling ocean breezes dried the moisture on our skin as the result of the humid rainy day. Pia commented on the disappointment of the cloudy day wishing we’d been able to take sunny day photos.

A shack in the sea used to repopulate small fish and possibly rebuild some of the coral.

To our surprise, the clouds didn’t seem to have too much of an impact on the clarity and presentation of our photos. Of course, we always prefer sunshine, but with Pia and Thomas return to Thailand in a few days, yesterday was the only opportunity for us.

Additional view from the second level.

We wished we’d met them sooner, but, they were only here a few weeks this trip when Thomas’ work in Thailand (they’re younger than us and he’s yet to retire) necessitates his return.

Both German citizens, they have a smaller home in a quaint town in Germany where they stay when they visit from time to time.

A sunny day would have been all the more beautiful, but we were happy to see their special home.

They, too, left everyone they love behind to follow a dream. This mutual connection precipitated a considerable conversation that kept the four of us chatting enthusiastically for the hours we spent together.

Flowers blooming in their yard. Its hard to grow grass in most of Bali due to the sandy ground, lack of rain at times and the heat.

Tomorrow’s post will include more photos of Pia and Thomas’ island paradise aptly name uToPia (notice that the Tom and Pia are in the name!) and more on our enjoyable visit, conversation highlights and return walk along the beach as a storm was brewing.

The name of Pia and Thomas’ retreat in Bali,” uToPia,” is carved in the stone in the front the home.

Be well.  Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, September 25, 2015:

The views from the second vacation home we rented in Tasmania  for six weeks referred to as Anchorage Waterfront (no relation to Alaska). For more photos, please click here.

Two days until Lovina trip…Time to get crackin’ packin’…Nothing “fashion forward”about this lifestyle!

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Sunset reddened clouds reflecting in our pool.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

Many passers-by carry the required supplies along the beach.

The idea of packing for this four-night, five-day trip to Lovina is a little disconcerting.    It’s not like I can walk around in my closet and pull out the favorite warm clothes from the hangers. There are not more than eight items carefully stacked in my wardrobe. The rest of my limited wardrobe is still in my suitcase awaiting our departure in 35 days when we leave the villa to catch the plane to Sydney.

Wearing swimsuits, all day, we hardly ever wear street clothes. When we do go out, it’s shorts and in-good-condition tee shirts. We wear the same outfits over and over again. After showering in the late afternoon, we still don’t dress in street clothes. Once again, we don a dry swimsuit, with a sarong for me, while Tom wears swim trunks and tee-shirt for dining.

Gede explained that these plastic coverings are to protect watermelon from the hot sun.

As a result of this limited use of clothing, we only end up with one load of laundry each week, which the two Ketut handle for us for a nominal charge. It usually takes two days to dry outdoors (there’s no clothes dryer) due to the high rate of humidity and frequent rain. They hang everything on a clothes rack bringing it indoors at night and then, haul the rack outside again in the morning.

We’ve exercised this same process over most of these past years since we’ve only had a clothes dryer while in Hawaii (eight months, four islands, all had dryers) and at Trinity Beach, Australia.  We’ve discovered that most countries (except the US) hang their clothing on racks, indoors or outdoors depending on the weather and situation.

A typical small business building found in a village.

Even while spending two weeks in an upscale high rise building in Dubai in 2013, there was no clothes dryer or large enough veranda to hang clothing outdoors. The clothes took no less than two full days to dry.

In my old life, I’d have packed for days for a four night tropical trip. Now, with limited options from which to choose, most likely I’ll be able to pack in 10 minutes. I no longer own a single dress, a handbag or a dressier type top to go with shorts. 

Rice is a huge staple in the Balinese people’s diet and is exported to many parts of the world.

I own a few pairs of long pants, which I wear in the evenings in air conditioned comfort on a ship. But, the majority of dining establishments in Bali will be outdoors, much too warm for long pants or jeans. I guess it will be  tee shirts and shorts when we dine. There aren’t any other options in our limited wardrobes.

Taking special care in selecting outfits in our old life, I had many options from which to choose; matchy-matchy tops, pants, shoes, handbags and jewelry. Those options are now a thing of the past. 

Crossing a bridge over a river.

Over time, I have said “goodbye” to my previous vanity to be put-together in general, observing a certain degree of fashion and decorum. Those days are long gone. Although I still care that my hair, nails, toes and makeup looks presentable (that’s always been my thing), I lost all the vanity that centered around clothing and accessories.

As Tom would say, “It’s a good thing,” when we have so little “fluff” in our luggage. Only the basics deserve a spot in those now worn bags which must be replaced when we arrive in the US. Hope they last that long.

A Muslim holiday celebrated at the beach.

Do I miss that “stuff”? Surprisingly not. But, getting to this point was a work in progress which didn’t fully manifest until the past three years when I finally got over it. Traveling light became more important to me than variety in my wardrobe. 

Tom, on the other hand, never had much interest in clothes, although he does take special care each day to be fresh, clean and wearing equally decent looking attire in reasonably good condition. 

Minutes before the sun descended from view. Before dark, the security guy visits our villa turning on outdoor lights, returning at sunrise to turn them off.

We don’t wear, worn and holey clothing, even around the house when we’re staying in. If I can’t sew a hole in an item of clothing it goes into the trash. We have sewing needles and a tiny sewing kit with ample colors of thread to suit our needs.

Today, we plan to walk on the beach to visit our new friends, Pia and Thomas at their home.  Once we’ve uploaded today’s post, we’ll be on our way.

We hope you have a pleasant day as well.

Photo from one year ago today, September 24, 2015:

One year ago we posted photos of the upcoming booking for a vacation home in Penguin Beach, Tasmania, beginning on December 3, 2016 (in a little over two months). We’ll spend Christmas in this property, leaving the middle of January on a four hour drive to another vacation home in Anchorage (40 minutes from Hobart). For more photos of this lovely property, please click here.

Socializing under the cabana…Paradise with new friends…Friendship…

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Our new friends, Pia and Thomas, live just steps away from the beach. They too have had tremendous global experiences and adventures.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

Sunset from the veranda.

First, yesterday’s water situation has been solved. The villa was cleaned, dried with furnishings and decoration items in their usual places. The only remaining challenge is repairs to the TV  and sound system having been soaked from the water flow pouring down to the lower level of the broken pipe in the hot water heater located on the roof.

Then, last night when we were settling in for the night, turning on the AC in our bedroom, water started pouring out of the air con in front of the bathroom door. We swiftly turned it off and called Gede. 

Within minutes, he arrived on his motorcycle, suggesting we slept in the bedroom on the second main floor in the comfort of air conditioning. Having been awake since 4:00 am, that seemed like a logical solution since we were pooped and anxious for a good night’s sleep. Having been awake since 4:00 in the morning, it seemed a logical solution since we were pooped and anxious for a good night’s sleep. 

That recycler stopped at our villa.    Notice the motorcycles carrying the trailer.

Gede thought the unit had jammed with ice during the awful high humidity when we’d stayed indoors for a few hours earlier in the day while the work was being completed. The high humidity of all the water in the villa from the broken pipe could easily have contributed to the unit working overtime.

Gede asked us to leave it on all day to determine if the problem is resolved. Poor Gede.    He woke up early and came back early in the evening. Hopefully, tonight we’ll be able to sleep in, the more familiar master bedroom.

Yesterday the workers were here most of the day. By 4:00 pm, the water heater was fully repaired and once again we had running water. We couldn’t wait to get into the shower.

We’ve seen these flowers in most tropical climates.

Our new friends Pia and Thomas, originally from Germany, arrived promptly at 2 pm as planned. They’re currently residing in Thailand, with two houses in Bali, one down the beach from us and the other located in a planned community on the way to Lovina which soon we’ll pass on our upcoming road trip on Monday. 

We were so excited to spend time with Pia and Thomas. It had been since July, on the Mekong River cruise, where we socialized with other travelers, all possessing the commonality of interests in seeing amazing parts of the world. 

We didn’t have any cocktail fixings or wine to offer, instead pouring them each a frosty glass of iced tea, refilled often on the hot humid day. We all lounged under the shade of the cabana enjoying the cooling ocean breezes, engaged in delightful chatter, sharing mutual stories of world travel and the wide variety of adventures we’d all experienced over the years.

Shrine in the neighborhood.

Spending time with Pia and Thomas reminded us of how much we enjoy socializing. In a little over a month, we’ll be back on a ship for 33 nights, which most likely will entail non-stop socialization and making new friends.

In our old lives, we both reveled in our active social lives, both individually and as a couple.  We’ve been able to stay in touch with many of our friends through Facebook and email. To many, its almost a daily interaction in one form or another.

Having always been a part of a social group of “girls” I’ve certainly missed the face to face aspect of these special relationships; the long lunches; the shopping trips and the often lengthy phone conversations when we shared a personal joy or tribulation, analyzing every possible resolution. 

A boy and a buffalo.

Now, when faced with a challenge, I can easily “chat” via email to a friend, but it’s never the same as sitting across a table in a restaurant sipping an iced tea while dining on cooked-rare, sliced on the diagonal, yellow fin tuna atop a bed of fresh greens, drizzled with a lemon vinaigrette. Of course, I miss the conversation, the ambiance and the food.

Tom is now my “girlfriend” along with being my husband, lover and travel companion. He’s actually a good close second when over these past four years, we’ve grown so much, it’s easy to share any topic with one another, including topics I’d previously reserved for “girl time.”

We do see a large number of birds in Bali, although we hear them singing all day.  This white bird was sitting atop a satellite dish.

And he behaves similarly with me discussing “guy stuff” including railroad stories, gross “guys only” kinds of jokes and stories he’d have shared with his friends on a fishing trip, with a beer in hand at the bar, or at work. We’ve certainly made use of the reality that we each truly need to be each other’s best friend.

We often hear those in relationships refer to their significant other as their best friend.  And yet, when they have an issue with one another, they may discuss solutions with their “other” friends. 

For us, being together 24/7 with no opportunity to socialize in person with our old friends, we only have one another with whom to discuss any worries, concerns or issues, especially those related to one another. 

Mosque along the highway.  There are more Muslims in Indonesia than any other country in the world, with only approximately 5% of the island of Bali, a fact we only recently discovered:  “Indonesia has a larger Muslim, population than any other country in the world, with approximately 202.9 million identifying themselves as Muslim (87.2% of Indonesia’s total population in 2011).”

Subsequently, we “talk it out” with each other. The end result? We problem solve handling all issues quickly face to face. Perhaps, in the long run this has contributed to our getting along as well as we do.

Sure, on occasion, Mr. Overall Grumpy rears his ugly head, and I, Miss Overly Bubbly, maintain a stance of low stress, peace and harmony.  Last night, “water, water, everywhere,” he appeared for only a moment to magically disappear after a few choice words were spewed, by no means directed at me. I don’t take it personally. Only minutes later, we were laughing and teasing in our usual playful manner.

Colorful dome of the above mosque.

Friendship, whether short term or long, people we’ve met on the beach or on a cruise ship, or in daily interactions with one another, all add an element to life that provides a richness and depth to which nothing else can compare. 

May your day bring new friends into your life!


Photo from one year ago today, September 23, 2015:

In Fiji, our dish towels had been hanging outside for days unable to dry with the constant rain. We couldn’t throw them in the dirty laundry (done weekly by staff) when they’d be covered in ants by morning. When necessary, I placed them into a bag in the freezer until laundry day in order to avoid the ants.  For more details, please click here.

OMG!…Eventful start to the day…Wait until you read this!…

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Distant shot of oil tanker out to sea. Good zoom photo, Tom Lyman!

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

The river next door is often used for washing motorbikes.

The morning started weird. Awake at 4:00 am, I was unable to return to sleep no matter how hard I tried. With today, September 21st in the US (the 22nd here), it is our eldest grandson Nik’s 16th birthday and our youngest granddaughter Madighan’s 7th birthday. 

Why not get up early and call to wish them both happy birthday? It was late afternoon in the US and a good time to call.

We couldn’t reach Nik but had a chance to speak to daughter-in-law Camille, son Greg and the three kids, including wishing Madighan a happy birthday. 

We always send US gifts for the six grandchildren for birthdays, special occasions and Christmas, none of which are ever purchased from countries we’re visiting. Why suffer the inconvenience of an impossible international return?

Guide and one Ketut put everything in the villa back in order.

After almost two hours on Skype using our Nevada phone number which allows us to call other phones that aren’t on Skype, mission accomplished. As always, it’s wonderful talking to family.  Hopefully, soon we’ll reach Nik but, then again, most 16 year old boys don’t necessarily care to spend a lot of phone time with the old grandparents.

To start making the phone calls, I quietly wandered out the bedroom door, laptop in hand and almost, and I mean almost, slipped on the floor somehow righting myself just in time to avoid hitting the floor. That was all I needed, falling again and re-injuring the part that only recently has begun to heal a little.

In Phuket last month, the water dispenser leaked overnight, spilling all the contents of a new 5 liter bottle and I did fall smack on the marble floors, reversing my progress by many weeks. 

Some of the digital equipment that became wet during the water leakage. The yellow items are decorative pieces. Luckily, our HDMI cord survived.

Marble floors are extremely hazardous when covered with water. We don’t recommend them where the risk of injury is high regardless of one’s age or propensity for falling. It’s not that I’m particularly clumsy though stuff happens. Tom is always reminding me to watch where I’m going instead of looking for photo ops. I’m working on it.

The entire main floor and second level were covered in water. I knew I needed to awaken Tom to see how bad the situation really was. At 5:00 am, we were calling Gede to let him know we had an emergency. Tom had gone upstairs to the second story which we don’t use at all, to discover what was going on. Water covered the floors upstairs and was running down the steps in a relatively rapid flow.

Gede arrived within 10 minutes of our call. As it turned out, the hot water tank’s pipe broke (the hot water heater is on the roof) and the only way to stop the flow was to shut off the water to the entire villa. It’s now close to 11 am and it appears we won’t have water for most of the day while every effort is being made to get the repairs made as quickly as “island time” allows.

This space is where the flat screen TV was located. It’s now been removed after getting soaked as the water ran down the wall from the above stairs. Gede explained that homeowner’s insurance in Bali doesn’t cover such occurrences.

Unfortunately, the water ran down the wall over the entire flat screen TV and sound system in the living room which we use nightly, connecting our laptops with an HDMI cord in order to watch our favorite shows and Minnesota Vikings games. Gede assured us all of the equipment will be working again by the time we return from Lovina next Friday, after our four day stay upcoming on Monday.

Luckily, no one was injured in the water fiasco. At the moment, all the staff is busy cleaning up the water and putting as much of the villa back in order as possible. They had to move all of the furnishings onto the veranda to dry the floors and the bottom portions of various items.

Ribud was washing the stairs after the water flow.

Gede was very concerned over the inconvenience for us. We weren’t worried at all. If the water can’t be restored by the end of the day, we’ll shower next door at the empty owner’s villa. If necessary, the two Ketuts can cook our dinner next door and we’ll dine there. “No worries,” we assured all of them.

With the reality that none of this is really our responsibility as it would have been in our own home, nor did we have to incur any costs for repairs, it’s easy for us to sit back and patiently wait for everything to be back to normal.

Mr. Frog’s nighttime visit.

Today, newly made friends are arriving at 2:00 pm for a visit. We met them a few days ago while walking the beach. When Thomas (yep, another Tom) stopped by last night to ask when would be a good time for him and wife Pia to stop by we suggested this afternoon as opposed to morning allowing us time to complete today’s post. Thank goodness we hadn’t suggested a morning visit! It’s been kind of busy around here.

For the first time in ages, I have yet to shower and I’m still wearing my long nightshirt while sitting outdoors on a chaise lounge. Today, will be a different day from our usual routine, but we have no apprehension or concerns. It will all work out fine.

Mr. Frog contemplates taking the steps. He managed rather well.

This morning, during the water fiasco Gede helped us with some required paperwork for sponsoring us for the visa extension for  Monday’s trip to Lovina where we’ll stay in a hotel for four nights to complete the five day process. 

Also, Gede is having a new tire put on the van to prevent us from getting a flat tire on the long road trip when recently it had been repaired, but doesn’t seem quite right.

Otherwise, its a partially sunny day with outrageously high humidity, but we’re as content as we can be especially with our anticipated upcoming social event.

May your day be one of contentment and peace of mind.

Photo from one year ago today, September 22, 2015:

We never used this pool in Fiji during our three months stay. It wasn’t as clean as we’d like and there were no chaise lounges or places to sit while drying off. For more details, please click here.

This is why we left Minnesota…Please watch today’s included video to see why…

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Wow! This bloom in the yard is multifaceted!

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

While walking on the beach we encountered this run down house that apparently is occupied.

Frequently, we’re asked why we left Minnesota and also why we left the US when there’s so much we’ve yet to see in our home country. As mentioned in yesterday’s post there are many reasons.

Many Minnesotan retire to live in a second home in a much warmer climate. Minnesota’s weather is not friendly to senior citizens when falls on ice and snow are common in the wintertime as well as auto accidents, spinning out on ice and snow as shown in this video Tom stumbled upon yesterday.

Carts are commonly used in Bali since most are able to be attached to motorbikes.

It’s easy to laugh over people falling down as shown in the video, but often these falls result in a broken hip, back or leg or even worse, a serious head injury.  These types of injuries can be permanently debilitating for seniors, if not life threatening.  We seen it happen over and over again over the years.

Sure, there were times we fell and laughed hysterically.  But, it wasn’t so funny when I fell down a flight of icy steps at the neighbor’s house when I was babysitting their dog while the husband was in hospital having a heart transplant.  I tore my right shoulder which was problematic for years which eventually healed without surgery.

When we drove down this road it proved to be a dead end with an outdoor market. 

This fact alone is enough for most seniors to look for a warmer climate where they can spend their time living back and forth between two homes.  This idea didn’t appeal to us; the upkeep and maintenance of two homes in two distant cities, worrying about a power outage while away for the winter and of course, the cost of having two homes, cars and lots of “stuff.”  We have no stuff now other than what is contained in three suitcases and two carry on bags. 

We spent hours researching options for having two homes and it just didn’t work for our budget, not if we wanted to live comfortably with an water/ocean view or oceanfront properties (when possible).  Nor could we wrap our brains around living in a condo, not at this time in our lives.

There wasn’t any possibility of parking at the outdoor market.  There was only space for motorbikes.

Freedom…that’s what we desired.  Freedom to see the world, freedom to explore, freedom to expand our personal knowledge and appreciation for the world around us.  It all made sense to us but not always to others.

Let’s face it, most of us work almost for a lifetime trying to achieve our goals, grow our families and live a life commensurate with what is “expected” of seniors when they retire. 

This guy on a motorbike had a attached basket carrying live chickens.

Tom spent over 42 years working outdoors in cold and snow while working on the railroad.  I spent 45 years working hard often driving, getting in and out of the car subject to awful weather conditions both hazardous and annoying.  Tom didn’t enjoy having to snow blow and shovel for two or three hours after each snow storm.  Nor would he have enjoyed this at 65 or 70 years old.

We both felt a need and passionate desire to step outside that box of expectations and to live life on our terms.  We didn’t make the decision without careful consideration and planning.  Of course, we cried when we left leaving all of our loved ones behind.

Most Balinese people use propane for fuel for cooking.  We’ve seen these green tanks on backs of motorbikes as well as on trucks.

Was it selfish?  Undoubtedly.  But, don’t each of us have the privilege and the right to find our own happiness?  Long ago, we decided if we weren’t happy after a year or two, we’d move back to the US to a warm climate and begin again to live a more structured life. 

To our surprise as these four years have flown by, we’ve became more and more enthralled with the quality of our lives and the experiences we’ve blissfully embarked upon as we continue to explore this vast planet.

Finally, we were able to turn around to head back down the narrow street.

If, for some unforeseen reason, we had to stop now, we’d be heartbroken to end this quest.  We know the time will eventually come when we physically find this life to be too challenging based on age related conditions that tend to befall most elderly people regardless of how hard they’ve work to maintain good health.

For now, even with my recent injury, we have every intention along with our  passionate desire to continue on, especially evident as we continue to book locations well into the future.  Our next new bookings for which we’re currently engaged in research, will easily stretch all the way into 2019 and 2020 and health providing, well beyond.  Lofty ideas?  Sure.

Back on the highway again, we mentioned that it would be great if we knew the language enough that we could decipher they types of businesses.

Once we pin down the future bookings, we’ll excitedly share them here. In the interim, we’re happily engaged in our lives here in Bali…the sun is shining, the sky is a clear blue and we’re as happy and content as we can be.

We hope you’ll find contentment in this day and always.

___________________________________________

Photo from one year ago today, September 21, 2015:

I talked Tom into posing in front of this beautiful palm frond in Fiji, one year ago.  We hadn’t seen this type of frond since we’d been in Belize in early 2013, taking a similar photo of me at that time.  For more photos, please click here.

Uncertainty becomes an element in this peculiar life we live…

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Tom grabbed me and the camera when he noticed this cart attached to a motorbike on the beach.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

Family of four on motorbike stopping for Dad’s phone break. Often, locals with cell phones attempt to log in on the Wi-Fi signal here.  Since we arrived the first time, it’s been password protected thanks to help from Gede.

Nothing in life is for certain.  Oh, we understand the boring cliché about “death and taxes.” Yea, fine. They’re true. Although many have figured out how to avoid taxes which doesn’t necessarily include most of us.

The death part? Yep, a certainty. Although I’ve been reading scientific observations about our conscientiousness living into infinity. OK. Maybe we’ll hear more about that in this lifetime.  Maybe not.

Tom heads upstairs to the second story several times a day searching for more interesting activity on the beach. Yesterday, he spotted this cart and we went into action taking photos. It seems every activity on the beach has a story to tell.

Everything in between?  Uncertain. As we can easily obsess about the dangers and risks omnipresent in life, yours and ours included, we wonder if we can free our minds sufficiently to live in the present. Less apprehension and worry has the ability to extend the quality of our health and subsequently the length of our lives when we master the art of avoiding too much stress.

I oftentimes wonder if we take a carefree attitude of what’s transpiring in the world we’re considered to be in denial or ultimately deluding ourselves into believing all is fine. I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again, “You can run but you can’t hide.”

These two locals were busy collecting coconuts on the beach and placing them into the motorbike driven cart.

We didn’t run away. We walked. The crowds, the traffic, the hurried pace of daily life, the outrageous rising prices, the escalating crime, the political climate, and in Minnesota, the frigid climate itself, all played a role in our making the decision to leave almost four years ago.

Oddly, we expect “culture shock” when we will return to the US next May, in a mere eight months where suddenly we’ll be thrown into all of the above for a total of over two months. 

They appeared to have quite a haul.

It’s funny how after all this time, we’re no longer surprised or experience culture shock by the nuances of living in countries with less certainty, often without the predictability of consistently running water, power and Wi-Fi (which is sorely lacking in this area of Bali) and personal safety.  We’ve adapted.

Throwing us back into the land of “everything in abundance,” how will we avoid seeming like old hippies who just landed after years of living in a tent on the beach with a vegetable garden and chickens? It may not be as easy as it seems.

I don’t mean to imply we’ve lived modestly as stated above. Far from it. But, we’ve encountered endless situations in most countries in which we’ve lived over these years, requiring we change and adapt our expectations, may easier than others.

Soon, they’d be able to take off with their coconut haul.

Spending days outdoors with temperatures hovering at 90F, 32C, with humidity close to 90% (even on sunny days) requires a certain amount of tolerance and adaptation. I’d never have considered attempting to adapt to such discomfort in our old lives. 

Whole house air con was the way of life. Hot when outdoors? No problem. Walk inside, pour a beverage using ice from the automatic ice maker, park oneself in front of 500 channels (or more now for all we know) big screen high def TV and chill out. Or, browse online for a continual high speed connection, with rarely a signal disruption.

Antique Balinese seat we spotted next door, made into the shape of a boat.

Insects? No problem. Call Orkin or Terminex, for a fee they’ll be there within days to eradicate every last creepy crawly. In this life, we’ve learned to live with an endless stream of poisonous and/or annoying insects in every room, even at times crawling on us during the night.

Dining out on a whim? Not possible in many locations. The unpredictability of staff understanding my food requirements where there’s a language barrier keeps us from dining in restaurants in many locations. 

Piece of driftwood resting against a tree outside our veranda.

Food at home? The fabulous cooks in Bali only have access to prawns, chicken and occasionally fresh tuna (none lately). We’ve been rotating the same meals night after night: chicken (two ways), prawns and the occasional use of the ground beef we purchased in Denpasar when we arrived. When we run out of the “mince” there’s no heading back to Denpasar for the four or five hour harrowing drive to purchase more.

Recently, with high winds at sea, there hasn’t been any fresh tuna. Hopefully, soon it will be available again, but at the moment uncertainty prevails. We continue with the repeats, surprisingly enjoying every night’s meal as if somehow it was a “first.”

The tide rolled in making the river next door larger.

No washer? No problem. We hand wash if we need something now. It will dry outdoors on the rack within 24 hours (high humidity). No English speaking TV news? No problem. No car? No worries. We’ll figure it out.

Not a single store nearby where I can purchase a tube of lipstick or a bottle of Advil? No problem. Thank goodness, I have some remaining tubes of lipstick in the third suitcase and I’m using un-coated aspirin when absolutely necessary. (Eat something first. Take with lots of water).

Uncertainty is an expectation when flying, cruising, out on tours, riding in taxis and with drivers, moving from location to location. It follows us wherever we may go and especially each time we open the door of yet another “new home” in which we may be living in for weeks or even months.

Cement walkway on the edge of the next door neighbor’s property.

When we return to the US, everything we’ve mentioned and more will be available. One need only have a thought, jump into the car and drive to the appropriate location to acquire whatever is needed or desired.

We take nothing for granted, except perhaps uncertainty itself. On that, we can rely. Hopefully, while spending over two months in the US, distracted from the pleasure of being with those we love, we’ll continue to maintain our level of adaptation that we’ve worked so hard to acquire over these past years.

Certainly, by all means, have a beautiful day!

Photo from one year ago today, September 20, 2015:

In Fiji, one year ago, an example of uncertainty as indicated above, Mario, the owner, brought over this router that plugs into an outlet, providing us with a private connection not shared with other guests. Since he’d purchased the device in Germany, his home country, he had to add an adapter to make it plug into the outlet. The weight of the device using the adapter, made it keep falling out enough to lose the connection. Tom placed this stack of books under it to hold it in place.  The signal goes to “limited” quite often. It worked for a few days, then quit. For more details, please click here.

Frightening events in the US including our former home state…Is Bali safe? Not necessarily…

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What a nice environment for cattle, green pastures and plenty of shade situated on a beachfront property.
“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”
Family gatherings on the beach amidst the garbage that rolls with the tide with garbage left behind by locals and visitors. Bali has yet to adopt the idea of keeping its island and beaches less littered. However, much of the beach waste is the result of that left at sea by others.

Without English-language television channels in Bali, the only way we could keep up with the world’s news was through the Internet. With the slow WiFi in the region, it was difficult, but we managed to read the main news every day.

Reading about yesterday’s multiple attacks in the US was sickening and disheartening; one in New York; another in New Jersey and a third transpiring in a mall 70 miles from where we’d previously lived. It makes you wonder if it’s safe to shop in malls when so many terrorist attacks occur within their walls.
These cattle seem to be slightly larger in Bali than in many less developed countries.

This morning, while researching online for information about terroristic attacks in Bali to date in 2016, we were shocked to see their was new bomb blast a few nights ago, in two areas in Bali, one at a resort in Kuta, the town where we’ve stayed overnight in a hotel on two previous occasions with one more booking  upcoming on October 29th before flying to Sydney. The second attack occurred on Jimbaran Beach, south of Kuta.

Watch this story here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-364053/Several-dead-new-Bali-bomb-blasts.html

It certainly makes us think. But then again, how do we feel about visiting a mall in Minnesota next summer where we’ve planned to go to purchase new clothing to replace the old and fast wearing  clothing we have with us now.

The small town’s business sections are jammed with temples, mosques, restaurants and shops.

In addition, we had considered visiting a shopping center in Australia during our next 33-night cruise when our ship arrives.
port at various cities. We were hoping to buy some articles to get through the next few months. Should we give it a second thought?    Australia has been the victim of a number of terrorist attacks in recent years.

I will not go into the specifics of these attacks.    We have no doubt, if you look at local or global news, you’ve seen the stories repeated over and over again. We believe it is very important to be informed, but fear is only used to avoid the areas most at risk when possible.

We crossed a number of river bridges as shown here.

Having read the American attacks, we are worried about the safety of our family.    Will our adult children listen if we tell them not to go into public places?  No, not at all. Their lives often revolve around visiting crowded places with their families on regular occasions, ball games, parks, zoos, shopping centres, restaurants, theme parks, public buildings and so on.

We wonder whether one of us should temper the quality of our lives by becoming quasi-hermits, avoiding all high-risk places. It’s entirely unrealistic, even for us, where we have considerable control over what we do and what we do.

Although the beaches are often littered with debris, the scenes are still lovely. We never grow weary of the blue waters.

In the process of continuing with our world travels as we fully intend, we surely can’t avoid airports which pose a high risk, although, we’ve made a concerted effort to avoid certain public transportation when possible such as train stations, buses and heavily populated venues in risky areas.

Who identifies what constitutes a high-risk sector?  All the research in the world can’t cover the possible discovery of new locations where horrific incidents continually occur, unanticipated and often considered unlikely.

Private oceanfront property, an excellent lot.

As we have said many times, no place in the world is safe from risk, whether it is terrorist attacks, accidents or natural disasters. We try not to live in fear, as we are certain is the case for most of you who live in seemingly innocuous areas. Essentially, an innocuous area does not exist.

One could live on a remote island in one of the most remote areas of the world and still not be entirely safe. A crazy and unstable individual with any type of weapon could attack the unsuspecting, the unprepared and the defensive evil, ill equipped to defend themselves and those they love.

There are some scattered parks along the oceanfront promenade.

Nature can be the ultimate beast when more lives are lost each year due to horrific weather and natural disasters than terrorist attacks all over the world. Even the state of our personal health is at risk at any time.
moment. Only we have a modicum of control in ensuring our personal safety in that area through living as healthy a lifestyle as possible and proceeding in our daily activities with sensibility.

No, an 80-year-old man who has knee problems should not climb a ladder to change a lightbulb.  Nor should an 65 year old retiree start riding a motorbike in Bali on the harrowing roads when they’ve never done so in the past.

Numerous mosques and temples are easily reachable from Denspasar.

We choose to live on the cautious side with health and safety our first consideration while still striving to fulfill our dreams by witnessing what we’d never imagined possible, by experiencing the nuances of daily life for others in our midst and for embracing the beauty, not the ugly, of the world around us.

Stay safe, living life to the fullest.

Photo from one year ago today, September 19, 2015:

Fiji’s coral reef is second to none in the world and a favorite location for scuba divers. For more details and photos, please click here.

Visitors dropped by to see us…A pleasant surprise…A cultural occasion…

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Gede and his family walked by with their offerings on their way to the shrine a few doors from us.  On the return walk, they stopped to visit with us.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

After the rain, Tom’s sunset photo.

With a slew of ideas for future posts while in Bali, we’ve yet to begin chipping away at the list we created before our arrival. It seems that each day brings a plethora of new photos and stories we can’t help but give top priority.

What a lovely family in their colorful holiday clothing!

Whether or not our recent posts are of interest to our readers, remains somewhat of a mystery, but we can only observe the of number hits in the stats to determine how many people around the world are stopping by. We continue to be astounded by our visitors after posting for 4 ½  years.  Thank you, people!

The offerings are placed at the shrine.

Yesterday morning, as we peered out at the sea from the cabana, we were pleasantly surprised when Gede, his wife and two adorable children walked by in exquisite colorful clothing on their way to the temple two doors from us.

It was beautiful for us to witness the family’s Hindu tradition.

The holiday they are celebrating is as follows with additional information here:
“Galungan is the most important feast for Balinese Hindus, a celebration to honor the creator of the universe (Ida Sang Hyang Widi) and the spirits of the honored ancestors.

The festival symbolizes the victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma), and encourages the Balinese to show their gratitude to the creator and sainted ancestors.”

Two sweet little girls.

Gede’s lovely wife is seven months pregnant and was truly a sight to behold in her festive holiday garb.The two precious little girls were dressed in equally colorful and adorable attire. Gede looked handsome in his special sari all of which is shown in today’s photo. (We asked their permission for the photos).

This particular holiday, as in the case of most Hindu holidays, consists of colorful flower and food offerings again as shown in today’s photos. Yesterday, our own household staff placed flowers and offerings and burning incense both indoors and out.

Seated on the edge of the cabana, we chatted with Gede. His wife, Ayu suriani and two daughters, Kadek siska (younger) and Putu saskia speak no English so it was through facial expressions we were able to express our gratitude for their visit.

Whether the offerings were placed here for us or for them while they worked in the villa, we were honored to partake in the beauty and of course, the intoxicating smell. These are special people, gentle, kind, graceful and peaceful. We love and appreciate all of them.

Even as we lounge on the veranda or the cabana, passersby on the beach including children often yell “halo” while vigorously waving their arms. Where in the world have we discovered such warmth and welcoming?

Look at that adorable face on Kadek siska!

Today is Sunday. The staff is off and we’re on our own. We have a complete meal ready for the microwave and will only need to toss the salad with dressing at dinner time.

Today, its hotter and more humid than it’s been these past over two weeks since our arrival. We’re still in the bedroom in air conditioned comfort, showered and in our swimsuits, waiting for the morning humidity to lessen a little before we tackle the outdoors for the remainder of the day.

Gede’s older daughter, Putu saskia. Stunning!

With rain each day over the past week, the flies have been on a rampage anxious to nibble on human flesh influencing our desire to be outside right now. They seem to reduce in numbers as the day wears on. With a 90% chance of thunderstorms again today, its currently sunny. After each rain storm, the number of flies increases.

Some have asked if there’s a lot of insects here and there are, although most are relatively harmless except scorpions (we’ve only had one in the villa so far) and occasional visits by scary looking spiders. Otherwise, it’s mostly mozzies, flies and ants, lots of ants; huge amounts of ants; a gross amount of ants.

Gede explained that different colors are used during various part of the Hindu ceremony.

Ants in Bali are generally only bothersome around food and prep areas. At any given moment they are all over the kitchen regardless of how clean it is kept. Over these past years of living with ants, we’ve come to just flick them away, even if a few are crawling on our plates of food which is often the case. 

There are a few ants in the bedroom, but many in the bathroom especially in the shower. The two Ketuks clean the shower six days a week, but there’s still ants crawling up and down the walls.  Even under these circumstances, we’ve come to ignore them. If they’re not the biting red ants, we pay them little attention.
The Ketuks place this beautiful display of offerings in the villa containing food and flowers. Some of the flowers are edible and are consumed during the ceremonies.

Soon, we’ll head back outside for another glorious day in this outstanding villa in Malaya Beach, Sumbersari, Bali. How did we get so lucky to find this fabulous location where we’ll be spending another 38 nights plus an additional four nights at the hotel in Lovina (beginning in eight days)?  Safari luck?

In our old lives we’d never have imagined it would be possible or affordable to be spending 42 nights in Bali under these blissful circumstances.  Yet, here we are, lapping it up, in awe and with tremendous gratitude for every single moment.

May your day be blissful!

Photo from one year ago today, September 18, 2015:

In Fiji, one year ago, Badal, the neighbor Sewak’s dog, bounded up the steep hill with ease as we rode in Sewak’s truck.   It was the steepest road either of us had ever experienced in a vehicle. Badal came to visit every evening around dinner time hoping for a few scraps which we always provided. We’d asked Sewak if we could give Badal meat, since his beliefs surrounded vegetarianism.  But, Sewak didn’t mind if Badal ate meat.   For more photos, please click here.

Fishing near the shore…A team effort…Another cultural experience…

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There were at least eight fishermen on that boat upon their arrival on the shore.    A few arrived on foot and on motorbikes shortly after the start of the process. Before coming to shore, they threw the nets from the boat into the ocean, spreading them out as much as they could.    Once ashore, they grabbed the ropes attached to the net to extend the nets as long as possible. The white items shown in the above photo. are floats. attached to the nets.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

As we watched the fisherman manning their nets, we noticed this thing in the background. It turned out to be a part of a tree with trash hanging.  We called it a “trash tree.”

It continues to amaze us how we can spend the better part of each day watching for activity on the beach. It’s almost an endless stream of sightings we’ve rarely, if ever, seen in other parts of the world.

Certainly, it helps that we’re so close to the shore. At high tide, we only need to walk about 21 feet, 7 meters, to dip our toes into the water. Unfortunately, we don’t always have the camera at our side as we move from spot to spot outdoors to get out of the sun as the day wears on.

They commenced the process of pulling the huge net ashore.

In the mornings, after our walk, we lounge on the chaises on the veranda which is shaded in the mornings. Once the sun hits that area, we swim and exercise in the pool. In order to dry off and get our daily dose of Vitamin D, we each spend about 20 minutes in the sun. With my recent injury I haven’t been able to flip over so easily, so I’m tan only on the front. Oh well, who cares?

Between 2:00 and 3:00 pm, we wander over to the covered cabana where I usually read aloud a few chapters in a book we’re sharing at the time. Reading aloud has always been enjoyable and we share many articles, newsletters, and news stories by reading aloud to one another several times each day.

Each man had to hold tight to haul the net into the shore.

As we lounge in the cabana, we usually have the camera with us. In the early mornings and during this period under the cabana we’re able to spot the most exciting of activities on the beach.

A few days ago we captured today’s photos of local fisherman dealing with the nets and subsequent catch. It further reminded us of how much fishing in Bali and, in other parts of the world, is conducted from the shore where certain types of fish are found in somewhat toxic waters. 

The boat with one outriggers stayed in shallow enough water, preventing it from drifting out to sea.

We must avoid these types of fish, for the potential of causing bacterial infections our immune systems may not be able to fend off. For this reason we now avoid consuming any fish other than large tuna.

Lately, with rough seas, the usual barrage of fishing boats we previously had seen lit up at night haven’t been out. Also, the recent holidays in Bali may have kept some of the fisherman heading out overnight to fish halfway between Sumbersari and Java.

In this photo we counted 10 fishermen.

Today’s photos of this group of fishermen appeared determined to leave with a decent shore catch. Seeing how committed they are to the process and how much work they do, reminds us of the work ethic of the Balinese people.

Catching fish for their families is, also a part of daily life for many fishermen as well as for earning a living. Gede explained that many collectives of local fisherman’s ship considerable amounts of their catches overseas. 

Our photos were taken in succession of the activities. At this point, it appeared they were managing the last edge of the net where the fish would be located.

In certain countries imported fish are often frozen and periodically inspected for bacteria and it;s safety for consumption. Before purchasing imported, frozen fish, it may be wise to investigate its source, the type of fish, where and when its been caught and the packing and freezing dates. We can’t ever be too cautious.

We’ve discovered by the larger fish while fresh (not frozen), smelling it for freshness and cooking it promptly has prevented us from any fish related health issues. For us, we’ve chosen not to consume any farmed fish.

We spotted a few young boys attempting to help. Most likely, this is how they learn this vital means of food and income as they mature.

Worldwide, the most important fish species used in fish farming are carp, tilapia, salmon and catfish. It;s easy to read the label identifying if fish is farmed in many countries, but we’ve found that many markets don’t include the identity of the source of the fish. 

There are literally millions of web pages with information of fish farming that may apply to your purchasing options. Many don’t find it matters to them whether fish is farmed or fresh caught fish. That’s entirely a personal choice. 

We couldn’t zoom in close enough to see that they’d caught, but with the green cool box nearby it appeared they’d caught something.

For us, far removed from good medical care in many locations, and working hard to maintain our health to the best of our ability, we lean toward a more cautious scenario.  Only you can make the appropriate choice for you and your family when purchasing imported and farmed fish.

As for these fisherman, they are doing the very best they can, to provide food and income for their families. We commend them and appreciate their diligence and commitment. The Balinese people continue to amaze us in their hard work and self sufficiency as we often observe while peering out at the beach, day after day.

The large basket, shown near the center of this photo, is used to carry their equipment.

May you have a productive day!

Photo from one year ago today, September 17, 2015:

Pineapple growing in the yard in Fiji, one year ago.  Click here for details.