It is hot...really hot and humid here in Ubud, Bali.
I arrived to a downpour of rain and dark skies. It was a short journey...only two planes via Brunei....but I felt exhausted when I arrived.
Bali is so lush and green. There is barely a street that is not lined with thick coconut trees or frangipani arbors. I soaked in the new scenery while I sat back in the cab from the airport to Ubud. It has been years since I visited a new country. I am excited to ease my way into a new language (the pad and pen are already out and I am bumbling away), culture and FOOD.
I woke up to chickens, rain pattering on my window and soft humid tendrils of air lapping at my sweaty face. I took a deep breath, as I love to identify the smell of a new place, of warm air. Hmm..peanuts, coconut...sweet with a hint of burning garbage.
First on the agenda is always the same. I pack my camera, water, book and pen and make my way to the market. Rice, bananas, peanuts, mangos and cakes were the dominant features in terms of food. I jostled up next to a line of people waiting for their breakfast. What was on the table? A woman was scooping rice out of a large rattan basket and placing it in a makeshift cone made of paper, then plopping various toppings....chili sambols, beansprout stirfries, tuna curries, shredded pork bbq and seasonings. Mmmm...i will have some of that. I pointed and grunted, no language skills yet, and wound up with a hefty parcel of goodies costing 2000 rupees (9000 rps to a us dollar).
How long am I here for- one month. I am meeting up with friends who are all shopping for their galleries in the West. I hope to help them out with their missions and keep trucking on with my oral adventures.
I can't believe that I have been away for three months now. In some ways it feels like a year, but then I feel like I saw some of my close friends just yesterday. Ahh the pleasures of the internet!
Internet is really expensive here and I have not located a usb port. Pictures will follow but first I am off to explore the monkey forest...sounds fun...could call for some juvenile play tactics.
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