We have spent the time since Laura left relaxing. I have been furiously writing to update my blog and now it is updated, and I have almost fulfilled my “reporting” responsibilities to my friends!! On Saturday Ray went to meet a chap about buying real estate. Bali would be a lovely place to spend 3 months out of our cold winters! But we are not seriously thinking of buying!!! It was more to try and understand the ownership structure as non-residents can’t own land. Our thoughts were confirmed: it would be a mine field!!
Now Ray
and I are on our own, and celebrating our last few days in Bali. It has been
amazing! We are filled with gratitude to have been able to stay here this long, have our
friends visit, and experience so much of the island. We have enjoyed the
beautiful villa complete with geckos; the intellectual capacity of the owners –
the books, the London Review, the Economist and the artistic attention to
detail with all garden and house ornaments; the warm, friendly personality of
the Balinese people and their beautiful wide open smiles; the Balinese culture
with its healthy mixture of each of Hindu, Buddhism, and Animism; the Balinese
countryside – the rice fields, the mountains, and the lakes; the spirituality
of our favourite temples Gunung Kawi, Tirta Empul, Pura Ulun Danu Beratan di Dataran , Puru Taman Ayun, Pura Luhur Batukau, and Pura Luhur Uluwatu; the colourful and
expressive traditional Legong and Barong dancing; yoga classes; the cheeky
monkeys; the butterflies and orchids in the garden at the villa; our Ubud rice field
walks, and so much more including the warmth and the ability to go anywhere,
any time and not have to think about a sweater, just to have the warm air
brushing over my skin!
People
ask if we are ready to come home: that is a difficult question. We won’t miss
the constant exhaust fumes, smoke from the rice field fires, and smelly
bathrooms!! And it is certainly more noisy here than Squamish or Uxbridge. Yes,
we are dying to see Alanna and Dan, and our friends, and most of all holding
Alanna and giving her a big, big hug and resuming our “girls nights” and our
chats. I am looking forward to finding something through which I can make a
“contribution” to society, and to finding some routine in life – i.e. getting
back to exercising regularly; life can be a little “shallow” here, and I am
looking forward to having more depth; Ray is looking forward to a golf game. Maybe
we are both missing the feeling of “settlement” but I think that both of us
will feel a wistfulness about leaving.
And….we
are looking forward to our 3 days in Hong Kong with our friends Catherine and
Jamie! Then home!
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