Alam Jiwa Ubud

... town, and everywhere you eat or stay has great views of the green fields of rice or Monkey Forest. When I walk down the streets, I can't help but think how Meggin Hubbard and Elle Moore would be in paradise here, haha.
I found someone on Couch Surfer who has a scuba diving business in Seminyak, so I'm heading there today.
Cheers to everyone finishing finals!

... they are
used for feed for the cattle.

After riding in the hot sun for a
couple of hours and going over a lot of unpaved, rocky roads with a
beat-up bike (and falling once) as we were heading up a hill over yet
another rough road with 2 motorbikes on my butt I did something I
regretted minutes later – I turned to Mike and said “that's it –
I've had enough let's go back to the van.” As was explained at the
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia carlaandmike

... boggly eyes that move left-to-right with the music, their crisp hand-movements, and full-body twists up-and-down are mesmerizing. We'll have to post pictures as soon as we can find an internet connection that is fast enough...ya right.

We're beginning to run low on the "extras" fund, which includes activities such as organized tours and excursions, and so we've taken up the motto "do it yourself" more than ever. Our first full-day in Ubud, we rent ...

... photo of one of the old men, showing off his winning fighter that I seen why there was so much blood about. One of the owners was brandishing two little, yet sharp knives about 2.5cm long with bindings on them. These blades are bound to the cocks feet turning them into deadly weapons.
We decided that whilst we had participated in a local event we would also dine with the locals. So we sat down with them at a make shift table to eat what looked like a lovely Hog roast with rice ...

... Burungs, to add to the large collection I got from China and Singapore. They take up more room at home than Helen does.

Back on the road and I saw that Goa Gajah, or "The Elephant Cave Temple" was nearby, so we stopped off there too. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The main Elephant Cave itself is just that - a cave with elephant carvings outside and various shrines and offerings inside. What surprised me however was the ...

... spotted a rucksack lying about and got a little freaked so moved about a meter to their right (yer like thats going to make a difference). After much dancing, drinking, posing as temples or rice whichever took our fancy and after Jess had danced up on the podium with 4 lads in matching outfits we decided that as great as Paddies was there is no where like Bounty so back we went stealing (acquiring) a few bounty ribbons on the way. A few fishbowls later and we were on ...

... here. It somehow does not seem that sanitary. We lay by the pool, swam in the cool water, played volleyball (but without a net... we were just throwing the ball around). Around noon we went back to the beach and went snorkeling while a thunder rain storm ensued. Being in the warm water was protection against the rain and the only place I would want to be. The reefs were okay and I saw a few fish, but nothing spectacular to say. What was spectacular was when we came back ...

... asustado, ( ya me veía contactando con las familias para darles la noticia) y me tranquilizo un poco al acercarme y ver que lo que esta ardiendo no es su bungalow sino la tienda de buceo y el restaurante que acabamos de dejar hace unas tres horas que esta a unos 5 metros de la habita de estos. Subo a su habitación gritando sus nombres: ALFREDO, CAROL...!!!!! y se escucha que contestan desde la playa, - joder menos mal, vaya susto, y vuestras cosas? -En la habitación - Pero estáis ...

... the streets. The procession, including offerings piled high on the heads of the women, is like a parade...lots of people, all beautifully dressed...with musical accompaniment - the traditional gongs, gamelans and things that look like metal pots...it all ends at the cemetery where a structure of bamboo awaits for the actual cremation of the body. But first, the body of the man is removed from the box and many blessings are made. His body is circled by family ...

... the garden 14. take your time to suss out the correct processes - don't just follow the crowd 15. bottle openers often hide on walls beside hotel minibars 16. Camplung Mas hotel motto - relax or rage without any fuss 17. Wear underwear on plane that can double as togs so as to make the best of 24 hour swim up bars upon arrival with no luggage 18. laugh a lot 19. do get out of airports during long stopover if possible. Try to get common flights ...