Kuta Beach, Bali, IndonesiaIt rains heavily at different times of the day in Bali now.
Elenka and I have both come down with the sniffles. Neither of these downsides have prevented us from our daily beach walks or washing our cares away in the sea, but they’ve put a damper on further adventure. We’d planned a visit to Ubud, in the hill country, but it’s raining there too. We shrugged contentedly and decided that things could be far worse than our chosen alternative - hunkering down at Un’s Hotel at Kuta Beach.
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An orange cat has adopted us at Un’s. During the night she prowls the grounds in search of rodents. When dawn arrives she’s at the door making the loudest damn, let me in now, sounds. When I open the door she pushes her way past me and climbs right into bed with Elenka.
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Last evening during dinner the little bugger came into the restaurant and jumped onto our table. Poor Elenka was flummoxed. She blurted out, ‘Our cats never do this at home.’ (her automated response for whenever one of our cats jumps on the table at home during dinner with guests) It didn’t at all fit here though. The other patrons gave all three of us the stink-eye.
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The Balinese people are calm, caring and gentle. So much so that our housekeeper made the bed while the cat slept in it. The other day however, we walked past a big turtle whose head had been severed. Not by the Balinese I’ll wager, but by a Great-White Hunter who’s likely already posted his trophy on Facebook.
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Tidbits:
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Timeshare properties:
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If you’re looking to buy a timeshare in Bali you won’t need Google’s help. On your way to the beach in Kuta you’ll be asked, ‘Where you from?’ These fellows are timeshare salesmen and don’t speak much English so trying to answer is like strapping a ball and chain to your ankle. It’s best to just smile politely and hold out your hand. You’ll be given all the information you need to make a wise choice. You must also wear your timeshare information pamphlet proudly; the others would never try and steal someone else’s win.
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The Canadian conundrum:
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In Indonesia when I tell locals that Elenka and I are from Canada they automatically think we’re French, not just sometimes, always. But then these same people will sometimes ask where Canada is located geographically. On two occasions I asked where they thought Canada was? The answers I got were the United States and Europe.
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Lionel Messi could make Canada great again:
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The other night our waiter asked whether I was from Argentina or Spain. It was a peculiar question; I’d never come across any Latinos in this part of the world. I clued in when I caught him eyeing my Messi/Barca jersey. This same waiter most likely didn’t know the location of Canada, but he did know that Lionel Messi was born in Argentina and that Messi played football in Spain, a place where French may or may not be the 1st language.
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My faith in the young got a very late start:
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Australians Mark and Lauren, along with their five youngsters had rooms adjacent ours at Un’s. We hadn’t spoken much, but on the third evening they invited us over for cake — it was Mark’s birthday. It would be an adults evening, while the big people conversed, the small one’s would speak only when spoken to, like it was 60 years ago, when I was a kid.
The following evening as the seven of them walked down the path for their waiting cab that would take them to the airport for their return trip to Australia, the youngest, 8 year-old Zander, suddenly turned and ran back to me. Like any good Canadian, I stood and offered my hand. We shook, but I sensed that that wasn’t what he was there for. So I asked him if he wanted to say goodbye to the cat. He shook the notion off. He just stood there looking at me. I was dumbfounded, didn’t know what to do. Then the little fellow opened his arms wide, threw them around me and gave me a great big hug. As he ran to catch up with his parents and siblings my eyes went wet.
Stephz
2020-03-08
Kids' spontaneity (whether love or hate) is incredibly surprising. Schizophrenic really. Tears are frequent with teens. I speak from great wisdom called experience. That lad is a gem. LOVE the story.
Cate
2020-03-08
Ah children............
Peter
2020-03-08
Sweet
Irene
2020-03-08
Ah Jack! you have been seduced by perfect love, that from the heart of a child!!
Valerie
2020-03-08
Aww the Children . Bali is quite a magical place
Renate
2020-03-09
Balirain is regardless better then the rainy weather now in Germany. Enjoy it still, before you are flying back home to coldness.
Joe Maddaloni
2020-03-10
Hi Jack, Hope you guys are doing well. Seems like the adventure continues to unravel, creating great new stories and profound memories. Carpe Diem and and all the best to you guys!