The cultural bit

The prettiest little girl I have ever seen in my whole life lives in a small & very traditional village near the city of Bangli (approx. two and a half hours north east of Kuta. I could not stop looking at her, she was absolutely divine. The village she lives in appears to be quite affluent (by Bali standards). The Balinese teenagers there all had phones and cameras. They all wanted photos with us - the white Aussies that came to visit their village. Most of the people there could speak English well and I was told that education is extremely important to them all. 

A fabulously bright drink truck outside the Batik shop on the way to Ubud. The colours in Bali took my breath away.

This little fella was sitting with his Mum at their banana stand right outside the monkey forrest in Ubud. See the sling-shot he is holding in his hands - he has been taught to sling rocks at the monkeys if they try to steal his Mother's bananas.  

We arrived in Bali on Saturday 30th June which was the ceremony day of "the car" on the Hindu calendar. Every vehicle owned by Hindu people in Bali was decorated that day.

This is Made (pronounced Ma day). He was our driver for the day when we went to Ubud with Haylee, Ross, their kids, Mum & Roger. We paid him 600 000 Rupiah, which is equivalent to $60 Australian dollars for driving us all around for seven hours. I am sure he only receives a small cut of that money we paid him. He joined us for lunch and told us that his wife is pregnant. The baby is breech and unless it turns soon they will have to pay 5 million Rupiah ($500) to have the baby in hospital - he is hoping it turns soon so they will only have to pay 1.5 million Rupiah to have the baby at home. They will struggle to find the money for a hospital delivery. I really hope things work out for him. He was gorgeous, he called me Ma'am, we tipped him well. Sienna Grace McDonlad took this shot for me!!!

Seriously cute - his helmet was a Shawn the Sheep helmet. The traffic amazed me, especially all the motor bikes and scooters with kids on them.

Blake and I visited the cultural centre in Jimbaran. We were the only white people there, which was fine by us. Apparently the place was full with Javanese who like to visit Bali for their own holidays. I was told on several occasions, by Balinese men, that the Javanese are very different to the Balinese. The primary difference is religion. Most Balinese people are Hindu (90%) or Christians (10%) - whereas the Javanese are predominately Muslim. The Balinese will talk to you on their thoughts of the Muslim culture if you ask. Generally they say "me no like, they have bomb". On the last day I was very lucky to speak with a well educated tour guide who explained to me that the Muslim people will always follow religion first and then the law second. It is just their way! A Muslim person will first and foremost be a Muslim, despite their nationality, gender, age etc whereas a Hindu or Christian will always say they are Balinese before they say their religion. Hindu plays such an important role in the lives of most Balinese people yet they will always abide by the law and continue to be good people. I was told that Muslim people continue to have many children (as did the Prophet) even if they can not afford to educate them or look after them well. Generally Muslim people can only get work in construction in Bali as they are often uneducated, and the Balinese do not think of them as being desirable employees. The Javanese look at you differently, although their eyes and physical appearance is the same as the Balinese, their eyes are lacking that beautiful Bali spirit. If you barter with a Javanese stall holder and then choose to not purchase they become angry. I was told that a Balinese person would never do that. They will be friendly to you always. So if you have ever copped shit in Bali from an angry vendor, chances are they were from Java and quite possibly Muslim.

The breath taking waters of Jimbaran Bay - Dreamland

Got the essentials

Fishing Village in Jimbaran Bay

Petrol for sale - 50 cents per litre

Jimbaran local fish market

mmmmmm tasty

This man was delightful. He begged me to return with this photo of him but I just couldn't get back there. He sells corn at the Jimbaran fish market every day at noon.

His cart which he was incredibly proud of.

Chilli anyone???

A typical Balinese vacant block- I am sure the sign says "please do not dump your rubbish here."

A Hindu offering. The Hindu people will make one or several offerings per day. It needs to come from the heart, so if they are feeling grateful or blessed they may offer several times a day. This boy Kadek is 20 years old. He says rather than make his own offerings he buys them ready made from other Balinese people. He said it was easier to do it that way rather than climb trees for the pretty flowers. Offerings are made every day without fail except for days when there are births or deaths in the family.

Inside a house in Kuta. The family living here are one of the poorest in Kuta. They have 15 people living together, dirt floors and cramped living spaces. They were all in good spirits and beaming smiles still occupied their faces. They had roosters which they bred for cock fighting. Cock fighting is not considered to be a good thing for Hindu people, but this family really had no other means to make money. They are uneducated and their children will be uneducated - the poverty cycle in full swing :(

We visited a school in Kuta and although it was school holidays for the Balinese children there was still many children lurking around. Apparently they can do extra classes over holidays if they have money to do so. The children clean their own classrooms before school starts for the day - duty roster. I nearly cried when I was told that. Our Aussie kids are way too privileged in many respects.

Working on the village temple. It is the responsibility of the people to keep their temple clean and beautiful - which they do.

"Plait your hair"

Two types of rice is grown in Bali - traditional Bali rice which is fat, tasty and sticks together when cooked and Thailand rice which apparently isn't as tasty but it germinates a lot quicker. From memory the Thailand rice grows on a hybrid plant.

"Excuse us, kite coming through."

Our driver and friend Sakit brought his wife Deewee along for the day when he took us up to Bangli. Deewee brought one of her own traditional Balinese outfits for me to wear when we visited the traditional villiage. I felt very special wearing it. Deewee was such a beautiful woman.

I think they sell kites there?

A super large kite being placed back onto the back of the truck from which it fell off. It cause a traffic jam but no one was bothered by it all. It would be equivalent to driving a mine truck down the Graham Farmer FWY.

Sakit & Deewee