short hiatus / Bali cont.

Hello, hello

Well, yes, I have not been on here in a while. It feels like sooo long ago that I was in lovely Bali! Right now I am sitting in a hotel room, on a wet night in Bandung. I am here to observe the PDS/R refresher training going on this week. Absent the companionship of my fellow FPFs, I brought lots of DVDs and reading material. The translators and I plan to go out tomorrow, maybe with the master trainers in tow. Lots of factory outlets here, but I'm hoping to find stuff suitable for Christmas shopping. Instead of being high up on the hill, as I was the only other time I stayed here, we are down in the main part of the city.

I thought I would take advantage of this time to catch up on photo uploads and on blogging. So much has happened in the past few weeks! I am trying to upload my Bali photos right now, but it looks like it could possibly take all night. I have become very familiar with the slow internet connection provided by my cellular modem. It has made life interesting and, frankly, frustrating. I was able to talk to my parents on Skype last night for the first time in weeks. I also gave a virtual lecture to Washington State University shortly after returning from Bali. As my internet connection would support neither WSU's virtual lecture system nor a call via Skype, they called me on my Blackberry. The phone on their end was hung up to the microphone with bandage stockinette. I guess given all our technology, some things just never change!

After my tango night in Seminyak, we spent the next day reclining on the beach. I was talked into making another trip to crowded Kuta for surfing, of all things. I am proud to say that, 12 years after I last tried surfing, I was able to get up on my rented long board on the first try. The water at Kuta was lovely, but there were tons of other surfers and swimmers to watch out for. I seem to be at an awkward stage in my surfing where I want to start catching waves at the break but am still on a long board, which is hard to get out that far. Not feeling in the mood for too much roughing up, I didn't spend a ton of time in the surf. We caught the famous sunset and then made our merry way to Jimbaran - home of beachside seafood. Just past the Four Seasons, there is a marketplace of fresh seafood restaurants, clearly identified from the vast plumes of smoke rising from the grills. You pick one, choose your seafood, and they throw it right on the grill for you, cooked over coconut husks. We opted for a kilo each of clams, 2 kilos of prawns, and 3 large crabs. Once chosen, we were escorted to a lovely, candlelit table down at the water's edge. A constellation of other candles on tables and villa lights in the distance, as well as stars above, makes for a magical scene. A cold beer and fresh grilled seafood, eaten within reach of the surf, must be one of life's best pleasures!

For our last day in Bali, we opted to check out Ubud, up in the hills. We were sidetracked at the Bali Orchid Garden. (Yes, that was my doing!) The garden was well laid-out and had some lovely orchids, although I was a bit disappointed in the variety of species. What made the stop more remarkable was the opportunity to try kopi luak, aka 'poop coffee.' The beans have been ingested and passed by civet cats - also the apparent reservoirs of SARS virus. The coffee is quite expensive - I bought grounds enough for one serving for $7. The three of us decided to share one brewed cup for about $4. I really liked it! To me, the kopi luak was very complex and rich, but not at all bitter. Also sampled some really interesting and good honey, as well as orchid massage oil. We were able to buy orchid seedlings in a bottle for Dale. Apparently the seedlings can be exported, as is, without a permit...

Next stop was the Elephant Cave. There is a lovely grove with a cave, sacred to the Balinese Hindus in the Ubud area. We walked around to see the cave, which isn't very deep but is said to be in a rock that looks like an elephant. Our next stop was the ever-popular Dirty Duck Cafe. It was very busy, but we had a lovely view of the rice paddies and grazing ducks while waiting for what turned out to be a really good meal. Only enough time remained for a little shopping. Lots more to see in Ubud and Bali in general.

It was a hard landing to come back to Jakarta after our delicious week in Bali. Lots more time at Deptan, although I now actually have my own desk. It's the simple things, really, that give me enough to keep going. I went to the pet fish market with Dale and bought two really funky-looking goldfish. They appear really bloated and bounce around like ping pong balls when they try to feed at the top. They lasted 2 weeks before, unfortunately, dying this past weekend. :( I'm sorry I didn't get photos before they were gone. It was nice to have something living to talk to in my apartment, even if they were stupid fish! If I try again to have fish, which is difficult with all my travel, I will wait until after Christmas...

So, that's the rest of my first trip to Bali. The weekend after I returned, I went to East Java to climb Ijen Crater with another friend. My next blog will be reveal all; spectacular photos available too - when I have hours to spend uploading!

Cheers,
Edie