After a couple of days rest, I have now recovered from the dreaded tight-arse disease. I have been able to do the beach walk without a "Loo" stop. We now feel safe to do our trip up to the north of the Island.
Two years ago, we received a rather desperate email from one of our dear friends in Bali, that his mother was very ill & they couldn't raise the money for her treatment. We helped them out, so today we are going to the village to meet mother & the rest of the family.
We are going to a little fishing village called Bondelam.
Looking at the map of Bali, it is on the coast, well up past Candidasa going up towards Singeraja.
Gede, our friend, rallies cousin Ketut as driver.
To the village of Bondelam we go, via Singeraja.
Kuala, our Balinese daughter, has not seen her mother for many months .
We asked her to come along on the trip & we would take her to see her mother.
We had coffee there (hoping that mother had boiled the water well). We left Kuala & the kids with her mother, her husband Arya would pick her up in a couple of days.
We continue onto Bondelam. What a greeting we received.
The children were absolutely delightful, fasinated & so trusting.
Not many tourists' go to these little villages.
I don't think the kids there had seen many "white fellas".
As little as they have, they share what they have.
We were treated like royalty. BBQ'd tuna for lunch, with a salsa to die for. The BBQ, in it self was a giggle. About half a dozen concrete bricks were brought from the back of an old shed, stacked up, thick wire mesh on top. Instant BBQ. The tuna was continually being basted in coconut oil & herbs. The food, as simple as it was, was tastier than any resteraunt we have eaten at in Bali in 6 years. Banana leaves on the ground served as a table cloth, where all the food was placed.
Sitting crossed legged on the floor was quite a feat for us.
All the family had quite a giggle, as we are not quite as flexable as they are. But we did manage it (in a fashion).
Banana leaves served as plates, we ate with our fingers (well washed of course). As there were no dishes to wash, Mrs. & I went back to the BBQ yard.
Rug on the ground, all the men sat in a circle, as this was secret mens business.
Mrs. sits on her own on a chair quite close to the circle of men (like, she who must be obeyed).
Out comes a bottle of local Arak. As Gede knew that I drink Arak with coke, there was a large bottle of Arak & 1 small bottle of coke. Their idea of Arak & coke is 95% Arak to 5% coke.
So long as it had changed the colour it was enough coke.
Among 10 men we shared one glass. There was a grog monitor. One guy poured the drinks & passed the refilled glass onto the next person in turn & so on. This drinking session went on for about 4 hours.
They didn't think I could handle their home brew (& yes it was a rough one) I drank them under the drinkng rug. Mrs. wasn't too happy about sharing the same glass with everyone, so she declined the offer of a drink ( this was a real first, never known her to refuse a drink before). After a long & extended "Happy Hour", we are driven to our Homestay (motel). Very nice place, with big beautiful gardens filled with huge palm trees. It is a magnificent walk through these gardens to the beach.
This is one of the very few places in Bali where you can see both the sunrise in the morning & sunset in the evening.
We sit on our balcony, looking towards the ocean through the magnificent palm tree garden.
I have arranged with one of the local fisherman, to go out fishing with him early the next morning, in his tiny boat with single (tea towel) sail.
Next morning, the fishing was unsuccessful, not surprising when you see their gear & tackle.
Their fishing line is more like a rope & the sinker is a rock or stone tied to the end of the line (rope).
I will return, maybe next year, with my own fishing gear,
I'll definately come back with a good feed of fish. We could see the fish but couldn't hook up.
After fishing, we return to Gede's village to say our farewells to the family & all the kids. Then back to Sanur.
Photos of our homestay in Bondelam are on, www.fotothing.com/balicharles/
Pics of all the kids,BBQ & drinking session will appear tomorrow night.