We are amongst the lucky few who can spend a month at a time in Bali. As per usual the highlight of this stay was being able to assist Sothern Cross Bali Association to help the very needy in noorthern Bali. At the beginning of March a convoy of three cars travelled north laden with building gear for the kitchen being built at the lower level of Munti ( floor tiles, 40 litre tins of paint, tile cement etc ), the kitchen will provide a hygenic cooking area and also be able to be used as a first aid post.
As we approached Tianya we could see the mountain was shrouded in dense cloud.
The gear we took up was unpacked. A little rain began to fall so it was decided that only one car would go up the mountain to the next level. Smudge needed to check out what was required to repair the school at that level.
The rest of us remained at the lower level giving first aid to those in need. Simple cuts and abraisions can easily become infected and present serious problems. Several children had cuts that were ulcerated and needed immediate treatment.
After the first aid had been done some twenty children gathered in the partly completed kitchen. Shelda started a sing-along session. The children were all smiles as they sang their hearts out.
After a few hours it was time to return to Kuta. Although there had been a few showers at Munti we didn't realise that there had been heavy continuous rain over the mountain. The river beds that had been dry on the way up were now foaming black torrents of mud and boulders the size of soccer balls rolling down like marbles. At one point the traffic had stopped. The reason was easy to see the road was awash with boulders and tree trunks passing by. The water surging over the road and then gushing down a steep gully. At first two trucks decided to run the gauntlet. They made it. Then two four wheel drive vehicles went over. Our driver decided it was OK. He said the Mitsubishi mini bus had the engine high between the driver and the front passenger and would not stall. That wasn't the danger. The real danger was being swept over the ravine. As we went over a tree trunk passed in front of us. Had it hit we would have been swept over the edge.Rocks and boulders smahed against the wheels. WE MADE IT but it took an hour for our heart rates to return to normal. White water rafting in a mini bus is not for the faint hearted! Even then our dramas were not over, several trees had fallen across the road bringing down power lines.
Ten days later we went back north to collect an elderly man to take him to hospital in Denpasar. Unfortunately he had become sicker and was taken to hospital in Sigaraja prior to our arrival. We brought back a young girl that needeed continued dental treatment in Denpasar. Whilst in Munti we did the usual minor first aid treatments.
This time our return journey was uneventful.
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