Our paths crossed with friends up from Perth, who took us out to the village Pulu, where hundreds of Heron and Ibis come and roost every night. The story goes that in the 60's when the anti communist drive was on, over 1million people disappeared with a high % coming from Bali. Legend has it that no sooner had these people disappeared, when these birds started to roost here at night and that it is the spirits of the deceased coming back home. It does seem a bit strange when there are perfectly good other trees nearby, but it's only these trees that they choose!
Next day we did one of the rice paddies walk.(a round trip of several km's)
This one you start down by the irrigation duct that crosses the road that leads down to Murnies as its own bridge and Gusteves 2 bungalows
I had done the "walk" on a bicycle a couple of years back, but the track was very muddy owing to fact that it was the wet season.
Not so this time and I had wanted to show Ibu the artists (painting and jewellers) and their work and the scenery of so many different coloured greens is better than post cards.
Still only room for a person in width, but it passes lots of different artists studios with artists at work. Did a Safety Observation on a lady jeweller. Bare foot operating bellows as she uses a gas axe to heat up the silver rings to set the stones into a ring. No eye or hand protection etc. Still very talented people as they produce nice girly things!!!
Nearing the end of the outward bound leg of the walk we stopped at a place for a drink that offered basic accommodation with breathtaking views of the valley. It did not have a pool but at the entrance to the property a sign offered a hot tub that stated that swim wear was prohibited. I offered to go and find this tub, but Ibu told me to get back into my box.
The walk back took twice as long.
You go up one way and they suggest that you cross the river and take an alternative route home. My previous trip, it had started to rain and I took the highway home.
The notes on the walk did say that it was a bit hard to find the track, but to push on and you will come upon the track.
Don't know what we did wrong.
We were not lost, because you had the river on one side of us and a mountain on the other side, but after a couple of K's we were lost.
Stuck out in the middle of rice paddies like scarecrows we were.
We had to get down and dirty.
I. E. sit on your bum and lower yourselves to the next level; 1 metre down without falling into the irrigation channel between you and the path you were trying to get to. (I had visions of rolled ankles and that was the last thing we needed) (hati hati and plan plan) (Oh to be 30 years younger and 30 kilos lighter)
After passing pig and cow pens we came across a farmer who took us to the correct path some hundred metres and out of sight from where we were forging a path.
So now we were back on the other single person width path, but minus any artist studios etc.!!
We passed a building construction site.
Saw some men resting in the shade and then came across about 30 women labourers making their way to the construction site, carrying rocks and bricks on their heads for about 1 km. The ladies had to climb a very long and steep path as part of their route.
Those poor men, must have been exhausting supervising those women.
Had a late lunch at Rodda's and was invited back for a teeth filing ceremony in 2 days time.
Got home and I went next door for one much needed massage. Slept very well that night.
We did go to the tooth filing ceremony. Without going into too much detail, they use a 6 inch what looks to be a smooth cut file, to take the pointy bits off the recipients teeth. There was quite an assembly line of people having this done. I never ceased to be amazed at the generosity of Balinese people. We were offered food and drink. Just cannot imagine of being offered food let alone invited as a stranger to an important ceremony of any description back home. I guess that's one of the many reasons why we like Bali.