it's a wonderful world: BALI

I'm not one that likes to go to the same vacation spot twice. There are too many other places I want to see. However, Bali is one place I would go back to visit.

David had business meetings in Jakarta, so we decided Bali would be a great place to meet and celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary a little early.

We stayed at the W Resort and Spa....however, we didn't spend much time there. We hit the road almost as soon as we arrived.

We were very lucky that our trip landed on the Galungan celebration. It is celebrated every 210 days and lasts for ten days. Balinese celebrate the coming of the gods and the ancestral spirits to earth to dwell again in the homes of the descendants.

Norman

The driver we had lined up, Leroy (gold shirt), is chief in his villiage and could not escort us around. He had his brother, Norman, take us around Ubud. Our first stop was at their village temple. We were able to see so many of the villagers prepare for the celebration.

The ladies work very hard on their decorations and offerings!

Norman then took us to see the art villages where woodcarving and silver/gold are specialties.

It was incredible to see these artists at work. The handy work is very intricate. I had to bring home one of the pendants that was made there. I love it!

Next up: Monkey temple. I think I was just as big of an attraction:

We left our car at the temple and rode bikes around the area. The women that were not making decorations, were out working....and then they would go home and continue working to get ready for the celebration.

I couldn't lift those 50 pounds buckets of dirt three inches off the ground! The women filled them, hoisted them on their heads, and continued until the entire dirt pile was taken to the rice fields.