7 & 8 Sept 2012 Bali

7 & 8 Sept 2012 Bali Friday a quiet day, taxi to nearby Kuta-Legion where I finally find an internet cafe....2 and quarter hours later I have cleared my inbox and posted the first blog. Then a coffee and wander around before taxi back to Jepun. We pass many preparations for tomorrows Hindu celebration day. There are tall arching weaved creations, that look like giant straw snowdrops, outside every house and shop along the roadside. And dragons. These are fearsome creatures that weave and rear across the village roads, followed by a troupe of whooping children. Actually, they are a variation of our pantomime horse, but much more interesting and threatening. That evening, Ketut takes me to his home again where I eat an inordinate amount of pork ribs with rice. Sitting in the porch, there are four of us, Ketut, me, Putu(Ketuts main man) and Korman. When we start eating, Putu offers me a small glass of coca-cola which he indicates I have to down in one. Interestingly, the same glass is topped up and passed around for the 4 of us to drink in turn. By the end of the evening there is a pile of bones in front of me and we have got through 2 large bottles of coca-cola. I don't drink coca-cola very often, and thought this had a slightly different taste, anyway it turned out to be arak, distilled from fermented palm extract, a very pleasant drink. I don't remember being taken back to my room but woke up the next morning feeling very refreshed after an excellent nights sleep. Saturday is celebration day, another taxi ride to Legion sees all the decorations in place, mainly on the temples of which there are many, large ones for village attendance and prayers, and small ones in every household and shop porch. And giant straw snowdrops of course. Everyone is dressed up for the day, visiting temples for prayers, men in white robes and hat (called udung), ladies in beautiful saris, radiant colours and fine materials, and children in smart outfits all excited and reveling in the occasion. I see all this travelling to and from Legion through villages and countryside, it's a pleasure to be here. Late afternoon, Ketut and Putu pick me up at Jepun and drive me to Tanah Lot Temple on the coast. Hundreds of locals are here queuing up to pray in the main temple which is on a huge rock in the sea. The tide is out so there is a long queue of white robed worshipers across the wet rocks and up the winding steps to the top. The sea is crashing against the rock on three sides, sending curtains of white spray up towards the temple and its acolytes on this rock that dares to defy the onslaught of the sea and its powerful waves. Those coming back down from the rock look quite relieved and those waiting to go up are evidently keen to get on with it before the tide comes in, and the angry sea reclaims the fourth side of this rock temple. The whole scenario is spectacular and I am privileged to witness it. In the evening Ketut and Putu have to work, so I walk alone to Canggu beach. Although there are many people here, mostly locals and surfers, the atmosphere is quiet and serene. I see a local lady in traditional dress on a bench, she is bending over as in prayer, and I feel uplifted by the sense of peace and tranquility of this place. As I pass by her, I notice she is texting on her iphone but no matter, the sense of peacefulness prevails. I walk across the beaches to Echo Beach where I order a large beer and a very large aussie burger with everything and chips. I am sitting at a table on a promenade right next to the sea. The incoming tide is gradually consuming an outcrop of rocks that separates two beaches (a bit like Corbyn Head rocks). I like this place. Even the dogs are relaxed here, evidenced by the mongrel that continued aloof and unruffled as it walked past my table pursued by a small child throwing firecrackers at it. I finish with an almond and belgian chocolate covered magnum ice cream lolypop. I do like magnums. Corbyn Head rocks are covered now. Time to sleep. Goodnight and take care, John