I experienced my first, Nyepi or Balinese New Years, one of the most revered days of the year! It starts out with weeks of preparation from all the villages on the island. As I was going to and from school, I could watch the progress of the Ogoh Ogohs. Usually the building of these giants is left up to the young men in the Banjar (or village group). Originally they were made from paper and bamboo, and now mostly foam. They are made to capture the demon sprits on the eve of Nyepi, paraded through the village and burned as purification ritual. Again, I resort to the internet for more specific details.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogoh-ogo
The island the next day, from 6am to 6am, is quiet and dark. Everyone is to stay inside their homes and essentially rest, meditate and fast. Each village has patrol that keep people inside their homes. The idea being that if the island is dark and quiet, the demons will be tricked to go away. And another year starts out with a purified and demon-free island. Lovely!
Of course many tourists either leave the island or stay in hotels that offer Nyepi "black out" specials, since the idea of a quiet island is no fun for some. They put blankets and paper on the windows to black out the light, so people can still watch tv, go on the internet, have lights on, and such. I opted to stay at a friend's house and play with his family for two nights. It was great! We played games, ate by candlelight, talked, etc. Because it is a larger house then mine, we could be outside and swim during the day with little worry since the walls block out neighbors. Very buleh (tourist), but quite nice too. I had fun and am very sad to see my friends leave island and go back to the states soon. I am trying all I can to get them to stay, but of course, life moves on.
Now it is spring break and I am opting for a "staycation." I love where I live and I am excited to just be home. I am volunteering for the big Bali Spirit Festival next week. I think I get a pass to the events once I finish my shift at the information booth. Should be fun to meet new people, get my yoga on (finally!), and hear some world beats.
http://www.balispiritfestival.com/
That's all for now!
Home
Friday, March 23, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
The Sky is Falling!
**Editor's Note** I wrote this a few days ago. The wind has ceased!
Okay, not really but it was so windy at school today, my classroom was falling down. I sit up on the 3rd floor of the Heart Of School (HOS), and the breezes just blow right on through my room. That and the thatched roof drops debris to the point of needing safety googles. I eventually searched out an empty classroom for my next two classes. Unreal.
Okay, not really but it was so windy at school today, my classroom was falling down. I sit up on the 3rd floor of the Heart Of School (HOS), and the breezes just blow right on through my room. That and the thatched roof drops debris to the point of needing safety googles. I eventually searched out an empty classroom for my next two classes. Unreal.
The last time we experienced these types of winds, there was a cyclone off the coast of Bali that circled and wound its way towards Australia. It was incredible how windy it was. And today in school you could hear the white board crash in a nearby classroom (mine is tied to the railing), kids yelling over the din trying to be heard by their teacher (who lost all control), the occasional "whoa" from someone downstairs in the Mepantigan (our thatched auditorium), the palm trees blowing so fiercely they look like they might just topple over. You get the idea.
I actually had a planning period this morning and couldn't write in my classroom with so much debris falling and blowing that I went downstairs to the main floor (right in the entrance area) and found a stable ceiling to sit under. But then I was wide open for every one to say, "sorry to bother you but..." I did accomplish my task but the interruptions were constant. Interesting and important as it always is catching up with your colleagues, but distracting nonetheless.
Then it was lunch. Imagine all the food in big serving dishes, with the wind knocking over everything not held down: spoons, plates, tickets, cups, food, etc.The dishes were covered by banana leaves that inevitably blew away. I patiently waited for my dish of taco fixings and went to find a decent place to eat while cowering over my plate so as not to swallow roof splinters. Forget about filling a water glass! I threw mine out immediately since more debris was inside than water. Where is my water bottle anyway? I can't believe when packing I only brought one water bottle. And I use it so much, it has to be cleaned out daily or it will smell funny. Mold, the friends that stays so close!
But I digress.
By the end of the day, there was a huge piece of black roof plastic sliding into the classroom from the nearby roof (it is a three-roofed building), put up there to stop the leaking thatch roof into the other adjoining classroom. It looked like a giant plastic monster wanted to take over my classroom. Good times!
Then arriving home, I found yes, the debris was everywhere, and I have windows and walls and the wind ripping through the night. My own thatched roof left a mess as a well as all the things that blew like mad in under the doors and through the open bathroom. I later found out we had a tornado warning for Bali the next day. Which wasn't any better at school. My classroom was wrecked. When I was helping a a Grade 8 student with her homework, the wind was whipping past us so fiercely that papers were flying, books knocking over and we were yelling so loudly it was silly. And quite comical except for the crap flying into your eyes.Then later, when I took my little sixth graders around school looking for a decent classroom to teach in, I settled on Grade 5 since they were on a field trip. But alas, coconuts were falling like mad (we were chastised for walking on the trails) and the roof had blown away.
Then arriving home, I found yes, the debris was everywhere, and I have windows and walls and the wind ripping through the night. My own thatched roof left a mess as a well as all the things that blew like mad in under the doors and through the open bathroom. I later found out we had a tornado warning for Bali the next day. Which wasn't any better at school. My classroom was wrecked. When I was helping a a Grade 8 student with her homework, the wind was whipping past us so fiercely that papers were flying, books knocking over and we were yelling so loudly it was silly. And quite comical except for the crap flying into your eyes.Then later, when I took my little sixth graders around school looking for a decent classroom to teach in, I settled on Grade 5 since they were on a field trip. But alas, coconuts were falling like mad (we were chastised for walking on the trails) and the roof had blown away.
Forget riding your motorbike with any ability or speed...the sensation of being blown over is extreme. And the reality of being blown over is scary. Thank goodness for my carpool. Which is the topic of my next blog. Stay tuned...
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Lovely Sunday.
Truly a day of rest and relaxation. This morning I slept in, read my book and lounged between the early am kitty pounces. And I made the phone calls with my sister, brother, and favorite little man, Kellen. I love Sunday Skype calls. They have been too few and far between, so look out if I haven't called recently and answer if you see an "unavailable" number. Other than that, after a cup of coffee, I have the day free. I stopped going in to work a few months ago, so I have no excuse but to relax. Wayan just delivered a green coconut, which she now does every day. I am quite addicted to them. There is the option of a massage and spa, but I think I will just hang out here with the furry ones and the swimming pool right outside my bedroom doors upstairs. I haven't been home for a few weeks, so to relax here is a must.
It is slightly overcast with a touch of sun and as usual quite hot and muggy out. I bought another fan last night at the grocery store, so my downstairs has three fans that push the air around attempting to make it seem cooler. I have these beautiful large glass doors downstairs (which is my kitchen/living room) but I am not opening them too often, so not letting the kitties outside much. The little one (Ginger) is so little (3 months) and cobras, monitor lizards and the neighborhood dog still freak me out. Still traumatized from losing my last kitty. Being hyper sensitive but I guess I am allowed at this point.
In a few hours close to 3pm, I will jump on the motor bike and head to Ultimate, near the Monkey Forest. We have a Sunday game on a patchy dry field, and hopefully can play an hour or so before the neighborhood kids come out with the soccer ball. There is a Bali tournament in a few weeks, and our team has just scratched together a roster. I think I need to get in shape, seriously.
And then it is dinner with a friend of a friend that I haven't seen in years! She called and said "I am on island". Lucky me. So I chose a favorite restaurant to meet at and catch up. Decadence.
Then the week starts all over again. The weekends are so relaxing, I forget for a few days how draining the school days are. But we are almost at spring break, and I will be staying on island, saving money and volunteering at the Bali Spirit Festival. I will write more closer to the day, but Bali New Year's Day (Nyepi) falls before our break and it will be a hoot to experience. More on that later.
I wrote this next passage a few days ago, and decided to include it as part of my documenting the experience of living in the tropics.
The past two weeks of intense heat rash on various parts of my body make me think we are changing seasons again, from wet to dry. (I say this as it is pouring outside!) If you haven't had a heat rash before because you don't live in 98% humidity near the equator, let me just say, it's no fun. The constant urge to itch leads to immediate relief which then lends to extremely itchy and bleeding skin. I have learned that instant relief comes in really really scalding hot water, which you can imagine then burns the hell out of your skin. My poor neck, arms and legs have been so red and blotchy from the heat and scalding showers, that I was stopped more than once with, "are you okay?" I thought I was going crazy. Is it just in my head? Is this real? But it is real and I just dealt with it.
The hot water relief is almost orgasmic, a shuddering sense of release, no more pain, no more itch, just a wonderful tickling, scratching sensation. Lovely. Since I only have a solar shower, my hot water lasts a few minutes. There I am sticking each arm, elbow, craning neck and shins to reach the water. One night I took three showers between 8pm-3am and tried as many as 8 different ointments/powders/solutions on different body parts to see what worked best. I finally found a brilliant solution: hotel room. So last weekend a posse of us went to the beach and stayed at a beautiful hotel: pool, beach front, pool bar, spa, etc. But for me the beauty was the hot bathtub (imagine the sensation there!) and cold air conditioning while languishing on a bed watching HBO. I have no bathtub, AirCon or TV, so I was on vacation! I only went outside to the pool at 1pm because the hotel called and said, "it's time to check out." Then I ordered a dry cocktail and stayed in the pool.
Cheers.
It is slightly overcast with a touch of sun and as usual quite hot and muggy out. I bought another fan last night at the grocery store, so my downstairs has three fans that push the air around attempting to make it seem cooler. I have these beautiful large glass doors downstairs (which is my kitchen/living room) but I am not opening them too often, so not letting the kitties outside much. The little one (Ginger) is so little (3 months) and cobras, monitor lizards and the neighborhood dog still freak me out. Still traumatized from losing my last kitty. Being hyper sensitive but I guess I am allowed at this point.
In a few hours close to 3pm, I will jump on the motor bike and head to Ultimate, near the Monkey Forest. We have a Sunday game on a patchy dry field, and hopefully can play an hour or so before the neighborhood kids come out with the soccer ball. There is a Bali tournament in a few weeks, and our team has just scratched together a roster. I think I need to get in shape, seriously.
And then it is dinner with a friend of a friend that I haven't seen in years! She called and said "I am on island". Lucky me. So I chose a favorite restaurant to meet at and catch up. Decadence.
Then the week starts all over again. The weekends are so relaxing, I forget for a few days how draining the school days are. But we are almost at spring break, and I will be staying on island, saving money and volunteering at the Bali Spirit Festival. I will write more closer to the day, but Bali New Year's Day (Nyepi) falls before our break and it will be a hoot to experience. More on that later.
I wrote this next passage a few days ago, and decided to include it as part of my documenting the experience of living in the tropics.
The past two weeks of intense heat rash on various parts of my body make me think we are changing seasons again, from wet to dry. (I say this as it is pouring outside!) If you haven't had a heat rash before because you don't live in 98% humidity near the equator, let me just say, it's no fun. The constant urge to itch leads to immediate relief which then lends to extremely itchy and bleeding skin. I have learned that instant relief comes in really really scalding hot water, which you can imagine then burns the hell out of your skin. My poor neck, arms and legs have been so red and blotchy from the heat and scalding showers, that I was stopped more than once with, "are you okay?" I thought I was going crazy. Is it just in my head? Is this real? But it is real and I just dealt with it.
The hot water relief is almost orgasmic, a shuddering sense of release, no more pain, no more itch, just a wonderful tickling, scratching sensation. Lovely. Since I only have a solar shower, my hot water lasts a few minutes. There I am sticking each arm, elbow, craning neck and shins to reach the water. One night I took three showers between 8pm-3am and tried as many as 8 different ointments/powders/solutions on different body parts to see what worked best. I finally found a brilliant solution: hotel room. So last weekend a posse of us went to the beach and stayed at a beautiful hotel: pool, beach front, pool bar, spa, etc. But for me the beauty was the hot bathtub (imagine the sensation there!) and cold air conditioning while languishing on a bed watching HBO. I have no bathtub, AirCon or TV, so I was on vacation! I only went outside to the pool at 1pm because the hotel called and said, "it's time to check out." Then I ordered a dry cocktail and stayed in the pool.
Cheers.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Two Month Highlights?
If I were to describe all the moments of the past two months since my last blog, it would take too long. So I will highlight them here, briefly. First of all, I was so lucky to have visitors for almost a month from December 13 to January 7th. First my sister Thea came! I was so happy and excited that we would spend another Christmas together. Lucky me. We traveled around the island, diving, lying in the sun, relaxing, eating great Christmas dinners, walked around Ubud in the rain, playing a few games of chess. It was wonderful! Then Kriss and Mark came, all of the visitors together at the same time. We had one weekend all together down south at a little beach. We ate, walked on the beach, toured Ulu Watu Temple and took pics of the over-sized monkeys, whilst watching a Kecat dance of Rama and Sita. Lovely. Than after Mark's quick visit and a tour of the GS school , Kriss and I had New Year's (yeah dancing!) and the week after to explore and hang out. Good times to day the least. Weird feeling to wake up one day and its just me, the snoozing kitties on my face and the pouring rain outside.
Then it was back to school and the mad rush of not having much free time: planning, organizing, grading, meeting. But the bonus was my Christmas packages arrived! That and the gifts that Thea and Kriss brought. Oh, my coworkers were jealous. :) Thank you everyone: Thea, Kriss, Peter, Lenore, Aunt Pat & Uncle Macy. Liz, sadly the calendar has not arrived yet. But I am still looking. I can't express how wonderful it was and how I miss everyone. So all in all it was good to be back at school but things got hectic quickly.
I think the loss of my cousin was the hardest thing to experience so far from home. I couldn't be in Portland, close to grieve with everyone and yet I felt the intense loss. My sweet cousin Caroline, who I think about every day, I am hoping and praying has found herself in a better place. Can't go too much farther on that one in a blog. But the loss was compounded in a way with the loss of one of my kitties, Penny.
The immediate death here in my house for me to deal with alone, was horrible, but in a strange way allowed me to grieve for my cousin too. Since I raised the little fur balls from two weeks old, I can't express how sad and responsible I felt for Penelope's loss. I didn't know how sick she was and the guilt is sometimes over powering. When I left for school last Wednesday, she was still sick from the night before (I thought food poisoning). I had just had them both fixed a few days before. I came home from work that evening and I couldn't find her and called and called. I knew something was wrong. She had curled up in my closet and died. Ugh. Awful. I went out to Wayan and her husband Neoman, a blubbering mess carrying her little body. They did a quick ceremony and burial in the dark. I then whisked the other one off down the rice paddies, to a taxi and the 24hr kitty vet that I didn't know existed previously. The vet said their immune systems were compromised from the surgery and since not vaccinated, succumbed to a virus. Javier, then spent a week on an IV and in kitty ICU, trying to recover from that deadly virus. He did. And I brought him home a few days ago, after spending every afternoon, motorbiking over and holding him in my lap for an hour.
Of course, I couldn't bring him home alone, since Penny and Wayan's kitty had died too. So I brought another rescue kitty home, and he is a miniature of Javier, named Ginger. Pretty cute and very sweet. Javier came home looking all over for Penny. Sad. But he is better. Ginger is three months old and a precocious lover. Both have to go back and get more vaccine's and check ups, but all is good in Bali kitty world. I can't explain how compounded everything is here. But to open my world to an animal, is hard knowing what a harsh environment this is for animals. Most people don't do it. But I am a sucker and can't help not having animals around me.
Now, it's Sunday after a long weekend of the Galugan holiday of staying home and reading, relaxing and sleeping. Galungan is a time, every six months, where the Balinese make these beautiful decorated poles outside of every house, and spent the next 11 days giving thanks to the ancestors, the families and the Gods. It is extremely spiritual and happens every 210 days, or the rice cycle. I hope to go to the Temple next weekend with Ani, my housecleaner or Pembantu, and experience one of the ceremonies and blessings. I didn't go on a trip with the 200 GS families to the Gili Islands since I found out my kitty could come home. I know I missed another good time, but I was allowed some solo time to grieve, think and deal. Sometimes that is what is important.
Today no rain. I decided I need make more Skye calls, write shorter, more up to date blogs and take advantage of this healing place I live in: get more massages, drink more juices and start really exercising again. Ha! Stay tuned.
Then it was back to school and the mad rush of not having much free time: planning, organizing, grading, meeting. But the bonus was my Christmas packages arrived! That and the gifts that Thea and Kriss brought. Oh, my coworkers were jealous. :) Thank you everyone: Thea, Kriss, Peter, Lenore, Aunt Pat & Uncle Macy. Liz, sadly the calendar has not arrived yet. But I am still looking. I can't express how wonderful it was and how I miss everyone. So all in all it was good to be back at school but things got hectic quickly.
I think the loss of my cousin was the hardest thing to experience so far from home. I couldn't be in Portland, close to grieve with everyone and yet I felt the intense loss. My sweet cousin Caroline, who I think about every day, I am hoping and praying has found herself in a better place. Can't go too much farther on that one in a blog. But the loss was compounded in a way with the loss of one of my kitties, Penny.
The immediate death here in my house for me to deal with alone, was horrible, but in a strange way allowed me to grieve for my cousin too. Since I raised the little fur balls from two weeks old, I can't express how sad and responsible I felt for Penelope's loss. I didn't know how sick she was and the guilt is sometimes over powering. When I left for school last Wednesday, she was still sick from the night before (I thought food poisoning). I had just had them both fixed a few days before. I came home from work that evening and I couldn't find her and called and called. I knew something was wrong. She had curled up in my closet and died. Ugh. Awful. I went out to Wayan and her husband Neoman, a blubbering mess carrying her little body. They did a quick ceremony and burial in the dark. I then whisked the other one off down the rice paddies, to a taxi and the 24hr kitty vet that I didn't know existed previously. The vet said their immune systems were compromised from the surgery and since not vaccinated, succumbed to a virus. Javier, then spent a week on an IV and in kitty ICU, trying to recover from that deadly virus. He did. And I brought him home a few days ago, after spending every afternoon, motorbiking over and holding him in my lap for an hour.
Of course, I couldn't bring him home alone, since Penny and Wayan's kitty had died too. So I brought another rescue kitty home, and he is a miniature of Javier, named Ginger. Pretty cute and very sweet. Javier came home looking all over for Penny. Sad. But he is better. Ginger is three months old and a precocious lover. Both have to go back and get more vaccine's and check ups, but all is good in Bali kitty world. I can't explain how compounded everything is here. But to open my world to an animal, is hard knowing what a harsh environment this is for animals. Most people don't do it. But I am a sucker and can't help not having animals around me.
Now, it's Sunday after a long weekend of the Galugan holiday of staying home and reading, relaxing and sleeping. Galungan is a time, every six months, where the Balinese make these beautiful decorated poles outside of every house, and spent the next 11 days giving thanks to the ancestors, the families and the Gods. It is extremely spiritual and happens every 210 days, or the rice cycle. I hope to go to the Temple next weekend with Ani, my housecleaner or Pembantu, and experience one of the ceremonies and blessings. I didn't go on a trip with the 200 GS families to the Gili Islands since I found out my kitty could come home. I know I missed another good time, but I was allowed some solo time to grieve, think and deal. Sometimes that is what is important.
Today no rain. I decided I need make more Skye calls, write shorter, more up to date blogs and take advantage of this healing place I live in: get more massages, drink more juices and start really exercising again. Ha! Stay tuned.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Too much Sun?
I really should be writing my grade reports right now but the teaching day just ended and I am fried. So what to do? I still have another 1/2 hour before my carpool heads home, leaving just enough time to walk downstairs to the warung (our little outdoor snack shack) and order a coconut. It is like a student store but run by Balinese staff and a few students help out here and there. After school it is a mayhem of course being near the entrance to school: parents, kids, teachers, visitors, drivers, staff and such. The marimba band is practicing, floating their beautiful sounds through the campus and there is a buzz of kids playing soccer on the field. I know there is no quick trip at 3:30pm to the warung but I really want a green coconut. I go. I run into a few parents, who inevitably want to chat about their child but I try to look like I need to go somewhere really important, while holding my big green coconut, smiling and sipping through the lemongrass straw. All very green.
I really can't explain how good a coconut makes you feel in this climate. After sweating all day and drinking a few coffees, no matter how much water I drink, I am always dehydrated it seems. And as most teachers know, leaving the classroom to fill up your water bottle let alone go to the bathroom never really happens. Drinking coconut I sense a strange elixir of energy liquid coursing through my veins. And with my nagging cough and depleted energy from teaching middle school students all day in an open air classroom, it is magic. I need it. And today caught me completely by surprise at one point.
I was nearly finished eating our Indonesian lunch of rice, tofu/tempe, vegetables and salad when I realized I couldn't go back up to my classroom. I had had enough sunlight. Period. I feel really hypocritical writing this since most of North America above the 45th parallel is in darkness but it's true. And I apologize because I know very well the sense of despair when you leave your house in the dark and return in the dark. Dark and cold. But truly I am in the exact opposite situation. I leave with a walk through the rice fields, sunlight in my eyes and teach all day in bright sunlight (unless thunder clouds rollin) and leave to a walk home in the light. My classroom has a skylight that almost looks plastic but I am sure it's some recycled or renewable product. But with that directly above me and no walls, I think I am experiencing sensory light overload. Which all this seems odd since it is the rainy season.
So while composting my banana leaf plate, I looked around and knew I needed a dark place, immediately. I sat under a nearby bamboo stairwell, eating the mango sweet rice dessert when my co-worker's Indonesian daughter, Veronica, came up to me to say hi. We carpool together and play on the weekends too. She is a sweetie in Grade 2. She said, "what are you doing Ibu Mary?" I said I need to sit in a dark place. (Irony there). And she said, "oh we played hide and seek yesterday. I can show you a place." She took me to the other bamboo stairwell (there are three here). Very cute. Now mind you, this is the bottom floor of the Heart of School and everyone is eating lunch at the same time, all around us. Very dynamic environment to hide in.
Alas there was a teacher working there at a nearby desk so I looked around and found another place that was a little dark: a building next door with a metal roof from old containers, that has been thatched over. It houses some administration folks. I walked in, again there are people everywhere and sat down right near the opening at a table. Said my "hellos" and right next to me was a guitar, missing a string. I tuned it, started playing and immediately found myself instantly relaxed. Ahhhh, no sunlight, calming music and relative peace. The other Grade 2 girls came over as well as people stopping by to say,"oh I didn't know you played" but for the most part I had about 10 minutes of dimly lit relaxation. As the gong chimed (no bells here) I watched the last of the Grade 6 kids peel themselves off the playground and head up towards my room. One stopped and said, "don't we have English Ibu Mary?" I had to go. But for a moment, I had relaxation here.
My carpool is almost ready to drive home, so I must go. But I did run just into my Pembantu, Ani, at the warung and she is going to take me to her temple this Saturday for a blessing. I was told to get blessed last week from a local priest for security and health. Many spirits on Bali. It is a full moon so an auspicious time. I just need to wear the traditional sarong, cloth belt and long-sleeved lace shirt. More on that later but I think I can try the holy water and get some medicine. Who knew? When I think a year ago that I had absolutely no idea I'd be here, living in Bali. Wild!
I really can't explain how good a coconut makes you feel in this climate. After sweating all day and drinking a few coffees, no matter how much water I drink, I am always dehydrated it seems. And as most teachers know, leaving the classroom to fill up your water bottle let alone go to the bathroom never really happens. Drinking coconut I sense a strange elixir of energy liquid coursing through my veins. And with my nagging cough and depleted energy from teaching middle school students all day in an open air classroom, it is magic. I need it. And today caught me completely by surprise at one point.
I was nearly finished eating our Indonesian lunch of rice, tofu/tempe, vegetables and salad when I realized I couldn't go back up to my classroom. I had had enough sunlight. Period. I feel really hypocritical writing this since most of North America above the 45th parallel is in darkness but it's true. And I apologize because I know very well the sense of despair when you leave your house in the dark and return in the dark. Dark and cold. But truly I am in the exact opposite situation. I leave with a walk through the rice fields, sunlight in my eyes and teach all day in bright sunlight (unless thunder clouds rollin) and leave to a walk home in the light. My classroom has a skylight that almost looks plastic but I am sure it's some recycled or renewable product. But with that directly above me and no walls, I think I am experiencing sensory light overload. Which all this seems odd since it is the rainy season.
So while composting my banana leaf plate, I looked around and knew I needed a dark place, immediately. I sat under a nearby bamboo stairwell, eating the mango sweet rice dessert when my co-worker's Indonesian daughter, Veronica, came up to me to say hi. We carpool together and play on the weekends too. She is a sweetie in Grade 2. She said, "what are you doing Ibu Mary?" I said I need to sit in a dark place. (Irony there). And she said, "oh we played hide and seek yesterday. I can show you a place." She took me to the other bamboo stairwell (there are three here). Very cute. Now mind you, this is the bottom floor of the Heart of School and everyone is eating lunch at the same time, all around us. Very dynamic environment to hide in.
Alas there was a teacher working there at a nearby desk so I looked around and found another place that was a little dark: a building next door with a metal roof from old containers, that has been thatched over. It houses some administration folks. I walked in, again there are people everywhere and sat down right near the opening at a table. Said my "hellos" and right next to me was a guitar, missing a string. I tuned it, started playing and immediately found myself instantly relaxed. Ahhhh, no sunlight, calming music and relative peace. The other Grade 2 girls came over as well as people stopping by to say,"oh I didn't know you played" but for the most part I had about 10 minutes of dimly lit relaxation. As the gong chimed (no bells here) I watched the last of the Grade 6 kids peel themselves off the playground and head up towards my room. One stopped and said, "don't we have English Ibu Mary?" I had to go. But for a moment, I had relaxation here.
My carpool is almost ready to drive home, so I must go. But I did run just into my Pembantu, Ani, at the warung and she is going to take me to her temple this Saturday for a blessing. I was told to get blessed last week from a local priest for security and health. Many spirits on Bali. It is a full moon so an auspicious time. I just need to wear the traditional sarong, cloth belt and long-sleeved lace shirt. More on that later but I think I can try the holy water and get some medicine. Who knew? When I think a year ago that I had absolutely no idea I'd be here, living in Bali. Wild!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Yoda & The Dude by Candlelight
Power Outage: Last night after a quick swim in our now full swimming pool (yeah!) after a really looonnnnggg day at work, my landlord Denny came by and said the electrical power could be out for some time. No big deal, I thought. It was just getting dark, which happens very quickly around 6:30pm. I love the consistency of the daylight and temperature here on the equator. Not much change in sunset/sunrise, no daylight savings time, no drastic shifts in temperature.
I quickly assessed the scene: shower soon, check on candles and flashlights, get kitties inside to avoid scary prowling snakes, etc. After my shower in the dusk, I was making an icy coffee drink, which led me to realize how quickly the fridge and freezer will lose their temperature if I keep opening them up. Silly me. I then opted to skip making dinner, throw the real perishables in the freezer and a tray of ice in the fridge and watch a movie instead under the lovely protection of my new mosquito net. I feel like a princess under my new net. The geckos can't poop on my head, little midnight biters can't get me and the caterpillars can't easily fall on my pillow. I can sleep. Of course I discovered very quickly that the kitties love their new toy: they pounce up and down on the net, which I tie each corner in a knot in the morning to expose the bed to air flow. Air flow=less mold on pillows/sheets.
After I lit various candles, I nestled under the net, (was thankful I had powered up my computer at school) and saw all the perforated scratch marks from those incessant claws! I won't tell my landlords about this too soon. It took a month to have it installed! But the ever-present squirt bottle helps remind the fur balls what they can and can't play with. Like that will help.
I still have a couple movies downloaded from a co-worker and happily finished Return of the Jedi and started The Big Lebowski. Bliss. I didn't care how long the power was out. I clearly couldn't do the grade reports (all 70 are due by Monday) or edit the papers I brought home, or even check email. It was just me and Yoda, Luke and The Dude. Loved it.
Kitty Tales: Before all went completely dark (I only have a few candles) I made sure my tall plastic mug was nearby too. I keep it handy now even though my wonderful Pembantu, Ani, keeps putting it away when she cleans. The reason for the plastic mug is because you never know what the cat will drag in, literally. Or what will hop, crawl, skitter, slither, or scamper in. The other night I saw my orange kitty, Felix, playing with something but jumping away each time he got close. My sensors went up immediately since he normally doesn't jump so high after poking some critter. I got the cup, grabbed a flashlight and pulled him out from under the chair. I covered the whatever and slid a card underneath and pulled it out to look. I shined my flashlight on a little brown scorpion, tale flexed in ready position. Great. For a moment the thoughts that swirled in my head were worrisome: did Felix get stung? is it a deadly scorpion? are there more? will I be able to sleep? is the kitty still breathing? And the answers I could gather were: Felix is fine, I have no idea if there are more (yes is my guess) or if they are deadly. I am sure I will sleep but damn. Now I have to really be aware where I step.
And this morning I quietly tiptoed off to the bathroom early, trying not to disturb the kitties that were soundly sleeping in my arm pit. But they woke up and followed me into the bathroom, which I keep shut at night since it is open air. I taught them other day how to jump up to the sill and then jump down outside where I placed a chair for easy access. (I am trying to encourage them to go potty outside but they refuse. I then take the litter box garbage by hand down the rice field path and motorbike to the local dumpster about 10 minutes away. Good times).
Anyway, I know they wanted to jump out this morning since they started to ramp it up and run around. It was still dark so I quickly shut the door and kept them inside since I am still unsure about cobras and vipers outside in the dark. But the kitties decided to do cartwheels and run chase races all over my little upstairs, bed and head. The mosquito net was getting a few new scratches as well. After more squirts with the water bottle and tosses off the bed, I was wide a awake and pissed. It was only 4:30am. But then I heard it. A huge "thwump".
My little tabby girl had done it again and I freaked out. She fell downstairs onto the tile floor, about 15-20 feet below. I raced down the steps and she was in shock. I know there is no quick trip to the vet, so I just held her and slowly checked for broken bones, labored breathing, etc. She didn't move. Then I smelled it. Upon impact she had pooped herself. Cats don't do this so I knew something was bad. But after a quick wash, another 1/2 hour of holding and petting, she began to get antsy and want to play with her brother. I left for work a few hours later at 7am and she was already outside, climbing the banana tree. One can only hope she is okay.
This happened one night a few weeks ago leaping off the railing towards the ceiling after a gecko, but she landed on the stairs, not so far down. And there was no poop involved. I figured she has used up two lives? And I really hope she is okay when I get home today. I am totally attached to those two crazy, mosquito net-loving, spastic, purring fur balls.
More pictures as soon.
More pictures as soon.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Bat in the classroom
The other day, I had the ultimate teachable moment: a little fruit bat hanging in the thatched ceiling (all open air classroom and very outside). The kids noticed her in the morning and she stayed all day. It was quite beautiful. I could guess it was a fruit bat based on the shape, size, coloring and epithets. Once long ago, I did get really into educating about bats a while back (while caving and working for OMSI) and it made my day. All the classes came in and said, "look at that!" It was really fun, except the part of trying to calm them down and refocus towards the lesson on hand. But here we are at the Green School and these are the moments that count.
A few other noteworthy moments in other people's lives here involve a cobra eating a rat in a backyard, a baby monitor lizard attacking a rat appearing in a kitchen before breakfast, a unidentifiable snake slithering in a classroom, (unidentifiable since the facilities guy was smashing it before the kids could really see it), and a rather large spider and large bee having a dual near a whiteboard while a youngster is getting his lesson one on one. The bee apparently wanted to sting the spider and then lay its eggs in the spider for safe keeping.
But all is well. I have taken the weird caterpillars thingys that constantly drop, along with gecko poops on my bed and head, as just part of having a natural, thatched roof. Annoying but they only bite when caught up in your clothes. I discovered this the other morning when I jumped on my scooter ready for work, with my helmet, computer, bike bag full of essentials (bug spray, money, phone, throat lozenges, headlamp, first aid kit, slicker, umbrella, lip balm, license, sunscreen, etc.) and my garbage. I rode to the dumpster and as I was tossing it in, something was really biting my neck. I tried to ignore it whilst I was maneuvering my bags and garbage in front of the rubbish collectors and I finally threw it all down, flung off my slicker (it was raining) and found a stinking caterpillar thingy from my house biting my neck. Arghhhh! The rubbish collectors and the old men who sit in the bale (open air, raised, covered platform) on this street corner, just watched me. "Silly Buleh" (white person), is I am sure what they were thinking. Well, I have learned you just smile and laugh at as much a possible. And try not to slide out on the motorbike while making a hasty exit.
I did go see a cranial-secral healer the yesterday after work. A fellow teacher went to see him and I thought why not? after getting this deep cough that settled in just two days. I decided to jump on the healing wagon. Apparently Ubud is historically a place of healers, from ancient times to today. So I heard about him and thought maybe he can relieve this stuck energy and give me some wisdom on how to deal in the tropics. So after work I scooted my way across town, through crazy Friday afternoon traffic to find his office, at the infamous Yoga Barn. And with absolutely no expectations other than wanting to relieve myself of this awful cough, I walked into his little open air, thatched roofed office.
After an initial consultation, and kinesthetic work finding my organs and systems all healthy, he worked on my cranial-sacrum connection. I was a little out of alignment. And it was wild. I closed my eyes and at one point felt like I was floating and doing somersaults. It could have been because finally I was lying down after a super long week of intense heat, being sick and being really excited about the weekend but you never know. Afterwards he suggested that I start taking Colloidal Silver, swim to counter the heat in my body, take a special mushroom concoction and find a local priest to connect with. He said I am going through a spiritual awakening and need to align myself with the good spirits on the island. I know this but it was good to hear too. Bali is so full of spiritual energy, being the island of the Gods and generations of priests and healers. And with all the ceremonies, I would like to be connected to a local temple. I need to connect with a local priest and get blessed, he suggested. I am working on that now. I got my feelers out there. And since Bali is a petri dish of bacteria, it is good to be healthy physically, spiritually and mentally. Since we are so close to the equator, things never go dormant and settle. There is always bacteria waiting to move in...so my healing appointment was worth it.
I bought a big bottle of Colloidal Silver at a health food store today while out on the Saturday errands which after a few Skype calls, included: cleaning my house, figuring out internet connection here, motorbiking to the bank across town, buying a mosquito coil box (kitty proof), dodging the heat by drinking fresh juice twice, shopping at the grocery store, eating a lovely healthy meal out, finding an air-con machine in a random store and standing in front of it until it was obvious I wasn't buying anything, paying the bill for the appointment yesterday, etc. I showed up at the appointment and said I couldn't make it to the bank in time, and had no cash. He said, no worries. Pay tomorrow. Despite the big tour buses, crowded streets and thousands of people, Bali still feels like a little town. Or at least Ubud. I ran into so many people out and about today as I scooted around doing my errands. A good Saturday to say the least.
But did the Ducks win??
A few other noteworthy moments in other people's lives here involve a cobra eating a rat in a backyard, a baby monitor lizard attacking a rat appearing in a kitchen before breakfast, a unidentifiable snake slithering in a classroom, (unidentifiable since the facilities guy was smashing it before the kids could really see it), and a rather large spider and large bee having a dual near a whiteboard while a youngster is getting his lesson one on one. The bee apparently wanted to sting the spider and then lay its eggs in the spider for safe keeping.
But all is well. I have taken the weird caterpillars thingys that constantly drop, along with gecko poops on my bed and head, as just part of having a natural, thatched roof. Annoying but they only bite when caught up in your clothes. I discovered this the other morning when I jumped on my scooter ready for work, with my helmet, computer, bike bag full of essentials (bug spray, money, phone, throat lozenges, headlamp, first aid kit, slicker, umbrella, lip balm, license, sunscreen, etc.) and my garbage. I rode to the dumpster and as I was tossing it in, something was really biting my neck. I tried to ignore it whilst I was maneuvering my bags and garbage in front of the rubbish collectors and I finally threw it all down, flung off my slicker (it was raining) and found a stinking caterpillar thingy from my house biting my neck. Arghhhh! The rubbish collectors and the old men who sit in the bale (open air, raised, covered platform) on this street corner, just watched me. "Silly Buleh" (white person), is I am sure what they were thinking. Well, I have learned you just smile and laugh at as much a possible. And try not to slide out on the motorbike while making a hasty exit.
I did go see a cranial-secral healer the yesterday after work. A fellow teacher went to see him and I thought why not? after getting this deep cough that settled in just two days. I decided to jump on the healing wagon. Apparently Ubud is historically a place of healers, from ancient times to today. So I heard about him and thought maybe he can relieve this stuck energy and give me some wisdom on how to deal in the tropics. So after work I scooted my way across town, through crazy Friday afternoon traffic to find his office, at the infamous Yoga Barn. And with absolutely no expectations other than wanting to relieve myself of this awful cough, I walked into his little open air, thatched roofed office.
After an initial consultation, and kinesthetic work finding my organs and systems all healthy, he worked on my cranial-sacrum connection. I was a little out of alignment. And it was wild. I closed my eyes and at one point felt like I was floating and doing somersaults. It could have been because finally I was lying down after a super long week of intense heat, being sick and being really excited about the weekend but you never know. Afterwards he suggested that I start taking Colloidal Silver, swim to counter the heat in my body, take a special mushroom concoction and find a local priest to connect with. He said I am going through a spiritual awakening and need to align myself with the good spirits on the island. I know this but it was good to hear too. Bali is so full of spiritual energy, being the island of the Gods and generations of priests and healers. And with all the ceremonies, I would like to be connected to a local temple. I need to connect with a local priest and get blessed, he suggested. I am working on that now. I got my feelers out there. And since Bali is a petri dish of bacteria, it is good to be healthy physically, spiritually and mentally. Since we are so close to the equator, things never go dormant and settle. There is always bacteria waiting to move in...so my healing appointment was worth it.
I bought a big bottle of Colloidal Silver at a health food store today while out on the Saturday errands which after a few Skype calls, included: cleaning my house, figuring out internet connection here, motorbiking to the bank across town, buying a mosquito coil box (kitty proof), dodging the heat by drinking fresh juice twice, shopping at the grocery store, eating a lovely healthy meal out, finding an air-con machine in a random store and standing in front of it until it was obvious I wasn't buying anything, paying the bill for the appointment yesterday, etc. I showed up at the appointment and said I couldn't make it to the bank in time, and had no cash. He said, no worries. Pay tomorrow. Despite the big tour buses, crowded streets and thousands of people, Bali still feels like a little town. Or at least Ubud. I ran into so many people out and about today as I scooted around doing my errands. A good Saturday to say the least.
But did the Ducks win??
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)