Ubud UOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM

Setting off early in the morning the sun makes its presence felt through millions of sparkles reflecting off dewy leaves. Climbing aboard my newly rented scooter and wobbling down our bumpy driveway I enter the country lane and weave through dogs sprawled in the road oblivious to my concentration. Young men strut fussing over their prize roosters recovering from the previous night’s cockfighting. Different smells mark the progress, musty cow manure permeates the air, past lush green rice paddies ready for harvesting, laborers priming scarecrow cables to chase greedy birds. Turning left onto the main road I head down the dip into cool forested shady gloom, avoiding nasty potholes in the road I cross the river then full throttle and a burst of speed up the other side and into town. Villagers balancing fresh produce head to the market walking alongside children dressed in crisp white shirts for school. Streets rich with deeply Balinese architecture, thick green foliage, moss, pebbles, wood and glass. Smoky smell of incense permeates the air from ornate bamboo offering to the Hindu Gods. Trendy shops, Polo, Dolce, Gabana, Art Galleries meshed with local Bali life. Temples, monkeys, coconuts, warangs, scent of rough cut fresh timber, beautiful Bali girls on scooters. Left turn down the lane and Louise and I are at the Yoga barn ready to evolve……..“ like hey shew wow”, is not the phrase here, we are amongst the highly evolved beautiful people - more like “when I met the Dali Lama ………”

Ubud is our first stop in Bali and after Vietnam the Hindu influence is refreshing and very evident, its gentle presence setting the pace and mood. Our Canadian friends have organized a stylish introduction to Bali. Our home is exquisite and sets the mind buzzing once more on new ideas for creating living spaces back in SA. After the intense urbanization of the city of Saigon this oasis surrounded by fields and rural life is a treat. Our living spaces are open air, no concern for security but more for dealing with aesthetics and climate. On the first morning in the shower I reach down to grab my razor blade and instead almost grab a snake, who continues sliding over the rocks unperturbed. Frogs and geckos also share our space keeping the mosquitos at bay.

I have always seen images of rice paddies filled with water and people with pointy hats but now we are in the picture. One morning we walk along the thin ridges and examine a system perfected over the centuries, paddies separated by narrow hand packed clay ridges just wide enough to walk on, gravity fed channels for flooding the fields. We have eaten lots of rice throughout Asia and can’t seem to tire of it, its alkaline properties sooth the stomach.
Rice is the food of Gods and is offered everyday at each little temple, an offer first and then the day begins, I think it is such a fantastic way to start your day, little baskets with flowers, money, rice and sometimes sweets. I love watching their ritual, it is flowing, graceful and serene.

I get given the translation into English of the beautiful prayer they say every time they make an offering:

OFFERING TO GOD

My prayer
So deep in my heart
Is whispering to God
In the dancing smoke
Of the incense

My hopes
Are opening
In the fragrant flowers

My soul
Is cleansed
In the holy water

All together glorious is my offering

Ubud is a unique and special town, a good mix of local Balinese and foreigners from all corners of the Western World seeking an organic, intellectual, spiritual and unhurried kind of existence. It has something for everyone (except surf) and so we fly through our time here yogaring, eating out, eating in, talking laughing, shopping, playing with monkeys and absorbing this highly civilized piece of the world.