Mama Gloria: Opened A Free Clinic For the Sick And Poor, Lovina, Bali

Shortly After The Death Of Her Son, She Escaped

Australia.

She went to Bali for a much needed time of rest,recovery and healing.

Mama Gloria, affectionately  named by her patients,  has  devoted the
last 19 years  of  her life to  provide free  medical care and education
for the poorest of  the poor in Bali.




Gloria and Daughter

She was shocked to witness in Bali that there was almost  no medical 
care for the poor  and the  facilities available were  extremely limited.
With  a background, both in  social work and nurses training, she had
a calling to reach out and  help in some way.

At first, she first  began to run a makeshift clinic out of  her suitcase
in a  room in Candi Dasa on the east coast of Bali.  Eventually she
moved to the north coast area of  Lovina, which is know for its basic
friendliness and relaxed way of life. For all the years in Bali, she has
had to rely entirely on tourist donations to run the clinic. She became
the  founder and director of Bali Crisis Care Foundation, in the village
of Dusun Lebah, Kaliasem, Lovina. Bali Crisis Care provides urgently
needed medical care, health education, drop in emergency treatment
and outreach  community care. Working closely with Gloria,the staff
includes a highly trained Balinese doctor, nurses and midwives.

Amazingly, as if she hadn't done enough to make a difference, she
opened up her heart one more notch, when she decided to adopt
and raise a Balinese child from the time of birth.

Bali Crisis Care Ambulance, Lovina, Bali

Bali Crisis Care Clinic, Lovina, Bali

Bali Crisis Care Foundation, Lovina, Bali 




Little boy with serious burns after a motorbike accident.



Same little boy before the motorbike accident. 
His father runs a business from a motorbike.



On  my first trip to  Bali, I too was  grieving the loss of a dear friend
and it was  his death that led me on the path of looking for some way
to be of service, my own fulfilling niche.

From day one, Bali seemed like a second home to me, where I slept
more  soundly,  connected  with  people more  easily, found  magic
moments  wherever I went. The  culture is  beautiful,  exotic, filled
with love, peace,  adventure  and  it was  much like a little paradise
for  me.

I've  heard that this is  a common  experience for tourists when they
come to Bali!

However of course, Bali is Not a Paradise for the Poor!

At  the same time  that I experienced  the bliss, I also  opened up
my eyes and saw the overwhelming poverty, deformity, pain and
suffering.  Newborn  babies are still held hostage in the  hospitals
until families cough up the money to pay the entire bill. There are
times  when families must  sell their home  property  before  they
can  take their baby home. People die at  a young age, needlessly
because they cant afford healthcare. 

When I toured  a government  hospital, I witnessed what  it was
appalling. One small bathroom for a large room  of patients and
their families, who camp out next to their family member's  bed.
Old, bloody  rags  lying  around  on  the floor. The lack  of well
trained doctors and nurses are another problem.

After  meeting Gloria, each  time  I'd visit Bali, I felt inspired to
bring an extra suitcase of donations, including prescriptions and
medical supplies. At that time it became easy for me  to become
a much needed fund raiser and with the help of donors from  the
U.S.A and other countries,  the Bali Crisis Care Foundation was
able to eventually buy land and build a clinic.

I always  love visiting and hearing  about the projects she  has been 
involved with,whether it be  the organic gardening  group, a sewing
program, deliveries of needed wheelchairs, free water and recycled
mattresses to the needy,  and  the list goes on.  All those projects are
in addition to child deliveries, taking care of  patients  with  injuries,
auto accidents, tuberculosis, dengue fever, typhus, rheumatoid fever,
polio and intestinal infections.


Tour the Clinic and Make a Donation.

Gloria will give you a tour of the clinic and share fascinating stories
about everyday life in Bali, about patients who have survived well
because of their care at the clinic, about unusual medical cases and
about treatments offered by the local balians or dukans. (Balinese
medicine men) Gloria has an infectious sense of humor and you will
feel enfolded with her loving care when you meet her.

Anyone wanting to donate to Bali Crisis Care Foundation can transfer
money via Western Union or deposit into their banks in Indonesia and
Australia. If you are coming to Bali for a vacation you are welcome to
visit her in person and hand over any kind of donation.  Although, on
the website, she gives tips on what they need. When visiting the clinic
in Lovina, you  can get a  better understanding of how your money is
allocated.  Please email  her at least a few days in advance, if you are
planning to visit.

Contact Information:
www.balicrisiscare.org
Phone: +62 (0)362 422 86,
Mobile: +62 (0)81 2377 4649
Email: Balicrisiscare@hotmail.com

(A few of the  photos were taken from www.balicrisiscare site.)

Wayang Shadow Puppet Show and 3 Month Baby Ceremony

 

Since it was an auspicious day in Bali, a day set by the priest, it
was good timing for a ceremonial Wayang Shadow Puppet Show
(Wayang Kulit) and a 3 Month Baby Celebration. I was very
excited when my now best friend Ketut, gave me a special
invitation to attend his nephew's ceremony.

 

When babies turn three months old, they are blessed by the priest,
given a special Balinese name and finally allowed to touch their
feet to the ground. Before 3 months, they are considered to be like
little Gods and too holy to touch their feet to the dirt.  The Wayang
Shadow Puppet Show is also performed on the same day, but only
if the baby was born on a particular inauspicious day on the
Balinese calendar, to prevent  having emotional problems or a
moody personality.  

At 6 pm, I headed out to the ceremony and  it was already starting
to get dark as I walked a few blocks to Ketut’s nephews house.
Since Ketut had gone to another ceremony at his village temple
and I would be on my own, for this evening. (so many ceremonies
....so little time!)  Honestly, it seems like for a local Balinese, the
required ceremonies are endless and the preparations for offerings
are very time consuming.

Trying to find a specific place in Bali is sometimes complicated,
even with directions.  Look for the stone sculpture, the shell door,
the mango fruit stand, turn left at ? shop, walk so many
kilometers (I don't think In metric!) and you will find a gate with
decorations.  In these situations, it is best to think of it as an
adventure and not be frustrated, because there is a darn good
chance of getting lost.

When the road split, I went to the right only to later find out I
really should have gone to the  left.    Through the trees, on the
other side of someone's property, I couldn't see anything, but I
could hear what sounded like a  priest singing in a  strangely
animated unusual language.  (shadow puppet shows are
performed in a Javanese language) 

I guess I’ve been to Bali enough times now, so that I can
almost sniff out where a ceremony is going to be by watching
the people carrying their offerings.  However in this case, the
road was deserted.

I felt  trapped when I saw the street's dead end and feared that
the nephew's child ceremony might be finished by the time I
got there, if I were to backtrack my steps back to the split in the
road.  Then suddenly when the impulsive part of me took over,
I took a short cut through someone’s overgrown side yard and
hen back yard.  I know what you'd say. "That is much too
dangerous, what about the angry dogs or the angry neighbors?"
Yes, I did think bout the dog aspect, but I didn't see and I would
have gone back if I did.  Also, to be honest with you, I've never
seen an angry Balinese, although I know that they too, must have
a bad day.  I walked cautiously in the direction toward a loud
speaker, weaving my way to where I thought that Ketut’s
nephew’s ceremony was located.  Along the way,there were a few
chickens and a couple of piglets scattering about in the dirt, but
all was quiet and it made me think that these neighbors must be
already at the ceremony.

I arrived at the nephews terrace and in enough timing, to see
the puppet show, with the priest chanting, singing and in the heat
of action, performing the holy ceremony. The puppets are flat
people figures with movable arms made of buffalo hide attached
to a hand held post.  There was  a hanging pot burning with hot
oil flickering flames which casted a shadow onto a rice paper
screen. Two men were accompanying the priest by playing
Balinese gamelan  music and as usual, there with a sweet wafting
of incense.  Most of the shows are based on epics of Ramayana
and Mahabharata, stories of romance, adventure and comedy.

One of the best places to see a shadow puppet show is in Ubud,
and you will need to ask around as for the location.  Since the
show may last several hours, you might want to plan ahead...
Have patience and bring a cushion to sit on, unless of course,
you are American and gifted to have your own natural cushion.

 

 

Wayang Shadow Puppet Show

 

There were a few children on both sides of the white screen watching
the show, but they didn’t appear to show as much interest as I would
expect.  As you can see, the oldest one sitting next to the screen is
either texting or playing video games. 

 



Wayang Shaadow Puppet Show



3 Months Old Baby Ceremony

 

 

As part of the ceremony,  the high priest sprinkled holy water on
Ketut’s 3 month old nephew, the grandmother was part of the
ceremony and wrapped the baby's head in strips of colored cloth. 
Peanuts and cigarettes were passed around during the ceremony. 
When all was over, the family ate a plate of food including
roasted pig, and passed around with glasses of palm wine. 
Eventually, like a small circus show, the priest packed up his gig
and headed out for his next ceremony and puppet show, as he
two more to perform that evening.

  5 minute excerpt from an Indonesian puppet show.

                                    

After the event, it gave me the opportunity to release a few of
my colorful stickers to the children.  They were all very polite,
and I was surprised that there was no grabbing of extras, like
I've seen at home.  They took only their one sticker each,
followed by “terima kasih” (thank you).

Then I walked back home in the dark for 2 blocks on a secluded
country road and to balance things out, 1 block on a busy road. I
was grateful that Bali is still a fairly safe place to be, especially
being a single woman traveling alone.

I have to admit though, that  if I had planned better, I would have

taken my pepper spray with me, for a sense of security and

protection, which is effective against both dogs and people.
However, being the tidy person that I am,  it was packed in my
suitcase!  Fortunately, in all my travels I have never come close
to needing anything for protection, but I don't want to push my
luck!

"Sweet And Sour" Children's Dance - Lovina, Bali

On the Beach, A Man Introduced Himself

As Jimmy Hendrix.

His name definitely got my attention.
Jimmy Hendrix said he was a teacher for a children’s dance
group and announced that there was a performance that very
evening. As a good salesman, he flashed a paper with written
testimonials and emphasized that there would be no charge,
but they would accept donations.  Yes of course, count me in! 
I love going to unplanned, behind the scene events and I was
looking forward to something new, especially with children.

At 7pm, I was collected from my hotel,  along with several other
guests and taken by jeep along a dirt country  road  for about
two miles, to a family walled in compound.. The outside area was
dimly lit, we were seated on wooden benches in a  dusty area and
we could view a small, covered stage area.

Beer was for sale, there were a few Germans in the group  and it
happily seemed to be the beverage of choice.  All was quiet for a
moment and just then, there was a non-rehearsed song and dance
act.  A mother chicken and her tiny chicks began harmoniously
peeping and scampering one by one, across yard.
Ha...I mused.  They had become the opening act!  .

While the young boys of the group played an out of tune, difficult
to listen to music, with  instruments  including Bali gamelan
(large xylophone), drums and flutes, the girls sat cross legged, in
the front row with looks of boredom. While the girls waited for
their moments of performance, the boys came out, one by one in
brightly colored  Balinese costumes, as a Garuda bird, a Rangda
witch and a funky Monkey.

It was certainly unlike any real professional performances that one
would see in Bali.  Yet, I enjoyed the whole experience and when
the children entertained, they were cute.




Jimmy Hendrix and the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali



A Garuda at the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali



A Rangda (the witch) at the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali

 

However, at the very end of the performance, there was a surprise.

Jimmy Hendrix came around to each attendee with a clipboard
(not a basket) which listed past performance donations of amounts,

300,000 rupiahs ($25.00 U.S.)  and more.  As everyone watched,
with family members hovering around our group, we were asked
to record our name, our country and the amount of the donation
onto the clipboard.

While I’m not one to succumb easily to pressure like this,

I thought for a moment , then recorded and gave 80 rupiahs
($7.00 U.S.) as a donation, the same ticket price of a Bali
professional performance. Then, I passed the clipboard on to
the German guy sitting next to me for his donation. 

However, by the family's  tone in Indonesian and the scornful
look on their faces, they were unhappy with the amount of my
“donation”!  Although my Indonesian is basic, I could easily
pick up on the intonation of their voices,  the aggressive energy
and it was not a pretty moment.

In the beginning, it was so sweet and innocent.
And then, suddenly the event had turned out sour! 
I easily flashed back on a couple of life circumstances that
started out romantically sweet and turned out sour!

However as I  try to do in life, I will always choose to remember
the pure, innocent, sweetness in this "Sweet and Sour"
experience. Sometimes I get carried away with Bali bliss, which
can easily be done because  I am only here for a couple of months.

When in reality, anyone who lives here in Bali will announce  ......
"All is Not Paradise in Bali".
 

 

 

Putu and Family - Unique Bali Life Struggles

 

I Met a Charming, Sweet Balinese Girl.

She  always called me “Mom”

while I frequented  a sea side restaurant in Lovina 15 years ago.

Putu was just a young teenager then and lived nearby in a tiny
rented room. But since then, she  has grown up, gotten married
to a local boy and has two children.  

 

Because she is first born, her name is “Putu”.

She married a first born boy and his name is also “Putu”
 

Their first born child is also named “Putu”.

That makes 3 Putus in the family and a bit confusing, to say
the least!
 





Putu, Putu, Putu and Made at their house.

Then came along their baby Made, a Balinese second born
child's name and thank God,  it broke the cycle of Putus.
 

Putu, (the girl who calls me Mom) and Putu (her husband)
eventually were able to by a small, basic house, with funding
help from an aunt,with the plan that she will live with them
forever.   They have a couple of chickens confined in tiny,
crate cages, a small vegetable garden and a mango fruit
tree on the property.

 

They have no furniture, except a couple of mattresses. 
However,  they do have a huge rooftop satellite dish, a flat
screen television, a 10 in Samsung Galaxy tablet used by the
daughter, a music boom box, 3 motorbikes and 3 cell
phones. Internet phone time is purchased by the minute and
can be renewed at roadside food shops.

 

If a Balinese is lucky enough to work in a busy restaurant,
it might pay up to 1,000,000 rupiahs (USA $80.00) a month. 
However, working as a driver with a car, might  be an even
better career choice, although the money is up and down,
depending on the tourist season. 

I'm told that it is easy to buy a motorbike or car, with little or
nothing down and and a commitment of high bank credit
(2.5% / month)  Many have several motorbikes, all on credit,
which of course, reeks havoc on the roads with traffic, noise and
pollution. ( and not getting any better).  Legally,  the Balinese
need a license to drive, but it is not well enforced

and believe it or not, it is not surprising to see a 10 year speed
by on the road!

 

 

Putu and baby in front of Rini Hotel, Lovina,Bali

 

Vehicle ownership on Bali is rising at an annual rate (12.42%) that

far outstrips the growth in new roads (2.28%), according to
government statistics. "Traffic will get worse and worse," I Made
Santha, Bali's traffic chief, predicted in February.

The Balinese are big on eating snacks from street carts, which are
fairly cheap and convenient.  They occasionally eat at local warungs,
as a break from the drudgery of cooking preparation.  In the photo
below, we sat on the little wooden bench and had just finished eating
Gado Gado, a popular Balinese dish.  Behind the snacks there is a
small kitchen with a hot plate for cooking.  As you can see, there was
no counter, so that means you just hold your food. Most Balinese don't
use utensils, so that is one less item to deal with.

I had never seen so many flies as there were here at this shop and it
was soooo annoying to try and protect your food.  I'm sorry, but I
couldn't help thinking about where those flies had been with their
little contaminated feet. An elderly lady had an old partially split,
crusty, fly swatter and she was literally swatting continuously at
everything, like a wild woman. At one point, to give the poor lady
a well deserved break, I took hold of the fly swatter and began my
own swatting mania.  I didn't mind killing a few flies, but it seemed
like a losing battle.   
Don't worry though...........I had no fly problems elsewhere in Bali.

 

Putu and children - assorted fried snacks at the warung, Lovina, Bali

Ceremonies may take 1 -2 hours a day for the woman, including time
to make the offerings and the time to do the rituals in their family
temple. Since there are many, many village ceremonies, it may take
days of preparations.

Still they don’t complain……There is peer pressure in the
neighborhood and besides,  it brings them  good karma.

Tourism has overburdened Bali, yet they love it and don’t realize
that in a way, it is a form of island suicide.   Massive overbuilding
and the infrastructure has not been able to keep up with the
increasing numbers of tourists and expats.

 The popular Bali proverb is,

“Goodness shouts, evil whispers,"   But money talks.

Lovina Updates - Sleeps, Eats, Boats

Lovina, north Bali  is still quiet and inexpensive. 

1.The iconic dolphin statue:  Appears to be improved and shiny,
a great place to watch the sunset and to take photos.
 

 

 

2.  Dolphin boats:  Tourists still go out to see the dolphins
early in the morning just as they did 10 years ago.  The boat
captain will either text you or knock on your door in the
morning to wake you up.  There are 3 times as many boats
that go out and they are much more attractive than before.
Some even include life preservers.  The price remains cheap
60 rupiahs ($5.00) paid either to your hotel or directly to the
boat owner for a 1.5 or 2 hour boat ride.
 

3. Street dogs:  Still wander the streets  as they did 10 years
ago, but are fewer in number and look better fed.  However,
when the sun goes down, they suddenly seen to have a split
personality disorder.  The daytime sleepy dog becomes
suddenly becomes aggressive and vocal. 
 

Rabies problem:
I refrain from petting or getting near the dogs, since there is
an ongoing rabies problem here for the last 8 years on Bali. 
Sadly, it was reported today that a 9 year old Bali girl died
on October 31, 2014 from suspected rabies. The situation is
not under control, although Bali has tried vaccinations and
dog eliminations.
http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=11198

To be on the safe side, I received a series of 3 pre-exposure
immunization shots before coming to Bali, knowing I would
be here for two months and wandering into the country
locations.  If bitten, I would still need a couple more shots,
but my immunity has already started.  Also,  Bali is not
consistently  with medical supplies - vaccinations,
medications, treatments or just health care in general.

4.. Hotels: I spent one night at the Rambutan Hotel, one
night at the Ansoka Hotel  and the remainder of the nights
at the Rini Hotel.  These hotels located in Central Lovina

Beach area, are one block or less from the beach and the
rates listed are negotiated and for low season.

The Angsoka Hotel, near the dolphin statue / beach
rents for about 240,000 rupiahs ($21.00 U.S.) a night for air
conditioned room, hot water, nice pool.  Most hotels have
free Wi-Fi. There is a full breakfast, an outside bar and
massage tables where you can get an inexpensive massage.
www.angsoka.com

The Rambutan Hotel, on Jl Mawar,  rents for 350,000
rupiahs ($30.00 U.S.) has a fan cooled room, hot water, 2
pools, lovely outside dining and a deluxe breakfast,
with good unlimited coffee. (not the usual thick Bali
coffee) The fan cooled rooms at Rambutan seem to be
pleasantly cool.
www.rambutan.org

The Hotel Rini, on Jl Mawar,  rents for 260,000 rupiahs
($22 U.S.a night) and that price includes continental
breakfast, a lovely pool, air-conditioning, lovely tropical
surroundings, a partially outdoor garden bathroom and a
cold water shower. Because it is hot in Lovina, the cold
water is not all that cold and is in fact, refreshing. There
are many Dutch and French guests.
www.rinihotel.com
 

5. Restaurants:  There are many more choices, but the
following are near the Rini Hotel.  They are my favorites
and I went to one or both of them everyday.
        
        Warung Ayu  is a very popular but small, offering
        the Balinese dishes  Cap Cay and Nasi Goreng  for 1
        5,000 - 20,000 rupiahs. ($1.50 U.S.)

        J.B.s Pizza Restaurant has a new airy, larger location,
        offering the J.B. Special pizza for  35,000 rupiahs.
        ($3.00 U.S.)  They also have lots of Balinese /
        Indonesian food.

        For those of you who are beer lovers, you can get a
        Large Bintang in Lovina for 25,00 rupiahs ($2.00 U.S.)

,

6.  Entertainment:
 

The "Poco Bar" near the main road is popular and fun,
has music 7 nights a week and is popular with the German
guests. Be warned that the music is loud - so bring your ear
plugs.

The "Sea Breeze”, usually my favorite, right on the beach
has the best sunset view and a promising breeze, but they
didn't  offer live music during this visit.  The once dirt floor
has been upgraded with cement embedded with stones.
The sunset mosquitoes have not really changed!

Other restaurants have guitar players occasionally, so there
is always something going on.

7. Hawkers:  Continue  to congregate in the statue location, 
selling sarongs and shells  (She sells sea shells at the sea
shore :) or baggies of fruit pieces.  $5 U.S. will buy you a
coconut oil massages, if you don't mind lying down on a
sarong covered cement slab near the black lava sand  beach.
Here you can buy tours to the hot springs / Buddhist temple.
 

8.  Shopping stalls:  They were built by the government
bordering the beach, and all an element of sales pressure
whenever you walk by.
However, there remains an old path of broken up sidewalk
slabs along the beach and are a little  further from the stalls
which means avoiding saying "no thank you" a hundred
times.

 

9. There was a precious stream that used to flow into  the
Bali Sea, where children laughed, played and went fishing. 
Now it is  polluted with plastic and garbage and in fact, it
is stopped up.

10. All in all, I still like coming to Lovina.  Compared
to other tourist areas of Bali, Lovina is still fairly cheap!
It is quiet and peaceful,  has a few motorbikes but nothing
compared to Ubud.  There is good snorkeling and diving
about 1.5 hours to the west.  A couple of retired folks
said there were intending to stay for 2 months in Lovina.
However, most tourists here are in their 20s, 30s, 40s.

Ketut, Boat # 9 - Searching For Dolphins, Lovina, Bali







Dolphin Watching With Ketut

 

I took the shuttle bus up to Lovina, North Bali

and with a little luck, guess who I found?

It was Ketut.

 

 

After arrival in Lovina, at the north coast of Bali,I was excited when
I finally found Ketut and his boat # 9 Bonanza, whom I met during my
previous visit.  His work is taking out the tourists on his boat, just
before sunrise at 5:45am. to see the dolphins.  He is jolly, has a dynamic
personality, is a little rough around the edges, but definitely a boatman,
a fisherman kind of guy!

 

This is the  same Ketut that was kind enough to invite me to his
daughters wedding and tooth filing ceremony 10 years ago.
It was a large festive event with a gamelan band, one that I will
never forget and always appreciate.

He looks much the same with his wide, jolly smile and wild,
animated spirit.  To give him some extra business, I found another
tourist and took the dolphin excursion for a second time this week
for 60,000 rupiahs ($5.00) each.  
 

Ketut’s boat is not the same heavy wooden boat from before. 

However, he still has the lucky # 9 boat‘as well as a # 9 k
home address. His current bright green fiberglass boat, named
“Bonanza” # 9,is  one that doesn't leak, one that he can manage to
pull in and out of the shore single handed. I am always amazed
when he detaches the oversized, heavy motor from his boat each
day, carrys it on his broad shoulders, and lays it carefully under
the trees, where it remains untouched all night.





Ketut's Boat # 9
"Bonanza",  Lovina, Bali
For the dolphins or info, his number is .... (6281338221175)
They usually text in Bali since it's cheaper for them.

Ketut texted me at 5:20 a.m. to wake me up.   Soon afterwards, we
cruised out to the Bali Sea for at least 20-30 minutes  where there
were 30 other boats drifting and waiting for the dolphins.  When a few
dolphin fins are first discovered. the boats simultaneously rev up their
engines and strategically rush to  get close. It was disturbing to me that
the boats are loud, aggressive and get dangerously too close to the
dolphins.

I am wondering why the dolphins put up with it? 

Why don’t they find another quiet location instead of coming back
each a.m. to the same boat location, repeating the same game each
morning when they repeatedly run for their lives, away from the crazy
boats? 




Always plenty of dolphins enjoying themselves

I  noticed a few jumping tuna fish…..were they going to be breakfast
for the dolphins?
 

Or perhaps, I wonder…..do the fun loving dolphins enjoy running
from the boats??

Please leave a comment if you have had any dolphin experiences.

  

 

"Tumpek Landep" Metal Ceremony at Ketut's House, Lovina, Bali

Add caption

Tumpek Landep - Celebrating all that is metal. 

Above Balinese Kris has a wavy metal blade.

 

 

Ketut texted me to join him for the"Tumpek Landep"
ceremony at his home, which he celebrates every 210 days. 
On this day, Balinese pray over cars, motorbikes, metallic
equipment, laptops and their traditional  kris (keris) daggers. 
The ceremony is supposed to bring them a sharp mind,
represented by the sharpness of metal.  Balinese believe that
the highest level and the greatest weapon of human being is
their mind, which can bring someone to a better life.
Ubud, Bali Community link describes "tumpek landep"
 

After Ketut told me where he lives, I accidently took the
wrong alleyway off the road.  When I approached the house
that I thought was Ketuts, the door was slightly ajar, a man was
snoring, lying on a bare mattress and I softly called “Ketut?
...Ketut?"  How embarrassed I was when I discovered that not
only was I was at the  wrong house, but I woke up the wrong
man!!  BUT the good news is that the man who should have
been annoyed, was instead accommodating and even escorted
me to Ketut's house.  Later I found out he was a cousin.

Ketut came to the door wearing his best smile,  wearing only
his jockey shorts and his usual grin,  while his wife came
strolling out wearing a thin, pink towel.  (Was I early?...I didn't
think so.  I arrived in the time frame they mentioned)  Suddenly
what appeared next, was the thick Bali coffee, infused with sugar
and sweet crackers.  From this, I learned that Bali is a casual kind
of place and people here take their naps seriously:)

Apparently, his wife had already done a lot of preparation, filling
an entire basket of intricately woven, hand made offerings.  While
Ketut happily pranced around posing for my camera, his wife very
methodically went through the rituals and ceremonies, sprinkling
the motorcycles with holy water, lighting incense and saying
prayers. Even Ketut’s metal carved knife, his spiritual Balinese
kris (keris), was carefully placed on top of the basket of offerings. 

The kris is an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-
patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and
nickelous iron. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade.
Both in Bali and Java,  the kris is deeply embedded in a mutually
connected whole of ritual prescriptions and ceremonies, mythical
backgrounds and epic poetry.  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris

 

I bought a Keris once for my son, which he still displays near his
fireplace with other assorted international knives and weapons.  But
I have always wondered if I should have had it blessed by the priest
in Bali?
 

I am a real sucker for Balinese ceremonies and it seems now I am in
a state of Bali bliss and blessed with good luck to have Ketut as my
friend.




Ketut's wife performs Tumpek Landep ceremonies over the motorbikes
Lovina, Bali



A peek into the family temple, Lovina, Bali




Ketut's wife is busy making offerings,
while Ketut prepares me a coconut drink for me.
Women in Bali are continuously making offerings, which seems  continuously.
Lovina, Bali