Penjor- Balinese Bridge to the Gods

Balinese says,  penjor this is the "antenna to the Gods", but I would say this is a kind of bridge to the their Gods.  They pose these ornament to the houses to show the gods, how much important they are and would like to invite them to their house. Also Balinese put penjor to the temples in the anniversaries time and during religious holidays.  

Balinese "Antenna to the Gods"can be very expensive, but very cheap, also. Balinese, with "small wallet" pay for penjor about 150 000 rp and decorate it very simple, f.e. with coconut, or ribbons in many colors. The others,with deep pockets decorate penjor with purple velvet, ornamentation in gold color. Important is it should look very nobly and richly, costs about 3 millions rp and has about 10 m.height. 

Greatest Balinese Sculptor with Garuda, Barong and Rangda.

I met Made Ada in his Ada Guna Museum. I was with three other girls in Ubud area and after Monkey Forrest, Gunung Kawi Relief, Tampak Sihring temple we came to the village Pakuduwi known also as Garuda Village. Among others, President of Indonesia, Ronald Reagan, President Soeharto, Vladimir Putin met Made Ada and saw his work.

Made Ada, like many balinese people, is nice and very chilled out. Small and very delicate Balinese with smile from ear to ear. It is hard to believe, that these man can carve from 5m block of tree Garuda's sculpture.

"Ada Guna" has ground and first floor. In the ground You can see Lord Vishnu's Mount - Garuda sculptures, in different sizes. And also other inspirations. 

On the first floor you find balinese music instruments, also Barong (symbol of good, photo right) and his opposite Rangda (symbol of evil, photo left). 

The Balinese believe in eternal battle between good and evil. These philosophy had inspired them and they created a dance named Barong.

Made Ada was very busy. As usual, his gallery was full of visitors. But the greatest balinese sculptor had also special guests and we did not want to take his time. Also we booked small warung in Tegalalang, famous for his "Cap Cay".

Yes, it is true. There is no guarantee that a good man would always be good and a  bad man would remain so for the rest of his life. The same is the true, that two eternal forces always balance each other out, like yin und yang.  

Grocery by the road in Besakih

I will remember very well these one trip on Bali. It was my last full day in Candi Dasa; me, Marek  and Magda booked the trip. Our start point- village Besakih not far away from Mountain Agung. Way back we should make with bike. In the price was also lunch. Not without reason we choose Sunday for our trip. First- we knew, that on our way in small village was official cremation ceremony, we wanted to see it. Second-on sunday many balinese people make community works, for example children comes in the school uniforms and clean footbal fields, people in the villages repair roads, clean temples and forrests. On our bikes we wanted to see how looks balinese life onSunday.

We needed two hours with a car to reach Besakih. Our bike guide was „somewhere”, we had to wait for him. Yes, here I am laughing a little bit about me. On Bali I totally chilled out; normaly I hate, when somebody comes too late. hahaha. 
We decided to take a look in the little grocery by the road. Inside in the right corner was small kitchen and Balinese woman. She was busy with a cooking. I think, her daughter with husband and children live in the big house on the other side of the road. She cooked for them on Sunday. Funny, sometimes they came to „control” how far she is. These Balinese woman could be 50 or 55.    

Step by step, Marek, Magda and me, watched her by cooking.

It was already after 12.00, she took a plate and asked us with her little English:” Hungry?”. In this moment I was a confused, finally she cooked for her family. She took three plads and gave me fresh spinach salat with red onion, self-made tofu, paprika and ginger. All this was made "al dente" in the wok, on the end sprinkled with grated fresh coconut. She enriched this all with local spices in the sauce. Marek and Magda became also porque. We paid for this lunch. Soon came the daughter and saw we are eating. „Mamma mia…”, I sad to myself. But daughter was happy to see us eating these simple and typical balinese meal. 

And our guide? Came on 1.00 p.m. As he found out, that we ate already, he was unhappy. But not ungry.  

Our bike tour was great. We saw in the 4 hours, „face to face", how Balinese people spend Sundays, how they live in small villages, sometimes deep in the forrest. 

But for me greater was these Balinese woman. These meal was for her family and she offered it to strangers. These Balinese woman was 50 or 55. For me she was beautiful, cause her heart  was good. 

Kare a La Bali with Funky Baba Trio

Saturday in Candi Dasa. In Jojo’s Xoxo boutique and coffee lounge know „what’s up” in the village, which band play, where is the best lobster, which warung cooks most typical balinese kitchen, where you can catch the best driver for your trip. The staff is really very nice, you can drink there best in Candi dasa Capucino  „a la Bali”.

„Daria”, says to me girl, „today in Hungry Crocodile restaurant plays balinese band named „Funky Baba Trio”.

”?”

So after „indian ocean swimming", I change quickly my outfit and up… in the restaurant. 

As I came, band already started. One thing I have to say. Or in Ubud, or in Denpasar, or in Bugbug, or in Pejeng Kawan in restaurants all service people are very good and tasty dressed, very friendly and smiling all the time. 

I took famous balinese curry„Kare a la bali”. Coconut ball with organic rice, fish, green paprika, carrots, baked potatos, peanapple. The sauce is enriched with local spices and „split” coconut milk. 

On the stage Funky Baba Trio plays the music- mixed jazz, reagge, funky and soul. The vocalist touches with his voice my soul. I look around. I see people, like me, swimming in the rythm. 

Suddenly on the stage came woman, which lost in parisian tragedy closest friends. In this moment we all became one. 

After her few words waitress brought me Espresso and dessert -fruit salad with peanapple, papaya, mango, banana. 

I left Funky Baba Trio and many people inside about 12.00 pm. On my way to hotel I thought about Cindy, Fabian, Claire, Mr. Nicolas, Mr.Edouard, Mr.Christian, Mrs. Cherise and the other French people which I met in my harvest 2015. I hoped they are all saved. 

Our life is the greatest treasure, that we have. Cause we have only one. 

                                             

Bali's faces.

I can not find the right words to express how beautiful is the Bali. Harmony, peace, love, faith, tradition, nature are the Bali's faces. Here Nothing else matters. If we forget these values, we will loose all this forever.

P

Nasi Goreng Silahkan!

On 10 November, with me on the board, KLM will land in Denpasar. Small town Candidasa is my starting point for visiting places along South-East coast.

Selemat Pagi Indian Ocean! with Your 30 Degrees. From my room in Relax Beach Resort I have an amazing view. Jupung boat will bring me in 15 minutes to Nusa Penida, where I will take the beach and dive. Till breathtaking sunset. 

Selemat Siang Tampak Sirhing! Pura Tirtha Empul with sacred water, I want to offer You my gifts and flowers. Pura Gunung Kawi, I want to offer You my bows. However, before, I will detour to reach Tenganan Village and visit for few hours tribe Bali Aga. 

Selemat Sore Pura Besakih!, I want to enter Your thresholds and light the candles. 

Selemat makan!, totally "I have to" is my trip to the night market, where many Mobil kitchens offer soups named Bakso with different varieties. Totally " I want to" is my Go to Masakan Padang or Warung, where Balinese serve Gado Gado, Babi Gulinge, Bebek Bengil, Nasi Kampur, Cap Cay, Soto Ayan, or delicious Cury Ayam. The rules are good, but previous my "not so much meat in menu" is the affront to Bali's excellent cooks. Time to break it.

Cold Europe, Selemat tinggal!!!