Oct-18, Day 9

We were getting stuffed at breakfast.  2 eggs over easy, I ordered bacon and everyone followed.  The last piece was fed to the eager black dog, Amoyia.

All of us, the “Seven in Heaven” made the cultural visits to local religious temples, and all had to wear Sarongs, or skirts.  We enjoyed a friendly guide at our second temple.  Each temple charged an entry fee, a parking fee, and each small area within each temple asked for donations, and then there were the bathroom fees.  At the conclusion, we were dumped into a section of retailers with hawkers galore with cheap trinkets for sale.  It was obvious to me temples were just like hawkers markets – they just wanted your money, except the temples were more beautiful.

              Temple outside Ubud

         Bathing in the temple's spring water brings good luck.

Just in case, I decided to wash my face in the temple waters to bring good luck.  Some of us stood in line and took turns washing in the spring waters that originated from the temples grounds.  I didn’t have any wishes of myself to request at this temple - I was just happy to be here.  However, with all the distance I traveled to remote exotica, I wondered if I finally found the place that could lift the curse of “mediocracy” of the Chiefs since Superbowl IV in 1970.

                                  Temple outside Ubud

All seven travelers wrap themselves in sarongs to visit the religous temple.  The "Seven in Heaven".

We enjoyed a nice lunch at a local restaurant; I tried the ham and gruyere sandwich since I was getting more than my palette could handle with spicy Balinese food.  My sandwich came with hollandaise sauce in place of gruyere cheese but was still tasty.

 

A dog (left) and hog (right) greet visitors to a trendy expat restaurant.

We hit the shops that afternoon.  During our ride around the west of Ubud, we saw endless craft and woodcarving shops along the road.  Men sitting on the floor carving wood logs into sculptures leaving behind wood chips everywhere it seemed.  It takes a month to carve a medium sized figure.  So many nice things were for sale, it made me dizzy – I had to block it out of my mind.  There is no shortage of skilled labor or supply of wood carvings.

Proud wood carving shop owner (right) in Ubud, Bali.  Manual labor is everywhere to be seen.

The resident six-sigma blackbelt demsonstrates quality control.

We were in a more rural section, hugging a small creek canyon lined with heavy vegetation.  We’d see the roadside used for many things including clothes just dropped into the tops of grass blades.  The breeze of the passing cars and motorbikes helped to dry their clothing.  The roadside ground was free and put to good use, including the occasional trash dump.

                                       Streets in Ubud, Bali.

We speculated our hired drivers could be getting kickbacks.  We noticed tour buses of Japanese in one location.  I sported my Iranian nationality upon the price setting introduction– it seemed to work.  I hadn’t shaved since I left, so things were in my favor as long as I said nothing.  Many didn’t understand where Iran was, so I said Iraq to orient them, their eyes got real big, and then I said the country next to it.  In any case, they left me alone and instead concentrated their commercial enterprises on my wife.  I did manage to get a nice wood carving of white crocodile wood – I paid too much, but I got him down 25% from asking price, but I still needed to keep my mouth shut more and grunt more.

 

                             Baskets for sale in Ubud...

                   ....and baskets at work in Ubud.

Tanya bought wood carved gifts for her nephews, along with a cache of batik cloth. 

Kimiko and I witnessed another beautiful sunset and rested listening to electric harp music.  Mr. Oka created another masterpiece dinner, including a starter of dill and cucumber cold soup served in cucumber halves; we asked for the recipe.  This was followed by some of the tastiest and tender lamb shanks – this all capped another great day.

More photo's from this day below....


                        Hard to fit this size in our luggage.

                                       Rice terraces.


                        Kimiko and Kaori at temple.


    
                   Statue and carving in temple.

                        Man enough to wear a sarong.


Our guide at the temple. Dentists are probably good here.


         Hawkers push their goods outside temple.  Avoid eye contact.

 
                                            Street in Ubud.