Off to Ubud

Posted under Deja vu Asia 2010

Something that I neglected to mention when I was telling about my Amazon Kindle, was that as well as books, you could also subscribe to some magazines and newspapers. In addition, it has the ability to be used as a MP3 player. Just think, I could load up the device with “Sweatin’ with the Oldies” tunes, dress up in my silk gym shorts, and do jumping jacks with Richard Simmons. Now is this not a disgusting picture? Maybe I’ll just stick to loading books into my Kindle.

Another form of exercise, here in the tropics, is strolling on the beach, and Bonnie tries to encourage me to participate in this endeavor whenever possible. However, if I am compelled to ogle another pair of naked, sun burnt, European bosoms, while holding my breath until my face turns purple and my chin is covered with drool, it will be too soon, exercise or not. Bonnie is the one with the disgusted look on her face, trying to keep far enough ahead of me so that no one realizes that we are together. At one point I thought that perhaps these ladies were unable to afford both parts of their swim suits, and I felt bad for their poverty, but then it came to me that these were not locals who were sun burning, but travellers, and if they could afford airline tickets they should be able to afford an entire swimsuit. It now appears that they intentionally dressed this way. Perhaps this is a testing ground for a new allied military strategy, as I read somewhere that if a male individual who was a follower of Islam beheld a naked infidel woman, he was compelled to commit suicide, or poke his eyes out with a sharp stick, or something like that. If it works here they may try this strategy in the mid east.

Tomorrow we are moving to Ubud, a city in the inland area of Bali, so I will not have to subject myself to beach time … or Bonnie poking out my eyes with a sharp stick.

Also didn’t mention that on our “temple tour”, the second temple which we visited was guarded by monkeys … many many monkeys. Now one of the deities of the Hindu faith is sort of a monkey man type of dude, and he is one of the good guys, so the monkeys have pretty much a run of the temple. On the upside, they are plentiful, plus they will work for peanuts. Much of the peanuts are supplied by the tourists, as the monkeys have learned that if they take something from the tourists, (such as glasses etc.), the tourists will trade peanuts to get their items back. There are, of course, vendors who will sell you peanuts at the entrance gate. Rather a symbiotic relationship, methinks.

We are quite enjoying Bali, the people are friendly and informative and the ones at our hotel have been very helpful. The food has a flavor of its own, (as we have found in all of Asia), with some different spices and methods of preparation. There doesn’t appear to be the variety of fruit available in Bali that there was in Thailand, but they do have Durian. It looks a bit different than that which I sampled in Thailand, and a bit smaller, but I’ll not probably give it the comparison test.

Not certain what our itinerary entails today as my social convener has not yet arisen. It is just as well, as it is raining at the moment, and that sometimes causes her to be “a little bit grumpy”. At least that is the way it seems to work in Sidney, but we shall see what we shall see.

Take care, and we will keeps you posted as time and internet permit.

T