Bali, Day 1
December 31, 2018
We arrived on the island of Bali about 1pm from Komodo after being escorted to the docks by two big tugs. For Australian college students, Bali is like Cancun is for Americans. Luckily, school had been out for a few weeks so the Aussies had come and gone. We had arranged for a guide to meet us at the ship and were driven north through a number of villages to see the rice terraces In Ubud. Rice is a staple of the Balinese diet. The terraces were quite steep. Along the way there were elaborate decorations made from bamboo and palm trees to celebrate Balinese Christmas, which occurs twice a year, 210 days apart (who knew—2 Christmases!). 90 % of the 4 million people on Bali are Hindus unlike the rest of Indonesia, which is majority Muslim. This was New Years Eve and street vendors were out selling fish, vegetables, etc. for upcoming family celebrations. For Jan, the road up and back was a feast for this former expat’s eyes. Shops selling carved doors, beautiful simple wooden furniture, stone statues, etc. provided wonderful opportunities for furnishing the new house. Dave reminded her we were on a ship, not traveling in an empty shipping container. So—her options were scaled back. We stopped at a jewelry workshop and sales room and also a studio making and selling batik products.
For New Years Eve, the ship arranged a very special event. We were taken to a nearby convention center in Nusa Dua (the luxury hotel area of Bali). Upon arrival we were greeted by local women in beautiful Balinese dresses. After an outdoor reception we were escorted into the convention center by a large group of drummers. There were a number of excellent Balinese dances performed including one that depicted a local legend with over 60 dancers and singers on the stage. The meal was a traditional Indonesian rijsttafel served by an army of waiters. A very good Indonesian band performed American dance music in front of digital countdown clocks. We celebrated the New Year 13 hours ahead of the US east coast.
Went to bed about 1 am, ready for Day 2 in Bali.
We arrived on the island of Bali about 1pm from Komodo after being escorted to the docks by two big tugs. For Australian college students, Bali is like Cancun is for Americans. Luckily, school had been out for a few weeks so the Aussies had come and gone. We had arranged for a guide to meet us at the ship and were driven north through a number of villages to see the rice terraces In Ubud. Rice is a staple of the Balinese diet. The terraces were quite steep. Along the way there were elaborate decorations made from bamboo and palm trees to celebrate Balinese Christmas, which occurs twice a year, 210 days apart (who knew—2 Christmases!). 90 % of the 4 million people on Bali are Hindus unlike the rest of Indonesia, which is majority Muslim. This was New Years Eve and street vendors were out selling fish, vegetables, etc. for upcoming family celebrations. For Jan, the road up and back was a feast for this former expat’s eyes. Shops selling carved doors, beautiful simple wooden furniture, stone statues, etc. provided wonderful opportunities for furnishing the new house. Dave reminded her we were on a ship, not traveling in an empty shipping container. So—her options were scaled back. We stopped at a jewelry workshop and sales room and also a studio making and selling batik products.
For New Years Eve, the ship arranged a very special event. We were taken to a nearby convention center in Nusa Dua (the luxury hotel area of Bali). Upon arrival we were greeted by local women in beautiful Balinese dresses. After an outdoor reception we were escorted into the convention center by a large group of drummers. There were a number of excellent Balinese dances performed including one that depicted a local legend with over 60 dancers and singers on the stage. The meal was a traditional Indonesian rijsttafel served by an army of waiters. A very good Indonesian band performed American dance music in front of digital countdown clocks. We celebrated the New Year 13 hours ahead of the US east coast.
Went to bed about 1 am, ready for Day 2 in Bali.
Sounds like Dave needs to loosen the purse strings...
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