Peace on Earth

Adventures

"Mira! Mira!" Screamed my dad he was waving his hands around like he had a bullet on his hands. I ran over and saw a lady with two snakes, one big yellow and white one around her neck, and a brown one around her wrist. My eyes widened.

"You want hold?" She asked. 

 I smiled and nodded. She took the large flexible snake off her neck and put it around mine. 

The snake was not at all what I expected.  It was warm, and not slimy at all.  It was a little bit soft but was very firm. I smiled for my dad's photos, then I handed over the big yellow snake to Jimmy.  

 Then I asked if I could hold the brown one. She nodded and placed him around my wrist. This snake was a bit more aggressive. His head kept on wanting to go to mine, but I obviously didn't want that. 

Then the women carried on.  It ended. 

The Wonderfull adventure just ended, and all I had to do then, was wait for another.

Mira

Warrior Princesses

As you know, I'm a bit of a feminist and somewhat into women's rights.  I think about this often as I raise my two daughters, especially as they get older and especially when we're in places in which women have many fewer rights than men - and Bali is no exception.

It isn't obvious, but women in Bali are second-class citizens.  While it is a Hindu society, traditionally, it is not unlike places of other religions, whether Christianity or Buddhism or Judaism or Islam.  Traditionally, wives are raised to serve their husbands needs before all else.  Traditionally, sons are much more treasured or prized than daughters.  Traditionally, men eat first and women eat later.  Sons are given meat and daughters eat meat only if there is enough.  Traditionally, men are allowed as many wives as they want - so long as the first wife approves, at least in theory.

My daughters continually surprise me.  They have confidence.  They are adventurous.  They try new things with gusto.  I'm impressed and amazed.  They are warrior princesses.  Who are they and how did they get that way?

I was reminded of this today, as I was reading this passage in a book both Maya and I are currently reading:

   What separates a warrior woman from the rest is her courage to push the boundaries.  It's about caring less what others expect of you and more about what you expect from yourself.  It's about being brave and living your truth, and being the best that you can possibly be.  If you expect life to be a glorious adventure then go out and create it.  It's your journey, so begin it.    Bali Hai:  A Woman's Journey (by Odyle Knight)

Nadia

 Maya, the warrior princess

Fearless Mira

The Temple

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.  Ok, here put these on and I will wait outside" exclaimed our guide. I took my wrap from his old calloused hands and walked to the changing room.

"Eeeeeeeeek!  Oh my god, I'm so exited!"  screeched Charlotte.

I giggled.  We were going to clean ourselves. Which means that we would have no karma no bad luck nothing, we would be just like a new born baby. We got changed into the cheap purple sarongs and tied a yellow piece of fabric along our waists.  I placed my dry clothes in the back of our locker, and slipped on my flip flops. We all walked towards the door to enter the crowded room where we would become babies.

"Ok, so first you put your hands together and say oooommm oooommm oooommm 3 times, then you splash your face 3 times, after that you gargle 3 times and drink the water three times, then finally dunk your head under," the guide exclaimed. I couldn't help thinking that if a lot of people were doing this, then it was spit water.  But I just ignored that and continued listening to the guide.

"But first, we are going to give an offering" We all followed him towards the door.  I stepped through it opened up to three pools with fountains flowing from the front.

"Ok here, here, here, here, here, and here" he gave us these small square containers made out of straw with flower petals in it.  The guide gestured to sit.  We sat.   I was exited for the next 15 minutes.

"So we go one by one, you make a wish then place your offering on the table.  But first, we meditate."

I was so excited.  We all followed his directions.

"Stay completely still and completely relaxed.  Say om 3 times."  We all said om.  I could feel Jimmy next to me giggling.

"Listen to all the sounds around you."  I heard the crowd talking.  I heard people saying omm, I heard the water from the fountains hitting the water.  I heard small children splashing around.  I heard around 50 different kind of bird sounds.  I was very relaxed.

"Ok now you," said the guide, tapping my mom.  She got up and rested the offering on the table.

"Now make your wish," he said.  My mom closed her eyes for a few seconds turned around and sat down.  Then it was Denise's turn, and Maya's, and Charlottes, and Jimmy's, and mine.

We then got into the pool and followed the guide's directions.  It was a very new and fun experience. 

Mira

In Love

I'm in love!

I love being in Amed, on the northeastern tip of Bali, Indonesia, staying in a quiet little town known for its snorkeling and diving.  This little town is fairly undeveloped, though there are lots of guest houses and dive shops.  It reminds me of the coastal part of Tulum, Mexico.  It's got that same sort of laid-back vibe - the vibe for which Bali is known (but probably no longer has in the southern touristy parts of the island).

 Sunrise in Amed

The Bamboo Bali Guesthouse

I love that today, another family is joining us on our trip!  We've known Denise and Jay since before Rob and I were married.  They came to our wedding in the Emirates.  We see them every summer when we're in USA.  Their two kids, Charlotte and Jimmy, are the same ages as Maya and Mira.  Spending two weeks with them in Bali way makes up for not seeing them at Indian Lake this summer!

I love that tomorrow, we're going to a house, to stay there for two whole weeks!!  We'll be able to unpack.  We will be able to play music as loudly as we'd like.  We'll have a kitchen.  We can buy and eat simple, fresh, and uncooked vegetables and foods.  Heaven!

Oh yes, I'm damn lucky and I'm in love...

Nadia