Our bungalow is more or less in the centre of the village which is strung along the main coastal road. So we decide to explore in the other direction today, but finding nothing much on the main road take a side road that runs towards the mountains and passed village houses until eventually it peters out in to a little track. All along the way we are greeted with enthusiastic ‘hellos’ accompanied by much waving of hands by adults and giggling children alike. Where are you going? Where do you come from are two other favourite greetings employed by the Balinese. A young man seeing us passing rushes out of his house anxious to explain that this is a dead end path, but of course we are welcome to walk it to the end and even to rest in his house if we wish.
We have lunch in the garden of the Reef Scene beach-side bar. Gamelin music is playing in the background as a group of young Balinese girls in sarongs and sashes practice their classical dance skills.
At dinner we chat briefly to a young English couple who, it turns out, used to live in Kirkstall Avenue, just round the corner from our old house in Streatham Hill. Why these chance meetings with people who have some shared connection should continue to evoke surprise, I’m not sure, since they seem to happen with uncanny frequency. They do, nonetheless!
We have lunch in the garden of the Reef Scene beach-side bar. Gamelin music is playing in the background as a group of young Balinese girls in sarongs and sashes practice their classical dance skills.
At dinner we chat briefly to a young English couple who, it turns out, used to live in Kirkstall Avenue, just round the corner from our old house in Streatham Hill. Why these chance meetings with people who have some shared connection should continue to evoke surprise, I’m not sure, since they seem to happen with uncanny frequency. They do, nonetheless!
Wonderful descriptions and so interesting. Bali sounds really great! And fancy meeting people who once lived in Kirkstall AVenue. Small world, but as you say, it happens all the time.
Hope you are still enjoying it! Summer has arrived…there’s more blue sky than cloud, and once out of the cool breeze, it’s fairly warm. I’m playing cricket several times this season, so that is something to look forward to. Yes, life here also interesting but possible less so than where you are and where you will be going.