Final days on Gili Air on to Ubud Bali art town

Renting a Bike I explore pretty much every little pathway on the small Isle of Gili Air.

And glad to report my stomach / digestive tract finally comes to accomadation with whatever new biota aquired at the BarBQ 68 in Nyuang Shwe Myanmar. Nice.

A couple of the friendly Banana cottages staff in front of my bungalow.

Several shots from my last sunset looking past Bali’s volcano, it can be tough duty here in Indonesasia

I was happy to come accross an aray of solar panels. Obviously a utility instalation, Some of the hotels, bungalows have some panels but it could be so much more, considering how much sun is hear.

Back to Bali and straight up to Ubud, only some 300 meters of altitude but still a bit cooler. Ubud has become the Art / tourist center begining in the 1920’s In the last several decades tourism has exploded with hundreds of resturants, trinket shops, lodgings , and some really nice real art shops.

I start with two nights at a mid upscale place , Padma Retreat, pool, air con, wi fi included breakfast served on your balcony. ($30) they only had two nights free so I move to the Brata Inn, no pool, no breakfast. Ok since included breakfast is nearly always a limited selection of eggs & white toast, or rice & egg, with some fruit and tea, or maybe bad coffee. Turns out I’m the only guest for 8 rooms so I could select the room with the best (closest to router) wi fi. & Aircon that works. ($16/night) It is off season here now.

I strapped on my pack and walked 25 min. down hill to the Brata Inn. which is very close to the Sacraed Monkey Forrest. And those monkeys come out of the forrest every moning and evening to wander the power and cable lines and rooftops of this part of town. My hotel guy warned me DO NOT leave or even have food on my balcony. Monkeys will steal it. Shots fallow, when I went to wave the little family in shot off my porch I got bared teeth just waving my hands at them. After I got out my trekking stick they did quickly leave, one was already up on the table checking for food just while I stepped into room for the stick.

I went for a nice walk / hike up a ridge line somehow saved from having villas and houses built on it. Probbably because it;s a very narrow ridge where the path is.

Then to the original art museum in town. Built back in the 30’s with help from some Dutch and English ex pats plus established Balinese artist. some very nice pieces. wood carvings but mostly paintings. the 15,500 RP ($10) admission seemed steep for market but included a very good buffet of Balinese lunch. so Actually a great deal.

I then went to a show. A Balinese (semi) traditional play/ dance/preformance. around 50 guys provide the accopello accompanyment to very heavily costumed dancers protraying part of a Hindu epic. Very well worth the 75k rp. not a lot of pics for this, It was very much a no stage lights at night production.

Oh yea for a second act they litup a bunch of cconut husk , which after a bit a guy came out and kicked around then walked over. OUCh I’d say, but entertaining.

I’ve tried but can’t figure out how to attach the whatsApp sound recordings I made at the show. so those of you on the Whats App chat group here are the visuals to go with the chanting recordings. All the shirtless guys in the dim pics are the accopello accompany ment

I’ve been pretty much holed up with my phone here with good wifi dealing with issues for my Homer property rentals. Some struggles with very distant absentiy landlordism. I think it’s getting worked out, Good because a few days ago, before this rental issue came up, I booked myself a return to the US ticket. For several reasons I decided to hang in Asia a bit longer. I’m actually getting burnned out on new languages, currencys, finding lodgings, basicly traveling.

Coming back to the NW in early March with my Benz / mobile home in cA seems like too much of a climate shock. Pending some long distance unsolveable property issues I’ll be landing in Seattle March 26th.

Before that I’m booked into a Air B&B ($20/day) for a few weeks in Puerto Galera PH. this will be my 3rd visit to the natural harbor where the spanish Galleon fleet would form up each year in the 15 & 16 hundreds before heading to Acopulco Mexico. It’s kind of a familar spot where I can snorkel in great spots and cook most of my own food. Great fresh fish off the beach every evening from the local fleet. And $35 dollar one tank dives from multiple shops. This starts 3/1. Also there I can get my 2019 travel tatto from the guy at white beach who did my dragon tatto, he was good

But first a few days on Bali’s north coast coming up. And probably a stop some where in central Bali on the way to the airport.

Ok that’s all the editing I can handel for now time to post