Bargain Hunt

As we head towards the end of our first two months here, we wonder where the time has gone. But then we realise that we have been fairly restricted in the past few weeks. With our Bahasa Indonesia class beginning at 12.30 every day, there is only a small window before and after the lesson; time just to have a walk and a swim or go down to the Bintang Supermarket and pick up a few supplies, but not venture too far. I am also helping out a bit at the Festival office in the mornings. By the time we have done our homework after class  it's just about time for the evening meal and another day has passed. Then there's the social life three or four nights a week, but that's a whole other story.

Some of what we are learning is sticking but the real-world test happens on Thursday when we head for the Sukawati market clutching a Rp 20,000 note to see what we can buy with our new-found Bahasa Indonesia haggling skills. Or not. Not so long ago you could have said that the note would be equivalent to $2 but the falling dollar has chopped about 10% off our purchasing power. Eddie is after a ukulele (he'll be lucky!) and I wouldn't mind another sarong, so we'll see. Our teacher, Winda, will be coming along and hopefully she will bail us out of any predicament. Usually the classes go to the Ubud market, but the revamped pasar is so disappointingly dull that, as there are only three of us and Winda, we will venture a bit further afield.

One more week of classes and we are out on our own. Winda has given us a good foundation to build on and the rest is up to us. If we practise we should get there. Not fluent, but we will get by.

There is still so much to do and see in our remaining four months, some right here in Ubud. We still need to do a cooking class, see the white herons come home to roost at Petulu and visit the Gianyar night market. Further afield, Yogjakarta beckons as do the Gili Islands. And to see a komodo dragon would be amazing.

We are beginning to think that having our own transport would give us a bit of freedom. I am not brave enough for a scooter but maybe we will hire a car for a day or two to get a feel for driving conditions here.

And as if to tease me for even suggesting that things need shaking up, as I write this I do believe that we have just had an earthquake. A baby one, but a shaking and a rumbling nevertheless. Love this place. You certainly know you are alive.