Oh, what a night!

Another month has slipped by, although June was Cinta Bahasa month with every day concerned with language learning. We received our certificates, deserved or not, on Friday and will be maintaining contact with Winda on Facebook where she will communicate solely in Bahasa Indonesia. We have also vowed to continue practising whenever and wherever we can, including catching up at Mingle and attempting to converse with Alison's tolerant staff.

At the end of each month, our host usually puts on a buffet for his guests. It's a generous gesture that gives us a chance to chat with others who are staying here long term or short. So it was no surprise when the invitation was issued to be there last evening. It was a surprise, however, that it was being held a little earlier than usual (could we be there between 5.30 and 6) and was the dining area a little more beautifully decorated than usual?

Before I reveal more, I will say that a site that I like to visit from time to time is 1000 Awesome Things, a celebration of the little things that delight us but that we don't often even recognise until they are pointed out to us. The driver who acknowledges thanks for letting them in, peeling an orange in one go - that sort of thing. Now I can add: being unexpectedly part of a stranger's birthday party.

For the last couple of weeks we had observed quite a large Australian group here who seem particularly close to our host. He's an exceedingly friendly fellow, but there was something more going on here as before they came he mentioned that 'family' would be here soon.

Last night's feast, for it was a feast, was a celebration of a birthday. The woman concerned had known our host and his Balinese family since he was a small boy, and is still very close to his mother. What a night, as much a surprise to her as it was to everyone lucky enough be there.

Before the food was served, we became aware of a clicking and clacking in the distance, increasing in volume, and then about 50 dancers made a dramatic entrance and proceeded to perform a kecak dance. By now it was growing dark, and the singers and dancers were illuminated by burning torches set strategically on the lawn. As the story (part of the Ramayana) unfolded many other dancers from beautiful women to a white monkey, an elaborate garuda and a cackling, evil king had their moment.

The evil king turned out to be Made, one of Eddie's regular morning walk companions. We had become aware of his artistic inclinations only recently, but the visit to his Wayang Kulit performance last week will have to be the subject of another post. Wonderful stuff, and we thought that was all. But soon after we had indulged ourselves in free flowing mojitos, babi guling, smoked duck, delicious salads and about a dozen other dishes, Made announced that his son would then present a fire dance.

More drama. Swirling and twirling fire, bursts of flame from the mouth, and by this time it was inky dark, so all the more impressive. Happy birthday, Australian and Indonesian style, was sung, a few heartfelt speeches heard and a couple of extraordinary cakes consumed before a special celebration came to an end. The birthday girl was thrilled and we were delighted and felt utterly privileged to have been included. Quite a party. The 1001st awesome thing.