The last post

For a little while.

Blogger tells me that this will be the 99th post of this trip. Just missed the century, but there may be more a little later. This time tomorrow we will be in the airport ready to head back to Australia. And it's not just us who is wondering where the time has gone. Almost everyone is looking disbelieving as they ask the inevitable question. And where has it gone? In a whirl of new friendships, new learning, conversations with like-minded people, films, talks and self discovery.

Only last night as we walked down Jl Dewi Sita, frantic waving from a restaurant alerted us to a couple we hadn't seen for weeks. Another farewell. The last few days have involved farewell drinks and 'au revoirs' with the many people who live here that we are happy to now call friends. And in a nice show of symmetry, just as we arrived in May in time for a Royal Cremation, we depart in October with preparations under way at the Palace for another next week.

Bali's, or more precisely, Ubud's siren call still echoes and we will most certainly be back in a few months, and for even longer. But those will be other stories for another time. Perhaps I will continue to document our experiences next year as we use this base to explore other parts of Indonesia, and South East Asia.

The readership has surprised me and I thank those of you who have been following my ramblings.

And as if to prove that she has still secrets to reveal, Bali sprung yet another surprise yesterday. We had no idea that the afternoon and evening after Galungan Day is the time that children band together and dance their barongs up and down the streets seeking donations. A Balinese trick or treat, except it's all our treat. Impossibly cute boys in groups of about 20, some looking as young as three, all under ten, have been obviously preparing routines involving dance and music. The same ritual that their older brothers, their fathers, their grandfathers and beyond would have performed each Galungan. So charming. So delightful. Such a lovely memory to leave with.

Please  check in from time as I hope to build this site over time with cultural and practical information about the island and its people.

Selamat jalan. Selamat tinggal. Terima kasih Ubud.