UWRF

Taman Baca, Reading Garden

In every way the Writers and Readers Festival is the reason we are in Ubud. We have attended in previous years and found excellent accommodation close by, which is where we have been staying since May. Now the 10th anniversary 2013 Festival is about to start, and excitement levels are mounting.

Thousands of people will attend sessions - something like 25000 seats have been sold, but of course some of these will be people attending multiple sessions. Nevertheless, that's an influx of visitors and a great boost to the town's economy. Which was Janet deNeefe's intention when she founded the Festival immediately after the first bombing when tourists stopped coming here. I can't imagine her feelings when the second bombings took place soon after the 2005 event had concluded but it was all the more reason to carry on. Now UWRF is considered one of the premier international festivals of its kind.

This year more than 190 writers will be presenting; some are household names but many are not, and all the more interesting for that. Later I am off to the airport to greet arriving presenters and welcome them to Bali.

The streets are bedecked and this time on Saturday they will be teeming. Tonight there will be a Hindu blessing ceremony, tomorrow night we are lucky enough to be invited to the official opening at the Palace followed by a gala dinner. Then it's go, go, go.

Eddie and I both volunteered as soon as we got here in May and we have been helping with the programme and presenting authors and their books at the Bar Luna literary evenings. We have seen first-hand how brilliantly the programming staff have been juggling events and dealing with disappointment*. And how amazing the volunteer coordinators have been as they communicate with people around the world about their roles and as they have coped with last minute changes. Now I will sit back and enjoy the delicious dilemma of selecting what to attend, but Eddie's volunteering continues as he will be helping out with book launches and workshops over the four days.

Let the Festival begin! Will report as I can.

* It's a two-edged sword when you are smart enough to programme Man Booker Prize nominees before they are nominated. It means that when they are, they can't attend the Festival! Everyone is delighted for the authors, but disappointed for the Festival.So no Tash Aw, no Ruth Ozeki. This year, anyway.

Volunteer briefing, this morning

Box office will be busy

This building and grounds needs to be ready for action in 24 hours, and will be.