Sunday, June 26, 2011

The quack of dawn

Ducks (bebek) are in the newly harvested rice paddies I see from my room in Ubud, Bali, and each morning their gentle splashing and quacking drifts into my awareness with the dawn light. The ducks are so comical as they are herded into the selected paddy with their brisk wobbly run, long necks outstretched. Some have punk topknots to distinguish them along with the white and black ones which set them apart from the usual brown.

The harvest has taken place over the past few days with birds being chased from the grain as it reached maximum ripeness before the rice was finally cut and threshed by conical hatted women. Scarecrows are gone from the field now. Moved to another soon to be harvested paddy.

Verdant fields of emerald green topped with gold have been transformed into yellow stubble and reflection filled paddies. Fringed with coconut palms with a backdrop of mountains to the west I can watch the sunset each day.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Visa for Bali and friends

In Bali there are several kinds of Indonesian visa and mine means I have to leave the country every six months. So I've just been back to Australia where I was delighted to be able to explore Perth and Freo for the first time. Just loved the diversity and originality of Freo shops and environs. The volcanic ash from South America resulted in my flight being canceled so I had more time to explore.

Now back in Bali the rice is being harvested. More about that in a later post.....

In 1998 I was in India and made a good friend while I was there. She and her partner are going to visit me soon in Bali. It's interesting what binds you in friendship and we have supported each other in good times and bad in many ways. I am in awe of her abilities. She is an example of how to change your life in a positive way. We have followed our dreams to a better life. We are not young but we are young at heart. AND we are living proof of my own personal motto - risk a little live a lot!