tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143293012011-04-21T19:47:33.598-07:00Herein lie the stories of our travels throughout Bali.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00497669698675117367noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14329301.post-1125537691801616532005-08-31T18:19:00.000-07:002005-08-31T18:21:31.816-07:008-31-05<br />Blog. Belum… <br />Berated and bashed. <br />Baffled. Bemused. Behind… <br />Burgesses, Bali: Blog. <br />Badgered. Belittled. Abashed! <br />Budge… <br />Blog.<br /><br />Believe you, me… We never would have thought it would take so long to get a word out. In fact, many of the words have been written for a while. Well… maybe not so many, but… some. ((‘Belum’, by the way, is a word in the Bahasa Indonesia language that means “Not yet.”)) Mostly, its been a matter of getting the chance to go back and read through, possibly edit, and then endure the grueling --excruciatingly slow, on Bali computers-- process of uploading the material to the internet. So, here we are… after nearly two months, less than two weeks from departing this Bali home to return to our home in all of you.<br /><br />Each time there’s a chance to write, I’m filled with the joy of the experience. If only that chance wasn’t so hard to grab from amidst the alternatives at any given moment. We were just given a book that was written right here at Sari Bamboo, where we live. Dedicated to Wayan Martini, our matriarch-host (and wife to Sari), the book is a mystery novel set in Bali called Kris of Death. (Despite the book’s morbid moniker…) I can only imagine how inspiring it would be to have the freedom to live here day-to-daily writing…<br /><br />Wayan Martini and her family are one of the reasons it’s so hard to find the small glimpse of time required to do any computer/paper-work …or blogging. Any given opportunity to hang out with ‘the family’ is a welcome respite from the hectic moments we drive into when we pull out of this pondok (inn) drive-way. Kai and Shen have found friends in the children --both ‘in the house’ and throughout the local village… Brian has fun goofing with the staff… and Debbie’s been bound heart-to-heart with our host (Martini), barefoot in the kitchen (learning from one another) for hours.<br /><br />The best thing that we finally did for ourselves, that’s been one of the most meaningful steps forward in our embrace of this beautiful culture, was to allow a ‘pembantu’ to let us hire her to help with the facets of life that village-life benefits most. Ibu Madei has become a good friend, a teacher, and an interpreter when one was most needed. Not least of all, she’s become someone that the children are very comfortable with… Someone we can count on and trust… and the very thing that’s allowed this trip some semblance of vacation.<br /><br />While the ‘work-side’ still looms, we’ve felt very productive. Crazy, yes, yet firmly productive. Despite unexpected time restraints, with regards to cargo shipping, we took the last couple of weekends to truly “let go” at ‘santai’ destinations such as (Good Karma in eastern Bali’s Amed) for snorkeling and a full-moon anniversary, and western Bali’s Menjangan Island for an easy exploration of tropical undersea worlds. Kailynd enjoyed plenty of ‘bare-bottom’ time (Beach life is great for that!) while O’Shen accrued some ‘bottom-time’ snorkeling over reef --where he saw tropical fish in myriad colors-- for the very first time!<br /><br />Few, however, have been these santai (“relaxing”) excursions. In almost two months, the Burgess family’s been to Dreamland Beach (‘Pantai Dreamland’) twice, Brian’s been able to surf only once, and Brian & Debbie went out once with neighbor friends --sans children (THANKS, Ibu Madei!)-- for a night of music and fun. Most otherwise, its been purely a mixture of sweat and laughter; peace and chaos; and the interlacing juggle of profitable pursuits with an harmonic saunter through the foibles of everyday life.<br /><br />In the jumble of juggle, somehow, we’ve found the time (together) for yoga… While Debbie’s been nearer to it for years, the heart of yoga has wriggled its way into Brian’s being for pretty much the first time. Good teachers, paradisiacal beauty, and the locale’s social density of interest have proven to be a fruitful blend. There’s still a long way to go, however, towards total attunement…<br /> <br />From “attunement” to “attenuation”… Let’s go back to the beginning…<br />with what’s been written already.--------------------------------------------------------------<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------<br />------------------------------------------------<br />-----------------------------<br />------------------<br />---------<br />------<br />-- Fortunately, we’d begun packing for this trip two months prior to departure. Granted, preparations were sporadic and disjointed… but, progress had been made. As always, however, a multitude of loose ends still required last minute mending. That’s why we had more than hurricane preparation to worry about as we watched Hurricane Dennis track right up our alley. We’d not quite expected to lose power, telephone communication, and e-mail, but that’s what happened. Therefore, we spent our last 28 Tallahassee hours fumbling around with flashlights trying to pack those last few essentials and shuffling computers, printers, cell-phone chargers, and other electronics around the one A/C outlet adapter we have in our car. Stress levels were higher than usual and, as you can probably imagine, the ‘bar’ is set pretty high for the standard of stress prior to a two-month trip with two young children. In the end, however, we managed to glean showers (and coffee!) from our friends (the JAK-Macs: Jmac, Amac, & Kmac) and a ride to the airport from Nicki, our house-sitter (work associate of Deb’s). It wasn’t the smoothest of departures but, once we were sitting at our gate in the Tallahassee airport, we knew there was nothing more we could do… Anything we hadn’t thought to pack just wasn’t coming with us. We were on our way and it was time to leave the “prep-stress” behind.<br />Using frequent flyer miles for our travel legs to Los Angeles, we were afforded the “scenic route” of Delta’s airways… Tallahassee sent us to Atlanta; Atlanta shipped us to Salt Lake City; and then Salt Lake City shuttled us off to Los Angeles. Despite Tallahassee and Atlanta delays caused by the fury of Hurricane Dennis, we managed to make all connections (including the flight that waited for us in Salt Lake City). Even our baggage managed to make the VERY tight connections; luggage packed tight-full with clothing and toys to give away in Bali.<br />Once in Los Angeles (at approximately 2am), we shuffled our 7 pieces of 65-pound luggage onto a shuttle, and into a rental car (mini-van, actually, to fit all the luggage), and drove another hour to escape the confines of L.A.’s morning traffic before settling into a sleazy hotel on our way to Las Vegas. A couple of hours later, the children roused us and the speedy drive down desert highways commenced. Uneventfully, we arrived at RIO Casino/Hotel just ahead of the family we were meeting. Stepping out of the car, we were buffeted with a 119-degree ‘breeze’ delivering our first taste of the desert climes…<br />-------------------<br />--------------<br />---------<br />-----<br />---<br />-<br />Vegas/L.A.<br /><br />Time, space, and distance have already blurred the image some… But memories of Vegas revolve mostly around the glitter of lights, mounds of food, the sound of slots, the jingle of coins, and the joy of just being with family. It was a little bit difficult to embrace the extravagance of such a place, knowing we would soon be living so much more simply in Bali, and each dollar spent was like watching our creative options dissolve before we ever got to Bali. Neither of us are gamblers and we lack both the resolve and the funds to risk what it takes to make gains in Las Vegas. It was a pleasure, however, to see that the family we were with all managed to come out ahead in the end.<br /><br />Lasting memories will include a trip to the top of RIO Hotel in a sauna-like glass elevator and standing at the outside bar (on top of the building), overlooking the neon “Strip” in the caressing wind of midnight’s 100 degrees. No less, and much more comfortable, will be the memory of Cirque du Soleil’s “O”. It takes place in and around a pool of water… The effect is amazing and opens itself to a whole new array of acrobatics.<br /><br />All in all we had a great time with family: the boys got to play with Cousin Ethan, Brian got lost in Margaritaville with Nana Mary, and everyone ate way too much good food.<br /><br />Once we had all parted ways, DebBriKaiShen drove back through the desert to Los Angeles. In L.A., we threw ourselves upon friends (Blossom & Mark) where a team effort whipped up a fabulous meal and we just pretty much laid low. In addition to hanging out with friends that night, Brian went to work with duct-tape repairing baggage that was already beginning to split at the seams while Debbie spent hours on the phone with Delta representatives who informed us that we just wouldn’t quite be able to return to Tallahassee upon our return… Apparently, a flight (two months in the future) had been cancelled and we were destined to spend the night in Atlanta or some other city before being forced to rent a car in order to get home. Somehow, it became our responsibility rather than Delta’s… ((Does that make sense to ANYONE other than Delta?)) Ultimately, our flight plans have been rearranged to dump us in South Florida upon our return. It will mean a couple of days delay, but will be more comfortable for us in the long run.<br /><br />In the morning, Blossom and Mark saved us an ugly shuttle-bus transfer by following us to the rental-car drop and driving us to the airport. Their warm-hearted generosity helped lend a healthy start to this last series of flight legs into Asia…<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Asia Flight<br /><br />This last series of flights went smoothly… the longest leg being about 15 hours. The children did very well. We had a great neighbor (American physician stationed with the army in Korea) who was very tolerant and friendly with our children because he has several half-Korean children of his own. Before long, we found ourselves (for the first time) in the airport at Seoul, Korea. It felt good to be back in Asia, experiencing the amenities of airports in such places –they always seem to have such great facilities freely available to the public. Our substantial, but relatively short, layover offered the children an opportunity to play in a really fun ‘play-station’ type playground populated by a multitude of children speaking a variety of languages… none of which was English. <br /><br />Somehow, when we boarded our last flight for Bali, we found ourselves being seated in the bulkhead seats of Business class (rather than the Economy class for which we paid). The difference was so vast, it can barely be imagined what a jump to First Class would feel like. We had so much room in front of our seats (remember we were also in the bulkhead ‘front-row’ seats) that we hardly knew what to do with it… and our seats reclined to nearly a prone position. Unbelievable! Are we blessed enough to find our seats booked similarly for our return? …Time will tell.<br /> ------------------ <br /> ------------------ <br />------------------ <br /> ------------------<br /> ------------------ <br /> ------------------ <br />------------------ <br />8-6-05<br /><br />Imagine your body floating freely.<br />Let your mind fall deep into trance.<br />See your soul spinning eternally…<br />Compelling your spirit to dance.<br /><br />This morning I (Brian) was introduced to my first real yoga experience. An individual one-on-one lesson gave me some insight, some experience, and the will to continue. I have felt truly wonderful all day.<br /><br />My worry, however, is that the rental-guy never came to bless our car today… Is it safe to drive? Today is the day (every day is some special day or another, in Bali) that special ceremonies are conducted, throughout Bali, to bless all things made of iron/metal. Every car and motorbike has been washed and adorned with mandalas woven from palm-fronds (after all proper ceremonies have been conducted… which includes what looks something like a picnic: a table cloth on the hood piled high with baskets of food and drink, intricate weavings, and plenty of burning incense). Our car, on the other hand, still wears its random pattern of bird droppings and a thickening layer of dust. No spiky green palm-frond weavings hang from the front grill or sit on our dashboard. Our previous ‘rental-guy’ always “borrowed” the car for a couple of hours on such a day, but we now rent from someone new. We put in a call to the man who owns this car, but he said not to be worried. (His wife is due to have a baby). I don’t know… Should we be?<br /><br />Tomorrow, I’ll be looking at the cliffs of Bali’s southern bukit (peninsula) with a vantage from the sea… I should find myself bobbing about in a fine swell at Dreamland, one of Bali’s most beautiful –and I’m please to say, somewhat lesser known—surfing beaches. Our plan was to spend the night, but accommodations are few so we’ll use this one-day excursion to (hopefully) set up an overnight for later in the month…<br /><br />Trying to write about this year’s experience in Bali, so far, feels a bit like bobbing around on the roiling swells of inspiration… reaching for the submerging and re-emerging messages, contained in crystal bottles, destined for deliverance upon the rocks of dark and looming cliffs. Not that the task is so daunting… More that the thoughts of greatest significance are, seemingly, insignificant and yet (to us, at least) profound. It’s just that we’re not so sure anyone wants to read about the Burgesses as they rush about to do business and cope with the life inherent with children and travel abroad. The tale has already been told, hasn’t it? More important, and more interesting are the smaller thoughts that emerge from below the surface of a sip of coffee… or those larger, illuminated with a spark of sunlight caught in the eye of a passerby… Those are the ideas we wish to convey, but those are the ones that most easily fall prey to the lack of a pencil, or the unwillingness to spoil a critical moment with a scribbled note meant for later.<br /><br />This return to Bali brought us back to what seemed the exact time and place we had left one year prior… For the first time, we were returning to exactly the same place of dwelling. Sari Bamboo, a small collection of bungalows and simple rooms staggered throughout a peaceful garden setting, is run by one family with the addition of a couple of staff. All welcomed us home, and we seemed to immediately resume where we had left our parting… (Only, this time, friendships already have had the foundation upon which to quickly grow deeper.) Unfortunately, our chosen bungalow (and the two others) were already tenanted. A quick survey of our options secured us two rooms side-by-side which we customized by moving furniture about: desks moved into one room created a playroom/office/pantry, while beds moved into the other built us a bedroom/bathing/dressing room. Our rooms have no kitchen but, given a warm welcome, this served only to help with our integration into the Balinese culture… Debbie has been cooking side-by-side with Martini (the mother-head of the house) and many of our meals are shared with the Sari family.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />8-9-05<br /><br />If we happen to be here, again, on the first Sunday of August… Will somebody PLEASE e-mail to say DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE KITE FESTIVAL, Boneheads! We managed to miss it last year, too.<br /><br />Most of the other tenants here, at Sari Bamboo, are related to one another –family and friends of a common group. Luckily, they are mostly very open rather than exclusive so the whole “community” is able to be friendly with one another. One of the guests –with a room closest to ours— is a Fullbright Award winner sent to India in order to study the ‘bansuri’ (indigenous flute). From India where he’s been studying music for years, he’s come to Indonesia where we are treated to an inspiring serenade each morning after breakfast.<br /><br />------------<br />------------<br />------------<br />------------<br />------------<br />8-21-05<br /><br />We got enjoyably lost, yesterday… Had the time and the means, and two sleeping children. No rush, no hurry… No worries. It was the trip back from Amed, our haven for ‘santai’ (relaxation), that led us down new paths. “Good Karma”, a place that was once --not too long ago (and within our memory)-- at the veritable ‘end-of-the-road’, is now accessible by a paved road that continues on around the ‘bukit’ (peninsula) back through the city of Amlapura. Snake-like, we wound our way around black ridges of volcanic rock that would each expose a new cove littered with wildly painted prahus (“pontoon fishing canoes outfitted with inverted triangular sails”). The road meandered through dusty villages dug into the rocky cliffsides… boulders had been rearranged to create terraces for agriculture, collect scarce water into pools, form the sides of scant buildings, and for whatever else a rock might be used. It seemed this side of the mountains lay in something of a “rain-shadow”… a beautiful space between rock and sea, but seldom blessed with rain. Strong southern winds were blowing across this most eastern point in Bali, surging the sea into a strange dance around the rocky outcrops. As we wound our way around to the south, we found enticing surf… uninhabited surf… peeling swells that wrapped around into the shelter of blissful coves. Of course, access to a surfboard lay hours to the south, so… We kept on driving.<br /><br />Once the road delivered us back through Amlapura, we were essentially back on a track we’ve driven many times before. However… Its always a drive requiring instinctual navigation rather than map-reading. The lack of road signs leaves us to rely on the memory of landmarks, but intersections often look the same and we make the drive approximately only once each year. Again… We got enjoyably lost. Somewhere in the city of Gianyar, we encountered a one-way that set us off on a number of wrong-ways… We enjoyed our detours, though, and explored sections of a city that we’ve hardly known at all.<br /><br />Upon our arrival “home”, Martini greeted us with a fanciful “offering” of foods adorned with flowers, candles, and cards reading “Happy Anniversary Wedding!” Staff helped look after the children so we could enjoy the meal and a bit of relaxation, but we were too tired to make a night of it. All in all, it was very nice to have been remembered… A lot of thought and energy went into the special feast that had been prepared.<br /><br />Our trip to Amed had been our own little way of celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary. Again, “Good Karma” is the place we think of as being our haven… A place to escape the work we involve ourselves in, here. Facing east, it is always the greatest place to view a full-moon… So the timing was impeccable. There, we spent only one night --something we always seem to do, and curse ourselves for each time-- but enjoyed snorkeling (O’Shen snorkeled over coral reef for the very first time!), building with sand and rocks, and embracing new friendships. Dinner at Deep Blue Studio had us watching the moon-rise from a precarious perch clinging to the cliff-side. All of us enjoyed walking a maze of Escher-like stairways towards the water’s edge…<br />---------------------------<br />------------------------------------------------------<br />------------------------------------------------<br />-------------------------------------<br />8-22-05<br /><br />O’Shen has been learning Bahasa Indonesia (the universal language of Indonesia’s islands) at a sponge-like rate. He often chooses to rattle of in Bahasa rather than English and its exciting to see his interest in learning. Kailynd, too, has learned a few words in Bahasa while his English vocabulary grows every day… Debbie and Brian are just trying to keep up!<br /><br />Today, we walked through the Monkey Forest (uh… lots of monkeys, of course!) and finally found the restaurant we’d been told to try, called “Monkey Palace”. It’s a bamboo tower-like tree-house structure, very simply built to accommodate a few patrons with a variety of views. What makes it most unique is that the restaurant is located in the fringe of Monkey Forest, behind a government wall prohibiting signage… Difficult to find and little known. For power (electric blender required for fresh juice), the sole chef/waiter runs next door. The meal was… interesting… and worth the adventure.<br /><br />For the first time, this trip, we located what the Indonesian’s call a “baby-siSter” (meaning, “baby-siTter”). Another by the name of Madei, we’ve dubbed her “Ibu Madei” (Mother Madei)<br />Tomorrow, Debbie and Brian will…<br />…………………………………………….Which brings us back to today, Wednesday, August 31, 2005. Sorry it has taken so long to let any of this story unfold. We hope you’ve enjoyed it and actually made it, here, to the end.<br /><br />This is only the END of the NOW, of course, and the BEGINNING of thereafter...<br />We’ll try to let you know.<br /><br />Your Abashedly Blogging Friends,<br />Brian, Debbie, O’Shen, and Kailynd Lee Burgess<br />Love, Light, and Harmony to all of you!!! <br />See you soon…<br />Blog at you, sooner!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14329301-112553769180161653?l=earth-harmony.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00497669698675117367noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14329301.post-1120885029909878742005-07-08T21:54:00.000-07:002005-07-10T11:40:58.990-07:00Selamat Datang, friends and family! "Welcome!", that is... If you've found this BLOG, you received an e-mail from us or heard about this from someone else near and dear to us. We are happy to share what we can of our adventures... Just check once in a while to see what new may have been posted. We're new to the blogging world (In fact, until our friend Paul set us up with this space, we didn't even know what a blog was!), but we hope to find it easy enough to share memoirs and photos through this newest 'realm' of Earth Harmony.<br /><br />Happy reading and feel free to contact us at <a href="mailto:earthharmony@hotmail.com">earthharmony@hotmail.com</a><br /><br />Love &amp; Light,<br />Brian, Debbie, O'Shen, and Kailynd Lee Burgess<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14329301-112088502990987874?l=earth-harmony.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00497669698675117367noreply@blogger.com17