Gili 2
We finally found better internet, so I can go into some details about my trip.. YAY!! Gili Air is really chill and totally what we wanted- we are staying in basic basic bungalow, with bucket flush toilet in a little outdoor area, with shower (hose out of the top of the wall ). We got it for 250000 which is about 27-29$ a night, between the two of us and includes breakfast. The bonus is we wake up a few meters from pristine aquamarine ocean right in front. 
(Pix at right was our lovely bungalow) And we are on the northern part of the island so we can actually see both sunrise and sunset from our little part of paradise. It’s been a welcome respite for me because the standard travellers sickness (stomach issues) and my cold/bronchitis which I had in NZ keeps creeping up all the time. Plus, I’m suffering from a massive sunburn on my back from snorkeling in Ahmed. Ouch.
(View from one of the restaurants on the island) I’ve learned heaps from this trip about traveling in this part of the world. If you go, it can take up to two weeks to get over stomach issues, sickness, whatever comes your way before you can actually start to really get into the pace of life. It’s an eye-opener for me, but also it’s exciting too because now I know what to do when I come back (which I DEFINITELY want to do). Of course, that’s after I make my millions :)
I’ll backtrack a bit to Bali- it’s definitely a magical place. I love that every morning you walk down streets and women hold baskets of offerings with incense that they put on the streets, in doorways, on small alters, and in temples. It smells amazing.
(Women sorting flowers for offerings)
I also loved the market that we visited for our cooking class- I learned all about Balinese spices, and then we got to watch how to make some typical dishes (so delicious). 
Across from the market is the Royal Palace which is quite small compared to what you would expect. 
On one day walking there we got to see a dance competition of girls and boys of the typical Balinese dance.
We wandered into the Palace and watched mothers put on makeup and have their girls pose with them.
Across from that is a typical ‘warung’ or restaurant offering the best pork around. That was about 30000 (about 4 bucks) for heaps of food.
I have to say in terms of money, it’s not cheap here. At least during high season which is July- August. Usually you can bargain down prices, but because so many people come during this time, it makes it easier for vendors to ask for more. Acommodation and travel is what is eating most of our cash, food- on the other hand- is delicious and cheap. I can’t wait to try cooking up some traditional dishes when I get the chance!!
Our last day in Ubud we did a silversmith class; most Balinese live in villages that do a certain trade, and around Ubud, you have silversmiths, wood carvers (amazing work!!), batik dyeing of clothing and many other different kind of trades. The class we took didn’t really teach us much except for helping us make our own piece- which in itself is pretty cool- but we were hoping to possibly learn some more. It was a mad rush after that to find our driver to Ahmed (also named Ketut..) and weave our way to the fishing towns that dot the Eastern coast line. We wanted to get away…and we got away. Our place was really far down the coast, away from the center…actually in the town of Aas. Which is literally… at the Aas end of Ahmed. 
Perfect though - tiny villages, many with Balinese who haven’t seen too many tourists- and astonishingly beautiful vistas. 
Unfortunately we were a bit bitter from our Ketuted experience so far (the driver ended up asking for a commission from the hotel to get us there) so we spent more than we expected.
The trip to Gilis…another adventure. Always with transport!! We paid through our hotel (Meditasi) and paid WAY to much, and then of course, the boat we got on was a tiny little boat with two motors (shady) no toilet (which it had listed) and definitely NOT luxury (was listed). So conning aside, at least we had lifevests. I was at the point getting green from stomach issues, and worried about sea sickness. I just kept chanting to myself while looking out the window at the horizon and literally jumping out of my seat from crossing crazy waves …just 1 hour and 15, just 1 hour and 15…and then kicking myself for paying so much. Lesson learned!!
Anyway, I’m feeling heaps better, my cold aside- and I’m just proud that I’ve actually made it here. If I could stay longer. I definitely would. AND I plan to start getting fit so I can at least come back to Lombok to do the 3 day hike up the 2nd largest volcano in Indonesia. How amazing would that be!!
Oh and about my last post re: the fire dance. When I lived in Montreal, I went to see this amazing film called Baraka. It’s an oldie but a goodie- so see it if you can- AND go see it somewhere with a huge screen and great soundsystem. It’s a film that has no storyline, no narration, just beautiful scenery and incredibly beautiful music. One scene in particular, which is actually at the start, is of these men chanting this beautiful and characteristically humorous music. They sit in a circle, and there is one older man leading the chant. They use their hands, and sway together in unison. I remember that scene so well- as I remember the other scene with monkeys looking pensively over the mist rising from the water that they bathe in. Now, I realized, it’s what I saw in Ubud- the fire dance and I think the Monkey forest is where they filmed the monkeys. Anyway, that film has a special place in my memory, and is just one of those coincidences that has happened so many times in my life so far. Makes traveling all the more worth it!
(Some more highlights: View of Lombok from Gili Air
View of Bali from Gili Air at Sunset 
Balinese Food….yummm
