13::Sanur Beach, Bali
2.2.97 Sunday
We arranged a package tour today through the hotel. Our guide was Yogi and he actually spoke some English.
First stop was the Barong/Kris dance in Batubulan. Another variation on the Ramayana. It was wildly entertaining and we took lots of pictures.
Next was the Pura Kehen, an 11th century temple in Bangli. Yogi explained that Balinese Hindu belief was more easygoing than that of India. Hindu lite. No pariahs in their society.
Our main objective was the Pura Besakih (the main temple on Bali), which is on the volcano Mt. Agung, the center of the universe. I was preparing myself for a spiritual experience like we had at Borobudur, but the mountain was fogged in and the temple was not as interesting as Pura Kehen.
At Semarapura in Klungkung we visited the Kerta Gosa Hall of Justice and museum. The main attraction is the ceiling murals depicting various horrible forms of punishment.
Jim had to do another round of antique shops on the way back.
Back at our beach bungalow about 5 o'clock, I hit the wall. Too much driving, too many antique shops, tired of no one understanding English. I stop functioning. Jim opens our little refrigerator and glass bottles of water fly out and shatter all over the room. Wish-we-were-home blues!
Dinner with Durga: Jim shared his fish again with the two whitish mini-cats. Durga, the jackal-dog came by and got the cats hissing and worrying. Durga continued to lurk in the background.
Our room is air conditioned but our bathroom is not. The bathroom sort of melds with the outdoors. It's fine except that it attracts these giant ants, who then march exploring into the bedroom. Last night I went on an ant rampage and smashed as many as I could find before going to bed because the thought of them tracking around made me, well, antsy. But then I had a sleepless night. I've decided it was the spirit of all those Daughters of Durga that I'd annihilated come back to haunt me. The Hindu philosophy of this place is sinking in, I guess. So tonight I talk to the ants and make a deal: you can live as long as you stay out of my bed.
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