You can sell just about anything in Bali and make a living. At least according to this one chap I spoke to today. I’ve been seeing this guy on and off displaying his wares on a street that I must drive through if I have to go just about anywhere on this island-  Jalan Batu Belig.
So today I had the courage and time to go up to him and ask if he actually sells any of his items and he was surprised I even asked. He assured me that whenever he sets up shop he is cleaned out by the end of the day. He was quite eager to sell me one as well and was disappointed that I just wanted to chat and take a picture. In exchange for the picture he quizzed me on where I’m from and what I’m doing in Bali- which was a fair exchange I think.

 I kid you not. He’s selling rifles on the side of the street. I asked him if it was legal in Bali and his response “only small bullet miss, so not do much harm not like America”. I had to smile at his reasoning and walked away feeling a ‘tad’ unsafe.

Next to him was a another friendly vendor who tried to get me to buy his wares- Sate (BBQ meat on a stick)- not sure if it was chicken/pig/goat/cow/dog/ –

Really, ‘some’ Balinese eat dog. It’s completely true. I’ve had numerous Balinese tell me this including my Nanny whom I trust. I’ve read some horrific stories on this. Yesterday, I had a bit of a troubling conversation with my very smiley and friendly house cleaner. She told me that her husband loves dog. To eat ! These were her  words “my swami (husband) loving dog too much, eating often in Warung” (a type of small family-owned business — often a casual shop, usually café. A warung is an essential part of daily life in Indonesia.). She even told me which Warung I can buy dog from. But what really got me was when she said “cannot let blood out of animal when killing, meat tasting bad then”. I asked, how is it possible to slaughter an animal and not let blood out of it. This was her answer “hit dog with stick or boil in plastic bag alive, or drown in plastic bag”. I asked again “alive” and she confirmed yes. At this point I wanted to throw-up.  Not to judge or anything, I find Balinese so into their ceremonies and spirituality, it’s ‘disturbing’ that “some” of them do this. I must add, according to what I’ve read there is stigma attached to eating dog and they don’t openly talk about it.

To change the subject, this is who I find in my bed some mornings when I wake up – like this morning.

My 8 year old still likes to sneak into my bed and snuggle. I’m not sure if it’s cute or annoying, especially when he wants to take a picture of me half asleep and with probably sleep in my eyes. I guess it depends on how much I’ve been kneaded in the ribs by his elbows or knees, while he stretches himself out comfortably. All I need on mornings such as today is a few wheatgrass shots followed by a fresh fruit plate before I hit the gym or go for a yoga class. Such tasty fresh fruit options here. So much to chose from. I feel so lucky to enjoy the abundance of choices.

After a start like this I generally hit the gym or yoga depending on my mood. Here are a couple of pictures of the lovely yoga eco village – Desa Seni – I practice yoga at.

The picture below is where the classes  are conducted – on a wooden bale under an alang alang style roof

It’s gotten unbearably hot (for me at least) over the last couple of weeks. It’s like doing yoga in air that’s twice as hot as in a Bikram class. But occasionally a lovely breeze will blow and I feel I’ve attained nirvana :). The joys of living in Bali.

I’ve become a true local, this is how I commute in Bali, for short distances. Most of the time with a helmet, but now that my helmet got swiped at the beach…I’m helmetless.

Notice the open drains on the side of the roads, in the picture below. They are very practical for when the rains arrive. But not practical at all for backing into with a car. I’ve had no accidents on my scooter so far, but 5 in my car! All I can say is that none were my fault. Really. Because of the narrow roads and crazy traffic, one cannot drive fast, so thankfully the impact of these accidents are not severe, most of the time, or at least in my 5 cases.

Yup that’s a surf board on the side. The rack would not pass safety standards back in Canada. But then most things won’t. It’s common to see surfers with 2 or 3 boards on the side of their scooter as well as carrying passengers. Actually, we do that too. When in Rome do as the Romans do 😉

Here’s a another beautiful sunset picture from this evening and one of my two munchkins at their bed time routine.

My 11 year old loves to make faces for the camera. Now he is in competition to get darker than me! Ha, won’t happen I’ve told him because I get dark brown from being in the sun for just a few minutes 🙁 . People (expats) ask me why I don’t like getting tanned. A bit of an ethnocentric approach, I think!

I’m yet to take pictures of Maurice surfing, snorkelling, diving, or doing the other many water sports he’s into. He most of all is enjoying life in Bail. Here M and S are heading off to the beach on a Saturday morning to surf. Heading out of our gang (gang is a small lane-way) and then onto the main street, the beach is just down our street. Can’t really walk, even short distances, because there are no side-walks and you’d probably step on dog poo and get hit by a motor bike or car.


I know the waves have been awesome when they are back after numerous hours with big smiles on their faces

While they are at the beach Taj tries to do flips off my shoulder

Finally here are couple of pictures of our pad;  front view from our gang (lane way) and inside view. BTW, our gang is called “Hiu” which means shark…appropriate for my family!