Every morning we wake up to the sound of a gazillion roosters crowing, crickets chirping and all kinds of wild jungle birds cawing and screeching their tropical dawn chorus. After a breakfast of fruit and banana pancakes, we explore the endless art galleries, wood carver's shops, ceramics studios, batik fabric houses, textile shops, and outdoor markets. As evening falls we attend one of the many outdoor dance performances. These shows feature indigenous Balinese style storytelling and dancing accompanied by live Gamelan orchestras. The inner artist is nourished here and thus, so are we.
Travis has quickly made friends with the locals, as is his usual style. Yesterday we were invited to attend a funeral ceremony for an old-money pillar of the community from an aristocratic family. This four day event started with music making and priest sermons, and progressed to 1200 pounds of suckling pig roasting over huge fire pits in an all-community mass feeding. Finally the body of the late lieutenant general was carried to the river on a 50 foot pyre, carried by 60-70 men. The body was burned before the whole community. A humbling experience that delivered us immediately to the age old wisdom that no matter what riches and status you acquire during your lifetime, you can't take it with you when you die.
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