Katrina K. Photography

Our trip had taken an unexpected turn -- for the good. Two weeks ago, we learned that our dear friend from Vietnam, My, was graduating from University with a Bachelors in English on June 30th. 

Less than two weeks ago, we learned that our dear friend My was graduating from university--ranked number 1 of nearly 800.   Yesterday we attended her graduation and it was fantastic to see her give the valedictorian speech. We are so very proud of her!

This is the third time I'm having to redo this entry (grrrrrr!), so it will be shorter than I originally intended.... We were lucky enough to be at Cozy Wayan Sueta for the bi-annual temple festival -- twice! The photos below are are combination of both nights.  Going to the temple means getting dressed in proper clothes, and Wayan and Ayu were kind enough to loan us some of theirs. 

Village Girls A small village West of the center of Ubud, Taman, has become our home away from home. Wayan and Ayu's place, Cozy Wayan Sueta, has been filled with humor, kindness, love, and drunken shenanigans-- not necessarily in that order-- since we arrived 13 days ago.

Yesterday was a shopping day.  We started with a drive to Mas to see (and hopefully purchase) wood carvings. The carving were absolutely stunning.   And waaaay out of our price range.  The starting prices for the good stuff was over 8 million Rupia, which means anything would have cost at least 700 US dollars. And that would be for the simple pieces that were relatively small.  Suffice it to say that we only left with photos.  And I was surprised that they let us take that!  Unfortunately the photos are on my camera, so I can't share them yet, but I will update with photos when we get home.  Some of the carvings were truly life-like. I truly cannot describe them other than to say we were awe-struck at the detail and beauty. Even at a clearance sale, we couldn't afford the pieces we wanted. Were I to win the lottery, I would head right back there!

I have been trying to post a blog, and photos, for a week now, but there is precious little internet, and even fewer ways to post with my iPad. Our original intent was to use the camera wifi to transfer photos, but it turns out that doesn't work well at all.  Of spouse, it worked just fine when we we're home! Traveling extra light, we have no computer, and being in the remote countryside of Ubud, we have no unternet cafés. Blogger is especially troublesome on the ipad.  So I will just post a bunch of photos. I will tell y about the funeral we say today on another post, because it's bed time, and theses photos will take over an hour tonload. First world problems, right?

After a 14 hour flight, a 3 hour layover and a 4 1/2 hour flight, we arrived safely in Bali, Indonesia.  Unfortunately, our waiting wasn't over yet: the line for immigration was two hours long!  The line extended so far that it nearly reached the entrance, Even the immigration security officer was surprised at how long the line was. It was a bit of a frustrating end to two long flights.