September 21,

Up and about by 0700. We settled in and had our Javas. For breakfast we both had omelets and toast. By the end of breakfast, it was already getting hot outside. The UV at almost the equator is so very unforgiving, so we did not make any definitive plans.

Morning turned to lunchtime. We decided to make the last of our pasta with our leftover soup from our cooking class. We went to our host’s house to make it up. They were just taking off their lunch, literally… more to accomodate for us. So as we were fixing our pasta they were offering us some of their food- soup and fish! This is our experience of most of SE Asian- hospitality! It is so unexpected and overwhelming!! The very essence of giving… such an example. Anyway, we prepared our lunch; but I offered a sampling of our soup to them… it was a small return of hospitality, but was met well by them. I had explained the soup was from our cooking class. So I don’t know if it was accepted because of that factor. Whatever, it felt very gracious and gratifying to be able to give back in some small gesture. We enjoyed sampling their food, telling them as we ate it right there. It felt almost like eating with them, but not quite.

Back in our place we enjoyed our pasta/soup with renewed enthusiasm. The soup with that Balinese Sauce… sooo good! The afternoon was just about keeping cool. So we stayed in and just vegged out. Supper was simply cheese, crackers, and Kalamata olives with a Hatten Vineyard Wine. We ended the day connecting with my mother and her husband.

     September 22,

We were both awake at the call to prayer at 0500! Yikes! This seems an awful hour each time I write it!! We stayed in bed until 0700, both of us are too stubborn to get up so early – well, maybe just me! Finally, we readied… it still is an adjustment to go outside to shower. We had our Javas, and breakfast: fried rice with a fried egg; and scrambled eggs with toast.

Then we did a WhatsApp video with my sister, reality set in to how close we are to getting back to the US. Then we relaxed and connected with Jeff’s sister and her husband. It was here we realized we missed the Chiefs football game! Unbelievable, inconceivable!! 😂… and they WON! Oh MY!!

For lunch we went out, going to a new place, called The Sage Bali. It was recommended for hamburgers in this town. I had a Sparkling Spearmint Tea; a Meat & Greet Hamburger described as a savory burger with beef patty, homemade smoked BBQ sauce, bacon jam, tomatoes, pickled cucumber, romaine, and shallots; and country fries. I would have described it as a meatloaf, not a hamburger; but it was good. Jeff had a beer; and a Chilli Con Carne dish described as savory chilli with minced beef, capsicum, kidney beans, sweetcorn, and fresh chilli with Rice. The chili was more fragrant-spiced, not hot spiced – with tastes of maybe cinnamon and nutmeg??? It was the best chili we have had since we made some in South Africa.