September 12,

Awoke and started the day around 0630. The sky outside was mostly blue, but after driving around so much yesterday… Jeff wasn’t too keen on driving about today. Besides we were thinking we have seen all we want to in Ubud. So we had our Javas and breakfast of scrambled eggs with onion, red pepper, feta cheese, and fresh coriander. We seasoned it with our Sri Lankan made curry powder. It will be a sad day when we finish that!

We watched some YouTube videos. News of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, then 911 memories, and lastly that 18 people died here in Bali from the floods of the past few days. How depressing it all can get!! We stopped watching and started listening to music. The morning passed as the owners had a crew continue working on a construction project of some building. It’s back in a corner and we can not see the happenings, but can hear it. Anyway the sun was definitely out today and we had to go in off of our porch. I blogged. This morning Jeff showed me a text for an invite to my 40 year high school reunion! I won’t be back in time, but this added to the “weird reflection” morning!!

We went out to Wiri’s Kitchen for lunch. We had Fish- “Breded” Dory fish with herb, lime & Chips; and Bebek Tepi Kutuh: which is dry-fried duck, combined with two chilis sauces- sambal matah and green chili sauce, combined with “anointed” veggies and tumpeng rice. I had an Arak Orange drink, and Jeff had a beer. The food was as good as the first time we ate here! Jeff gave them a Google review. We paid 250,000 IDR which is $18.33. We crossed to a little grocery and some veggies for a salad for tonight. Afternoon turned to evening as we listened to music. We ended our day with just bread and cheese.

      September 13,

Jeff unfortunately awoke at 0330. I awoke when he got up but thankfully went back to sleep for 3 hours! We got up and around having our Javas. I had my first cup of my Java Java! I love it!! It definitely tastes like dark chocolate… Umm so good. We had toast with PB & Nutella, and yogurt as we enjoyed our little oasis here on our porch. There’s a nice little water work that puts out a very appealing waterwork sound. It is quite lovely and helps drown out some of the road noise of traffic, stray dogs barking at each other for territory, and the ever crowing, “cock-a-doodle-dooing” of roosters.

By lunchtime we went out to go to the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA). It cost us 150,000 ($9.14) each to enter. We were given a book about Agung Rai. It explained the man who started this selling his own paintings in 1973. He eventually earned more money by converting some of his home into a homestay. “By 1978, he was able to open Agung Rai Fine Art Gallery in the family compound.” The founder of this museum is also Agung Rai, the same Balinese entrepreneur, and collector of most of the Balinese artwork displayed; the buildings here & resort; and the complex’s gardens- open to us to stroll through.

It was basically four buildings displaying the art: paintings, inks, pastels, wood carvings, and other media. One painting sticks out the most. It was such thickly applied paint that it seemed to be yarn!! It was a rice paddy. Another building was an outdoor workshop of huge pieces that two men were currently working on. The pieces were very involved! It was fascinating!! We think the media was Ink, but not sure.

Now we took a break and left to go basically across the street for lunch at Nostimo Greek Grill. We ordered a Mixed Platter: Chicken Gyro; Chicken Souvlaki; Pork Gyro; Pork Souvlaki; Soutzoukaki, which was ground beef/lamb small meatballs; French Fries; Pita; Mixed Salad; a Chicken Sauce and Tzatziki. It was excellent!!! We are suckers for great Greek food! I had a Homemade Lemonade Granita and Jeff had a Bintang Beer. We ended up saving the Pita and salad, making it a takeaway. We paid 502,000 IDR, or $30.60 Worth every penny!!

We went back to the museum, did the other two art gallery buildings, and walked the gardens. Then we went to the coffee shop. Our entry gave us a free drink- coffee or tea. We both opted for an iced tea sipping the tea to cool down. Then we left the museum. We went to a Chocolate place, buying a small box; and got gas for our car – filling it for 240,000 IDR, $14.63.

Then we drove back to our place in the crazy, crazy, crazy traffic! Jeff thinks it may be worse than some places in India, but he only drove a motor scooter there! Anyway, the rest of the evening was relaxing and having a light snack supper of bread, peanuts, and red pepper