Halloween Party in Bali??

Yes, a Halloween Party in Bali!A Fundraiser, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bali Ubud, toward buying an ambulance for a local fee-free birthing clinic.

Yes, that’s Tandy “in the pink”. What’s my costume? “A clinging vine” – a long green knitted (of course!) vine braided into my almost-waist-length hair, then looped and pinned around my head and shoulders. I had fun trying out a variety of flower and leaf patterns – roses, sunflowers, trumpet flowers, sort-of-poppy, oak leaf, and more. Oh, in case you’re wondering, that is not a large-ego sized TANDY in red-and-white in front of me. It’s a Tango cookie tin – just happened to be perfectly positioned for the photo!

Who is with me? Well, Daisy from Java is in the Kabuki makeup taking money. She’s our current Treasurer. And sitting beside me is Reki of Lady Bamboo Villa – hence the bamboo leaves in her hair!
Who attended? A WIDE variety - from Bali, from other parts of Indonesia, from Singapore, Australia, India, Germany, France, USA, Canada, and more. Some who live in Bali, some who live part-time in Bali, and some who were just in Bali for vacation!
More costumes and party-ers:

Bhanuswari Resort & Spa - 2nd Anniversary Games

Bhanuswari Resort & Spa in Bali opened just 2 years ago. Part of the annual celebration includes games - with prizes going to the winners.

Overseen by Mr. Nyoman Suweta, Managing Director.


Here you see the posture race - an empty soda bottle balanced on the head while walking around the koi / lotus pond!

Even trickier without hair!
And here is the sack race in 2 different styles - the traditional hop and the tricky running version.

As you see, the staff had a great time. Here is their version of "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil - have no fun!!".

My Birthday Party in Bali

The staff at Bhanuswari held a Pool Party for my birthday! And it was so much more than I expected.

First, they decorated the area between the salt water pool and the Villa with a combination of crepe paper streamers and traditional Balinese decorations made from young coconut leaves.

Can you see the archway?

Tables had balloons with both Happy Birthday and "Selamat Datang" - Indonesian for "Welcome!"

You can see the staff were relaxing. (And this is a better view of that archway!)


We had a great time playing in the pool (yes, that's my back) - recorded pop music, volley balls,


and mattress floats.

At sunset, I went in to change and came out to find that the setting had changed! Candle light now surrounded the pool.

Of course there was a cake - beautiful!

I had requested catering in the form of "nasi campur" (literally "mixed rice" - the Indonesian "blue plate special") so that the kitchen staff could join the party. What I actually got was "bebek betutu", the Balinese smoked spiced steamed duck - delicious.

And I got presents - totally unexpected! I had just wanted a party so we could play together.


The packages were beautifully wrapped and practical: sandalwood folding fans and cotton face cloths (I still sweat a lot), a new handbag (my pink-striped one is getting tired), and chocolates (yes, I’m still addicted).


Am I still loving living in Ubud, Bali? You bet!!

Guests and Everyday Ceremonies

While this group of guests were having breakfast at Bhanuswari Resort & Spa...

The wife of the resort's Balinese Hindu priest was making offerings and prayers in the lobby.

Unfortunately, the small temple rests at a height more appropriate for her husband. She is quite a bit shorter than he is, so she relies on a lobby chair to get up and down.

More Butterflies

Yes, I'm a sucker for butterflies. And I will continue to add new photos for your enjoyment.

You really need to come here and see for yourself - still photos don't capture the joy of 2 butterflies dancing together in the air. A couple of days ago (withOUT my camera handy), I even saw FOUR dancing together!

For this shot, I'm looking up at the pergola over the lobby entrance. I think the butterflies get confused and are "trapped" by the glass on top of it - much to my photographic advantage!

And a perfect profile.

A different location, a different butterfly, thanks to my telephoto lens! The Swift Peacock (irridescent blue-green) seems especially fond of this flowering tree.

Koi and Lotus Pond

The koi have already had babies!
I caught this shy baby a couple of days ago, after an early morning rain - those are rain drops on the lily pad.

Here's a more brightly colored one.
And the beautiful pink lotus flowers are blooming!

Orchids on trees and other landscaping

By placing orchid plants in coconut husks, you can attach them to trees (it does not harm the trees) and raise them to a better height for viewing.


New photos of Bhanuswari Resort & Spa front entrance and koi / lotus pond.
The central statue is Dewi Saraswati, with Ganesha in the background at the main building.
The 2 side statues pouring water are both of Dewi Sri.

More pretty flowers and brown cows

More additions to landscaping, and more bucolic photos.
Orange hibiscus
Blue hibiscus (I'll try to get one open later)
Suspicious brown mama cow and baby (I don't think she trusts me yet)
Content brown mama cow.

A Field Trip - to Buy Orchids

I joined a trip up a mountain yesterday to buy orchids at the source, Bedugul. So of course, I had to take some photos of the stalls and people.

Fashions ("Drupadi Collection) for sale next to a small Muslim restaurant specializing in meatballs (bakso) and soup (soto).

Spices, packed and ready to go - including Vanilla bean.

A woman carrying her bananas on her head.

An especially tempting fruit & vegetable display.

Assorted wind chimes and mobiles.

Adorable little girls (and they know it, too!)

A mischievous little boy playing with the orchids.

And the view coming back down the mountain, taken from a car FULL of plants - at least 20 orchids of 2 different types, lime trees, and celery plants. I had 3-4 orchids and 2 celery plants between my feet because we ran out of space!