about bali
Sometimes the skies in Bali are a mass of kites! Apparently June to September are the best times for flying kites. The Balinese fly kites to symbolise the spiritual connection between the Earth and the Heavens. These kites are not childrens’ toys, they are part of the Island’s Hindu customs, thanking the Gods for taking care of the Island and to request good harvests.
Image Pixabay
When we first visited Bali (as a family, I first visited Bali in 1982) the kites were generally made of paper, bamboo and string. Now these family projects are often illuminated and huge, incorporating new technologies. They are very attractive.
street dogs in bali
Image Pixabay
Wandering around laneways near our villa we are often confronted by fiercely barking dogs. Dogs within or around a family compound will bark to scare off intruders. I was surprised to find about 90% of dogs wandering around in Bali actually have homes. Often the dog will have a collar but there’s no real way of knowing if the dog is a stray or a pet. Best to leave them alone!
The dogs seen everywhere are Kintamani dogs with a recorded history as far back as 1400. They have thick fur, strong muscular bodies and a curved tail. They can be any colour, but yellow or tan fur is common. They are many charities in Bali caring for homeless dogs.
offerings
In the centre of every entrance to compounds, cafes, restaurants and every other business, the Balinese place offerings.They adorn household temples and even cars and motor bikes. The small basket shapes are made of woven palm leaves. Typically these offerings contain flowers, food, incense, rice and other symbolic offerings. Daily offerings are an important part of Balinese Hinduism.
Image Pixabay
The offerings are part of the balance that exists between Balinese people and the spiritual and mortal realm of people. These beautiful offerings are made by women. It is important that you don’t step on them nor photograph them.
michelin restaurants
There are no Michelin starred restaurants in Indonesia. This doesn’t mean the food in Bali isn’t wonderful! The idea for rating cafes and restaurants originated in France. Brothers Èdouard and André Michelin came up with the idea in 1899. Producers of tyres, they wanted to encourage people to travel. At the time of conception there were only about 3000 cars in France and most people only traveled short distances.
Their plan included free travel guides with useful information such as maps, directions for changing a tyre, where to buy fuel and information on accommodation and dining. The dining information resonated with the French public as the best restaurants and cafes were awarded a rosette, or two, or three.
Image Pixabay
The popularity of the guides meant the guides were redesigned the focus on food and the rosettes became stars. The Michelin star became the gold standard for culinary excellence. Interestingly, the gold star system is not about opulence, but rather the quality of the food coming from the kitchen. Currently, the guide features over 30 000 establishments in over 30 countries.
growing
When we left Australia it hadn’t rained for months. While we were away the weather changed and we returned to cool days and rain. The garden has really perked up! So have the weeds. The shallots, chives, sweetpeas and perpetual spinach I planted have all germinated. I’ve just planted tulips, too. The roses I pruned before we left have all started to green up. Happy garden.
Image Pixabay
I cut the stems of three moth ( Phalaenopsis ) orchids back to the second node on each stem after they bloomed last year and fed them. I am so pleased to see they are sending out new stems with flower buds. The blooms last for ages.
Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy!