We thought no one read our blog, so...

So, we stopped adding to it. Turns out there ARE people out there who read this! And, well, we're back in Manila now for less than a month before we head back to the U.S. and there is more to report. First, check out the amazing pictures from our trip to Hong Kong. (already posted by cpw) Second, I'm in the process of writing a dissertation chapter and so sometimes I don't necessarily feel like writing for the blog. Sure, it would be good to write something different, but just as reading for my exams made me less excited to read, so writing makes me a little less excited to, well, write. BUT, hey, we had a great trip to Hong Kong and also to Ubud in Bali, so I figure I should upload some more photos from those trips (while the internet connection is fast) and also add some written commentary. Sound good? Hope so oh loyal readers (what are there, like 2 of you out there?)

So what am I uploading? These are actually from Ubud, it's in the more hilly inland part of Bali. It is really beautiful and very lush.

1) Colleen and I went on an early morning walk in the rice terraces on the last day we were in Bali. Adi was our guide. He is actually from the village where the hotel was located, and he was SUPER nice. He taught us A LOT about local herbs, vegetation, etc. I mean cocoa, coffee beans, rice, papaya, and a whole lot more herbs and fruits make up the flora of this place. Incredible.

One of the things we also liked about this hotel is that there is a 4pm tea time daily and at tea children from the village come and share a craft, song, or experience with the guests. Sound weird? I thought it was but then I learned that 40 % of the staff at the hotel come from this village and that the hotel is really invested in helping the village school, and one of the things they do is provide the area's children with free dance, music, and other lessons that happen during tea time. All of this is to say, check out Colleen's hat below. It was made by some of the boys from the village and they gave it to her at tea.
We also took a Balinese cooking lesson. That's me with one of the cooks from the hotel and Made, he and I are making some satay. Ground up Marlin and spices wrapped around a stick that was then grilled. I have to admit, I was a natural. And, we both got to keep our aprons after taking the class, along with some recipes for the spice mixtures. Really excellent experience.
Below you can see the food that went into making the fish satay.
We stayed in what was definitely the fanciest (thanks mom!) and coolest place I have ever stayed in my life. "Hanging Gardens" it was called, and yep, we were hanging. All the "villas" have thatched roofs and were embedded into the hill. Across from the main restaurant was a temple. Nothing out of the ordinary in the sense that every family in Bali has their own temple, and that every village has at least three: one designated for ancestors, one for the production of rice, and one to ward off evil spirits.

What else did we do in Bali? Well we saw a music performance (perhaps my brother can comment on this) and we went swimming every day in our own infinity pool. We also went shopping because there are any number of beautiful woven, carved, and sculpted items one can buy. Oh, and did I mention the monkeys? I'll let Colleen put up a post about that one. Fortunately we made a movie that captures the experience pretty well.