May

May

07/13/2009
Okay, now this officially is no longer a 'blog' or 'journal', since it's already the 13th of JULY(!), and I've just uploaded our May pictures... Now I better jot down some short stories to go with the albums, before another month passes and we're back in San Francisco!

SEMINYAK
We stayed a couple of days at Seminyak, where my parents were visiting their friends from The Hague (from way back when). Instead of waking up looking out over the rice fields, we woke up to Australian parents having their first beer, while their kids played in the pool. Steyn loved having found so many friends and Guy & Carley enjoyed their last days of lazy fun in the sun before taking off for Java.

PELIATAN - TRADITIONAL BALINES DANCE
On Guy & Carley's last night in Ubud, we went to a medley of Balinese dances, performed by a famous dance group in Peliatan, close to Ubud. Carly went along with the rest of the audience (mainly Japanese and Taiwanese tourists) and had her picture taken with one of the dancers.

BALI BIRD & REPTILE PARK
While Spek was in Papua with my father, I took the kids to this fantastic 'park', full of Steyn's favorite creatures (snakes) and beautiful birds.

UBUD - ARMA MUSEUM
On another day by myself with the kids, I decided to try out the Arma museum. It has a very nice collection of paintings by Balinese artists (some 'import' painters, like Walter Spies and Arie Smit). But the boys enjoyed watching the kids taking dance classes the most.

UBUD
So much to do and see in Ubud itself. We visited numorous galleries, like the "Art Zoo", where Steyn poses with Obama.
Pak Agung took us to a factory one day, where they make gamalan instruments. You can order a complete set for a gamelan orchestra, who usually play at temple ceremonies.
If we ever go shopping ourselves (the pembantu's take care of the daily groceries), the boys love to go to Bintang Supermarket, where they have a hudge play area upstairs.

SCHOOL OUTING TO SWIMMING POOL
The Pelangi School organized an outing to one of the few communal swimmingpools half an our south west of Ubud (Mambal). The sweet teachers played withthe kids in the pool and of course Spek joined in for the fun.
Afterwards we had a snack at the little restaurant that had a small 'playground' inside.

GREEN SCHOOL - FULL MOON CEREMONY
The Green School itself is a phenomenom. You should check out their website (http://www.greenschool.org) to learn more. The school buildings, including an incredible designed bridge is made out of bamboo. Drinks are served in bamboo cups and food in babanana leaf containers. All is 'green' at the Green School.
We went to see their Full Moon Ceremony, performed by teachers and students, partly in the mud. A spectacular performance in a great atmosphere!
 
UBUD - AT SCHOOL
We still go to the "Art School" every Monday, lead by Ubud painter, Kerry Pendergrast (http://www.artelino.com/artists/kerry-pendergrast.asp). Spek has become a loyal student himself, as he and Quinten cooperate and create art works, usually with one or more trains involved...

On Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, both boys go to the Pelangi School. QUinten reads loads of books in his 'playgroup' and Steyn makes numorous drawings and just as manyh friends at his bamboo 'TK'-class room.

ULU WATU - KECAK DANCE
From Seminyak, we drove down past the airport to Ulu Watu (on the Bukit, the southern peninsula) to see the Kecak Dance with Guy & Carley.
Even though it is a real tourist attraction, the setting of the temple on the rocks above the sea, the crazy monkeys running around and the performance right at sunset, makes it a special experience. Also, the dance itself is pretty impressive, as there is fire, the white monkey Hanuman and several 'monsters' involved and the music and rithm is done by voice instead of instruments.

RICE FIELD WALK TO SARI ORGANIC
When we were here 4 years ago, we attempted a short rice walk with Steyn, who was then only 1.5. We didn't get very far, but remember that area to be very scenic.
This time, the path was paved and the boys easily walked the whole way to Sari Organic, the restaurant that is now half way the trail. There are a few more buildings around now, but it's still a really beautiful walk.
The restaurant is  classmate and to hang out, especially with new found friends, like Marta, Joris and Quinten's friend, Noa.

AROUND THE HOUSE
We enjoy the view from the house so much every day. There's a lot happening in the rice fields and we often see men climbing the palm trees to harvest some coconuts.

Our friends from Sanur came for a swim after a visit to the monkey forest. Quinten is starting to color within the lines and Steyn just keeps drawing and drawing.

Derk leaves for Laos and then back home to Curacao...

Pictures

Seminyak

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Peliatan - Traditional Balinese Dance

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Bali Bird & Reptile Park

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Ubud - ARMA Museum

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Ubud

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School Outing to Swimming Pool

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Green School - Full Moon Ceremony

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Ubud - At School

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Ulu Watu - Kecak Dance

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Ubud - Rice Field walk to Sari Organic

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Around the House

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