Hi everyone. It was a week of travel in spite of the corona virus. All is well. We’ve arrived in Bali for the next chapter of our lives – I’m not sure what this will hold.
In Paro, Bhutan, my 8-year old niece Pari’ came to eat breakfast with her Auntie Jane. This was her very first experience eating with a fork and knife! She usually eats with her hands or sometimes a spoon. At first she was quite confused, but with a tiny bit of coaching and encouragement she did an amazing job.
Fancy napkins and fashionable sunglasses go together. I hope I’m not ruining her by teaching her Western table manners.
I researched the corona virus very carefully before traveling. Once I was satisfied we could go safely, we left. First we went from Paro, Bhutan to Bagdogra, West Bengal, India to stay for a few days for business meetings. Then we Tok two more flights to Delhi, Bangkok, and Denpasar Bali with no difficulties.
Join me for a 2-minute video ride down the street in Siliguri, West Bengal, India. It’s fascinating!
What’s a Cow’s Life in India, Bhutan and USA?
In India, cows can roam the streets eating garbage and cast-offs from vendors. Many them have no official owners. By contrast, in Bhutan, a cow is a family’s most valuable possession, and they grow healthy on rice hulls, grass, mountain greenery, and kitchen leftovers. Cows in Bhutan produce milk for yogurt, cheese, and butter, and are rarely killed for meat. In the USA, the majority of cows are raised in large feedlots and fed GMO grains.
Lama D is relaxing into the journey as we wait in the Delhi airport.
Bali is quite far South, below the equator and close to Australia. It was two long flights. As we approached Bali from the air, the coastline is gorgeous!
We arrived at our hotel in Seminyak, near Denpasar, Bali. We made it through all airports without any trouble. Not even one check for temperature, because we were coming from areas unaffected by the virus.
This is the view from the balcony of our hotel in Seminyak, Bali.
We found a mostly organic restaurant in Seminyak that serves abundant vegetables and does not use GMO soy oil. Lunch was amazing!
This was my quinoa vegetable bowl at the Cafe Organic. Delicious!
Lama D ordered an “Avocado Smash”. Quite yummy, but he prefers very hot and spicy foods.
We went to visit the Pura Petitenget Temple near the beach in Seminyak, to make an offering for our arrival in Bali. This Hindu temple was built in the 15th century by a priest named Dang Hyang Dwijendra to protect the area from negative spirits. It is very ornate and filled with an air of awe and respect.
To enter the temple, one must wear traditional Balinese clothes. Lama D and I bought sarongs.
We brought a flower incense offering and placed it in the altar.
The guide at the temple took us deep inside and showed us where to place the offering. We said the Balinese Hindu prayer, “Om Namam Shiva” and received holy water splashes.
To visit the temple was a special experience marking our official arrival in Bali. We’re not sure how long we’ll be here, and will decide soon.
Lama D feels right at home here. I think his traditional Balinese hat looks cute!
A welcome surprise! One of my lost four boxes of belongings from the USA Express Mail has arrived in Bhutan, only three months overdue. They had all been declared lost by the USPS. I wonder if the other missing boxes will arrive some day…
Thanks for stopping by! We’ll have more to report about Bali next week. Sending warmest regards to you! Please be well.