Bali a land of many contrasts...

 

It's so great to be back home in Auckland, as we spent almost 24 hours trying to get back home after our flight was changed.

The pic is at Bali Airport, featuring its curved architecture in the roofing structure and the walkway that people have to follow to reach their cars, taxis, etc.

We certainly enjoyed ourselves, and we hope for a future trip with our children, allowing us to share the experiences we enjoyed with them.

I also learned a lot about the cultural differences and contrasts, for example, the 4-5 star resorts in comparison to the rice paddies and village compounds. The interesting offerings placed in various locations, with larger-than-life statues strategically positioned throughout the island. 

The temples were very interesting, and the numerous spas, Pilates studios, and wellbeing and/or meditation centres, along with the plentiful massage spaces and manicure/pedicure shops. I was also fascinated by the numerous tattoo shops, and when I asked if there were any special Balinese tattoos, I was told that they were influenced by tourism.

There is so much more to discuss, but suffice to say that it was an experience that I think was well worth the trip and also surprising in seeing an indigenous colony being so profoundly influenced by tourism to the point that it must be difficult in the love/hate relationship with what tourism has brought about on their island...

Relaxing during our last day in Bali...

 

Last day in Bali and taking it easy as we woke up to flight challenges from our AirNZ carrier, so we have now changed from a 6pm departure time to 10pm.

We've also changed carriers, originally AirNZ, which no longer flies directly to Auckland, NZ. Instead, it now flies to Melbourne with a 3-hour transit before Auckland.

We were told that it was due to a mechanical fault, so we're happy to change flights. Although it does mean that it will take longer to reach our destination.

That's okay, as my beloved had talked about flying the local airlines, such as Air Indonesia, Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines, which have good reputations for their hospitality on board. Now looking forward to seeing what it will be like flying with Air Indonesia Garuda Airways.

A big thanks to our children for sorting out the booking from their end in New Zealand, as it would have been more difficult for us trying to sort things out on this end. They also arranged for a later check-out time from the Villa that they booked for us, as well as a 3-hour lounge experience to hang out at the airport.

It will be neat to fly into Melbourne, but it will give my younger brother a rest from seeing us, as it's only 3 hours, and we won't be able to go out of the terminal, although we'll see. It's funny that we've been relaxed about the changes as sometimes you just have to go with the flow before saying goodbye to Bali...

Samoa language links with Balinese...

Yesterday, we visited another Bali Beach Resort on the coast, complete with villas and hotel rooms ranging from 1 bedroom to those accommodating many.

My beloved and I had lunch there, reflecting on how it's probably one of the world's top tourist destinations, with people from all over the world, especially many couples.

On our way back to the villa, we were driven by a local Balinese man, and we spoke about how interestingly similar some of the words in our Samoan language were to Balinese.

For example, the first 10 numbers of the Samoan language were very similar, as were the Samoan words for eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hands and also water. It was surprising as it confirmed for me that our ancestral map had travelled through South East Asia, with perhaps links to Bali, to still retain those words over the centuries. This was a surprising discovery that I hadn't been aware of.

This is our last full day in Bali before packing tonight to get ready for our 9+ hour flight back to New Zealand. It's definitely been an eye-opener, introducing me to many new ideas. Today, we're kicking back a bit but still up for a bit of last minute souvenir shopping for those back home and perhaps another 5 km walk, if we're up to it and then to enjoy our final day in Bali...

 

G.W.K. Statute tour in Bali...

 

Yesterday, I went on a Cultural Tour of the 4th largest man-made statue in the world, which is found in Bali. In fact, I was astonished to see it from the plane when we first landed in Bali. I asked around about it, which brought us to visiting it.

There was so much to this cultural tour that it reminded me of PCC or Pacific Cultural Centre in Hawaii. There were different packages to choose from, but we decided to keep it simple and opted for the 10K steps a day on this tour.

The statute is abbreviated and known as G.W.K. or Garuda Wisnu Kencana. It has religious significance as it is the Hindu god Vishnu riding his companion, a garuda.

The whole area must have been a limestone mountain, but unfortunately, most of it was carved away to make this monument and some other large sacred statues that were housed on the property.

Later on, that day, we went out with some new local friends that we had made, and had lunch on a beach called "Queen's Beach". We had a seafood frenzy and came back to the villa feeling very full and happy with the neat conversations we had along the way.

And then we happened on a very good local market at the GWK monument and bought some more souvenirs to take home. It was certainly a neat evening where we had started at 8am in the morning and returned back to the villa after 10 pm. Never a dull moment...

Best of Ubud: Private Guided Tour...

 

A huge thank you to our beautiful children who booked a private tour for us, 'Best of Ubud: All inclusive & Private Guided Tour'. I highly recommend it to everyone (although there is a level of fitness that I'd encourage) as it's all expenses paid (except for any extras you want to pick up along the way).

Firstly, we were picked up by our friendly local tour driver, Kruschev (Russian name after a prominent political leader, Nikita Khruschev, who visited Bali in the 1960s), in the morning, just after 8 am. 

For some reason, I thought we were going to be taken on a bus tour, but this was nicer. He greeted us and gave us bottles of water (although we'd packed and brought our own) as he said that it would be a long drive out to some village locations.

1. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: We drove for a couple of hours to the sanctuary, and there were already lots of tourists already there. What I found particularly interesting was that the monkeys were well cared for, with signs in place to remind visitors not to touch them. 

It was a long walk, but we decided to cut it short since we had so many other places to visit. I'd recommend taking good walking shoes, as there's a lot to see, with many international tourists from diverse backgrounds and languages.

2. Tegalalang Rice Terrace: This was an amazing sight to see as the terraces were on a high hill, and tourists are encouraged to walk around. My beloved and I got to take photos with local hats, and then I got to dress up and swing out from a ledge of one of the terraces. It was amazing! but also a little scary. The good thing was that I was harnessed in, especially when the guides asked me to let go! I recommend the swing for the not-so-faint-hearted. We didn't do the whole walk again because it was a long way around, and due to time constraints, we cut it short.

3. Ulu Petanus Waterfall: We went for another long drive to the waterfalls, and it was well worth it. To start, it was 90 steps down (and then you have to come back up). It was a short walk to the waterfalls, where lots of tourists were taking photos with koi swimming happily by. We went for another walk, but it wasn't so great on my shoes since it looked pretty slippery. We then turned back and went back to the waterfall, whereupon I dared my beloved to take a (cool) swim at/under the waterfall, which he did! It was a good thing I brought along a towel as he forgot his!

4. The Amartha Restaurant: After all of that walking, and it was after 2pm, we went to a restaurant and had a late lunch. I had another nasi goreng (flavoursome rice) with a tiny salad, 2 sticks of chicken kebab and a lovely iced tea and fruit. It was beside a rice paddy field with koi fish swimming in a pool beside our table. This was a pleasant rest from our hectic pace.

5. Tirta Empul Temple: This was a very interesting religious and cultural place to visit. I had taken a lavalava for such an occasion, but before entering the temple, everyone had to put on a sarong (I passed with my lavalava) and even men. I had become aware of the new laws that had been passed last month, with the expectation that tourists needed to be more aware of the cultural expectations at these sacred sights. Many tourists participated in the purification ceremony of the holy water. We instead went to visit the local markets there and did a bit of shopping. My beloved loves to barter, so we got some good deals, and for the locals too.

6. Cahya Dewi Coffee Plantation: Our final stop was at a local Coffee plantation. The guide there, called Karmi, took us around and told us a fascinating story about the secret recipe of their exotic coffee, which costs a lot more and is quite hilarious depending on how you look at it. We also got to taste some exotic coffees and teas. In the end, we did purchase one of her 'exotic' coffees, but we couldn't stop laughing over the story. The site was terrific, too, as it overlooked a large forest plantation below the store.

All in all, I would highly recommend this tour to everyone and give rave reviews for our driver, the coffee plantation lady, and the overall experience, which took us to places we would have otherwise missed. Never a dull moment and lots of laughs, steps (for those of us who count steps) as well as beautiful memories and tales to tell of our adventures...

Food, massage and adventures continue in Bali...

 

Here's an example of the local cuisine, and it's just up the road from our villa, which is centrally located to a lot of local shops, restaurants, the beach, clubs, bars, etc.

This particular place is called 'Hog Wild' and their specialty is pork. This was their hot ribs platter with salad and sauces. 

I tried their avocado drink, which was full-on, and it came with roasted corn. Definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Today we have an all-day tour that our beautiful children booked for us. It includes a temple visit, an activity involving monkeys, a cultural centre, a chance to swim, which I'm all ready for, and lunch. But I'll blog on that tomorrow.

It's also safe to say that we had a 60-minute massage and 'oh, my goodness!' I'm sure the masseur was having a full-body workout because it sure felt like it for me. My beloved was laughing, wondering if I could hack it. 

But after giving natural birth to three babies, that was a piece of cake! Still, I could feel the workout on my back the day after, so I wasn't joking about the effort she put in!! You've gotta experience it to believe it! And the adventure continues...

Soaking in the sun in Bali...

 

Believe it or not, I am here in Bali with my beloved. It's a birthday celebration for him, and our children booked an all-expenses-paid holiday at a villa close to the beach, restaurants and amenities.

It's amazing how we were just in NZ yesterday and after a quick 9+ flight, we're now in Bali. Party capital for some, but for us, it's taking it easy for some well-deserved (I say so myself) R&R (rest and relaxation).

We've already been on a morning walk along the beach coast, where there are resorts and villas galore. We also saw many people walking with their dogs and soaking up the hot sun, showing off some impressive tans! I've gotta say. I'm also taking some time to listen to my favourite music and loving every minute of this holiday so far.

We've already been swimming in our villa pool, which was so refreshing, and have been out to the restaurants for meals that have been super cheap and flavoursome compared to some NZ cuisine. Just a quick rest before hitting the road again and checking out some local markets. Just lovin's it...

Travelling to TWOA Hamilton campus for an awards luncheon...

 

During the weekend, I travelled to our TWOA Te Wānanga o Aotearoa campus to support two of my students and another from our campus who received a $6K Scholarship for the Postgraduate programme that I am privileged to teach in.

It had been over an hour, and a year had passed since I last travelled down to support five of my students who had received the scholarship.

We had a lovely luncheon with speeches and tikanga (cultural protocols) Māori, which were so encouraging for the many recipients who received awards. 

Some had Māori or Pasifika backgrounds, and it was beautiful to see them with their family members celebrating together. It was also neat to attend as a kaiako or teacher/lecturer to see them celebrating a significant milestone in studying for the Diploma of Bicultural Professional Supervision.

On the drive back, which was over an hour during peak hour traffic, i.e. the after-school run, I reflected on how I had been blessed with my father's vision and support from my mother to get a 'good education'. 

I've since been able to share that support with many other students over the years, encouraging them to pursue higher education, such as a Master's degree, and some even to the PhD level. It also helps to have a campus that is based on Indigenous Māori values and principles for future leaders...

Candle-making with Frangipani designs...

 

One of the neat things that I've always wanted to try is making candles. Last week, I took some time out of my busy schedule and did just that - make candles.

I've made several since then using 'melt and pour' soy wax, which is a lot easier to work with. I've also created style pieces like this particular candle, nestled as a frangipani, also known as plumeria.

It's one of my fave Pasifika fragrant flowers, which is very prominent in Hawaii but may have originated in other warmer climates and then with seeds transported to the Pacific.

I tested the candle and found that it doesn't leave any soot, i.e. that black residue often left by some candles, and it has a burn time of over 6 hours, so that's going pretty well.

I've also started experimenting with different waxy colours and fragrances, but I'm not yet going all out, as I'd like to keep the design and candle simple at this stage.

The neat thing is that I got to keep this promise to myself about giving it a go, as I remember having a Christmas candle that I received from friends during a Christmas trip to the USA and was gifted with a huge red candle that I kept for years, as it didn't seem to want to burn out.

Now it's my turn to make candles and have them ready as gifts for family and friends. It's also neat to pass it on to someone when they need a 'pick-me-up' so am working on a few ideas and enjoying this space when I'm not marking assignments...

Amplifying 10th Pacific Hibiscus Anniversary...

 

Here is the new logo for Pacific Hibiscus Ltd. I formed a company back in 2015, when I first started Indie publishing my books.

It's been 10 years, and I'm celebrating the anniversary with a revamp of the logo (although still using my iconic painting in the background).

I'm also venturing out and trying some new business ideas, which is a risk, but sometimes you just have to give it a go and see where it takes you. I plan to make an announcement as soon as everything is confirmed.

It's a dream I've had for some years, which brings together various aspects of the talents I've been blessed with, including being a creative, enjoying crafts, Pasifika culture (Samoan), working with diverse communities, and incorporating lots of bright colours. This says a lot, but then again, not enough. Just holding space until all is sorted.

It also continues my doctoral journey of outworking one of the recommendations that I had about passing on important information about measina (cultural treasures) of Samoa so that next generations can learn more about those treasures...

Celebrating life in the passing of loved ones...

 Today, we said our last goodbyes to a beloved father, son, brother, cousin, nephew, friend who was my younger brother (adopted), as I am the youngest of four natural siblings with four adopted children to my parents, who are younger than me. 

He left behind two beautiful/handsome children, and I know that he was blessed in being a dad, although he had some personal struggles, for which he was able to get professional and cultural support from a Samoan Trust.

Now that the leadership mantle of my late father has been passed on with our chiefly title, I follow in his footsteps in supporting our family in funerals, celebrations, and family meetings with my mum as the matriarch of the family.

As one of the leaders in our family, I was very humbled to be asked by his children to lead the service, which also included leading two Samoan songs as a hymn, "Ou te tagi lo'u tama e..." and a traditional pese or song called "Mo'omo'oga", which is usually sung at Samoan funerals.

At the end of the service, we were able to gift the children with a Tongan-made siapo, or tapa cloth, as a parting gift of love from our family to theirs. I was also able to share our Gafa, or family history/genealogy, so that the audience could see the family roots from which he came, as part of our family.

This is the second sibling that our family has lost in less than a year, with an elder sister passing in December last year. It just reminds me that we have a short time on earth before we depart to the afterlife (depending on what you believe), but I'm grateful for the legacy of faith that my parents shared with me in knowing who, where and what to expect when that time times i.e. a matter of faith...

Coastal walks highly recommended..

 

Here's a photo of the local bridge that I cross (sometimes with my beloved) when I go for my regular 5km, one-hour walks. 

I love it especially when the sky is blue, as it is pictured here with a high tide and a gentle breeze gliding along with me during my walk.

I particularly like walking close to the mauga or mountain in the distance, and marvel at how it escaped being used for road construction (but that's another story).

On days like these, it's nice to walk at a fast pace and let my thoughts roam free. It's like a physical and spiritual release, allowing freedom from the pressures of the day and the planning to be loosened.

It's also a time to spend with God, to settle in and marvel at creation, as I sometimes catch sunsets, the waters at high tide, or the receding waters at low tide. Sometimes I see intergenerational families walking, couples, friends, lone rangers (like myself) or people walking their dogs.

I highly recommend it for those who have retired from running or jogging, like I did in my younger days, but still enjoy spending time in the sun and watching sunrises or sunsets. It's a peaceful feeling with energy that you can't find in an office, within closed walls, or at a mall....

Education - the key to access (success)...

  Here's a photo of me, captured by one of my students while I was working on my laptop during the noho (overnight stay) weekend with the whiteboard behind me. It's funny, as I had no idea about the photo and then found it in my Teams online class information.

I was reminded that it was the belief of my parents, and especially my father, that education was the key to access (which others might call success), and he encouraged me throughout my younger days to strive to reach my goals, and like my mum, was always cheering for me on the sidelines.

I will always be grateful to God for my parents and acknowledge that my path to success started with their aspirations for me. I now pass on that same encouragement to my children and also to my students that I have the privilege of teaching or sharing knowledge with.

I also share coaching, mentoring, and 'hacks' that I'm aware of, so they don't have to go the long way around, especially if they have had a lot of life experiences. When I think of where I started and where I am today, it certainly took a big leap of faith and a lot of conscientious studying...