After two months away from Bali, my home for more than 6 years, I’ve returned and begun to settle in. … More
Category: Ubud
When The Relatives Came
It was a long time coming. After six years of living in Bali (halfway around the world from my birthplace), … More
The Jetlag Tango
I’ve come home. To Bali. Ubud. My little oasis. I open the gate and Blackie leaps up to lick me, … More
Between the Sawah and a Hard Place
In Bali, there is a zone – where concrete walls meet the sawah (rice paddies). It’s a sacred space; as … More
Nyepi. In Two Acts.
Yesterday morning, Bali hit the pause button. Homo sapiens and machina: exit stage right. Stay in the wings. Quiet. Out … More
The Royal’s Rain (Goes Away)
This morning, Ubudians were greeted by the unusual sight of a bright and sunny day; skies a perfect shade of … More
Your Blood Never Lies (Even From Afar)
The sheepish Balinese clerk at a local medical clinic tries hard to make sense of my unusual request. I don’t … More
Balinese Swag (or Goodies for the Gods)
There’s no telling when and where the Balinese will hold their next ceremony. Which is why it’s often been said … More
The Birds
Once in awhile, I still stumble upon hidden treasures – a waterfall, a village, a temple, a dish or dessert. … More
The Extraordinariness of Daily Life
One morning earlier this week, I am photographed and fingerprinted. How mug shots become normal. A make-work project for locals. … More
