A day in the life............

How am I spending my time I hear you say? Well it's now 3.00pm and these are today's adventures.
These photos sum up the purchases of the day:

As it is a non-gym day today it is a walking day (I'm alternating the two in an attempt to get fit!) So I headed off for the Museum Rudana, a contemporary Balinese Arts Museum.
For sustenance I just had to try out a French bakery and their avocado smash on French sourdough with a nice coffee was a great way to get started (and a third of the cost in Melbourne!).
One of the delights of my perambulations is the fabulous array of gateways into the family compounds usually adorned with a couple of statues to ward off evil spirits or make them laugh I think! Today I was lucky enough to see the special wedding decorations required to adorn the gateway when someone in the family is getting married.Very ornate and beautiful.

Not sure if this is a kangaroo or a dog?!

 The Museum was quite a walk away but well worth the visit.

Set in the middle of ricefields it'sin a beautiful old building with art ranging from traditional Balinese art to ultra contemporary( including some huge paintings of multi-coloured penises!) and anywhere in between. I caused quite a stir as I was the only visitor...so I received a lot of attention.

From a distance this looks as if it is a huge traditional Balinese painting

But when you get up close you can see the Twin towers being destroyed.....

 Planes? Trucks?

Then I wandered through their Gallery where you can buy paintings and I did buy one but what a performance!!
I forgot to take a photo of it before it was rolled up and wrapped so securely that I'm not game to unwrap it before I get it home.  At one point in the bargaining process the sales guy had a quiet conversation with me about how he would persuade the owner to drop a couple of hundred dollars if I gave him $50 on the side. he then proceeded to make a 'phone call' which I'm sure was a complete scam and he got me the discount. What a surprise!!. I ended up paying a few hundred dollars less then the first quote so who knows if I did well or not???? I have no idea.  But now I own  a painting I like that wasn't too expensive so I guess it's all good.
This cute dancing guy was so appealing I just had to take a photo of him (very surreptitiously as no photos allowed!)
Then it was time to stagger home with my painting rolled up under my arm.
Just a few more stops on the way to:
- pick up some business carsd I have had made ($6,50 for a hundred....not sure I know that many people!)
- pick up a few essential items at the Coco supermarket (including a packet of Coffee Joy biscuits, my new favourite).
-buy some freshly brewed jamu being sold from a spa stall. Its a local herbal tonic which many Balinese drink every day to stay healthy. It usually has turmeric, ginger and an array of herbs and spices so I will give it a go!

- buy some Indian food for dinner from my local Warung called Little India. See the organic packaging, and the food is fabulous.

So I arrived home to find the house cleaned, the dirty laundry disappeared and everything tidy thanks to Wayan, the housekeeper,

I'd done over 14,000 steps so not a bad effort in the heat and humidity.

Now I just need to recuperate and drink lots of water before heading off to choir for two hours in Sanur about 45 minutes away. The choir has about 40 members and has equal numbers of Indonesians and expats...and its a lot of fun.

So am I bored? Is there nothing to do? Am I taking it easy? You decide!

your tired but happy correspondent

Dianne