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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Farewell to Bali ----

Sunrise #8--

It was as if the sun knew, just KNEW that I needed a big finale today.

I tell you, this morning was a struggle for me.

It was our morning to sleep in. Our luggage is to be collected by noon, and we are to meet Mawa for the last time with the tour bus at the entrance to the lobby at 12:30pm to begin our journey home.

Did I want to sleep in? Or did I really need one more sunrise? Isn’t 7 sunrises enough to satisfy? I mean, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, right?

WRONG.

I’ve started noticing things. Colors change. Clouds change. The breeze can differ and make the leaves and lanterns dance altering their choreography.

Each morning is unique. Don’t miss this one. Get up! Make the most of it!

I was about 10 minutes later getting out than I had been for the past week ---and I was going to really have to hurry to make it where I needed to be to get the best view ---

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Here she comes! Big and round – no hiding behind the clouds today! Good morning, Sun!

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I slow down – no need to hurry now. I cross the sand, climb up on to the brick walkway and make my way toward the pagoda. Another couple is here, I didn’t want to disturb their personal shared sunrise.

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I could tell they were trying to set up the camera to take both of their pictures. I love what I call “random acts of photography” and will often step in and ask if I can take their picture for them. I was happy to do it! And I have fallen in love with the silhouette effect of things in the foreground being nearly obscured by the brightness behind. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing my pagoda photos from every angle as well!

In turn, they offered to take a picture of me:

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Good gracious, I think I’m leaving my heart and soul in Bali!

The couple was Japanese, and I replied thank you with an “Arigato gozaimasu” which is about all I remember from my visit to Japan 23 years ago. Of course, this delighted them, and they thought I knew more Japanese than I do. This lead to more laughs and giggles and broken English and lots of pantomiming hand gestures.

Oh, I so love people! I explained that my group is flying home to the USA today, and they shared that they also were flying home to Japan today. What is the chance that our paths would have crossed at this far away place? Amazing.

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As the sun rose higher and the morning became fully light, I made my way to check on my balanced stones. Yep! still standing!

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Good bye, little shrine!

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Good bye, lanterns dangling in the breeze!

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Be well, bigger temple watching over the sea.

This girl is on her way home ----

26 comments:

  1. Im glad you had a great trip! Ive enjoyed living vicariously through you. While you were watching sunrises I was gong to back to school and suffereing 6 classes a day!

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  2. Safe travels...I'm sure you will be happy to be home again...but feeling a little sad to be leaving your magical paradise...funny how I feel 'my' vacation in Bali has come to an end as well. Thanks again for sharing so much with us all here. To see Bali through your eyes, has been a treat.

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  3. Thank you for sharing your journey and experiences! by the way ... the balanced stones are called cairns (pronounce the c as if it were a k). They are used commonly as trail markers and have also been used for markers and ceremonial purposes since prehistoric times in many different cultures.

    God Speed!

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  4. I would have had to get up as well to see the sunrise. You can sleep on the plane, you have many hours to do that before reaching home. Glad you shared your visit of Bali with the rest of us. It was a fantastic trip!

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  5. Traveling mercies for your group, Bonnie. I will miss seeing the sunrise with you. Thank you for all these wonderful pictures. Bali really is a magical country.

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  6. Cindy, The Purple Quilter9:43 PM EDT

    There's no place like home! So glad you were able to have such a wonderful, soul changing experience. Thanks for sharing your heart with all of us.

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  7. Thanks for bringing us to Bali through your words and photographs. When are you going again?

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  8. Sew Inspiring.... Wish I was there :-)))

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  9. Maree mynanamaree@yahoo.com10:44 PM EDT

    My eyes literally filled with tears reading this! What a blessing it has been to visit Bali with you, Bonnie, even if it was only through reading your wonderful posts and seeing your gorgeous pictures! Godspeed for safe travels back home! xoxoxo

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  10. Anonymous2:03 AM EDT

    I see the stone thing in a lot of places what does the stone stacking mean anyway?

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  11. I am so glad you enjoyed Bali, the sights the sounds the smells the warm breezes the food the life the elephants the monkeys the festivities the people, I felt as though I was there with you. Thank you very much for sharing.

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    1. Having been to Bali 5 times (staying in Sanur) I know the feeling all too well, Bali has some kind of magic, they call it The Island of the Gods and right they are. It is not just a holiday, it is an experience. Wonderful that you felt it too and made the most of it!

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  12. Bali bellissima! io ci sono stata per il viaggio di nozze... nella mia mente mon si cancelleranno mai i colori, le immagini quotidiane della gente, i bambini sempre sorridenti, gli odori...
    Grazie per le tue bellissime foto. Ciao

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  13. Surely you are almost home by now. At least on your last leg of your adventure. I'm so glad that you were able to share w us... although the monkeys, and birds were much better for me from a distance! LOL

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  14. So glad to have been traveling with you this week via internet. It was amazing just sitting here and learning all about this great place!! Safe Travels.

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  15. Your goodbys reminded me of Goodnight Moon that I read to my kids at night. Thanks for sharing your trip with me and all of us. I'm sure this is the only way I will see Bali. Happy Talk!

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  16. Anonymous7:49 AM EDT

    So beautiful! Thank you! Just love your photos!

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  17. thanks Bonnie -- now I want to go to Bali!!!!

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  18. Brenda R8:50 AM EDT

    Safe Travels Bonnie!! When you get home maybe you can go and find a special spot somewhere to watch the beautiful sun come up and go down. Here in northern Florida I hurry about most morning to run down to the Amelia Island Beach to catch the morning sun. It is so beautiful coming up over the Atlantic and everyday is a new picture.
    Enjoy

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  19. I have really enjoyed reading all you wrote about Bali. What a beautiful place it is and it seems like a very peaceful place. Have a safe trip home and looking forward to seeing the batiks you bought and what you are going to make out of them.

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  20. What a wonderful picture of a morning and a chance encounter and the wonder that is travel.

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  21. Oh Bonnie -- this was probably the cheapest and most relaxed vacation I have ever been on -- thank you my dearest travel companion -- you truly have taken me to a place in the world I could only dream of going -- you are one of the kindest, gentlest, most loving and considerate people I've ever not met! Safe travels my virtual buddy xo Kristine Gallina - Southampton, NY

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