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 ---

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

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.

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:

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.

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

Good bye, little shrine!

Good bye, lanterns dangling in the breeze!

Be well, bigger temple watching over the sea.

This girl is on her way home ----