Scenes From My Bus Window!

My time home is weaning down and I’m holding on to it and making every day count in “Normality.”

I love to travel and visit quilters everywhere. I know there is a kind of “wanderlust” inside me that loves to go, go, go ---but when I’m home these roots grab on and settle me into a routine and there are so many things that I appreciate.

Number one would be the freedom to go to bed when I want and wake when I want --- those “NO ALARM CLOCK” mornings are precious!

And no, I haven’t seen a single sunrise since I’ve arrived home, but my body appreciates the sleep too!

And I'm starting to rev-up about my trip to Indiana on Saturday--- It's time to repack the bags of quilts and get everything squared away so I don't forget anything.

I thought this morning I would post some simple photos of the things we saw in our new-found “normality” of getting up, getting on the bus and heading out to another destination! This sculpture was at a certain intersection we passed as we were leaving and heading back to the airport. The artwork in Bali is phenomenal. Much of it myth oriented, always showing in one way or another the continual unending fight of good vs evil.

Balinese Architecture

If everything has a blue cast, it’s from the tint on my window. We passed many places that have stone carvings for gardens and shrines for sale --- stacks of Buddhas and other religious icons were everywhere, small and large.

Motorcycles and scooters everywhere!

I can’t believe THIS photo is not blurry! But we saw whole families on cycles…sometimes a mom, a dad and two kids! Or a mom and three kids!

I want you to look at this photo carefully. Notice that the sweater on the mom is backwards. Mawa told us that the women there want their skin to be as white as possible…so they stay OUT of the sun. And here us Westerners want to bask in the sun and get as dark as possible.

It’s just two sides of the fence, isn’t it? Notice that the mom’s hands are even covered ---as are her arms by the sweater. We saw many women walking around with umbrellas to keep the sun off their faces too.

Now the little girl has no protection at all…and is carrying the large basket, in her lap. We saw baskets everywhere, and I love them!

This photo is blurry – and I know it is..the bus was moving. But see the women with baskets on their heads? Look Ma, no hands!

Ganesha, sitting on his Lotus. Genesha is the god of Wisdom among other attributes. Notice the fresh flower ----the simple leaving of a flower everywhere is something that I’ll miss!

Balinese Marketplace

We never stopped to wander these local markets because there was nowhere to park the bus! But I loved the colorful array of goods, clothing and other fabric articles hanging from the beams.

A side street as we passed the market area

Stop and look closely at this photo. NOTICE the number of motorcycles! The lady with the basket on her head wearing traditional sarong. See the motorcycle with the palm decorations? These are the things that are hung from poles for the upcoming holiday..and there are TWO people on that motorcycle!

These are the things I will always remember about Bali, and there more to come as I continue to look through photos and edit them down!

What’s up in your world today?

I’ve got all the blocks done for a project I’m working on --- just gotta clear room to lay them all out and start sewing the center together. I hope to have this top done today, at least that is my goal!

Happy Thursday, Everyone!