^{Morning Yoga in the Pagoda}

^{Juicy Mangosteen}

^{Nasi Goreng for Breakfast}

^{Bliss at the Spa}

^{Fresh Seafood and Cold Beers}

^{Into the heart of the rice fields}

^{We meet villagers on our way}

^{The paparazzi at Monkey Forest!}

^{"No Touch Monkey, pleeze!"}

Traveler's Tale:     

Warm ocean,  humid days, rice fields, villages  and temples, we got to enjoy all of it, as a group of fourteen yogis experienced the Bali Yoga Adventure with me, early May 2006.

We started off at the ocean acclimatizing in the luxurious Nusa Dua Spa Hotel after a very long flight.  Our first yoga class, in the Temple Gardens had to be abandoned, thanks to the endless bugs swarming around us,  as well as nearby jack hammers!  OK, so not everything is that romantic!  Bali is 6 degrees south of  the equator and life is abundant!  We sought out the cool clean air conditioned Spa Gym, and dealt with our jetlag doing lovely gentle stretches.

We are up before any other guests for our morning yoga  in the outdoor pagoda.   To the gentle morning sounds of hotel staff sweeping the lawns, ocean waves and own breathing we connect with our bodies in this new environment. Breakfast is a treat! We begin with fruit: papaya, passion fruit, various melons, pineapple and. most interestingly, mangosteen. Have you ever tried it? Perfectly packaged in a tough skin, it opens to reveal a perfect set of either 5 or 7 segments of exquisite white juicy fruit. I know this juice sells for a high price in the States. We are lucky to eat them virtually off the trees.  Breakfast continues with your choices from Europe, the States,  Japan and Indonesia.

Spa treatments are lavish and melting. Imagine 2 hours on the table, your muscles receiving the warm oils and  perfect skilled strokes of caring hands.  The air is filled with perfume and soft music.  Experience pure beauty till you  totally dissolve into bliss.

Bus rides, on the other hand, brought us out of the sheltered luxury of the resort, into the real  Bali itself. Heat, bugs, noise!  Traffic consists largely of motor bikes.  While some of the rules of the road seemed foreign and we had some hairy moments, we never once experienced flared tempers or loud honking.  Ever patient and tolerant are the Balinese. Winding our way through villages and rice fields, we feasted on the natural beauty of the land and the people.  Giant bats hanging on one particular tree, a herd of cows resting in the middle of the village street, vendors with colorful sarongs,  sunset temples and deep fried tapioca treats filled our days. We learned of the spirituality that makes this culture so unique and important in the world.  We  cycled for 12 miles, yes, downhill mostly, through remote villages, and  exchange greetings with beaming Balinese, just happy to see us, and we, them!

We dine on fresh fish, our table on the beach, 3 feet from the lapping waves. The new moon shows her delicate curve low over the horizon,  as we sip large cold beers.

We are delighted at the Monkey Forest by these familiar creatures with startling eyes peering at us, as we find the right shots, and become the monkey celebrity paparazzi!