Visiting Cat Wheeler - Ibu Cat

Moving into Tamaran Amida is a special experience that came about because I met Cat Wheeler, or as she is affectionately known as Ibu Cat. (Mother Cat) She has a house that is quite unique and a little bit like wild kingdom. She is also quite a gardner and herbalist, but that's for another time. Two dogs, Cylpso and Hamish who rule the roost so to speak. Hamish is a bali dog so he's scruffy and has been nursed back to health by Cat since the dogs here seem to be regarded as street animals and not really pets. Hamish has tapped into my soft spot so he comes over to Tamaran Amida to visit to get attention and affection which he always gets it from me.

There's a bald parrot that had a rare disease and Cat has nursed him back to health. Another bird named Chico, a turtle in her pond named Agnes and I'm sure others I'm forgetting about now but will mention later. For now I wanted to post of few pics of Agnes because I've never seen a turtle eat a banana for lunch! She ate it right in front me as I sat spellbound watching Cat's pond and Agnes.

Here are some pictures of Agnes having an afternoon snack. In the next few postings I'll share some pictures of Cat, but for now...

Agnes sees the Banana

Goes for the first bite

smiles at the camera

Adds a little veggie with the next bite

Chico

My New Digs - Tamaran Amida (Budda's Garden)

Here is some happy, happy news~ it seems that the with the support of the universe I have manifested a wonderful new house to stay in...that actually reminds of my place in SF. It's different but it feels like what I'd create Bali Style!

Last week I went for a Reiki session with a lovely woman named Cat Wheeler. She is Canadian, has lived here 11 years, is a writer, an environmentalist and a Reiki Master. I had just started reading her book, Dragons in the Bath, (now reprinted as Bali Daze) so I was excited to meet her and see her house. Cat and I hit if off, she's warm, has a house full of animals and is passionate and unique. A very special lady. Over tea after the session she asked where I was staying, gave me some good tips about staying safe in Ubud and listening to my intuition.

After that she mentioned that her neighbors two doors down from her live in London most of the year and rent their house only to friends. She could show it to me Tuesday and if I wanted to move in she's be happy to arrange it. It's newly remodeled, safe, has a pool and a lovely housekeeper named Wayan. I, of course, said yes and was very grateful. My intuition told me this was a special opportunity. After I saw it Tuesday, Cat sent over one of her staff to pick me up at Gerebig Bungalows on Wednesday and I moved in. This week I've been settling in and learning to cook a little more and learning some Indonesian from Wayan.

I've also extended my Visa for another month and Cat has arranged for me to rent the house until the end of July. Take a look at Tamaran Amida, the name means, Budda's Garden. Thank you to Jenny & Philip the owners that I have not yet met! Also to Wayan for taking such good care of me in the short time we've known each other.

The outdoor living does take getting used to. My second morning there I went to the kitchen sink and was greeted by a man's voice saying, " Salamat Pagi"(good morning). I jumped, yelped, and then saw the gardener Koming on the other side of the sink, in the garden, texting on his phone. Pretty funny.

Front Door at Tamaran Amida

walkway shot of pool

Front walkway to the house

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Off Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Second Bedroom

Second Bedroom

Second Bathroom

Second Bath

Fishpond off Livingroom

Wayan's Nasi Goreng and Acar Salad - Yum!

Oh the Places I've Stayed!

 This posting reminds me of the different places I've stayed the last 3 weeks in Bali. A different place each week.

Week one I rented Ganesha House from Anita Scheeres. A dark lane off the bustling Monkey Forest Road with a quiet family home in the back of the lane. You'd never know it was there unless someone showed you. Thank you to Made who lives there too and helped me get my ATM card back from the bank. It was a nice landing coming from San Francisco which feels a whole world away. No need to drive anywhere, everything is walking distance and the house is right in the middle of town. Comfortable bed and quiet and safe.

Ganesha House, Ubud

Week two, Melati Cottages where we stayed for the retreat in Penestanan (just next to Ubud). Nice, clean, basic rooms, with WiFi, a pool and breakfast buffet. A pleasant place to practice yoga every morning, write and practice photography in the afternoons. Balinese sculptures throughout the gardens and artists display their work in the outdoor dining room. Everything happens outdoors here. Nice houses have outdoor kitchens, outdoor dining rooms. Temples ceremonies are held outdoors.  Mediation caves that are centuries old seem to be the only place people are indoors to pray.

Room at Melati Cottages

Melati Cottages - Penestanan

Gerebig Bungalows

Week three Gerebig Bungalows in Penestanan. A bungalow in the rice fields. Considered the suburbs to many. Nice pool, clean spacious rooms with large patios and kitchens. Quiet. At night I lay on the chaise lounge on my patio and just listen to the sounds of night crickets, frogs, ducks and dogs barking. It's a whole layer of sound I try to absorb instead of shut out. Early in the morning the Roosters add another layer.

Gerebig Bungalows

Kitchen at Gerebig

Pool at Gerebig Bungalows

Where will I be next week?  There seems to be a plan for me that I'm simply discovering as I go along. Decided to start the week by extending my Visa for another month and taking a look at another house to rent...this one is in Ubud...we'll see what gets added to the list of the places I've stayed.

Cooking with Yude at Casa Luna Cooking School

Today I went to Casa Luna Cooking School to attempt to learn a good, basic Nasi Goreng and Chicken Satay. As unique and precious as Desa's kitchen was - I wanted to really attempt to make something here. It was a completely different experience. Casa Luna is a very popular restaurant in Ubud, they have bar that plays Jazz, a bakery, another Bar on another street that holds a literary reading two times a week, a cooking school, "honeymoon cottages" and a high end housewares store.

So this morning with eleven other tourists, Yude at Casa Luna taught us how to make a delicious Nasi Goreng, chicken and tempe satay (with peanut sauce from scratch using a mortar & pestle to grind the peanuts), Acar (pickled carrot & cucumber salad) Rujak (sweet & sour salad with apple & pineapple) and for dessert Kolak (fruit in coconut milk with ice cream)

onions, carrots, shallots

3 kinds of ginger & candlenut

Learning about a wide variety of spices

Grilling the Satay

Cooked Nasi Goreng in Bamboo Basket

Presentation is everything

Dessert - Coconut Milk & Pandan leaves for the Kolak

Kolak with Bananas Pineapple & Ice Cream

Nasi Goreng, Satay w Peanut Sauce, Prawn Crackers, Acar

YUM

Happy Jen 

A few side notes to the cooks who are actually reading this as well as looking at the pictures:
a) A "Bali Pinch" means a quarter teaspoon
b) Nutmeg can be used to make you sleep. Warm milk, honey, cinnamon & nutmeg (1/2 a Bali Pinch) will put you to sleep
c) Turmeric is used for everything. Cooking, medicinal purposes, as an antiseptic to put it on your skin, used in drinks. Whatever. Who knew??

Yude in action

Nasi Goreng

Mortar & Pestle

Skewering the chicken & tempe satay

Stir Frying the Nasi Goreng