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.