The Rains has come...

Looks like Borobodur is remaining an elusive place for me as it has been raining all afternoon and its pouring by the buckets. Nothing else to do this evening except sit and write down as much as i could to while the time away productively.
My son in Dubhai insisted that translated the slander made against me into English so the he can reply to it as one of my children. He was very upset when I told him of the comment that had been made to undermind my character especially it coming out of the blue for no rhyme or reason. But i wrote to him to chill and let it play itself out as I have no idea who or where it came from and i have no desire for him to fall foul with my family. I have always told my children to respect their uncles and aunties regardless of how i personally feel about them and this I still insist upon. It is sad though that sometimes I have to persuade them to visit these relatives of theirs and i can tell that they have reluctance in doing so for some reason, and not that I blame them. I have two sisters and both love my children and vice versa. The kids are genuinely excited whenever they visit their aunties although they dont talk much but thats them, they dont talk much with people period, especially my son Karim. Now with this comment written in this blog it would be hell of alot harder for me to convince them that all is well with all their father's side of the family. My children read my blog as does most of my friends although they refrain from commenting.
As gas been emphsized alot earlier in the beginning this blog is a form of self exploration, self analysis, self experimentation, getting to know know and understand the self and not to promote the self for elf agrandizement. It is called the moaning and groaning of the Cheeseburger Buddha simply because that is what it is. A look at the dichotomy of life, the opposits or the dual thinking mind and not an invitation for a fencing of characters. No one has to read it much less comment on it. Sometimes i write dumb things just because i enjoy writing for the sake of writing and i am getting alot better at it, at least my typing speed is. It cost me quite abit here everytime I sit to use the internet as most travellers will tell you but hell it is raining outside what else can you do?

Bought a few pieces of Batik Sarongs for my sisters today and will tell them it came from my son as he is paying for them. Bought some 'Janting and wax for Batik making s they were cheap something that I need so i can start doing some painting using these when I get home. I like the looks of batik on canvas done at some galleries here and thought it is time for me to do some exploration into this medium. Visited the Kraton or Sultan's palace too and was given a guided tour of the place by a lady who I did some flirting while at it. She is 40 and went along with it and this made what would be a very boring excursion into the lives of past Sultans and their collections of medals and wives more exciting. I most probably left her thinking that i am a dirty old man, which I am! The secret is i undress every women I look at with my mind and by the time we hd part company I would hve made love to her insd out and upside down but offcourse she has to have the appeal. So beware you ladies dont catch me taking a second look at you! And if I do take it as a complement.
How pure is your mind? Or are you the type who sees a pair of legs walking, a pair of arms danggling and a head rolling on a pair of shoulders. God bless you for you have indeed the blessings of having a pure mind. How terribly boring! I was entranced watching the Ramayana show last night by the two lead female dancers in their Javanese batik costumes with their white breasts half stryggling to pop out all night long and I am sure ninety percent of the men did so too! The second great thing God created was women the first is Life as it is. I am staring across the room at a lady who is sitting facing away from her looks and manners is normal but the fact that half her bra is sticking out under her armpit has turned me on and every night before I go to sleep after meditatng I ask my Lord to protect me from my own desires. Yes, I am saying this just to sound cool, it is a fact and I have been doing this for as long as I can remember having had my first orgasm. My lust for women has got me into more trouble than my temper. I have committed some of the most unspeakable acts for the sake of getting laid and on looking back I would not trade my place for anything better. I have commited one of the mot gravest sins and that is I worship the female form. As I am writing this crap the azan is being called at the mosque the street, what more can I say.
I can go on writing about my life and times in relation to the opposite sex all night long but it will cost me a bundle using this internet. Rain or not I have to quit while ahead.
Oh please, my mother one day caught me spying on a few school grils taking their bath at the well one day and with the most disgusted look in her eyes that till this haunts me said, "Hang ni Boya!" or you are a crocodile. It may not sound bad in translation but in its original languge and manner of delivery it was being dumped with a bucket of shit, I was fifteen or fourteen at the time. Nope I am not blaming her, she was right.

Ramayana

Just returned from the Purawisata Open Theatre where the Rmayana performance was held. It was a performance worthwhile for those who appreciate the Arts in this life and have the means to be there to enjoy it. Ramayana is an Epic Hindu Story of love and devotion of courage and filialty, it is a story of the triumph of good over evil. It is a story I have been familliar with since childhood growing up in Malaysia whether seeing it in its movie version or as a shadow play or listening to it told by the adults who enjoyed entertaining children with such stories.
The main characters are Sri Rama and his consort Sita Devi and of Rama's brother Lakshmana who was also the body guard for the kingly couple. Ravana, the King of Lanka, present day Sri Lanka is the villain who kidnapped Sita through trickery and later was killed by rama with the help of the monkey God, Hanuman. The story in its original form is very long and involved but for the sake of such nperformances as tonight it has been shortened. The dancers and ther costumes was mesmerizing and has the capability to transport one into the realm of events taking place on stage.
Earlier in the evening having dinner at the 'Kebun Restaurant' down the road from the hotel I met the owner Pa'Agung and artist himself and this is his 'open studio' gallery. We got on well discussing art and the ups and downs of being an artist these day and age. He was once supposed to have a two man exhibition at the Petronas Gallery in Kuala Limpur but was turned down when saw his works. can understand why but it is also a reflection of the 'Malay' Malaysian metality that prohibits anything that is out of sync with the Islamic way. The question is hown and when will such mentality grow out of this hypocrasy. The artist creates what is from his heart not from his lust it only the viewer who must decide to view from his heart and not otherwise.Art has a healing process for the culture no matter where or what culture it maybe. Artists has the abilty and reposibility to draw out from the subconcious whatever it is that is ther e and try to rationalize the irrational. The psychiatrist heals the sick mind just as the artist try to do so on a more wider scale whenever he has his works displayed at galleries. It is for the general public to view and come to their own conclusions and in like manner help to their own inherent dellusions and inhibitions. It is not in the artist interest as far s I am corn to judge or encourage promisccuity but to expose hidden thoughts and ideas, preconceptions and ignorance existing within a society. In this globalized world no society is protected from the onslought of negativity especially in sex and sensuality. It is in this area the P'Agung deals mostly with his works and it is his way of exposing his demons. Incidently all the works that was supposed to exhibited at the petronas were sold at a solo exhibition he held in Amsterdam.?

Such Is Life...

I received two comments in my blog from an anonimous who knows my character alot better than myself and has finally got the guts to point my life's faillings and my corrupted and less than amiable nature. Alhamdullilah, I say to this person and may the AlMighty shower all all the blessing upon him or her truthfulness and sicereity. Anonimity is a sign of a coward however and will always remain so right or wrong their opinions may be there is no way one can ascertain the truth as the source of such a character can never be identified. The comment was made on my blogs that was when I was at the height of my happiness to be able to do what I love to do most in this life. It is as though I needed to be torn down and drag through the mud as I was having a great time of my life. It was written in Bahasa Malaysia and so very hard for those who cannot understand to answer or comment but it is a great beginning. Now the worms are creeping out of the can and the skelitons are crawling out of the closset. Don't try to dance with the devil after you think you know who he is, he has nothing to loose, nothing to hide for you have already condemned him! If you choose to be my judge, jury and executioner reflect carefully at what or who you are dealing with and I can sue for defamation of chractor in the court of law for that matter. I refuse to reply this comment in the language it was written as my Bahasa Malaysia can never express my feelings adequately enough!
I fully accept all the critcisms pointed at me by this caring person and plead guilty as charged on all counts! But I swear by the AlMighty that no man or woman is going to rain on my parade and I offer no apologies for my past. If this person is my relative seeing that my wife confided in him/her behind my back and knows how I raised my children so well then be a man or woman enough to confront me face to face whenever we meet! Condemimg a man at my age so aggresively on the internet and hiding behind anonimity is like throwing a stone at the man and hiding the fingers. Let me have my side of the story told as I have been doing now. Life's a bitch , I learned this and then some! At my age it does not make anymore difference what anyone do or think about me and I have have always maitained that if you cannot help me than don't stand in my way is all I ask. And take a careful look at the finger that is pointing is it all that clean and perfect in the eye of the Maker?? Now that you have jerked yourself off on my blog I hope you have found your satisfaction and find peace with it. Enough said!!
P/s Thanks for taking the time and trouble to read my blog.

Took a ride with Pa'Agus the hotel driver on his motorcycle into the heart of Jogya and visited the Idependance Museum where there was a gathering of bicycle riders from all over the Java Provinces with some having rode for days and weeks to arrive here. The unique thing about this gathering of cyclists was that they all rode on antique bikes. Some of these bicycles were priced at thousands of Dollars! The crowd was alive, singing and dancing entertained by live music to the rythm of Javanese music which I found was ass kickingly exillerating and uplifting.
The museum had a historical collection of the fight for independance displays relating the various stages that Indonesians struggled for their freedom from the Dutch and later from the Japanese. The first president of the country wrote an epitaph on the wall congratulating the people og Jogjya for their extraordinary contribution in the move towards achieving independance for Indonesia. I did not realized how badly the Dutch attempted to repossess Indonesia after the Japanese had left.
My friend Tony Penny in Solo called to find out if I needed any help and how I was doing , I love this burly Englishman! God bless his heart! If i can afford it I will make a trip there to say farewell to this newfound friend. 'Mind your manners Sam, it cost nothing but will take you along way". his famous last words to me.

Another block to stumble upon

Today headed for the Post office to try and claim my money from my son sent through Western Union but to my disappointment discovered that the number my son had given me the night before did not match and so no go!. I was down like a pile of shit after having such high hopes of being able to continue my trip into the Javanese landscape of The Borobudur areas.
And wouldn't you know it, even as just I was finishing the last sentence i received a call from my son and guesse what I got the first digit on the series of ten nubers wrong!! End of that delima and a whole lot more. So to,orrow being a Sunday it will be hard to get the money out too but...hey man proposes and the AlMighty disposse and all for a reason known known and unknown, and I am a believer.
Last night was a special night as I was invited to spend the evening together with the owners of the hotal anf their group of friends for dinner and jamming session. I was blown out impressed by the guitar playing and singing put on by just aabout everyone of the guest who were mostly artists of one form or another. Jose a long haired batik painter invited me to visit his studio and he was a mean singer and on the guitar. Kansas, played beautiful Javanese protest songs which got me and offcourse me, who copuld after all these years master only one song on the guitar had to give my famous version of the House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals. I was a hit no doubt as I gave it all I had and being the only song I mastered it was a masterpice of a performance..Hee..hee!
The Ary's Hotel gracious wife who is a Japanese is a very lively person full of energy and like most Japanese very creative. Her husbnd Atok is a quiet man but one can tell like quiet water, runs deep. As an artist he has a ready made studio gallery as the whole place is filled with his works which are mostly abstract but more pleasing than most i have seen. I met Jenny, an English lady friend of the Owner's wife and had a good rapport with her too. She teaches English in an Indian Madrasah (small mosque) as a volunteer and presently on vacation. We were later joined by three Dutch who were just and lively after having reruned from somewhere out for the evening. I discovered the 62 year gentleman is a marathon runner and had run th new York marathon and a fe wothers and he looked it. By the time we got to know one another they wanted to learn about meditation from me and I became the Guru...do something often and long enough you will end up a master!

The Cure for Sleeplessness

My good friend and supporter LeeKhai the extrodinary guy who has the tenacity of a lawyer and the gentleness and compassion of an artist. We struck off as friends out of the blue afterhe saw my exhibitions and eversince had been a great financial supporter as well as promoter and motivator for me and many other Penang artists.

Could not sleep last night for obvious reasons, a little worried perhaps ove ther fact that I might be stranded cashwise here so I did the next best thing I decided to do a comic story of my own and i did lasted till sunrise. I will devulge the story line here but surfice to say it take place in Ubud, Bali. A little sex, a little romance, a little horror, a little myth/magic and culture all wrapped in one and when turned into a movie will cover just about every possible ingredient in movie making as it will take place in one of the world most magicl place left yet. Funny how my mind got carried away after started with the first scene I could not stop and i sketched some fifteen pages in my little sketch book bought in Ubud. Comic or the art of Manga has always fascinated me and I know i can be good at it and it would be good too as paintiung is becoming a cliche, and after having bombarded all kinds of works of art in the streets of Ubud I am more convinced now that i will embark on comic making.
My son called just now and a whole piece of dark cloud tha had humg over my head was lifted and I thank the AlMighty for His grace. I was beginning to feel like he did not care or too busy to check his email. However it seems like I have not been receiving his mail for some odd ball reason. Lee Khai gave up most probably on trying to figure out what Western Union is and have not called but I tried...that's what friends are for to ask and to give whatever and however you can when in times of need. If you dont need what the hell do you need to ask for anyway? Dato' R does not even answer the phone calls I tried to him, if i am in a fix he will be the last to know!! There is no written rules in a gentleman's agreement or understanding and a man's handshake is worth more than his words in the old days, but these are not the old days!! Trust dont come easy and confidence in one another's capacity to prevail much less. The sense of judgement and accusation is readily available anywhere and with anyone but to have faith in your fellow human is a commodity now becoming a rare trade.
I am now an artist and I can now safely declare this. I have done what not many can do or will do as an artist save for the few who had left their homes and families is search of the unknown, taking the risk of life itself as a bargaining chip to earn the right of passage to become a so called bonafide artist. Before i was just straddling the fence but now if I shit on a cavas InShaa'Allah it will be framed and hung on the wall when I am dead and gone! I saythis not out of asense of arrogance but but a deep committed feeling that had long been abstaining from exposing myself as an artist or whatever that i am or striving to become before the final cut.
I am a proud father to four children and if no one else belief in me I have four of them to at least give a sense of justification for my ups and downs and just what the hell was my life all about to begin with. I have always maintained that life is to be lived to the max! Buddha said in this life dont waste time! I have tried to make my life as exciting as I could whether is good times or bad and i have always believe that in my life I am the Hero, the character the player the performer and not the audience! Most of the stories I have written down in my blog sofar are watered down version of what truelly happened only out of a sense of decency and respect for the Internet and Blogging community. This medium that i am now expressing myself while sitting in this little Hotel in Jogjakarta is testimony to the greatness of the AlMighty in getting man to come together in a Universal brotherhood of Man and of Understanding. This is the Univesal Mind at work for what it is worth. For those wise enough to have embarked upon the Internet and all its capabilities it is like being on the ark of human conciousness and it is all at the tip of your finger wherever you are. This Is A Miracle.

Yogjyakarta the Artist Town

Yogjyakarta, arrived this morning and put up Ary's Hotel at 100.00 per night in a single room with Spartan furnishings. The owner is an artist and married to a Japanese and so the landscaping and decor has a japanese taste to it. Talked to the owner this morning and learned where to go to meet artists and galleries in the area. Took a walk later in the morning and had lunch at the Kebun Restaurant which also another art corner cum Restaurant where local artist congregate. There is a comic exhibition goingon and a few comic artists has their works in progress on the walls. It reminds me of art cooperative joints in San Francisco where health foods and arts and crafts are shown. Later took a walk to another art corner call Cemeti Art House where i met the staff and the owner who are all in the arts in one form or another. Very polite and helpful group of people and a good source of Art information of the area. I had a good rapport with a young art student from Bandung who had just graduated and presently employed at the Gallery.There is a show by the Artist Krisna Murti entitled 'The Forbidden Zone' which showed works of large paintings of abstract landscapes and also a few media Graphic works on screen.
From the Cemeti gallery i took a 'Becak' or trishaw to the Art Library and Archives with Albert where I read a book on the famous Indonesian Artist, Affandi. He was no doubt quite an artist and his works were very strong and expressive although the subjects were just normal as any other. Affandi i learned never used brushes when he painted and instead used his hands and paints squeezed directly from the tube. It was astyle of its own but at the cost of a tube of paint today the style can be a very expensive one materialwise. I also read from a magazine about 'The Gaurdian of Mount Merapi. Mbah Maridjan, it seemed is quite well known in Central Java as the keeper or Shaman of this active volcanoe whivh erupted in June of 06. According to this 80 year old man the volcanoe had to vent out some pent up energy that's all nothing serious and the manner in which it erupted was not meant to cause much destruction as it happened away from the general population.
It looks like i may have to cut short my visit here as I have arrived at a very critical financial crisis. Tomorrow i will check for any chance of changing my return flight date and if it does not cost too much book a flight back. It is very disappoiting but hell maybe next time i get to see the Borobodur. I had done pretty much what i needed to do in Ubut and Solo and took almost 700 shost of pictures. Got two CD's worth of underwater pictures a present fromn a underwater diver from Switzerland and met a great Englishman in Solo, what more can a guy want? All great things must end even if it means somethings left undone or incomplete but is meant to be. Perhaps my childre misses their Dad now that he is not home to bring their dinner home to them or get their cloaths washed or moaned and bithced at them for not doing their school works...well I do miss them too. Such is Life!

Back To Kuta Town

Arrived here this morning sometime after taking a shuttle bus but this time a Mini bus really and one that has seen its days. Arrived Kuta and along the road decided to jump off and stay closer to the Airport and cheaper Hotels around here. Glad I did as heading for Kuta Beach would have been a mistake costwise as well as not wanting to be there. Took a trip to Tanah Lot Seaside temple, Bali's most famous landmark and by right should be considered one of the most visited spots in Indonesia. I was taken there at a breaknect speed on a motorcycle by one of the boys at the hotel because I wanted to catch the sunset, but the sky was overcast and thus not very picture friendly. But I think i some good shots and i wish I could stay for a few hours and do some sketching too but it was dark before I knew it.
Along the way to the temple thare was some beautiful scenes of ricefields and with the backgrunds of majestic mountains and while we sped by the base of these mountains was cloud covered which made it even more appealing.
Ubud is history now but the momory will linger on for a very long time for this time worbn traveller. I have been to places around the world and touched many lives but in Ubud i culd make it my home, but then so does just about every foot loose and fancy free traveller who happened to visit this last stand of the forgotten "Hinduism' and culture. Islam is encroaching even here as it has already Kita, it is good and it is bad but only God knows. Bali is still a dream land for many but when you get to know the common man women and chuild on the street you can say that so is Penang for that matter.

Time to Say Farewell to Ubud

While walking back from the Sika Gallery towards town, a long walk actually I came to the feeling that my stay in Ubud is over. All that I need to do, to see and taste has been fullfilled and I have covered pretty much ground and cultural events to qualify me for my stay here. I was at the Sika gallery for a short while as it does not impress me much nor does the artist himself who having lived abroad for a number of years, in Switzerlad primarily was a little aloof. Most of the works there are modern art which does not really cater to my 'old school taste at present as I could see these anywhere in the world.
This morning I visited the Museum Puri Lukisan located on the same road closer to the town and this was alot more interesting as it had all the old masters's works. The works of the late Ida Bagus Made (1915-1999) was impressive as the artist himself was a controversial character and afew of hius works on display suggested so. The picture of him on the wall as an elderly gentleman in his sarong and white hair reminded me very much of my Grandfather. He was considered the most talented eccentric and controversial bali Painter of the 20th Century. His teacher was the late Rudolf Bonnet. Strong character and unwavering convictions made him a controversial artist who refused to sell his works at the art galleries in Ubud for he considered it to be commerciallism. His works were sold to selected collectors. His works were sold to the UN Head quarters in New York, the New York Museum of Modern Art, The Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam and was also owned by the former President Soekarno of Indonesia. At his death he left one hundred paintings to be left for the gallery and future generations.
A Life of Art, an Art of Devotion.
Rudolf Bonnet was born in Amsterdam, Holland., arrived in Bali and introduced the ideologie, techniques and materials of western art to Bali. He formed the Pita Maha Artist guild in 1936 including many renowned artist of the time.
Later sat and chat with a Dutch couple who were learning Mask Painting from an artist who has a shop at the gallery. Ciana, is also a apinter and we exchanged many ideas and thoughts while it was raining heavily all around the small hut we sat in. It was a pleasant feeling to be able to relax and enjoy the rain while surrounded by a beautiful garden.
I will write more on tis later as it cost oo much to spend on details in this matters. I am writing just to remind myself of how I am feeling at present, tired , aching bodilly all over from too much walk and disappointment at my son the high flyer who does not call of answer my emails. Such is life...

Barong Dance

Tonight I gave myself yet another Balinese cultural treat, the Barong Dance which depicts the struggles between good and evil in the form of Ni Calonarang a siswa dance where the goodforces defeated the evil forces of Ni calonarang. The battle was carried out in metamorphosis of both he main characters into Rnagda and Barong, mythical creatures that is the main part of the dance. These creatures and together with other minor creatures such as dogs and monkeys were brought to life on stage in a magnificient performance by the actors of the Calonarang Dance Drama, the Palgunadi Community of Artists. If all goes well with the cameraI should some greatshots of the whole performcane.
Earlier in the day I was able to visit yet another historical site with my friend Komang the sculture artist from the Senang Hati Handicap Foundation. We rode on his motorcycle to the 'Gua Gajah' or elephant cave temple site. It was early in the morning and so we had the whole plce to ourselves and I got busy exploring the surrounding areasoutside of the temple grounds and stumbled upon some hidden beauties further back into the forest. I am sure had the sedurity people atthe temple found out I would have been in hot soup. On the retuen trip we stopped atsaveral wood sculpture 'Bengkels' or workshop and had a good visit with one of the owners, I Nyoman Widarta or better known as Budi. He is the owner of the shop and also a great sculptor. In looking int0 the collection of wood sculptures that had been produced inside and outside it blew my mind away. The subjects was from wild horse and femaqle nides to abstracts that is unimginalble and all carved out of wood. These Ubud wood sculptors are down to earth common people, shy and ever smiling chipping away like it is nothing to it but offcourse it is their routine job.
After our trip to Gua gajah I was dropped off at the Pure Land gallery where Tibetan tankas and and various other Tibetan products are sold and from the I was taken on the motorcycle by the owner's son to meet his father the artist I Ketut Utama. The jouse is located a short distance north of Ubud town and like most homes i found out is walled and comprises of a collection of houses including a family temple ground. A few young artist were busy painting on T'Shirts and I was impressed by the peacefullness of the whole compound. Mr. Sutama was a handsome man who is also soft spoken and reminded me very much of the old Malay warrior heroes in bugone days of Malaysia. Hewillinglydid a sketch in my sketchbook and shared his thoughts about art and life in Ubud.
All in all I should say that my day was well spent especially when the lunch my friend Komang and I had this afternoon was paid for by a customer who we became friendly with. The fear that my budget is runnig low is becoming more and more of a concern and i have to keep reminding myself that sooner or later i might have to cut this trip short and head on home. I have tasted what I came to taste and then some thanks to the friends i have made along this journey but as the fiscal reality sinks in the fun is getting thinner.

Life in Ubud

The Blanco Renaissance Museum is a atestimony to an eccentric artist who had lived his life to the max! Located on Campuan Hill this Museum was build by Don Antonio Blanco who hailed from Catalonia, Spain and was born in 1911. He landed in Bali in 1952 after extensive travels all over the world.

He later married a famous Balinese dancer, Ni Rondji and had four children. Today his son, Mario Blanco walks in his father's footsteps of becoming yet another famous Blanco. Antonio Blanco reminds one very much of Salvador Dali in more than one way. His debonaire, flamboyant and very extrovert lifestyle befits a Sapnish artist just as Picasso did. Most people can only pretend to live such an image very few does. I am impressed by the Maestro's life's accomplishments as an artist and almost envious of his impeccable talents. His works were vibrant and alive with sensuality and colors and they sang of the life led by the artist who from his past photos was a very handsome man to boot. Antonio Blanco was well respected by Kings and Presidents in Indonesia in his lifetime. He was acquainted with th likes of President Soekarno the first Indonesian President and later with President Suharto and Adam Malik the powerful Indonesian Foreign Minister. His works are in the collections of Major Galleries around the world. Here was an Artist who earned the right to be called 'El Maestro', and he did it with finesse.

"They say that the pen is mightier than the sword. Blanco prefer to wield The Brush dipped not in paint, But in his Soul."

A.Blanco

" I rejoiced in the bed of my bride and enjoyed 1001 joys of the flesh. I didn't have to create fantasies, I live them." A.Blanco

"Curious travellers helped bring this isolated cultural paradise to the attention of the world, mostly by way of captivating , beautiful breasts!"

Simone Paine. (On Bali)

Ubud is definitely the Art and cultural center of Bali and this is manifested in the daily lives of the people and reflected this in their daily rituals. Being historically influenced by Hinduism everywhere you turn there is a statue or a temple, an altar or a shrine by the roadside and offerings of flowers and fruits is ever fresh. Names of Hotels and cafes, roads and taxis are Hindu in origin and some are tounge twisters for those who are not familliar with the Sanskrit.
One gets around on motorbikes as this is the cheapest form of transportation and if you do not ride one than being a pillion rider can get you around with a guide to boot. Once you are used to the prices of food and lodging than it is a matter of time to get down to getting some serious art activity down. I have been sketching mostly in my sketchbook as i intend to fill it up with as many sketches from Bali as possible. My next option is picture taking and with the camera borrowed from Lee Khai, which enables me to take about one thousand pictures in all I am more than ready to capture the sense that is Bali in general and Ubud in particular.
I am lodged at a cheap hotel which is located close to the 'Sacred Monkey Forest' and if I am lost around Ubud mentioning the Monkey Forest will get me my bearing. I visited the forest the evening I arrived and had agreat time taking pictures of Monkeys in their various acts and positions which I hope to in the future to use as part of y animal study sketches and paintings. One of the more welknown artist here who i had the oportunity to visit is I Wan Asta an artist very well known fr his monkey paintings. We ad a good visit and discuseed abut art and styles and to me his works are extraordinary in form and expression. His earlier works were based on the Epic Hindu Mythology of the "Ramayana". He told me the story of one of his paintings which depicted a battle in the forest between the Evil sister of Ravana and her army of demons and the hordes of Monkeys led by Hanuman the Monkey God. One has to know a little bit about the story of Sri Rama nd his wife Sita Dewi and the abduction of the later by the Evil King of Lanka Ravana. The essence of the story is the recovery of Sita by Rama with the help of the Monkey God Hanuman. Most of the cultural events that you see in bali whether it be the 'Wayang Kulit or Shadow Play or the 'Kacak dances presented within temple grounds depicts this theme of Sri Rama nd his quest to free his consort.
I met a group of artists who belongs to the Sennang Hati Foundation their shop ;located at Jalan Raya Ubud Gianyar in Ubud. The foundation is catered to the handicapped and almost all those that I have met have one form of handicap or another. Ageng is a midget who is also one of the most alive artist I have met and his Balinese paintings will definitely become a sought after pieces among collectors once they discover this guy. The the is 'Komang' whos a wood sculptor and presently creating miniature horses. He is definitely going to be another sought after creative spirit waiting t be discovered. He is a little quiet and less talkative than the others but he can be depended upon to get you places on his motorcycle. Aris paints and he cnnot walk but he has the spirit of a survivor lost his home and parents in Timor Leste during the uprising and was brought to Ubud by a French where the foundation adopted him. Today I visited their center in Gianyar where I et the rest of the Handicap goup many among who are women.
It cost me quite a bit to keep writing like this but I just need to keep up with my blog or i will catch up and becoe too lazy to relay my latest experiences. When I get the chance to down load some picutres that goes along with these events it will be alot more interesting.

Headed for Ubud

Roland Loges is one of those extraordinary
charactors that you meet every once in a while by chance of a lifetime and I am sure not the kind of guy who is easily befriended by any Tom, Dick or Harry. My impression of him is that he chooses who he hangs out with and I consider myself very privillaged to have met him and gained his friendship and respect as he has mine. He is a proffesional diver and dives all over the South East Asian Islands and seas wherever there is good places for diving. He takes out of this world kind of underwater pictures and to my utter surprise offered to download for me all the pictures he had taken most recently and gave them to me in two CDs. Roland is from Switzerland spends half his time working while the other half among the coral reefs of the underwater world!

Had my final dinner with the three European friends I have hung out with last night and this morning they are all headed for their various destinations. The two Austrians will head for Culik to find their way to the islands for diving and the Swiss Padangbai where he has some friends and later head out into the sea for the same reasons. I have booked a seat on the shuttle bus for Ubud where they had all agreed upon would be the perfect destination for me.
Took a walk along the Kuta Beach area and was less than impressed with the whole scene of tourists and locals hanging out amidst all the surfboards and shopping houses and busy traffic. Nothing special if one had been to Miami Beach or the Tanjung Bungah in Penang. Except for the surf boards the rest looked like no different with the locals trying very hard to make the tourist pay and the beach bums immitaitng beach bums all over the world with their long hairs and sun burned skin, dork glasses and Bermuda shorts that has been well abused. The exotic Bali identity does not exist in Kuta except in the enclaves of the many small hotels and lodges snugged within the surrounding areas where the gardens are well decorated with an attempt at replicatng the original Bali look.
Thus far I am beginning to get the feel for my journey as I learned more and more from those that I have met, I gather from their experiences of having been here before the do's and dont's, the reasons for the need to leave their home and the ups and downs of life itself from their perspective. We laughed over common jokes and passed the time in trying to understand eachother. Roland the Swiss was quite a character whose idea about living is work six months and travel the rest. He has been to almost all over the South East Asian Archipelago from the Celebis and Sulawesei to the Thai Burmese Border, from the Philipines to the Comodo Isand.
The Sorga (Heaven) Hotel is a decent place to stay but is still quite expensive if you are on a tight budget. The people who run the place like most of the others are polite and helpful all the time a smile on their faces.
The flights and Hotels has pretty much chipped out at my budget and I have to start managing it better if I am to stay on till my departure date. I had been very fortunate to have been treated to most of my food and drinks by my new found friends who themselves are I am sure keep a close tap on their wallets. But as my friend Tony in Solo has reminded me 'mind your manners' and you will go faR. So far so good and knock on wood i hope my luck will keep on getting brighter as my journey north to Ubud continues.