Exploring | how to escape

Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries – Beauty

March 14, 2013 · 10 Comments

So we’ve finally come to the end of The Sling Diaries. I really can’t quite believe it – 6 months gone in a flash. Kiran has grown from a little baby into a walking, talking (well, grunting!) little person. I’ve had so much fun going on adventures with my baby on my hip and exploring the themes of delight, connection, discovery, expression, tradition and beauty.

So beauty – here is what I know. I’m lucky that my children get to grow up in such a beautiful place as Bali. They are lucky they get to see the world from our height instead of seeing nothing but feet. We are all lucky we get to explore the beauty around us whenever we want.

This is one of my favourite walks in Ubud and I learned recently that the land is for sale and there may very well be a big hotel being built here within a couple of years. There’s a very real possibility that many of my favourite places and walks in Bali may simply not exist by the time my children have kids of their own.

Thank you Sakura Bloom for inspiring us to get out and see all this beauty while it still exists. I hope in some small way by getting out, exploring and posting up my pictures here I will inspire some others to enjoy the natural beauty of the rice fields, forests, hills and rivers in Bali as they are instead of putting up another hotel or villa.

We wear simple linen and silk slings from Sakura Bloom

This post is the final part of a 6 part series for the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. We are one of 15 families documenting our babywearing experience over a six month period. You can follow the Sling Diaries on Pinterest, Facebook or Tumblr. You can read all my other blog posts for the sling diaries here.

Photos by my beautiful and talented friend Stephanie Mee

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Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries – Expression

January 24, 2013 · 2 Comments

If we were living in the UK I’m sure we’d be taking the kids to the park, but as we’re in Bali we take them to the Monkey Forest.

Yet another reason why Maya and Kiran are so lucky to be growing up here – nature is not something separate from our everyday lives that needs to be sought out on weekends and school holidays. It is all around us in the rivers and the palm trees and the orchids and the snakes and the monkeys.

It’s strange to watch the monkeys and see how almost human they are in their activities and their expressions. Fear, anger, curiosity, contentment is plain in their faces as they go about their day ignoring the humans that pass through their little world. Siblings fight over food, youngsters whoop and chase each other through the trees, babies cling to their mamas. There was a lot of ooh-ing and finger pointing from Kiran towards the baby monkeys and I think maybe he was trying to say “Look! My mama carries me too!”

Bali is also an island of artists which is clear everywhere you look from the intricately carved temples to the colourful daily offerings that are placed on the ground daily. Monkey Forest itself is filled with stone carvings of monkeys and mythical creatures with grotesque expressions. Balinese children are taught from an early age to express themselves through art, music and dance. As a creative person myself, my parents always encouraged me to follow my passions but growing up in the west, the pressure to follow the crowd in terms of education, career and life in general is undeniable. It wasn’t until I left the UK that I finally felt free to live life as I please. I hope Kiran and Maya can grow up with the freedom of never having their creative spirits crushed whether they want to be a dancer, an artisan stone carver or just go and live in the jungle with the monkeys.

I wear Kiran in a Sakura Bloom Essential Silk Sling in Aubergine/Fig

This post is part 4 of a 6 part series for the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. We are one of 15 families documenting our babywearing experience over a six month period. You can follow the Sling Diaries on Pinterest, Facebook or Tumblr. You can read all my other blog posts for the sling diaries here.

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Mentalist

December 22, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Because I didn’t want to get too close to the waterfall while I was holding Kiran, you don’t get a real idea of scale from my previous post. So here is a picture of crazy grandad discovering it for the first time too:

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Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries – Discovery

December 21, 2012 · 4 Comments

Sometimes when you’re used to seeing something every day, the magic can be lost a little. There’s a saying among the expats here that you know you’ve been in Bali too long when you complain about a temple ceremony holding up traffic instead of getting out of your car to take pictures. It’s true, Bali is an amazing place but I have started to become blind to that beauty after living in the midst of it for so long. Since having children, the wonder has come back as I see everything fresh through their eyes. Put yourself in the shoes (or sling!) of a baby or two year old and the world is truly a place of awe and amazement.

I first visited this waterfall just a few months after we were married and my babies were still in my imagination. Now visiting with Kiran is like coming for the first time again. We catch a glimpse from high above the treetops and descend into the jungle down hundreds of steps. Turning the corner, the spray hits us in the face as we get our first proper look at the raging torrent. I thought Kiran might just dismiss this waterfall as another everyday occurrence in the same way he is just as excited about seeing a pigeon as he is a peacock. The entire world is terribly exciting when you’re 10 months old. He was suitably impressed with his first encounter with a waterfall however and even discovered a new skill – pointing with one finger (just in case I hadn’t noticed it myself!)

Originally I’d wanted to bring Maya here too but she’s not a fan of fast-flowing water and hundreds of slippy steps and toddlers don’t mix too well so we sensibly left her napping at home with her grandmother. I’ll look forward to coming back again in another few years when they can both paddle together in the icy water and race back up the steps to the top.

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I wear Kiran in a Sakura Bloom Simple Linen Sling in Caribbean

This post is part 3 of a 6 part series for the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. We are one of 15 families documenting our babywearing experience over a six month period. You can follow the Sling Diaries on Pinterest, Facebook or Tumblr. You can read all my other blog posts for the sling diaries here.

Thanks to my brother and dad for taking the photos.

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Fun Times With Grandma

December 5, 2012 · Leave a Comment

My mum just came for a three week visit and we’ve been having a great time. The last time she was here was just after Kiran was born so both the kids have changed a lot since then and they both really enjoyed her company. We generally spent a lot of time hanging out in her hotel (with AC and satellite TV!), eating and swimming.

We also had a little mini break in Seminyak and it was so nice to get away for a couple of days, even though we hardly left the hotel (too hot and too difficult with little ones!). We were right by the beach and stayed at Puri Cendana resort which had a lovely pool and even a little play park for kids, which Maya thought was the best thing ever. Our bathroom also had the biggest bath I have ever seen, which both Maya and Kiran loved playing in.

On the day we did get out, we visited the new beachwalk shopping mall (hey, shopping malls are a novelty when you live in Ubud!) for some shade/aircon and easy place to go with the kids. They actually have a whole kids play area up on the 3rd floor complete with day care and indoor water park, but my two were content to play in the toy shop next door :p

Here are some photos from our fun times together!

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Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries – Connection

November 28, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Dear Kiran,

When you were still in my belly I worried, as many second-time mothers do, if I would be able to love you as much as your sister. Obviously I had no need to worry – real bonds take time to grow but our connection as you were handed to me was instant.

Juggling two small children with only one pair of hands can be tricky but when you’re being carried in a sling I’m free to hold Maya’s hand and save her from the scary waves. You giggle and lean towards your sister from your seat on my hip and I can tell that you’re just dying to be down there running around with her but then you lean your head back on my shoulder as if to remind me that you’re still my baby for now.

Recently your grandma came to visit from England. You hadn’t seen her since you were a newborn and at the moment you cry to be back in your mama’s arms when anyone else picks you up, especially an unfamiliar face. But when we all went out together, I carried Maya in one sling while grandma carried you in the other. Instead of crying, you were quiet as a mouse watching the world from your perch and even snuggled in for some extra cuddles.

Now when we go to the beach I tell both of you that the other half of your family is somewhere over there, past the waves and that we’re all connected by the ocean. Tomorrow Maya will probably ask again if we can go and see grandma and I’ll tell her we can call her on skype instead and we’ll look at these photos and she’ll laugh and tell me that she was scared and ran away from the waves and grandma was there too.

I wear Kiran in a Sakura Bloom Essential Silk Sling in Aubergine/Fig

This post is part 2 of a 6 part series for the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. We are one of 15 families documenting our babywearing experience over a six month period. You can follow the Sling Diaries on Pinterest, Facebook or Tumblr. You can read all my other blog posts for the sling diaries here.

Thanks to my mum for taking most of these photos on her last day in Bali. We miss you x

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Tirta Empul – The Holy Water Temple

November 22, 2012 · 2 Comments

Tirta Empul is often called the holy water temple after the sacred spring that feeds two pools where the temple-goers pray. The water heals and purifies, especially on auspicious days like Purnama (full moon). We quite often take visitors there as it’s close to us and particularly interesting and beautiful due to the holy spring.

Contrary to popular belief, anyone (not just Balinese) can enter the water, as in any temple. People of any nationality and religion are welcome as long as they are dressed properly, show respect and join in with the prayers. Each water spout is visited in turn from the left to the right, a prayer is given at each while the water cleanses and purifies. During ceremonies and auspicious days, each water spout is piled high with offerings.

This is a spiritual experience and swimming is definitely not allowed, but it is not a solemn one. On busy days, the Balinese laugh and joke while they wait for their turn at each water spout; kids splash each other and laugh and teens pose for photos on their mobile phones; people fill large plastic containers with water from the spouts to bring back home to their family temples.

Most times I’ve visited Tirta Empul, there have been many Balinese in the pools with maybe one or two western faces. When I came with Lucy a few weeks ago I was quite amused by the fact there were only tourists in the pools (some of these photos are from earlier visits). I suspect this is probably quite a popular stop off on one of the ‘spiritual’ day tours that are so popular since Eat Pray Love (if you want to do an Eat Pray Love tour, please let me know :p).

I’m thrilled to have made it into the top 50 on top baby blogs! Thanks so much to everyone that has voted for me – I’ve now set my sights on the first page! You can vote whenever you visit my blog – as much as once a day

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Old Friends and Fun in Ubud

November 9, 2012 · Leave a Comment

I’m rather behind on my blogging recently, but with good reason. One of my best friends, Lucy has been visiting us in Bali and has only just gone home. Our days have been filled with swimming, shopping, eating and child wrangling. Lucy was actually my only friend who made it out to our wedding 3 years ago (not that I expected any of my friends to fly to the other side of the world on a few weeks notice!) and she adopted my cats when I left the UK. We actually met through my blog, way back when I was blogging on Livejournal and we’ve been good friends for a very long time – 10 years? More? My friends are the thing I miss most about not being in the UK so it’s so nice when they come to visit.

I wasn’t great about taking photos while Lucy was here (some of these photos are hers!) and certainly not about blogging. The following is a few glimpses of the fun we had together and I’ll be writing a few separate posts too. If you’d like to read more about what we got up to, head over to Lucy’s blog – she is a much more diligent blogger than me! I actually didn’t get to spend as much time as I would have liked with Lucy due to child and work commitments but she was great at entertaining herself doing fun things like bike rides and batik lessons – definitely check out her blog for some fun ideas of things to do in Ubud!

Lucy got to see Maya briefly when we were over in the UK when she was a baby but she’s grown up a lot since then obviously and she’d only seen Kiran in photos. Of course Maya decided she was a friend for life after receiving many gifts including stickers and Hello Kitty things and a lovely dress from Lucy’s mum (who also sent presents for me and kiran!). Kiran is at the peak of separation and stranger anxiety at the moment but took an instant liking to Lucy and she was a great babysitter! Lucy also made these amazing hand-embroidered and appliqued bodysuits for Kiran (I will add photo tomorrow when I have better light!). As well as working hard and long hours, running marathons, being a guide leader and general all round superwoman, she does loads of crafty stuff too! The woman does not sleep!

We did a lot of stuff with Kiran only while Maya was at school or with Made (divide and conquer is the rule of parenting two small children!) as she is a bit of a nightmare to take anywhere at the moment. In fact on the first day we did take her out she tried to jump in the fish pond. But we did have some fun all swimming together and going out to eat with my friend Stephanie after she’d been taking photos for the Sling Diaries.

On the days when I took Kiran out and left Maya with Made, it was so cute to see how excited they were about seeing each other at the end of the day – Kiran literally jumps up and down and squeals with excitement! Kiran also loved being out and about and seeing new things and taking naps in the baby carrier. He’s perfected pulling himself up and started cruising in the last week so he’s been having fun exploring some new environments. He’s also enjoyed eating anything and everything we were eating, making a great mess in the process!

We did get the chance to go out for a couple of day trips but there’s still so much I wish we could have done. But two cranky children in the car for hours is fun for nobody so maybe we’ll get another chance to do it in a year or two when they can appreciate it more.

I was so sad to say goodbye to Lucy (and I can’t believe I only got ONE photo of us together!), not knowing when I’m going to see her again, but I couldn’t be too depressed because after she left on Tuesday morning, my mum arrived Tuesday night! I’m pretty much going to be busy with visitors until after New Year – my dad, his wife and my brother are coming out for Christmas.

We are spoiled rotten with all this visitors but wow, am I finding it hard to get stuff done! Way behind with my work and just taking a blogging break as I seem to have lost my coding mojo but must get back to it and see if I can get the stupid thing to work now!

While I’m filling in the gaps in my blog, you can head over to Expats Blog and read my entry for their first writing contest. You can vote for me by clicking the ‘like’ button at the bottom of the page, tweeting, +1ing on google or leaving a comment. Or all of the above! Voting ends on Saturday.

And of course don’t forget about top baby blogs! I’ve really been moving up the ranks so thank you so much to everyone who has voted for me – keep voting every day!

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Ubud Monkey Forest

September 11, 2012 · Leave a Comment

I’ve been feeling kind of stressed out in general recently, so I’m trying to remind myself of all the good thing about living here that I tend to take for granted. One of the cool things about growing up in Bali is all the animals around. Maya talks to our chickens every day, frequently requests visits to see the ‘baby pigs!’ in the pig farm near our house and of course, not to forget we have a world-famous monkey forest just down the road!

The monkeys in Ubud Monkey forest are quite tame (there are monkeys around a lot of places in Bali and some of them are still rather wild and scary) and very used to being fed by tourists. It’s always hilarious to watch unwitting tourists buying bananas outside and then being attacked on their way in by a pack of monkeys. Last time Maya came here with Made, a monkey stole her cuddly – she was not impressed! I have a spare but I’ll have to get another one sent over from the UK I think. All hell will break loose if that one goes missing too.

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32 and a Trip to the Zoo

September 4, 2012 · Leave a Comment

One of the few times I miss being in the UK is on my birthday. Birthdays are a total non-event in Bali and many people have no idea what date their actual birthday is. In Bali your birth is celebrated with a ceremony called otonan every 210 days. This does involve some cake but no wine and definitely no presents. Nobody sends birthday cards. I gave my nephew a card for his last birthday and he kept opening it up and turning it around looking for what it was supposed to do.

Coupled with the fact that Made is a typical man being bad at remembering dates (only moreso – he can’t remember his own birthday or those of his children, let alone mine) means that my birthday usually passes by unnoticed. If it wasn’t for facebook and skype, I wouldn’t hear a single “Happy Birthday” (yeah I know, get the violins out right?). Made’s birthday is actually the day after mine and I always try to do something for him. It would make things a lot easier if it was the day before. Last year I decided not to remind him at all and of course he didn’t realise until the next day when I gave him his card.

This year I actually reminded him a few days before, which didn’t do much good. In the morning I casually suggested we go out for breakfast but obviously my hint was too subtle and he was apparently far too busy to go out. I’m not bothered about making a big song and dance about the fact that I’m a year older but just doing something different from the routine and having a nice day would be fine. So in the afternoon I suggested we go to the zoo with the kids. Still non the wiser but maybe sensing that I was a bit tearful or ready for an argument, he agreed.

We’re lucky that Bali Zoo is just down the road from us and we get a discounted price (locals/KITAS holders). We’ve taken
Maya there three times now, the previous two times being when she was 10 months old and just started walking and a few days before Kiran was born (I wanted to have a fun day out when it was still just the three of us). It’s fun to see her get more and more excited every time we go. This time she just ran around shouting “Wow! Bird! Baby pig! Tiger! Wow!”. I forgot my camera so we just got a few snaps on Made’s camera. We saw a cute baby tiger (but chose not to get our photo with it) and Kiran giggled hysterically while playing with a stick of lemongrass in the restaurant. In the restaurant I said to Made “So what do you want to do tomorrow?” Which is when he finally twigged it was my birthday. Still got no cake though!

I’ve really had enough of feeling sorry for myself on my birthday so next year I swear I’m booking a mini-break – either a few nights in a nice hotel somewhere on Bali, or preferably a shopping trip to Bangkok or somewhere fun! I think I will leave Made here to babysit.

My mother’s birthday is the same day as mine – this is not some joke about me being really old. And no Made still didn’t realise.

We get a lot of wild bats in Bali but it’s still kind of a novelty having them hanging up in front of you with their privates on display. These bats were a little bigger than most of the ones we get around the house. Made says there are 4 words in Balinese for bat, depending on the size – ranging from tiny and cute to “OH MY GOD THERE IS A BAT THE SIZE OF MAYA IN THAT TREE”. He says the big ones like mangos. There goes my plan of planting a mango tree in the garden at Rumah Kayu…

lemongrass – so much more fun than food!

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