Chapter Three in Experiences

As I went up to the disused fourth floor for the last time I reflected on all that we had learned at the retreat with Jan on Mindfulness,  for me the resounding message was being grounded and present in the moment. It was invaluable sharing and exchanging stories and anecdotes with others in the same field. 

For me, starting a new position this year is really taking me our of my comfort zone. I think it will be a good challenge for me to unclutter my life from the busyness that I have been thriving on and focus on simplicity and gratitude. It will be difficult being alone, and away from the things that I enjoy so much like cafe's and going out for dinner or beach tapas and drinks. I  already feel slightly claustrophobic knowing that the last ferry from Thursday Island back to Horn is three o'clock on the weekends. It will be hard having no friends at first. This mindfulness course has helped me to mentally prepare for my reactions by teaching me to stop only living in my head. And concentrate on where I am placing my feet.

After we bid goodbye to our newly made friends we waited for the shuttle from Periuk Cooking School to collect us. Wayan the owner picked us up at 1.45 and off we went, I asked him if we could perhaps stop to get a coffee, although we tried in Ubud centre it was hard to get a park. We finally got one at a place which seemed to be in the middle of nowhere called Black Coffee. It was the first time that I had enjoyed coconut milk in a coffee. 

Soon we arrived at Periuk and then travelled in convoy with another vehicle which held two lovely young teachers from Korea. Wayan showed us his family's rice paddy and explained the cycle to us. Although Keiko had been keen to do another cooking lesson, Vicki hadn't been keen as she hadn't really gotten much out of the last one. I promised her that she would love it. And right from learning about the rice, as a farmer's daughter she was hooked! 

I was so relieved as I wanted my friends to be happy and have a great time. I had promised them that they would love Arie, and I was right. She called Keiko, Mama Keiko, Vicki, Spicy Lady and me Honey Bunny. It was so informative we learnt about Balinese architecture from Wayan, and we were shown how to make coconut oil by his wife.

Arie led us in cooking 11 different things.

The meal of course was superb but it was the journey, the hard work, cutting, pounding, stirring,  whisking and flipping that made it all worthwhile. I'd been here last year with Rui and was so delighted to be back. Prior to cooking Arie taught us how to make an offering which we placed at the family shrine with the intent to be thankful,  sorry, and a prayer for the future. I knew exactly who to dedicate it to.

We had a wonderful time at the cooking school and I promised to come back again, hopefully next time it will be in the morning so I can enjoy the market. Wayan drove us to our homestay which was only 6km out of Ubud but seemed much further. It was a shame that we were so late as we had a pool to swim in and it was absolutely gorgeous beside a rice paddy. This was the Ubud that we had been searching for! The girls agreed that this was perfect,  although they had no hot water or aircon. However as soon as Vicki mentioned it the owner came rushing over and fixed their water. His wife told them that they wouldn't need aircon as it was very pleasant in temperature here on the mountain.

I thought my water was hot,  but was incorrect and ended up having a cold one. After washing my clothes in the tub I chatted to Eric for a while then settled in to sleep,  listening to the crickets. As I ruminated in my canopied bed that night, I laid back and reflected on how fortuitous my life was.