And scene!

For those of you who are not in the entertainment industry that is what an actor or some other such revered individual says when they have completed a scene for class.  It is also frequently said by sassy peeps like my friend Gina when she has completed a monologue in real life.  What does it mean today?  It means I am done.  I cave.  I crack.  I cannot possibly relax ANY MORE.  I have been in one place for 4 days.  I have walked on the beach.  I have gotten three massages.  I’ve read a book.  I’m through.  Time to get this show on the road.  Tomorrow I’m packing up and hopping on Grohl for a good time up North.  Lest Mandy Cline get the wrong impression, (or you Josh you cheeky thing) by “good time” I mean “see a temple, check out another beach, and put some space between me and everything I’ve ever seen”.   Get your minds out of the gutter!  My mother reads these posts.   

What did I do today?  I walked on the beach, got a massage, and had dinner with Ul and her family at the warung next door.

Now the massage was notable because I went to the OTHER tent (Urna’s) and not the one I usually go to (Ul’s).   I was just tired of being stalked by Balinese women.  Urna was busy so her mom took point.  It was a pretty great massage though at one point there were suddenly two sets of hands on me and I felt like I was at a PiKA party.  Also, the amount of attention they paid my tush would have made Russell Brand proud, but I digress.  Interesting point: I am used to a two position massage – lay on your front, lay on your back.  From now on I shall call that the missionary massage.  These ladies added a little variation.  Lay on one side and then the other with one knee pulled up to your chest and the top arm down your side.  I haven’t decided if I want to call this the Comaneci or the Fonda. Either way it was well worth the $7.

Feeling a bit guilty for not getting the massage at Ul’s, I went to her warung for a snack.  Did you know Lay’s made Nori Seaweed flavored potato chips.  They also do a chicken teriyaki that I have yet to try.  Once I had bought a little snack she force fed me a really good meal that she would not let me pay for.  So much for alleviating guilt.  [Michael Schwartz, in case you are getting your “taste of Bali fix” right now, she made me eat this plantain/coconut rice thing that was wrapped in banana leaves and this really good shredded toasted coconut chicken skewer with a piece of fried tofu and a hardboiled egg.  Also wrapped in banana leaves.  They are apparently better than saran wrap. ] Then I had the rare honor of watching someone cut a coconut from a tree, hack it to bits, and then share the inner workings.  How often does one get to see a coconut go from tree to table in under 5 minutes?

No work.  Just relaxing. Do you see why I have to move on?

P.S. Still no pictures.  The WiFi at the internet hookup is just not up to it.  Then again, maybe if I edit this and add them from a landline...
P.P.S. Nope, the landline trick didn't work.  No photos for the good people of America.