I see kites flying as high as the clouds from the moment I'm up until the sun goes down daily. Kites! I look for them everyday and they are always there. I smile when I see them each time. Kites!
The first sign I saw when I left the Denpasar airport in Bali was Circle K. The closest gas station to my house in Littleton is a Circle K.
I had a whole row of 5 empty seats from San Francisco to Hong Kong, so I easily laid down to sleep. My stay in the Hong Kong airport reminded me there's a whole big world out here with so much diversity in people. I bought a meal for 180 Hong Hong dollars. I thought I scored a break to go outside to the sky garden with a light show, only to immediately smell the cigarette smoke. I made it through my 7 hours for my 2:40am flight to Bali.
My flight on Hong Kong Airways was in 4 languages and a fast English was last. I sat next to a woman from Korea. I wanted to ask, "North or South?" But, didn't.
The Soulshine driver politely had Michael Franti music playing in our van and talked my ear off for the 2 hour drive to Ubud in traffic, stopping at a batik (fabric) and then silver demonstration places on the way.
Soulshine is paradise on Earth, located on rice paddies and in coconut tree groves. I was asked to add a flower to the wishing bowl and to make a wish.
My garden suit was the Aretha Franklin room, which had Michael Franti's music playing.
Bali is 14 hours ahead, so I immediately slept for 8 hours.
The Soulshine staff all know me. It's as if they all have adopted me and want to take care of me. Their customer service and Bali culture are the kindest and most genuine forms of smiling and help.
I did yoga every day last week M-F at 8am with Hindu teachers in the 3 different amazing and sacred locations around Soulshine. It's so different than Core Power Yoga. Before yoga, I go for a walk around the beautiful Soulshine property, checking out the big organic food and flower garden.
Soulshine feeds me vegetarian organic food and it nourishes my soul. Flowers are a part of every dish.
Last week's activities included-
-Scooter tour of Ubud (to exchange money)
-Water Purification and Blessing by Balinese Priest at temple
-Batur Hot Springs (with purple elephants), coffee plantation tour and tasting, ancient rice paddies tour (amazing!)
-Balinese total body massage focusing on my face
-Balinese flower and herbal bath (beautiful and absolutely wonderful)
-Balinese language lesson
-Lotus painting
-Flower Mandala
-Champuhan Ridge walk (thanks Laura C)
-Eat, Pray, Love Healer
-Pool time 2x, once in each pool
-Lots of reading time (thanks Liza and Sarah)
-Journaling every morning
-Zen Tangling drawing every evening (thanks to Mr Ferguson)
-Color by Number (thanks Laura F)
-Wearing my dresses (thanks Kelley)
-Sitting
-Breathing
There was an Earthquake yesterday. I was eating breakfast. My second.
Seeing swastikas causes pause and then I remember Hinduism created them thousands of years ago.
I've been told my swastika is out of balance.
I appreciate so much how extended families live together here in compounds. Being elaborate and beautiful gates.
My deodorant is just not enough here.
There are temples everywhere and offerings are given to them daily. Temples in houses, communal areas, businesses, intersections. Everywhere! Offerings are on sidewalks too, scooters, cars, window seals. Everywhere! Offerings are incense, flowers, fruit, coconuts, a cracker or cookie, rice, on a folded banana leaf.
Indonesia is mostly Muslim. Bali is mostly Hindu. Every Balinese person likes to tell me about their Hindu beliefs.
So much symbolism for everything here.
Sacredness everywhere and in everything.
I've met people from all over the world.
I met a couple who took my breath away. He's from Russia. She's from Ukraine. They are refugees here. Their son just started kindergarten.
I met 3 young women from Saudi Arabia. I wanted to ask them if they could drive. I didn't.
I met a German woman whose husband died from too much partying and left her to raise their kids, so she's here taking a break here.
I met a man from Dubai who worked so hard he said his soul died, so he's here to recover.
This place, Soulshine, brings retreats, so I've met different groups of people who are here for wellness, transcendence, healing. It's not just me.
Many Balinese have told me, "Thank you for coming back," after Covid. Tourism is the main economy.
Three languages are spoken here - Balinese, Indonesian and English.
On one of the scooter rides in Ubud, we went on an old road (pre-car) through the monkey forest by the monkey temple where 200 monkeys live. Hanumon Street (Monkey) in the middle of a city!
A retreat needed all the garden rooms, so I was moved without charge to the Panorama Penthouse Room for this week. Next to Michael Franti's apartment. Bummer he ain't here.
People's names here start with their birth order-
First - Wayan
Second - Kadek
Third - Komang
Forth - Ketut
Then, repeat, which rarely happens here.
So, ni Ketut Susan. I am the 4th Susan.
My brother Mathews wound just go by Wayan.
My son Philip would just be Kadek.
The Healer in Eat, Pray, Love does by Ketut, so he's the 4th.
I'm so grateful Soulshine and I worked together to create this 30-day healing program for me. I picked the right place - Bali. I picked the right home - Soulshine. I'm picking the right activities that are for my soul.
My program next week is packed and full of diverse approaches to healing that include a water temple, sound healing, electric/vibrational healing and a Bali United soccer game. Maybe a nighttime fire walking dance too.
Suksma = Thank you,
SES
The signing of my "lotus" painting-
First purification of a Balinese Priest at Soulshine Temple-
First room at Soulshine - The Aretha Franklin Room-
Second room at Soulshine - The Panorama Penthouse Room-
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