More Draw-rings. And Distractions

Thursday December 22nd, 2011; 19:52

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: I may need to use mind mapping to stay on course...

So here's the thing, I'm living on Bali time. Ubud time to be exact. This 30 Day Drawing Challenge is already behind schedule. But wait!! I have an excuse. I'm still drawing everyday since I started this challenge, I just haven't kept to the schedule.

For anyone who knows me or if you've been following my blogs, you know I digress easily. My thoughts are always running wild. Usually about boys. And yep, still that same bloody boy! Gawd. I even emailed M.Feldman to help me with finding a mind mapping program so I can get my thoughts sorted out. I have a million and one ideas. You know those types of thoughts: "...and then, I'll do this. And then, I'll do that. And then. And then...."

Back to the Drawing Challenge!

Day 3: Draw My Favourite Fruit:

This one was also easy. I decided to have fun with it. I've been doing a lot of yoga lately and it's always on the brain - yoga and mangoes that is. Among a million and one other things...

Yoga and mangoes. Yangoes? Mang-om? Ah-hahaha. **slaps hands on knees and laughs out loud**

Day 4: Draw My Favourite Place:

This was a tough one. I have so many favourite places I couldn't decide. So I cheated a bit here. I actually drew this a few weeks ago. December 1st to be exact. Before this challenge; does it count?? On Day 4, I was actually drawing something else....

...but here is one of my favourite places in Ubud - up in the rice terraces if you keep going north on Jalan Andong:

 

So the other something I was drawing on Day 4 was happening at my favourite eatery, Warung Sopa. Does it count to be in one of my favourite places while drawing something completely off topic?

Madly sketching and thinking I should be drawing my favourite place:

Work In Progress:

Finished both left and right wing in one day! Yes, each side is slightly different:

 

Today is supposed to be Day 5: Draw My Best Friend.

Instead, I went to White Sand Beach with my friends. Does it count that my best mate's last name is White? I mean, I am thinking about him. It's just that the waves were distracting me.

Like, look at this! I didn't even try to pick up my pencil. Confession: I didn't even bring my pencil:

Gonna have to do double duty tomorrow: Draw the best mate. And Day 6: Draw My Favourite Book Character; cannot be a movie. No boy dreams for me tonight ):

...And I Like to Do Draw-rings...

Monday December 19th, 2011; 10:31

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: Well you know my name is Simon...

My friend, sweet Sarah S is currently planning her epic World Beach Tour with her boyfriend. A.k.a., THE trip, she has been blogging about the preparations for THE trip.

In one of her entries, she wrote about a 30 Day Drawing Challenge. My ears and pencil perked up. Like her, over the years, I had become creatively uninspired as well. Granted, I did have bouts of immense creativity but they were sporadic. My day-to-day job of the past three years did not help - one of the main reasons I quit to go travel. And while I've had spontaneous drawing moments on my travels, this challenge could actually provide me with some, dare I say it, structure in my life. **gulp**

But I am always up for a 30 Day Challenge and doing new things! And I'm kind of an over achiever.

Day 1: Draw Myself. **another gulp**  I haven't done a self portrait since highschool.

But here is my first attempt:

I decided to ease into this portrait by looking out my window and then into a mirror. I didn't want to draw a straight forward portrait. I had spent five years in highschool doing that and had enough.

Day 2: Draw My Favourite Animal:
This one was easy. And great to draw. And quite appropriate as I look forward to 2012, the Year of the Dragon. My year!!

First draft. Drawing intently and enjoying every moment of it:

Second draft. Adding shade details:

Where do you think my dragon will go? Stay tuned:

Day Three's challenge: Draw my favourite fruit. Day Four: My Favourite Place.

Check back here in a few days and hopefully I'll have something for ya!

Maybe I'm plugging my friend, maybe not. But check out Sarah's blog: http://suninspired.org

My Loved and My Loathed

Thursday December 15th, 2011; 14:57

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: More complicated beatings of my heart.

It is December 2011. I met you 13 years ago this month. An unaffected free spirit who left a burning desire in the depths of my being. You, always on the brink of being attainable if only for brief moments in our seemingly separate worlds. I knew you were dangerous for me. Like a drug I should stay away from. For if I had even a taste, I would want more.

And throughout the years, I took little bites. You always gave me just enough. A flower picked from your travels. Random late night calls which left that same burning desire. I always wanted more.

Then I found myself next to you half way across the country. The Universe had offered me the forbidden fruit. Suddenly it was abundantly available. And I knew it was dangerous. I didn't care. I needed my fix.

You were my muse and my admired. A molotov cocktail of all things good and bad. And I too, was your drug of choice. I felt it through your eyes.

All I pursued was inspired by your presence. You were my lover and my loathed. I loved you so much it was blissful. I loathed you so much it hurt.

You were my best friend and my arch nemesis. I revealed everything and nothing to you.

And while I am half way around the world, I find myself free from you but still addicted. You were that forbidden fruit and I knew better. I bit anyway.

A Scoopy and A Davie

Friday December 9th, 2011; 09:22

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: My sweet Pink ride.

My first two weeks back in Ubud meant that I would need some form of transportation vehicle. It had been months since I drove a motorbike, Pai time to be exact. That was back in July. Since then, I'd been pedaling two wheelers with great joy in the countries I wandered into. And always with a front basket. A basket!

After I found my wonderful home in the tiny village of Nyuh Kuning, I also found a red bicycle to carry me around my explorations. A few days in, I quickly realized that the seat was hurting my nether regions. I thought, hmmm time to graduate to bigger and better things.

But I had paid for the two weeks already so I bit the bullet and endured moments of crushing discomfort in that nether region. Cycling to the Ubud Fitness Center was already a workout in itself, never mind the 5km run on the treadmill afterwards. I'd run outside but there are two things stopping me. First, I can't get up early enough for the cooler air. Second, if and when I did run outside during the day, the humidity just killed me. But I'm just making excuses.

One day, Jasmine, my house mate had seen me walking up in Penestanan Village, quite a ways from our home. I don't know if she felt sorry for me or realized it was time for me to get on a motorbike but she suggested I get on one. I was happy to oblige albeit the split second fear of crashing again. Remember back in Koh Tao? If not, check out that post:

http://daviepocstar.blogspot.com/2011/06/island-life-koh-tao-style.html

A couple of days later, the sweetest lil Scoopy arrived at our house. Oh my!

Am I a kid in a candy store again? Absoluement! It was everything I needed in ma' ride - light, stylish, in excellent condition. And Pink!! With a matching Scoopy helmet. All so bubbiliciously yummy.

After a quick overview with Jasmine, we checked the fuel gauge. It was conveniently at almost empty. So Balinese. That meant I had to fill 'er up. So we fired up our engines for my first solo ride in months. Of course as soon as we hit the road, Bali's torrential rain came a' knocking on our helmets. It's still rainy season here. But fear not for I am fearless!

Jasmine's praise on my first ride was enough validation for me. Since then, I have been bombing around the villages on my scrumptious Scoopy, beaming from ear to ear in my daily routine.

How delicious is this scene? Like two peas in a pod:

Wanderings on my motorbike leave me with a sense of freedom. I don't even mind that my helmet is one size too big, it just allows for cool breezes to sneak through my hair.

Picking up my bed linens when I don't feel like walking up the street to get them. No biggie. **silently squeals in delight**

I may just have to invest in one of these cuties when I get back to Canada...Pink of course. With matching helmet, oh yeah.

Couch Surfers and a Sunrise

Thursday December 8th, 2011; 11:02

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: What do early bird CSers get? Check it out!

Nadi Shaki Class + Veggie Nasi Campur = Muscles For Another Post baby!

As I was taking in the beautiful sunset with my new couch surfer friends and Magda the other night, we concocted a plan for a day trip to see a sunrise.

The plan: Jatiluwih-Mumbul-Bedugul-Munduk. With seven of us, it was going to be a big party.

Then there was only five. No worries, we thought, just go with the flow. So at the ungodly hour of 3:30am (AM!), Magda, Carol, Debbi and I made our way to our driver's van and off we went to pick up a non couch surfer, Kasha. Since it was still dark, I stole some more ZZZZs before anything worth seeing happened.

Along we drove, through winding bends, up and down the hillsides of Bali. Gorgeous.

Our first stop in Jatiluwih was upon a clearing where the morning sun tickled our weary eyes. As I have mentioned in my previous post, my lil digi-cam, while mighty and cute, could only capture a fraction of the beauty before us. But here is her attempt:

As the Bali Sun made her ascent into the new day, she cast a lovely glow on the mountains around us. It was amazing to watch the subtle colours evolve by the minute:

Saluting the sun as her reflection on the mountains morphed into a deep gold. Already, I am in love with the day and it's offerings:

Here is Magda capturing the morning magic with a much better suited camera:

One of the main reasons for this day trip besides capturing a sunrise, was to see the ultimate rice fields Bali has to offer. She did not disappoint. With the volcanoes and mountains serving as the backdrop, you couldn't make up this kind of magic, even with Dumbledore's wand.

It is harvest season. Hence the fields are not the famous lush green colour but light amber shade instead:

Meeting a local who happily obliged to a photo op:

As we marveled at the rising day and scenery before us, conversations about broken ankles (Carol is a doctor), travel stories and laughs abounded over cups of Balinese coffee and goreng goreng. Then we piled back into the van for more exploration. 

We came upon a promising hot spring but were met with disappointment. Instead, we got this delicious view, my favourite of the day:

So much colour and life. Breathtaking vistas. Mists in the mountains as we climbed higher and higher into the sky. It really was a special journey into the depths of Bali made even more special with my fellow friends.

Finally, it was time to put some food into our bellies. They had been filled with goreng goreng throughout the day and needed some real sustenance. After following a Cafe Tahu sign for 6km, we came upon said restaurant for all dishes Tahu (tofu).

Kasha was kind enough to snap this photo of the four couch surfers. L-R: Debbi, Magda, Carol, Me:

If you wanna meet great people on your travels, get on couch surfing! Even if you're not globe wandering, you can still get on CS and meet up with like-minded people (read: adventurous types) and make new friends. The world is smaller than you think. Maybe this is a CS plug, maybe not. But either way, Go Travel The World!!

Couch Surfers and a Sunset

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011; 18:38

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: Baby bananas, ducks sunsets and surfers. Oh my.

I have been back in Ubud for 2+ weeks now. Life is refreshingly chilled beyond my expectations. I love the home I am in. My house mate tells the most intriguing stories of her 13 years of travel and I'm learning so much from her.

Some of the yoga classes I'm taking at the Yoga Barn finish around sunset and one day, I thought, I need to see a sunset proper.

This is the view when I do yoga at 'the Barn'. It's tough, I know:

So I texted Magda for suggestions. Sari Organics up in the rice fields? Yes, please! I'll have two servings if you don't mind.

As I got to Magda's house, I was met by two fellow Couch Surfers - so cool!! Carol from the U.S. and Debi from Yogyajakarta. The four of us got on the two motorbikes and bombed our way up Jalan Raya, Ubud's main road. Once parked, we slowly climbed our way up to where Sari Organics sits upon incredible rice fields.

 A quick vignette:

Looking up at the cloudy sky as the day descended, it didn't look like we were going to get our sunset. But I had faith in the Universe.

Along the way, we came upon some ducks!

This reminded me to get my ducks lined up...hmmm time to re-write my goals I think:

The walk up to Sari Organics is so nice. We came upon bananas in their baby stage. Awww:

When we finally got up to the restaurant, the Sky Gods made a clearing. My faith in the Universe had done it again. We were going to have the sunset dreams are made of. I am traveling only with a Canon Power Shot SD1000 so these pics will not do any justice of the magnificence the Sunset Gods granted us. But here are some of my best shots:

Fantastic travel conversations was on the menu. Meeting couch surfers is one of the greatest things about getting outside and seeing the world. Tomorrow will be a couch surfing extravaganza as seven of us are geared up to go and walk some of the ultimate rice fields. So you'll kinda know what the next post will be....

Coconut Crush

Monday December 5th, 2011; 13:05

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: Crazy for coconuts. And surf boys.

Being boy crazy is sooo yesterday.

Today, I am coo coo for coconut.

A couple of days ago, I cracked open my first one. With a machete no less. My lovely house mate Jasmine bought us 10 of nature's finest creation. They leisurely lay outside on the front porch next to Jasmine's sculpture which are another fine creation. But that's another post.

Alright, so how does a city slicker, dirt-bag backpacker feel about using a machete? Well, considering I get intimidated by my own set of Henckels at home, you can imagine my trepidation of possibly lobbing off a finger or two. Or three. Btw Zameer, this is the Hawaiian method. I would definitely hack my hand off if it were the Trinidad application.

Anyway, I was excited like a kid in a candy store.

After watching Jasmine easily chop open the first coconut, I thought, piece of cake. And it was! Then, it was my turn.

There are four things you should have at the ready when going to open one of these bad boys.

1. A sharp machete

2. Spoon for scooping out the flesh

3. Pot or bowl for collecting the coconut water

4. Cloth for wiping the dirt off the coconut

After picking out a small-ish one from the lot, I wiped her down and set her on the earth. There are three mounds at the bottom of a coconut. It is here where I will be hacking off each mound to reveal the soft area, kind of like a baby's soft spot above the forehead.

Using my machete muscles. The idea is to swing and let the weight of the machete cut through the hard surface:

And of course, keeping my fingers well away from the machete:

 

Once each side of the mound has been cut away, using the end of the machete at the handle end, I cut open a little hole for the coconut water to pour out:

Collecting the liquid gold:

Once the water has been collected, next is to halve the coconut and dig out the meat. If the coconut is perfectly ripe, the flesh should be fairly easy to scrape off.

This is where the spoon and cloth comes in handy:

I am so happy, giddy like a school girl:

Hmmm, I notice I'm getting lighter. May be time to hit a beach again soon. Uluwatu, here I come! On Friday. I'm sure I'll have a story for that. I mean with a name like Ulu (as the locals call it), sounds heavenly already. Oh! And it's THE hotspot for surfing. OMG, surf boys. Yuh-mmy! And getting there on my pink Scoopy, hello! Surf boys, scooters, white sand and blue waters - more googliness than my beating heart can handle. Boy crazy? Who am I kiddin'?

But I digress. Again.

Right, so after all the cutting and scraping and collecting, you have the ingredients for a drink fit for kings and queers. And queens.

Throw them in the jug:

 

Give it a wild spin in the love blender:

 

Pour into love glass:

 Display against love fruits and love machete:

Add some cinnamon love and there you have it, Nectar Of The Gods:

The kid in the candy store drinks it like a Goddess:

I love my life. I wonder what new discoveries await me tomorrow....