Journal Entry 12 May 14th, a 12th Birthday, Continued...

I'm getting a little better with the shifting these gears.  Down is up and the heel is down.  My heel really, REALLY does not want to go down.  And down is what I NEED badly, to get up these unbelievably steep hills we've been riding on, not to mention I would give my right arm for a real clutch.  

The roads today were remarkably smooth and nicely curvy, with almost no traffic.  In most of the villages the people will look right into our eyes and smile a big smile, so beautiful.  I can't tell you how many offerings I dodged on bike and foot.   Though I’ve heard them say doesn't matter it seems, once they've been made and set out), but in few villages there are less incense smells, maybe a few hodgepodge poor looking offerings and none of those bamboo dangly tall things that line the roads for good luck or something. 

It's always amazing to me how people will be living what appears to be similar lives: working in paddies, carrying enormous bundles of bamboo, vegetables, fruits, or wood and most are very happy smiling and content and some others not.  I imagine we appear the same way to them only probably they can't figure out why for the life of us WE should ever be unhappy with all of our opportunities, CHOICES and financial securities (can you?).

Good Karma Bungalows seemed to be the perfect place to end Morgan’s birthday.  It has a cool staff and the vibe is very hip and cool and I was thinking I'd like to stay here for a few days, rest up and absorb all we have taken in.  Amed is a very quiet little beach, fishing village without anyone to hustle us (which is so nice).  

Staying in our very own, a little too private maybe, down by the water, backing up to the jungle, El Natural' bungalow made completely from natural Bali materials: bamboo structure, thatch roof, jute floors.  Entirely open jungle bathroom.  It's everything Morgan says she wants her house to be like someday.  So we cozied up in our mosquito net covered futons drifting off to the waves just down a few steps.  That is ...until, in the pitch-black darkness, Morgan jumped up FREAKED that SOMETHING was in her (very cool) loft with her, small animals, like monkeys she said.  I was glad I had gone to bed with the flashlight by my pillow. She scrambled down those narrow steps so fast!  Neither off us wanted to explore to find the creatures, which we think jumped back out of the open window into the trees. 

So, once again, we packed up and moved on the next morning after our tasty breakfast and a little swim in a gentle part of the ocean where the colorful, painted wooden boats are pulled up onto the beach in front of the bungalow where we’d slept.