Another typically magic day

Each day now is precious and dear. Time slipping through my fingers like sand. We took a long hike along the path on the ridge following the river Sunday. Maybe we ventured out a little too late, 10 am, because the sun took its toll on us. We carried water but sweated so much that we were both dehydrated and weak on our return, just an hour and a half later. We took a swim and fell asleep in our chaise exhausted. Awoke famished and somewhat hypoglycemic, so we dressed and rushed down our drive to the small Japanese deli across the street. We barged in, butted in front of another couple pondering the menu and pointed out our choices of food. WE NEEDED FOOD NOW!!! Felt a little guilty but really didn't have a choice. After lunch we felt much better. The heat and humidity take a toll. Today we rode our cycle to Mas, the woodcarvers village. We checked up on the slab of wood we bought and are having made into a dining table. Many details to correct, shape of the legs, choice of wood, curve of the edges. You really can't leave anything to chance. This is our fourth trip to the factory. Won't be our last. Rode back as a drizzle of rain started so we stopped at Moka Cafe for a cappuccino and an almond croissant. Our treat to ourselves. Then we rode further to Threads of Life. This small shop supports local women in all the islands who weave fine cloth in the old methods. Each island, such as Java, Sumba, Timor and Flores, have a style that is uniquely their own. So, if you look at a weaving you can recognize its orgin. They display how threads are dyed with natural colors, photos of weaving patterns and techniques. I lusted for each piece; sarongs, ikats, wall hangings, pillows. Each label listed the name of the weaver, the dyer of the threads, and the village she lived in. Prices were high, but then you were supporting this cooperative helping women maintain the old traditions and quality of weavings. Such beauty takes a long time and a passion passed down for generations. We couldn't resist buying a few small pieces. Later we walked over to the village of Penestannan where we found the Vespa Cafe and TingTing Gallery. Our friends, Tony and Elizabeth, live behind TingTing in a beautiful house surrounded by 12 Rai of land, which is quite a large area. We've known Tony and Elizabeth for about 20 years. We met in Chaing Mai, Thailand and have run into them each time we have been on Koh Samui island. They are from Alaska and leave every winter for warm climates. This time we ran into them on the beach and they told us they sold their house 6 years ago, bought Apple stock, and moved to Bali. They were in Thailand on a visa run and taking a break from the rainy weather. So we stayed in touch and made a plan to met up this evening. Their home is really nice and has the most wonderful pool and surrounding gardens. Really big vista of trees and flowering plants as far as you could see. Really private. Yet walking distance to most anything you would need. We had a great time catching up on each others lives and sipping wine that Tony makes. We haven't had a glass of wine in almost three months so that was really a treat. Friends of theirs arrived, we sipped vino well beyond sunset, stories were exchanged and rain once again came down softly for a couple of hours. In a lull from the showers, we borrowed a flash light and walked back to our side of the stream, down the little wet trails and pathways, stopping at BuBu's for dinner. Now we are home, the rain finished, air cool and gamalam music from the temple beyond the stream competing with the symphony of frogs and crickets singing in the paddies. Not a bad day!