Update

Drama. There is a lot of that here in Bali. It’s a small island with too many people. We have had our share of really intense drama here. There are some powerful people here that have built empires and have a monopoly on certain industries. These folks have egos the size of Texas and are threatened by anyone new to the island with talent and a good work ethic. Pete is sought after here. Business is never straightforward here however. It is complicated with cultural taboos, ceremonies, poor infrastructure, and egos. Business can be so frustrating in Bali it is no wonder the big names are so protective. It is hard to say what will unfold here for Pete. There are so many opportunities here for him but again, nothing is easy here in Bali and some days we just want to say “fuck it”. Those days we dream about coming home to America where people work too hard but business is straightforward and predictable. Time will tell. Patience.

For now we try to enjoy the day-to-day life here in Bali. Life is simple and not too stressful if we keep our expectations low and our desire for accomplishments realistic. The kids are having an artistic explosion. Art is everywhere. Boredom creates creativity. The girls sit and draw for hours. They also cruise the property searching for creatures to nurture and love. Judy has become fascinated with Balinese culture and Hinduism. She sets out offerings to the Gods everyday on our property.

Today Judy and I participated in Galungan. Galungan is the most significant holiday for the Balinese. It is the day of worship and prayer as the Gods battle the evil spirits. We visited the homesteads of our staff after the ceremony in their village. They served us tea, fried bananas and rice cakes. Everyone in Mas village came to see the “Bules” (that’s us) celebrating Galungan. We wore traditional Balinese ceremonial clothing that endeared us to the locals but was also the source of hysterical laughter. Elena and Rian skipped the Galungan festivities to go see Harry Potter in the one and only movie theater in Bali. However, the driver’s car broke down and the kids spent half the day on the side of the road in polluted Denpesar.