JBR in no particular order of events:
". Free class every Sunday 5pm in front of Petitenget temple next to La Luciola Restaurant. Ask for Captain Sudi. Watch us knock down attackers from 10 meters away or ask for a free healing. Also a monthly initiation ceremony every full moon.Go to <www.yellowbamboo.com>, email: <info#yellowbamboo.com>." Bali Advertiser.
When i suggested to my husband and wenful going along to check out these Yellow Bamboo people who made the claim they could knock down people without touching them, they wanted to see too. As these Yellow Bamboo guys might be psyching each other out i wanted them to prove it and knock down my husband.. No-one was outside the Petitinget temple who looked like they might be something called Yellow Bamboo.
As i was the expedition leader i thought it advisable to walk ahead by myself to make enquiries. "Excuse me," I asked the first security guard i saw, "Where are the Yellow Bamboo?"
"Yellow Bamboo?" he replied.
"Yes, you know, Balinese fighting each other" I answered, "chop chop and all that" waving my arms around in what i hoped was a likely imitation of karate moves. The guard stared blankly at me for 2 minutes before the rupiah dropped. "Ahhh, Balinese fighting 6pm over there," pointing at the beach. That sorted i returned to my companions and we settled in at La Luccia to wait for 6 pm. At 6pm we went down to the beach and there were literally hundreds of Balinese people waiting for the sunset. As Wenful had made the comment she was glad one of us knew what was going on i again got distance between myself and them before making further enquiries.
"Excuse me, where are the Yellow Bamboo?" i asked the man selling toy planes. "Yellow Bamboo?" he asked before turning on me the same blank gaze the security guard had had. (Seemed to be a few blank stares going on.) I answered, "Balinese fight. Yellow Bamboo see Captain Magoo. Haargh arrgh martial art." After taking a very long hard look at me, he frowned and then his face lit up. " Yes. Yellow Bamboo. Captain Sudi not here today. Temple celebration." Oh. My companions and i watched the sunset before finding ourselves swept along by a massive exodus of Balinese from the beach. I felt sure that at any moment we'd all break into a companiable run and was interested in seeing where we'd end up. No such luck.Wenful said we could have dinner at a Wurung she liked. Round and round the streets we drove before asking a Balinese for directions. "Warung Asia? That closed for holiday today." O. We ended up at IndoNational.
Heights scare me. Looking over an edge to way below kind of height. Paragliding seemed a good way to face my fears i reasoned as unlike parasailing i wouldn't be attatched to anything other than the tandem instructor and a parachute thing. After taking a good look over the cliff it seeemed reasonable to suggest to my husband he should go first. Wind just lifted him and the instructer up and there he was floating a long way over the cliff and ocean for the next 20 mins. When he came down to earth he was laughing & said how he'd loved it, piece of cake, even better than when we'd gone hot air ballooning, and i'd love it too.
After a few "i'm not liking this" false runs - my fault- up we went. I'm never going to face my height fear again. I was literally terrified up there and lasted all of 3 minutes. We landed with me seated and unwilling to stand. Ever seen a wild-eyed cat with it's fur on end, back arched, all four feet clinging to a surface? That's how it was for the next five minutes while i caterwauled, " just lemme touch the ground for a minute longer. I need to be earthed."
Lunch with Balinese Hari Krishnas at their restaurant in Sanur was a good idea. Wouldn't have to worry about meat in my food. When we turned up at the little Hare Krishna warung and the driver wanted to wait, 4 bemused people looked up as we walked in. We ordered and when the food was served it was my turn to take a good hard look at a Balinese. "Hair," I said pointing at the guy's hair, "hair." He grinned.. Maybe saying hare hare is a Krishna thing? So I tried again, "Hair, lots of hair and you've got pants on." I said pointing at his pants. He grinned even more widely than before. "Hari krishna have no hair and no pants in Australia." I explained. Also that lady standing there looked suspiciously like she might be his wife. He told me that only the monks in the temple up the road had no hair and pants. Every other Hare Krishna devotee could have them. O. We laughed and i can recommend the food..