This was a special day. There were 8 of us heading up to Kerambitan for Suckling Pig. Wayan had to hire a mini bus so we could all fit in. He picked us up and we were on our way. It's not a long drive to Kerambitan but there is so much to see. We head out through Kerobokin and past Tanah Lot and through many more small villages.
As we're driving along Wayan asked us if we'd like to see a ceramics factory. We wander through the factory watching how they pour the moulds and then clean up the items, glaze them and fire them. They also have pottery wheels where they are turning clay bowls and vases. I used to do ceramics as a hobbie and this was pretty much just the same but on a much larger scale. It was fascinating, we played the tourist and took pictures while we were looking around. Many of the ceramic things you see for sale in the shops and markets are made here. It is so hard to believe that so much work has gone in when you take into account the price we pay for them.
Soon we are back on the road and make our way to Kerambitan. We have been there many times but this is a first for our friends. It's so nice to see Wayans family and neighbours again. They get so excited having visitors.
We arrive just as the pig is finished cooking. Some of Wayan's friends have spent the morning patiently turning the pig over the fire. It's huge, this is going to feed an army. We make sure we get some pics of the pig cooking and then go for a walk around the village.
As we wander through the lane ways we hear children laughing and hiding. They are excited to see us but shy. They yell out hello, then hide and you hear them giggling. If they are brave enough to come out, we take their photo and show them the pic of themselves and they get all embarrased and laugh.
We called in at one of Wayan's neighbours as they had some ripe mangos on the tree for us. They were so sweet and delicous, very refreshing. Wayan has been teaching the children in this house to speak English but they are too shy to practise with us. In the end when I said Selamat Siang, Apa Kaba - they replied "Fine Thankyou".
We wandered along the market and checked out all the produce and spices for sale and then head over the the palace. This is where Rita Golden-Gelman stayed and wrote about in her book - "Tales of a Female Nomad". The king doesn't live here, he lives in another wing of the palace. It looks tired and run down. Not what we would expect of a palace. AS we keep wandering the dogs on the street warn everyone we are on our way. They are howling, warning of these strange looking white people.
After our tour of the village we head back to Wayans house where his dad has picked fresh coconuts for us to drink the juice. It's dinner time and the pig is carved. The rice that we have must be cooked with herbs, it's got a really nice different flavour although it just looks like plain rice. The pork melts in your mouth. We had the meat off the belly and a huge piece of crackling each. There also vegies which have been cooked inside it. They toned down the spices in the vegies for us, normally they are really hot.
After dinner Wayan and his friend get their guitars out and have a bit of a singalong while we all chill out and relax before our drive home.
We all had a fabulous day and I just love spending time in the village.