I hope no body minds if I share a little nostalgia. I am 38 now and when I was 14 my parents divorced and my Dad ,whom we always called Bapak Musang started bringing us to Bali. He had worked in Sulawesi ( Ujung Pandang ) since I was 4, teaching his sheet metal trade so that the Indonesians could build their own factories.I can remember going to the Perth airport to see the swans in my dressing gown and hugging him like I had not seen him for years. There was always something exotic in his suitcase for Mum and my Brother and I. Mum would get filagree Torajah houses and I , a music box in bamboo or a sarong in ikat. hen they divorced he applied for a Bankcard and took usd to Bali for 5 days. I was in live for the first time in my life. Just as others talk about the smells that hit you upon alighting from the plane, I was completely overwhelmed. What I do remember was a feeling that I was coming home.We went every year until my I was 23 and our lives intervened. The last time I returned was coming home from England 11 years ago and it was vastly different. My beautiful Dad died suddenly two years ago and my brother let customs know and took his ashes to Bali and floated them from a Prahu at Sanur.They had a bonfire as is custom and his spirit now dwells there. I am returning this year March 23rd for my Brothers wedding and although excited I am so very sad. I cannot stay at Segara where we always stayed as there will be too many ghosts for me, so instead will be at Griya Santrian. Hoping this is ok. My husband and 3 children aged 10, 7 and 2 are coming and I have ben looking at this forum for 3 months now and thanking god it's here. I feel an unspoken bond with those who do go into detail and I thank you for your patience in reading this.I don't care about shopping or eating , I only want to be a sponge and fill my soul again. love Steph