Hey everyone, so I know I haven't updated in awhile so I'll try to catch you up to speed.
We had a wonderful two weeks in Ubud. We met a couple from France and became close friends and are invited to France to see them. We also met an amazing local named gusti who we've become very close with. He grew up in Bali but went to university and lived in France for ten years. He is now back constructing his own houses to rent to tourists in the rice fields outside of Ubud. He is a great combo of western and Balinese living and has proved to be a great friend. We spent most of our time eating local food for cheap (you can get take out noodles in a paper folded into a cone) and doing the touristy things like seeing the museums, gardens, monkey forest and traditional dance.
After that we left for the "farm" to be there for the remaining month of our time in Bali working in exchange for food and housing. Turns out it was much more of an organic garden at a hotel than a farm. It is also monsoon season now sorbets weren't any guests. We decided that a week of being alone, in the middle of nowhere, and weeding and cleaning the hotel were not what we wanted. The owner and food were definitely highlights though. The owner is margret. She is originally from Germany but has been, studied and taught all over the world. She has a very German manner which took some getting used to but became a good friend over the week. She understood and was ok with us leaving and continues to be in touch, especially to ask Hannah questions of how to use her MacBook :) the food was incredible there and the local chef, Made (ma-day), dictated some recipes for me so hopefully I'll be able to recreate them.
Now we are once again in Ubud and loving it. It is an interesting balance of local culture, night life and yoga/meditation (which is completely tourist run because the Balinese don't do yoga). We've rented a house outside of town for 17$ a night total!!! And a motorbike to get around for 2.50$ a day total!!! We've settled into our place and love being able to have groceries and have our own space. Gusto hooked us up with everything. The place was normally 25$ per night and the bike 3.50$ per day but he talked the locals down for us. He also helped us clean the house because it was a little messy and taught to ride the bike. We've also made friends with one of the only good bands in Ubud and are seeing them again tonight. Were planning on signing up for yoga today, hiking a volcano soon, snorkeling at a shipwreck, and having a day at the spa for 25$ including massage, seasalt scrub, floral bath, pedicure and waxing for a total of 4 hours. Pretty sweet. The fruit juices are incredible and we have a new one everyday! Were also putting together our own thanksgiving. Gusti and the band are attending. Gusti is going to cook a chicken or duck and we haven't decided on the rest. Anyway should be fun!
Well love you all and will write more soon!
And by sorbets I meant so there aren't, but to be fair there wasn't sorbet either.
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