My dog Elvis can do a perfect downward dog! He does about one hundred a day…each with a grace and perfection I can only dream of. He completely takes for granted his flexibility and posture in his own darling doggy … Continue reading
“To find real joy in this life, you need to follow a spiritual path” Sri Sakthi Amma…Om Namo Narayani…
Yesterday I thought to myself…”I haven’t made a mala for so long!” So today I rectified that…one purple mala finished this morning. The tassle I made myself from antique batik material I bought in Bali. The pearls and beads are … Continue reading
There is something about markets and me…they go together! Just the thought of visiting a market makes me glow with expectation. I actually don’t even have a compulsion to buy anything at the markets, although I invariably do, but I … Continue reading
A gorgeous old bike abandoned on the side of the path in Ubud, Bali.
I had a real giggle when I saw this sign. It was positioned right inside the water fountain at the UB City Mall in Bangalore. I adore these “classic sights” of India.
On our wonderful trip to Ubud, Bali last month Rahul and I walked every morning in the picturesque paddy fields. One morning while wandering past one of our favourite warungs (restaurants) we noticed that an object on one of the … Continue reading
Not only has Ubud got a wonderful market but it has boutiques galore too. You can spend hours poking around in the cutest boutiques you have ever seen. My favourite streets for special shops with a difference are Hanoman Street, … Continue reading
Ubud is definitely a shoppers paradise. One of the fun spots to shop in Ubud is its huge market. The market is located very centrally in Jalan Raya (Ubud’s main road).
The market is open from 6am till 6pm every day of the week. From 6am till around 9am the fresh fruit/food stall holders are set up. Here you can purchase a vast array of produce. We bought yummy bananas, mangosteens and snake fruit. It is a great time to just wander and watch people purchasing their shrine offerings and daily goods.
After 9am the regular stall holders set up. These stalls sell a vast array of goods from fake sunglasses, t-shirts, beads, Balinese souvenirs right through to cute little pottery teapots.
However the markets are not for the faint hearted! Bartering is the order of the day here and stall holders expect that you will negotiate with them. My tips are:
My boys loved to barter. They went to the market each day to get presents for their friends and compared notes on who got the cheapest price. They were happy and so were the stall holders.
In Ubud even the most harsh scenes are tinged with beauty. On our morning walks I have been fascinated with the Balinese security. They use old antique glass stuck into stone to deter home invaders from entering. Some would say … Continue reading
My name, Lakshmi, and the lotus go together. Most images we see of the Indian goddess Lakshmi has her seated in the blossoming lotus. Maybe that is why I adore the lotus so much.
In Hindu tradition, the lotus represents beauty, non-attachment, purity and resurrection. The lotus is rooted in the mud but floats on the water without becoming wet or muddy. As a lotus is able to emerge from the muddy waters unspoilt and pure it is considered to represent a wise and spiritually enlightened quality in a person; it is representative of somebody who carries out their tasks with little concern for any reward and with a full liberation from attachment.
“One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.”
— Bhagavad Gita 5.10
Ubud is positively blooming with beautiful lotuses. Whether in a small stone bowl or a large pond they are everywhere you turn. Lotuses have the power to brighten even the murkiest pond. In 2014 I’m going to make a more conscious effort to be like the lotus. I want to be more considerate in my actions towards others and work on my attachment to my belongings. The path is long but at least if I am able to identify my faults I can skip along the path without straying too far away from it.
This funny sign really made Rahul and I smile. However the cool “dring” was certainly welcome after a hot walk through the paddy fields.
Rahul and I met this little darling in our street, Jalan Kajeng, today. Look at his cute little snaggle tooth! We nick-named him the brick on legs as he could hardly waddle up the street. I think he had consumed too many chicken sates…
Each morning we have been having our daily coffee fix at the lovely Casa Luna in Ubud. Situated in Jalan Raya it is only a hop, skip and jump from our guesthouse. The coffee here is stunning and the pastries to die for!
Casa Luna is open all day for lunch and dinner too. They also have a cooking school which has great reviews.
Casa Luna has been going strong for 21 years and due to their friendly staff and wonderful food I’m sure they’ll be here forever…
Lakshmi Loves To Shop 