I owe my life to Frogger

OK, it's been awhile since ive updated on anything good..... so time to break it down. :)

I want to paint the picture a little better of what Bali's like - all the little details that make it tick.

First off, i know i already mentioned the nightmare known as driving... but let me unpack that statement a little. Actually, being in the car or on the motorcycle is one thing.... walking is undeniably worse. But first, you know that game 'Chicken?' Where two cars face one another about a block apart and race towards each other till one pulls to the side first... making that driver the "chicken." I play that game every day. By default. I really dont see the point in wasting paint to separate the different directions of traffic here. They really make NO difference. It's already a little backwards being that everyone drives on the Left side here... or so it seems that’s what they attempt to do. But they fail miserably every day because no one stays on their side. Ever. On top of that, some of the "streets" here are really remarkable. They're about half the size of the boardwalk on the peninsula in Newport Beach... when the first motorbike whizzed by me, i thought i tasted death... then i got used to sharing my confused 'walking path' - not big enough for 4 people across - w/ 2 way traffic of motorcycles and mini TRUCKS. What?? Honestly, it's pretty ridiculous. And trying to cross the bigger streets is even worse. In short, it is the equivalent to a real life game of Frogger. No joke. For those of you who dont remember the video game Frogger.... you missed out on a piece of your childhood. I owe my grandpa the biggest gratitude in the world for always "playing" that game w/ me when i was young. I put quotes around playing, because turns out, it was actually practice for survival skills i would one day need. When i step off that curb, my hand goes out in a "stop" gesture (i assume to be universal), i take a deep breath, and start walking. Breaks in traffic are nonexistent... so it's not really a choice. Sometimes i find im better off closing my eyes... so far, i havent been hit... but i come within inches far too often. It's great.

Other details include the offerings that lay in front of EVERY home and business here. Beautiful little flowery offerings - tragically offered to the nonexistent gods of Hinduism every morning.

Or the men that stand around the sidewalk near all the tourist shops... (Think funny, kinda indian sounding accent) "Hello Darling..." "Transport??" "I love you." "Braid your hair??" "Maybe... maybe.. you want to give me surfboard... no?" "Weed?" "Come, come.. i give you good price." Ha. They're relentless.

The only touristy things ive participated in involves my fascination w/ the different animals here... One day, we went to a different side of the island and i paid 20,000 Rp to hold 2 Pythons... one was 9 FEET... they both were wrapped around my neck!! (dad, you wouldve been proud.) I've also avoided bright blue jelly fish... 4-inch cockroaches... and other mysterious bugs. I held a monkey, took a picture w/ a giant fruit bat, and have surprisingly become good at avoiding the hundreds of poor homeless dogs. (my friends from europe would be so proud.)

I hope you enjoyed the silly updates. I'll write again soon. Miss you guys.

love love love,
Melody