When i put my book down for a chat

I have been trying to read this book a friend gifted on my birthday this time. But I am being driven around by Scooby who is as good as a story. He has never really been away from Bali, spent his entire life here and lives in the same compound as his family.

Scooby made my day today. I had planned a quiet day at the beach, reading and snoring away. "Try surfing," he said. My eyes gleamed. And so i did. Many attempts yet failed to stand on the board for more than 10 seconds. I gave up after an hour.

Sat down to read "Frankenstein in Bagdad".  A smiling, cheeky lady caught my attention. I asked her if i could click her.

Monik agreed but demanded i buy her trinklets. I obliged. Monik is a mother of two. She is from the hills of Bali but lives near Caangu to make a living. Her husband too sells things on the beach. For the next one hour we shared secrets and laughed and I enjoyed a good massage too. We were joined by Monalisa and Sarah, and another whose I apologetically forget. I had to let them go as they had work to do, I was holidaying.

For the next hour I tried reading but my mind drifted back to these women. All of them beautiful, strong, flattering, yet real.

I realised all of us have our Frankenstein, someone or something we create for reasons unknown, beyond their ugliness.

Very soon I will meet Rina's family, in her village near Ubud. I will have more stories to share.

What are you looking for?

Well, this is not the regular question asked on dating sites nowadays. This is, for a change, a question I am asking to my self and will ask for the next few days in the island of thousand temples.

I just arrived in Bali, somewhat taken by the beauty of its beaches, the ardourous appeal of its rice fields, the speaking walls of its ancient temples, and (secretly) 'Eat, pray, love' -- the movie. Yet, it is not "Love" that I seek here.

Do I seek healing then? Maybe. Do I seek adventure? Maybe. Do I seek beauty? Maybe. Do I seek fun? Maybe.

Do I know what I seek? Maybe not.

For today, I closed it with some Bintang beer and Pepes Ikan (banana leaf wrapped steamed tuna), in a resort overlooking a agricultural field.

....Then caught up on 2 nights of sleep.

(No pics today as didnt really venture out. I promise many from tomorrow)