Communing with nature & looking gorgeous!

Monday 26^th September

The day started with early meditation for some – lots of ohms and oooohs – followed by yoga – again for those wanting to join the hotel’s morning yoga session. A well earned breakfast where the specially ordered omelettes were a must or the noodles, plus fresh fruit and juices and a pastry or two on the side. All very healthy of course.

Our first session started at the genteel hour of 9.15am when Jenny welcomed the group that had assembled in the very well-appointed conference room complete with floral decorations and views of the gardens. The room has one of those roofs that keeps going up so that if you lean back to have a ‘little think’ your gaze is drawn upward into this never-ending thatched ceiling. Anyway enough of ceiling gazing.

We started with a getting to know you (just in case we hadn’t already done enough talking). We learned a little about our 2 W&P virgin sisters and what had been happening with the other members of the group in the past 2 years and longer. Lots of memories to share and the ‘do you remember …..’

K

The morning session proceeded with discussions around careers, conversations and contemplation. Somehow we found ourselves wearing various coloured ‘taggies’ on our wrists and talking about symbolism. From there it was the topic of busyness and being productive (or not) mixed with mindfulness and ways to be effective. The morning session finished with a quick reflection on the journey of the W&P from Broome onward and some more reminders on living well.

Lunch was another epic of exploring the various dishes on offer in the restaurant and choosing more than necessary but very nice. We are already making out presence felt in the hotel – very noisy and lots of laughter, but at least we all seem to now be oriented to the hotel, the various levels and buildings and can choose whether to go via the verandah and look over the lake or to go via the paths around the pool. The verandah is the best bet when it is raining, such as the heavy showers while we were at lunch but were starting to clear by the time we left for the afternoon sessions.

The afternoon session was the Bali Herb Walk and Jamu Class with a visit to a herb garden to learn about the numerous plants that included more types of basil than we knew of. As for turmeric we now know the difference between yellow, white and black turmeric. After sniffing the various plants on offer, we set off on a walk to the building where the Jamu and other herb creams and products are made. After much ‘keep to the left’ when motorcycles tried to pass, we arrived at the building and climbed some very steep stairs to the class-room on the verandah. A long table was set up with a place for each of us and an apron.

We were served coconuts milk in the shell followed by herbal tea and then given instructions on how to use the ingredients set up on the chopping boards at each place. First came the Jamu where the turmeric and galangal were placed in a blender. The tamarind and palm sugar went into a large pot together with the blended turmeric and boiled. We were later served this as a hot drink – quite interesting and not unpleasant – not sure that it cured anything but we can hope.

Next, we applied ourselves to the mortar and pestle with rice, ginger, coriander seeds and cloves to make a body scrub. Five willing volunteers were clothed in loose tops so shoulders were bared and the scrub was applied with a thick paste on the forehead, temples and behind the ears and the remainder massaged well into the shoulders, necks and backs. The amount of resultant perspiration were the toxins coming out – some of us must have been very toxic!

A third brew (a body oil) was made from flower petals heated with coconut oil – very aromatic. The final mix was a body mask of aloe vera and corn kernels blended together.

Back at the hotel, it was a quick swim for some before the bus then took us again into Ubud to dinner. The menu feature for the evening was duck – very delectable.

Before climbing into our princess beds, a few again took to the pool for a late night wallow; trying not to disturb too much the other hotel guests attempting a romantic poolside dinner. Ah well, we did try to keep the laughter down but the ‘no life guard on duty’ sign but two bar-tenders at the swim-up bar was a bit funny.

This is a brief skim of what happened on Monday; I am sure there are some additions that others will make. Looking forward to Tuesday and our next adventures.  

      

    Thelma