Still blogger problems

Textile stuff

In the first photo we were at Ulawato where they make the most exsquisite lace, this was the girl showing us how it is made with a treddle machine. Holes are cut in the pattern and it is free motioned around each hole. I bought a couple of sets of hankies as the lovely tops do not suit short plump women but they were stunning.
we then went to a place where the Batik was made, I dont know where this was, one day I will find the receipt!!
That is Margaret in the background trying to work out what she wanted to buy.
Here are some of the lovely designs that they do, then some of the stamps that they use, mostly copper made in Java so we were told but some wooden ones too, not as lovely as the Indian wooden ones but the copper ones give a very fine print.
In the next photo this was a huge lump of bees wax that every so often some one would hack a lump off with a machete type of knife, this was then put in the pots over a heat source and used to paint onto the cloth, they had some silk here but a lot was quite a coarse woven cotton.
Last is the indigo vat that is used in so much of the dyeing here.

Bali doors and gateways

 This photo should have gone with yesterdays post.
Blogger messed up.

Bali doors and gateways

 The cener bottom left and the top right were taken at the resort at Jimbayan and the rest were around Ubud.
For some reason I thought I had taken one of my lovely red and gold ones at Ketut's but I dont seem to have it.
The one with Cynthia was at the museum.
I do wish I had taken more but it wasnt to be.
Double click to enlarge.

At Ketut's place in Ubud, Bali

Here outside Ketut's place was our driver Jack and Cynthia, our tour leader, such lovely people.
This is a very short post as I am terribly tired tonight, done too much again!
Next is my magnificent bed there, very comfortable.
A bromeliad that I have just got at home, I had to take its phot it was near my door.
Finally the little area that I had to sit out on, it was bliss, breakfast ou t there, you felt part of the compound but just out of the way enough as well to be private.
I loved sitting out here and drawing and sketching, see my other blog on the side bar.
It is pouring with rain and has been for the last 2 days, lovely but it means mud and wet inside and things not drying, I am never pleased.
I have been told they want me in the hospital on Monday afternoon, latish, as I am first on the list the next morning.
Oh dear!!

Home from wonderful Bali

 Just a few photos, you will get more through the week. I had a fantastic trip with Cynthia and Margaret, we saw so much, from the sea to the mountains.
My poor camera had a few problems with the humidity and going from air conditioning to heat. I didnt take nearly as many Photos as I should have but we were so busy for such a lot of the time and when we were out and about taking photos with a walking stick in hand was not easy.
Yes it was hot and humid but we sort of got used to it, I was so grateful for my metal walking stick, it got me up and down uneven pavements and generally was a huge help.  It was a new one I bought that telescopes and has a bit of give in it, looks like a ski pole.
The first two photos are taken in the family compound at Ketut's place in Ubud. If you are looking for somewhere as a base in Ubud this place was fantastic, lovely people, not too far to walk to a lot of people and if I can do it at my age and with a very bad knee any one can.
I had to have a dog and a motor cycle, they were every where, the traffic is horrendous but every one seems pretty polite about it all.
We went to wonderful textile places, this was at a Batik place where the women were making up fabrics, I bought a piece here, more on that later.
Finally a little shop we bought some more fabric from up in the mountains, they were doing ikat there on a backstrap loom..
If any one wants a fantastic textile tour of Bali email me and I will put you in touch with Cynthia.
I cant speak more highly of our little tour and we saw so much, did so much and were well looked after.
My knee op is in a week so I have lots to do, clean, wash, sort so a bit each day for the next week or so.
Max was so pleased to see me!!
Double click the photos to get a larger picture.

Its rained !

 We have had 46 mm to 9 am this morning.
Wonderful, wonderful rain, and its the 1st of June so officially winter.
I hope it keeps going, I couldnt resist a few photos this morning, although I am still trying to pack etc and be organised, which I am not.
John and I had fun trying out my new international sim card and making sure we both know how it works!
I need to have some contact with him while I am away.
so odd packing clothes for heat as here we are now cooler.
I will be back after the 10th.
Probably with more photos than I know what to do with.