Soggy feet and happy times

Yet another rainy day in Bali. My sandals have been soaked for two days straight. I'm sure they don't smell very fresh...but I've long discovered that feet and hands are never entirely clean here. I've made peace with this fact and am actually enjoying the filthiness. It's like a mud bath - and those are good for you, right?

I went to the market yesterday with some friends and had a good time bartering for 'Bali price.' It's amazing how much of a difference knowing some of the language really makes. I suppose the main thing is that we can chat and make it clear that we're not really here as tourists, but as performers/students/etc. This goes a long way. Many people know Cudamani, too, because they are such a reputable gamelan. I think we will have a local fan base when we perform on the 10th, even if they're just watching us on Bali TV.

We are making friends here in the local restaurants, shops and transport. However, we also recently discovered that the Internet cafe that we all frequent has been ripping us off. It's quite funny actaully, for the first few weeks we were all being friendly and just accepting the price they'd quote us. I don't know who discovered it first but you can check the cost on your computer before you shut down and once a few people did this, they found a descrepancy between what they were being charged at the cashier and what appeared on their computer. We checked this out a few more times, and it's true! Now we check the price on our screen and go up and just give them the exact amount.

In other news...I moved to a new place closer to the sanggar and town, etc. I am much happier. My place is huge and clean. It is only $15 CAD a night...two stories tall with a huge bathroom (and working shower!) and two large decks. It's way more space than I need but the alternative was to spend way more for a small, touristy room across the street. My place is still pretty rustic and is nestled between rice paddies on either side. We have the day off today but rather than jet out of town, I'm planning to stay close by and just wander around town and chill out in my new digs.

Yesterday I caught the dress rehearsal for the kecak/Indian dance performance (which is tonight and tomorrow night - I'm hoping to catch both shows). While I was sitting on the grass by the pondok I got to thinking about how weird life is and about how far music has taken me. Sitting in Bali...watching a famous Hindu story presented as a collaboration of kecak with South Indian dancers and musicians (from Minnesota!). It really is wild.

There have been other circumstances on this trip where I've experienced yet another 'new world' in music. We were driving back from the PKB the other day and Anthony (yet another ethnomusicologist from the Univeristy of Northern Ireland) was with us on the ride. He started singing these Irish tunes as we weaved in and out of the insane traffic (motor bikes wedged in between cars between bikes between cows) - it all seemed very surreal.

Anyways...I'm looking forward to completing Michael's piece soon. We only have 10 days until our performance. I think I will need a vacation after this trip has ended! Ha ha!

Ciao for now,

R.