“The best memoirs, I think, forge their own forms. The writer of any work, and particularly nonfiction work, must decide two crucial things: what to put in and what to leave out.” —Annie Dillard, An American Childhood If you were to write the story of your life today, what would you put in and what […]
Leaving Out What Isn’t a Story Read More »
August 18, 2025 Joanie had quite a shock when she went down for breakfast today at our hotel. As soon as she was served, this fellow swooped over like he owned the place and stole her breakfast, not once but twice: In response to the monkey’s incursions, this Balinese man took up arms to scare
August 18, 2025 Every time I lead a writing retreat or a travel writing trip, I keep a running list of things that could be improved or tweaked the next time I offer it. It might have to do with a problem that occurred, a day that didn’t work as well as it might have,
The Real Truth About Spas in Bali Read More »
For me, one of the highlights of this trip to Bali is the purification ritual we do in the fresh spring waters of Pura Mengening (pure water) Temple. This temple has been used for purification by the Balinese since the 11th century. For starters, the setting is spectacular. We left our hotel early and drove
Purification in a Holy Spring Read More »
I love the diversity and similarities of these adorned statues in the breezeway to the rooms of the Swasti Eco Lodge in Ubud, where most of our group is staying for this middle section of our journey. Here is my writing student, Vicki Wynn, posing with her new spirit guide.
Statues and Offerings at Swasti Eco Cottages Read More »
Yesterday, we moved from a quiet, seaside resort in Candidasa to the bustling city of Ubud, packed with cars, motor scooters, shops, museums, coconut ice cream parlors, art galleries, spas, motorcycle repair shops, license plate shops, and just about anything else you’d want in a small city. We’re staying just outside Ubud in a lovely
A Spellbinding Performance of Kecak and a Fire Dance Read More »
August 15, 2025 I posted this story in last year’s Virtual Vacation blog. I hope you enjoy this inspiring story. Today we left our beautiful, peaceful resort on the shores of the Indian Ocean and drove to Ubud for the middle section of our trip, which focuses on seeing local healers, experiencing traditional purification rituals,
Putu’s Impossible Dream Read More »
August 14, 2025 One of the first things you notice in Bali is that many so people share the same name. Your driver is named Wayan but so is your waitress and so is the clerk who sells you a sarong in a shop. Or over the course of a couple of days you may
August 13, 2025 After a rich and emotional writing class this morning and some time to rest, we set out to visit one of my favorite sites in eastern Bali, a place I never get tired of: Tirta Ganga, a magnificent water palace built in 1946 by the last Raja of Karangasem. Tirta Ganga is
August 12, 2025 After we spent the morning floating on the surface of the Indian Ocean with masks and flippers, watching lots of colorful fish, our group returned for lunch and a lecture on customs and manners in Bali. We learned why you never touch a Balinese person on the head, why you never point
The Writing Circle Opens Read More »
“The beginning of human knowledge is through the senses, and the fiction writer begins where human perception begins. He appeals through the senses, and you cannot appeal through the senses with abstraction.” —Flannery O’Connor, Mysteries and Manners Describe a morning in your life primarily through your sense of smell. Repeat, describing the same morning, primarily
Following the Senses Read More »
August 11, 2025 When I realized that more than half the group would be arriving at our first hotel early, before the official arrival date for our retreat, I set up an optional class for this morning on the making of Balinese daily offerings, known as Canang Sari. These offerings are one of the first
Blessings on Our Retreat Read More »
August 10, 2025 Joanie and I went to Ubud today to meet with Surya and visit the two healers that our group will be meeting for treatments midway through our retreat. One focuses more on physical problems of the muscles and bones and the other more with spiritual/energetic blockages. I’ve been treated by both of
What I Saw, What I Felt Read More »
August 9, 2025 When Joanie was still up in the air, somewhere between San Francisco and Taipei on the first leg of her journey, I texted her and told her I was buying her a spa package the morning after she arrived in Bali. This is a description of what I booked for her: AROMATIC
August 8, 2025 Today was my first day since I’ve come to Bali that I had a to-do list: I spent a few hours procrastinating before I got to the top two items on my list. I’m engrossed in a gripping novel (Tilt by Emma Patee) and I kept having to just read a few
