Laura’s Blog

After my ten days of diving while on vacation in Raja Ampat, having a scuba tank on my back 25 times, my lower back began to complain. I pretty much used mind over matter to ignore it while I was diving and with my kids, but by the time I got to Bali, I couldn’t […]

One of the favorite assignments I give my writing students requires a bit of sacrifice: waking up at 4:30 in the morning, meeting at 5:00 and walking down Monkey Forest Road, one long city block to the morning market. In the early morning, starting at 4, this market is where the local women come to

#1 Ubud, Bali #2 Ubud, Bali

When we got to Ubud today, I walked everyone into our new hotel, turned right around back out onto the crazy streets of Ubud, and one of our drivers, Budi, was waiting for me. Judy, who arranged our tour, had arranged for Budi to take me to the leather jacket store. I could have walked,

Pendet Dance – Ubud, Bali Baris Dance – Ubud, Bali

Photo by Marsha Morgan

You never know where our guide, Surya, will take us. Today, on a three-mile hike through the rice fields of Bugbug Village, we happened upon a little table covered with a dozen implements with wooden handles, the top part wrapped in newspaper and twine. What were they and why were they here? It ends up

Deep observation is an important part of the writer’s craft. If you can really notice the details and what you are seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, listening to, you can make your writing vivid and alive. Today’s exercise is one I repeat on every Write, Travel, Transform workshop: the 12-inch exercise. Each writer goes out to

Today we hiked three miles to Tenganan Village, one of the most ancient villages in Bali—dating back to the 7th century—and also one of the wealthiest. Tenganan is a village enclosed by four walls and four gates and its residents are not allowed to intermarry outside the village. Tenganan is primarily know for two things:

Here’s a little photo essay of our three/mile hike today to Tenganan Village. On the way we saw people repairing motorcycles by the side of the road, selling eggs, doing daily commerce. We heard endless roosters, barking packs of Bali dogs, scooter horns. We saw scooters carrying whole families, the mother driving, a barefoot older

For those of you who followed my last trip to Bali two years ago, you know that I had a major adventure getting a custom-made leather jacket custom made for me in Ubud. Well, that tailor did a fantastic job and made me a sleek, sexy black leather jacket. I’ve been wearing it and enjoying

Tonight, the last night before our guests arrive, Evelyn, my roommate and co-teacher, headed down the street to the town of Candidasa to look for a little gift for our students and because we heard there was a big religious festival tonight called Usabadamba. The Balinese, who mostly practice Bali-Hinduism, welcome Westerners to attend their

Poor me. It’s time to stop scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, hanging out with my kids, and writing my brains out. I’m now happily ensconced at the Lotus Bungalows, a much more upscale place to stay than the ashram. My favorite part is the fantastic outdoor shower in my room. The infinity pool, the ocean view,

On the little sheet of laminated paper that welcomed me to my room as a guest at the ashram, there was an offer of acupuncture. I found myself sitting next to the acupuncturist, a Balinese man about my age, at lunch yesterday. His English was flawless and when I found out he was the acupuncturist,

Before my group of 18 writers arrive at the end of the week, I booked myself several days at the Gedong Gandhi ashram in Candidasa, Bali. I’ve been writing 12 to 16 hours a day, alternating between my hammock and the little table outside my room. At night, I sleep surrounded by mosquito mesh in