Happy New Year!

Our day began like any other but ended with the end of the world. We left the house by late morning to head down to the bridge in the hopes of finding a trail to see rice terraces. I use the word 'down' literally because our villa is situated at the top of the Penastanan Steps. Penanstanan refers to the name of next village and Steps refers to the 100+ irregular increments strewn with fallen vegetation and covered in slippery moss that the locals call steps. It's not as bad as I make it sound and it certainly exudes local charm especially with the many hanging vines draping down to the ground. The boys have no problem with running up and down the steps - well Frunty at least has no problem. Pit complains about going up because some steps are as high as the knee bend point of his little legs and so I end up carrying him on my back.

At the bottom of the Steps is a local shop selling bracelets and necklaces made of small wood, glass and shell beads, so our hike to the rice paddies didn't get off to a fast start because we stopped to shop. The boys especially like choosing necklaces and bracelets and Pit was excited about his shark tooth acquisition.

Eventually we made it to the start of the walking trail but didn't get very far before stopping to admire a mother hen sitting on 7 tiny chicks. Just beyond the hen is a temple hidden by the overgrown jungle but marking the trail to the hills beyond and the rice paddies. At the top of the ridge, we were stopped by a 1-eyed man selling coconuts who thrust the refreshing drink into our hands. We scrambled some small cash to pay him a fair price and then everyone except Pit continued walking along the ridge.

Pit was on strike and refused to go any further. Luckily he paused in the shade and then suddenly without much warning, he scooted off to rejoin the group so fast that I was left alone wondering what had happened. At the end of the ridge, at the top of a hill is a village with some gentle terraces for the rice paddies. The boys and I walked along the edge of a terrace and Frunty made the comment that maybe it's a little too scary for Pit. Pit said, "nooo.." And we continued along until he toppled over the edge and down the tall side of the terrace. Luckily, the height was not so steep as in other places, but it was still a good fall as he went over the edge bum first into the slimy mud. Pit's pride was hurt more than his bottom.

We rinsed him off and headed back to town where we split up and the Mommy and I went to a local eatery called Warung Teges for some good food and afterwards some grocery shopping. We needed to get supplies because later it would be the end of the world. After a short cool down period in the pool, we went back to town to witness it happening.

In Ubud town centre, great platforms supporting hideous statues of creatures, the agoh-agoh, were paraded along the street carried by troupes of young men. The monsters symbolize the end of the world together with the noise of firecrackers and the playing of gamelan music.

After the end of the world comes the Silent Day symbolizing a new beginning. On this day there is no talking, no electric lights, no music, no leaving the house, and even no eating. It is the great void before the world begins. Luckily, this is just symbolism and we can summarize everything in a single phrase: Happy New Year!