The first meeting of the conference.

Today I got to meet the other delegates and facilitators for the Bali conference. In the Media "pod," I have the pleasure to be accompanied by an American Indigenous poet, and her poet daughter, a Balinese scholar, a professional training facilitator from Comcast..wow! Cool people. During introductions, we went around the circle and were asked, where do you come from, and what do you love about your home community? For me the answer was easy: "I love the intelligence and humor of my community of friends. Some of them may even be described as "cynical" -- but this only belies their generosity, and belief in possibility. In fact, it is because of my friends and family that I am here today."
I mean it, guys. THANKS.

Monkey Morning

Anyone who knows me will be shocked to hear that I happily awoke before the dawn today. Happily. The sounds of the jungle birds, bugs, and yes roosters, are just too enticing. This morning I looked up at the silhouette of a huge tree, and saw a huge monkey hanging from its feet, shoving leaves into his mouth. I later did a similar thing but with my banana coconut pancakes.

Honey, we need roosters.

Last night, checked into a homestay, called "Suwastika Homestay, NO. 9." If you are curious about the "swastika," post your comments please, and I can explain. There are lots of suastikas here. Anyway... lovely old couple run the joint. I couldn't get to sleep, though, even though it was late. Too excited, full moon, and a bit empty bellied. So I went on a long "jalan-jalan" through these familiar streets. It was like falling back into a familiar dream. So little has changed here since 7 or so years ago that I last visited. I had no problem orienting myself, and amazingly the giant run-off holes every 12 feet in the side walks actually had grills in them, versus being deep death pits like they once where.. Anyway, I realized in the moonlight that this place truly and literally has inhabited my dreams, so I visited some of the blocks and corners that I tend to see most in my head. And there they were. I also found a little cafe that served me the most delightful arugula salad with seared peppered tuna, and an ice cold bir bintang.. Ya. life is good. When I got back home and into bed, I slept soundly for the first time in so long I can't remember. I awoke suddenly, and my first thought was that I heard a crowd of frat boys drunkenly "WOOOO HOOO'ing! I was annoyed. Then I realized-- ROOSTERS. everywhere, roosters. But this time I was thankful for the alarm. Had my egg jaffle, bowl of bananas, papaya, pineapple and lime, kopi manis.. and now a little internet time before the conference planning begins tomorrow. I only wish I had my sweetie (and many/any of you wonderful friends) here to share this dreamreality with me.

Su - Karno, Su - Kosta

Our host from the airport was a charming man named Sukosta. He leaned backwards from the front seat with the driver, and began giving the tired and bewildered conference passengers a lesson in everything Bali. I couldn't resist his enthusiasm, and was asking him questions in Indonesian. I asked his name again, because I forgot it. He began to explain: "'SU' - 'means Good', Like "Su - Karno", our Indonesian prrrresident, who was Good. Karno - Listener, because he listen to the People." (Indonesians rrrrolll their rrrrs). I heard myself talk over him to ask, what does Kosta mean, what is SuKosta's name meaning? Ila. Bad. Listener. It was so ironic. And a goooooood lesson for this girl as she embarks on a journey to learn from others...

shaking with excitement

When I (FINALLY!!!) disembarked at the Bali Denpasar airport, the air was at last warm and moist, after all those hours of airport and airplane "air." I met a couple of conference participants who sat by me on the final leg, two nice women from Northern CA, and was chatting a bit while we waited in line for customs, and I realized, I was shaking. My heart was racing. I wanted to burst out of my skin into the evening with my mouth full of Bahasa Indonesia. The first to get it was the customs officer. He gave me the expected 20 questions... (oh, you already are smart speak indonesian how long when where do you have a husband yet). I was full of glee at the perfectly expected-ness of it all.

keep the moon on your left.

The full moon beamed down into my window seat... for over 15 hours. That's a long night. The airplane was out-running the sunrise. Finally, somewhere around Hong Kong, the morning light caught up with us, and beamed through mushroom clouds of pink lightning. But that was just half way..

thinkin bout the plums..

When I left on my first leg of this 30 plus hour journey (I don't remember it being this long...) what i was thinkin about was the plums. The plums in our front yard. If you live in Portland, please come to our house, and pick some plums for me while I'm gone. They turn a smokey blue when they are ready to be plucked, and give slightly to the touch. They are candy sweet, transluscent red and pink inside, with a crazy-tart skin. I leave home just when they are ready. Sometimes timing is everything.

did you hear about the earthquake?

Click here for the CNN report plus a map. Don't worry, Bali is nowhere near the epicenter. But when I arrive there will be another kind of earthquake, yo! An earthquake of awesome-ness! : )

see me featured in the World Pulse Spotlight...

Click here..and scroll down a little..

Forty-eight hours or so..

The countdown begins...

I am leaving for Bali on Friday night, July 27th! Any moment now the buzz and chatter in my head is going to cease, and I'll let myself get very very excited about it!

I have just a few requests from my wonderful friends before I go. No, I'm not asking for more money. Totally covered. (THANKS again).

What I'd like...

1. A great book to read on my 30 plus hours of flying and stop-overing! My general criteria: something adventurous/soul seeking/phenonemenal; nothing too dark or that ends in everyone dying (dwelling in possibility, remember?), having to do with travel and/or SE Asia is a plus but not required, and if you know me, you know that if it's not reasonably well-written by literary standards, it's hard for me to swallow, so no sweet valley high type of pulp, please!
Send me your titles, or, if possible by Friday, send me a book!

2. Next request... the Conference group has asked us to bring a poem or song or performance piece to share with the group. I fear this request. First of all, hello, terrifying, and second of all... I can't decide! If you have a short, positive, beautiful quote that fits with the theme of inspiring positive change and leadership globally... lay it on me!

3. Another special something -- there will be a unique Peace Altar in Bali, and we are asked to bring a little poem or work of art or special item that holds deep meaning to you. If you would like to leave a little piece of love in Bali, send it my way! (If you email something, I will print it out and take it).

4. My only other request.. Please keep watching the ilabali blogspot during the next few weeks! I know it's not much to look at now, but I am planning to populate it with all kinds of neat stuff about the conference, the people I meet and interview.. and I plan to add digital pics and sound as I gather them. How bout that?