Dear Dough, Fellette and Moe,
Just wanted to write to tell you about the book that I am reading --- it is a non-fiction writing about an American lady who has left everything behind and is on a journey to discover who she is --- I know, I know, you are rolling your eyes --- but read on --- She started out in Italy for several months (to appreciate the pleasures of the food, the culture and the beautiful language), moved on to India to live in an Ashram to study the art of meditation and then moved to Bali for 4 months to continue meditating (she talks about extending her restricted 1 month stay to 4 months --- goes a little into the corrupt system ) --- but here is where it gets interesting
She is living in a rental in the town of Ubud - beautiful place that it is --- and talks about the people --- the Balinese name their children (boy or girl), wait for it, only 4 names --- Wayan, Made, Nyoman and Ketut --- they represent the position in the family --- Wayan is first born, Made is second born and so on --- if they have more than 4 children - they start the cycle over again - child 5 would be called "Wayan to the Second Power". They identify who they are talking about by adding some well-known characteristic --- this is a quote from the book --- "Wayan owns a cafe - so she is known as Cafe Wayan" - and so forth --- she goes on to say that "Ketut may be known as Stupid-Ketut-Who-Burned-Down-His-Uncle's-House".
Different castes have their own set of names (Ketut is not of the higher-caste elite) --- but in Bali, personal names are for identifying where they fit into their family. It is not unusual for a male 'Wayan' to marry a female 'Wayan' and , of course, their first child would be called 'Wayan'. At this point, I'm not impressed - sounds a little far-fetched and lacking in imagination to me ------sooo, you can understand how excited I was to read that your guide's name was Ketut --- I guess he would be known as 'Driver Ketut' . I didn't recognize the name 'Komang' -- he may have been the owner from a higher caste.
The author talks about having a 'multi-vitamin lunch' everyday at the cafe owned by the woman named Cafe Wayan --- her business is called 'Traditional Balinese Healing Centre' --- easy to recognize by all the potted plants around the door and the huge blackboard sign advertising her 'Multivitamin Lunch Special' --- she is a healer and serves healthy food. If you can tell me that you had lunch there --- it would be beyond funny -- ha ha
I am tuned in daily, enjoying the pictures of you all --- Bali looks wonderful.
and Dough --- nice skirt!!
Name witheld by Dough
No we did not eat at the multi-vitamin lunch cafe, but... at our original table our waiter was Made. [pronounced 'maday', like mad with an a after it. I suppose he would be 'Made of the ship', or 'Made the rich one', or 'Made who is never home'
I believe the name of the book is Eat, Pray, Love. I was telling our table-mates about the e-mail and they had both recently read the book.
You have good taste Luci. [Oops!]
CHANGE IN SUBJECT: There is a fair amount of discussion on board today about Brunei. One gentleman went on a tour and he said that all he saw was wealth beyond comprehension, yet he spoke to a lady that went on her own, or at least on a different tour, and was amazed at the poverty!
Thank you Sultan! Guess who has the wealth? Apparently the Sultan gets 1/2 of the proceeds per barrel from Shell Oil. His wealth is accumulating at about $15,000,000 per day.
The photos below show the two faces of Brunei...
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