Bali Revisited...

The following is printed with the permission of our driver whilst in Bali, KETUT SURYADI, who was responsible for making that day in Bali three weeks ago one of the more memorable days on the trip so far.

First, a little preamble... [what did you expect? This is Doug!]

After our visit to Bali, I published our day's adventure in the blog, mentioning our driver, KETUT SURYADI'S name.

After that blog was posted I received an email from our friend at Canada Ticket, Luci.

Luci, an avid 'blogee', had just finished reading a book that went into detail about how some families in Bali name their children. The first-born is given the first name WAYAN, the second MADE, third, NYOMAN, fourth  KETUT. So, as you can imagine there are many people with the same name. 

The author explained the difficulties of having many people with the first name. To define, and avoid confusion, sometimes descriptive characteristics are added to that name, informally of course. For example if a person was a bit 'dull' they may be known by the adjective stupid as well as their name. The result would be 'stupid-Ketut' , or  'stupid-Ketut-who-burned-his-uncle's-house-down' , if indeed he had burned his uncle's house down. [This is a direct quote from the book, 'Eat, Pray, Love'].

Luci was pleased to see the actual reportings of something that she had just read about in her book, and made a comment on the blog website.

Luci's note was so touching and appropriate that I made it the subject of yet another blog.

Ketut should be known as 'Astute Ketut' because on the day we were with him he asked how he could read the blog. We gave him our calling card, and apparently has been reading the blog ever since and appears to enjoy it. However, he wants the world to know... no, I will let you read his email, received the other day, which he was kind enough to send me. 


From: Ketut Suryadi
Date: March 4, 2008
To: Robin's Group
Subject: Hi from Bali...

Hi dough + Pty ( Robin's Group ),

I am Ketut your driver in Bali. hope you guys still remember me.
How's your Holiday???
Hopefully everything's Ok and you have fun.
Herewith i want to say thank you for your visited in Bali, you are all very kind i am very glad to know you.
Hopefully sometime we can meet again.

i always read your Blogs, that's very nice. so i know what you did and where you are now.
There is only one make me LOL [laugh out loud, Ed.] is "Ketut may be known as Stupid-Ketut-Who-Burned-Down-His-Uncle's-House". 

i always laughing when i read that one.
Thanks but i am not kind of that one, that very very funny.

that's for now..
please keep in touch
Take care & regards

Ketut Suryadi


Thank you again Astute Ketut, for adding to the enjoyment of our trip, and giving permission to post your e-mail.

PS Somewhere prior to Bali, I became known as Dough.

The picture shows part of the group, appropriately attired visiting a temple with Ketut.