Category Archives: √√

I like it – might not be awesome – but it was a good value for what I paid. You won’t be sorry.

Carnival Time in Berlin – Who Knew?


I couldn’t have planned the timing of our trip to Berlin better if I had tried – but I’m ahead of myself a bit. I’ll back-track and then move forward in time sequence.

Our landing in Berlin at the smaller airport of Schoenfield was uneventful – luggage arrived, bus to metro organized – no problems at all.

We opted to take the bus in all the way to Hermannplatz – we could have switched to the Metro – but riding the bus gave us time to get a feel for the outer limits of Berlin – probably the only time we’ll actually see where ‘real’ people live!

Once we arrived at Hermannplatz – finding the Cat’s Pajama’s hostel was also simple. And what a lovely hostel it is too. And yes – Pet very very friendly! But that doesn’t bother us a bit.

Our room is a small, but a very nicely located double -on the third floor with shower en-suite – Overall – it compares nicely to more expensive places – it even has a 27″ flat screen TV (not that we’ve even turned it on yet). First time I’ve seen that in a hostel. And at least every other day maid service. In a Hostel! Top that Marriot.

As expected – there’s a huge kitchen, 3 full fridges for people to store their food in – and there’s a party happening tonight. Free bratwurst and Free beer – all you can eat and drink.

Nice way to be welcomed to Berlin, eh?

Turns out that this is the start up to Whit Sunday – or Pentacost. The Intrepid Traveller knew this was a big deal in the Catholic Church – what we didn’t know is that it’s a big deal in the Hermannplatz area. Once a year – on this Sunday – there is a huge – huge – huge Parade! It starts at noon on Sunday – and lasts till 9:30 in the evening. Over a million people will be watching. And it all happens right outside the door to our hostel. It’s a diversity parade – if you have a group – you can join. The ‘floats’ and I use that term very generously – range from wagons pulled by the participants to highly decorated vans and trucks. The music is loud and raucous – the dancers in many cases barely clad. Head dresses and tail feathers with thongs of various sizes were the norm – not the exception. There were groups of drum core teams, there were lots and lots of folks representing various Native tribes – from all parts of the world. Africa, South America – you name it.

It was the Berlin version of Mardi Gras on a penny-wise budget – but playing to an audience of over a million. The Intrepid Traveller and I can’t think of anything in Montreal that would pull such a crowd.

Before the parade started – we had to go to church of course. I picked the Cathederal of Berlin – I mean – why not. And we picked High Mass. So we were treated to a full orchestra, a choir of about 30 young ladies and a male soloist, the church organ with it’s over 7000 pipes, the current arch-bishop of Berlin, 5 more priests, countless alter boys and girls, enough incense to full the huge church – and confirmation!

It dawned on me about 1/2 way thru that the only way to really enjoy church music is when it is played to an audience of devotees. And it is glorious. The building resonated with the music – the audience hung on every note. Magnificant.

So – Pentacost services, Carnival Parade – and for dinner – Doner and Pizza. Hey – it’s Berlin.

Signing off to plan tomorrow’s adventures.. The Soup Lady and the Intrepid Traveller.

On the road again…


Travel is one way to discover who you are when you are not at home!

This time the Intrepid Traveller and I are doing a city tour. For those who have faithfully followed our adventures around the world – you will know that this is a tad unusual. Generally we are more ‘country’ centric – rather than ‘city’ centric. But I can easily explain the difference.

Reason for city tour #1 – we’re getting older. I hate to admit it – but it’s much harder to visit a country than a city. More short stays are hard on old backs and tired knees.

Reason for city tour #2 – we really, really wanted to see one city in particular – St. Petersburg. I know tons of people who’ve been there – and I’ve never heard one of them say – we stayed too long in St. Petersburg. So we figure – 2 weeks is just about a minimum for a city that large, that unique, that different! We shall see of course.

Reason for city tour #3 – I will never be the only driver of a rental car again. Never. I’m a bus, metro, train kinda gal – renting cars with the expense and responsibility involved – nope. So moving between cities is going to be public transit – and in this case – plane!

So – our city tour is centered on 4 cities.

City #1 – Roissey en France. Yes – lowly little Roissey – hard by the Charles De Gaul Airport, and primarily known for it’s zillions of cheap bedrooms for tourists in transit – it’s our first stop. Ok – it’s really a transit city for us too – but we’re taking a full day to explore it before we move on.

City #2 – Berlin. Ah – the sausages – the pretzels – the beer. Well – since the Intrepid Traveller doesn’t ‘do’ beer – perhaps we’ll have to work around that highlight. And of course the Berlin Wall. Our real reason for including Berlin this time – it was on the Intrepid Traveller’s Hit List – and who am I to not want to fulfill her wishes?

City #3 – St. Petersburg. The point of the trip – the highlight, the raison d’etre. 2 weeks here to savor the sights, visit the museums, and go to the Theatre.

City #4 – Brussels. Why Brussels – well, we needed a city that Air Transact flew from non-stop in order to get the Intrepid Traveller back to Montreal. And we needed a city worth visiting, and we really didn’t want Paris. Option – Brussels. Besides – I hear Napoleon might be massing his troups to the south – who am I to avoid good battle?

So that’s the plan – let’s see how it all plays out.

Signing out to fly to Roissey en France (aka Charles De Gaul Airport) – The Soup Lady and the Intrepid Traveller.

9 Lessons on Feeding the Body – on the Cheap!


Ah restaurants! One of the intense joys, and most frightening aspects of extended travel in an unknown city is deciding where to eat. I’ve picked winners so good I was blown away – and losers so bad, I feared for my digestive system. But along my culinary journey into the unknown – I have learned some important lessons – which I happily share.

Lesson 1: Believe in the Impossible – I’m a budget traveler – which means I travel on under $50 a day – a seemingly impossible task actually. I’m definitely getting tired of reading how travel under $100 a day is impossible. Not true! I’ve done 8 big trips in the past 10 years – and trust me – budget travel is possible. You can try almost everything a country has to offer – aside from the seriously touristy junk – just by living more like locals – and less like accidental tourists. Just have faith.

Lesson 2: Grocery stores can be your Friends – Seriously – that’s where locals shop, right? And many grocery stores these days cater to locals who have no time to cook at home. Often you can score entire meals that just require a bit of re-heating – but are properly prepared, and come with friendly advice. In a grocery store in Thailand we happened on a clerk with time to spare – and she gleefully gave us a full guided taste tour of all the offerings! When she finished – we stuffed! Best Dinner, ever! Another advantage of grocery stores – price tags! So you know what things cost without having to bargain. That’s a lot easier on a poor language frustrated budget oriented foreigner. Yes you might get a bit better deal at the markets – but the advantage of knowing before you hit the cash that you’ve stayed on budget is a huge plus – particularly the first few days.

Lesson 3: NEVER eat in a restaurant with only tourists as guests. Consider – if all the restaurant is catering to are tourists – what does it say about their repeat clientele? If the locals are there – there must be a reason. My favorite places are filled with happy locals – I fondly remember a breakfast in Puerto Rico where the local police force were enjoying the Puerto Rico version of donuts and coffee. Hot food, quickly served, Delicious.

Lesson 4: Avoid Buffets like the Plague – I’ve never really understood Buffet eating. First off – I have a fairly tiny appetite – so I’ll never eat enough to make it worth the price. Second – who ever saw locals in a buffet? Even here in Montreal – I’m very picky about going to a buffet – and if I do – you can be sure it’s going to be amazing. Third – Hygene issues abound. People put their hands on the food – and then decide not to take it. Yuk. And they cough and sneeze and blow their noses right over what may become my dinner. Yuk again. Ordering from the kitchen doesn’t guarentee that hygene rules will be respected – but at least my food is only exposed to the kitchen staff and servers – and I can hope they have been well trained. Exceptions to this rule – I do like buffet breakfasts – particularly the ones included in my room rate. Why – because I love eating fruit and drinking unlimited cups of coffee!

Lesson 5: Never eat in an empty Restaurant. I mean – why would you want to go where no one else has gone. What does that say about food turn-over? Unless the kitchen is making the food literally to order – an empty restuarant means that the food is sitting, cooling down, increasing in bateria count – waiting for someone to enter. Nope – not for me. I want a restaurant with a good crowd – at least partly locals – and a positive vibe. I’ve traveled with people who feel sorry for the hostess of an empty restaurant – but not my style – and hardly my recommendation.

Lesson 6: Avoid Hostess out on the street trolling for customers. Come on – be serious – why do you think they are out there? Because business is great? I don’t think so. They are out there because business is bad, and they think this will improve matters. But I don’t want to eat where business is bad – nor do you!

Lesson 7: Share the meal. In Europe, at lunch time, restuarants will often have a 3 course special. The Intrepid Traveller and I have discovered that there is enough food in one 3 course lunch to serve us both. Problem – not all restaurants are willing to serve one ‘lunch’ for two people. So – we ask. I’m actually amazed when the host says – “No Problem” – but it happens more often than not. Result – Delicious food and on budget!

Lesson 8: Don’t be afraid to ‘eat in’. A bottle of wine (2 Euros in most of Italy), Sausage, cheese, bread… You are feeding the soul when you eat like this – and it’s easy on both the budget and the feet.

Lesson 9: Walk Out if you must. Oh – this is so hard for us to do. We try not to be trapped in places we can’t afford – but it has happened. And the trick is to realize that you are in the wrong place, appologize and leave. Yes – it’s embarassing – but at least you are being honest. Be sure to look a bit ashamed – I always imagine the other diners are feeling a bit sorry for you.

So – enough advice about feeding the body – although I can’t resist just reminding my loyal readers that the best advice ever is just to be curious – be willing to take chances, and follow the locals. Budget travel doesn’t have to be cheap travel – and you can eat really well if you find the right places!

Signing off – The Soup Lady

Trial and Tribulations of getting a Canadian Passport


It shouldn’t be hard to get a passport – right? You know who you are – they know who you are – job done. Like getting a driver’s license renewal when you are under 60 – what’s the big deal.

But here I sit in amongst over 50 people – similarly on hold – for someone to say – yup – you can get a passport. Worst part – it’s my 2nd long long sit for this benefit.

It all started 5 years ago – when I applied for Canadian Citizenship. After waiting, being interviewed, and waiting and waiting – I went on with my life – and planned a trip in the Spring of 2015.

Low and Behold – literally 5 years from the date of my original application – the Canadian Government decided to offer me the privedge of citizenship – so Wednesday last – I became Canadian.

Why is that an issue – Well – I have a trip planned. And while I can use my US passport to leave – if I want to return to Canada – my home, my house, my job – I need to prove that I’m acceptable. And during the citizenship process – they took away my Permanent Resident Permit.

No problem – as per the people I asked – just apply for a Canadian Passport. You’re a citizen!

Right – so online to find the form, fill it in, go to the office, be told that you didn’t have your guarentor sign your photos (hey – can’t you tell they are me? They were taken yesterday for goodness sake), leave, get them signed, come back – take a number again. Wait. Wait. Wait. During my first attempt – there were about 30 people waiting, and one person serving. Slow.

Finally – my turn. But you need the passport soon. We don’t do passports quickly here – you have to go to another office.

So – another office, another number, another wait. I’m surrounded by the Canadian Mosaic – Diversity is Us! There are several different numbering systems – A for simple, one person, new passport, B for multiple passports, F for just a question, D for difficult – involving legal documents. The numbers flash up on a screen over our heads – and if we aren’t quick enough when our number is called – the greeter hustles us along.

I think the greeter here must have trained at Walmart – or maybe SouthWest Airlines. He’s jovial and friendly – and frequently gets a burst of laughter out of what has to be the most somber crowd – Ever! A042 – Come on Down! D346 – You are going to miss your flight….

Eventually – job done. Money changes hands – and my passport will be ready the day before I leave.

That’s a comfort. After my travels – I’m going to be welcomed home!

Signing off – The Soup Lady

Choosing the Healthy Option


Since when is choosing the ‘healthly option’ showing Off?

I mean – if you opt to take the stairs rather than the escalator – as every single health expert and on-line column advices – why are you guilty of showing off.

Case in point – the Pork Whisper and I were in Montreal. The metro (aka underground) has 3 access methods – escalators, stair cases (often quite long as they depend on how underground the ‘Underground’ actually is), and occasionally elevators.

I always opt for the stairs – up and down – if I’m not feeling too tired. It’s basically good exercise. I don’t even think about it really – stairs – take them.

So – 2 days ago – the Pork Whisper and I were taking the metro and I opted for the stairs up. And she suggested I only did it because I wanted to show off. Apparently she had spotted an older woman who was gingerly walking to the elevator and decided that I had seen her too. So suddently what I was doing for exercise became showing off.

Hmmm.

Do I sometimes make the same mistake? See someone doing something and assume reasons for their behavior that actually have no basis in reality? I’ll bet I do!

Case in point – just now I was walking to get in line for the bus – and clearly wasn’t moving fast enough for a young man behind me. He scooted around me – and got in line ahead of me. So Rude.

But is that what really happened? Did he even see me? Did he just see the line forming and realized he needed to hustle to make the bus? Is my ‘he cut me off’ assumption as empty and unrealistic and as ungrounded in truth as the assumption that my taking the stairs was showing off?

Well – either way – I’m still taking the stairs as long as time and health permit.

Show off – or not!

Signing off – The Soup Lady

Women in Bali use their heads – Literally!


Women in Bali carry everything on their heads – sometimes using caps that provide a flat surface, and sometimes it appears as if there is simply a rag between their hair and the object to be carried.

I’ve seen women carrying water bottles – just one. Clearly it’s easier to walk if your hands are free. I’ve seen and photographed women carrying 45 kg, 100 lb bags of cement and/or sand on their heads – as they navigate tiny passageways and staircases. I’ve seen women carrying tree trunks, stacks of bamboo logs, baskets with unknown contents. I’ve even seen men with wheelbarrows holding exactly the same thing that a woman behind them has on her head. Bottom line – woman in Bali use their heads the way we’d use backpacks, wheelbarrows and lift trucks!

And one thing you don’t see in Bali – ladies with widow’s humps – the sure sign of osteoporosis. Clearly – standing absolutely upright your entire life is good for the spine!

Most commonly, and certainly most photogenically – It’s the ladies with their offerings on their heads on their way to the ever on-going festivals that captured my attention. It’s easy to wonder where that stuff is kept when it’s not on your head or in the temple – and so of course – I asked.

When we went to visit Diana’s home – we explored their back rooms to see what they stored where – and the truth is that most of the storage place is occupied by the items required for these offerings.

Stacks of banana palm leaves, officially made baskets – either from the more solid rattain, or the younger lighter cheaper version – palm fronds, and several of those gaily painted wooden platters that nested and I’m guessing – stacked. What you didn’t see is what we’d be storing in the same space – bags of rice, bunches of cans of this and that, boxes of cereal. In fact – there was almost no food at all stored in the kitchen – which explains the daily shopping habits! Our hosts explained that they had gone out that morning to buy the food stuff for lunch. It’s not totally about the money either – I think keeping the insect population in check has to figure into the decision not to keep bags of raw rice in the house.

Diana also explained that generally – meals are not eaten together. Woman prepare the food in the morning – and leave it out during the day. Members of the family – and extended family – just walk in to the kitchen area when they are hungrey and help themselves. The only problem? A 4 year old nephew who’d discovered Diana’s love of ice cream and was now tall enough to reach into the freezer.

But back to the heads – Most women carried at all times a small round basket shaped item – which it turns out is the cushion on which you balance things on your head. If you look at the images – you can see woman shading their faces from the sun with those baskets – and then in the picture of the parade of women going to the temple with offerings – the same baskets now used to protect their heads.

It’s not that you don’t see Western influences in Bali – you do. But you can also see people practicing the traditional behaviors as well – and that is what made Bali so wonderful – look and you can find farmers tilling their rice fields the old fashioned way, brides getting married in outfits so splendid it took your breathe away, and lots and lots of woman – using their heads.

Signing off – The Soup Lady

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Suggestion 1 – How to Travel far from the ‘Madding Crowd’


I’m been thinking a lot about different ways to travel – and I have some suggestions on how to make your travel experiences different (if you want it that way) – so head’s up These suggestions are coming your way.

Suggestion #1 – Pick an interesting place to go!

In other words – Get out of your comfort zone.

I once attended a lecture on Eco-Travel – and the speaker suggested that there are 3 ways to travel – The Accidental Tourist, The Eco-Traveler, and The Adventure Traveler.

To his mind – the Accidental Tourist wants home in some other place. Same pillows, same bed, same AC, same food – just a different local. Not my way of travelling of course, but I admit to a touch of envy of those to whom this method works. It’s so easy! Cruise Ships are the ideal for this of course – one room that is yours for the entire trip, a different place to quickly check out each day – but no fear. Nothing really surprising is going to happen – well, maybe the restaurant on board you want that night is booked – but nothing truly annoying.

The Adventure traveller is also not quite ‘me’ anymore. I’m too old to take serious chances – I’m not going to climb Everest, I’m not likely to want to kayak up the Amazon, and I’m certainly not going to sleep on the ground if I can help it. Nope – I draw the line at not having my own toilet. The days of climbing ladders in the middle of the night to go to the oh so public bathroom are behind me – I’m a fan of ending the day in a place I can call my own. But again – I envy those who are willing and able to do serious adventure travel – 24 hours on a train in 3rd class sounded like a lot of fun when I was 55 – but it’s not going to work now that I’m 66. Nope – train travel, while huge fun, is no longer on my bucket list.

Which of course leaves the 3rd option – Eco-Travel. Going off the beaten route a bit – for longer – but not crazy. I chatted yesterday with a gal who hated Bali. She had taken a cruise ship that included Bali – and spent 5 hours on the island. Long enough to find out that the main city is just a big main city – and not nearly enough time to experience any of the magnificent culture, see any of the real rain forest (it’s about 4 hours inland from the port – trust me – she didn’t get there), nor even enough time to decently visit a museum or eat a good meal. 5 hours on an island isn’t even enough time to walk past the touristy shops that clog the area near the port. I don’t blame her for not loving Bali – but I do think she should have realized that the issue isn’t Bali – it’s the result of being an Accidental Tourist!

Ok – so where to go, and how long to stay. The 2nd question is the easiest to answer – as long as possible of course. But I’m guessing like me, my readers have lives outside of travel – and there’s a limit to what you can and can not do. So my suggestion – a week is a bare minimum. If there’s a guide-book to your destination that’s thicker than a 1/2″ – you are going to need a week. If the guide-book runs over an inch in thickness – 2 to 3 weeks is a much better plan.

The guide-book for Bali was about 3/4 of an inch thick – but the culture was so unique and wonderful that 3 weeks was really cutting it short.

So – optimum – 1 week to 3 weeks if work schedule allows. Per city. Not per trip. Don’t try to see a city in a day. Impossible to meet anyone in under a day – isn’t going to happen. And it’s meeting people who live where you are the tourist that makes fun stuff happen!

Now – as to the where… Ah – the Where. My next trip is to 3 cities – none of which are on the ‘unusual’ list – but all 3 of which offer tons of things to see and to do. I’m going to Berlin for a week, St. Petersburg, Russia for 3 weeks, and then Brussels for a week. Not as adventuresome as Bali perhaps – but giving these 3 cities enough time will, I hope, result in interesting experiences.

Time will tell

Signing off – The Soup Lady

The Dogs of Ubud


And I thought St. Croix had a problem with dogs. Ubud makes St. Croix look dog free!

There are dogs everywhere you look – and as far as I can tell – not a dog license to be seen. They don’t look unhealthy – anything but actually. But then there are offerings left out on the road in front of every house often enough to keep just about anyone healthy, although there is generally no meat involved. I guess the dogs around here must eat the rice.

Joking – I know dogs aren’t vegetarians!

On a more serious note – there really are a lot of dogs running around – and there are 2 in particular that we must pass on our walk back to The Lady in Pink’s palace. Kinda scary actually. Despite having seen us walk by every day for weeks – they still snarl and bark. And if they have owners (I’m not sure) – no one has ever come out to say shhh. They do always run back into the same Compound after warning us to stay clear of their home – a challenge given that the walkway is quite literally 4 feet wide, and boarded on one side by high walls and the other by a fence around another home.

Last night was the worst – I was actually pretty concerned – and after we passed the dog – I used my flashlight to keep him lit so he knew that we were still watching him.

I’m thinking about a walking stick…

But I know I’m not alone with my worry and concern. In one of the magazines given to tourists is a 1/4 page ad for – BARC – Bali Dog Adoption and rehabilition Center. It’s dedicated to re-homing Bali Street Dogs!

One of the issues, I believe, is related to the Compounds – family and related folks sharing one entrance off the road – with many people living together. Our driver, Diana, told me that in his compound are over 50 people – his parents, sisters and brothers, wives and husbands, and of course the children. It’s a village inside a common doorway off the main road of a village – Kinda nice if you think about it. According to Diana – source of all local knowledge – in some compounds there is a family kitchen, in other compounds each family has their own kitchen. But in all cases – money is pooled among all the family members – an extended family commune arrangement.

Back to the dogs – According to Diana, all the dogs belong to someone – or at least to some compound. But since there are so many people sharing the common living space, the exact ownership is unclear. I guess it’s like a child – when he behaves well, he’s mine. When he behaves poorly – he’s yours!

And if the dog is off the compound – doing what dogs do – there’s apparently little or no supervision. I’ve never seen a dog on a leash here – and that includes in stores and restaurants. I also never see dog poo – but I think that’s related to all the ladies going out every morning to sweep their section of the roadway.

Interested in learning more about what BARC is doing for the dogs of Ubud? Check out this website:

http://www.barc4balidogs.org

I’m seriously thinking about getting a walking stick.

Appreciation note for April 3rd? A big Thank you to my husband – who has the confidence in me to let me go off on these crazy adventures – and always welcomes me back home with open arms.

Signing off – The Soup Lady

Doing your Laundry – Balinese Style


When I travel with the Intrepid Traveller – we always carry a clothes line and soap – and do our ‘laundry’ almost every night. Thank goodness for Tilly Clothing – you need stuff that will dry quickly – and Tilly totally does the trick.

But here in Ubud in particular – and Bali in general – laundry places abound. There is one in every village – and almost one on every street corner. They are more popular – and certainly easier to spot – then proper petrol stations!

Blessing note – I saw them doing prayers for both the washers and dryers yesterday – so just like cars and motorbikes – apparently any machine that you count on – needs to be rid of evil spirits.

So of course – I had to try it out. And I admit to becoming adicted. Ok – color me blonde – but here was my latest laundry list:

8 t-shirts
2 trousers
3 under shorts (I think they mean – underware)
1 dress (actually – I think this actually was a longer t-shirt – but I’m not going to argue)
4 Bras

Total cost – for everything – $3.60

Keep in mind that not only do they wash and dry the clothes – they iron them. I saw them ironing my bras – I’m not kidding. And they give you same day service – bring your clothes in by 9:00 am – they are ready by 5:00 pm.

These people work amazing hours – and as far as I can tell – 7 days a week. They might be closed on Sunday – its a bit hard to be sure because we just finished Nyepi – and of course they were closed.

Now that’s what I call service – If we could get our laundry done at home for that price – who would ever buy a washer and dryer!

One fast note about petrol stations – there appear to be 2 kinds of stations – ones that look like ones at home for cars – and street vendors selling gasoline in glass 1 litre jugs. I’m guessing those are for motorbikes – not that i’ve seen a motor bike pull up to one of these street vendors and fill up. And speaking of motor bikes – The Lady in Pink says that when she was here 13 years ago – there were no cars, some motor bikes and tons of bicycles. Today there are tons of cars – about three times as many motor bikes as cars – and almost no bikes. I actually have seen 5 bikes in 2 weeks – and 3 of them were being ridden by serious long distance bikers like you see in California. The other 2 were school kids.

Photo preview of tomorrow’s Blog – market day and view of Mt Agung – Bali’s active volcano. A must see – must photograph view!

Signing off to bring the laundromat more laundry – The Soup Lady

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Math at the Yellow Flower – Ubud, Bali


Food in Ubud is dirt cheap by Western standards – seriously really really cheap. Dinner for under $10 isn’t a surprise – it’s the norm. The last time I remember seeing these kinds of bargain prices was in Laos.

But just because the prices are reasonable doesn’t translate to great food everywhere – there are clearly pecking orders – and so far we’ve eaten in 2 restaurants – The Yellow Flower and The Yoga Barn’s Garden Grill.

First the Yellow Flower. It’s in a great location for us – seriously close to where we are living, just an open air space with a kitchen smaller than mine at home and about 10 tables. Max. There is one waitress – maybe 2 (there’s one gal that triples as cook, bartender and waitress.). The rest of the staff (another 2?) does the cooking and I’m guessing the washing of dishes. Never actually saw that happening!

Anyway – we ordered a dish described as 7 Indonesian Dishes in one – turns out it was a sampler platter – served with 1/2 red, 1/2 white rice. It was delicous – and enough for 2 considering The Lady in Pink and I had agreed that we definitely wanted to try the 1/2 coconut dessert – which was bananas, coconut and a carmel sauce. It was quite tasty. In fact the entire meal was delicous. So where does the math come in? We first noticed a dog that relieved himself on every chair at any empty table. No one else seemed aware of this – which says something about the dog population of Ubud. Anyway – because we were watching the table – we noticed a man and his 2 young kids take a chair there. We started to chat – and the younger of the kids says something funny – so I ask his age. He’s 6. He immediately asks me my age – and I answer truthfully – 66. Then I ask him – how much older am I than you are. He thinks a bit – and comes up with 60. Pretty good!

Then here comes the challenge – I turn to his older sister and ask – what year will it be when your brother is half my age now. Blank stares. What is this lady thinking. Then she says – 33. Very good – that’s 1/2 my age. But what year will it be when your brother is that old?

The Lady in Pink and I, our jobs done here, leave stage right.

Now – the Garden Grill. You must understand that the Yoga Barn is the premier place to do holistic healings, yoga, meditation and the like in Ubud – which is a center for that stuff to start with. So the Yoga Barn is the center of the center – it’s a big deal.

And it is huge – the Garden Grill alone is probably 50 tables – there were at least 4 waitress – and it was 30 minutes to closing time. We get seated and handed menus (in English) and my jaw drops. There is something I don’t recognizee in every dish. Clearly these guys are the vegan, rushi, healthy body eathing specialist – but for some one just looking for dinner – the task is daunting. I end up by asking the adorable waitress – Do you have something for beginners – like beginners Yoga?

Yes – they do. The waitress recommends that we try the Balinese Pumpkin Stew. I do – it was great.

Our drinks where to my mind less successful. I got a mint lime slush – thinking it would be mostly shaved ice – nope. And very minty. We decided to try the vegan ice cream, it’s made out of coconut milk – should be yummy – but despite our ordering it in plenty of time, it never arrives. Oh well – a reason to go back I suppose.

I’ve heard good things about several other eating establishments – and I’m going to give them a try. But probably without the math quiz.

Signing off – the Soup Lady.