More Ubud

Simon met with Yande the following day to scope out Yande's capabilities and get to know him. That day was pretty relaxing while Kate and I wandered around the small shops, trying on unique clothing and went yet again for another stroll to the countryside; It was hard to resist being right close outside town. It was mostly the same small countryside roads we had taken before, but it never got old. It was so nice to take an hour or so at most and cruise out to the rice fields and rolling hills. We also were on the search for a good place to practice Yoga and had seen a glimpse of a small sign right off the side of one of the country roads that looked appealing some trip before. We spent a while searching remembering it was close by, but couldn't find it for the life of us. A few wrong turns and then some back tracking brought us right back to where we started. It was a small sign right under some branches that was hard to see if you weren't really paying close attention. We pulled in to a gravel parking lot with a large rottwieler in a metal barred cage. It was an Ashram that we had found, or a religious retreat site. A beautiful statue with glimmering colors stood high among an archway. It was very quiet and we proceeded down a small stairway path not knowing if anyone was around. Large rice fields were directly to our left, and small beautiful waterways with greenery all around was to our right. We came to a very small gift shop just outside the temple where a couple locals were hanging out. We asked about the yoga courses and if we could take a look at where they took place. We took off our shoes as one does always before entering an ashram and walked under an small archway into the small courtyard.
This was the first ashram I had ever been too. Statues of serpents stood in small man made pools near stairs that lead up to the temple. Ahead of us was a large tiled building with no walls but supported by columns. It looked just like a place for meditation, or yoga classes and indeed that's exactly what it was for. Below us, a short walk away was another building quite similar but with a wood floor. It reminded me of something out of the movie "The Karate Kid", where old Chinese martial arts masters would teach their students, and the setting nearly matched perfectly. We walked down the stone stairs and over a small bridge that arched over a calm creek. A big stone carved alligator sat half submerged in the pool. It was green everywhere with old brick walls with inlets for small religious statues. I felt like we should have been wearing gi's or karate uniforms to be walking around the area, and especially standing on the giant square wooden floor. That or some kind of religious robes would have fit perfectly. We checked out the time schedules and planned to come back for a beginner course in yoga the following day at 5:00 pm.
I was excited to get back and see what had been done to Simon. Maybe Yande had already started on his tattoo, or maybe Simon may have decided that he was not the right person for the job. We met back up at the hotel and not many words were exchanged before Simon raised his shirt showing us the progress of his pursuit. A giant old fashioned pirate ship was roughly outlined over his left side of his torso covering nearly his whole rib cage. It was a rough sketch but you could easily tell the guy knew what he was doing. Kate and I were in shock, but impressed as well. It was massive but it looked liked it would flow perfectly into his other tattoo that wraps his shoulder and back. Simon was more than thrilled, and just as Kate, he felt confident in the person he had found. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and hanging around the hotel. Kate spent some quality time with her beloved Ipad as usual, and then headed up the street to watch some live music to top off the night.
The sun was shining bright through the glass wall of the dining patio as Kate and I sat and ate breakfast and drank our tea. Simon was getting ready, and as usual, we would often beat him to the outside world anyways. Monkeys were as lively as ever, pacing back and forth on the first story ledge right on the other side of the glass wall. Our whole hotel and courtyard sat on top of previous build buildings. It was almost a rooftop hotel per say and the dining area's one wall was a glass barrier, where you could look right down to the street. They would often go around the glass, hop to one of the pillars and tip over the small garbage can, just feet from us until one of the young hotel staff would chase them off. But the monkeys had an advantage. They could sit right behind the glass wall, on a ledge that we people would normally not wander. Not because we weren't as skilled in acrobatics or were unable to, but it would be too dangerous, and way to much of a hassle just to chase something you couldn't catch. Sometimes the staff would lean over with a sling shot aiming right down the ledge, which left the monkey fleeing while making quite the scene. It would only be a matter of minutes when the monkey would return, but this time it wasn't just to raid the garbage can. Kate and I notice the monkey leaping to the column base which held up the roof, and eyeing some nearby guys that were having breakfast as well. The monkey was maybe ten feet from us, and only three or so from their table. Without warning the monkey leaped to their table grabbing fruit, and tipping things over. It jumped around the table like a table dancer until a staff member ran over quickly wanting to toss the nuisance off the edge. It frightened the diners, but we laughed hysterically. They soon found it funny, but it obviously took a little more time. The staff member shot at it with his man made slingshot chasing it down the ledge, but it just sat there at the end, still just on the other side of the glass and that's where both the monkey and the staff member were able to let one another know their frustration. The guy walked over and leaned down, slapping the glass right in front of the monkey; it didn't take long for the monkey to have enough. The hairy little creature took lunged towards the glass with both arms up and mouth open as trying to bite the guy but instead it sat there making loud noises and laying a long big wet one on the glass instead. The took turns hitting the glass, and eyeing each other down. If the glass hadn't been there, they would be at each other's necks. We foreigners find it funny because it's so rare for us to even see monkeys that it becomes so entertaining, but for the locals, it's annoying. They merely are the pests of the jungle. They spend their time harassing people and their belonging, and causing more work for the people that they already have. I completely understand the people's frustration, but it's still hard not to laugh at such a site.
Simon had told me about Yandes house and I quickly found out this was where he was going to be getting tattooed. I figured it was going to be done in a shop but it wasn't. He had told me of how crazy it was and how it was like he was going to be tattooed "on some guys patio, with pigs and chickens running around". It sounded pretty awesome to me; I mean if the work is sterile and safe and he is happy with the artwork, which he obviously was, then it couldn't be better being tattooed somewhere like that! His first session was in the early afternoon and not only did he, but I wanted to come check out the location and meet Yande. We cruised on our motorbike just out of town where all these small communities of houses sat together in groups on each side of the street. Two monkeys swung chained to a small tree just outside his house. This was not a place I would have expected to get tattooed, but it was so amazing. Chickens roamed a small dirt area and pigs lied around in their pens off in a pasture. Clothes were hanging on lines to dry and a few children played kicking around a ball yelling and laughing. Yande came out to greet us smiling shaking Simon's hand and then mine introducing himself in broken English. He had tattoos scattered on his legs, arms, neck, and even face but they weren't overdone. He even had a small tattoo right next to one eye and wore a rasta hat to hold up his long hear. He wore board shorts and a tee-shirt, and was never wearing shoes. His house was quite nice really; extremely clean tiled floors with a large living area and smaller rooms. He had a nice computer with large speakers that always played soothing local music or reggae and a bongo drum sitting next to a couch. The area where Simon was to be tattooed was on the patio just outside, which was basically his living area extended outside, though covered. He offered us tea and coffee and his wife brought it over smiling from a small shack which served as their kitchen. He was so nice and relaxed smoking a cigarette with Simon and we all sat, speaking gently about Simon's soon-to-be tattoo. We helped Yande pull his tattooing bed from his room where he stored all his equipment out to the patio, and he slowly got his equipment ready. He was in no rush, and made it quite clear that we all "work slowly", taking a few more cigarette an tea breaks before even starting. He made a few more lines on Simon's chest and then it was time to start. For anyone who doesn't know, getting tattooed on your side of your chest is one of the most painful areas. The skin is thin and bone is all over directly underneath. The needles were taken out of brand new packages and it seemed the whole process seemed quite safe and sterile to me. The buzzing started and the needle was put to the skin. Simon took it remarkably well, and I watched while drinking a beer close by in which his wife went to go get for Simon and I both from the "store". They were amazing people, so friendly and hospitable. I stayed there for a few hours, becoming tired from the repeating buzzing sound and nearly no talking, but fortunately many breaks were taken often, which rejuvenated myself, Simon, and I am sure Yande!
I parted with Simon and Yande knowing that Simon wouldn't be able to join Kate and I for Yoga. His session was going to last beyond 5:00 pm but he was fine with it. Kate and I got ready for our yoga and headed out of town. We had trouble finding it again which actually caused us to be late but it all worked out. The instructor was this middle aged lady who was fit and very pretty. She had some kind of a foreign, western accent, and obviously wasn't a native. It was the perfect place for yoga - so calm and quiet. We learned all kinds of stretches and exercises and it took no time at all for me to be dripping sweat. Kate informed me that this was no "beginner" yoga class. It was actually fairly tough putting weight and stretching both arms and legs for extended periods of time. My arms started shacking and I let up from time to time to take a break. Some people simply gave up. We sat cross legged and did "ohm chanting". This was by far my favorite part. Everyone's calm humming in sync became a loud but soothing roar that almost echoed from within the room and back out the open walled room to the jungle-like countryside. One loud extended chant ended, and then we stopped just briefly before starting another chant quietly all together, gradually getting louder. Everyone's eyes were closed and it just felt right. The sound made one drift away, and start wobbling subtly as if getting tired. We did more stretches and exercises and then as it became dark we ended yet again with more ohm chanting and then we lied on our backs with our eyes closed for a while, just breathing the air, and relaxing.
It was a great experience - something I had never experienced before. I am sure I will be buying meditation music and ohm chanting discs when I return home. It actually brought me back to my days of martial arts. It had me leaving wishing I would have continued with them and insisting I get back into it. I dreamed of being a monk highly trained in martial arts; someone so in tuned with spirituality and their body and soul who lives such a simple, calm but highly disciplined life . As we left the sun was setting quickly, casting a beautiful array of colors throughout the sky and over the watery rice fields just outside the ashram. Sweaty, tired, and refreshed, we headed back to town and the air had never felt so good...