VILLA SAGITTA ~ Rural Ubud, Bali ~ Part Two

COOL DUDES ~ COUNTRY ROADS ~ CHILDLIKE FASCINATION ~

Drum roll please........ 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, I am tickled to present......
The Villa Sagitta Dream Team ~ from left to right ~
Rai, Katon, Joy, Yande (Villa Manager) and Agus.

Not only do these dudes attend to, and take care of the villa, like only they can, they take care of the guests with irresistible charm and effortless efficiency.  Our wants, needs, whims and meals, were looked after promptly, and happily.  Most often with a smile, and a song.

These guys, this staff, at Villa Sagitta, almost make me want to say to all other Villas and Staff.........I double dog dare you, to do better.  Just sayin'....the bar has been set, and it's mighty high.

Suksma, Yande, Agus, Joy, Rai and Katon!!  You guys rock!

And then there is Ketut, the 'on-call' driver for Villa Sagitta.  The friendly, locally knowledgeable guy, who'll come pretty much at the drop of a hat, when an outing is in order. 

Or should I say, when the guide books and pamphlets are spread across the lanai table and maybe-lets-do-this chatter, turns into a plan stan.  Yande is notified, Ketut is called. 

The next thing you know four happy chickies, with a game plan are eagerly piling into an awaiting vehicle, with Ketut at the wheel, eager to please and appease.

Whether it's just a short jaunt into the buzz of Ubud to shop and gawk, or a little further afar to see batik being made, or a wood carving spot where three generations of the same family are creating beauty to behold, or to that restaurant that you found on TripAdvisor before you even left home, that serves up the best of the best, or, or, or .......

For outings, long or short, for daytripping, when staying at Villa Sagitta, Ketut is your man.  And you'll be glad he is.

And so the story goes, of our lovely stay, at what we can only call an enchanted, old world Bali, villa, snuggled into the jungley hillside of the mystical Pakersian Valley UNESCO site. 

"Within the cradle of this valley are prehistoric and pre-Majaphahit archaeological sites. It is indeed a spectacular sight. This ravine, located between rice fields, is the home of magnificent stone carved shrines that honor 11th century royalty." 

Coolio, right?! 

Ahhh, but...... it is the nearby rice fields, that sidle up to long, palm-fringed, narrow country roads, that pass by the very essence of Balinese rural life, that caught our attention and hugged it tight.

Yande, the villa manager, was kind enough to escort us through this area that has been his home forever and a day. As we sauntered these rural lanes, just up from Villa Sagitta, Yande enlightened us with his delightful show-and-tell commentary.

So what's a girl to do, you ask.

Saunter further.  The four of us were completely in sync with each other.  We were all quietly giddy, as we marveled at the vibrant purity, of this perspective, of the timelessness of Balinese village life.

"I once read that a walk through a rice field is like a walk through God's garden."

Gracious lady that stopped to talk to us, as we
sauntered by, where she was working in the rice field.

Just a guy, on a bike, out on a road that winds between
rice fields, hauling a dresser.

As we headed back to Villa Sagitta we crossed paths with these
cutie pies, who spoke perfect English, "cuz my Dad is German."

This wee, sweet Gramma, started to giggle when I asked
if I could take her picture, and the rice bag started to
jiggle, and then there were lots of giggles.

A boisterous, rather rowdy, fun, fun, fun, front yard, neighbourhood
volleyball game, at it's finest.

Around almost every corner is a hard working Auntie.

 

"Rice is the life-blood of Bali.  It permeates every aspect of Balinese culture, and has for at least two thousand years.  The current system Subak Irrigation has been in use for at least 1000 years. 

This system is much more than a simple agriculture tradition, it is a tradition that is simultaneously spiritual and communal; deeply ingrained with Balinese culture.

The very social structure within Bali is infused by this ancient tradition.  You could even say that rice is Bali."

Quoted from TheBaliVillages.com

 

 

 

Then as we turn to walk back down the drive-way to the villa, we bid sweet adieu to the quacks of the rice fields. 

Beguilingly filled with gratitude, for this wee adventure, and for the 'home' we are headed to, I hum ....
♫ ♪ Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong.....Vil-la Sagitta, jungle mama......take me home.... ♫ ♪

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, no matter how amazing, how fascinatingly fantastic our outings in and around, and even further astray, from Ubud, it always, always feels absolutely heavenly to return 'home' to Villa Sagitta. 
Lucky ducks, are we.

In closing, one of my favorite Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes:
"The Earth Laughs in Flowers"

Which of course means, that the earth all around Villa Sagitta is in a constant state of giggles, chuckles, mirth and merriment.  No wonder it feels so good to stay here.

 

ps.  The fresh-picked papayas are damn fine, too!  Suksma, Agus.

Thanks oodles, for listening, for looking.  I'll be back soon with more of our Bali or Bust! chick adventures ~ Villa Sagitta, Part 3 - Daytripping and Dining Out.