Julia is off to a meditation seminar for 5 days. Christina and I grabbed nasi goreng (for lunch) before making our way to Bali Mandala to work on our tans. We chilled out in the sun for about 3 hours - it was very hot as usual. I managed to read a few chapters of Hotel K as well.
At school today, we had a dental care lesson with the students. Previously, a German dentist visited the school to educate the students about the teeth. The dentist donated a mouth and teeth model, a big toothbrush, lots of toothbrushes and toothpaste (they hand these out to new students), dental disclosing tablets and a mirror. We started talking about what foods are good for the teeth and got the students to come up to the board to either 'circle' (good) or 'cross' (bad) the different foods. The students distinguished the good and bad effortlessly. We also discussed why brushing the teeth is so important and how many times in a day it should be done. Talked about the morphology and physiology (we had to google some facts as none of us are dentists haha).
We demonstrated how to properly brush the teeth. The students all went outside with their new toothbrushes and toothpaste and we had a session of brushing our teeth. Growing up as a child, I learnt from the dentist that you have to brush each section of the teeth for at least 10 seconds - so this was passed on to the students.
The students really enjoyed the session, they were all laughing and counting whilst brushing. After they had their teeth cleaned, we gave each student a dental plaque disclosing tablet (purple tablet). The students hated chewing on the tablets, apparently its a very bad taste. Dental disclosing tablets stain the plaque build up on your teeth, allowing you to see how thoroughly you are brushing and flossing your teeth. They stain the bacteria making it easier to see where you have to brush again to remove dental plaque. You are to rinse your mouth after chewing on these tablets. All the students lined up one by one and inspected their teeth in front of the mirror. Most of the students had cleaned their teeth properly, there were only a handful of students that had red stained teeth. Julia also tried the tablet, thats her purple teeth in the photo.
After school, Julia went off to her second meditation session for the day and Christina and I walked to drop off our laundry. Nearby where we drop off our laundry we walked past a beautiful temple known as Pura Dalem (Karma temple). The temple is dedicated to worship Shiva, the Destroyer or Renewer of the world and the universe. The Pura (a Balinese temple), is the centrepiece to Balinese life and is revered to this day. Belief in a higher force is as important to life as the daily rice. Here in Bali, most Balinese follow the Hindu Religion and daily life is filled with many kinds of ceremonies. In the early mornings you will see Balinese placing daily offerings baskets in and around their family compounds, home and businesses (a lady next door does that for us religiously every morning). An offering basket is a small woven basket made from leaves, filled with flowers, adorned with food items (most of the time it is rice on banana leaves), and placed in judicious places to evoke blessings from the supernatural forces, the ancestors and the spirits. In reverent posture you will see a Balinese bestowing the basket with a prayer as he/she moves his or her hands graciously in a blessing posture, waving the incense and sprinkling the holy water over the basket to complete the ritual.
It was planned that Christina and I will meet Julia at Bali Mandala for dinner. We sat at the tanning chair in front of the sea and enjoyed the sun set. It is absolutely stunning - even the dog was enjoying the view.
As mentioned previously, it is so relaxing and peaceful chilling at Bali Mandala. Especially with a gorgeous ocean view.
There was a good selection of buffet food at dinner. We were so stuffed after dinner as we all went back for a second plate. The food is just too good and we couldn't resist, but we do this to ourselves all the time - sending our bodies into food comas - not a great feeling at all. After dinner, we chilled out by the chairs for a while. Talked and laughed about so many things. Over the weeks in Bali, we have had many things to talk and laugh about. I have never laughed so much in my life (continuously) and it is so nice that I have Julia and Christina to share the laughter with. We walked back home in the dark (once again) using our mobiles as torches. It's not fun walking back in the dark, I am always so afraid that I will step on poo. When we got back we said good night to each other and wandered off with our laptops.
Good night world.
XOXO
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