01/14/2001   Singaraja - BALI   S 08°06 E   115°09   +34 For our two days of rest, we immerged ourselves in the 'greenhouse' of the great Balinese jungle. The picture of Bali as a tropical paradise is true! Everywhere is picturesque: the rice fields and terraces as gigantic stairs; volcanoes kissing the clouds; the long sand beaches and the deep blue sea; we have the feeling to be a part of a Balinese painting. Yesterday night, sat on a fish stand, we met 'Arya'. 32 years-old Balinese, Wayan (his real name - see further down) studied Italian and also speaks a bit of French. He's interested in the capitalistic culture and wishes to learn the occidental way of work. But he also emphasizes: "still preserving the Balinese's culture". At the moment, he's traveling with Gadee, one of his friends, professional driver. The Team seems to have found its first Balinese nomads, As Gadee drives the white Mitsubishi, Arya tells us: "I'll bring you into villages where no one ever saw a stranger, where people live in traditional houses and alternate religious traditions and rice culture". The Car@van is now beginning its learning of Asia... Vale is ill! (but we would like her parents not to worry: nothing bad). We think that she caught the famous 'Bali Belly', an intestinal trouble, caused by climate and food. Logistics are on stand-by, we send Vale in a beautiful hotel by the sea. At the moment, she is lying on a big bed, and, with a small smile, asking us to say hello to you! Her white globulins are fighting... soon, our 'Herculine' will be back with us! "Kretek is goooood!" Sat in field, an old peasant offers me a 'kretek', a clove cigarette, the Balinese's favorite tobacco. Perfumed, sweet, slightly mentholated: as a non-smoker, I really enjoy its strange and smooth taste. Between two puffs, the old man looks at me and smiles... I answer him with small eyes: "Oh yeah, Kretek is gooooood!" Here, the average salary is about 50 US$ per month. But it's also interesting to know that a civilization can survive with 4 plants: bamboo, banana, coconut and rice... and Bali is full of it! Only 4 surnames exist: the first child is always called Wayan, the second Made, the third Nyoman, and the last Ketut. And then ? Just begin from the start: Wayan, Made... And to make things even more simple, Balinese have no family name. But they use a range of titles, related to casts and sex: by brahmanas (the highest cast), boys are called Ida Bagus and girls Ida Ayu; by Wesia (noble cast), Gusti Ngurah and Gusti Ayu; by Satria (merchants), Cokordo and Anak Agung; Sudra (peasants and common people) have only a surname. You voted for 'night fishing'... you never choose the easiest one !?! We will walk around the beach, looking for fishermen, but the hard thing will be to explain them why we need to get on their boat! Tomorrow, we are invited for lunch in the house of a tribe's chief. And you, what will you be doing?... JOIN US!!! Guide our next steps,insert contacts & info on