Bali Eco Stay

Just home from the most wonderful trip to the mountains of Bali.  We stayed at Bali Eco Stay owned by our friends John and Cath Bludstone and their son Hughie. It's a place of lush gardens that provide most of the food for the kitchen. Think papayas, pineapples, lettuce, tomatoes, rice, limes, coconut, cacao. (Vaughn was delighted to hear they had chocolate trees and picked a pod to go eat.  He was surprised at the fruity flesh and a little confused how this turns into chocolate treats... me too) They also have spring water that you can drink from any tap! They are working on Hydro-power.  All the food and fabrics you encounter are organic.  Everything is locally sourced. 

Eco Bali Stay

They have created a paradise within paradise.  We arrived dusty, tired and heads full of big village life chatter.  After an hour and a half of bumping up a twisty mountain "road", we tumbled out of the van we were greeted with smiles and mint lime juice and serenity.  Then we went off to get settled into our bungalow.  The Harvest Bungalow is probably bigger than both the house we live in here in Bali as well as our own in Vermont.  Everything is hand crafted and you can see how much thought and work went into every inch of the buildings and furnishings.  So much conscious effort creates an atmosphere of incredible peace.  

thoughtful deco

Not to mention the incredible views of the rice fields.  I must have taken about 20 pictures of the view because it was so breathtaking every time I looked up.  I kept thinking i must be able to capture it better.

James and John lounging outside the bungalow

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The boys immediately found Hughie who is 8 and began a game in the rice field water rivers.  Strangely it felt a bit like we were back in the country mountains of Vermont.  In the four days we were there I only saw the boys when they were hungry, tired or wanting to read Tintin.  I was like Roots with out anyone in charge!  They hiked about found interesting bugs, treasures and discussed poisonous villainous creatures of the world and those were only the conversations I overheard.

 battles with place mats

There is so much you can do while staying at the there but after 4 months of births, sorting out volunteers, adjusting to life in Bali, I was happy to sit and stare at the green and listen to the silence.  It was wild to be in a place with no barking dog, no rooster, no Gamelan group practicing and no phone constantly ringing.   The internet was lightening fast so I was able to catch up on a few emails and upload tons of photos for the next few blog post (yeah!)  Next time I will take advantage of learning how to make my own coconut oil, or maybe some offerings...

 I also loved swinging on the trapeze swing. (well, we all did)  This is a swing that is hung between 2 coconut trees.  The ropes are super long (maybe 50 feet?) So when you swing it goes on and on but unlike the swings at the park this is a gentle sweeping swing into the sky.  I really couldn't get enough.

trapeze swing

Maybe I still have time for a career in the circus.  I had to compete with the kids for time on the swing they loved it too.


We also got to go swim in a waterfall.  Complete rejuvenation took me back to Amnicon Falls in WI!  The first place I ever swam in a waterfall when I was 8.   


Good news is John and I have birthdays one day apart so we are planning a joint birthday party! Who's coming?

Vaughn with "chocolate pod"

another waterfall.  heals the soul

lotus pond

Special leaf and cacao pod

with new puppy Ash

swiming and floating

John owner

James thinking about hydropower

John and Cath have tutors come for 3 mos at a time to work with Hughie.  Hughie is an very smart interesting kid.  If you know someone who wants to live in the mountains of Bali for 3 mos and live in a blissful paradise and eat great food, please send them this link.  No experience required.  In fact a creative outdoors person would really thrive here and with Hughie.
tutor position