We seem to be at a stalemate here on our paradise Island of Bali.

More than 180,000 plus people have been evacuated from their homes here in Bali, life goes on.

My heart aches for these people who have been away from their homes, temples and animals for some weeks now.

Below is the latest histogram for the period 24 hours prior to the reading at midnight October 13, 2017.

Histogram , 24 hour update until midnight 13 October 2017

For updates check MAGMA Indonesia’s website.

To be honest I have no idea what it means.

I do however understasnd that nothing has changed in regards to still being on level 4 high alert for a possible volcanic eruption.

I reported on my previous blog information that my husband Made translated from the Bali Post on October 10, 2017.

The official number of evacuees as quoted from Bali’s Governor Made Pastika totals 185,865 people, from 54,788 families.

When I awoke this morning, I turned on my television and tuned into ABC 24 to try and catch up on some news from my other home in Australia.

It seems these days astonishing events are unfolding almost hourly.  Did I hear right?  Was the former Prime Minister of Australia talking about volcanoes and offerings to the Gods?

I missed the report so I quickly jumped online, to my horror Tony Abbott was quoted as saying,

“Primitive people once killed goats to appease the volcano gods, we are more sophisticated now but are still sacrificing our industries and our living standards to the climate gods to little more effect”

This quote shocked me.

I felt sick.

I became weak, then I rushed to my computer to express my emotion.

Only yesterday I was invited to a complicated ceremony in a very special temple. For now I would prefer not to go into the details of where, when, why and how come.

I am writing a book about my extraordinary life and my commitment to the Balinese Hindu Religon.  Let’s just say it’s complicated.

What I will say is that we had a very special guest, who is a Buddha Pendeta Priest from Karangasem.  Our special guest performed a series of rituals.

I was in awe of this priest, I had never seen a priest wear yellow.  I asked Made if he had ever seen a priest dressed in such an elaborate way.  Made was also surprised and intrigued.

Our special guest was powerful.  I was hooked into a daze of fantasy.

I witnessed an incredible secret ritual.

I knew yesterday that without a shadow of a doubt that these rituals (amongst other reasons) was to give blessings to our Holy Mount Agung.

In my heart of hearts I believe these types of ceremonies are happening all over Bali, after all we are the Island of the Gods.

Now I didn’t see any sacrificing of animals yesterday, however I am not saying it didn’t happen prior to the opening ceremony.

Always time for a giggle after days of preperation

Offerings are a complicated process

I would like to sign off today’s blog with something my dear Mum would say to me,

“Respect all people, religions and places. We are all different, if there is something we don’t understand we must not make judgement”.

Blessings always

Sharon x

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