We seem to be at a stalemate here on our paradise Island of Bali.  As of October 21, 2017 we are still on Level 4 High Alert.

More than 180,000 plus people have been evacuated from their homes here in Bali, life goes on, please help by donating to Kopernik.

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

For updates check MAGMA Indonesia’s website.

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.

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

first published October 13, 2017

 

 

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT ….Still on High Alert, Blog Update 23 October, 2017

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Blog 12_ the land was moving like a dolphin, a story from an evacuee

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Blog 10_ Mount Agung is pregnant

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Blog 9_ tolerance, messages and signs

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Blog 8_ Can’t people just be nice?

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Blog 7_ Football, Holy men and a Volcano

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Blog 6

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Blog 5

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. 4

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Live stream 3

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Live stream 2

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Live stream

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