Bali Was Art Journal heaven…

I nearly filled a whole journal in Bali… I cocooned myself into my own little art Nest that was balanced on a cliff and held up by butterflies and tropical flowers. Looking out of my cliff side bali daybed to the vista beyond… Just filled me up with joy. I looked out at the bright blue kingfishers, turquoise waves, small fishing boats, and the occasional monkey. The food was healthy and delicious. Angus surfed for 7 hours a day. Best waves of his life….he even swam with sea turtles and a Dugong…yes! A flipping sea-cow! Helloooo, who does that? Too awesome right?!

I drew and drew and drew… And when I wasn’t drawing I was painting, and when I was painting I was journaling…I even got to draw with cute, little, 7 year old Bella Boo in her journal nearly every day. Her family was staying just near us and hanging out with the Greens was a highlight of the trip. Being the wife of a dude who loves surfing is a pretty sweet deal…tagging along on Hubby’s surfari was beyond super-awesome, it was Bintangtastic… and completely Balinificent.

I’ve seen a millionbajillion photos of that place in surf mags… They made it look so good… And being a seasoned traveler, i knew not to expect the photoshoped version of Surf Mecca… What I wasn’t expecting is that it would actually be better.

I was expecting heaps of Aussie bogans, too many people, drunken idiots, maybe feeling uncomfortable in a place that has had some poverty and terrorism issues… What I got was heaven on a stick. Scratch that. Heaven riding a chocolate unicorn over a rainbow made of Aquamarkers ( new favorite art suppLy… More news soon!).

We stayed at the Villa Kelly Slater chillaxes into during surf comps…nothing fancy, but very private, which I have come to realize is the greatest luxury of all.

I immediately planned to host a workshop retreat there next year. Hopefully it will be just as mild and mellow. I can’t wait to create a hotspot for juicy journaling… I floated the idea with my students on Supplies Me, and it’s pretty much sold out. To say I am excited about this is to not take into account my rabid frothing over this adventure.

Bali is going to cop bad publicity with the teen who got arrested for buying drugs (eeeeediot). Reading the press you would think the whole of Bali is druggies, bogans, corrupt cops and just general low-lifery. It’s people making stupid decisions like that that nearly kept me from discovering ‘The Islands of the Gods’ for myself…
That is not the Bali I experienced. I found bliss and I intend to go back there as soon as possible!

Bali, I love you. Bali, my Art Journal misses you. Bali, you complete me *insert Dr Evil voice here*.