So, I found this villa that we’re staying at on the Internet. \u00a0I googled ‘bungalow in the rice fields’ and this came up. \u00a0What a find. \u00a0Villa Tatiapi was created by some American business folk working in Bali who wanted to give back to the Balinese people. \u00a0They took a traditional Balinese house and renovated it for simple western standards, and proceeds from the rentals go back to the school in the village.\u00a0 It’s hard to put into words how fortunate we feel.\u00a0 Agung and his family live down the path from us on the edge of the rice fields and they have been amazing hosts.<\/p>\n
Twenty years ago I stayed in Ubud, which is a ten minute drive from Tatiapi.\u00a0 At the time, Ubud was a quaint artisan town, just discovered by the outside world.\u00a0 It had two main roads, several eateries and guest houses along the main drag, and stall upon stall of Bali crafts for sale – batik sarongs, wood carvings, woven creations, silver jewelry…but very much a small, bustling village plopped in the middle of miles and miles of rice fields.\u00a0 It had already changed quite a bit in 1997 when I returned, and Michael warned me that it was going to be even more of a culture shock for me now.\u00a0 Anyway, we decided to stay outside of Ubud, close enough to be able to easily go in and enjoy the cultural experiences and great dining, but far enough away to be able to capture what I once knew to be Bali.\u00a0 Tatiapi, on the edge of the small village of Pejeng, does it for me.<\/p>\n
Our villa is nestled in between two rice fields, and so far, Megan is the only white face I have seen around.\u00a0 Did I mention we have wi-fi in our villa?\u00a0 Crazy.<\/p>\n
A perfect balance between being plugged in and….detached.<\/p>\n
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So, I found this villa that we’re staying at on the Internet. \u00a0I googled ‘bungalow in the rice fields’ and this came up. \u00a0What a find. \u00a0Villa Tatiapi was created by some American business folk working in Bali who wanted … Continue reading