It is great to be back in Bali after 10 years enjoying the warm balmy weather. People are still very friendly and helpful and a lot of locals are still selling their wares.

The beach at Sanur is peaceful with a blue lagoon stretching out to the reef where small waves roll over it. People wander along the beach promenade and visit small restaurants or buy from the many markets. Sun beds are filled with people coming from their winter climate.
Massage is available on or close to the beach for very little money The people selling in the shops or serving in the restaurants are happy and open-hearted.

The next morning we meet Hendra, our guide and nephew to Jero Sandhi, our Balinese Priest friend. Hendra is friendly and ready to serve.

Our first stop is Ubud and we enjoy a yummy lunch at "Indus" restaurant, which I highly recommend.

The mountain air is cooler and vegetation lush. Monkeys are seen on the side of the road.
We continue over the mountain to our friend's house at Penyusuhan. The land is next to the 'Temple of One' (or Pura Penighil Dharma). This temple has amazing energy that you feel straight away when you enter.

We stay on the land next to the temple called 'The Sanctuary' and bath in the water from the spring which feels particularly healing and pure. We can feel the softness on our skin after dipping into the cool spring.

The next day is the big ceremony at Jero Sandhi's house and the blessing of the family temple Many people come. The ceremony goes on for most of the day with wonderful dancing and celebration.

That night on the full moon we visit the 'Temple of One' or Temple of Universal Oneness and loving kindness.

As we enter the temple the moon is shining brightly and we are able to move around easily in the dark. We sit and prayer with Jero Sandhi and some of his family under the strong moon. All time seems to stand still.

As I relax on the beach at the end of my visit visions of the places we visited pass before my eyes as I integrate the whole experience grateful to have this time to do so.

I have been traveling with a dear friends, Rose, who has recently undergone cancer treatment and is about to undergo another operation. Her journey has been a very meaningful one as she has always wanted to visit Bali where her surfer sons have come for years.

Rose is now recovering from a successful operation and she says; "I believe that the 2 weeks in Bali visiting all the Temples and having numerous blessings, had a major part in my healing process going so well".

Maybe Bali does have healing energies!

- by Patricia Athena