The Puri Lukisan is a gem of a museum. Four separate buildings surrounding a beautiful courtyard full of trees and ponds and arbors, each containing exhibits from different time periods of Balinese art and history. We had thought the museum was free, but it turns out it costs 115,000 IDR and includes a set lunch. What? Bummer, we just ate. The ticket lady, though, tells us we can use the lunch tickets another day (phew!) so we will plan for that next week.

The museum chronicles the important historical history of Balinese art, and traces its beginnings to around 1936 when the last prince of Ubud, his brother, and artist, and another famous Balinese painter, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, created a foundation to support and inspire other artists to continue work. Since the 1920’s, Bali has been a tourist destination for Westerners, particularly artists searching for inspiration in tropical settings. Two very influential people, Walter Spies from Germany and Rudolf Bonnet from Holland were especially important in the Balinese art community and promoting artists. Especially Bonnet who helped maintain the quality of Balinese art and ensure traditions continued.

The first building contains artwork from Lempad and Bonnet, with just incredible detail. Most all the paintings depict some legend or part of Balinese religion, and so many look almost 3-dimensional with their layers of paints and styles. There are also incredible wood carvings, another huge tradition in Bali begun as part of the Hindu-Balinese religious worship, using natural forms of the wood to create unique final sculptures. Balinese wood carvings are now famous the world over – as we know very well from our friends oh so many years ago in Kitty Hawk who were importing the carvings to sell to the US market.

The final building holds a new exhibition that is actually opening tomorrow, but they are putting it together now, and we are allowed to wander through. This is an exhibit that details the history of the art community here and displays current, modern day artists’ work that demonstrates how the traditions continue today. Beautiful and fascinating and we so wish we had a bigger house to fit some of this work into, but alas….

Done with our culture trip for the day, we head back home to – yes, you guessed it – the pool. Oh, what an incredible bonus that pool is! A nice dip in the cool waters washes the heat and grime of our wanderings away and we can relax comfortably on the patio watching the birds enjoy the prayer offerings Made has left. Karma.

Dinner time tonight is at Ning Warung – Warung being a small family owned business, typically a cafe or convenience store. Ning’s is both – convenience store upfront – restaurant in the back overlooking the rice fields. Everything is cooked on the spot at the moment. And Mama Ning is on the premises watching over everything. It is a lovely evening – even though they do have the bug spray and coils out – and we love sitting here in this little typical Indonesian restaurant surrounding by water and soda drink bottles (don’t know why they line the counters – we’re guessing lack of space?) and enjoying an excellent freshly cooked meal of Ayam Bakar (fried chicken we can hear them frying as soon as we order it) and Ayam Goreng Sayur (chicken with vegetables). So fresh. So yummy. And so cheap (ok, I couldn’t resist!!!).

After dinner, mom Ning comes over to chat and tells me to get the Gado Gado next time – vegetables in peanut sauce. Much better for your stomach than all the rice and noodles. I’m game. That’s my order when we come back, which we surely will!

A nice walk back to the villa, some time on the patio and by the pool and then it is good night and sweet dreams for tomorrow’s rice field walking adventures!