Well it hasn't been to long since we last wrote to ya, but we finally found an internet place that can upload some of our pictures at a descent speed. So we figured since we were waiting for the pictures to load we might as well fill you in on last night and today. So here we go.

Last nights Traditional Balinese dinner was fantastic. A fiest that stimulates every single taste bud of your tongue. They took out 80% of the spiciness because they found that us westerners cant handle the heat. It was about perfect, a little hot but manageable. I couldn't imagine what it would be like maxed out. We are planning on hitting up the dinner again this Sunday, maybe we will get a little braver and ask for some hot stuff.

Today we were lucky to witness a cremation.(not so lucky for the crematie) I know it sounds morbid, but everyone you talk to from Bali says you have to witness this celebrations. Everyone from the village helps out and goes along with the ceremony, and they welcome anyone else to share in it. It starts at the family's house were hundreds of people stream down the streets carrying these huge offerings. They made this giant Bull about 15 feet high all decorated up and mounted it on this big plank of bamboo. Then 30 men lift the whole structure on their shoulders and run down the street hippin and hollering. They had one guy walk ahead of the bull with a huge bamboo stick so he could lift all the power lines as they went underneath. There was one guy riding the Bull most of the way to the cemetery. Once they get to the main street they turn the bull around in a circle 3 or 4 times then start to the walk to the cemetery. There must've been about 500 people all in the streets following the precession. We even ran into 4 photographers and journalist from the National Geographic. Pretty neat

Once we got to the cemetery they put the bull down on a big concrete alter. Then they cut the back of the bull off, and place the body inside. They fill it with a whole bunch of offerings from fruit, fabric, flowers and what every they could get there hands on it seemed like. This took about an hour to do, and the whole while there was people walking thru the crowds selling wood carvings, fruit, water, pop, fabrics and even sunglasses. All they needed was t-shirts and cotton candy and you would of thought you were at a football game.

Once they were ready they put the back of the bull on and now its time for the fire guy. He lights up his giant torch connected to on heck of a propane tank and starts doing his job. In seconds the whole thing is up in flames, and everyone moves back. It only takes about 5 minutes for most of the bull to get burnt up, once this happens they bring out a second torch to help finish the job. We left not to long after this point but from what I hear they usually spend most of the day burning the bodies and the family while the family sits and waits.

It was definitely very interesting to see and are glad we watched, completely different from our culture that's for sure. Anyways we up loaded some more pictures, check them out. We even got a video uploaded as well, hopefully with more to come.

Talk to you all later.