This is a picture book I wrote and illustrated based on a mythological
little Balinese fairy living in Bali and a girl, named Wardani who found her.
I started this book while living in the Island of Bali, Indonesia.
Whenever I am in Bali, I try to stay in the same town called Ubud
This is the view from the porch in front of my bungalow:
I got the inspiration from one of the sketches of a particular Balinese lantern in
front of my porch which looks like this:
I imagined the little fairy living in this lantern that looks like a small Balinese temple.
The setting for my story started with this image:
Below is the porch where I sometimes wake up just before dawn ( yes--that early!)
and I start to sketch the Balinese lantern below in the dark :
I love to wake up very early and sketch or write in my journal until
I hear the cock crows.
In Bali, you will always hear them crow when the sun rises.
They are actually music to my ears.
Here you can see one of my sketches while drinking coffee.
Another illustration of my fairy character living in the lantern house:
More on my Little Girl in Bali story next time--to be continued....
Madonna Davidoff in a Kebaya:
I am wearing the traditional balinese temple dress called kebaya.
April 18
My last walk to the rice field with friends from Holland, Yvonne , an Occupational Therapist and Parham, a Physchologist from India.
Yvonne and Parham carrying a coconut seedling that will grow into a big coconut tree:
We stopped at a warung-balinese local store in the middle of the rice fields, for drinks:
Madonna,(left) Yvonne(middle) Parham(right)
on the way we stopped again at artist Nyomans studio and gallery.
Nyoman also teaches traditional Balinese painting technique:
Nyomans Paintings:
More farmers :
A tree house in Bali:
After the morning walk, a dip in the pool at Ubud Bungalow:
Then at night, I had dinner with Robin , a writer from Turkey and SanFrancisco who now lives part of the year in Bali and again with Yvonne from Holland. We ate dinner at Noori's near the Neka Museum in Ubud, known for its famous Grill and martini.
In a few weeks, I will be boarding once again SingaporeAir . This is my favorite airline because of the superb service and comfort. I will be away for a month starting in Bali, Indonesia followed by Hanoi, Vietnam and then on to Manila, Philippines.
In Bali, I always stay in Ubud. which is considered the centre of Bali's arts and culture. It is a remarkable town in the middle of the island of Bali and the climate is a lot cooler than the rest of the island. Once a refuge for scruffy backpackers, mystics, artists and bohemians, Ubud is now home for a lot of international as well as local artists. I like staying in Ubud, because there I can paint in peace ,but at the same time have enough social interaction with other artists if I want to. At the outskirt of Ubud are beautiful ricefields, village life and local scenes where one can have a glympse of the true Balinese way of living.
The second part of my trip will be in Hanoi,Vietnam. It will be my first time in Vietnam and I'm excited about it because my hubby, Bart Davidoff ,will already be there to meet me.
Below is a Computer World article that covers a seminar in Singapore in which he moderated a discussion on information management.
The last part of my trip will be Manila, Philippines. There, I will visit my father, Jose L. Angeles who will be turning 90 years old next year and my brother Jolan and his wife Tonette, together with their daughters Amanda and Anna .
Unfortuntaley, my daughter Bianca is in College now in Florida and won't be able to come with us for this trip. The last time Bianca was with us was in Singapore and Thailand two years ago :
Bianca in Thailand :
Bianca will be missed especially by her grandfather. Our plan is to take the whole family next year to Manila again for my father's 90th birthday.
Hi! Wow what an amazing time you are having with your friends! I have always wanted to go to Bali! It is so pretty.....Thanks for sharing!!!!
HAPPY DAY!!!
~Nina
OOh Maria, I have missed you!!! I figured you were busy with work or something he he he! It was so nice to hear from you! You are a world traveler right now. The pictures are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! Almost as beautiful as you in your Bali wear he he he! You look fabulous. I'm so glad that I got the chance to see your pictures and you. Have a safe and fabulous visit as you travel. Take care my friend.
I love reading about your travels!! it feels like travelling with you.You look so lovely in the traditional dress!!
What a wonderful travel!