Post from Tim:
Today was our second day of cooking classes at the Casa Luna Cooking School. The school is run by Janet, an expatriate Aussie who also runs two restaurants, a bakery, and a guesthouse with her Balinese husband of many years. She talked at length about living in Bali and raising her four children here, and was able give me as much insight about Balinese life as she did about Balinese cuisine.
We spent the morning with a walk through the Ubud market, a very chaotic place. The vendors that cram the stalls of the three-story building sell everything from clothes to food. In a typical developing world style, ripe vegetables and colorful spices share space with trash and flies. But that didn't upset the class. We were happy to listen to Janet as she held up and described each Balinese spice and vegetable for sale.
We went back to her house. She claims her husband is a stickler for detail; her home is full of intricate carvings, rich tile floors, and warm wooden furniture. It is a great place to spend the afternoon. We reviewed our ingredients, cooked several dishes, and had a great lunch served with homemade rice wine. Unfortunately, Michelle and I had to leave quickly to make our appointment at a local spa. For about $10 we treated ourselves to a full body massage, exfoliation, and spice bath.
Life on the road is rough.