Compensations of God - Bali Trip 3

Our company has announced that there won’t be a increment this year. We had 5% salary cut last year and this year’s no increment deal is keeping our salary lower than it used to be 2 years back. You may think I am cribbing about the job I have when people lose jobs. That's the ideal way of looking at it but, the situation here is different.

On the Ubud Palace wall, Bali

For the last two years the company made profits quarter after quarter, management have cut costs in everything and even brought another big company, double the size of our employees. Isn’t it the duty of the management to compensate the employee when they have utilized their work and made profits? Ramesh, May be you could help me understand this. I think the company looses its reputation; the moment it forgoes the value of their primary asset, the employees.

Ubud Palace, Courtyard

Last Friday was holiday here (owing to Bakrid) so I got myself invited to Athivas house and she invited Chotu and co to join the occasion. We had sumptuous meal and settled on each corner of the living room like Anacondas. While the family had a hearty chat, chotu walked around playing own games with randomly chosen participants. What started as a lunch date lasted one past midnight, with two meals, umpteen snacks, and a tour to the local park at mid night!

One of the towers inside the palace.

It was on the moment, have fun day and I cancelled my dinner date and marathon calls while on it. Thanks so much Athivas/AJCL for the meals, hospitality and the wonderful time. It felt like the best family time I had in the last two years.

Ubud palace entrance

Puri Saren Ubud is well known Palace in Ubud, used by the last king of Bali. I was told that descendants still live here. Once a governance center has now become a tourist attraction and also a home stay hotel.

There were many enclosures inside the palace, most of which were closed to the visitors.

The unique buildings and ornamented Balinese traditional interiors demonstrate artistic culture of Bali.

This is the back drop for the open stage where the Balinese traditional dances were held. Later that night we also visited a dance performance. I shall post those pictures and about the dance in the next post. The palace is located right across the market (from age old days) which is vibrant with local handicrafts, paintings and clothes.

Moment of truth.. In "love" with the monster ;)

While I was posing for snaps in the steps of a closed enclave, I saw few tourists looking at my direction with chorus “oh”, like they have seen something amusing. I smiled widely thinking they were admiring me. A second later I was sniffed by this huge friendly dog, who must be residing in the home stay hotel.

A sniff which burst my ego bubble into laughter.

The gold ornated stage amidst the greenary, is like cherry on ice cream

These Instruments are called gamelan and is usually performed with traditional Balinese dances in the open stage.

You must be wondering about the idol at the center..

Yes she is our "Kalaivaani/Saraswati" in indonesian style.

After a quick check on the market we started to another hidden beauty of Bali.

I love the tradition of Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for love, travels and friends this year. I think God never forgets when it comes to compensation; it’s just that, it won’t always be a salary increment.