Bali Dreaming!!

Hi Everyone,

I just thought I would tell you all about the wonderful Art Retreat I have recently returned 

from. Tracy Verdugo's Sacred Marks Bali Art Retreat!

Some of you may be aware that I turned 60 earlier this year. Yes a milestone birthday and

 yes I did have a bit of a wobbly over it. So much so, that when my lovely husband, Jack 

asked how I would like to celebrate my birthday, I said I didn't really want to do anything

 much, except maybe a Family dinner with my kids? Which we did, but I did think to 

myself I really should be doing something special and unique before the year ended. That 

was late March.

So when I saw a post from Tracy in June to say she had a cancellation in the September 

Retreat. I knew that was the ideal way to celebrate my birthday milestone!! Jack said "Go 

for it"! I had never been to Bali before and I had felt it calling to me for the last couple of 

years. The Universe letting me know that the timing was perfect. So I didn't hesitate. 

The countdown began.... I didn't have a current Passport, so off I went to organise that. 

Boy! They aren't cheap, I had better make sure I do lots more travelling... Good Excuse 

anyhow!

Come September, I was on the plane. A little nervous travelling internationally on my own,

but still really excited. My Brother and his wife travel to Bali all the time, and they had 

given me heaps of tips and advice, so I wasn't completely clueless. Lots of queues and 

customs. I even bumped into one of my students on the plane! Ha! Ha! Small world isn't 

it? The six hour flight went by quite quickly. 

More queues and bang, I was leaving Denpasar Airport and stepping out into the heat 

and humidity. Drivers holding up signs with an ocean of names. I really never thought 

I would see mine, but there it finally was.. right at the end of the line. It was a relief to 

see it. So my taxi driver loaded me and my luggage into his mini bus and off we went. 

Those of you who have been lucky enough to have already been to Bali will be familiar 

with the traffic. It seems to consist of Mini Buses, taxis and scooters, on mass. I swear 

at the first roundabout, there would have been 100 scooters. All weaving in and out of 

the traffic. They seem to have a collective consciousness. A dance between the cars and 

the scooters although they are all in perfect sinc with each other. It was both mesmerising 

and horrifying at the same time. I closed my eyes several times because I thought a 

scooter was about to be squashed. So much to see and take in, it is funny to say, I sort 

of had a little anxiety attack.

I was happy to find that where our retreat was, in Sanur, it is lovely and quiet in 

comparison to Denpasar.  I was dropped off at the Villas and shown to my room. The 

Sanur Beach Villas are really a boutique accommodation with only enough room  for 

Tracy and her Students. Which meant we had the place to ourselves which was fabulous! 

Bird baths full of flowers grace the Garden beds.

The entrance to Sanur Beach Villas

The view from our Villa

The Sacred Marks Retreat was held over 8 days. We had 12 girls in the September

group. Girls from the UK, US, Canada and Australia. It was so lovely meeting all

these gorgeous women from all around the world. By the end of the retreat we were

all well and truly bonded! 

Our Day One was spent travelling up to Ubud, which is up in the hills amongst the 

rice fields. It is known as Bali's spiritual centre. The scenery on the trip was just 

beautiful. Once we arrived we discovered this beautiful Lotus pond. My inspiration

for my first painting.

We shopped until we dropped!!

Day Two was our first day of painting. How wonderful was painting by the pool!

Yes that is me in the blue! 

This was my my painting by the end of the day. Many layers still to go. I did enjoy

painting with inks for the first time. 

Inspirational group session

Day Three morning was Cooking School. The Sanur Beach Villas is also home of the 

Bamboo Shoots Cooking School. Irma and her team, guide their students through preparing and cooking several dishes. Then of course you get to eat them. I am not a great lover of cooking and I was keen to do more painting, so I opted not to join in. Big mistake I think, 

but I did get to eat some of the lovely food they made.

Day Four was another day of painting.

Day Five was our trip to the Elephant Sanctuary up near Ubud. This was an absolute 

highlight! You all know how much I love Elephants and to see them and touch them 

was just wonderful. 

That trunk weighed a ton. 

There was a ceremonial day on the Wednesday and many homes had

these gorgeous decorative banners displayed in honour of the celebration 

between good and evil. On our trip up to the Sanctuary we stopped to take 

photos. 

A photo with Tracy 

Day Six was Saturday! More painting! 

In the end some of us opted to paint on our Villa verandas. 

Painting one nearly finished!

Day Seven was our final day of painting. Of course I did have to paint an Elephant.

Still lots more to do

Our Final Group Dinner!! Boy the time went so fast!!

And here we are on the last morning with our paintings!! Aren't they all wonderful?

Thank you so much Tracy for being so inspirational.

I must say I had an absolutely fabulous time. I really enjoyed exploring inks and Tracy's

other layering techniques. Being able to treat myself to another Teacher's workshop

whom I have admired for years, as well as incorporate a trip to Bali, has well and truly

made my 60th Year memorable!!

If anyone is "thinking" about doing Tracy's Sacred Marks Bali Retreat in 2017, I highly

recommend it!! 

"Tempat Suci" (Sacred Place)

"Gajah dan Bayi" ( Elephant and Baby)

Special thanks to some of the other girls and Tracy for sharing some of their images.

Guess what? I have already booked flights back to Bali in August next year!

Jack is coming this time!!