HASH!

Martin and I went with our friend Helen to our very first "Hash" on Saturday afternoon... and WHAT A BLAST!

The Hash House Harriers have been around for decades, apparently, but before coming to Indonesia I had never heard of it! The Bali group is a very interesting cross-section of people... all into getting out into the 'real' Bali, getting some exercise, and having some wacky, silly, fun... and not to mention, a few beers!

The route for the run, marked with shredded paper, was up, down, and all around; across rice paddies and drainage ditches, past local baths and temples, through back alleys and fields of sweet-smelling flowers for temple offerings; we waded through rivers, and clambered up slippery slopes! It absolutely POURED rain as well, so we were soaked within minutes, and it sometimes washed away the trail-marking-paper, but it kept us nice and cool! One time we passed by one communities women's traditional bath, there was a lady having her afternoon 'mandi', and amiably asked us if we would like to join her! (I guess we probably looked a site - covered in mud!) The scenery was absolutely stunning, and the false markers to throw you off-course only added to the fun!

Oh yes, and did I mention... as 'virgin' Hashers, we had to do a "Down Down" (ie chug a beer) in the middle of the ceremonial circle as part of our initiation!?! Haha!

I think we may become members, and take up 'hashing'! - the main thing about it that attracts me is the same as geocaching - it takes you to all kinds of places you would never otherwise know about!

Sorry no pics to accompany this post, but I'm glad I didn't take my camera, since it rained the entire time! And, as a side note, it hasn't stopped raining since, and some of the worst flooding yet this year has been seen today! I feel badly for Bruce and Bobby on their tropical vacation to Bali - they're waiting for it to stop raining!