From the Eastern Plains to the Far East: Meeting Ketut in Ubud, Bali

Just after graduating from college I picked up a copy of the book Eat, Pray, Love and it changed my life. I know that many of you rolled your eyes reading that sentence because that book became such a huge seller and is now a cliché for women finding themselves. I don’t care though, it was a great book for me at an unpredictable time in my life. If I hadn’t read that book I seriously doubt that I would be living overseas right now, if ever. I loved it. I even convinced my book club in Flagler to read it.

If you have never read the book you have missed a great read. Elizabeth Gilbert writes beautifully and I have a complete writers crush on every thing she has written. I have a whole shelf in Colorado for her books. Eat, Pray, Love is a memoir about a women who tries to find balance in her life by traveling through Italy (eat), India (pray) and Indonesia (love). She speaks honestly about her insecurities, her self-doubt, her dreams and her journey.

When we were deciding if we should come to China I remember thinking that the only way I was willing to go is if I got to go to Bali, Indonesia on one of our breaks. Well we did it! I have special way of talking myself into things.

In the book Liz goes to see a medicine man by the name of Ketut Liyer. He is a wise little old man that gives her advice about life and also reads her palm. I don’t buy into all of that hubbub but I was fully intrigued by the process and I thought that it would be fun to try and see Ketut while we were in Bali if he was still alive. It just so happened that the villa we stayed in was down the street from Ketut’s house. I am not exaggerating here, I mean DOWN THE STREET. It was meant to be.

Because the book had impacted me so much Matt read it after me several years ago, and then Tyler read it. Brooke had instructions to read it but she ‘forgot’ it in Sterling, Colorado so she had to watch the movie instead. Everyone on our trip knew who Ketut was and although no one was quite as excited as me, they at least understood my excitement.

On our first day in Bali we set out to go explore Ubud. I talked with the lady at our villa about setting up an appointment with Ketut. She giggled at me and told us to just stop by his house on our way. In one of our guidebooks it gave instructions about how we should be dressed, how to present money to medicine men and it basically discouraged tourists from going to see the Balinese medicine men because it took away from the locals that are really sick. Feeling a bit let down by that information and thinking that we needed to be in proper dress my plan was to just swing by to make an appointment if one was available and then leave.

When we saw the sign I was just glad we had found the place. I was imagining Elizabeth Gilbert on her bike following the same path as us. While Matt, Tyler and Brooke stayed on the street, feeling under dressed, I stepped into the entrance of Ketut’s home. I expected to see someone taking names like a hostess in a restaurant and instead I saw Ketut. He smiled, showing the few teeth he had left and I felt like I was seeing a celebrity. He motioned past me for the others to come in. “I need my coffee” he said “please wait”. “Sure!” I said. I was willing to wait all day. We were the only people there to see Ketut. The other people wandering around the garden were Ketut’s family. A woman put out the daily flower offerings and lit incense around the compound as we waited. There was a small Eat, Pray, Love movie poster hanging behind us.

About fifteen minutes later Ketut emerged from one of the small buildings and I joined him sitting cross-legged on a porch. These are the bits of information that he shared after analyzing my face, hands, arms, back, knees and feet.

-I am very beautiful.

-He is very lucky to meet me.

-I am going to live to be 100.

-No matter what I should never lose my husband, he is very good for me. (He repeated this at least 6 times and he said the same thing to Matt.)

-I will have two children…. soon.

-My blood is good.

-I have strong bones.

Among other things, he told Matt that he is very smart and people should listen to him (including me). He told Tyler he will get married if he wants to. He told Brooke to drive carefully because she will die in a crash when she is 100. It was a very memorable experience and as overdone as it may be, I am very glad that I did it. Ketut was on my bucket list and I am overjoyed to have had the opportunity to cross that one off.