This fellah, quite literally, hangs around all day, with his mates, just along from the balcony to our room. Why Marvin?
a.k.a. Marvin Lee Aday
Don’t tell me you can think of Meatloaf without tripping into “Bat out of hell…”
There are several species of fruit bat indigenous to Bali. They are crucial to the ecosystem, acting as important seed dispersers and pollinators as they feed on fruit, nectar, and pollen. I have no idea which species Marvin belongs to but I am confident that he is not of the giant variety (‘flying foxes’) that live on Bali. They are one of the largest bat species in the world, with wing spans of up to 1.5 metres; also harmless (like Marvin) and vegetarian.
What do you see here?
This tree is in the resort gardens. Looking up at that from a distance and a slightly more face on angle (account for the fact the cameras on these iPhones are pretty nifty nowadays) we saw a large owl. Further investigation and a little less distance saw the owl morph into simply being part of a branch. Which takes us back to the elephant on Day 17.
A fair few of these flirt and flitter around the grounds.
The Eastern Spotted Dove, according to the Bali Wildlife website. Apparently, the sexes are similar, but teens are more boring than adults and don’t experience neck spotting until they are adults. Now there is a thing, the parents out-fashioning the young ones!
In Bali and, of course, more broadly, a spotted dove, like other doves, symbolises peace, harmony, and love.
Swallows too are abundant. These Pacific Swallows seem to like our balcony area.
There are even more troughs fed by fountains than swimming pools here. That is saying something, for there are more swimming areas than you can shake a stick at.
In many settings, including Balinese temples and homes, koi fish are believed to bring good fortune, prosperity, and longevity.
This fellah was looking a bit hopeful as we passed. Leaving us feeling rather guilty as we had just indulged ourselves on yet another gargantuan breakfast.
Given our interest in longevity (Okinawa: Day 12; Day 14) maybe we should offer the fish above a little more than one end of a camera lens?
Balinese mythology is mainly a kind of animism with some widely known characters and deities. Many elements of Balinese mythology have been adapted and integrated into modern Balinese Hinduism.
The ‘King of Spirits’ is Barong, a mythical creature representing goodness, and a protective spirit that battles evil. There are different types of Barong, such as the Barong Ket (lion), Barong Bangkal (pig), Barong Macan (tiger), and Barong Asu (dog). Barong is most often depicted as a lion.
Bedawang Nala is a giant turtle in Balinese creation mythology that carries the world on its back. It is often paired with two dragons.
Garuda, a mythical eagle, is known for his strength and quest for the elixir of life, amerta.
Garuda is the national symbol of Indonesia.
Monkeys, specifically long-tailed macaques, are considered protectors and guardians of temples, and associated with the monkey god Hanuman.
We met a good number of these guardians yesterday in Ubud, Day 20.
Returning to Marvin… bats are believed to be sacred guardians of the Goa Lawah temple, a significant Balinese Hindu temple. According to one legend, the bats are a food source for the giant snake Naga Basuki, who is said to reside in the mythical cave network connected to Goa Lawah and is the caretaker of the earth’s equilibrium. The bats are protected by customary law, and hunting or capturing them is forbidden.
It didn’t enter my mind for a fleeting second, Naga Basuki, honest!!
I do hope he believes me!!
Sailing off to Sparta 
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