Dental Holidays

There are some redeeming qualities to being in Indonesia.  One is the dentistry here. 

Before I left Toronto I had some major dental work done.  I had 3 crowns put in which in total cost me just over $10,000.  Thankfully I was still insured by U of T and they covered roughly three quarters of it. But it still left me with $2500 bill.  I was going to have all my mercury fillings (3 of them) replaced however that would have added another $1500 to $2000 to my already outrageous tab. I was giving it serious consideration and have them done, but I didn’t quite have my funds together just yet, so I decided to wait.  I’m glad I did.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to my friend about dentistry.  He said that the dentists here are very cheap and very reliable.  So I decided to check it out.  He gave me the name and number of a dentist he uses in Denpasar which is about an hour away from Ubud depending on traffic.

As I sat reading in the waiting room, I heard a song that reminded me of a friend back home.  I leaned my head against the wall and allowed the memories and love wash over me.  As I did I heard this Australian accent ask me if I was nervous.  I told her no I was just thinking of a friend.  We got talking and she said that many, many Aussies come here on dental holidays.  She said that the dental prices in the land of Oz where rather exorbitant and that for the price of any surgery they can fly to Bali, have the procedures done at ¾’s of the price and enjoy the beaches in between appointments.  Even factoring in food and hotels it’s still much cheaper.

So when it was my turn to see Dr. Wibisono I was curious to see just how much difference the price is.  WOW.  It cost me a total of $150 to have all 3 fillings replaced!  And a cleaning!  Dr. Wibisono studied dentistry at UCLA and used all the latest equipment.  He was very slow and meticulous.  I was in the chair for just over 2 hours.  Even though he was slow, he was very thorough and stopped often to check in with me.  I left his office mercury free and very, very happy with the amount I had spent.

So if you have any major dental work to be done I highly suggest a dental holiday.  Do some research, you can even find helpful advise on Trip Advisor.  I found that Mexico and Southeast Asia are the destinations to go for such excursions. Really, you can spend $10 grand on your mouth at home, or you can spend the same amount of money (or less), get the same quality of work done if not better, and go on holiday at the same time.  What could be better than that!

Cortes Cottage

Many people have been asking me to describe where I'm staying.  Here it is!  A very beautiful spot indeed.  I hope one day to return in the summer though.

the beach is about 100 meters from our front porch.  We just
need to cut through the blueberry farm to get there. 

My private sanctuary. The bed is close to where I'm
taking the photo from.

The living room. 

The kitchen up top.  The bathrooms and bedrooms are up to the left.  There
more rooms downstairs as well.  7 rooms in total. 2 bathrooms.

Noshi (Algonquin name for Father).  Noshi  and I sit together
everyday.  He sometimes follows me through the woods as well.  I'm sure he's Dad
reincarnated. 

The Cottage and Noshi

Hollyhock

I'm currently at Hollyhock Retreat Centre on Cortes Island, BC.  It is now called a learning centre and offers all sorts of workshops geared towards personal development.  Somewhere along the way calling something spiritual is now almost politically incorrect.  However, this place is very spiritual.

Hollyhock is considered to be Esalen north minus the Californian weather and the natural hot springs.  Hollyhock has hot tubs that over look the ocean but their not quite the same and beautiful none the less.

I haven't quite figured out Hollyhock thus far and will wait for a few more days to settle in before I write anything.  I will though share some photos with you for now.

View from Cortes Island BC, looking toward Vancouver Island

Cortes Island, BC

Cortesean heading home.

Local ferry trafic

Manson's Landing, Cortes Island

Yellow Boat

My first jellyfish!!

Smelt Bay, Cortes Island

The flock.

Yellow flower

Tree outside the Beach house

Garden Gate at Hollyhock

Hollyhock's Parking Lot

Lunch time

Hey where's the wasabe?

Graceful Flight

The Sanctuary (cob building)

The Sanctuary's Garden Doors.

Inside the Sanctuary (my favourite building)

Om

The Lodge and Garden

Hearts Everywhere!!

Beach Art

Shells and Sand

Hollyhock's Beach House.

An afternoon at Kitsilano beach.

Hanging out

Have a seat

which way

watching the day go by

Fall in Vancouver

You're it!!

Open Air

Hyundai

Rain

Hanging on

Missing the forests

Vancouver

Please throw the ball, please...

Contemplation

transportation

A good day

my favourite tree

play time

yes Vancouver has palm trees