Vinnie and Wayan left the racing field.
They tied the oxen to a tree and walked up the mountain.
"Where are we going?"
Vinnie asked as they went higher.
"To my favorite spot," said Wayan.
The boys stopped to rest.
"Wow!" Vinnie gasped.
"I can see everything from up here!"
He was looking down at the village and ocean.
Wayan laughed.
"From here, everything—the mountains, the sea, the village—looks connected.
In Bali, everything we build and do is based on this idea of connection," he said.
"I don't understand," said Vinnie.
"To be happy, people should live in harmony with nature, the gods, and each other.
My father says that harmony with those three things is necessary for a good life," continued Wayan.
Back at the village, the adults were ready to hold their meeting.
"Mandy, come home with me," said Nyoman.
"We can get ready for the festival."
"Sure," replied Mandy, walking with her new friend.
The homes reminded Mandy of the courtyard houses she had seen in China.
Nyoman pointed out that every family had separate areas for different activities.
"We sleep and eat in different places.
There's also a building for ceremonies and a guest house.
The wall is to keep out evil forces."
Then Nyoman asked, "Are you hungry?"
"Yes," said Mandy.
Suddenly Nyoman climbed up a tall tree.
"Watch your head!" she called, and she dropped a coconut.
It broke in half.
Nyoman climbed down, and the girls shared the delicious fruit.
"I love climbing trees," giggled Nyoman.
"Can I try?" asked Mandy.
Nyoman led her to a smaller tree with green bananas and said, "Climb this one."
Mandy was about to climb when she heard loud screeching.
A few monkeys scrambled down a tree and started chasing the girls.
Laughing, Nyoman and Mandy ran until they reached the rice field behind Nyoman's house.
There Mandy noticed a miniature house on a pole.
Grains of rice were sprinkled inside.
"What is this?" she asked.
"A rice field temple," explained Nyoman.
"Rice farmers give rice grains to the Rice Mother.
She is the most loved goddess in Bali."
"Wow," said Mandy.
"There are a lot of temples in Bali!"
"Every family has one.
Every village has one too," said Nyoman.
"There are mountain temples and river temples . . .
Bali is called the island of a thousand temples."
Back on the mountain, Vinnie and Wayan were ready to return to the village.
Suddenly Vinnie felt the ground shake.
"Whoa! What's that?" he shouted.
A low sound rumbled like thunder.
"The mountain is not happy," said Wayan worriedly.
"What do you mean?" asked Vinnie.
"The god who lives in the mountain is upset," said Wayan.
The ground shook harder.
"Let's get out of here!" shouted Vinnie.