Bali had been very interesting for me…a little like sipping single-malt but at first I wasn’t sure about it. Yet the longer it lingered in my mouth, the more I went hmmm…I love this. I am not sure why I didn’t fall in love immediately I guess sometime beautiful things need to grow on me. Bali is gorgeous. It is lush as lush can be with terracing rice fields in myriad unearthly greens…blooming flowers everywhere, Buddha statues with mythical figures along every corner, every home with its own lovely temple, it is truly breathtaking. And it is working its beauteous magic on me…I would love it if a way presented itself to me to come back to this part of the world on a semi regular basis…a way that would be financially viable that is. (Grin…ok gods do your magic)
We are staying at a home-
stay belonging to someone Barb and I vaguely knew in our Vancouver days…over twenty-five years ago. How funny is that?To add to that she has another friend who is visiting, whom Barb and I did know, but have not seen for twenty-five years…Its been a crazy time reacquainting ourselves with one another and going over the life times we each had and have…very wild. The time part in particular is really interesting, how do we pick up with someone after twenty-five years as if it was only yesterday? And yet we can and do.
Bali has been the most vacation time we have had since starting our trip in Asia…its amazing how much easier life can be when someone directs you to the nearest ATM and the good eats. Knowing where you head will land at night has also been a nice luxury along with great massages that are so affordable I have had them twice a week since we have been here…yes we are spoiled.
Beyond the fun however, there is something very special about the local people. The sense that I feel from them is that they are generally very sweet natured and me being a tourist is not necessarily the reason they are smiling. It would be easy to romanticize the ‘natives’ and maybe I am. But when you see the flower offerings and smell the incense everyday, when you watch them go to temple and do ceremonies that have not a thing to do with tourists, its hard to not to feel that people here are special. Maybe because the Balinese type of Hinduism is not as oppressive as some other religions, thus it lends itself to a lighter general feeling, I don’t know…I do know that the culture here is very rich and ingrained within the populous. I also hope that the tourist industry is kept in check, to some degree, so the island will keep that sense of cultural sweetness it seems to possess.
As you will see in the pictures below the sense of beauty is so pervasive here, it’s everywhere. The simplest flowers in a ceramic pot seem exquisite. The outstanding craftsmanship can be seen in the stone and woodcarvings on walls, temples and doors. Whether it is stone, wood or bone people here know how to work it. Each village has its own specialty, which they have been ensuing for generations. Even the rice field here is exquisite. (Grin…yes Bali got me). Enjoy this set of pictures, I will post more in the next few days.
The Relationship Creature 