Lessons learned from Bali
The Bali people live close to the land, and a complex system of water ways brings water where it is needed. Rice fields and farms exist right where the people live, even in unlikely places such as the side of an active volcano, and on steep terraced canyons, behind storefronts and hotel rooms. Water is everywhere, in the air, in little canals that run through every village, in ponds, in rice paddies. Plants are everywhere, in gardens, in gutters, on the sides of buildings. There are plants on plants on plants. Birds are everywhere, as are relaxed dogs, and scrawny cats. Trash is everywhere, making me instantly conscious of every choice I made in my consumption. Take way: Live closer to the earth, closer to your food, your water source, and your waste.
The Bali architecture brings the outdoors in and the indoors out, at least in the restaurants and hotels I visited. There really is no separation between man and nature, and this was most evident in rooms with missing walls. While I appreciated every moment I could step inside and seal myself off from relentless mosquitoes, or revive myself with air conditioning, I also appreciated the ability to sit in hot shady spaces, open to nature, to enjoy a filling meal and fresh squeezed lime juice, or thick Balinese coffee, and amazing views. At times it was overwhelming to be among the bugs, the trash, and the poverty, but I felt healthy, more alive, and constantly nurtured by the environment. The air was saturated in moisture, the plants more vibrant, the sun hotter, and the occasional breeze served as a welcome reminder that all is well. The take away: Do all you can to remove the walls that create the illusion of separation.
The people were friendly, eager to get our business. I was put off at first by the constant honking taxis and offers of transport. But this was my cultural perspective at play. The taxis were honking to let us know they were available. The offers of transport were honest requests for work. Once inside a vehicle I realized the drivers honk to make others aware of their presence, when they are passing on the right, or when they are coming up on an unsuspecting motorbike, unlike drivers in the US who use their horns to express their anger, impatience, and hostility. Take away: Drive more carefully, and consider the well-being of others when I’m in my car!
Temples were plentiful, as were little spiritual offering baskets made up of banana leaves filled with flowers, and bundles of rice. We read in a book that it is taboo to step on or over these offerings and so we were at times a comedy of errors, the four of us, jumping out of the way of these reminders of spirit left lovingly every few steps on the sidewalk, warning each other to “watch out!” Beautifully carved stacks of decorative blocks, piled up with open chair-like structures on the top, wrapped in blue and white checked fabric lined the corners of each building. There is no getting away from the Gods on Bali. Ritual and local customs persist in the face of tourism, traffic gets stopped for processions, people pour into the streets carrying offering basket on their heads after temple services. Trees and stones and buildings are also adorned in fabric. When I asked our driver why, he said it is because of the spirits seen in those trees, stones, and buildings. He proceeded to tell me about the people in his village who can see spirits. His grandfather had an encounter with a dragon just last year. He said it was small, only a couple of feet long, and when it flew in front of his grandfather he was filled with fear and fled! Take away: Honor my own beliefs, bring temples, alters, rituals into my home, my yard, my daily life.
For me, one week in Bali was a great vacation, time to relax, eat great food, to take on little adventures, like volcano trekking, and white water rafting. But for the people who live in Bali, life is clearly hard. Everyone works and from what I saw families work hard together. It is a poor country economical, but rich in beautiful land, amazing weather, and welcoming smiles. We are not big shoppers while on vacation, preferring to enjoy activities over shopping, but now being home, I wish I had bought more handicrafts if only to have helped this beautiful place and its people thrive. What I did bring home was a soothed soul, and for that there simply is no price.
The Bali people live close to the land, and a complex system of water ways brings water where it is needed. Rice fields and farms exist right where the people live, even in unlikely places such as the side of an active volcano, and on steep terraced canyons, behind storefronts and hotel rooms. Water is everywhere, in the air, in little canals that run through every village, in ponds, in rice paddies. Plants are everywhere, in gardens, in gutters, on the sides of buildings. There are plants on plants on plants. Birds are everywhere, as are relaxed dogs, and scrawny cats. Trash is everywhere, making me instantly conscious of every choice I made in my consumption. Take way: Live closer to the earth, closer to your food, your water source, and your waste.
The Bali architecture brings the outdoors in and the indoors out, at least in the restaurants and hotels I visited. There really is no separation between man and nature, and this was most evident in rooms with missing walls. While I appreciated every moment I could step inside and seal myself off from relentless mosquitoes, or revive myself with air conditioning, I also appreciated the ability to sit in hot shady spaces, open to nature, to enjoy a filling meal and fresh squeezed lime juice, or thick Balinese coffee, and amazing views. At times it was overwhelming to be among the bugs, the trash, and the poverty, but I felt healthy, more alive, and constantly nurtured by the environment. The air was saturated in moisture, the plants more vibrant, the sun hotter, and the occasional breeze served as a welcome reminder that all is well. The take away: Do all you can to remove the walls that create the illusion of separation.
The people were friendly, eager to get our business. I was put off at first by the constant honking taxis and offers of transport. But this was my cultural perspective at play. The taxis were honking to let us know they were available. The offers of transport were honest requests for work. Once inside a vehicle I realized the drivers honk to make others aware of their presence, when they are passing on the right, or when they are coming up on an unsuspecting motorbike, unlike drivers in the US who use their horns to express their anger, impatience, and hostility. Take away: Drive more carefully, and consider the well-being of others when I’m in my car!
Temples were plentiful, as were little spiritual offering baskets made up of banana leaves filled with flowers, and bundles of rice. We read in a book that it is taboo to step on or over these offerings and so we were at times a comedy of errors, the four of us, jumping out of the way of these reminders of spirit left lovingly every few steps on the sidewalk, warning each other to “watch out!” Beautifully carved stacks of decorative blocks, piled up with open chair-like structures on the top, wrapped in blue and white checked fabric lined the corners of each building. There is no getting away from the Gods on Bali. Ritual and local customs persist in the face of tourism, traffic gets stopped for processions, people pour into the streets carrying offering basket on their heads after temple services. Trees and stones and buildings are also adorned in fabric. When I asked our driver why, he said it is because of the spirits seen in those trees, stones, and buildings. He proceeded to tell me about the people in his village who can see spirits. His grandfather had an encounter with a dragon just last year. He said it was small, only a couple of feet long, and when it flew in front of his grandfather he was filled with fear and fled! Take away: Honor my own beliefs, bring temples, alters, rituals into my home, my yard, my daily life.
For me, one week in Bali was a great vacation, time to relax, eat great food, to take on little adventures, like volcano trekking, and white water rafting. But for the people who live in Bali, life is clearly hard. Everyone works and from what I saw families work hard together. It is a poor country economical, but rich in beautiful land, amazing weather, and welcoming smiles. We are not big shoppers while on vacation, preferring to enjoy activities over shopping, but now being home, I wish I had bought more handicrafts if only to have helped this beautiful place and its people thrive. What I did bring home was a soothed soul, and for that there simply is no price.
RSS Feed