Bali.
You may know this tropical paradise as one of the most talked about holiday destinations in the modern world. So many travel channels have had it featured on their shows and it seems like all your friends have been here (and talk about it all the time).
For so many foreigners, Bali is just a piece of heaven that you get to spend some time in before going back to the countries you call home. Relaxing at the beach, dipping toes in the water, all that dancing and drinking and eating, you’ll get to do those all here.
For us who actually live here, though, Bali is much more than that: it’s our home. Our Bali is not just the one full of live music and beer bottles, it’s also one of serene mornings with dogs roaming free on the streets.
Instead of crazy nights at the beach clubs, we have gamelan sounds coming from local banjars and ceremonies held in local puras. Those lush green paddy fields are not just pretty for the eyes, they’re also the main necessity in our diet. Any local will tell you that no meal is complete without a good amount of warm, white rice.
Bali for us is a source of good energy; a peace of mind lost in any other area of this beloved country called Indonesia. When everyone got their toes too deep in the presidential election, for example, this little island stayed true to itself and just kept everyone within cool-headed, resulting in some of the best examples of multi-racial relationships this country needs to look up to.
The smell of burning incense throughout the day mixes perfectly well with the beauty of the hand-crafted penjors made by the hands of the Balinese people all over the island; bringing peace to our tired souls.
What makes this island beautiful? In our opinion, it’s the locals’ ability to keep their roots; embracing their religious teachings and culture when everyone else has lost connection to their inner selves.
Only in Bali will you see people still wearing traditional clothes to work, youngsters being actively involved in their neighbourhood banjar or pura activities, men and women socializing in a very close-knit circles, and religious ceremonies being celebrated in every color possible.
It’s the kind hearts of the people that treats race and culture difference as something to embrace and nurture instead of something to be scared about.
When you come to the island, do try to open not only your eyes but also your heart. Listen to the sound of gamelan coming from the banjars all around you. Smell the incense, taste the food, take plenty of pictures, get in the water, lie by the beach, have a beer, but most of all, be happy, just like we do.
We welcome you to our home.
