Welcome to the Island of the Gods

Take my hand; the gods are calling you to the secret and sacred land of Bali. Let the heat of the glorious sun embed into your skin, waking every cell within you with its pure golden radiance, as locals welcome you with open arms and wide smiles. A Balinese local once told me “when in Bali all your troubles melt away.” You are starting to feel this now, as the distant, steady beat of a kemanak finds its rhythm in the wild, mixed in with a chorus of voices entwined together signalling the start of a ceremony. Their words are unfamiliar to you, but contain a beautiful melody that make your hips sway slightly as you take this moment to close your eyes and soak in the magic that has been intricately woven into their repeated chants.

You stand upon a trodden dirt path, letting the soles of your feet kiss the bare earth beneath you as you sway with the island’s rhythm, adjusting to its unrushed pace of life. Locals lie out with their family members in front of their rumah gadangs (houses), happily slumbering in the midday heat. You are starting to feel at peace as your eyes adjust to the luscious green oasis that stands so boldly before you. You have awoken in your own private jungle that expands as far as the eye can go. A serenade of bright colours that calls to you, telling you to delve deeper into its palette of colours, and you do.

The think grass tickles your feet, as you become accustomed to the insects deep hum, and the strange collection of sounds from the mouths of hidden wildlife. You can feel their large eyes upon you as they dart about through the trees; choosing to remain hidden for now. Maybe later, they will trust you enough to make a special appearance for you only, but for now, they are a spectator to your every move as you move across their land.

A thin, trail of lilac smoke catches your eye as it dances up towards the vast expanse of blue sky that stretches for an eternity. Hurriedly, you follow its delicate trail, as a strong smell of incense catches your senses as you draw closer to the source. You breathe deeply in, wanting to rub your nose against this earthy, masculine scent that also eludes to a dash of sandalwood that has been softened with hints of delicate florals.

You have stumbled across a shrine for the gods. The pamerajan. You watch closely as a man lays down woven rafts that hold the offerings for the day, a medley of colourful fresh flowers, grains of rice and a small amount of money; all of which are intricately placed beside each other. The man’s kind face is content as he sinks into a deep prayer and meditation. Incense burns from the offerings, the source of the tantalizing and calming smell that led you to this very spot. The smoke of the incense he explains carries the sari, the essence of the offering all the way to heaven to appease the gods.

“Whosoever offers to me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water; that offering of love, of pure of heart, I accept.” – Lord Krishna.

He leads you to the most important shrine; the sanggah kemulan, which he explains is devoted to the Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. You nod your head, eager to learn and drink in the rich culture that Bali has to offer you; to immerse yourself fully in its rich culture.

Your journey continues as you explore further, in the horizon you spot Bali’s famous rice paddies, their enormity astounds you, as they stretch out profoundly into the landscape. They exude both peace and serenity. However, something else has grabbed your attention, a small family make their way towards you, carrying with them a beautiful platter of fresh fruit adorned on an intricate sliver plate. They have prepared it especially for you. The wondrous Balinese hospitality knows no bounds and you bow your head to them in both respect and gratitude at their kindly gesture.

Your mouth waters uncontrollably as you gaze down at the vivid assortment of fruits, all perfectly sliced and cut into convoluted patterns, enticing your taste buds. The true extent of your hunger that had been growing in the pit on your stomach as you explored your way around is now making itself be truly known as your eyes soak up the fresh mango, papaya, watermelon, dragon fruit, mangosteen and lychees. Your hand lingers for a moment before you select a slice of ripe papaya; the juice drips down from your chin as you relish its sweetness spreading across your tongue. Heaven. It satisfies both your hunger and thirst at once.

You could stay in this spot forever, watching the everyday comings and goings of the locals and their lives. You bask in their happiness and gratitude that seems to seep from every corner. Everywhere you look, you see smiling faces accompanied by the peals of contagious belly laughter coming from the local children as they play in the roads, merrily chasing the street dogs.

As the day draws in, you walk back to your villa, sinking into a white clothed hammock, humming slightly to yourself as you begin to sway gently. Your eyes are drawn towards a vast local temple with its richly adorned kori agung gateway, all of which is situated proudly against the magnificent backdrop of the fast approaching dusk. You take in its glory, wondering how it is possible for such an enigmatic magic to be woven in-between the very stones that lay its foundation. How can one not be enchanted by this vibrant and unspoilt land?

Your mind races to what tomorrow will hold for you once you awaken yet again in this blissful paradise. Maybe you will start your day by drinking the sweet, luscious water from a large coconut, accompanied by a traditional Balinese breakfast, bananas, and black rice in coconut milk, accompanied with Kalimantan bananas (fried bananas). The refreshing taste of the island combined into a bowl. You know you will savour the taste as lively monkeys and flitting birds start their day alongside you.

Where to first? To a crystalline white sand beach where you can practice your vinyasa yoga flow, or to a towering waterfall where all the locals go to cliff jump into its topaz coloured waters, or perhaps a demanding but worthwhile hike through the jungle and into the wilderness. The possibilities are endless, the list rolls on and on. Temples, local markets, street festivals, religious ceremonies, sacred rivers, forests, traditional Balinese dance.

For now, however, you are content in basking in the aura of gratitude that seems to charge the air in Bali and all those who inhabit it. Lazily, you watch as the sun dips lower and lower in the sky, giving way for the night sky to burst forward, throwing a blanket of stars around you. Your adventure of a lifetime eagerly awaits you as the gods watch on, blessing your time here.

"Life, religion and art all converge in Bali. They have no word in their language for 'artist' or 'art.' Everyone is an artist." - Anais Nin.