It's been less than three months since we left. And on returning, I swore I wouldn't be back too soon after stressful long haul flights, a very bad case of food poisoning (later discovered to be a rare form of salmonella) and the persistence of shop owners trying to convince me that they're Bintang bottle holders are the best you can get.
Yet here I am, having spent a good part of the last hour staring at the ceiling unable to bring my mind away from Bali. Why the pull?
I miss the culture. Learning about the niche of Balinese hinduism was eye opening, how religon is fierce in every day of their lives. The Balinese taught me about how the good and the evil must co exist. A balance and presence of both is necessary, the world would never work without it.
I miss the art. Bali is ridden with artists with talent running deep in their veins, a passion and dedication to their sole artistic expression, decades or centuries of artistic ancestors who spent their lives creating vivid beauty. We visited a woodcrafting village in Ubud, where we saw firsthand the work that goes in to creating the most intricate carvings. The owner told us about how he was born into the trade and has never considered another career. His friends, uncles, siblings all have specialized in the creation of particular pieces.
A young painter insisted we buy a waterpaiting in our visit to Batuan, and told us how the first customer of the day brings good luck. We couldn't resist.
A young painter insisted we buy a waterpaiting in our visit to Batuan, and told us how the first customer of the day brings good luck. We couldn't resist.
I long for the white sands of the South coast, with its heavy tropical blue waves. One of my favourite days were when we hired a moped from a small time clothing boutique owner in bustling Legian, for no more than £10 for the whole day (including petrol!), getting lost along the roads in between sights I could only dream up to be so spectacular.
We rode along the south Kuta coast, stopped at each notable beach including a narrow cave way down to the turquoise waters of Padang Padang. The Ripcurl surfing competition was ongoing, and we spent the day in awe, absorbing the rays and the amazing atmosphere.
(Padang Padang)
(Dreamland Beach)
We rode along the south Kuta coast, stopped at each notable beach including a narrow cave way down to the turquoise waters of Padang Padang. The Ripcurl surfing competition was ongoing, and we spent the day in awe, absorbing the rays and the amazing atmosphere.
(Padang Padang)
(Dreamland Beach)
Oh boy, do I miss the food. £3 for a bowl of curry so big it could feed me three times. And that's with a beer. I'm pretty sure if I stayed another week I'd have grown a second stomach. I'm missing their Kopi (coffee). 7am rise to a coffee so bitter it made the hair on your neck stand, before a new day of adventure, and we could never expect what awaited us.
I could be here for days writing about all the fascinating things I've seen and done in Bali, but I'll save that for another post. Dreaming about Bali is getting me through these long and dark last few weeks at university before Christmas time.
I could be here for days writing about all the fascinating things I've seen and done in Bali, but I'll save that for another post. Dreaming about Bali is getting me through these long and dark last few weeks at university before Christmas time.