Bali

I write this coming to the end of my second visit to Bali – a part of Indonesia that never fails to impress me with its drive and development all wrapped up in a tenacious desire not to let go of the past. What has got the Balinese to this point they seem to be saying, is what will continue to drive us into the future.

It is not at all unusual to find offerings to the spirits or gods sitting on the pavement outside shops and offices in the towns nor to find staff in businesses lighting incense in the afternoon before returning to work. Its a practical link between the past and the future and is perhaps more prevalent here than in many places I have been around the Asia region. Or maybe being on vacation I have simply stopped and noticed.

And it is perhaps that alone, the ability to get us to stop, stare and wonder that is what is so magical about travel and for me Bali in particular. Sitting here writing this staring out of the window all I can see are plants and trees. Same view I have had in many places around the wold and yet here I can see more variations of green than I ever thought existed. As I have wandered around it is not the sunlight that makes me grab for my sunglasses but the vibrancy of the colours; my eyes have taken days to settle down and process the sheer extravagance of the greenery. As you can see the colours are extraordinary, the occasional breeze making the colours sway and dazzle to a hidden but no doubt universal music.

While you’re staring at the scenery don’t ignore the animal kingdom. Monkeys wander around and, other than in the Monkey Sanctuary in Ubud, are more scared of you than you are of them, while the ever present Mosquitos seem to operate in rotation with specific types available 24/7. Gecko’s sprint up and down walls and across ceilings not just seeming to but actually defying gravity and chasing any flying or crawling bug they can find. Not only can they climb anything that they want that can sing to each other as well. And just occasionally you might be lucky enough to see a bigger lizard such as the one below who decided to tap on our window the other day.

Its somewhat disconcerting to be reading a book, looking up and finding not 12 inches to your left, a lizard tasting the air with its forked tongue and tapping on the window like he (or she’s) forgotten their key. I don’t think he was as unhappy as the picture above would have you believe even though we didn’t let him in.

I don’t know how but Bali forces you to stop and look, it is simply impossible to do otherwise.