Bali Even Higher

Bali Even Higher

Brief notes of Bali today as I'm spending the past few days in Ubud and the magic net of Bali is spun even wider in my imagination. Driving up from the coast to the high volcanoes and every cliche that one has about the island is true -- it is the archetypal paradise -- albeit, in 2007, we need to contend with the noisy roar of motorcycles at all hours of the day and the constant traffic. As Bali recovers from the devestating bombings of several years ago, the tourist business is off, but Bali and the Indonesian governments will need to make some major decisions on limits to growth if it's to preverse even the remotest sense of beauty. That is the challenge to preserve the island and still to provide a viable economic base for people to survive.
Major hotels have inundanted the southern beaches and turned it in a bland international brand of beach with palm trees, where one resort likes another. But Bali still retains its charms with its ubiquitious temples, and most precious is the smiling open faces of the Balinese. The other day wandered into a festival at a temple site and though I had no idea what the festival was for, I was so moved by the Balinese of all ages in traditional costumes where were entranced by the dance and festivity. The children with obvious joy were watching this dance that was hundreds of years old. The people hold great pride in their local customs and their spirituality is ominpresent. Today was a day for the Iron Festival -- where you made an offering to the Iron or Machines in your life... computers, cars, and tools. This seems like a good idea to ward off the evil spirits that wander into our computers and toys. It feels like a culture that will maintain its identity even in the age of the internet. But for all cultures the allurement of tv, pop culture, and the internet are an ever present challenge.

More to come - a taste of paradise.

Namaya

In the brief time, I'm here, I'm feeling the imperative to spend months here and discovering this quickly disappearing paradise.
More notes to come and photos, but I'm off