We spend a month in Kuta, on Legion Beach in Bali, Indonesia – living in a one bedroom apartment on a resort property in the middle of town. The service was awesome, the people were sweet and very accommodating within the walls of the Jayakarta. We were the only Americans in the area as far as we could tell, but because the place catered to Australians, English was widely spoken. Only thing is the minute you stepped out of the AirBB/resort area, you were attached by beggars and solicitors who would not take no for an answer.
I tried to explain to a few lovely ladies that I had spend the previous 3 years downsizing my big American lifestyle, giving away my jewelry and other possessions, and was now living out of one suitcase and a small backpack. That’s when they didn’t understand my language and would bring their forlorn children into the circle with rehearsed pathetic faces to influence my purchase. Guess every region has it’s marketing tactics and who am I to regard one better than the other?
Bali had long been on our bucket list of places in the world we wanted to go. Having Buddhist tendencies, I thought for sure I would find some zen in all of the temples, rice fields and magnificent beach cliffs. Turns out, not so much.
Every destination we visited provided hope for a calm and reflective setting, particularly if you had looked at the YouTube videos that promote these locations. But alas, when you get to the famous spot, usually after a long journey of traffic ridden roads seeped in potholes and littered with scooter drivers who have gone rogue in regard to traffic rules, there are more humans than an LSU tailgate party on game-day. I’m not saying this is bad, and I’m not sure what I expected, but there was not nearly an inch of space to sit and reflect on the wonders of god or the universe. Barely enough space for the Instagram or Facebook shot. We continued the tradition, as you’ll see in the video below.
The closest thing to spirituality was the daily morning offerings the locals made to the temples and statues that are a part of almost every property. It was here that you could sense their dedication to the Hindu offering tradition called puja. This practice is done in a variety of occasions, frequencies, and settings. It may include a daily puja done in the home, or occasional temple ceremonies and annual festivals. In our resort neighborhood, it was done as a daily morning ritual.
We asked the locals about it many times, and it comes down to gratitude and honoring the circle of life. Giving back to nature (birds and insects) with tidbits of food, tobacco, candy, and flowers. Looking back on the practice, this is the one ritual in Bali that provided me with a deep sense of spiritual comfort. Simple beauty.
Taking time to prepare an offering and present it in a local temple (on the grounds) or at the entrance to a restaurant or shop seemed to take away the annoyance of that person employing a “marketing” tactic. A moment of devotion, sometimes with superstition about warding off the “bad” and protecting one from evil was widely practiced at many locations where we lived in Bali.
In my catholic upbringing, I was always searching for something more to fill me. Something more than rituals and traditions, community, rules and regulations to follow. In my visit to Bali, I realized these are the pillars of faith. And that the outward presentation and practice of these traditions, people find their own meaning and a bit of comfort in doing something on the daily with calm and devotion.
Like praying, offering, meditating… these things provide an action that slows down our busy minds, and gives one time to consider a world larger than oneself. In doing so, you become one with it.
Francelle Theriot
It’s in this way I did find more spirituality, and a greater appreciation of my own beliefs. A deeper appreciation for my morning meditations, walks and pondering. Unexpected, but very real and more mature. Thanks Bali.
LIFE ON VACA 