Insulation

BaliLife

Hi All, One of the most magical things I find about Bali is that when there, as I am every 2 weeks if not every week (when in Indo that is) is the way that I forget about life's stresses. I don't know why this is the case but it's one of the very significant factors in wanting to finally get there full-time. Whether it's personal or other stresses, Bali just has this magical way of getting me to forget about it. I'm not into explicit meditation (perhaps I should be) - but I find, time in Bali is almost like a period of prolonged meditation - and that's in the populated southern bukit - going out into the cultural heart of Bali is even more intoxicating. I'm here in Canada, and seeing my kids play with their cousins and with their grandparents is one of the best feelings a parent can have, but a selfish part of me is missing the essence of Bali :( ct

chilli

its not selfish Balilife , its part of a sense of longing for what makes us feel good, your lucky to have several experiences making you feel good, watching your kids play and happy and recalling your meditative frame of mind of Bali. (two positives). Bali has that magic for certain, the people are cruisy and lay back with beautiful faces, the atmosphere (outside of traffic) is baumy, mild wind, sunny blue skies, amazing clouds, flowers everywhere, music in the air, offerings, insence, ghekos, frogs, birds, all creatures are about you. Not to mention it has its own particular aroma which i smell as soon as i land at the airport, my husband and i take a deep breath and say, wowwwwwwwwwwwww we're in in Bali !!!! :D :D :D When we were married in Bali was a few days after the October bombings in 2005. all our guests (48 of them) who had booked to fly in, pulled out at the last minuite. (people were afraid). Coming up on the flight, can you beleive it was my husband and myself the only two people onboard the plane). Everything had been organised months before and we had to cancel so much. The wedding people in bali were wonderful and understanding. they acted for us as our witnesses and the entire party wedding pics are the pedanda and the entire crew, security guard and his wife, children, hotel staff, with some of their family members.. The hotel was so happy because they had a pedanda there and all the hotel workers came in to say the last wish for Bali togethor. We dedicated our marriage to the support of hope for what had happened and to help bring up morale again. Its our wedding anniversary now (3 years on from the bombs) and each year we celebrate our love for Bali and the memory of that day and that we turned our wedding day into giving to Bali instead. Our Pedanda was Ida Pedanda Gede Bang Buruan Manuaba, i wish Kadek could tell me what caste this is..

Kadek

Nice stories here. Chilli, I never realised that you are a Hindu and had a Hindu wedding in Bali. As for the high priest - as he is called Pedanda, he would have to be from Brahmana family although I am not quite sure what his main belief is (whether he is a Buda or Sivaite). Regards Kadek

Roy

Speaking of high priests, and if I may follow up with Kadek’s last post, I have personally found them all to be amazing individuals that are not only approachable, but in all truth, wonderfully conversant and more than willing to share time with us non Balinese. By their roles, as high priests, these men, and women, are incredibly busy and in constant high demand, be it for advice, holy water, or a ceremony. Yet every time I have visited with one, I am always put at ease, and given all the time I need to discuss whatever it is that is on my mind. Women high priests generally become so because their husband (a high priest) has died. That is not always the case, but it is generally so. My “favorite” high priest, which is a term that my wife doesn’t like so much, is indeed a woman. She has been a major force in all my life on Bali. I see her at least 20 times a year, so I guess it’s close to 200 times or so now, or maybe more. Our relationship is unique, and it is hardly religious. I have grown to love this woman for all she has taught me in her most subtle manner, and always couched in humor. I guess she has singled me out too, as at ceremonies when she arrives, and I meet her car, she insists over younger, bigger, and stronger Balinese that I carry her into the temple, and she knows fully well that I have a chronic bad back. Do I cherish being the mule? You bet I do. At our marriage, ten years ago, she took me from Hindu birth to age appropriate to marry Eri. As my late “brother” Matt described, it was the Readers Digest condensed version of Bali birth, childhood, adolescence and manhood. Way back then she never hinted for a bit that this marriage between a bule and a Balinese princess was something she did not approve. For all of us in our family, every oton, we visit her. My own otons with her are rather funny in that she insists that I take off my safari and tee shirt. That’s because she pours buckets upon buckets of holy water over me! My cries of “suda mandi” are useless. She knows just how much I need to be purified, and all the while she is smiling. At our melaspas ceremony at the end of this month, she will lead the ceremony along with another high priest. Aside from my one time discussion with her, about dog sacrifice, I have left all of this to my wife and her family. But, I am immensely looking forward to seeing her at our compound. Here are two pics of her, the last being with our youngest son, Komang after his most recent oton.