By Debi Lander
mail@floridanewsline.com
Most people imagine Bali as an exotic and enchanting paradise with emerald-green terraced rice fields, gorgeous sandy beaches, and volcanic peaks. I can affirm that the magical, lush landscape lives up to the dream, but getting to the isle is a seemingly endless series of flights. But, worth the time!
Bali, Indonesia, is known as the Island of the Gods for its multitude of temples. Hundreds of temples, shrines, and monumental decorative gates lie scattered throughout Bali’s cities, villages, and countryside. Some are ancient, some covered in moss, and others decorated with flowers.
Ninety percent of the Balinese are Hindu, and this architectural style remains an essential component of the culture. Every village also maintains a main temple, a large ceremonial and gathering pavilion, and a drum tower to call the residents. And each family compound has an outdoor family temple.
Art and craftsmanship are highly valued and practiced on the island. Entire villages frequently produce a particular art form, such as woodcarving, stone cutting, jewelry making, drawing and painting, basketry, weaving, and textiles. Extended families, often three generations, work together, the youngest learning from their elders. At an art gallery, I watched the patriarch bent over a complex pen and ink scene, the son painting with watercolors, and the youngest working with acrylic paints. While the arts are evolving, the communal environment nourishes the talent.
Water is critical to life on the island for Bali’s iconic rice fields. They use a thousand-year-old system to keep the supply available when and where needed. Each farm belongs to a local water-sharing association, and each chapter’s head works out a planting schedule so farmers can flood and drain the rice fields at precise stages of the growing cycle.
The verdant and artistically shaped rice terraces attract tourists and lots of photographers. Here again, the communal spirit is at work. While standing above the fields provides a majestic sight, just looking earns a few tourist dollars. The community-based tourism association wisely built swings, zip lines, photo ops, restrooms, and snack huts. Visitors buy tickets to interact with nature while having fun and bring income to the area. I purchased my ticket for a ride on a giant swing soaring over the rice paddies — a moment I won’t forget. I wish I’d had time to trek among the terraces (another paying tourist option.)
Many women in my group were quilters interested in learning about batik fabric. We took a class at a family-owned batik shop where we dipped a cloth into dye, scrunched it, drizzled on a different color dye, and then sprinkled it with ash to create a marbling effect. The second process involved placing a copper template into hot wax and stamping it on the fabric to transfer a design. Afterward, the cloth is re-dyed, the paraffin is boiled off, and beautiful printed material appears.
I also wandered through the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a lush jungle with gigantic Banyan trees. About 1,000 monkeys roam free, the babies mischievously frolicking.
Bali ranks high for wellness and yoga retreats; spa treatments come at bargain prices. I stayed busy participating in a water purification ritual and visiting the picturesque lake temple on Mount Batur’s caldera. I also took a cooking class, learning to make a spicy salad and satay with ground chicken cooked on a grill.
I lodged in a colorful boutique hotel in Ubud, the cultural and artistic heart. Then I moved to a luxury beach resort hotel in Nusa Dua. I left the magical island too soon but hope to return someday.
I purchased the tour from Craftours.com and highly recommend it.
Visit www.bylandersea.com to read more of local travel writer Debi Lander’s stories and travel tips.
Photo courtesy Debi Lander
Swinging over rice terraces.
