I must admit I was skeptical. After nine months in Indonesia, I had seen enough of Indonesia to know it’s got more to offer the world than Bali alone. Stories of watching surfers at Dreamland, lounging on the beach Kuta, and soaking in the culture at Ubud left me hopeful, yet skeptical, about Bali’s Island- of-the-Gods reputation.
Well the truth is that Bali did cast a bit of spell. I loved the simple things that felt extravagant. Small woven offerings with petals, food, and fruits lying on the sidewalk in front of store fronts. Plumeria blooms resting between dark stones on pathways.
And then there are the lotus flowers.
One afternoon in Ubud I thought I heard rain, but it was just a bunch of ducks waddling their way through a newly planted rice field, webbed feet and beaks meeting the surface of the water.
After a day of surf and sun we watched a kecak dance peformance, the ocean and a spectacular sunset as the only backdrop.
In Tulamben, east Bali, I went snorkeling off a black stone beach. There in the middle of the coral was a solitary, indigo starfish, perhaps 18 inches in diameter, resting there as if it was waiting for me to show up.
Our break on Bali also felt a bit like coming full circle. Early in April when Todd visited, we passed thru Bali’s airport on our way to nearby Lombok and the Gili Islands. This time we came and stayed. We enjoyed the visit of our friend, Lyndsey. Seeing her felt reminded me of what it felt like begin life in Indonesia.
It’s no secret that beginning life in Indonesia is something I’d like to do over. Rewind and replay. I suppose it’s a good thing that I’ve loved it so much. I finally dreamt in Indonesian on Bali. In the dream I had a brief conversation with some Indonesian women. I told them I was a teacher (for some unknown reason) and I was preparing for my lesson.
The next night, the night before we left Bali, our hippie, Humbolt-dwelling hotel neighbor said “Hey guys, have nice dreams. The dreams here really take you places.” That, or the places here seem like dreams.
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