Bali – The Land of Spirits

I arrived in Ubud last Sunday night. And by the time we reached out hotel, it was close to midnight.

Except for the sound of frogs and crickets, it was dead quiet.

We had an early night’s rest, surrounded by tranquility.

Morning greeted us just a little past six. The land was wide-awake, toiling away just like any other day that came before. The emerald green paddy fields glistened in the sun from the remnants of the morning dew. The breeze carried the fragrance of fresh flowers.

It was still quiet. Its only now that I realized I’m no longer in a metropolis where I came from.

There are no high-rise buildings to block the views of the open sky.

There’s no stench of peak hour traffic that masks the smell of the grass.

There’s no pointless chatter to drown out the sound of waters flowing.

There’s only an aura of peaceful calm.

This land is deeply spiritual. Bali is the only non-Muslim state in Indonesia. It’s beliefs steeped in Hinduism and local mysticism. They believe in three main gods – “Brahma” the Creator, “Desa” the Protector and “Dalam” the Destroyer. Brahma’s temples are located near the North of the town, Desa’s in the middle and Dalam’s at the South end, by the cemetery.

Everywhere you go, at every doorway you’ll find a small offering placed on the floor consisting of some sweets and rice placed in a tray intricately folded from banana leaf.

Every house has an altar erected by the entrance. Everyday, the locals will light incense and place offerings of food and sometimes bottles of local wine.

I’m not remotely religious, neither do I believe in any of the validity of their beliefs but it doesn’t matter. Their deep spirituality is good if you’re looking for a place to come to if you’re seeking some form of reconnecting with your inner spiritual self. Yoga by the paddy fields with music from the rustling grass and running streams is certainly better than being surrounded by concrete buildings and music from a CD player.

Ubud is now my favorite place for a quiet retreat away from the bustle of city life. The hardest thing about coming here is knowing that you’ll eventually have to leave.