Bali Ha'i

Bali has been a dream destination for a long long time. We wanted to go for our honeymoon but the airfare seemed too high at that time.. We chose Langkawi instead and did not regret it. In the past whenever we have planned a vacation, Bali features in our short list. I always strike it down because I feel, if we are travelling so far, then we should spend enough time. I do not have a bucket list. As a bucket list , reminds me of the phrase 'kicked the bucket', which means someone died. . Have a list, but not a list of things to do before you die. 

Ubud is calming, scenic and green. It is a religious place for the Balinese Hindus. All the big temples are surrounding the village. Ubud is on the hills and an hour and half drive from the Ngurah Rai Airport. Ngurah Rai is a National hero, a brave soldier who fought against the Dutch. A big statue of his is there in the airport area. Ubud is green coconut, paddy fields and healthy food. People of Ubud do not like to go to Kuta which is the big bad city on the beach.  People are extremely warm, friendly and polite in Ubud. They follow Hinduism. Each house has a Ganpati carved in stone just inside the main gate. It is a huge Ganesh idol and it kind of doesn't allow the passerbys to peep into the house. It really protects the house, in the true sense. 

The Balinese locals are healthy and fit. They are eating their local food whether they are rich or poor. There are men and ladies selling local lunch as they travel in a cycle. The food is served in a bamboo plate. The lady gives a packet of brown paper to them. It has rice, vegetable, a couple of pieces of non veg and some Papaddum version of Bali. The local non veg food is cooked with a lot of vegetables. They eat and return the bamboo plate back to the lady seller. Every restaurant however fancy does have a few Indonesian dishes on the Menu. 

In Bali, the eldest child is called Wayan. Second child is Madey. Third child is Nyoman. Fourth child is called Ketut. This is followed by all Balinese people. From fifth child, the same order is repeated. You saw restaurants and food stores called Wayan or Nyoman or Madey. Then you know which child has started it. There are thousands of Wayan, Madey, Nyoman and Ketut in Bali.The family unit is strong. All live in joint families.  A lady selling Sarongs on the beach in Kuta told me she belongs to the highest Brahmin caste and the eldest child is called a Putu. Wayan is for the lower caste. I am not trying to tell you that caste system is prevalent in Bali. Bali Hinduism is so fascinating. The priests wear all white clothes. They wear shoes in the temples. There are no idols in the temples, only thrones. The offerings are of flowers, incense, fruits and rice. Every shop, restaurant, cashier, hotel has its own little temple. The offerings of flower, food, money and incense stick is kept in a square shape made by green leaves. The offerings are found in all the temples, roadside ones also. The small throne like temples are called Padma. There is usually a Haldi yellow cloth wrapped around the Padma. One finds these offerings outside the entrance of homes and shops. People are not shy about their religion and not apologetic about any aspect of it. Every morning, I saw people carrying these flower offerings and putting it outside shops and temples with a little sprinkling of water and prayers. The person, could be a man or a woman, keeping these beautiful offerings did it without fail at all the places.  and Bali has huge idols on the roads made by a single piece of stone. Some are covered with a black and white chequered cloth or sarong. The Balinese Hindus believe that there is good and bad in all and it goes hand in hand. It is like the fat checks you get in Kolkata sarees or the Kanjeevaram Sarees. 

A shop which sells food or a restaurant is Warung. A Warung can be really upmarket or completely local and small.