25th March. I managed to rush through a few meetings upon my arrival in Bali about noon. We talked about the Island Resort and the revival of one long lost forgotten project. Right after my meetings, I have to rush again to a nearby store to shop for food and drinks to prepare for the day of silence…Hari Raya Nyepi…here only in Bali.
26th March. Hari Nyepi. Not allowed out of the hotel, no services and nothing served… and no lights. A day of complete silence. Guests in the hotel like me did feel weird as we wondered about around the hotel like ghosts. No sound, no music, no one to talk to, no air-con, no fans, no place to go, a complete day of silence and loneliness. At night, it became eerie as it was so dark and nothing can be seen. Outside my room windows, there was nothing but darkness, pure pitch dark surrounding. The only thing that were near to you… were the twinkling stars in the night sky. As you look up into the sky, it was the most beautiful starry night, like thousand of eyes staring back at you. Haven’t seen this night sky for ages….”Selamat Hari Raya Nyepi”
27th March. At Bonsai Cafe by the beach side at Sanur, Karl was having breakfast with me. The morning beach activities were almost back to normal after a day of silence. We had a great time talking about work, health and of course not to miss out, the global crisis. Two hours seems to fly like a breeze while enjoying our breakfast in a nice morning beach side environment. By noon, I was back in the airport and heading back to the city of mud.
Interestingly, a Balinese man walking with his bicycle, looked at me and said, “How old are you this year?” He then told me that he was 76. He looked like 65. He was on his way to the rice field to work. “You don’t look 76.” I said and he replied, ” Two warm glasses each morning, one cup of coffee a day at most, maybe more vegetables and stay in Bali. “
Filed under: Bali, Site Trips, Travel & Leisure
