My Spiritual Rendezvous With The Balinese Community
Dynamic yet relaxing, Bohemian yet spiritual – Bali is a paradox of all sorts. For someone who is a big believer in spirituality, Bali had been at the top of my spiritual travel list for a very long time. So, when I got an invitation in 2017 to visit a Balinese friend from my Iyengar Yoga days.
In the heart of Seminyak, a sprawling 20,000 square feet property comprising of an outdoor yoga studio and luxurious treehouses for guests stood majestically in front of me.
Initially, we spent almost all our time reminiscing about our days with Guruji and bringing each other up-to-date with what we had done since the last time we met. Later on, as I got around to meeting other guests, we spent quite a lot of time exploring, dining, and socialising together. We were people belonging to different nationalities united by our common love for Yoga. This opened my eyes to simple yet enjoyable, yet luxurious life like a Yogi, like my Yogi friend Olop lives.
I attended daily morning classes at Olop’s beautiful outdoor studio, surrounded by peacocks, birds and local farm animals. It felt raw and real. It is the first time I had practice in such a relaxed feeling.
The 8 days that I spent in Bali, were truly special. After I explored numerous local markets and shops around the island I realised, the simplicity and the rawness of Bali was reflected not just through the behaviour of the locals but also through the architecture, monuments, and shops. It had a vibe of authenticity and purity in all the local shops and markets, a feeling that I loved. The products sold in these shops were truly inspiring, creative and made by locals from naturally found materials. From a shop that sold only intricate baskets made from shells to shops that displayed local handicrafts, those markets were definitely the best examples of the unique craftsmanship of Bali, the kind souls, and the refined energy.
Needless to say, I came back with bags full of Balinese artefacts and a heart full of enriched experience of another culture.