During my early weeks in Bali, the notion of fear was the main ingredient of my contemplations. Even though sometimes its energy was overwhelming, I needed to open myself and befriend with the fear through letting it be. And at the same time, accept the situations when I can’t be able to let it be. I was waking up to the reality that this life is not an improvement project. And the real learning was inside every moment that comes with its unique quality, whether pleasant or unpleasant.
These words were bringing me the guidance I needed. They are the words of Eric Baret, a spiritual teacher of Tantric tradition and non-duality.
“There are no mistakes in life. You didn’t come here to strengthen your life. You are not here to remove blocks or accomplish something. You don’t have to perfect yourself. You are perfect just the way you are. Be kind to yourself. You are not a battle field. You are not a ground for self-mastery, self-improvement. You are here to serve. Just be in tune with your functioning. There is nothing deeper than listening, it is what you naturally are. Listen to what is. You have nothing to fear.”
What is remarkable for me the most about Southern Bali is its coastline and the intimate connection between the land and the mighty ocean. There are so many breathtaking white sand beaches and deep cliffs meeting the ocean. The view of the boundless ocean is mesmerizing.
Standing at the south tip of Bali, Uluwatu is one of the outstanding towns that is home to the most beautiful beaches and towering limestone cliffs. Some of the beaches openly stretch out along the coastline and some of them are secluded and hidden behind the tall cliffs.
Examples for some exceptional beaches and cliffs I really adored are; Balangan view point, Dreamland beach, Padang Padang beach, Suluban beach, Karang Boma cliff, Nyang Nyang beach. Because of its vibrant turquoise waters and perfect waves, Uluwatu -along with Canggu- is a well-known surfing destination among surfers from all over the world.
Uluwatu hosts a significant spiritual icon, Uluwatu Temple (see below). Located at the edge of the southernmost peninsula of Bali, it is believed to protect the island against evil. This little Hindu temple is based at the top of a breathtaking cliff, 70 metres up the ocean level. It is fascinating to watch the strong waves and the picturesque sunset from top of this cliff. Uluwatu temple is also called the Monkey Temple as it is inhabited by long-tailed macaques that are notorious for snatching visitors’ belongings. So, watch out when you are exploring the temple and its surrounding.
Even though it is a popular touristic activity I recommend you to watch Kecak dance performance at the temple. (see below) Kecak dance is originally a trance ritual and it’s currently a form of Balinese Hindu dance and music drama based on the story of Ramayana (ancient Hindu epic). This outdoor performance has the spectacular sunset for background and the costumes, make-ups, dances and music are very impressive indeed.
Performing arts is an inseparable element of Balinese culture. It is a fusion of dance, drama and music with rich symbolism. Storytelling is performed through dances that are dynamic, angular, and intensely expressive with diversegestures of fingers, hands, head, and eyes. The costumes, make-ups and the masks are highly impressive.
Gamelan music is one of the ingredients of Balinese performing arts. It is the traditional ensemble music of some of the islands of Indonesia, including Bali. The orchestra is made up predominantly of percussive instruments that produces repetitive polyphonic and hypnotic sounds. This art form is still widely respected, being commonly played in many traditional and religious ceremonies. Below you can listen to a small section of this performance.
Ritualistic dance dramas usually involve 3 revered icons of Balinese culture and mythology; Barong, Rangda and Hanuman. (Two of them can be seen below) Barong is the king of the spirits, symbol of health and good fortune. He is the leader of the good and enemy of Rangda. Rangda is the warrior goddess, often regarded as the incarnation of evil. But in fact, she is revered in the village temples as a protector against evil. The battle between Barong and Rangda represent the eternal battle between good and evil. Hanuman is the monkey king, Hindu god, symbol of strength, courage and devotion.
Speaking of symbolism, I have to mention the force, the inner guidance that accompanied me in all of my travels in Indonesia. 3 months in Indonesia contained so many joyful and blissful experience as well as the unpleasant and difficult ones. This time life was reminding me to be courageous, encouraging me to step into the fear and opening me to learn to see everything from the standpoint of unity. The way was through bringing the light of consciousness upon every experience. Experience and knowing of the experience, form and formless, movement and silence were diffusing into each other. The outcome of this union is Love. The cause of this union is Love.
What is equivalent to this inner guidance in symbolism is the Hindu God Hanuman. He is the symbol of fearlessness, courage, strength and heroism. He is also a powerful expression of love and compassion. He is the embodiment of devotion (Bhakti). He carries in his heart Rama and Sita, the two irreducible dimensions of our existence, like being and knowing, human and the divine, the sun and moon, earth and sky. These two aspects are in eternal love with each other, intimately devoted to the divine union.
Let’s move on to another destination in southern Bali, to Canggu. There are other widely known towns in the south like Kuta, Sanur and Seminyak, but Canggu is way more to my taste as it has a unique feel to it compared to other typical touristic spots. Canggu is a pretty cool town where you can experience a mixture of vibrant social life and laid-back escapes from crowds. Yes it’s busy and changing rapidly due to urban development, yes tourism is not based on local culture, but there are beautiful things to be said about its vibe and its location.
There is a warm bohemian vibe in Canggu. It hosts ultra-cool organic cafes, vegan restaurants, beach bars, design boutiques and yoga centers. Any time of the day, you can enjoy different tastes and charming atmospheres at these places. Maybe these are the reason why there is a remarkable amount of digital nomads and a sense of community here. Canggu has a popularity also among surfers and ocean lovers.
What I loved the most about Canggu was to have long walks and hang around at its marvelous beaches. Gazing at the immensity of the ocean I was feeling my heart was expanding. It was relaxing to watch the strong waves lining up one after another and the surfers enjoying some of Bali’s best waves. The sunsets were astonishingly beautiful and they may be the most impressive ones I have ever watched in my entire life. During the sunsets, how delightful it was to see the intertwining of the blue of the ocean and the pink of the sky.
There is a chain of sea temples that surround Bali. Each of them was established within the eyesight of the next. Located just a few kilometers in the west side of Canggu, there is one of the seven main sea temples, Tanah Lot. Tanah Lot is a Hindu pilgrimage temple famous for its unique offshore setting. It impressively stands on top of the rocks, strongly holds its space amidst constantly crashing waves.
