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As some of you may know, we’ve been
really fortunate and have just spent the last few weeks on a family holiday in
Bali. We had a great trip; we spent time in Ubud; ate, swam, walked through
rice fields, drank fresh coconut juice and just hung out. We then went to the
beach and had a villa in Bingin. If you’re a surfer you know where Bingin is!
It is just as beautiful, the water was fresh and it was great swimming in the
ocean in August and having the sun lick our skin. My boys’ legs became
chocolate colour with their beautiful olive skin and I even got a bit of a tan
too. It was a beautiful family holiday and when seeing a country with new eyes
it’s made me think and see a few Indonesian qualities that I really like and
think that maybe I should apply a little bit more to my life.
Gratitude
Gratitude
Every morning an offering of gratitude
and faith is made. A beautiful simple offering to the gods to show thanks, give
abundance and ask for protection. Flowers, fruit, sweets, rice, incense is
offered in a bowl handmade from palm leaves. Master 3 and his mates were
privileged to partake in this offering with Made our host. What a special way
to start your day, a reminder to give thanks.
Nutrition/Diet
Nutrition/Diet
The Balinese diet is centered on rice
and rice based products and is full of lots of colourful fruit and vegetables,
herbs and spices. Protein mostly comes from soya bean, which is then processed
into tofu or tempeh. Eggs play a big part in their diet and are nearly included
in every meal; breakfast, lunch and dinner. The most common form of meat
products are fish and poultry.
Coconut products are used in abundance
it's a heat stabilized fat making it great for cooking and is also full of the
‘good fats’ making it a key nutrient in their diet. Coconut is full of many
healing properties; anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, it's protective
and energy giving. Most products have some sort of coconut milk/fat/oil used
within. Also, peanuts are another main characteristic found in the Indonesian
cuisine. Dairy is very rarely used but tea is drunk daily.
Lifestyle
The Balinese live a very relaxed life
compared to their Aussie neighbors. Nothing is in too much of a hurry. Mostly
the mornings are used to get the jobs done and the afternoons to relax and rest
a little before the evening chores begin. I spoke with several locals who have
had the opportunity to come and experience life in Australia and all said they
couldn’t believe how hectic and busy everyone was, and that they much preferred
their way of life. It is easy to breathe, walk and live without too many
stresses.
Family
Family life is also very different to
our way of life. Most families live in an extended family situation; that is
with many relatives living in the same house or commune. The responsibility of
children and babies are shared with all the members. They really do take into
account the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Mothers, like us work
away from the home but have such a wonderful community to continue to raise and
care for their children, I find it enviable.
It’s also very common for the Balinese
to bed share with their children believing it is the best place for their child
to sleep; close to them and protected.
And, I personally love that all children
are named One (Wayan), Two (Made), Three (Nyoman), Four (Ketut) and then one
(Wayan) again – seems to make life so much easier!
What differences do you love about foreign places?
