Dreaming of Bali

So I went back to the flower shop today, The Meadows, and as I was waiting I started looking at all of the flowers wondering where the Anthuriums were. There were none to be found. I know Patrick said that they would be available Wednesday...hmmm maybe they were all sold out. I should've come earlier, I thought.

When it was my turn to be helped, I found out that Patrick did not buy any. The woman who was helping me said that he must not of been happy with the quality of the Anthuriums, therefore he decided not to buy any. Hmm....Interesting that mine fainted so quickly and Patrick didn't like the quality of the new ones...Oh well, I picked out some beautiful pure white Lilies, another one of my favorites...Yum...they were so fragrant! I left with two big stems, on each of them 3 flowers and a few more buds to open. These Lilies were a wonderful replacement for my Anthurium. I was so happy.

Flowers bring such life to a room, and they overall make my day more special when I see them in our house. Lately, to appease myself I have been buying so many flowers. Doug and I were planning on a trip to Bali the first of next month, a few days from now, and we had to cancel as Doug’s is extremely busy with work, and can not get away. :(

We were disappointed as we were planning on seeing my dear friend Pratiwi whom I have known for over 9 years now and has become as close as a little sister to me. She just got married a few years back to a wonderful man Ivan, and two years ago they had a lovely little girl Uchi. This trip we were going to meet Pratiwi and for the first time, her family! Tiwi, her nick name, lives on the Island of Java in a little town called Solo. I got to know Tiwi, many years ago when I was working in Indonesia designing clothing. This trip, Tiwi and her family were going to meet us in Bali for a weeks vacation with us, and then Doug and I were going to spend a week or so in Ubud alone. As disappointed I am, this is just a postponement and we have plans to meet them there in the Spring.

Anyway, one of the things that I love most about Bali is the celebratory religious ceremonies that take place almost everyday somewhere in Bali. The fruits and exotic flowers are a huge part of the colorful scenery that parades down the streets, carried along on the heads of beautiful men and women in their brightly colored sarongs. They envelop my senses when I am there, and I find myself drawn into a dreamy state of excitation from all of the sights and smells. It is such a delight to be in a part of the world where people celebrate their spirituality and love for the Gods on a daily basis in such a visually beautiful way. I feel like I am home there. This is one place that we want to live for even a short period of time in the near future, and have plans to do just that.

I used to wonder what the Balinese did with all of the food that took all morning to prepare for all of these religious ceremonies. I could not help but think that so much of it was going to waste, even though the food is an offering to the Gods. It wasn't until recently that I discovered in this book that I am reading, "Eat, Pray, Love", that the Balinese families are always allowed to eat their own donations to the Gods! The Balinese see it this way: God takes what belongs to him; the gesture of the offering. Man takes what belongs to man; the food itself. I was so grateful to read this. I mean if you have been to Bali or are familiar with their culture, you would see that religious ceremonies are happening all of the time everywhere! So get this: I read in this same book, that Balinese women spend about 1/3 of their waking life either preparing for a ceremony, participating in a ceremony, or cleaning up from one! Amazing isn't it? However, not surprising. Can you imagine all of that food going to waste if they were not consuming it? Happily they are and I am sure their tummies are happy too!

So I have the itch for traveling and to appease myself as I said, I am filling our house with exotic flowers and reading, "Eat, Pray, Love", by the way a wonderful book, and of course dreaming of our next visit to Bali, enjoying the fruits and flowers of life with our dear friends! I figure it is about as close as I am going to get for at least another couple of months!

Happy Birthday Tiwi!
We love you!

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Thursday, November 29, 2007