Nothing Heavier Than Words

I've had just enough time to...   carry something heavier than words

Taken in a small village in Ubud, Bali of strong women with strong neck

This load is not heavy

I’ve carried heavier still

Earth, stone and ore

Sand that got into your eyes

Salt that made you cry

I can still smile

Carry my head high

See that child running there

He is mine

I carry these loads

So that his head will carry -

Nothing heavier than words

I stayed in a small resort among the padi fields of Ubud, Bali where you have to travel through the village to get there. One morning when I walked outside, I saw the women of the villagers carrying large pails of black sand on their head to fill a field. The loads looked very heavy and I wondered how they can balance it on their head when I will have trouble lugging them with my hands. And they have to walk quite a distance to and fro for the whole day for many days that will be needed to fill the field. What a tough way to earn a supplementary income – all for the sake of their family but they can still smile. This reminded me of the thousands of tablecloths (I hated red chili stains on white tablecloths as they are the most difficult to get rid of) my mum has to wash to give us a proper education. 

The Face of An Artist

I've had just enough time to...   see the budding of a star

Taken outside the Ubud Palace in Ubud, Bali

On a leisurely stroll one morning passing by the Ubud Palace, I spied a group of young boys practicing their craft. To the tempo of imaginary music that only they themselves heard, they stomped and jerked violently. The sequence was not a graceful flow but a series of sudden violent movements and abrupt stops. The expressions on their faces were deadly serious and exaggerated as they played the characters of their act.

But it is more than an act. It is their religion and they are playing the Gods. They are not just performing a dance, they are re-telling the story of creation and they are honoring their Gods in the recreating of the tale. This went deeper than the passion for their craft. It is their faith and they are living it.

I suspect that it will be many years before these boys ever get the chance to perform before an audience. Meanwhile, they trained every day and showed a dedication stronger than any professional athlete. And what drove them is not fame, adulation or monetary rewards. It is their culture, their beliefs and it is beautiful to watch.

But even among them, one particular boy stood out. You will have picked him up just by looking at the photo. His divine expression, the sharpness of his moves and his total immersion into his character is mesmerizing. His talent is undeniable. He is the future star of the play. I hope one day to be able to return to Bali and watched a performance and recognized him there.

The Master

Monkeys Becomes Man, Men to be Blamed

I've had just enough time to...  see monkey becomes man

Taken of the mischievous monkey in The Monkey Forest, Bali

Monkeys see, Monkeys do

Monkeys learn

Monkeys eat

Monkeys drink

Monkeys rummage

Monkeys beg

Monkeys snarl

Monkeys steal

Monkeys run

Monkeys bully

Monkeys snatch

Monkeys scramble

Monkeys mob

Monkey becomes man

Men to be blamed

Bathing Ritual in The Temple of Sacred Water (Thirtha Empul)

I've had just enough time to...   be cleansed by holy water

 

Taken of the bathing pool in the Temple of Sacred Water

Water, the elixir of Life

Cleanse me

Purify me

Refresh me

I am born again

Without my sins

Without my worries

Without my pains

I am renewed

By sacred water,

The elixir of Life

Devotees in prayer during purifying ceremony

This temple is regarded as one of the six most important temples in Bali. It got its name “Thirtha Empul” meaning “Bubbling Spring” from a legend. When the evil King Mayadenawa poisoned Lord Indra’s troop by creating a pool of poisoned water, Lord Indra saved them by stabbing his flag pole into the ground creating a bubbling spring of sacred water which has curative power. A temple was built at this site in 926 AD. For more than a thousand years, Balinese have come to this sacred site to heal and purify themselves.

The strategy of Risks & Rewards – Live Near A Volcano

I've had just enough time to...   look at life around an active volcano

The volcanic soils are the richest – we all know that

The volcanic eruptions are deadliest – we all know that

So would you live near a volcano?

Where lands are cheap and rich?

 When will a volcano erupt – we don’t know that

When will we lose it all – we don’t know that

So would you risk everything?

For good living of duration you have no idea of?

 Would you?

The picture above is of Mount Batur which is an active volcano in north-eastern Bali. Mount Batur is actually inside a caldera (volcanic feature formed by a collapse of land following a volcanic eruption) measuring 7.5 kilometer wide 20,000+ years ago. You can see from the picture that it is still active with the blackened area the path of recent lava flows amid the vibrant green vegetation of the area. There are still many villages living around the rim of the caldera and also in the foothills where they take their chances that a big eruption will not occur during their live time.

The collapsed caldera was filled by water and formed the serene Lake Batur and there are several fishing villagers at its edge. On the right hand side is Mount Abang that is usually cloud covered. You can go to Kintamani where there are many restaurants built on the rim of the caldera and where you can have a good view of Mount Batur and the lake while having a leisurely lunch. 

Nothing Sadder Than A Tangled Kite.

I've had just enough time to...   go fly a kite! :)

Taken in Bali of the plight of a downed kite.

..

......

I am a kite

Born to fly, to

Soar above the land

An inhabitant of the sky

But the wind I depended on was fickle

And I learned that though I was born to fly

I was not a free inhabitant of the boundless sky

And the Earth that gave me birth
waited impatiently...

To reclaim 

the one
who
fly

..

..
..

_______

Let's Go Fly a Kite (from "Mary Poppins")

When you send it flying up there,

all at once your lighter than air!

You can dance on the breeze,

over 'ouses and trees!

With your fist 'olding tight,

to the string your kite!

Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height

Let's go fly a kite

And send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh, let's go fly a kite!

Never Trust A Monkey.

I've has just enough time to...   be cautious of a monkey.

Taken in the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali where monkeys dictates.

In the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali; monkeys are everywhere. And even where you do not see them, sneaking up on you. They fear no man nor beast for after all, they are the descendant of God. But godly creatures they are not. They have been away from their god Hanuman for too long and been near to man for longer still. They lost their noble ways and gain the wiles of human and that is not pretty. They traded their innocence for the intelligence of man not knowing that the soul was part of the bargain. So the monkeys there are there now are more man than beast and that is sad. So sad.

For now, they don’t warn you when you’re down in beautiful Bali “Never trust a man.” They warn you “Never trust a monkey.” And it is all man’s fault. For it was not a monkey’s nature to covet and steal till they saw it in the intelligence of man stealing from their neighbours.

Never trust a monkey!

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?

I've had just enough time to...   try to mend a broken heart?

Taken of the sculpture in Bali that has a king size headache

I have a headache

That splits my head

And cuts my eye.

The doctor says “no cure”

That split in your head

Comes from that crack in your heart.

And no modern medicine

Can mend a broken heart

Since Humpty Dumpty had that great fall.

_______

And how can you mend a broken heart?
How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go round?
How can you mend a this broken man?
How can a loser ever win?
Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again

Bee Gees - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?

Clear Water Too Clear to Drink.

I've had just enough time to...   take a drink from cool, clear water.

Taken in Bali where this beautiful clear water are too beautiful to drink.

The clear water was inviting

Promise to refresh,

Invigorating.

It is tempting

But too clear to drink

Too clear to drink.

_______

All day I've faced a barren waste

Without the taste of water, cool water

Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry

And souls that cry for water

Cool, clear, water 

Dan, can ya see that big, green tree?

Where the water's runnin' free

And it's waitin' there for me and you?

It's water, cool, clear, water

Cool, clear, water

Frankie Laine – “Cool Water”

One Careful Step After Another.

I've had just enough time to...   take one careful step after another.

Taken while perfectly still of the cautious stock who is looking warily at me in Bali. 

Step carefully, 

There may be a mine under. 

Look carefully, 

There are dangers around. 

But what is more dangerous 

Is to stay rooted to the ground. 

Be careful where you step 

But step right ahead 

Even if there are mines around.

_______

A career is made and lost, 

in sorting out the devastation 

What you get you've got, 

the rest can be imagination 

And what you lose you've lost, 

here comes the instant separation 

Careful where you step 

There may be a mine under there

Saga - Careful Where You Step.

The World's Happiest Weather Vane.

I've had just enough time to...   catch the breeze with the weather vane.

Taken of a building among the padi fields in Ubud, Bali.

In the distance on top of a buiding among padi fields, I spied a weather vane made of flimsy wood, rusty metal and the dried branch of a coconut tree. It was the happiest wind vane I have ever seen. It caught the slightest breeze and waltzed along with it. When the wind leave, it let it go free and waited for another breeze.

And the happy couple on the wind vane did a celebratory dance every time the wind came a-calling with such joyous movement that I swore there are spirits in the figurines. Or my eyes deceived me.

“What is it you’re looking?”, they asked.

“Oh, nothing. Just the wind dancing free.”

Waiting Is Forever.

I've had just enough time...   to quit waiting.

Taken while waiting in Bali.

What Are You Waiting - Natalie Grant 

So you wanna change the world

What are you waiting for?

Say, you're gonna start right now

What are you waiting for?

Now, it only takes one voice

So come on now and shout it out

Give a little more

What are you waiting for?

_______

So you wanna change the world 

What are you waiting for? 

“I’m not through dreaming.” 

So you wanna change the world 

What are you waiting for? 

“I’ve a plan.” 

So you wanna change the world 

What are you waiting for? 

“I’m just one small voice, 

There is little I can do.” 

And thus another voice silenced.

Fly Away Yellow Bird.

I've had just enough time to...   wish I am a yellow bird.

Taken in the tropical garden of Bali.

Yellow bird, up high in banana tree.
Yellow bird, you sit all alone like me.

Did you lady friend leave the nest again?

That is very sad, makes me feel so bad.

You can fly away, in the sky away.

Your more lucky than me.

Wish that I were a yellow bird, I'd fly away with you.
But I am not a yellow bird, So here I sit.
Nothing I can do.

Yellow bird, yellow bird.

- The Mills Brothers

_______

Don't we all wish we are yellow birds

That can fly away when we want to.

Halloween Is Only By Night.

I've had just enough time to...   treat myself to a few tricks.

Taken in Bali at night.

Sinister or Friendly,

Depends on -

Your point of view,

The time of day,

Your frame of mind.

Taken in Bali at day time.

Art Is Life.

I've had just enough time to...   appreciate Art.

Taken from a vantage point in a side street of Bali.

The greatest value of Art is to remind us of the beauty of Nature and Life that we may miss in our hurried existence. No matter how beautiful the portrayal, it is still but a copy of the real thing. Art enhances Life but it is Life that gives existence to Art. So Art, whether a faithful rendition or an imagined fantasy can never be more beautiful than Life itself.

What Is Real? What Is Not?

I've had just enough time to...   look at whats real and whats not.

Taken in a small street in Bali.

What is real?

What is not?

Life is real.

Art is not.

For Art imitates Life

But Life imitates Not.

Decorate A Monster.

I've had just enough time to...   decorate a monster.

Taken in the Monkey Forest of Ubud, Bali.

To decorate a monster
Do it with bright flowers
Let it be flattered
By their beauty
For no monster
Thinks itself ugly
And can only be
Tempered by kind words
Making it less
The monster it was.

Waiting for Dirty Duck.

I've had just enough time to...   order my plate of Dirty Duck.

Taken in the Dirty Duck restaurant in Ubud, Bali.

Man who waits for roast duck to fly into mouth must wait very, very long time. 

- Jules Renard

守株待兔   shǒuzhū-dàitù
(Waiting for the rabbit to knock itself out against the tree trunk)

_______

Those who wait for roast duck to fly to their mouth have to wait for a very long time.

They have to at least make the order and have the money to pay for it.

The Line of a Dance.

I've had just enough time to...   dance a little.

Taken in a quiet corner of Ubud, Bali.

The line of a dance is the most graceful, not the shortest distance between two points. The progression from one stage to another evolves as naturally as a river in its meandering flow to the sea. A dance shows us how we should live our life – with passion, spontaneity and grace; not speed and efficiency.

- Thou San

The Character of an Old Building.

I've had just enough time to...   provide shelter against the storm.

Taken in a side street of Bali among a bustling market.

When I am old and wrinkled, I wish my face will take on the appearance of this battered old building that has faithfully provided shelter for all who needs it against the elements. Its roof may be leaking, its timber cracked and peeling but its foundation still as firm as the rock it stood on. Its character unquestioned.