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

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!

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.”

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