; Bali.

One island. Barely a small part of the world.
2.5 million precious lives.

You're the way out to a life complete with the abundance of love ; the answer to provision ; the end to the endless searching deep down in the hearts of many, especially in the midst of chaos and confusion when lives are at stake; the only one standing steadily when earthquakes hit the island ; the perfect painkiller for hearts that ache, and exactly the right person to turn to when hearts break.

Upholding Bali into your loving arms ; praying for breakthroughs to come to pass ; for waves of revival and transformation to sweep the island, as well as the country it belongs to :')

Social Inequalities.

That particular day, we were driving across to Tanah Lot ; dreadfully stopped at a traffic light junction, only to see a couple of little kids, at the age of 4-5, running across the streets, knocking on windows for money. This time it’s not just me, their clothes were all torned and they pretty much looked like they’ve no where to go to. Pa said their parents may be the one who gave out orders to do so. Either way it’s saddening to see things like that still happening in the world. and it’s even SAD that these things only strike you once or twice when you’re actually looking at it with your own eyes. I guess everyone needs a reminder or two that there are still those employed in lower tier jobs or otherwise possessing below-average incomes. Praying that in time, the destructive walls of social inequalities will be demolished once and forever, not just in terms of income and wealth, but also in terms of class, race, and religion.

Flying Back Home.

*pants* Good to finally be back home in Malaysia! Feels like forever. Guess I could say that Bali Island’s still very close to my heart ;) Well technically not just the island itself. I guess it’s more to the amazing people I met and the new faces I see.

This trip was more than one of those typical holiday trips you make just to chill over a week’s break or something. You could say that a ninety percent of everything I did/see/talk/hear about reminded me of at least one thing I should do/learn from. It’s as though every step I take, every image my little mind captures are shadows of even deeper realities and needs I should be looking into.

Dear Daddy, it was fun looking beyond the surface of Bali and not just what the island has to offer. Cheers to a whole new level of stretching my capacity to love beyond limitations through You! :)

Apart from the adventures you get to venture here, the unique faces of people and the story they each carry with them are the ones that excite me.

More to come.

So here’s my list of randomly awkward, less noticeable discoveries.

#1 Tissue here is so much smoother than the tissue paper you can find in Malaysia. I’m serious! And people here are just so generous with tissue. So much so that every toilet I enter there has to be someone offering tissue paper for free! Or “ Jgn lupa kertas tisu anda” : ) sheer generousity.

#2 I don’t know if it’s me but ants ( yes, I’m reffering to the little bugs crawling all around your food ) are way lazy here in Bali. I don’t exactly know why but you can leave food on the table and be gone for hours AND STILL, not have your food surrounded by these little insects. It’s either me or maybe the population of ants in the island decreased! Must be me.

#3 Mosquitoes are lazy here too. I haven’t got bitten by a mosquito in the island. Cool.

#4 On the other hand, MONKEYS ARE so CHO SMARTER HERE. They’re actually pretty much like what I’ve expected. Maybe a little more. They know how to get your moneh :/ Oh well. #animals and their high IQs.

#5 Oh and then there’s water. I don’t know how the system works here but I think I’d like to stick to Malaysia’s filtered tap water for now. Could say I’m pretty much not used to the salty tap water in Bali. Feels like I’m taking in salt every time I wash up. MY BODEH CANNOT TAKE IT YO. Heh!

#6 Speaking of which, You’ll most probably find only watermelons, papayas, and hrmm. I guess the most common ones are bananas and pineapples. They tend to miss out on apples and most citrus fruits. Sad I don’t get to have ‘em here.

#7 Which reminds me! :) Interestingly, welcome drinks are so common here. They're like signs of respect towards new comers/guest. welcome packs. Something YC never lacks!

A can of coke for 14 ringgit.

One thing I find unpleasant here in Bali is that people here, ( by people I meant the stall/shop lot owners on the streets) . They really know how to take advantage of the steaming hot weather and the tourist here. Just a can of coke can spike up to about 40k rupiah. Which is about 14 ringgit for a can of coke. BUT! that doesn't mean everyone rolls that way. Besides, I’m sure all they’re doing is frying to earn big bucks to support their family, only thing is it's the wrong way.

Water-related comparisions.

The thing I like bout Water Sports here is that the locals really ensure that the safety of tourist comes in first place. In a way they don’t push you to some water sport just for the sake of earning big bucks. Instead, they really make sure you’re safe and ready to get going with the sport. Scuba divers have to be accompanied with dive masters, plus. no one’s allowed to carry on with any water related sports without a trainer with you. Might be a spoiler but I think it's cool that way.

Also, I got to know how it’s like to go shopping in the streets of Bali , bath in sweat under the steaming hot sun without having a can of 100plus. You know how Malaysians work, right? It’s always that can of 100plus that keeps you running. Well, in most cases. Order a can of 100plus here and watch people stare at you as though you’re trying to order some smuggled alcoholic drink ;) Hah. Over exaggerated. 100plus. That’s ONE.

It’s woody and I like it.

Everything from the post box to the dustbins to tissue paper holder is all made of uniquely carved wood.

Random thoughts I'd like to remember.

# Bikes and cars.

First thing I noticed hours after touchdown besides the steaming hot weather was that motorbikes and bicycle own the streets here in Bali. Which means, they actually get to rule the roads. Even so, Balinese drivers could be so patient on the road even if it means the traffic is more or less at a standstill. That is of course, what I think it is.

Also, the roads in Bali are

extremely narrow. Constructions can go on without the need to close down the whole block of road ( and yes, that contributes to even narrower roads) All you need is just huge yellow sign that tells you to watch out. LIGHTS ON! ;)