It ends up that the longer we stayed somewhere the harder it was to leave. The staff at our homestay became our second family while we were away and we "wasted" our days there spending time with them learning about there culture and explaining ours. In the Balinese culture, family is everything, which explains why the guys asked "Why get married if you aren't having kids? That's the whole point!" Also, several generations of family all live together in the same family compound. It's considered a blessing to be born as the youngest son because he automatically assumes the responsibility of caring for his parents his whole life and inheriting the family compound. Also, when the boys marry, the wife moves into the family compound. This cycle repeats itself until grandparents, parents, and children all live together working together to care for each other. Its very common to see a grandmother shopping in a market with a basket on her head and a baby in her arms. So the idea of kids moving out at 18 seems crazy to them, and they asked, "But then who will take care of the parents?"
When it was finally time to Nusa Lembongan, we were lucky enough to head back to the place it all began... with Mikael and Brahma. Even though their homestay was completely booked, they opened up their "special" guest room just for us. They were also like our family as they invited us to eat at their house with them and watch them cook all the fabulous Balinese food. We spent the last two days of our trip talking and eating with them. Their generous hospitality is beyond words.
It was interesting returning to the same place we started our trip at because we are somehow different, changed, so to say. There has been a connection formed with the people of Bali and those who go there. It is the most special place on the earth (that we know of so far). The people there have the sweetest souls you can imagine and open your mind to change.
As we return home, we prepared ourselves for the adjustment back to "our world". Although there are a few things we have missed, like our bed and clean water, there are so many thing we now know we can live without. This experience has put life into perspective and we feel so blessed to have realized what is really important to us. Although a 6 week trip is by far an indulgence, we hope that our blog has introduced this other world to you and that it inspires you to go somewhere and learn something you never thought possible.
We're working on posting pictures, there's over 500 and we hope to have them up in the next couple days.
Adam & Heather
No comments:
Post a Comment