A Six Year Old's version of Bali

Photo from Bali Soul

“Ibu, why is the Lord Ganesha statue carrying an axe?” a doe-eyed six-year-old asks me in all her innocence.

And like any other adult of my generation, the first thing that pops through my mind is to search online for the answer. But with no time to sneak away from this little curious one, I vaguely remember what I’ve learned and decide to go with, “It is to protect us from the bad”.

Luckily it was the right answer, as I found when I checked later.

If you are a Bali resident, guaranteed there will be times when you have to host family members coming over for the holidays.  As much as you love doing so, being overwhelmed by an over optimistic itinerary is quite likely. It happened to Yours Truly when playing fixer to her own family, with a six-year-old girl in tow.
But therein lies the difference. A young child in the group will run the show. And requests, wishes, plans, and questions are never ending. They don’t make it easy by only asking about the best restaurants in town, or which hotels have direct beach access.

While we like to think we know Bali is best known for its bright and rich cultural performances, festivals, and ceremonies, rarely do we notice the little details. We see it so often, but we never question why Kecak primarily performed by men, or why some statues are covered in black and white cloth, while others are in gold and red. Children do.

You can impress adults with your network by hooking them up with the best deals in Bali, and your knowledge of the most happening places, but children care about totally different things!

“So, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana is the second tallest statue in the world. Is that why you can see it from the Nusa Dua toll road? And you can also see it when you are in Seminyak? Is its location magic?” was the next question I got. While her first statement is logical, I did use that opportunity to tell her what an old Balinese man told me; that its location is perfectly strategic so that God Vishnu can see everything happening on the island.

Of course, we can try to find all the answers on the internet, or in books if you are a diligent reader, but the best way to understand Balinese culture is to talk to the people – the elderly especially - or visit a traditional village  where you see real Balinese people going about their daily lives. Children love that, and we have the opportunity to expose them better that way.

But just when I think every question is covered, a large group of lobster pink-coloured tourists walks past, beer bottle in one hand, cigarette in the other.
 
“Ibu, why are they not wearing shirts?” she asks me, instinctively knowing that walking around bare-chested just doesn’t seem right.
I tried to explain it in the most soft-spoken and diplomatic way. 
“But why? They are not at the beach now!”, I hear her questioning  at the back.
 
I know my little sweetheart, I know, I say in my heart as I try to keep my mouth shut. As Lord Ganesha reminds me to be wise.