The balance we seek in Bali, Indonesia

I was drawn to Bali because heard so much about the peace and stillness and was ready for a month of total tranquilly focusing on myself and feeling at ease. But when I arrived, I found something a little different to what I expected; a vibrancy and energy that flows across the island.  

The contrast of calm and electric was present in so many ways and was such a special trait of the Indonesian island that makes it such a wonderful place to experience.  Religion in Bali wasn’t something set apart from daily life, it was woven into it. I noticed daily rituals such as offerings placed each morning with quiet care, incense drifting through the air, ceremonies flowing through streets. There was a calm devotion in these repeated acts, a beautiful sustained through intention and gratitude. Watching these rituals unfold showed me how grounding it can be to acknowledge forces larger than yourself, give thanks and to create space for daily reflection, and harmony. 

Being rainy season, regular sudden tropical storms that would roll in without warning, rain pounding so hard it felt biblical but followed by skies so calm and blue after the downpour. The intensity made the stillness sweeter and the chaos made the quiet feel earned. 

I felt it in the streets too. The traffic was constantly in motion, loud and unpredictable, a buzzing stream of scooters weaving past one another with inches to spare. And yet, the people within it carried an ease I didn’t expect. They weren’t angry or causing tension, the rush was just a mass of people moving along their way. Drivers navigated the roads with patience, presence, and an unspoken understanding that everyone would get where they needed to go, eventually. 

Surfing and yoga are two activates I love to incorporate int my travels and were abundant in Bali. Some days the ocean was powerful and wilful, dragging swimmers in the direction it chose. And on other days, on some beaches, it barely moved. I couldn’t exactly chose when I could best do my practises, I was only able to respond to what each day offered and lean into it. 

I left the country with a quieter mind and calmer nervous system.  Exactly what I had wanted. It was achieved by spending time immersed in stunning nature and new culture while allowing life to be both wild and gentle at the same time.