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Reasons to Join Me in Bali #5: Visiting a 400-Year-Old Family Compound

February 21, 2016 By Laura Davis No Comments - Read & Respond

Photo Credit: Julie Sheehan

Photo Credit: Julie Sheehan

Travel Writing Tip #5: Always look for something you can be fascinated by.

Every time I take a group to Bali, we have the great honor of having lunch made for us by Surya’s family at their family compound in Denpasar, the largest city in Bali.

This is a unique opportunity spending time with a real family – not available on any other tour to Bali.

Surya told us he has traced his family back to 1374 and that his family has lived on that compound for over 400 years. ¨We were living here on this land before the United States was dreamed of.”

surya talking

Surya is the head of the household, the oldest son, and he says he and his family have really worked to maintain the authentic materials in the buildings and the numerous altars on the property. Here are several of the structures used in ceremonies by his family.

Surya said his mother and sister-in-law make 250 offerings every day! “Sometimes,” he told us, “they make a whole lot more on Sunday so they’ll last for a few days of the week.”

The compound is beautiful. Surya’s brother is a gardener and evidence of his handiwork was everywhere. There are ylang ylang trees on the property, as well as avocado, mango, coconut, Asian bay, star fruit, and others. A construction project was going on in the backyard. Then I noticed a lit burner in the backyard with a large covered pot boiling on it. I asked Surya what it was. He is a master carver (as well as a master dancer). He knocked off the lid and said he was boiling one of his masks in an early stage to keep the bugs out of it.

boiling mask

Inside we saw some of his finished masks. He said it takes five days to make one, and he grinds the paint himself. It’s made of calcified pig bone and Chinese lacquer.

Surya's masks

The masks looking amazing on the wall, but when Surya put one on, it was as if he became a completely different being. This picture doesn’t really capture it, but the transformation was startling – and Surya is a mask dancer.

Surya’s family had spent the last 24 hours cooking an elaborate lunch for us, full of many delicious, varied dishes.

This is one of Surya’s nieces and one of his nephews.

neice and nephew

And this is his mother.

Surya's mother

I felt incredibly honored to be there – and to see how a real Balinese family lives.

And if you come to Bali with me next July for my birthday, you’ll get to meet his family, too, learn to make offerings, and enjoy a wonderful feast while drinking in the culture of Bali.

Join me in Bali next summer!

July 16-31, 2016

Learn more

In the spirit of adventure,

davis_sig-2

 

 

The Writer’s Journey

P.S. If you’d like to read about one of my prior trips to Bali, you can read my Virtual Vacation posts here.

Filed Under: Bali Reasons, Blog Tagged With: Bali, travel, writing retreat

« Previous Post: Reasons to Join Me in Bali #4: The Magical Monkey Forest
Next Post: Reasons to Join Me in Bali #6: There’s No One on Earth Like the Balinese . . . »

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Like this Virtual Vacation?

You can also read about Laura’s travels to:

Peru 2017

In which Laura and Karyn and 18 writers explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Serbia 2017

In which Laura leads a workshop at the Incest Trauma Center.

Greece 2016

In which Laura explores the wonders of Crete and Santorini with a wide-eyed group of Write, Travel, Transform adventurers.

Vietnam 2015/16

In which Laura, who grew up during the Vietnam War, goes to Southeast Asia and finds out what Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are really like today.

Commonweal 2015

A journey toward healing loss and grief in a magnificent Northern California setting.

Scotland 2015

In which Laura returns to Scotland with a new group for another jaunt through the wonders of the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland 2013

In which Laura attends the Edinburgh theatre festival and leads 14 writers to a magical retreat in the highlands of Northern Scotland.

Bali 2013

In which Laura visits Australia, and spends three weeks diving, exploring, and teaching in three regions of Bali.

Florida 2014

A journey into old age in America in which Laura brings her 86-year-old mother to Florida so she can see her last surviving sister one final time.

Mexico 2014

In which Laura attends the San Miguel Writer’s Conference and explores the artistic towns around Patzcuaro.

About Laura Davis

In the course of my career as a communicator, I have also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker. Words have always been at the core of my work and my self-expression. Read More . . .

Photo taken by Jason Ritchey

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What People Are Saying About Laura Davis:

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Retreating with Laura: Julie Sheehan

Julie Sheehan

For many years I put off my dream of writing and traveling. I told myself the kids were too little, my husband could never survive without me, that I couldn't possibly be so selfish. I couldn't imagine realistically stepping out of all of my responsibilities and roles. Then I started attending Laura’s summer retreat at Commonweal in northern California and that became an annual gift to myself for the next three years.

When the opportunity to travel with Laura internationally came up, my Land of Later mentality said I could never pull it off. But when my friend got cancer at age 39, I decided to stop taking life and it's endless opportunities to grow, live, nurture and explore myself for granted.

My children were 6 and 9 when I began allowing myself the luxurious pleasure of taking 10 days to two weeks each year to travel abroad with Laura, to spend time with like minded, soul searching people who share a passion for living and writing, to have all my meals prepared for me, to have the space and freedom to stretch out of my cage and check in with who I am, what I want, and how best to get there.

Laura is a skilled and nurturing teacher who encourages her students to take risks, to grow as human beings, and to be vulnerable. She has provided me with a forum where I can gain all my CEUs and learn techniques on how to become a more engaging writer, all while completing yearly emotional rehab.

I return home from each of Laura’s trip a little wiser, a little more open, and a lot more compassionate. I greet my family, friends and daily life with sparkly, clean energy and a renewed patience, brought about by way of re-writing old stories that I needed to let go of. I come home ready to move forward in my life.

A retreat with Laura Davis is one of the best gifts I ever received and gave myself. It took many years to realize that I was worth the time and financial investment, but now there is no looking back.

Julie Sheehan, Livermore California

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