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00:00There is a certain quality to the air in Bali.
00:19It is warm, humid, and carries the faint, sweet scent of incense and frangipani flowers.
00:27This is an island where the spiritual and the everyday are not separate, but are woven
00:34together in a constant, gentle rhythm.
00:38It is a place known for its stunning landscapes, volcanic mountains, lush rice terraces, and
00:45sun-drenched beaches, but the true beauty of Bali is found in its people, and in a way
00:51of life that balances the ancient with the modern in a unique and graceful dance.
00:58To understand Bali is to look beyond the postcard images and see the intricate web of family,
01:05community, and belief that holds the island together.
01:10It is a culture where gratitude is a daily practice, where art is a form of devotion,
01:17and where the concept of a good life is measured not just in material wealth, but in harmony,
01:23balance, and connection.
01:26This is the story of that life, a life that continues to thrive with quiet resilience in
01:32a rapidly changing world.
01:38The foundation of Balinese society is the family, and the heart of the family is the compound.
01:45A traditional Balinese home is not a single house, but a collection of open-air pavilions,
01:51or bales, enclosed by a protective wall.
01:55This architectural style is a physical manifestation of the Balinese philosophy of life, designed for
02:02communal living and spiritual harmony.
02:05The layout is not random, it follows a sacred axis.
02:10The most sacred area, known as Kaja, is the direction toward the holy mountain, Mount Agung.
02:17This is where the family temple, the Sangha or Mirajan, is located.
02:22The least sacred area, Kellod, is the direction toward the sea, where the kitchen and washrooms
02:28are placed.
02:30The open-air design is not just for climate control.
02:34It encourages social interaction, allowing life to flow seamlessly between the different
02:40pavilions.
02:42Life within these walls is a shared current.
02:46Multiple generations often live together, their lives overlapping in the open spaces.
02:52A grandmother or Dadong might be seen weaving palm leaves for offerings, while keeping an eye
02:58on her grandchildren playing nearby, her hands moving with an ingrained muscle memory grace.
03:05The father, or Bapa, may leave for work in the fields or a hotel, while the mother, or Ibu,
03:13manages the household, prepares the daily offerings, and often controls the family's finances.
03:20She is the operational heart of the home.
03:23This collective upbringing means children are raised not just by their parents, but by a
03:29network of grandparents, aunts, and uncles, creating a powerful sense of belonging and
03:35mutual support that extends from birth to old age.
03:40Others are deeply respected for their wisdom, and their guidance is sought in all important
03:45family matters.
03:47The concept of privacy, as understood in the West, is secondary to the needs of the collective.
03:54Life is lived in the open, a shared experience of joys, sorrows, and daily routines.
04:02This communal spirit is formalized in the Banjar, the local village council.
04:07The Banjar is the cornerstone of community governance, a system of social organization that is deeply
04:14embedded in daily life.
04:17It is more than just a neighborhood association.
04:20It is a cooperative body that manages the core functions of the community.
04:26Each Banjar has a central meeting hall, the Bail Banjar, which serves as the physical and
04:32social heart of the neighborhood.
04:35Attached to it is often a towering Kulkul drum tower.
04:39The rhythmic beat of the wooden drum is the traditional method of communication, summoning
04:45the community for meetings, warning of emergencies, or announcing a ceremony.
04:51The Banjar also serves as a cultural hub, organizing the local Gamelan orchestra and dance troupes
04:59where young people learn the traditional arts.
05:03Membership in the Banjar is a duty and a privilege for every married couple.
05:08The council oversees everything, from temple ceremonies and weddings to resolving local disputes
05:14and organizing community security patrols, known as the Pikilang.
05:19These volunteers, dressed in their distinctive checkered sarongs, sashes, and headwear, are
05:26a common sight during ceremonies, where they manage the complex logistics of traffic and
05:31crowds with calm authority.
05:34The Banjar also functions as an economic unit, often operating its own credit union to provide
05:41loans to members.
05:44When a family needs help, the entire Banjar comes together.
05:48This system of Gotong Royong, or mutual cooperation, is the invisible force that holds Balinese society
05:55together, ensuring that no one is left to face life's challenges alone.
06:01To walk through Bali is to walk through a living, breathing, spiritual landscape.
06:23The island is predominantly Hindu, but Balinese Hinduism is a unique and beautiful synthesis
06:30of Hindu cosmology, Buddhist teachings, and ancient animist beliefs.
06:35It is a religion that sees the divine in everything.
06:39This worldview is guided by the core philosophical principle of Trihita Karana, which translates to
06:46the three causes of well-being.
06:49It dictates that happiness can only be achieved through harmony with God , harmony
06:55with other people , and harmony with nature .
07:01This principle is not an abstract concept.
07:04It is a practical guide for daily life, influencing everything from architecture and agriculture to
07:12social interactions.
07:14This philosophy is most visible in the daily practice of making offerings.
07:20Every morning, women create the Kanangsari, small, beautiful trays, woven from palm leaves.
07:27The contents are deeply symbolic.
07:30The flowers of different colors represent different gods and cardinal directions.
07:36White for the east and the god Iswara, red for the south and Brahma, yellow for the west and
07:43Mahaduwa, and blue or green for the north and Vishnu.
07:48A small portion of betel nut, lime, and gambia leaf is often included, representing the Hindu
07:54trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
07:59These offerings are a gesture of gratitude and a way to maintain the delicate balance of the
08:04cosmos.
08:06They are placed in family shrines, at the entrances of homes and businesses, and on the ground
08:12for the lower spirits.
08:14The smoke from the incense carries the essence of the offering to the heavens, a constant,
08:20fragrant reminder of the island's devotion.
08:24Temples or pura are an integral part of the landscape.
08:29There are the grand, iconic temples, including the six great temples of Bali, known as the
08:35Saad Kahyanggan, which are believed to be the spiritual pillars of the island.
08:41The most important of these is pura besaki, the mother temple, a vast complex of over 80
08:48temples located on the slopes of Mount Agung.
08:52But more important to daily life are the thousands of smaller temples that form the spiritual backbone
08:58of the community.
09:00Every family has a temple, every banjar has its community temples, and every village has at least three main temples.
09:08The pura desa, the temple of origin for the village founders.
09:15The pura pushe, dedicated to Vishnu and the creation of the village.
09:20And the pura dalim, the temple of the dead, dedicated to Shiva or his consort Durga, usually located in
09:28the most spiritually impure part of the village near the cemetery.
09:33Life is marked by a series of elaborate ceremonies.
09:37The most important festival cycle is Galungan and Kuningan, a ten-day period that celebrates
09:44the victory of Dharma over Adhama.
09:48During this time, the spirits of the ancestors are believed to return to their family homes.
09:55The streets come alive with penjore, towering gracefully arching bamboo poles decorated with
10:01coconut leaves, fruits and flowers which are erected outside every home as a symbol of prosperity
10:09and gratitude to the gods.
10:11Perhaps the most unique and profound of all Balinese ceremonies is Niepi, the Day of Silence,
10:18which marks the Balinese New Year.
10:21The night before, villagers across the island hold boisterous parades featuring enormous,
10:27demonic effigies called Ogo Ogo.
10:31These effigies, crafted by the youth of the banjar for weeks, are paraded through the streets
10:36with loud music and fire, a ritual to exercise the evil spirits of the past year.
10:43Then, at dawn, a complete and total silence descends upon the entire island.
10:51For 24 hours, everything stops.
10:55The airport closes.
10:57No one is allowed on the streets.
10:59No lights.
11:00No work.
11:02No entertainment.
11:03No travel.
11:05It is a day for fasting, meditation, and self-reflection.
11:10A symbolic cleansing of the island and its people, allowing the world to begin anew.
11:18Another major ceremony is the cremation, or Ngaben.
11:23Far from being a somber event, a Balinese cremation is a vibrant, noisy, and celebratory affair.
11:31It is seen as a joyous occasion that liberates the soul from the body, allowing it to ascend
11:38to the heavens and begin the process of reincarnation.
11:43The body is carried to the cremation ground in a towering, multi-tiered funeral tower, or
11:50great, which is carried on the shoulders of dozens of men from the Banjar.
11:55The atmosphere is one of communal effort and celebration, a final, beautiful act of service
12:02to a member of their community.
12:04The economy of Bali is a study in contrasts, a place where ancient agricultural traditions
12:20exist alongside a massive global tourism industry.
12:23For centuries, the island's lifeblood was its fertile volcanic soil.
12:30The cultivation of rice, in particular, has shaped both the landscape and the culture,
12:36creating a society where cooperation and respect for nature are paramount.
12:41The stunning rice terraces are part of a sophisticated irrigation system known as the Subak, which dates
12:49back over a thousand years.
12:51The Subak is a democratic and cooperative system where farmers share water resources managed through
12:58a series of water temples.
13:01It is a living example of the Trihita-Karana philosophy in action.
13:07The system is managed by a water priest, or Jero Gid, who, through a complex calendar
13:12of rituals and offerings, coordinates the flow of water from the source down through
13:18the network of canals and tunnels that feed the terraces.
13:23Farmers meet regularly at the temples to coordinate planting schedules and water distribution, ensuring
13:29that the entire community benefits.
13:32This system is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized not just for its engineering, but
13:38for its cultural and spiritual significance as a model of sustainable resource management.
13:44Alongside agriculture, Bali has a rich tradition of craftsmanship.
13:50Villages around Ubud are famous for their artistic heritage.
13:55In the village of Mas, generations of master woodcarvers create intricate sculptures from
14:00teak and sandalwood.
14:03The air in their workshops is filled with the scent of wood and the rhythmic sound of
14:08the chisel.
14:09In Keluk, the air is filled with the gentle tapping of hammers, as silversmiths use the
14:16lost wax technique to craft delicate jewelry.
14:20The painters of Batu Chuan village are known for their unique dense style, where canvases
14:26are filled with detailed scenes of daily life and mythology.
14:31For these artisans, their work is not just a way to make a living.
14:37It is an expression of their cultural identity and a form of spiritual practice.
14:42However, in recent decades, tourism has become the dominant force in the Balinese economy.
14:51Millions of visitors come to the island each year, creating a vast number of jobs in hotels,
14:57restaurants, tour companies and wellness centers.
15:02For many young Balinese, a job in tourism offers a path to a better income.
15:08They take great pride in their roles as hosts, sharing their culture with visitors, as drivers,
15:15guides and small business owners.
15:18The famous Bali smile is a genuine expression of this hospitality, but it has also become a
15:25professional requirement in the service industry.
15:28Alongside this formal economy, a vibrant, informal economy thrives.
15:35Countless small stalls, or kiosks, line the roads, selling everything from phone credit and
15:42snacks to petrol decanted into old vodka bottles.
15:47Mobile vendors, or Kaki Lima, push their carts through neighborhoods, selling everything from
15:53Baxo soup to ice cream.
15:56These small enterprises are a vital part of local life, providing essential goods and services
16:03with an entrepreneurial spirit.
16:06But this reliance on tourism also makes the economy vulnerable, and it places significant
16:12pressure on the island's resources and culture.
16:27Food in Bali is a central part of daily life, a celebration of fresh, local ingredients and
16:33complex, aromatic flavors.
16:37The day often begins with a trip to the local market, or pasar.
16:41These markets are a sensory explosion.
16:44The air is thick with the scent of spices, the pungent aroma of durian, and the chatter
16:50of bargaining.
16:51The sounds of chickens and the smell of dried fish mix with the sight of women balancing huge
16:58baskets of produce on their heads with an effortless grace.
17:03Farmers sell pyramids of colorful fruits, baskets of fresh vegetables from the mountains, and
17:09a dazzling array of spices that form the foundation of Balinese cuisine.
17:15The market is also a social hub, a place where neighbors catch up on local news while shopping
17:22for the day's ingredients.
17:25Balinese cooking is a labor of love.
17:28The heart of many dishes is the bumbu, a spice paste made by grinding numerous ingredients
17:35together with a stone mortar and pestle.
17:39This paste, which can contain up to 20 different ingredients, including candle nut, shrimp paste,
17:45and kaffir lime leaves, gives Balinese food its distinctive, layered flavor.
17:52A typical meal is nasi kampur, or mixed rice, a scoop of steamed rice surrounded by a variety
17:59of small, flavorful dishes that change from day to day and from one warung to the next.
18:06One of the most famous ceremonial dishes is lawa, a mixture of minced meat, vegetables,
18:12grated coconut, and rich spices, which is sometimes mixed with fresh animal blood to add depth and
18:18flavor.
18:19It is a dish that is almost always prepared communally during large ceremonies, with men
18:25typically handling the chopping and mixing in huge woks or wajan.
18:30For a quick and affordable meal, many Balinese visit a warung, a small, often family-run eatery.
18:39Warungs are the heart and soul of the island's food scene, offering authentic, home-cooked food
18:46with a warmth that makes you feel like a guest in their home.
18:51They are also vital community centers, places where people gather to share a meal, exchange
18:58gossip, and connect with their neighbors.
19:02At night, the food scene transforms with the appearance of the Pasar Malam, or night market.
19:09Carts and stalls line the streets, their lights cutting through the darkness, offering specialties
19:16like sata lilit, a uniquely Balinese sati, made from minced meat mixed with spices and wrapped
19:24around a lemongrass stalk, and sweet, filled pancakes called martabak.
19:31The night market is a beloved institution, a place where the community gathers to eat,
19:37socialize, and unwind after a long day.
19:50The natural environment of Bali is not just a backdrop for life.
19:55It is an active participant, a sacred realm, alive with spiritual energy.
20:02The island's geography is dramatic and diverse.
20:07This close relationship with nature has shaped the Balinese worldview, which sees the natural
20:13world as a source of both life and power.
20:17The mountains are considered the domain of the gods, while the sea is seen as the realm of
20:23lower spirits or demons.
20:26The human world exists in between, and the goal is to maintain balance in this middle realm.
20:34Offerings are frequently left at large banyan trees, waterfalls, and even strangely shaped rocks,
20:40acknowledging the spirits or penungu that are believed to reside there.
20:46The island's volcanoes, like the active Mount Batur and the towering Mount Agung, are considered
20:51the sacred homes of the gods.
20:53Mount Agung, the highest and most revered peak, is seen as the spiritual center of the island.
21:01The volcanoes are respected as powerful sources of life-giving fertility for the soil, but also
21:08as potentially destructive forces that command reverence.
21:13The island is also home to a rich biodiversity.
21:17The monkeys in places like the Ubud Monkey Forest hold a complex status, seen as semi-sacred
21:23guardians of the temple grounds, but also as mischievous pests.
21:30Waterfalls are not just beautiful natural features, they are often considered sacred sites for purification
21:36rituals known as melukat, where people bathe in the holy waters to cleanse themselves of spiritual
21:43impurities.
21:45The coastline offers a different kind of energy.
21:49The beaches of the south, like those around Uluwatu, are legendary in the surfing world.
21:55This culture began in the 1970s and has since grown into a major industry, producing local
22:01surf legends who have become role models for younger Balinese.
22:07For them, the ocean is both a source of livelihood and a place of recreation and spiritual connection.
22:14There is a deep camaraderie among the local surfers, a community built on a shared passion,
22:21and a profound, almost spiritual respect for the power of the waves.
22:27The sea, like the mountains, is a powerful force that must be honored and respected.
22:43The sound of modern Bali is the persistent hum of the scooter.
22:47For millions of Balinese, the scooter or motor is the primary mode of transportation.
22:54It is a symbol of both freedom and economic necessity.
22:59The rise of the scooter economy, powered by ride hailing and delivery apps like Gojek and
23:06Grab, has transformed daily life, creating new jobs and making it easier than ever to get
23:13food delivered or travel across town.
23:16This reliance on scooters has led to significant traffic, especially in the urban centers.
23:23The experience of being in Balinese traffic is one of organized chaos.
23:29There is a constant flow of vehicles, but it is governed by a set of unspoken rules of yielding
23:36and merging, a dance of intuition and mutual understanding.
23:42The use of the horn is not an aggressive act, but a gentle, I am here signal.
23:50Scooters flow like a school of fish around obstacles, a testament to the incredible skill of the riders.
23:59In recent years, Bali has also become a global hub for digital nomads.
24:07Cafes in areas like Kangoo and Ubud are filled with people working on laptops.
24:14An entire infrastructure of co-working spaces, villa rentals and cafes with high-speed internet
24:21has sprung up to support this community.
24:24This influx has brought new energy and investment.
24:28But it also contributes to the island's modernization and changing social landscape, creating a complex
24:35cultural exchange with both positive and negative aspects.
24:48Education is highly valued in Balinese society as a pathway to a better future.
24:54Children in their distinctive school uniforms, red for primary, blue for middle and grey for
24:59high school, are a common sight across the island.
25:03But for many, education is a dual track.
25:08After their regular school day, children often attend sessions at the Banjar to learn traditional
25:13arts, ensuring that these vital cultural traditions are passed on.
25:19For young people in Bali today, life is a balancing act.
25:24They are the first generation to grow up fully immersed in both traditional Balinese culture
25:30and the globalized digital world.
25:33They feel the responsibility to uphold the traditions of their ancestors, while also feeling the pull
25:40of modern aspirations.
25:43A young person might work as a trendy barista in Kangoo, but they must return to their village
25:50for a three-day temple ceremony, requiring them to take time off work and switch their mindset
25:57completely.
25:59The financial pressure to support not just their immediate family, but also to contribute to the
26:05often expensive ceremonies of their extended family and Banjar is a significant part of
26:12their reality.
26:14Fluency in English is seen as a key skill for employment in the tourism sector, and many
26:20young people are eager to learn.
26:23Their aspirations are often entrepreneurial.
26:27Many dream of starting their own businesses.
26:30A small guest house, a cafe, a tour company, combining their modern skills with their cultural
26:37heritage.
26:38They are navigating a world where the expectations of the family and the Banjar coexist with the
26:44endless possibilities offered by the Internet.
26:53As the sun sets, Bali transforms.
26:56In the villages and rural areas, the night brings a profound sense of peace.
27:02The frantic energy of the day dissipates, replaced by the gentle sounds of nature.
27:07The rhythmic chirp of the tokic gecko, whose call is often counted for good luck, and the
27:13chorus of frogs from the rice paddies.
27:17The air cools, and the smell of burning mosquito coils drifts from open doorways.
27:24Families gather in their compounds to share a meal and talk.
27:28In the main tourist areas, however, the night is just beginning.
27:32In places like Seminyak and Kuta, the streets come alive with a different kind of energy.
27:39The air fills with the sound of music from high-end beach clubs and backpacker bars.
27:45Many young Balinese work in this nightlife industry.
27:49They are masters of moving between these two worlds.
27:53After finishing a late-night shift, they will ride their scooter home to a quiet village where
27:59the rhythm of life is dictated by the temple calendar, not the tourist season.
28:05This nightly contrast is a powerful symbol of modern Bali.
28:20The beauty and popularity of Bali have come with a complex set of challenges.
28:26The very success of its tourism industry has placed immense strain on the island's infrastructure
28:32and environment.
28:34The rapid development has led to the conversion of agricultural land into concrete.
28:40This is not just an aesthetic loss.
28:43It represents a cultural one.
28:46The concept of ancestral land is deeply important.
28:50And the decision to sell it is a difficult, almost spiritual one for a family, often driven
28:56by economic necessity.
28:58A critical and often invisible issue is the island's growing water crisis.
29:04The tourism industry consumes vast amounts of water.
29:08The deep wells dug for hotels and villas are lowering the water table, causing traditional
29:14wells and even the sacred sabacc systems to run dry in some areas, pitting the needs of the
29:22tourism economy against the needs of traditional agriculture.
29:38Life in Bali is a conversation between the past and the present.
29:43It is a place where ancient rituals are performed in the shadow of modern development, where the
29:48sacred and the commercial exist side by side.
29:52It is an island of profound beauty, but its true strength lies in the invisible threads of
29:59culture that bind its people together.
30:02The Balinese have shown the world that it is possible to be part of a globalized society
30:08while holding fast to the traditions that give life meaning.
30:12Theirs is a life built on balance, between work and rest, community and self, the material
30:20and the spiritual.
30:22In a world that often feels fragmented and fast-paced, the gentle, resilient and deeply
30:29human rhythm of life in Bali offers a quiet reminder of what it means to live in harmony.