Bali- Gates of Eden

Now I have not quite finished with my mulling experienced in Bali. In an earlier blog I talked about the air in Ubud which almost puts one in a trance like state of inner reflections.

 From Ubud I moved on to Seminyak. One afternoon after a day of shopping we went for a body massage at a place near our hotel, a mid range outfit in a new low rise building. We were ushered upstairs to a couple room. The decor was spartan but clinically clean, not an ambiance that stirs dreams or imaginations. After undressing and lying flat on the bed looking downward through the face hole, I could not see the face of the 2 masseuse that entered the room. I directed my masseuse in my limited Malay to focus on the aching parts on the back. She was surprised I knew a bit of Malay and thought I was from Malaysia. I then fell into a half slumber trance as my body relaxed into deeper and deeper relief. Slowly thoughts and images faded. Half way through a peculiar thought abruptly crept into my mind. Suddenly I formed an opinion that a perfect woman is one who provides solace to her husband and children. The best wife and mother in the world, I thought to myself, is one who is able to constantly comfort and soothe the pain of her husband and children.
Without judgement (as I was in a state of stupor) I reckoned I was far from one and lazily wonderred whether my mother in law is at least closer to being one.

Finally the massage was over and I climbed out of the bed as the masseuses prepared to leave. Without my spectacless on I could only catch a vague glimpse of my masseuse.It was only when I was dressed and about to tip her that I realised she was advancedly pregnant. I immediately felt a bit guilty that she had to exert strength to soothe my aches.

Only when I was back in the hotel that I began to wonder whether there was some form of psychic connection and transmission of feelings going on. I have a feeling she will make a very good mother.

On the flight home from Bali I chanced upon these words when reading Pico Iyer's "Sun after Dark".

"Bali is a magical world for those who can see its invisible forces and read all the unseen currents in the air.... Yet for everyone else, it is simple enchantment. We stand at the gates of Eden, looking in, and choose to forget that one central inhabitant of the Garden is a snake".

Hmm.. ..