Indonesian Chronicles – Day 12, 24/8/2018 Impressions, Facts & Stories

Today is our last day in Bali, and it is also T.’s 20th Birthday. On his Birthday, T gets to visit the Holy Tirta Ubud temple[1], wear 3 different sarongs, bath in the holy water with sacred fishes, attend a Hindu ceremony at the temple (and get blessed along the way). It feels like a good start of his 21st year, even if some of the day will be spent in the air back to London from Bali via Singapore in a tight Singapore Airline economy seat (did I mention that T. is 1.86 tall?). 

I cannot believe that T. Is 20 already. Our life journey, like travelling, goes fast and slow. Fast as we speed at 30,000 feet high back home. Slow as we breath 60 feet under water. Fast as we run through life, day after day, and celebrate our kids’ birthdays, year after year. Slow, as we visit new countries and immerse ourselves in new cultures, or simply seat outside under a tree, reading a book, or exploring our minds. 

[1] Tirta Empul temple (Indonesian: Pura Tirta Empul) is a Hindu Balinese water temple located near the town of Tampaksiring, Bali, Indonesia. The temple compound consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for ritual purification. The temple pond has a spring which gives out fresh water regularly, which Balinese Hindus consider to be holy or amritha.[1] Tirta Empul means Holy Spring in Balinese.