Bonding in Bali

Where else in the world can you fly thousands of miles from home and be welcomed into your home away from home with a soothing verbena-scented aromatherapy ritual?

Our lovely abode here was the charming and scenic Subak Tabola Villa. Located in the rural village of Sidemen within the Karangasem Regency of East Bali, Indonesia, this sanctuary is owned by my charming first cousin, Pauline Belo Lepoutre, who is now based in the City of Lights—Paris. Here, both nature and spirituality profoundly merge as one. You wish time would stand still as the gentle staccato of birds chirping, the gentle springs that cool your entire being, and the rustling of the giant palms that seem to be in salutation to the heavens.

Büm and I, a.k.a. “Will and Grace” from the popular American television sitcom, were immensely fascinated by the giant ornate Balinese doors that welcomed us and our spirits as we vicariously travelled down memory lane to the time of such antiquity. Inside the rooms, soft linens and the sweet fragrance of frangipani flowers filled the surreal atmosphere.

Outside Subak Tabola, the rest of Bali awaits to be discovered. Mornings began with the first light that touches the rice fields in hues of gold and green. The distant crow of a rooster signals the gentle arrival of day, and the valley awakens—not loudly, but with grace.

Offerings of flowers rest before sacred shrines, humble gifts that remind us that every day is a blessing to be acknowledged with grace.

It was a day of waterways, of forests lush and tall, of verdant paths and endless wonders—iguanas basking in the sun, ancient temples, serene Buddhas, and landscapes that seemed untouched by time.

Meals are prepared with fresh, local ingredients—simple yet soulful. Indonesian flavors take center stage, accompanied by gentle international touches. Dinner was complemented by traditional Balinese dances—fleeting, hypnotic moment where culture, movement and spirit intertwine.

We also celebrated Büm’s second life after his triumphant recovery from a recent quadruple bypass surgery. Under the quiet luminescence of a pale moon, we shared whispered thoughts from our hearts. Büm said, “I wish I die before you because my life wouldn’t be the same without our friendship. We both agreed that sometimes, in the chaos of it all, life can get lonely, but we can always feel connected no matter where we are. We vowed to say the rosary as one daily.” Büm asked if we could say prayers each day at 7 o’clock in the morning, no matter where we were. Then a bear hug sealed the deal for Will and Grace, the television characters whose friendship defies time.

The virgin beach, with its crystal-clear and azure seas, could not have offered a sweeter dip for the two of us. The cool waters refreshed not only the body but also the spirit. It was one of those rare moments when nothing else mattered except the horizon before us and gratitude within us.

Like a choreographed dream, Bali arrests the senses. It does not merely captivate the eyes; it embraces the soul. Bali did not simply show us beauty—it taught us how to slow down long enough to truly see it.