Kite flying in Bali

On the beach below the whirr and the growl of Bali kites…

Mervyn: Everybody seems to be doing it. Do you fly kites, Kamang?

Kamang: Well, I used to run a business before Covid. My business suffered a lot, no tourists and restrictions. During Covid, flying kites helped me to cope with stress and depression.

Mervyn: So kite flying helped you through?

Kamang: Absolutely! It was my therapy. Running with the wind, feeling the pull of the kite, watching it fly up was a sense of freedom.

Mervyn: And helped you stay strong. I hope your business has started to recover.

Kamang: Slowly picking up. It’s been tough, had to sell my car, no eating out. Flying kites with my kids also brought me closer to them.

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Voice-over

Flying kites in Bali is a cultural heritage. It is also a reminder that some joys in life are simple and are celebrated in Nature outdoors.

Bali Waterlilies

Barley stays at a hobbit BnB with a waterlily pond…

Barley: Nice. Nymphaea lotus, only blooms for a couple of days. True?

Kabang: Actually, the flowers usually stay open for about 3 to 5 days. Then they droop into the water.

Barley: And there’s a blue one over there and a red one too.

Kabang: The blue one is Nymphaea caerulea, the red one is Nymphaea rubra,.

Barley: Are there giant water lilies in Bali too?

Kabang: Sure. Nymphaea gigantica.

Barley: And are water lilies significant in Balinese culture?

Kabang: Absolutely! Water lilies hold cultural and spiritual importance in Balinese traditions. They symbolize purity, serenity, and beauty. 

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Voice-over

Waterlilies are also used in religious ceremonies, such as temple offerings and rituals.