Monico Family Travels

  • Home
  • Instagram
  • Videos
  • Extreme noise, healing noise, extreme silence and fun times in the middle!

    Posted at 5:16 am by Charlotte, on June 1, 2019

     

    IMG_20190527_165154

    The confluence of art, beauty and spirituality is everywhere in Bali

    The sound of Gamelan** is a constant in Bali.  I generally quite like it except when its being played very loudly near my dinner table whilst trying to enjoy good conversation alongside my meal!  There are temples dotted all around Villa Arcadia (home!), and the sound of Gamelan drifting across the paddy fields is so atmospheric and indicative of living in this highly spiritual place that 95% of my associations with it are entirely positive.

    **Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of Java and Bali in Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. The most common instruments used are metallophones played by mallets and a set of hand-played drums called kendhang which register the beat.

    Since Gamelan is such a ubiquitous part of Balinese culture, we decided to have a go ourselves, and booked into a Gamelan workshop within a local art gallery.

    IMG_20190527_164431
    IMG_20190527_171013
    IMG_20190527_171551
    IMG_20190527_171526
    IMG_20190527_171038
    IMG_20190527_171035

    Without underestimating the skill required to play any percussion instrument at a high level, the metallophones we took a crack at were really quite tricky to have a bash at!  You hit the metal bars with a wooden hammer (a bit like a xylophone, except the notes aren’t sequential), but the bars reverberate so much you have to hit with one hand, and grab with the other hand to stop the build up of echo.  It takes a certain level of coordination to follow hammer with hand whilst playing an unfamiliar tune as demonstrated by our leader.

    The other aspect to theIMG_20190527_171551 workshop was that it wasn’t really a workshop.  The blurb had indicated that we would begin by hearing some top level musicians perform a private concert for us, and then we would be taught to play a tune as a group.  There was no concert, our leader didn’t speak english, he didn’t exactly teach us, just played himself and then paused expecting us to copy/follow.  And he was REALLY grumpy**!

    After a while we got fed up of being growled at and went a bit freestyle with the instruments and enjoyed making a blast of noise, with an underbelly of gong time-keeping from Bella and Emily.

    ** highly unusual as we have found the Balinese to be overwhelmingly amiable, kind, generous, welcoming, smily and accommodating.  They believe in their own unique version of Karma which is somehow less about reciprocity and more about the general state of giving vs receiving.

    Having spent a good 45 minutes extracting a full refund (it wasn’t a cheap ‘workshop’), we gave half of it back to the museum and then went to explore its galleries which genuinely housed some spectacular pieces, catering to many tastes.

    IMG_20190527_174416
    IMG_20190527_174342
    IMG_20190527_174505
    IMG_20190527_174317
    IMG_20190527_174443
    IMG_20190527_174259

    The museum also had stunning gardens, so once we got perspective and could see the funny side of what was essentially a fiasco of a gamelan workshop, we were free to relax and enjoy our spectacular surroundings.

    IMG_20190527_175036
    IMG_20190527_174953
    IMG_20190527_175140
    IMG_20190527_175202
    IMG_20190527_174913
    IMG_20190527_172147
    IMG_20190527_174059
    IMG_20190527_154844

    We filled the next few days relaxing in our glorious surroundings at home, and  when we weren’t enjoying our own cooking and gorgeous lunch spot……

    P1050148

    …… we took in some incredible local organic restaurants with breathtaking views to match.

    IMG_20190528_123114
    IMG_20190528_132609
    IMG_20190528_123131

    One evening we went to the yoga barn to experience Sound Healing with Shervin.  It had come so highly recommended we thought it would be tough for it to live up to its reputation, but it surpassed it.  All I can say is that if you ever get the chance, give it a try it with an open mind and an open heart (Shervin is often in LA, London and is generally going global!).

    The girls entertained us as ever with break time fun…….

    WhatsApp Image 2019-06-21 at 11.02.13

    We have to believe this trip has surely cultured their creative juices when they come up with such gems as ’tissue shoes’!

    ….. and came up with a treasure hunt which sent us all around the house and garden searching for fiendish clues and hidden bounty.

    IMG_20190528_172733
    IMG_20190528_172027
    IMG_20190528_171950
    IMG_20190528_171939
    IMG_20190528_171421
    IMG_20190528_170250
    IMG_20190528_170514
    IMG_20190528_170809
    IMG_20190528_171337

    Sarah and I took off together for 2 nights of spirituality and reflection to the Bali Silent Retreat.

    The paddy landscapes we enjoyed our our way up to up to Penatahan (a couple of hours north of Ubud) were the best yet!

    IMG_20190530_152402

    Harvest has begun so we saw teams of villagers cutting and threshing.

    IMG_20190530_152213

    Arriving at the Bali Silent Retreat, we were given a quick tour……

    bali-silent-retreat-facilities-sitemap-1.jpg

    ……were shown to our huts….

    P1050008
    P1050007 (1)

    …… and then I got to sit down and appreciate this spectacular view from the balcony of my temporary home for the first time:

    IMG_20190530_165014

    Unesco protected lush rice fields

    The 360 views took our breath away:

    IMG_20190530_173103

    This was the view looking in the other direction from my hut – sacred Mt. Batu Karu is visible on a clear day.

    So what was it all about?  Well that was up to each of us to figure out for ourselves.  It is an eco-sanctuary that offers meditation and yoga, but its restorative offering is way beyond the amalgamation of these 2 practices.  Guidance was limited:

    Things to DO

    • Nothing
    • Breathe, Meditate
    • Read, Pray, Yoga asanas
    • Connect with your Divine Source
    • Eat, slowly and often
    • Walk the rice terrace path
    • Walk the labyrinth meditation
    • Walk the gardens
    • Walk the jungle path
    • Watch
    • Walk to the hot springs
    • Sleep without air con (it’s cool at night)
    • Stare at the stars from our star beds
    • Write (paper and pen)
    Things to NOT DO
    • Talk

    We arrived in the late afternoon, so my first evening consisted of taking in my surroundings, enjoying some incredible vegan food (I’d totally convert if vegan food always tasted this good!), and a walk around the grounds with some star-gazing thrown in.  Sarah and I spent very little time actually together during the few days, but we did lie head-to-toe on a stargazing bench together that first night which has become and enduring special memory.

    The idea at Bali Silent Retreat is to rest and wake with the sun, so it was early to bed!

    IMG_20190530_201343
    IMG_20190530_201257
    IMG_20190530_204934
    IMG_20190530_204956

    Morning wake up gong sounded at 5:30am, and I stumbled out of my hut to find a flask of the most wonderfully aromatic ginger tea waiting for me on my balcony.

    IMG_20190601_101005

    First meditation began at 6am.  It was a fully silent meditation in the Bale (tent) below, and we began in the dark focusing our attention on a candle in the centre of the room, and the day then slowly lifted around us.  I’m not very good at meditating, but achieved my best efforts yet in this incredibly conducive place.  Yoga began at 7am and the morning class was a fabulously vital and physical practice.  It felt great to move and wake up my body after 45 minutes of cramping cross legged.

    IMG_20190601_101103

    Yoga and meditation were repeated every afternoon, and I made the most of every opportunity.

    Meals were served silently, and ashram style, so we all kept/cleaned our own cutlery and crockery.

    IMG_20190601_103640

    Menus were incredibly varied.  They were decided each morning by the cooks, dependent on which veggies in the organic garden were at their best that day.

    IMG_20190601_103453

    We helped ourselves:

    P1040862 (1)
    P1040861 (1)

    And then took our nourishment to one of these amazing spots to eat (silently and slowly!) and enjoy the views:

    P1040856 (1)

    The lodge also offered communal seating, and a library.  At times it felt good to be around other people even if we weren’t talking!  Positive aura, warmth and good vibes abounded.

    IMG_20190601_103705
    IMG_20190601_103708
    IMG_20190601_103653

    The ‘tea’ station was a personal highlight.  So many herbs and plants to make a fresh brew with, available all day:

    IMG_20190601_103808
    IMG_20190601_103515
    IMG_20190601_103518

    Hard to disagree with CS Lewis:

    IMG_20190601_103510

    This is why the food was so good – it was all home grown on site:

    IMG_20190601_101200
    IMG_20190601_101228
    IMG_20190601_101323

    Even the marrows were delicious!

    P1050014
    P1050015

    I tried out most of what there was to do.  I wasn’t expecting to have a cry on the cry bench, but actually I did!

    IMG_20190601_101307
    IMG_20190601_101312

    I walked the labyrinth meditation heel-to-toe.  It was a test of patience for me, but I valued the reminder that I find it very hard to slow down.  Definitely something to take away with me as I get closer to returning to ‘normal’ life in London.

    IMG_20190601_102152
    IMG_20190601_101849
    IMG_20190601_101808

    This year has given us so many opportunities to learn and reflect which allowed me to embrace the chance  to share wishes (on post-its!) for the world, thoughts for ourselves and our loved ones (hung from twisted branches), and opportunities to try medicine herbal healing rather than reaching for the pharmaceuticals.

    IMG_20190601_101527
    IMG_20190601_103436
    IMG_20190601_103823

    The beauty of the flowers and greenery encountered at the lotus ponds speaks for itself:

    IMG_20190601_100404
    IMG_20190601_100824
    IMG_20190601_103037
    IMG_20190601_100759
    IMG_20190601_100658
    IMG_20190531_122551

    Everywhere there were personal reminders and thought provokers.  These could have been annoying, but in fact I found them found them cute, sometimes humorous, and more than often very applicable to me in the moment, or as an aspirational intention.

    P1050010

    P1040868 (1)

    IMG_20190601_100222

    Time passed in a blink, and soon I found myself saying a say goodbye to this beloved view.  I hope beyond hope that I will return one day for another chance to experience the restorative bliss of BaliSilentRetreat.

    IMG_20190601_100352

    There were more breathtaking view on the way back, but Sarah and I hardly noticed them because we were so busy chatting!

    IMG_20190530_152726

    Apparently James and the girls had a lot of fun doing Saturday morning pottery, and at Bali Bom (the biggest water park in Asia!) while we were gone. No doubt making a LOT of noise.  No photos from them, but I suspect we will be going back for a final fling before the trip is out, so watch this space.

    I leave you with this provocation from BaliSilentRetreat.

    IMG_20190601_100539

    • ← First taste of Bali from a Monicofamilytravels guest blogger
    • My last few days in Bali: a second post from guest blogger Sarah Thorley →

    Author: Charlotte

    | 3 Comments |

    3 thoughts on “Extreme noise, healing noise, extreme silence and fun times in the middle!”

    • Matteo Marzano

      July 2, 2019 at 8:46 am

      Great experience ! Love Things TO DO, and Things NOT TO DO !

      Reply
      • Charlotte

        July 6, 2019 at 6:47 am

        Me too – so inspiring! C

        Reply
    • Grandpa Suffolk

      July 2, 2019 at 11:19 am

      Wow, This blog gives one a lot to think about. I’m so impressed by the way you took to the Silent Retreat and the amazing things that both you and Sarah clearly got from it. It would frighten me to open up to any experience like this, sort of scared as to what might come out of it! It seems to be the main thrust of the whole “Monico” experience from Chile, Through Japan and now Indonesia that you make the most of everything that is thrown at you from scary boat trips, challenging jungle trips interspersed with magical moments of calm, beauty and peace.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    • Follow Blog via Email

      Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

      Join 45 other subscribers