Waiting for the Light

The day is defined by its light, generating a myriad of moods in its intensity or lack thereof. The light that warms our skin, just five minutes before it splays and refracts into the rigidity of our atmosphere, was created in the intensity of fission and its raucous ferocity. Something born of such violence casting shadow and light on our moments, our lives, capable of creating clarity and confusion simultaneously is nothing less than an ongoing phenomenon.

So I straddle my bike and blast my way to an impact zone in hope of documenting something more impossible and intriguing than magic, as it strikes a location, bustling with serenity and takes control of its mood like a hypnotist in a hurry.

In Contrast, in another time in another location and from a variable source, the light did this to my attempt to capture and contain its invasive nature. Linking these micro seconds locked away is the proximity to an ocean and…. Nothing more.

Light, it’s an interesting concept to say the least.

Drive by Shooting

Bali has changed, radically. It was inevitable as we all know and those who live here see it ravenously digesting itself and reconstituting that matter into something different, its origins strewn amongst the waste but still prominent, hiding behind a curtain of pseudo westernisation. This is most prominent in its southern regions, a victim of its own success and phoenix like quality of literally rising from the flames to begin a new path to destruction in a different sense, the uninhibited pursuit of wealth instead of happiness. But amongst this renovation of thought and form lies a new beauty, oxymoronically, a beauty in its ugliness.

Bali has changed, radically. It was inevitable as we all know and those who live here see it ravenously digesting itself and reconstituting that matter into something different, its origins strewn amongst the waste but still prominent, hiding behind a curtain of pseudo westernisation. This is most prominent in its southern regions, a victim of its own success and phoenix like quality of literally rising from the flames to begin a new path to destruction in a different sense, the uninhibited pursuit of wealth instead of happiness. But amongst this renovation of thought and form lies a new beauty, oxymoronically, a beauty in its ugliness.
Images taken by various photographers hide these changes and try to create a sense of the antiquated Bali; the way it was before we came and became solo colonials (read my blog titled so, to fully understand this phrase).
I say embrace this change in all its filth and gluttony and see amongst it the facets of human nature that cannot be changed, only then, through acceptance and understanding can we re-asses the past to forge a different existence in the future, one without regret.
As Socrates put it “pleasure is something that is not temporary but survives time and is pleasurable now and in the future” Paying great heed to this axiom could save mankind from the regret of literally paving paradise to put up a parking lot. Jodi Mitchell, the Prophet, we the uninvited guests throwing concrete around and fashioning it into something we deem pleasurable until we realise that 50,000 other people are doing it and seriously blocking our view.
So here’s what I did, I got in a car and shot from the comfort of the rear passenger seat covering a great many kilometres in search of beauty, I found it everywhere. Here it is.

 

Elevation

Elevation: "Loftiness of thought or feeling" the free dictionary.com

There is something about being at a pinnacle and looking across to the horizon while accepting it's magnificence, and maybe, sometimes, being the only one privy to such a scene. It's important not to confuse this sensation with with that of an  Ego response of bravado, both when experiencing it and observing its affect on others. It's a pure, unimposing feeling like that of content and serenity. I find it here, on a precipice, some find it in an Ashram, a Church or even an office chair.
It's out there, the sensation of elevation and I'm more than happy to document the mood of it in these photo's. Enjoy.

Hindu Paparazzi

It's incredible what goes on in Bali unbeknownst to the masses, the intricate and the strange idiosyncrasies of Hindu Life playing out automatically on those auspicious days when the necessary becomes a reality in order to incite harmony on the island.

So along with my Duties to participate in the ceremonies of my Banjar I took my camera and my offerings to a temple where you cannot use any open flames and therefor incense, kept my flash off just in case and got up close and personal with the process of this unique ceremony. The dance of the Mangku's the running of the spear and the heavy presence of the various deities revealing themselves through the chosen few and their adornments, piqued my interest and elevated my spiritual self into a tangible sense of expereince. experience of the Niskala, the unseen.

The Meaning of Life

Life is incontestably and exclusively about experience. Having drawn this conclusion and then set about trying to disprove this as fact through various means of debate, the next logical step is to ascertain the meaning of this to us. Most importantly though, is how to apply this fact to our day today lives and the choices we make that effect our experience.

To be brief, very brief and only to propagate a thought process within your mind, plant a seed so to speak this is what I believe to be the most important fact about life that to my knowledge has never been conveyed in this way:

Life is about experience so the purpose of our lives is to monitor and regulate our choices to control the intensity and diversity of our experience for the purpose of growth as intelligent, conscious beings in the universe. It is literally our responsibility to do this and not doing it can only lead to a life discontent with our experience.

                So, assess your experiences and the potential to experience a myriad of new and beneficial things, weed out the experiences and choices that lead to stagnation of experience and development and see what happens when your decisions are based solely on this little canon, this miniscule doctrine. I believe that everything will tumble into place and the journey will continue fraught with adventures of every kind.

Faith In Fate

It's been a tumultuous couple of months to say the least. Projects getting stalled by unforeseen circumstances, Commerce being blocked by the changing minds of  nepotist business inheritance and a funk of failure clouding my every effort.

The suns shines sometimes but for how long you will never know. The point is, it's better to get a tan when it's shining  and ride out the dreariness with a shiny soul and attitude, maybe a time to give back the energy you've absorbed. And so maybe, as a Hindu I should adhere to the laws of Karma and the pursuit of Kama using Dharma and Adharma as an unpredictable way of choosing your path. One things is to not ignore the signs on the road and especially not to do it knowingly thinking you know a better way or in and egotistical pit of blind oblivion...... Which is often described as drunkenness :)

So again I plod slowly through my journey with feet clumped in the clay of a messy past knowing that when it drys it will flake away and free me from those very silly mistakes and bad choices that litter the trail. This time I'll avoid the mud pools i Hope, for the sake of my friends, my family and myself.

hope never dies and greatness can only be acheived when you define what greatness is for yourself.