Some Balinese People

Some Balinese people that I know.

Wayan : Works in the driveway, drilling holes, stacking bricks. Every day wears the same yellow jumper. Never ever any other top. His only top.

  Calls out a cheerful“Hiiiiiiii!” whenever we walk past, even if he is across the rice field.

Yanti : Works in the laundry. Washing, drying, ironing my clothes.

  Always greets me with a beautiful smile. Never frowns.

Made : Has a transport business. Mistakenly received a large amount of money into his account (several months pay worth). He didn’t know who it was from or what it was for. Two weeks later when alerted, sent it all back within an hour of the request.

  Calls me his “Very best friend”.

Risky : Was the manager of a restaurant but lost his job when it closed down. Now drives Gojek. Tells me he can go slow so that I feel safe, or if I’m running late he can drive fast.

“Is it true that NZ is a wonderful place where good education is available to everyone?”

Iluh & Agung : Full time housekeepers. Spend as much time at my house than they do with their own family. Honest & funny, and say they love their job because we are “kind and treat them well”. Often work late even when we say to go home.

“No miss, more to do, we will stay”.

Wayan : Personal driver. Booked up now, but the pandemic was difficult. He didn’t always know if there would be enough money to pay the electricity, feed his wife and two children or even continue living in Canggu.

“It was hard but life is good now”.

Putu : Gardener. Does much more than gardening with expectation of nothing in return. Constructed the towel racks by the pool, cleaned the glass ceiling that was out of reach, lugs bottles of water and massage tables up the stairs so that the maids don’t have to.

“It is fine, I can do it no problem!”.

Ati : Has a massage business. Sends her therapists to the villa often with bags filled with gifts of mangos, mangosteen, passion fruit and papaya. When I pop into her clinic to say hi, she tells me to get on the table for a quick 30 minute massage during her break. Refuses payment.

“A gift for you Denise, thank you for the work”.

A beautiful culture, with fabulous people. It’s easy to love Bali. Denise