David's AW News: What They Pray For Is Amazing...

Greetings from the AW Advantage marketing office, Bali..

Yes, I'm at our beach office, and it very much has an end of year feel. Tomorrow is Nyepi Bali's New Year's Day, , and this year it almost coincides with Eid al-Fitr celebrating the end of Ramadan.

So many of our staff are already heading to their hometown, and the rest will break today for a national holiday until Wednesday next week.

Last week, I was telling you about our visit to the Bali Baby Home we support close to here, helping runaway single mothers and their children put their lives back together. If you missed it you can catch up right here, or see the Youtube video we made about it here. Update: they have already spent the donation we made and made a classroom area double quick; they sent pictures today.

The Melasti Ceremony.

It's all happening near our office. Since this time last year, the local village has made a beautiful ceremonial area and built a car park for one special occasion it's the Melasti Ceremony.

This is where the local village communities go to the nearest body of water (sea or lake), and ceremonial objects are dipped in the sea for cleansing, then everyone prays. What they pray for is amazing...

Outside our office.. 

The ceremony aims to cleanse the world of all sins and bring good karma. These guys are praying for the whole world and the universe. For you and I.

Now this is not for tourists; the Pecalang (security) will turn you back, but because we are practically local I went with Bondhan to mingle with the Balinese people just a little. Video short here.

The Melasti ceremony is a purification ritual for Balinese Hindus held over the three days before Nyepi Day. Later the massive Ogoh-Ogoh monsters made by imaginative and creative youngsters will parade through the streets, they represent the evil in the world and will conduct mock battles, eventually some will be burned symbolising the end of evil all a bit wild..

Crazy night..

 ..then..

Silence will fall over Bali, complete silence. Roads close, the airport is closed, the internet is off (except tourist hotels),  and Pecalang (local security) will politely tell you to return to your hotel if you try to venture out. I'm really looking forward to it... a time to be alone, no distractions, just to reflect and think. After dark, the sky is amazing because there are no lights at all on the island.

My taxi driver yesterday was from Padang bay, just up the coast, he told me he was a holy man and must return to his village to preside over a Melasti ceremony.

He asked me what my business did in Bali, and I told him we buy handicrafts from artisans and send them to Europe. Eyes shining, he thanked me and told me this was vitally important for Balanese culture, because those with "proper jobs" in hotels or construction companies don't have the flexible time to attend ceremonies and support the communities. That's the reason I'm a taxi driver - I can work when I want. It's the same with artisans; they can work in times that fit around their cultural life.

So it strikes me by buying artisan products, you actually help support the beautiful and unique culture of the island.

Some News..

A young journalist from Sheffield called Lauren J Reay-Williams produced a small article about our efforts to Tax Temu.. You can read it here.

Next week, I will be in Kathmandu, with a totally different vibe..

There is still time to order and support our Bali Baby Home fund.. Details Below.

And we have some absolutely amazing NEW stock this week from the team at AW-Aromatics: Zodiac Fizzers are coming very soon! And a lot more new products are here and more on the way, which you can explore here.

Take care, and have a lovely week.

David