David's AW News: Strangely Peaceful

Greetings from Bali, Indonesia

This week has been strangely peaceful in Bali, partly because of a drop in flights from the Middle East, partly because it's almost Eid (they call it Eid al-fitr here) so lots of people left Bali to go back to hometowns on other islands to celebrate the end of Ramadan with family. Also because yesterday was Bali new year and the famous "quiet day" (see below) lots of Gen Z types run away to Lombock or Gili Islands so they can party as normal.  So Bali right now is like the old days, strangely peaceful..

Last week I was telling you about my busy week.. and updates from Nepal.. if you missed you can catch up here.

Peaceful....

As promised I finally managed to upload the content we collected in India, on our trip to the gemstone artisan town: Khambhat.. which also holds some other Cricket related surprises..

You can check it out here.. It's a totally Off the Grid - kind of place.. and we met some amazing people and well just check it out..

Anyway I was telling you how peaceful Bali is right now..

This week was Nyepi — Bali’s famous Day of Silence.

I'm writing this in the coffee shop after just emerging from what felt like a kind of enforced reset… no travel, no lights, no work (they told me), no noise. You know even the airport shuts. The whole island goes still. Mobile internet is cut. Only tourist hotels have internet access. Now at 8am people are just emerging blinking into the real world.

The idea of a quiet day is, I understand..  a moment to reflect, reset, and some say to trick any wandering evil spirits into thinking the island is empty.

And I have to say… this morning as I type this.. is something special. The air feels lighter. Like the whole place has taken a deep breath.

But the Night Before OMG!!… after I finished work and grabbed a bite to eat..  I ventured out..  the streets already darkened, many shops closed.. I'm going looking for Chaos (the Good Kind). Because the night before Nyepi is the complete opposite. I went out in search of the Ogoh Ogoh…someone told me to head to the road junction near McDonalds..  and more by luck than judgement found myself right in the middle of it. I brought the Insta360 camera..

Huge crowds, proper energy. And these incredible, slightly terrifying, larger-than-life monsters being carried through the streets on bamboo platforms. It was hot! The crowd got super dense, and as the Ogoh-Ogoh kept coming, drums playing, the crowd pushing.. a little bit alarming at one point I thought if someone goes down we all do..

But the creations are amazing.. Each one handcrafted by local youth groups — the banjar — who spend weeks building them. And this is where it gets interesting… because they are more Than just monsters. These figures are based on Bhuta Kala — characters from Balinese Hindu mythology representing chaos, negative forces, ego, imbalance… all the things we carry around but don’t always face.  Here, they don’t hide them, they bring them out… make them big… make them loud… shake them about… even stage mock battles in the streets.

Then… they take them to the beach and burn them. And then after the madness and noise.. next day — silence.

Why Bali Is So Creative.

Watching all this, it really clicked for me… maybe this is why Bali produces such incredible artisans. From youth creativity is encouraged. Because creativity here isn’t a “job”… it’s part of life. From a young age people are: Building things together in their communities, working with their hands, learning skills passed down through generations.

Creating for ceremonies, not just for sale. And later I guess the same hands that build those wild Ogoh Ogoh… are carving wood, shaping shells, weaving, painting… creating the products we work with every day. It’s the same energy — just expressed differently.

And you can feel that connection in what they make. In Bali artisan products are not mass-produced… not purely functional…

But made with a sense of story, spirit, and pride.

Which brings me nicely to what’s coming next…

Easter… But Maybe Not As You Know It

Easter is just around the corner — and while for many it’s tradition, chocolate, and family time…

Check out our Easter page here. 

There’s also a growing group of customers looking for something a little different.

A bit more natural. A bit more meaningful. A bit more artisan.. Here's my Alternative Easter Gifts Picks....

Bali wind chimes & bird boxes — something for the garden, bringing a bit of calm and nature into the space

Hand-carved wooden Buddha statues — for those leaning more towards mindfulness, reflection, or simply beautiful décor.

Not everyone wants bunnies and bright colours…

Some are looking for something quieter. More thoughtful. Easter is afterall about renewal.

And actually… that fits quite nicely with the whole Nyepi feeling.

Season of Love Rolls On

And of course — Easter is just one moment.

The Season of Love continues…

Easter →  Wedding season is warming up nicely already.

Each one a little reminder of what we really do in this business:  Help people give small acts of love.

A Thought to Leave You With

Watching Bali switch from full chaos… to complete silence… in the space of 24 hours… It made me think.

Maybe we all need a bit of both. A time to create, express, build…

And a time to pause, reset, and appreciate.

Take care (or as they say here) Hati-Hati!

More news next week.

David

PS: Almost forgot Hati-Hati Angels are perfect for easter..