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RETREAT
DAY 6
Our
beautiful rooms are a stones throw from the blue Bali Sea.
Surf laps eagerly onto black sand as the tide comes in.
We've left the green slopes of Nirarta Centre, said farewell
to the rice paddy hillside, the farmers, the rushing Unda
River, the cattle and roosters, the fireflies and water
lilies, twice daily meditation ritual, the High Priest's
holy water blessing and the mountain temple in the clouds
where we prayed our thanks.
We left Nirarta
to arrive at Gaia Oasis Resort, traveling from inland east
to coastal north, moving from green to blue. Greeted with
the vision of children playing on the beach, racing, laughing
and making cart wheels in the sand, washing a reluctant
dog between waves, indulgently watched by their fishermen
fathers. Greeted by the full moon rising at dusk, up out
of the sea into a lavendar sky, to the tune of the distant
Hindu temple chants floating over the water; beckoned by
a scrumptious meal of freshly caught grilled fish, spiced
vegetables, pureed pumpkin soup and coconut filled rice
flour dumplings swimming in warm palm sugar sauce.
We were welcomed
by our gracious hosts, and international guests who invited
us to the resort temple for Full Moon ceremonial prayers
and offerings. After dinner to a celebration, the way to
which was lit by candles perched on banana leaves and glowing
inside the green embrace of a hollowed banana tree trunk,
leading to a blazing beach bonfire; Invited to sit and sing
folksongs along with the guitar strumming and sweet mingling
of international voices rising in harmony as the palm trees
swayed softly and the waves rolled towards us keeping time.
Following twilight
the stars shyly emerge, outshone and acquiescing to the
glory of this spectacular Balinese full moon.
On the 7th morning,
as if this weren't enough, dolphins came where the moonbeams
had kissed the water- gracing us, one after the other skipping
across the horizon, dipping and arcing without a care in
the world, mesmerizing our spirit as they blessed our first
breakfast and the last days of the retreat.
Photos and writing by retreat facilitator Laila
Ghattas
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