Bali High

THE Balinese love to carve. They carve on stone, wood, clay, coral, practically anything they could lay their mallet and chisel on. And it’s not a tourism-driven endeavor either. It’s an expression of religious devotion. Hinduism and Buddhism have always been big on carving, and the two faiths have deep roots in Bali.

I found this out when I visited the fabled Indonesian island in November. Everywhere I turned there were altars, shrines and small temples whose gates, doors, windows, walls came alive with carvings. This obsession is carried over to the statues, masks and idols that teem in Bali.

Too bad I never really had the time to fully explore the island. I flew to Bali as a part-time tourist and full-time conference participant. I manage to squeeze in some shopping and sightseeing only on the afternoon after the conference ended.

Source : The Manila Times