The Balinese have such a strong ingrained culture that—despite an influx of tourists to their island—their family, their gods, and their traditions remain the most important part of their lives. A Balinese waiter in a hotel will return to his village at the end of the day to help paint a mural or play a gamelan instrument for a temple ceremony just as naturally as we would sit back and watch TV. This spirituality is what helps the Balinese maintain a sense of who they are in a world dominated by Western influences.
R. Ian Lloyd is a photographer whose work appears in TRAVELER’s 50 Places of a Lifetime issue.
Sheila F.