Selamat Pagi to those of Aotearoa, New Zealand.We are a week into our voyage into Asia with Education NZ nd the learning as a #maori led group has been phenomenal. I'm not sure what we expected, but it really has been such a complete contrast to our small village back home on the East Coast. We spent the week in Legian in a heavily populated area at times confronting and overwhelmed as we have become used to the sounds, flavours and road rules in Bali.We've participated in language classes, cooking classes, market tours and learnt the ways of the local economies and how to barter and communicate in Bahasa Indonesian. It's incredibly different to see how religion (both Hindu and Muslim) is just part of life, seamlessly integrated. In the Western world time is money, but in Bali, time is ceremony and ritual. It's beautiful to witness. As Māori there have been quiet and surprising moments between cultures learning about our multiple gods, seeing our language overlaps (Lima - Rima and ia - non gender to kupu) and the similarity between the architecture and design of the traditional food store houses. We've felt there has been genuine reciprocal want for growth of Indigenous knowledge by those we have met.Early this morning we participated in a dawn service at the Australian Consulate to connect with a small handful of New Zealanders and Australians to commemorate and remember the Anzacs. There is a feeling which I am not quite sure has a word, but participating in a national and significant ritual away from home, makes you feel connected as a child of Aotearoa sharing who we are with the world.
It was a pleasure to meet New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Ambassador of Indonesia Kura Hakaraia of Ngā Puhi and such moments will remain as memories for the years to come.We have anchored for the next few days in the North of Bali, just past the old capital of Singaraja in a place called Lovina to spend a few days focused on Bamboo foundations, learn history and experience a more local way of life. Fingers crossed the weather remains warm as we intend on heading into Bali West National Park to do some endemic wildlife learning. Up here, the air is clear, the rice paddies are terraced and postcard perfect, the pace gentle and the laughter genuine. We've been extremely conscious of the impacts to tourism due to COVID as it's in the eyes, hearts and recent stories of all those we have talked with. But equally see the impact of tourism on the environment and as such have been deliberately selecting to support local and traditional economies and reflect on how we can contribute to solutions.There is something about this part of Indonesia that makes us feel like such welcomed guests and the Lesser Sunda Islands are a very unique part of Asia to immerse in.
Will write more more soon,
Sarah xox
