Hello from an undisclosed location in the Savu Sea, where R and I are spending our summer holidays.
The island we’re on is meant to be like how Bali was, thirty years ago, before all the tourists, and it’s a real paradise – white sand beaches, fresh food, and very, very few people. (The hotel’s WiFi also is not great, so I am writing this while hot-spotting to R’s phone!)
One thing that has really struck me about this island is just how close to nature people live. Their homes are all built of bamboo and palm fronds, electricity is not widespread in the villages, and the food they eat comes straight from the garden and the sea – no grocery stores here. (I’m sure there are SOME grocery stores in the main towns, but it’s not the typical way of life.) Before scooters made their way over here, the main modes of transport were by horse or by foot. Their religion is called “Marapu”, which is an animist belief system centered on ancestor worship and communication with spirits. I love the exchange between humans and nature here (is it really an exchange if we ARE nature?) – the land provides plenty to meet our needs and we respect and care for it in return.
I can feel the essence of this poem by James Crews so strongly here – how we are the lifeblood pumped into the veins of the earth, and how every particle of love we generate evaporates into the air we breathe back in. If you are feeling a bit separated or in your own bubble, perhaps take a moment to look up, rest your eyes on something green, and breathe in the love that nature has for us.
