| My trip to Bali in 2008 was not only a colorful and | | | | Balinese don't necessarily engage in the constant |
| taste filled adventure but also a lesson in spirituality | | | | chatter that we do over our meals. They prefer to |
| and food. Wherever I went in Bali, I found it easy to | | | | eat quietly, often alone, and focus on the process of |
| eat wholesome and well-balanced meals. They use | | | | eating and digesting. I was reminded of this while |
| fresh herbs and spices ground by hand, in | | | | having lunch with a lovely Balinese man who was |
| combination's that result in clean and complex flavors | | | | barely three bites into his lunch as I finished mine, and |
| while balancing the six tastes-leaving you thoroughly | | | | also did all of the talking! I commented on the |
| satisfied. So many of their dishes are beautifully | | | | difference, and he simply said "...that's because I'm |
| presented with regard to color and form. | | | | chewing my food." Oh, what a concept! |
| Most noteworthy about food in Bali is, as with so | | | | Balinese women usually prepare food for the day. |
| many things there, how spirituality and food are | | | | This is all done in the morning, and the food is left |
| connected. From planting, growing, and harvesting to | | | | out for family members to eat when, and if, they |
| preparation, offerings, and eating - all of these | | | | are hungry. Again, it is not about eating together, but |
| actions are done with reverence to God. My driver | | | | more about eating when the body is physically |
| taught me that "we don't own our food until we | | | | hungry. It is the men, however, who are in charge of |
| offer it to God first, give thanks for it, and get | | | | laboriously preparing the spice pastes and food for |
| permission to eat it. Only then is it ours to put into | | | | the numerous festivals and ceremonies. Here, the |
| our bodies." | | | | preparation and eating are done communally, only |
| How does this stack up next to eating emotionally, | | | | after respect and offerings have been made to God. |
| snacking in the bulk aisle at Whole Foods, or | | | | In Bali, food comes from the Divine, food is offered |
| remembering that someone labored over planting and | | | | back to the Divine, and my own experience with |
| picking the vegetables that I am eating today? The | | | | food in Bali was certainly Divine! |