Diamond Head Road

Nyepi: A Day of Peace and Quiet

If you've ever been to Bali, you know that it's a busy island.

In the more populated residential areas there is a constant stream of low flying airplanes transporting people on and off the island; thousands of motorbikes whizzing by for personal and commercial use and bell ringing bakso (chicken soup) sellers walking up and down neighborhood streets. 

Not today though. Except for the chitter chatter of birds, not a creature is stirring; not even a mouse. In fact, on Nyepi, which is the Hindu version of the first day of the year, no one is even allowed to exit his/her property unless a dire emergency requires hospital care. The Balinese go as far as to shut down the international airport in their capital of Denpasar and absolutely not one business is open. 

Nyepi is a day of silence and reflection: not a day for working, cooking or even using electricity if you're a good Hindu. Of course, as westerners with two young kids, we're cheating a little bit. We do have the air conditioning running and the dvd player has been put to good use today. 

Tonight we will eat by candlelight and spend some time in the pool checking out the stars which are supposed to be very intense in the deep Bali darkness. And tomorrow, it's out to the beach at first light to see the mountains and towering volcano, Mt. Agung, in absolute clarity.

Some people can't handle a day like this - there are Nyepi hotel packages advertised throughout the newspaper, offering respite from silence and reflection. Personally, I could use a few more Nyepis sprinkled throughout the year; once a season would be great. 

Maybe next year we'll go even deeper and attempt it without the movies.