Appreciating Roots in Fleeting Time
I moved to Indonesia from a small town along the Alberta/Saskatchewan Border. My Mother regarded to me at one point on this trip that it may have been the best thing her and my Father ever did for my Brother and I. I’m inclined to agree.
 I was five at the time and still vaguely remember the initial moments that I spent in Indonesia. It was late, or at least dark out, at the time.  The dirty, work truck had a distinctive smell that I remember to this day, and I drifted in and out of my childlike slumber as it bounced on the gravel roads up the mountain. I can still sleep through almost anything, and almost always fall asleep as soon as I’m in a moving vehicle.
 The town we were to call our home for the next eight years is called Tembagapura – a Freeport Copper & Gold mining town - and rests atop the mountainous landscape of Papua New Guinea, which is one of the many islands that make up the country of Indonesia.
 We were to spend many family vacations in Bali, although I mostly remember those vacations in the Kuta area – which is known for its tourism and caters itself as such. Please note here, that Bali only is able to thrive through the continuation of such tourism. Indonesia has its pitfalls, like anywhere else, and much of that resides under poverty and corruption. Ubud, on the other hand, is where I have “found myself” these past two weeks and has a history of arts and creative energies. I personally believe this to be why it attracts so many creative-types who are seeking solace to focus themselves internally. Might I be so daring to say that this peaked my own attraction?
 Legends of Ubud’s beginning tell of a Javanese priest, Rsi Markendya, and speak to Hindu lore of meditation and the Gunung Lebah Temple, where two rivers meet in Campuan. It was in the late 19th Century, however, where it’s medicinal and herbalist magic was discovered. This is where Ubud gets its name: derived from the Balinese word “ubad,” which means “medicine.”
 Although an arguably awful human being, German-born Walter Spies brought tourism to the island when he retreated to Ubud to teach panting and music. Much of what you will find sold by local vendors are still, to this day, beautifully inspiring art pieces. In fact, many artists followed suit and include the likes of Willem Hofker and Rudolf Bonnet. Bonnet focused mainly on drawings of people and landscapes, and to witness the views you see here even now, you can easily imagine why he was drawn to such an area.
 Early artists and celebrities, including Charlie Chaplin, (I’ve actually laughed a lot here, so don’t worry I’m bringing home some great jokes, too) brought in artists from all over Bali to teach the locals of the creativity that gave all of these inspiring names such a breath of fresh air. These arts have continued to be passed down from generation-to-generation, giving Ubud what it needed to keep it’s head above water, as it were. It’s been a thriving art center since the 1960s, in fact. There are few places in this area that you’ll see without paintings, carvings, or music.
 My Mother not only gifted me with this trip and opportunity to learn from her along this business endeavor of hers, but she has gifted me for the past 28 years with so much knowledge and many, many lessons of life too. In such a time of uncertainty for the world, and when we are faced with times of uncertainty in our own lives, I think that it is important – nay, imperative – to consider the roads traveled by our forefathers/mothers so that our path to find our own is walked along with less reason to stumble. Isn’t that why nature instills us with so many hormonal obligations to protect our young and build a better future?
 Carry forth on your own path, dear readers. And, for those who follow there’s to a place of art, culture and creative insights: I would highly suggest a trip to Ubud as a future goal.
 With that, I will leave you with my final insights for this trip: love your mothers, love your sisters; love your brothers and your misters. Compassion will take you farther than greed in this life, because the people in your life are more worthy of investing your efforts and communication habits into more than anything else in this world.
  Once again, and until next time, thank you for reading.
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