Five Senses Bali: Sight & Sound

This is the first post of a “five senses” series. We and the kids thought about what things stood out to us sensorily in our new tropical environment.

Sight

The visual landscape is a blend of captivating elements like:

palm trees…
tropical flora…
and expansive ocean views.

Punctuated by:

temples…
and diverse architecture.

However, amidst the beauty lie jarring sights like:

random cows and garbage…
lots of smoking and vaping by both locals and tourists (including in restaurants)…
holes in the very few sidewalks…
and construction projects everywhere…
with workers in jeans and hoodies working amongst rubble in the heat of the day.

All leaving a disconcerting impression, overwhelming and overstimulating.

Sound

Bali’s soundscape is a tapestry of urban noise:

traffic…
motor engines…
and persistent rooster calls…

mingle with distant beats of party music.

At the beach we hear the rhythm of waves.
Where we find greenery and flowers, we often hear birdsong.

Monsoon thunder resonates powerfully, accompanied by the rhythmic pounding of rain.

This nighttime rainstorm was a moonsoon that filled up our swimming pool with several inches of water. Turn up your speakers to hear it:

https://youtube.com/shorts/L3ALuXI3TiY?feature=share

All of these sounds weave into an auditory tapestry, creating a sense of novelty and unfamiliarity.

The key to enjoying a new place is to find a way to appreciate all of the sights and sounds, both familiar an unfamiliar.

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