Day 5: March 1, 2016
From Hong Kong to Bali and the start of our Bali Pilgrimage.: Deepening Compassion, Creativity, and Ecological Awareness

This pilgrimage was planned by Aslan Institute in Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota as part of their ongoing "Evolution of Consciousness" series. I have become interested in evolution of consciousness and learning more about the connectedness of all things, and my friend Leah led me to Aslan.

The pilgrimage was billed as "an ambitious undertaking at every level, as it is calling on us to integrate knowledge of the evolution of consciousness, history, anthropology and culture, ecology, psychology, spirituality and religions together with our daily practices of meditation, mindfulness practices, yoga, creative expression in relationships and in artistic endeavors."

Or in the words of my philosopher/sailor friend Richard, "Oh, you are seeking Zen." And so it begins, my search for Zen in Southeast Asia.


We arrived at Denpasar Airport in Bali and were immediately impressed with the architecture. We were met by our driver "Putu" from the Klimpu Bali Resort. "Putu" means "first born" in Balinese culture. So all first-born children are called either "Wayan" or "Putu." Second-born children are "Madde." There are a total of four names like this based on birth order. When the family gets to the fifth child, he/she is also called "Putu" or "Wayan." It would seem confusing in large families!

Registration desk at Klumpu Bali Resort, our home for the first 4 days of our Pilgrimage. The resort is located in Sanur, a lovely beach village on Bali.

Grounds of Klumpu and one of the rooms. Each room had a loft at the front in addition to the main bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor. The word "klumpu" specifically refers to the shape of this building, which in old Bali was an arch-shaped structure where families lived on the ground floor and stored their rice in the loft. In Balinese culture, rice was essential and vital. Each family protected its rice stores as they would gold, and rice was even used as dowries when daughters of the family married.

Grounds and pool at Klumpu Bali Resort.

Our first evening involved dinner and getting acquainted with the other pilgrims--mostly middle aged and older women. There were two other men on the pilgrimage: Roger who was with his wife Marlene, and Clive (my roommate) a YouTube marketing expert from New York.

After dinner, we held an opening ritual where we were asked to place a white or black stone into a large porcelain bowl of water as a way of forming our "intention" for the pilgrimage of an issue of cancer we wanted to work on. I put a black stone in the bowl.

Day 6: March 2

The Green School

Every day of the pilgrimage started with 30 minutes of yoga, followed by 30 minutes of mediation and then a teaching from the Aslan folks. After breakfast, we started our exploring. This day, we visited the Green School and the Green Village, as well as a "bamboo factory" where the bamboo used in construction and furniture is processed.

The Green School was founded in 2008 by John and Cynthia Hardy as an educational community focusing on ecologically sustainable designs and practices, and a curriculum based on sustainability education.

First stop on our tour of the Green School was this large crystal used as a focal point to remind students of their connectedness to the universe. Offerings are laid at the crystal daily as part of the Balinese tradition of "Banten." These offerings are gifts of reciprocity for the many gifts bestowed on us by the universe. They serve the sociological and spiritual purpose of creating a sense of unity and community, and they are composed of flowers, rice, fruit.

This is a classroom building and a typical classroom at the Green School. All construction and furniture is bamboo. Curriculum is open, and carries students from Pre-K through High School as a prep school for college.

This is a generator powered by the Ayung River. A cement conduit diverts part of the river, which turns the generator. The Green School is not completely off the grid, but they are moving in that direction with off-grid sustainability as part of their main goal for the property.

Near the Green School is the Green Village, a collection of whimsical and grand homes built and furnished with bamboo. they were beautiful. Above, Leah peeking around an "egg door."

These homes are architecturally amazing in addition to being ecologically responsible.

Beautiful and comfortable bamboo furniture. Bathrooms are accessorized with metal and stone features where water protection for the bamboo structure is needed. Beautiful!

After we left the Green Village, we visited the bamboo factory that supports construction and furniture manufacturing for both the Green School and the Green Village. They would not let us take any photos, because their processing of the bamboo is proprietary as are their designs. But as part of the educational goals for the Green School, the bamboo harvested and used for construction is grown by local bamboo farmers who are educated in the most efficient and ecological methods of producing and harvesting bamboo without damaging the environment.

Once the bamboo is harvested and brought to the factory, it goes through a multiple step chemical process involving boric acid, which preserved the bamboo and prevents insect damage, giving the bamboo a functional life of 60 years. Also at the factory, bamboo is cut and processed into flooring, wall material, and furniture, including all the desks and chairs for the Green School.