Visiting Rumah Desa is not just about watching. It is about doing. My clients had a great time learning, tasting, and trying new things.
One of the best parts was making Balinese offerings. The local guide gave them pre-cut coconut leaves, and they made small baskets from them. Then, they put flowers inside. Each flower color has meaning. Purple (instead of black) is for Vishnu in the north, white is for Iswara in the east, and so on. My clients enjoyed making the offering and learning its meaning.
Another special thing was Balinese palm leaf writing. Instead of using ink, the guide carved letters on dried palm leaves with a sharp knife. To make the letters clear, he rubbed burnt macadamia nuts on the leaf. In the past, Balinese people used this writing for holy books and old stories. My clients didn’t try it, but they were very interested in how it was done.
After that, they tasted Balinese wine. The wine is made from palm sap and fermented. Some have added flavors like chocolate. The strong one has forty percent alcohol! My clients were curious but found it too strong, so they didn’t try that.
We also walked through the garden. There were coffee and chocolate plants, a durian tree, and different kinds of bamboo near the river. We crossed a high bamboo bridge. It was a little scary but also exciting. My clients stopped there to take photos.
At the end of the visit, they planted rice. I didn’t join because I had to prepare something, but when they returned, they looked so happy. They felt like real Balinese farmers!
Rumah Desa gave my clients a real experience of Balinese life. So, they said.😀