<p>Driver recited verses fluently much to my embarrassment as I had just a smattering of it.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Little did I imagine that my poor memory of Hindu scriptures would be exposed, of all the places, in the Island of Bali, Indonesia. I was already aware during my short trip from the ferry point that we were in Hindu Bali with practically every house with a temple. Idols of Hindu gods adorned the temples en route to the district city of Denpasar. Janur, decorations added charm to the scene. No wonder the tiny tropical island is known as the paradise on earth.<br /><br />We enjoyed the trip to Sanur beach, upcountry version of the Janata Kuta beach. One can see many bare bodies getting tanned in the sun or getting themselves massaged by pretty women or leave to the handiwork of tattoo artists. We were content to sit and watch the fun. However, we were persuaded to take a glass-bottom boat-ride to watch the teeming world of corals on the high sea. I was somewhat reluctant as it could burn a hole in the pocket but my wife was more than willing to venture out. “Sir, I charge Americans $20 for one hour ride but I will take only $12 from you,” settled the issue.<br /><br />We were looking for a taxi to take us back to Denpasar. A smiling gentleman approached us, “Sir, shall I give a ride to the city?” he enquired. I only hoped that we wouldn’t be taken for a real ride. Seeing my hesitation, “Sir, I go strictly by the meter. Don’t you worry.” Ida Bagus Dirga, our driver, doubled up as our guide as he drove from the beautiful Sanur beach to Denpasar. He answered our questions without any hesitation. “You see, we in Bali have few poor people but many reasonably well-off middle class people and most of us are Hindus. We do have the caste system just like you have in India. Marriage is normally arranged within caste. But there are exceptions.”<br /><br />What was most surprising was Ida was fluent in his Gayatri mantra. “I recite at least once in the morning.” He recited it fluently much to my embarrassment as I had just a smattering of it. Here was a truly practising Hindu unlike some of us in our own country. He handed over his visiting card as we parted as good friends wishing each other ‘good luck’. I am sure he must be back to business, ferrying tourists, after the horrendous bomb blast at the Sari club, Kuta beach, some years ago.<br /></p>
<p>Driver recited verses fluently much to my embarrassment as I had just a smattering of it.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Little did I imagine that my poor memory of Hindu scriptures would be exposed, of all the places, in the Island of Bali, Indonesia. I was already aware during my short trip from the ferry point that we were in Hindu Bali with practically every house with a temple. Idols of Hindu gods adorned the temples en route to the district city of Denpasar. Janur, decorations added charm to the scene. No wonder the tiny tropical island is known as the paradise on earth.<br /><br />We enjoyed the trip to Sanur beach, upcountry version of the Janata Kuta beach. One can see many bare bodies getting tanned in the sun or getting themselves massaged by pretty women or leave to the handiwork of tattoo artists. We were content to sit and watch the fun. However, we were persuaded to take a glass-bottom boat-ride to watch the teeming world of corals on the high sea. I was somewhat reluctant as it could burn a hole in the pocket but my wife was more than willing to venture out. “Sir, I charge Americans $20 for one hour ride but I will take only $12 from you,” settled the issue.<br /><br />We were looking for a taxi to take us back to Denpasar. A smiling gentleman approached us, “Sir, shall I give a ride to the city?” he enquired. I only hoped that we wouldn’t be taken for a real ride. Seeing my hesitation, “Sir, I go strictly by the meter. Don’t you worry.” Ida Bagus Dirga, our driver, doubled up as our guide as he drove from the beautiful Sanur beach to Denpasar. He answered our questions without any hesitation. “You see, we in Bali have few poor people but many reasonably well-off middle class people and most of us are Hindus. We do have the caste system just like you have in India. Marriage is normally arranged within caste. But there are exceptions.”<br /><br />What was most surprising was Ida was fluent in his Gayatri mantra. “I recite at least once in the morning.” He recited it fluently much to my embarrassment as I had just a smattering of it. Here was a truly practising Hindu unlike some of us in our own country. He handed over his visiting card as we parted as good friends wishing each other ‘good luck’. I am sure he must be back to business, ferrying tourists, after the horrendous bomb blast at the Sari club, Kuta beach, some years ago.<br /></p>
