Wrote this a few days ago but had trouble actually finding a purpose or point or thesis in it. Thought it was worth posting though cuz i would love to hear other peoples opinion on it if you have one...
This modest little town has already been somewhat spoiled by tourism, but it has been interesting to witness the current hype around here with the much acclaimed book/soon-to-be-movie 'Eat, Pray, Love'.
To all of my lovely ladies (and maybe a few of ya guys) who have read this book, you know the story and hopefully loved it as much as I did. To those who haven't read it, it is a memoir about a recently divorced woman who cuts all of her ties to her sucessful/married life in NY to travel for a year in Italy, India, and Indonesia. Her goal is to find a balance in life and do a bit of soul-searching. The way Elizabeth Gilbert writes makes the book funny, relatable, and an inspiration to anyone who wants to travel and/or just went through a terrible break up. (I'm sure it could almost be catagorized as a self-help book in a few ways.) It is here in Ubud, however, where Gilbert ends her journey, studies with a balinese healer and eventually finds love. Thus, it is here where many have flocked in search of a similar experience.
To further add to the ever-growing tourism here, Julia Roberts (and apparently Brad Pitt?) are currently in town filming for the movie of Eat, Pray, Love. (b.Pitt and j.Roberts...really? Hollywood sure is making this the quinessential chick flick!).
It has been a bizarre phenomenon to watch the reprecusions of all the hype around here though. Sitting in coffee shops and yoga studios, you hear a few people whispering to one another: "I found out where the real Wayan has her shop" or "we are going to get readings from THE Ketut". Walking down the streets here you are always asked (an absurd amount of times) if you need "taxi?" or "transport?", but I have actually had a couple of offers recently for: "taxi? Want to go see Julia and Brad, yes?".
When I hear and see these things happen, I feel a torn about it all. Being someone who read and loved the book, I think the purpose of this memoir is simply to tell a story and to inspire others to live doing what they love- to strive for a more balanced lifestyle. I feel like the characters in her book were a representation of the population and culture in Bali and were not meant to be exploited as celebrities.
According to one article, Ketut (the healer from Gilberts book) now charges four times what he used to (and why would he not?) and still has people lined up for hours outside his door. People have been complaining that, after waiting in line and paying a high price, they were dissapointed with what the medicine man had told. But come on people...
I will be the first to say that the book was an influence in my decision to come to the town of Ubud, but, in my opinion, I think it's a bit ridiculous to come here and try to repeat the experiences of one person, and then expect the same exact results. In fact, I think doing so is very contradictory to the point of the book. This article I read earlier pulled out a qoute from the book that said something to the effect of: it is better to live your own life imperfectly than to live someone elses perfectly.
I am glad that the book has reached and inspired so many people but it is heartbreaking to see this little town goobled up by Hollywood celebrities and flocks of bohemian Western travelers in yoga pants (Please note that I do not totally exclude myself from the latter!) It is great to bring more economic growth onto this little island, but there is such a loss of culture that comes with it. As soon as you walk 15 minutes out of this town, you are completely engulfed in a totally different atmosphere- a more quiet and laid back family feel. And it doesn't take long to figure out that this is how Ubud used to be- ask any of the locals and they will tell you the same.
I'm not quite sure what my point is here... I guess I had the realization that this culture is just so damn beautiful, and seeing it become more resorty and white and consumer-based is kind of heartbreaking. It's like your small little ski mountain getting turned into another Vail resort, ya know? It has it's goods and bads but what you miss the most is the local scene. And I am not ignorant to the fact that I am a part of the crowd that reiterates these issues. I'm well aware of the fact that I am white (especially in this sun and humidity), that I'm a consumer at the overpriced coffee shops with wifi, and that I'm wearing yoga pants right this very second as I sit and write this. Like everyone else, I am also a tourist in Ubud for it's reviews of being the 'santa fe of Indonesia', 'beautiful' and 'cheap'. I also ski Vail resorts so..... Yea. Who am I to judge?
I guess my message would be to all you yoga/soul-searching beautiful beings, all you wealthier couples who came here for the shopping or those who are just traveling through this little island is this: May you find your soul, advance your yoga skills, shop your little heart out and get to see all the scenery you can handle. Just please remember to explore, learn, and appreciate the culture and not just the fact that your spa treatment and dinner cost you less than a single drink back home. I have found the most beauty here in the people and their lifestyle (and their food!).
Okay, enough of me running around in circles...
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