Bali Through a Lens of Gratitude
- rtvdmn
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
During Leo’s recent trip to Bali, one of the most grounding and humbling experiences came from visiting Monkey Temple, officially known as the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud. Walking through the ancient remains of the temple, we were reminded that this land has held centuries of life, era after era. The structures standing today are not just architecture, they are proof of generations who lived, worshiped, and found meaning long before us.
Monkey Temple is home to over 700 long tailed macaques and multiple Hindu temples dating back to the 14th century. The space is deeply spiritual and alive, blending nature, history, and daily ritual. The monkeys themselves play a big role in that experience. They are intelligent, curious, and at times unpredictable. As long as you respect them, they respect you, but they are known for grabbing sunglasses, hats, or anything loose if given the chance. That balance between awareness and respect felt like an unspoken lesson in presence.
The monkeys constantly brought Leo back to earth. Watching how they move through the land so freely reminded us how connected nature, life, and environment truly are. It was a reminder to slow down, observe, and stay grounded in the moment rather than rushing through it.
Another powerful symbol of balance came later in the trip with the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue, one of the tallest statues in the world at over 400 feet tall. The statue represents the Hindu god Vishnu riding the mythical bird Garuda and symbolizes the balance between land, water, and sky. Standing beneath it, the scale alone was overwhelming, but the meaning behind it felt even larger. Balance is not passive, it is intentional, and it requires awareness.
For Leo, experiencing these places carried a deep sense of gratitude. Seeing parts of the world he once thought he might never be able to see was both grounding and inspiring. These moments shape how we see, how we create, and how we tell stories. They remind us that photography and film begin with experiencing the world fully before ever pressing the shutter.