As
you may be aware, PALMS has been periodically organising business tours,
coinciding with some important trade fair to select destinations with the idea
of helping local businessmen to enhance their business horizonand update them
on the latest trends in the trade and industry.
I
personally believe a lot of learning, truly happens outside a classroom
setting. So no matter how much information we may be able to access on the
internet or how much of classroom training we attend, going out and seeing the
world with our own eyes, adds a different perspective.
Attending
a trade fair is a good way to meet many businessmen of a country, at a single
point. A trade fair serves as an index
of the business potential that exists in a particular country. With this in
mind, we set out to Indonesia this year, as a team of 13 delegates to visit the
Trade Expo Indonesia at Jakarta. What makes our tours special is that we add an
element of fun to our tour by thoughtfully including a leisure destination, so
that the participants find it as a welcome break from their business routines.
So, when it came to Indonesia,the obvious choice was Bali.
I
have heard a lot of Bali. I am aware that it is one of the favourite holiday
destinations. However, it is only when I visited Bali, I knew why so much
tourist flock down here. Bali is truly a beautiful place, with exotic beaches,
sea sports, beautiful architecture, magnificent
temples, greenery and orchids, busy shopping streets, aesthetically designed hotels, cultural
parks, entertainment shows , a variety of international cuisine, 1000’s of
spa’s, vibrant night life and more.
Indonesia
is a cluster of over 17,000 islands and is the 4th most populous
country in the world. It is predominantly a Muslim country, however there is a
3% Hindu population. And surprising this 3% of Hindus seem be concentrated in
Bali. In Bali 90% of the population are Hindus.
We
had the opportunity to visit the Bali Museum which is set in an old Hindu
temple. This place is no more a temple, but a tourist attraction which has
become a scenic point of stone architecture where people come to take wedding
and portrait photographs.
Later
in the evening we went for a cultural show called, “Devdan Show” which depicts
the culture of this country by way of dance and music. It was a scintillating
performance, which left us awestruck.
We
also visited a Tanah Lot temple, which is on a seafront with a mesmerizing
view. As I was talking to a street vendor near this temple, I was amazed to see
how much respect the local people have for the religion. The rituals from
country to country may vary, but the faith they have in the religious practices
is immense. The local guide Mr. Pak Sukarsawho accompanied us, was a Hindu and
so he was able to share with us a lot about the rituals and practices that they
follow. It was indeed interesting to hear that.
In
the entire trip, what hit me most was this incident. On our return from Bali,
as we went in for the check in at the airport, the way we were greeted by the
staffs in the check in counter was unimaginable. The ladiesin the desk followed
this ritual. They gotup from their chair, greeted the passenger with a Namaste
gesture , received the passport and ticket, sat down to proceed with the check
in formality and again rose up to give
the boarding pass and passport and end with a Namaste gesture. This they did
for every passenger, tirelessly with a smile on their face. WOW! What an
attitude, I told myself. There could be no better way to feel respected and
honoured as a guest of this country.
Parallely,
some questions sweeped my mind. When people abroad are following this Indian
Hindu culture, why is that we in India are hesitant to practice this. Why are
we not proud of our culture? Why do we subordinate our culture to western
culture? Why is that we have lost the innate sense of belonging to a country
with rich traditions? I was just clueless. It was just another learning for me,
in my life journey.
With
happy memories we returned home. Truly speaking, we did not have enough time to
enjoy the beauty of Bali. There is so much to see and experience. Bali is not just a place to see, but a place
to be explored. Bali is an ideal destination for anyone and everyone irrespective
of age. Whether it is honeymooners, families, friends, retired people,
adventure traveller, sports lovers, businessmen or whosoever, I am sure they
would certainly come back more refreshed and young, just like we did!!!
Happy Reading,
D. Senthil Kannan
Article Dated Nov 2014
