GREETINGS FROM BALI,

Anyone who knows me well knows about my love for Bali. I am often asked what makes Bali so special to me? The answer lies in several things: The culture, rich in ceremony and ritual; the spectacular landscape, full of more shades of green than we have words for; but mostly it's the beautiful heart of the Balinese people, their kindness and openness.

Following the philosophy of two of my favorite people, Bill Cunningham and Diane Vreeland, I travel "to keep the eyes educated,” as Bill explains in his documentary about seeing the fashion in Paris, and Diane Vreeland credited her amazing success and vision as the editor of Harpers Bazaar to her Travels. Her Book , "The Eye has to Travel," explains how her experiences traveling kept her ideas fresh and innovative. In that light, traveling to Bali always fills me with a sense of awe and wonder. With each visit, I continue to be awakened by the spectacular beauty that takes place in the daily life of this spiritual culture, and wonder at the glorious show that Mother Nature puts on throughout this special island.  My 5 senses are treated to a wonderful cleanse here; The color spectrum that fills my eyes daily, the exotic incense and intoxicating sweet florals that greet us each morning from the ritual daily blessing, the texture of fine loomed ikats that require months of skilled weaving,  refreshing flavors of ginger and lemon grass after the best message I’ve ever had;  the harmonic orchestra of all living things greeting us at sunrise each morning.

I leave here rejuvenated, energized, refueled and humbled by the quite, simple elegance of Balinese lifestyle and culture. I leave here with a swelling heart, seeing with fresh eyes that life has so many gifts to offer us.

Humble (and excited) I bow my head , take my hands from heart to my 3rd eye center and quietly say... NAMASTE