Homage

We visited Bali last August to attend the Asia Pacific League Against Rheumatism Conference at the very beautiful Bali International Convention Center. As I walked along the streets, I came across small pallets of offerings in front of every doorstep of houses and buildings. These were handmade baskets made of natural materials and filled with unique items such as flowers, food and incense. These things are everywhere, placed early in the morning to please the gods and appease demons of the Hindu religion. When we visited one of the malls, I found this interesting offering in front of Starbucks. It was especially beautiful to find two different cultures intertwined so closely. It was also special in the sense that something deeply western pays homage and embraces eastern belief.