Every Creative is perpetually searching for the “it” spot that will unlock all the juicy ideas, and resulting creations, waiting to blossom from their mind. While there is no magic elixir for inducing creativity, being in a location ripe with sacred structures, water pulsating with life, and landscapes that not only astound your eyes but cause your heart to smile, will offer you the key to your inner world of inspiration- all you need to do is turn it.
That key is waiting for you in Bali.
Here are five locations, nestled in Bali, that will encourage your expressions of creativity to flow in directions they never before had permission to explore.
Ubud
The tapestry of jungle in Ubud, known by many as the “spiritual center of Bali,” creates a haven where you’ll feel safe to explore new ideas without immediately having to put them into action. This green cocoon can be your metaphorical meditation room where you peek into the recesses of your mind, weed out the junk that needs to go, discover your latent brilliance and give it space to come out and dance. Consider Villa Pererepan as your home base for this creative hibernation.
Canggu
When your ideas, ingenuity, confidence and other yummy elements of your self are ready to play with others, head to Canggu. This hipster stomping ground offers the chance to commune with other Creatives; weaving ideas together while noshing on something organic on the beach, discovering how you can collaborate on a project while infusing your mind with caffeine at Hungry Bird, and taking a break from all that thinking with a dance party at Old Man’s.
To witness the rare beauty that can be birthed from an idea, travel to the village of Tenganan in southeast Bali. The locals in this village are pros at double ikat weaving- a process that ends in the creation of one of Bali’s most exceptional textiles. Tread softly and respectfully through the village, sending out vibes that you’d like a local to “adopt” you for the day, leading you on an unofficial tour that may even include a peek into the workspace of an expert weaver.
Gianyar
Watching the graceful, thoughtful and primal “ways of being” of animals can shake up your perceptions of life, offering inspiration for how to settle into a more simple style of living. Immerse yourself in a society of animals by staying at the Mara River Safari Lodge in Gianyar where you can float in a pool while observing the interactions of zebras, feed an elephant from your balcony or lay in bed gazing at a family of rhinos enjoying their breakfast.
Seminyak
While conjuring goodies from your creativity is spiritually arousing, it can also be draining- you need a dip in the land of milk and honey (or maybe just a bean bag chair) to recharge. Seminyak offers many luxury hotels and spas that will pamper you for a reasonable fee. If you’d like your pampering delivered via the sky, plop into a colorful bean bag chair at La Plancha, a beach bar and restaurant offering Spanish food, tasty cocktails and sunsets pulled from the heavens.
It’s official- writing this article has given my creativity a desperate case of wanderlust- get me on the next flight to the Island of Exotic Expression.