The Art of Water

June 5, 2014 at 5:45 am  •  Posted in Bali, Food, Inspiration by

As a family, we’ve all come to appreciate the value of clean water, hot or cold, that flows so effortlessly and copiously from our various faucets around our house on Mercer Island. A quick glass of water from the sink, the daily ritual of brushing teeth and a hot shower have all been luxuries that have been less present in our lives during the past year. And while in Indonesia the same strict adherence to bottled water for drinking and brushing apply, a whole new level of water luxury has been introduced to us here on the Island of the Gods.

We go through a 5-gallon container a water almost every day... here's Jones brining back the empty to Ketut's house.

We go through a 5-gallon container a water almost every day… here’s Jones brining back the empty to Ketut’s house.

After a few weeks in Ubud, we’ve realized a whole new nutrition and taste cornucopia all centered on different water options, and tap water will just never be the same. For instance, did you know that the glass of water that is potentially sitting next to you as you read this post most likely is not balanced, which may wreak havoc with your alkaline levels within your body? You need Kangen water! At Alchemy, the family-favorite raw, vegan breakfast and lunch mecca located a short stroll from our villa, they sell it in beautiful, tall glass bottles. Like an Amex-double-secret-black-diamond-onyx-clear-card, just holding the bottle elicits knowing, accepting nods from the impossibly hip and cool “feathers and leathers” crowd. Indeed, you’re comforted in knowing that all vegetables and fruits are hand-washed in Kangen water before Alchemy will serve it to you on banana-leaf woven plates (also washed by said water). What is it? Well, supposedly it’s alkaline-balanced H2O, where the positive and negative electrons have been balanced in harmonious rows, thus bringing peace, love and understanding between the various intestinal organs that keep your engine purring.

Kangen Water at Alchemy

Kangen Water at Alchemy

Of course, sometimes you need your water to do more for you than just hydrate in an alkaline-balanced way. Enter coconut water, loaded with nutrients and fiber to sustain your next 2-hour yoga session. It is also purported to help cure  hangover, facilitate digestion, boost hydration and reduce blood pressure! Wescott’s prefers his daily drink of choice, served in chilled, raw coconuts, with the top hand-machete’d off. In case a natural coconut vessel proves elusive, however, there are several brands of organic, freshly bottled versions to be found throughout Ubud as well. For the true connoisseur who wants to take things to the next level, try Alchemy’s Cocobiotic Water, which infuses food culturing, or probiotics, into the mix of healthy goodness.

Wescott and his beloved fresh coconut water

Wescott and his beloved fresh coconut water

At another organic, vegetarian restaurant called Five Elements, we had a couple of aquatic options to choose from. Under an architectural temple of bamboo, the waiter started us off with common pitcher water, but luckily it had been infused with apple, lemon and mint, so we could actually drink it. The menu featured other options such as Sparkling Rose Water and Young Coconut Water. To add to the celebration and art of water, the restrooms featured the coolest faucet, fashioned from a long bamboo pole dangling magically above a natural boulder with a polished sink carved from its top. Holding your hands under the bamboo caused a beam of ethereal light to illuminate your hands as pure water tumbled naturally from the long bamboo pipe, reminding you that you are indeed in Oz.

 

Cool sink at Five Elements

Cool sink at Five Elements

 

Like so many aspects of daily life and ritual here on Bali, art is infused in the simplest things, including water. Ancient irrigation channels move water everywhere in our village of Penestanan, the town of Ubud and the surrounding rice terraces, originally built over 1,000 years ago. The state of zen realized by the almost constant vision of bubbling, running water serves as an inspiration for health and sustenance, in which water is at the root for us humans, especially the health-crazed enlightened of Ubud. All of the choices, flavors and forms of what used to be plain old water are certainly fun, but also serve as a reminder for me of just how precious and savored water needs to be as humans not-so-slowly squander this life-giving resource.

At this local hangout, not only is the water filtered and UV rayed, the water is blessed by the staff with a Balinese offering each day!

At this local hangout, not only is the water filtered and UV rayed, the water is blessed by the staff with a Balinese offering each day!

 

 

 

 

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2 Comments

  1. Tammy / June 29, 2014 at 8:21 am /

    Wow love this water lesson! So much we take for granted. 😉

  2. Gina Peckman / June 29, 2014 at 12:46 pm /

    Really, how are you ever going to be able to come home?? I would want to start all over again and go around the world again..and again…and again..we do miss you though.

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