I’m sitting on a folded purple shawl which softens the concrete ledge where people of all nationalities are gathered, waiting in anticipation for the performance to begin.
The intense heat continues well into the night here in Bali, and the pitch black frames the brightly lit square of the Palace courtyard.
Red and gold instruments of the gamelan orchestra wait patiently for the musicians to arrive, and are soon rewarded with the presence of men who know precisely how to release their song for the delight of us all.
The music melts the murmuring crowd into silent attention and calls the richly clothed dancers with painted faces through the ornately carved doorway.
Their intricate and precisely detailed movements of feet, torso, arms, hands, fingers, and eyes – all of which have been trained since tender years – tell the spectacular and ancient story which unfolds through dance before us.
The explosion of moving colour and sound are mesmerizing, and I feel the truth of what Thoreau meant when he spoke of “seeing with the unworn sides of the eyes”.
People often ask whether it's still possible for a first time author to get a book deal with a major publisher. The answer is a resounding YES!
Lucid dreaming is when you know that you are dreaming, and can consciously guide and shape the dream if you want to. It is currently a very hot topic. Academic, experiential and scientific research is showing that waking up in a dream can benefit us in terms of creative thinking, problem-solving, dissolving psychological or creative blocks and improving skills.