And Yes... Another New Year!
'Om Swastyastu'
 By now, you might notice the echo in our Team Talk's greetings since our January edition. Well, in Bali we do incorporate many calendars. So another New Year is here.
But this time we welcome you in a bit of a 'hush' in respect to the turn of the Çaka New Year 1930, celebrated as the Day of Silence with a total shutdown of human activity on the island. The only-in-Bali sights and sounds of this solemn celebration at the end of the first week of this month is the best and most unique, an unusual kind of treat.
Oil lamps and bamboo torches light up the roadsides, and giant bamboo and papier-mâché ogres are paraded down the street by local community members on the eve of the New Year. But with the first cockcrow at daybreak the next morning on March 7, the whole world of Bali literally goes mute, allowing only the delicate hum of nature at its best. We deliver some of these aspects in this month's Focus Feature.
You may have also heard about the global campaign that shares its basic concept of 'giving nature a break' especially as major cities around the world join the WWF in the trend against climate change during Earth Hour 2008, which somehow shares the same month as the Balinese "Day of Silence," but at March's end.
The Balinese may keep their silence, but the whole world can learn something useful from their behavior. Pondering Point shares views on this.
Prior to shutting down for a day along with the whole island, we have prepared this edition along with our team of faithful contributors to share with you a chockfull of interesting articles. Craft & Culture takes you to the island's major pottery producing region of Pejaten.
Through Beyond Bali, embark on a culinary tour around the tasty trails of Bandung, which had its part in the nation's historical struggle for Independence in an incident known as the 'Bandung Sea of Flames' on March 24, 1946.
We hope you enjoy these and other articles in this edition and experience the unique facets of this island and its neighboring regions. Keep safe and "peace"....
'Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om…'
—The Team
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