the STILLNESS of a
WILD SUMMIT
Though completely surrounded by the emerald expanse of Sidemen’s rice fields, the morning felt as if we were drifting in a quiet sea of mist. Watching the light hit the bamboo structures of Veluvana, we picked up our gear, lashing our creative vision across the day’s journey. There we stood, ankle-deep in the lush grass, the dew covering every leaf and plank, so that to our downward gazing eyes, the suspended bamboo craft of the villa seemed to float above the valley.
Meanwhile, the driving clouds and morning rack grew lighter with the rising sun; the silhouette of Mount Agung began to pierce through the shadows. The rising sun forbade all attempts to rush the moment. The cameras were useless as mere tools, performing now the office of life-preservers—capturing the real life from the wild, fleeting one.
There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a pair of lovers takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke of beauty, though the wit thereof they but dimly discern. However, nothing dispirits at Veluvana, and nothing seems worth while disputing. Cristine and Peter bolted down all events, all beliefs in the magic of Bali, and all hard things visible and invisible. As the ostrich of potent digestion gobbles down bullets, they swallowed the sheer scale of the volcano and the intricate bamboo architecture. All small difficulties and worryings of the world seemed only sly, good-natured hits compared to this peace.
Waiting for the light to hit the peak of the mountain. It was to fully enjoy and embrace this part of the journey. I knew they wanted to spend these moments living easy and minimal, surrounded by the artisan craftsmanship of the bamboo villa. Spending time together, eating healthy, and breathing in the Karangasem air.
Sunrise — 6:00 to 8:30. The Good Life. The Good Life. In the shadow of the mountain, the present, the past, and the future lie in the same line. Create or Die.
The deepest in the Sidemen jungle, the more alive you feel — Nature is awesome.
Amazing landscape, rich heritage. Veluvana is a place where people see their connection to the earth restored: the area is full of natural resources and vistas that enrich the soul.
People. I’m deeply interested in the shapes and the colors—the pastel hues of the sky and the filmic textures of the bamboo—that we use to design and fill the spaces that surround us.
