Iluh is the manager of the place I am staying and it's her job to visit each guest every night and have a chat and ensure their needs are being met. Right from the start, Iluh shared from her heart, exposing her deepest secrets, desires and dreams. Her and I have become good friends. The more I learn about Iluh, the more I respect and admire her strength and courage as a woman living in a very male dominated society. She is determined to raise the standard of living for herself, her family and her community. How has she done this? Slowly and steadily. Fortunately for Iluh, she completed year 12 at school, something quite rare in this part of Bali (most kids, and especially girls, leave school after year 6 or 7 and stay home to help with the family's farm.) She had a dream of becoming a school teacher and as she says "The Gods heard my dream and made it come true." She attended university part time in Denpaser while working at her job from 4 to 11 pm and looking after her son, Gede, who is now 12.
At the same time her husband, Ninga had his own dream. A poor fisherman, Ninga dreamed of building a cafe on the beachfront land he and his extended family owns. Many tourists over the years have offered to buy part of Ninga's land but he is philosophical about it: "I sell my land and have lots of money, then what? My ancestor's not happy with me, I not happy, I watch rich tourist get richer on my land." I tell Ninga his land is special and no amount of money can buy that. Ninga smiles with his beaming white teeth. He knows I get it.
The God's were good to Ninga and 3 years ago the Blue Star Cafe was opened.
Then Ninga and Iluh had an offer from a building supplier to give them credit to buy the materials to build a bungalow next to the cafe. "This was a sign from my Gods to go ahead and build a bungalow," Iluh shines as she talks about it.
Another double story bungalow is almost complete and I have already booked the upper room for my next Bali holiday in August.
Iluh and Ninga have been blessed and they pass on their good fortune to others in their community. Iluh supports several young girls to attend school, provides breakfast for 20 or 30 people each morning, allows the families without water supplies to come and retrieve water from her well and to take a shower each day in her home, and she hires local teenagers to help her in the cafe and with the bungalow. Her and Ninga are the most generous people in heart and practical matters.
What does Ninga and Iluh dream of now? "Having another child would be great," says Iluh. "Building my boat," says Ninga. It doesn't get much simpler than that!
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