Field Notes: Bali; A Holiday Is as Good as a Change
On creative ruts, unexpected encounters, and the quiet power of slowing down.
Before Bali, I found myself circling a familiar loop- stuck, uninspired, creatively adrift. It was the same fog I’d felt before Japan. That feeling when everything you make feels like it’s missing something, and you're not even sure what you're looking for anymore. I didn’t have a plan, but I knew I needed movement. A change of scenery. A reset.
So I booked a flight to Bali.
When I landed, I didn’t chase anything. I drifted. I ended up in East Bali, in a little surf town called Jasri. A surf resort for $25 a night- clean bed, perfect waves, cold Bintangs, mie goreng on repeat, and the kind of quiet that doesn't ask anything from you. There were a few Aussies around, friendly, grounded people to share the sunsets and the stories with. It was nothing extraordinary, but that’s exactly what made it powerful. I let myself slow down. And that’s when things began to shift.
One evening a older surfer Johnno mentioned Charlie, “This strange guy who lives in the tower across from the chocolate factory. Kind of a spiritual surfer-inventor-philosopher type. He's weird. He’s a bit different- you’ll like him.” I didn’t know what to expect, but I wandered over anyway.
Meeting Charlie turned out to be the turning point of the trip. He really did live in a handmade tower, perched above the trees like something out of a fable. He was thoughtful, humble, and spoke with the kind of clarity that only comes from living a deeply intentional life. He told me stories about how he built the Bali Swing (yes, the one you’ve probably seen on Instagram) long before it became a trend. How, without chasing the tourist trail, he ended up creating one.
But beyond that, Charlie ran the first chocolate factory in Bali, crafting a product that was as raw and authentic as his approach to life. His factory wasn’t just a business- it was a manifestation of his philosophy: build something real, and people will find it.
Charlie’s diverse international experiences and studies in various religious and philosophical traditions have subtly shaped his belief that focusing on what brings genuine fulfillment and joy, rather than chasing success itself, often leads to its own rewards. He put it simply:
“The big secret is in the Bible, it’s in many other spiritual texts. It’s basically, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all else will be added unto you.’”
Charlie didn’t just build a swing. He helped put a quiet corner of East Bali on the map. His projects, sustainable, handmade, and rooted in community—brought people to a place they might never have visited otherwise. He created jobs, inspired local entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, and proved that creativity, when used well, can ripple outward in meaningful ways. He didn’t wait for the right location or the right timing. He just built.
What stuck with me most was this:
“Build a better mousetrap, and people will beat a path to your door. No matter where you live, even if you’re in the middle of a jungle, they will beat a path to your place.”
That conversation inspired me to start filming. What started as a few portraits turned into a small documentary. And in the process, something in me cracked open again. I remembered why I pick up a camera- not just for aesthetics, but to connect. To share stories that matter, even if they begin in the middle of nowhere.
After Jasri and Candidasa, I linked up with friends and fell into the softer, familiar rhythm of Bali: beach days, long meals, scooter rides through rice paddies, casual nights out. Later, I met up with my dad and William at Umunjati Retreat in Ubud. The energy there was different- calmer, more reflective. We shared slow meals, good conversations, healthy food, and swims under trees. It was another kind of nourishment.
Looking back, Bali didn’t give me a lightning bolt of inspiration. It gave me something quieter, but deeper: a reminder that space is creative fuel. That slowing down isn’t stalling. That even a holiday can change the direction of your life, if you let it.
A holiday is as good as a change, they say.
Sometimes, it's the only kind of change that really works.