Bali: Faces I Met This Morning

Bali awakens your senses. This morning, the smell of incense and fallen rain slowly guides me to an early market in Kuta, Indonesia.

I'm surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of a busy day that hasn't started yet. And without the distractions of passing tourists, its the local faces of those I met that intrigue me the most.

A woman weaving palm and bamboo leaves smiles and laughs with me as I stop, crouch down, and take her photo. She asks to see it, and I show her. Indah she replies. Beautiful. 

I turn to see a man reading the paper. Totally engulfed with the world in his hand, it's like he's at home. Or on a quiet beach. And with that, I feel like I'm there too. The old electrical pole next to him seems to turn into a sugar palm tree. I know, my mind wonders sometimes.

Early morning is slowly turning late and the market is busier now.

A shy elderly woman hides behind the market stall, grabbing with her my attention. I hesitate with the instinct to look at her through my lens. She looks almost lost. Sad. And the lines on her face draw me in to her little corner. Second pass before I reluctantly raise my camera.

Childishly, she looks up at me, awoken.