WELCOME to the year 2077. The hustle and bustle of megacities with holographic skyscrapers and never-ending flying vehicle traffic feels increasingly suffocating. Anya, a digital landscape architect accustomed to virtual nature simulations, feels a deep longing for the touch of real earth and the breath of real wind. Her dream is simple: escape the algorithms of modern life and rediscover a slower rhythm. She chooses Neo-Local Bali, a cultural and natural conservation zone where advanced technology blends harmoniously with ancient traditions.
Arriving in a sustainable tourism village, Anya is greeted by fresh air scented with frangipani flowers and the sincere smile of Wayan, the owner of Umah Harmoni, a homestay built in traditional Balinese architecture but equipped with hidden eco-smart facilities.
“Welcome home, Anya,” Wayan greets her in fluent English but still maintaining a soft Balinese intonation. “Have a nice trip.”
“Thank you, Wayan. This place is… amazing. So different from the glitz of our home town,” Anya replied, her eyes admiring the intricately carved angkul-angkul gates.
“We try to maintain balance here. Technology helps, but we still maintain the village spirit,” Wayan said as he led her through a courtyard filled with medicinal plants and colorful flowers.
The next morning, Anya woke to the faint sound of gamelan and the chirping of birds. After sipping herbal tea served on the veranda, she joined a small group of other tourists in an open-air pavilion amidst verdant rice fields. Local yoga instructor Mr. Sario began her rice field yoga session with graceful movements.
“Feel the connection with the earth, children,” Mr. Sario said in a calm voice. “Let your breath flow like the water in this subak (Balinese irrigation cooperative).”
Anya felt her tense muscles begin to relax. The view of the expansive rice fields, the sound of the wind whispering through the rice, and the scent of wet soil created a much more immersive yoga experience than the virtual studios she usually visited.
After a refreshing yoga session, Wayan invited Anya and several other guests to join in the daily activities of the villagers. That day it was their turn to help Mr. Made harvest rice in his field. Anya, who was used to the motion capture suit and haptic gloves, felt a little awkward holding the traditional sickle.
“Don’t worry, take it slow,” Mr. Made said, smiling at Anya’s carefulness. “The important thing is to have the intention to learn.”
Under the hot morning sun, Anya learned how to properly cut the rice, gather it into small bundles, and carry it to the drying area. Although it felt tiring, there was a deep satisfaction in feeling the results of one’s own handiwork.
“This… is very different from harvesting data on a server,” Anya said, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
“Real life is here, Anya. Not on the screen or monitor,” Mr. Made replied wisely. “Feeling connected to nature, to others, that’s what makes life meaningful.”
In the afternoon, Anya took a traditional Balinese cooking class in Wayan’s family’s open kitchen. Mrs. Wayan patiently taught me how to make sate lilit, lawar, and sambal matah (raw condiment) using fresh ingredients from their garden.
“The key to Balinese cooking is the base genep (basic spices),” Mrs. Wayan explained as she demonstrated the aromatic basic spice mix. “Every ingredient has a role, creating a harmony of flavors.”
Anya enthusiastically noted each step, savoring the mouth-watering aromas of the spices, and laughed with the other guests as they tried to wrap the sate lilit in lemongrass leaves. When the dish was ready, they ate together under the shade of a mango tree, sharing stories and laughter.
“This food… is so authentic. Much richer in flavor than the 3D nutritional replicas I usually consume,” commented a traveler from Euro-Nexus.
“Because it’s made with love and natural ingredients,” chimed in Wayan. “There’s life energy in it.”
Over the course of a few days at Bali Neo-Lokal, Anya felt a real shift in herself. She began to enjoy the slower pace, appreciate real human interaction, and find beauty in simplicity. Meditation sessions by the tranquil river, nightly conversations under the stars with locals, and the warmth of Wayan’s family slowly healed her longing for a more real world.
Before returning to her home town, Anya sat on the veranda of Umah Harmoni, enjoying a cup of fragrant Balinese coffee. Wayan sat beside her.
“How do you feel now, Anya?” Wayan asked with a gentle smile.
“I feel… reconnected,” Anya replied sincerely. “I came here seeking peace, and I found it not only in nature, but also in the friendliness of the people, in every simple activity that we do.” (*)
