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16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
 "The Real Bali" Oct 02, 2000
By Elliot Aronson
My wife and I recently returned from our first visit to Bali. Wherever we went , guides were offering to show us "the real Bali"--as if "the real Bali" could be contained in a particular place or sight. What we eventually learned was this: As beautiful as this island is, the real Bali exists primarily in its people--as well as in the mind of the beholder. We were very lucky. While in the city of Ubud, we were given William Ingram's superb book by a Balinese artist we happened to meet. We found it so engaging, so beautifully written that we had difficulty putting it down. In this book, Ingram provided us with a vivid, three dimentional portrait of a Balinese extended family--and it's relationship to the broader community. It is first rate anthropology--written with love and warmth--as well as objectivity. But it is much more than that. Ingram's book provides an indispensable guide to understanding the spirituality, generosity, and open-heartedness of the Balinese people. Highly recommended.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Telling it Like it Is Jan 10, 2002
By Jennifer Smuck
I picked up this book at Changi airport in Singapore, in transit to Bali. I import from Bali and frequently add books to my load read them once, and leave them in the library in Bali for others to enjoy. This one I have kept. I will not even loan it out unless I know exactly where I can hunt the person down to get it back - it is a great book. Great reading for the seasoned traveller. Great intro for people who are planning to go to Bali. I am currently ordering a few copies here at Amazon (the only place Stateside I was able to find it) to give to a friend (so I don't have to loan my copy out :))))))
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Funny and heartwarming! Aug 28, 2000
By YogicRick
"YogicRick"
If you're planning a trip to Bali, or have already been and loved it, this is a book you'll want to read. In it, Mr. Ingram describes his experience living with a Balinese family, and so doing, provides insight into their kind-hearted, spiritual and decidedly quirky nature. The book reminds me very much of my own experiences in Bali, and has deepened my understanding of the interactions I had there. In addition to telling wonderfully rich and funny stories, Mr. Ingram artfully conveys the sights, smells and sounds of Indonesia. I read the book hoping to psychically extend a too-short visit. "A Little Bit One O'clock" did so, and convinced me that I need to go back... Terima kasih, I Ingram!
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Good Neighbors Aug 23, 2003
By murni@murnis.com
I am Balinese and William, and his wife, Jean, live just down the road from me in Ubud. They are exactly the sort of neighbors we like to have. They have joined in and contributed to village life. As is evident from the stories in this book, they have participated in and gained an understanding of our complex, but fascinating, culture. When they first arrived, they stayed with a Balinese family in the village, and many of the stories relate to incidents in the family's life. Many of them are typical, so it's a very good introduction to Balinese life for anyone visiting Bali. It is clearly and beautifully and sympathetically written and the photographs are good. Recommended.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Delightful Memoir, Life Amongst the Balinese Aug 24, 2003
By Renee Thorpe
This book has amassed a cult following, and for good reason. It is an amusing, light-hearted account of a couple's life with a Balinese family. Certainly offers western readers valuable insight into Balinese culture. Great for a visitor or even an armchair traveler, but is pretty much de rigeur reading amongst expatriates in Bali and the rest of Indonesia. Reader sees Ingram making the jump from long-term backpacking visitor to full-on expat, a transition that many have made, albeit with great culture shock. Ingram and his wife make the compromises and changes with admirable patience and refreshing good humor. Lesser mortals can find a welcome bit of comfort in this text. Never condescending (neither towards the Balinese nor towards bumbling westerners), this series of stories are told with a gentle, smiling tone. Not exactly a page-turner, but delightful and bright. The author and his wife have gone on to found a truly marvelous charitable concern which is contributing to the rebirth of textile weavers and dyers in the Indonesian archepelago. Their warm attitude toward the people of Indonesia lives on in this work. When visiting Bali, do not miss a visit to Jean's gallery in Ubud, named Threads of Life.
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