Kelod, kaja, kauh, kangin: the Balinese directions

Before hitting the road, I must warn you: we always find our way around in relation of the top of Agung volcano, cradle of the Gods and of our ancestors, and to the chain of volcanic mountains that splits the island in to two. We don’t say south and north, but kaja (toward the top) and kelod (toward the sea), which means, one or the other, according toward to the part of the island where we are.

We also indicate the way to travelers by referring to these directions, as well as east (kangin), and west (kauh) rather than right or left. It feels natural to us, for we always know precisely where we are in relation to the summits, the sea and to the rising and setting of the sun, which are our principal orientations. You will also notice that everything is organized and laid around the sacred direction of mount Agung: our village, our temple, our houses, and even our beds, since we must position them so that our heads are pointing towards its top. This is beneficial direction as it releases the flow of life energy, just as the river water runs down from the mountains.