Ayu is the founder of Bali Anecdotes, a community for women in Bali, and an entrepreneur growing her own event creation business. Through her work, she creates spaces where women can gather, connect, and feel supported—rooted in culture, nature, and shared experience, and inspired by the power of community in Bali, where collective care and togetherness are deeply valued.
Over time, Ayu came to realize that while empowering others brings her deep joy, continuing to give also requires intention, rest, and self-connection.
That realization led her to SUKHA.
When Ayu arrived, the cabin was quiet and gentle. The afternoon light softened as the rain began to fall—just a light drizzle, the kind that slows everything down without asking. We sat together on the bed, wrapped in warmth, coffee within reach, the outside world slowly fading into the background. It wasn’t an interview in the traditional sense. It felt more like a conversation that unfolded naturally, in between pauses, laughter, and moments of silence.
Listening to Ayu speak about community, service, and the women she supports, I could feel how deeply she gives. There was so much heart in her words, so much care for others. And yet, what struck me most was her awareness—her understanding that giving endlessly also requires intentional rest, that in order to keep showing up for others, she must also learn to return to herself.
“Empowering women and bringing people together brings me joy. I love being of service and supporting others. But I’ve learned that in order to keep giving, it’s essential to refill my own cup.”
As we talked, our conversation drifted back to a few weeks earlier, when we had gathered with several members of her community at Jiwa Garden. Together, we planted trees—hands in the soil, feet grounded, moving slowly and intentionally. It was a simple act, but deeply meaningful. Being there side by side with other women, tending to the land, felt like a living expression of everything Ayu was speaking about: care, connection, and responsibility—not only to one another, but to nature itself.
Sitting there in the cabin, listening to the rain while remembering that day at Jiwa Garden, it became clear how these moments are all connected. Community doesn’t only exist in conversations or gatherings. It lives in shared actions, in giving something back to the land, in choosing to grow something together. And perhaps, in its own quiet way, that is also how we refill our cups.
She opened the art tools box, picked up a few coloring pencils, and began to fill the pages of the coloring book—slowly, without intention or outcome. I watched her for a moment, smiling. Vinyl music played softly in the background, while outside, the rain grew slightly heavier, tapping against the cabin in a steady rhythm.
It wasn’t the act of coloring itself, but the way the space invited her into stillness. Surrounded by the sound of rain, music, and the warmth of the cabin, that simple ritual became a form of grounding—a quiet return to the body and the present moment.
In that stillness, it became clear how deeply rooted her connection was. For Ayu, nature is not something separate or distant—it is lived and felt through presence. The rain, the rhythm, the unhurried pace—all of it created a space where she could gently step out of responsibility and return to herself.
Being at SUKHA offered her a sanctuary. A place to slow down, to breathe, and to simply be.
As she spoke, she shared how being here helped her reconnect—not only with nature, but with something quieter within herself. Through simple moments, sensory awareness, and presence, she found her way back to her own rhythm, grounded and held by the land.
“Being here helps me reconnect with nature and with myself. Through prayer and offerings, I honour the energy of this land. It’s a moment of stillness, of presence—where I remember who I am and where I come from. Nature isn’t just around me. It’s part of me."
As the rain softened and the music continued to play, our conversation slowly shifted—from stillness into story. What began as a quiet moment of presence opened into reflections on a much larger journey. Being held by the calm of the cabin seemed to give Ayu the space to speak honestly about the path she has chosen—one rooted in culture, service, and the deep work of bringing people together. From that place of grounding and self-connection, she began to share what it truly means to build community as a Balinese woman.
Building Community as a Balinese Woman
Grounded in that moment of stillness, Ayu began to speak about Bali Anecdotes community—not as a concept, but as something deeply personal. As a Balinese woman rooted in tradition, her work is inseparable from her cultural identity and lived experience. When asked what continues to inspire her to build community—especially when life already feels full—her answer was simple, honest, and disarmingly human.
"The very simple reason why I built this community was to find friends. It’s not something I find easy in adulthood."
As we grow older, Ayu shared, friendship no longer comes as effortlessly as it once did. With time, priorities shift, and so does the desire to be intentional about the people we surround ourselves with.
“You want to be in positive environments, with positive, supportive people. And more often than not, it doesn’t just come to you. Sometimes, you need to create it.”
What began as a personal longing slowly evolved into something much bigger. As the community grew, so did its impact—touching the lives of women who were also searching for connection, belonging, and support.
For Ayu, community building is both an act of care and a form of cultural expression—a way to honour tradition while creating space for modern women to gather, grow, and feel seen.
The Toughest Part of the Journey
Yet, as meaningful as it is, building community is not without its challenges. It is work that asks for consistency, emotional presence, and long-term commitment. As Ayu shared, the toughest part is deciding to stay—to keep the light and spirit of the community alive, to persevere, to keep the fire burning, and to ensure the vision and mission remain on track. There are moments of doubt, fatigue, and uncertainty, but even through it all, Ayu remains grounded in gratitude.
"I feel blessed. I feel lucky."
A Message for Women Finding Their Way
When asked what she would like to say to women in Bali—or anywhere—who are searching for themselves or trying to stay strong, Ayu paused for a moment before answering. What she shared came not from theory, but from her own lived experience of change, uncertainty, and courage.
She spoke about the invisible timelines often placed on women—the quiet pressure to have life figured out by a certain age, the belief that once you pass a certain point, your choices become limited.
Ayu left her corporate career at 29 and stepped into a new chapter at 30, choosing a path that felt more aligned with who she was becoming. Looking back, there is no hesitation in her voice, only clarity.
“Starting over is something you can do. It’s never too late. Some women believe that if you reach a certain age, then you’re done. No. You can start again when you’re ready."
"I’ve never been happier. I couldn’t imagine myself without starting over. That’s how I found myself."
On Intrinsic Happiness
For Ayu, intrinsic happiness isn’t about avoiding difficulty or always feeling joyful; it’s something quieter and more grounded. When she wakes up and sees herself in the mirror without wishing to be anyone else, she knows she is happy to be alive. She speaks openly about emotions as part of the human experience—joy, sadness, anger, and excitement all come and go—but it is contentment, steady and present beneath it all, that defines happiness for her.
"Emotions pass, but contentment stays."
Before leaving, Ayu shared what her time at SUKHA had meant to her. She spoke with warmth about how much she loved staying there and expressed her wish for every guest to have a joyful experience. For her, slowing down is not a luxury, but something essential—a way to reconnect with herself and with nature.
It’s so important to slow down and reconnect—with myself and with nature.”"
Discover more reflections in our SUKHA Journal, where community stories continue to unfold.
SUKHA is also opening its door to those creating from a place of nature, inner well-being, and being human. Let’s talk!
