Color.

It’s what sets the sky apart from the clouds; the determinant of which clip a little girl will pick to doll up for a birthday party; a pertinent facet in weddings; a chief element that defies Sameness according to Jonas in “The Giver.”

It also happens to be a key ingredient that Bali embodies and is abundant in.

I visited the island last year with my family and found myself proclaiming that I would willingly go back every year. Primarily, it was because I realized I was smitten by the tints of the place and I wanted to see more.

I went back last month and indeed saw almost a kaleidoscopic multitude of hues.

The colors of Bali aren’t limited to the usual shades of the tropics as the place is categorically known for. Beyond the greens of the coconut trees is the verdant emerald spread of rice paddies in the Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud and the yellows that are nearly fading to brown in parts that farmers have not cultivated.

The seas lure depilating pupils with maverick blues that mesh with colossal foamy white waves in Dreamland Beach while the waters in the vaster shore of Jimbaran Bay rotate with the gray sand beneath it to procure an almost ash-navy color.

And then of course, there’s Sulawesi – a street that doesn’t scream glamour at first glance. It is a relatively short lane with unmaintained buildings with stores that keep the area alive and interesting. Each shop has a chockfull of fabrics in hundreds of variants. For someone who went to Bali in pursuit of distinctive prints, I had a difficult time fixating my eyes on a single roll of cloth. There were way more patterns and so much more colors than I had imagined. It was enough cause for frustration for not knowing which ones to pick, and a whole lot of hoping that I had more money to hoard a bunch of textile I’m not sure what to use for. In the end, I settled for prints on canvas we found in a little store at the very end of Jalan Sulawesi.

It was very hard to miss the obvious that Indo natives have excellent craftsmanship. That reflected everywhere – capiz and glass lamps in playful tones being sold in lots of humble shops along highways; miniature and medium-sized wood carvings in auburn, cream and brown; intricately embellished stone pagodas in temples; and stunning geometric fixtures in various furniture shops in neons and pastels, among a mob of others. Looking back, I wish we had taken more photographs of the unique furnishings we saw. I’m leaving it to your imagination for now.

Beachfront bars in Seminyak had distinctly-colored bean bags and umbrellas; restaurants screamed machuka and caramba; merchandise in the Legian and Ubud markets were comprised of patterned clothing, hand-painted paperweights, and a carnival of bags.

And of course, it was pretty easy to notice the varying nationalities of the island’s tourists. Apart from the red and white of Indonesia; greens, blues, blacks and yellows from various travelers from Europe amassed the place. The blue, white and red of Australia however, particularly stood out in the busier areas.

Bali was a feast to the eyes, heart and palette. I have gained a distinct liking for its procession of hues that says a lot about its people and culture.

I look forward to once again stepping foot in Bali at an indefinite time, to see more unthinkable fruits of creativity, fuelled by passion for beauty, and ultimately, to revel in all of the glorious island’s splendid colors.

*Photos by Dijo Songco