Reading Project: Eat, Pray, Love

I just finished reading the Indonesian version of "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. *For those who didn't have a clue about this book, and want to know more before reading it, please go here* It was quite an effort to finish reading a novel, amid the hectic business schedule, taking care two kids, making the household without a maid.

Got interested in reading the book when Abdes and I found out that a third part of her memoir took place in our home island. Especially when it was announced that the book will go to the big screen. The local news reported that starting this weekend, the shooting will take place in Ubud, Gianyar. This is a big news and a good one of course. As it will be a good promotion for the tourism in Bali. I am sure the movie will be a box office, produced by Brad Pitt, and starred by the brilliant Julia Roberts. (sigh)... I wish I can be one of the interpreter for Julia Roberts.

Well, I knew the book was New York Time Best Seller. I saw the book, the English version, at Periplus bookstore. I thought it was a cook book, combined with meditation and something with psychological thingy around it. Ha! Don't judge the book by its cover and its title, right!

The biggest attraction that made me bought and read the book was merely due to the fact that Gilbert chose Bali, Indonesia, along with Italy and India, to cure her imbalance in life and find happiness for herself. Also that the book was reported to experience huge success. The author was invited by the Queen (yes, Oprah).

The fact that Gilbert found love in Bali has drawn several conversation between Abdes and I, as Abdes was (yes, now he is a local in Bali) a visitor to my home island. Anyone that wants to enjoy life, in a true meaning - not just the consumerism and other hedonistic things - will feel the magic of Bali, and love it. Abdes experienced it.

It is interesting to know, and hard to understand though, how one can feel devastated and frustated with one's life, while others can easily search and find for peace at heart. I am fully thankful to God that I didn't and hopefully never have to suffer from such spiritual crisis. I am amazingly blessed with everything that I have, and anything that I don't have.

One final note about the book, the Indonesian version that is, I felt disappointed with the translation. There are many words that should not be fully translated into Indonesian. Perhaps footnotes can be a good way to explain several English and American phrases. (such as "See you later, alligator", "See you in a while, crocodile"). I couldn't understand the translator's mind of translating 'temple' as 'kuil', it should've been 'pura'. The translator should have been thinking the words as an Indonesian, how a local speaks Bahasa Indonesia, not just choosing the words as a translation project. The translator should have interpreted the sentences so the spirit of the story remains...not lost in translation.