A Little Bit One O'clock: Living with a Balinese Family

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.

Having just returned from my first visit to Bali, I have been anxious to read more about the people, culture, traditions, and religion. This book is an excellent recounting of one couple's experience living with a Balinese family. It was almost like getting to return to Bali for another visit. The writing is clear, concise, and illuminating. I truly enjoyed this book.

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.

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!