From the balcony of my hotel room in Amed, Bali, I looked down on dozens of Jukungs - traditional outrigger canoes used by Bali’s fishermen - lining the shore. Intrigued, I descended to the black sand beach and wound my way between the hand-hewn craft. Although their carved prows and painted eyes seem whimsical, there is a deep symbolism associated with these simple boats. They are constructed following a strict set of religious guidelines, starting with the choice of a tree, which can only be cut down on an auspicious date. The jutting bow is crafted in the shape of the mythical elephant fish, its fierce bulging eyes believed to ward off evil. Each evening, fishermen venture out into the coastal waters, returning with their catch before sunrise. But when the boats repose on the beach, they resemble marlins that have bleached bone white in Amed’s year-round sun.