A procession at the mother temple of Besakih on Bali near the volcano Gunung Agung.
Gunung Agung still erupts sometimes, the last major eruption was in 1963 which presaged the fall of President Soekarno.
Gunung Agung still erupts sometimes, the last major eruption was in 1963 which presaged the fall of President Soekarno.
Hanuman the king of the monkeys is a central figure in the Ramayana Hindu epic story, coming with his army of monkeys to save Rama's wife Sita from the evil sorcerer Rawana.
This drama is re-enacted often in Balinese dance. and watching the Ramayana dance at a temple in the moonlight is quite an experience for anyone.
A nice picture of a Balinese dance performance.
Bali is the ultimate romantic island dream for Europeans, although nowadays it is not what it once was sadly.
The Barong figure represents good in Balinese dance.
Whether it is influenced by Chinese models is hard to be sure.
Map of Bali showing how close it is to East Java, only a short ferry trip away actually.
See the highlands in the middle and the northern capital Singgaradja at the top.
See the highlands in the middle and the northern capital Singgaradja at the top.
The monkey forest at Sangeh is well worth a visit, although the monkeys are not as friendly as they might be, considering how much food they get from the tourists.
They are well known in Bali for urinating on people they don't like the look of. On the other hand being ogled by tourists all day long must get a bit annoying.
They are well known in Bali for urinating on people they don't like the look of. On the other hand being ogled by tourists all day long must get a bit annoying.
Mainly for temple decoration the Balinese have preserved a stonecarving tradition which you see all over Bali.
One of the things that gives the island it's distinctive taste.
Because of the weight stonework is a difficult souvenir to take home.
One of the things that gives the island it's distinctive taste.
Because of the weight stonework is a difficult souvenir to take home.
The fabled isle of Bali.
The most famous island in Indonesia is of course Bali, but to be honest it is not what it used to be, overrun with tourists and opportunists from other parts of Indonesia.
Even so the dances, artwork, temples and general beauty of the countryside will probably stay in your memory forever in spite of the present day problems.
Art in Bali was part of the everyday culture, and various villages specialised in carving, stone temple figures, jewellery, dancing and painting.
Originally Bali was the last refuge of Hindu Indonesia, and the last Majapahit Empire nobles fled there after Java was lost to expanding Islamic sultanates.
This history accounts for the strange mixture of high and low culture in Bali, and the extraordinary emphasis on art as part of everyday life.
The island is filled with Hindu temples, and courtly dances such as the Ramayana and Ketjak dance can be seen at some of them in the evenings, a truly unforgettable experience in the lush moonlit scenery.
Although the dance stories are Indian in origin they incorporate Balinese beliefs and outlook and so are very different from India.
Other attractions include Balinese painting, which traditionally at least intertwined the seen and the unseen worlds and the startling fertility of nature in their design.
Woodcarving is another Balinese speciality in villages like Mas, as is the production of stone carving for the temples.
To tell the truth most Bali art nowadays is low tourist quality. If you want something good then you have to seek out a master carver or painter and pay a bit more of course (actually they are often pleased that somebody actually cares) but then you really see the difference.
Silver Jewellery is another speciality in Bali with a certain flair for design, although stamped as sterling silver you never really know of course.
The village of Celuk is a centre for this skill and you can do courses on jewellery making if you want in the village.
Some old temples and palaces still exist in Bali, palaces connected with the old aristocratic centres like Klungkung for example.
The mother temple of Besakih near the volcano Gunung Agung being the largest temple. Bali rises from Denpasar in the south up to the highlands and then down again to Singarradja in the North , and the Besakih temple and some lakes and guesthouses are in the highlands.
The Gunung Agung volcano in the centre of Bali has had some notable eruptions, best known in 1963 during a famous once in a hundred years festival, but is usually quiet.
The island of Bali is small enough that you can see most of the major sights in a day or two if you have transport.
The north is a bit less touristy and called the region of Buleling, the black sand beaches are a bit of a novelty around the northern capital Singgaradja.
Motorbikes can be rented but if you are not a trained motorcycle driver I would definitely advise against it. The traffic follows no obvious rules and dogs,chickens,stones and people appear from nowhere, I fell off three times on my first day and that was in 1969 when traffic was a lot less.
Every week tourists (and Indonesians) die on motorbikes in Bali and although it is a wonderful way of cruising from one exciting place to another it is definitely risky.
On top of that Bali is notorious for being starved of funds by Jakarta, even though it generates lots of revenue, so the medical system is terrible.
This exploitation of the outer islands by the wealthy is known as Systim Jakarta. So Bali is not a good place to have an accident.
If seriously ill most people try their best to get out to Singapore or Australia, or at least to Java where there are some better hospitals.
That is another reason why you really need travel insurance, you only get treatment in Indonesia if you pay cash upfront, or have insurance. Sounds like the USA doesn't it.
If you stay awhile in Bali you can see about renting a room in a village with a family, this can be more comfortable than hostels and quite interesting.
The village life with it's chickens walking around everywhere is charming and you get to learn a little about the Balinese.
Bali has it's own language allied to Javanese and it's own folk customs and you might get a slight glimpse into the past staying in a village.
The famous Ketjak dance in Bali, one of the cultural
extravaganzas you will never forget, the other famous dance is the Ramayana with the sinewy Legong dance.
extravaganzas you will never forget, the other famous dance is the Ramayana with the sinewy Legong dance.
Processions were and to some extent still are a big part of Balinese life. Perhaps it is a bit like aerobics, an excuse to have a look round and a bit of exercise.
As the last outpost of Hinduism in Indonesia Bali certainly made a good job of it.
As the last outpost of Hinduism in Indonesia Bali certainly made a good job of it.
The Keris dance consists of young men trying to stab themselves with the curved Keris swords of the past.
Supposedly they are in a trance and magically preserved from harm. All good theatre and of course all based on clever show businesss techniques of illusion.
The
Indonesian Gamelan orchestra accompanies some of the dances, and it's unusual music adds greatly to the overall effect.
Java was once a great power and sophisticated empires grew up and spread out into other regions. Indeed it may have been the site of Atlantis as I discuss on another page of this site.
Indonesian Gamelan orchestra accompanies some of the dances, and it's unusual music adds greatly to the overall effect.
Java was once a great power and sophisticated empires grew up and spread out into other regions. Indeed it may have been the site of Atlantis as I discuss on another page of this site.
A real flair for art is very much part of the Balinese heritage, and makes a visit memorable.
If possible see if you can find cultural performances in Java too, Jogja and Solo are the most likely places apart from Jakarta's Tjikini cultural centre. They will be a little different but still impressive.
If possible see if you can find cultural performances in Java too, Jogja and Solo are the most likely places apart from Jakarta's Tjikini cultural centre. They will be a little different but still impressive.
The Balinese dogs are everywhere, kept as guard dogs but some have now gone feral and rabies now has arrived in Bali.
If you get bitten by a dog ( or a bat ) get the rabies shots as soon as possible and you should survive. Don't delay as without quick immunization you are as dead as a Dodo.
If you get bitten by a dog ( or a bat ) get the rabies shots as soon as possible and you should survive. Don't delay as without quick immunization you are as dead as a Dodo.
Indonesians take the risk but generally I would stay away from street stalls in Indonesia as hygiene is non existent.
Of course restaurants cannot be trusted either so you just have to use your own judgment.
Don't forget the page on Mudras and other self-help health methods on this site.
Of course restaurants cannot be trusted either so you just have to use your own judgment.
Don't forget the page on Mudras and other self-help health methods on this site.
Wajuang Kulit puppets are used to tell traditional stories mixed with current social satire.
They are made from leather and usually depict figures from the Mahabharata and other Hindu stories.
Usually performed at night by a puppetmaster or Dalang.
They are made from leather and usually depict figures from the Mahabharata and other Hindu stories.
Usually performed at night by a puppetmaster or Dalang.
These are Wajang Golek masks worn by people as a sort of human puppet show.
Indonesia has a rich artistic heritage and some of it is still alive.
Indonesia has a rich artistic heritage and some of it is still alive.
The unseen world behind the normal world was very much a part of the Balinese psyche and it is worth taking your time to study paintings in the better art galleries.
Accommodation on Bali ranges from the high class to the very basic. The cheaper places are called Losmens and are usually okay on Bali and cheap enough especially near well known beaches.