Bali Culture

Volcano selfie!

We decide to spend a day exploring the area around Ubud.  This time we have a driver/guide from our hotel, and he's wonderful at driving (thankfully!) and explaining the area to us (also good!).  He tells us Japan had possession of Bali in the early 1940s, and so people, including his grandfather, learned Japanese.

One of the immortal creatures

We start the day watching a Balinese style dance at Batubulan.   It's similar to "Bollywood" style dancing, and this performance tells a story regarding the gods and other immortals.  I like the music better than the geisha dance we saw in Kyoto.  I learn the instruments are only played while in the group - never individually (then how do they learn how to play them?).

The "band"

Looking stylish!

Our next stop is Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave temple.  It was built sometime in the 9th century to ward off evil spirits.  It had disappeared into the jungle, but was rediscovered by the Dutch around 1923.  To visit the temple, Steve has to put on a sarong.  It's his first time wearing one! 

The entrance to the cave...why does it look like it wants
to eat me?!  I thought this was a sanctuary.

The elephant statue - lots of offerings
being made daily.

Steve relaxing on the roots of the banyan tree.

At the temple Steve likes getting to play with a few of the instruments when we come across them set up and not being used. He's lucky our guide is there, or I would have told him not to touch them!

From there we go to the scenic Tegenungan Waterfall.  It's about 65 feet high, and we walk down a lot of large steps to get to the base.  (I find I lead with my right foot when I go down stairs, but lead with my left when going up them.  I wonder if that means anything?)  I'm wishing I brought my bathing suit like Steve - it would feel good to cool off in the water!  But it doesn't really matter, because it's a long walk back up the stairs from the waterfall and even Steve is sweaty again.  The high steps aren't a problem for Steve, but I get a quad workout with all the huge steps I have to take - obviously no building code here!  Luckily, our driver meets us with cold, damp towels (he sits out the hike) so we're able to refresh ourselves a bit.

Where we start our climb down to the waterfall.

That's Steve, waving his arms under the waterfall!

We drive to the Kintamani area for lunch with a fabulous view - Mount Batur.  It's an active volcano with a caldera lake.  We're feeling pretty safe, since the last time it erupted was in 2000.  It's also about 10 degrees cooler up the mountain, so that's a nice break from the 95-degree temperatures and humidity we've been feeling all morning.

It looks like a postcard!

Continuing on our drive, we go to Tirta Empul, the Holy Spring Water Temple. We're very lucky - that night there's a full moon, which coincides with a cleansing festival they have here. So there are hundreds of people there, getting ready to be cleansed in the pools, give their offerings, and perform special dances. Everyone looks like they're happy and they're having fun.  What a treat to view a part of Balinese culture!

People move from one spout to the next - nine in total.
  Each one is for cleansing & praying about a specific thing.

I think our guide is watching to make sure Steve doesn't
decide to jump in the water to be cleansed!

I finally learn the meaning of the umbrellas - they are a sign of prosperity and welcome.  They've been everywhere, from our check-in counter at the Tokyo airport to shops to street corners. 




The offering are traditionally carried on people's heads...again, lots of talent (and good posture)!

She's using her hands, but still - wow!

 


There are different prayer services....

Yes, even the boys dance!

...special dances....

Not like a Louisiana parade though - no candy is thrown to the crowd.

....even a parade!

Bonus points if you catch a fish.

It's not all work though!  Kids have time to play with the fish...





 

I think they're playing poker.

...and adults relax "backstage" until it's their turn to perform!










Lots of cool statues are around, too.  This one is similar to the ones we see at the crossroads.  The fabric "skirt" wrapped around the statues and some of the trees indicate they are holy.
 

He looks very tough!

Very cool looking!

Is he scratching his back?

I finally have a chance to take pictures of the carvings that might translate into quilting designs.  It's been difficult - not because pretty carvings are hard to find, but because it's hard to get a good picture while traveling in a car.  
 

This would make a nice border pattern!

A little overexposed so you can see us better.

The final stop on our tour is the Tegallalang terraced rice fields.  This is my favorite view of the day!  I'm not sure why - it's very green and geometrical, but I can't figure out why it's so pleasing to my eye.  It just is!

Look - hourglass blocks!

It doesn't have anything to do with this being the only place I saw quilts for sale (I saw this afterwards). 

So pretty!