Let freedom ring!

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Wednesday night we say an amazing performance of the Kecak dance.  I had never seen anything quite like it.  Well, the Whirling Dervishes in Instanbul were pretty awesome, but this was more theatre than religious ceremony.

The dance depicts a fragment of the Hindu epic Ramyana.  You can learn everything I know about it from Wikipedia.  Even though I couldn’t follow the story, it was an impressive and entertaining performance.  Here’s some photos:

The Hindu Temple where the performance took place.

Tradition is you where a flower in your hair here (at least they gave me one when we entered the temple.  I was feeling a little gay again.

So, it started with this guy lighting the flames on an alter…

And then 100 guys come out chanting, gyrating, and dancing in a fascinating display.

Then they sat down in a circle and provided the music through voice…

So, our first characters appear…

Those gals could dance!

There’s a story being told here.  Unfortnately, I can’t explain it.

I think this monkey dancer was one of the good guys…

Captured….

A battle ensues…

Justice and good ultimately prevail…

And I am out of time for now.  Later, the Fire Dance!

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Sorry for the lack of trip upadates.  I’ve encountered some spotty internet service of late.  I had made pretty good progress on a post yesterday, when my computer just froze up, which cost me the entire thing.  Frustrating for me.  Oh well, I’m in a new location (this is day 6 of my trip).  But since I want to keep on sequence, what follows is my Day 3 Trip Report.

Ubud (oobood) has its origins as an artist’s community and that is probably still an apt description.  Many studios and shops selling wood carvings and other locally made creations.  It’s a bustling place, at least during daytime.  Many great restuarants to choose from, but from what I could see an almost non-existent bar scene.  Lots of foriegners wandering the streets, from the accents I said mostly Aussies and Japanese.

Anyway, on with the show:

Giving offerings to the Hindu gods.  This is a daily morning ritual I observed all over Bali; at temples, businesses and private homes.  And I have never witnessed a more apparently devout population–temples and shrines virtually everywhere you look.

The locals call this the Royal Palace so I will too.  Or at least it is the entrance to the Royal Palace grounds.

Another shrine.  Some are quite elaborate.

Mainstreet Ubud.  You may have noticed they drive on the right side of the road here.  I’m not driving (we hire drivers) but it still takes getting used to, especially as a pedestrian.  I’m doing better now, but I envisioned a tragic miscalculation and a tombstone reading “here lies John, he wasn’t too bright, he looked to the left but he should have looked right.”

An Ubud residential area.  Quite nice, don’t you think?

After traversing from end to the other on Main Street, I was ready for a little rest and liquid refreshment.  Many very nice looking places to choose from, but it was Nomad for me.  Of course, I thought of Frank, formerly The Lost Nomad of Korea.  His blog is a long time gone (ahem) but we are friends on facebook now, so it’s all good.

I have grown quite fond of Bintang, the local brew.  I camped at a street-side table, quaffed my beer, smoked, and watched the passerbys.  It was all good.

I guess it’s pretty easy to pick out the tourist in this shot.  It amazing to see just how much the Balinese can carry on their heads.  I saw one woman with a basket on her head riding a bicycle.  I guess it’s just a question of balance.

When in Bali do as the Balinese, as the saying goes.  The shoppers completed their expedition and joined me for lunch at Nomad.  They had me try on a sarang, and it was quite comfortable.  Although it made me feel a little gay (not that there’s anything wrong with it).

Yuli, Joeko, and Ji Yeon waiting for the shuttle back to the hotel after our day on the town in Ubud.

Lots more to come, but I’m going to publish this now before something happens and I lose it again.  C U soon!

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