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!