Dance when you get the chance - Bali Trip 5

Lunch time at office has become more interesting due to my pregnant colleague. Every now and then she would ask us to do tummy watch for possible movements and occasional baby kicks. The baby seems to have performance pressure though, it hardly moves while we are watching. It might dance to the drums.

Mata hari bungalow the hotel we stayed, from the breakfast hall
After visiting few temples along the way we went to see the famous traditional dance of Bali called Kecak. Its Balinese dance cum drama performance orchestrated by male chorus (no music instruments used). A group of men sit in semi circle around a lighted lamp while the dancers perform scenes of Ramayana.

The open auditorium suddenly got jam packed with audience around 7:30 pm and the only lighting was from the lamps lit in the center of the stage. The show started as men started chanting the word “cak” and occasionally threw their arms up in the air towards the lamp. This action denotes the Hanuman / Vanaras – monkey which helped the king Rama to defeat Ravana who kidnapped his wife. Have a look at this link.

We couldnt take many as our battery died out, at far end u can see hanuman on the tree
The”cak” sound became the base rhythm over which other performers sang and chanted mantras. I liked the performance of the “Sita” she looked beautiful and danced with intricate expressions and elegant steps. Every time she appeared on stage it smelled wonderful (must be a country perfume). After the happy ending, one of the performers acted like he was possessed by some demon and danced on fire!

This dance used to be a trance ritual used for exorcism. During 1930 a German painter got interested in this ritual and made it as drama cum dance performance to be presented to western audience. Then it became famous in and out of Bali. These days the demon possessed actors dance in fire every night, all around of Bali. Thanks to westernization, the ritual that was part of the culture is separated and molded into art that doesn’t vibe with them anymore!

The fire, smoke, strange orchestra and demon dances felt very spooky to me. Something in me wanted to get up and dance with them (demon I guess). After dinner we tasted the nightlife of Bali in a hot happening club and I got to dance like its no body’s business. I tried Bali Joe cocktail and it was smooth. The ambiance and music was so entertaining. We even got to see the Beyounce of Bali performing " All the single ladies ". The night life of Bali is probably the main reasons why it’s popular with western world. City comes to life in the night and restaurants/bars are open until wee hours of morning. We were caught in traffic jam at 1 am and decided to walk to the hotel.

Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, can u see Rama and Ravan on the door ?
We had a late morning on Sunday and started to “Ulun Danu Bratan” temple that's located in a lake at the crater of what used be a volcano. On the way I asked the driver to stop at this valley.

Valley along the way to the temple, its Cabbage on the right


I walked around the strawberry farm, we couldnt understand each other but she was friendly


This is what " fresh from the farm" actually means ;)


I also tried local snacks, it tasted similar to Indian snacks, Emma this ones for you ;)
More to come..

Comments

Soin said…
bali sutrm valiban.. nala enjoy panreenga..and strawberries.. ithu nama oorla valandha yevlo nala irukum..free
Annam said…
kummi
Annam said…
start meejic:)
Annam said…
The baby seems to have performance pressure though
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yehn intha kolaveri!!!!!!
Annam said…
This action denotes the Hanuman / Vanaras – monkey which helped the king Rama to defeat Ravana who kidnapped his wife. Have
//////////////////////
sri raman charitham srivatsidam kelunga..........anukiragam peruvaai nee:)
Annam said…
neenga dance aadina picture pottu irukalamey:)
Annam said…
Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, can u see Rama and Ravan on the door ?

/////////////////////
eye testinga nadakuthu inga....
Annam said…
Valley along the way to the temple, its Cabbage on the right

///////////
ippo puriyuthu ethukku vandiya nirutha sonneenganu...cabbage thookittu poi differenta veg receipe seya thaana:)
Annam said…
I walked around the strawberry farm, we couldnt understand each other but she was friendly
////////////////
kelviyum pathilum sirippavey irunthurukumey:)
Annam said…
I walked around the strawberry farm, we couldnt understand each other but she was friendly
///////////////

strawberry kanney vinvelli penneynu u would hav dancedla:)
Annam said…
also tried local snacks, it tasted similar to Indian snacks, Emma this ones for you ;)

//////////////
padam pottu aemaathurathey velaya pochu :) send parcel
Annam said…
b/w vatsu how cum u write very descriptively +cutely pls tell us the tecknique too
Aarti said…
Nice... have read and heard so much about Ramayana performances in that part of the world... :)

oooh, fresh strawberries...yumm yummm
dance like no one's watching.. that is what i was reminded of when u said, u danced away.. nice strawberries.. now i know y u say a weekend is not enough at Bali..
savitha said…
Sri, better begin writing travelogues for magazines!! The pics, the words in every post were just awesome.Would have been an experience, illa, to see dancers perform for our Ramayana in another land!

Pl pass our best wishes to your friend, who is expecting!!

@AJCL: We ARE making this trip, let's plan and organize:D
bittersweet said…
Geez, thanks! Those snacks look so darn yummy! Now I have go to the fridge really quick.. it made me hungry.
Ramesh said…
Bali - here I come, thanks to the evocative posts from Sri.

Completely second Savitha's comments.
RamNarayanS said…
Murphy's law at work. :-) Photo edukkum poadhu battery-out. :-)

Strawberries.... Yummmm
Snacks. <Rumble><Rumble> of stomach

// Beyonce of Bali
:-) :-)

Cambodia seekkiram pOnga. :-)
G3 said…
Hmm.. Anubavi raaja anubavi :D
G3 said…
I the third savi's comments :D
gils said…
ussssss...ebbaaa....
R-ambam said…
where s the end punch? :D

Interesting , for I dont get to go out much these days :))
jehan said…
oh, i love banana chips as much as i love garlic chips...
sri said…
@ Soin
LOL :P

@Annam
Arambitaangayya...
//neenga dance aadina picture pottu irukalamey:)//
adha yaar pakkaradhu ;)

//ippo puriyuthu ethukku vandiya nirutha sonneenganu...cabbage thookittu poi differenta veg receipe seya thaana:)
//

Cabbage alwa! :P

//strawberry kanney vinvelli penneynu u would hav dancedla:)
//

andha paatiya paatha.. lollu dhaaney...

//b/w vatsu how cum u write very descriptively +cutely pls tell us the tecknique too//

ellam ungal aasirvaadham guruvey!
sri said…
@AArti
Yes me too, ana angey poi pathaathaaney theriyudhu its lovely

@ AJCL
That would have been a better title, yes take like 5 days atleast.

@Savi
Thanks for the wishes, She was excited to read it :)

And thanks for your lovely comments, not sure its the travel coloumn matierial but this gives the boost :)

That would be great thing to plan a trip together :) All the best!!

@Mybittersweetkoreanlife
Yes they were indeed :P

@Ramesh
:)May be u can plan the trip along with AJCL,savi and co and send me free tickets I would be tehre for sure :)

@ Rammm
Murphy law ellam ok dhaan, ana parunga namalum charge panni vaikanum ellai :P
ahaah asaiya thundreengaley! Combodia!!

@ G3
Selladhu selladhu .. unga comments..

@Rambam
Punch potta , usual punchnnu solraanga ellati engennu kekkaraaanga.. enna ulagamada edhu LOL :)

@ Jehan
They were sweet! :) but very tasty to say. We have so many chips variety in India.. so when I come to meet you , I shall get u some.
Swaram said…
LOL @ performance pressure Sri ... u play well with words ;)

U got to stay in such a beautiful place .. Wow!

The dance pic is really nice .. hw I wish I cud get to see Sita :)

Something in me wanted to get up and dance with them (demon I guess). LOL :P

But its so nice to dance away like no one's watching na ;) I luv it :)

Lovely pic of the valley and the strawberries .. reminded me of Munnar :)

So nice to c Ramayana being performed :) Proud moment!
sri said…
@ Swaram

Thanks for not missing my posts :) I am sorry about the sita picture, we should have taken extra care for teh battery now it has happened twice! Never been to munnar, I guess after coming to India I would be doing more of travel to these beautiful places.

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