March 25--Bali Stories

The more I wonder... the more I love.  --Alice Walker

    I could also say, "The more I wander... the more I love."

    I'm a bit late with this one. We had a very LONG hot day yesterday. We visited GWK Cultural Park to see the world's 4th largest statue representing Wisnu, god of protection, riding on his mythical eagle Garuda, wearing a crown of gold (Kencana). We took an elevator up to the 23rd floor and enjoyed great views of Bali. There was plenty of glass floor to wander on, but I avoided that. 

    Then Komang drove us to Uluwatu for the Bali Kecak Dance. In the area around the stadium where the performance is held, there are awesome views of the cliffs along the Indian Ocean. There are also mischievous monkeys roaming around who will approach and swipe loose objects like hats. Our guides over-exaggerated the dangers--we didn't lose anything. 

    We sat for an hour waiting for the show in the packed stadium. The backdrop was a magnificent sunset. There is no musical instrumentation. All the "music" is supplied by a group of at least 50 men chanting and clicking and moving and clapping. The story is mythical and the costumes fantastical. There is even a fire dance. It is impossible to describe adequately. Here are photos of the cast and sunset:

On the left in white fur is the "monkey,"
who went into the crowd for playful harassment

Nature's backdrop

    Traffic made the trip back to our hotel almost two hours long, hence the late post. 

    More sweating ahead!

        Leta