People of Bali
Bali’s Extraordinary Exotic Reality
Bali will always be an enigma. A juxtaposition between sekala and niskala, the seen and the unseen or the material world and the spiritual. The reason the Balinese are not always present, a little bit of head in the clouds, is because their mind ponders frequently on their next ceremony. Offerings, prayer, dance and dramas,
Bali Beauty – The Real Thing
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say, yet go to any traditional Balinese ceremony or head out of the city and beauty is all around you. Temple ceremony days are the best places to see beautiful girls. This is the time when everyone dresses up in their best. Makeup, jewellery, all the
Suteja Neka : Founder of Neka Museum
“A museum means a lot more than just a tourist object. it is a place where culture is preserved, art is admired, history is appreciated, and local wisdom is promoted. It acts as a teacher, a learning space, a world of information, and an inspiration.” Pande Wayan Suteja Neka (founder of NEKA Art Museum) The
Men of the Soil, Bali’s Backbone
The people who work Bali’s fields now are no longer young. Their children have all been sent off to school, to get an education, to follow what they see as the way to a better life! But is it? Is there any satisfaction as strong as standing over your newly turned field, or of watching
Those Wild Men of Karangasem
There I was, far from home, surrounded by hundreds of wild eyed men, each brandishing a wicked looking Kris – the killer dagger used in many countries of the Asian world. While the scene sounds slightly surreal, strangely enough, it was far from dangerous! These beautiful folk were all in deep trance, as part of
The Children of Bali
The children of Bali are like a special breed. Smart, cheeky and often devout, they enliven every day with their cheeky attitudes. When Robert Koke, author of “Our house in Bali” in the ‘40’s, revisited Bali after an absence of almost 40 years, he was asked if he found Bali had much changed. His reply was
Dance Maestro Ni Ketut Arini and the Festivity of Balinese Dance
Almost everything celebratory in Bali starts with a dance. Whether it’s a religious ceremony, a festival, opening of a conference, or even a dinner at nice resorts, a traditional Balinese dance will be performed to welcome the attendees and kick start the occasion – a unique gesture that has captured the hearts of many.
Photo Essay: Coastal Lives on the Island
A lot is happening on Bali’s coastlines. From the fishing villages to ceremonies and sea salt farming and leisure and weekend playgrounds for the residents, the beaches of Bali are always buzzing with life. HOMAGE TO THE GODS Seen here is the Melasti purification ceremony held on the beach of Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and
Bali’s Traditional Children’s Games
We all know children learn through playing and by using their imagination. However, with technology, children nowadays are missing out on the real fun of traditional games that their parents and grandparents played during their childhood. Indeed technology-based games are helpful in stimulating a child’s brain but there are more benefits derived from playing traditional
Bungaya: Behind The Tourist Door
As a tourist in Bali, you see a lot of strange and wonderful things happen – these are the things that keep Bali alive and buzzing with that astounding energy. Recently the Bali Aga Village of Bungaya put on an amazing performance that should keep the local area enjoyable for some time to come. Amongst
Life on Bali Coasts Through a Lens
The coasts of Bali are celebrated for their vibrant life in the fishermen villages, the breathtaking colourful skies during sunsets especially on the south coast, the serene, secret beaches that beg to be explored by responsible travellers, and the some of the best surfs in the world that lure many experienced surfers to ride them.
Life in A Bali Aga Village
Life carries on there pretty much as it always has. Until the 1970’s, it was one of the most secluded villages in the country and it is still the most beautiful of all the Bali Aga (Bali’s original people) villages. Even the advent of television and the ubiquitous hand phones have done little to slow
The Salt of The Earth: In Praise of Balinese Women
There is never a bad time to show appreciation for the Balinese women. The backbone of the culture and the glue that holds families and lifestyle together, the women of this beguiling island are something to be admired. Text and photos by Jill Gocher (Ayu Sekar) Whether working in the padi fields, carrying bricks to work
