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| These offerings are everywhere, in front of stores, on scooters, at the entrance to temples, on a rock, by a stream, on the beach...offerings to the appease the spirits |
A short flight from Malaysia to Bali over the equator, through the rain clouds, and into the monsoon...
We stayed in Kuta for the first night because it was close to the airport and we thought we could take a surf lesson at Kuta beach if the rain ever stopped...it didn't so we slogged through the puddles forming on the street by our hotel for the post office (those same Thai post cards still didn't get mailed), then bought a ticket for Ubud, a town in the foot hills that we deemed more suitable to rainy weather, having rice terraces, palm plantations, and jungle.
Here in Ubud we celebrated Nyepi, the Balinese/Hindu New Year. It is a day of silence and self reflection, where the balance between good and evil in ones life can be restored. This means that any activity that would interfere with meditation and self reflection is prohibited; no fire or light (electricity too), no working, no traveling (including walking), fasting and no self revelry. What this meant for us is no leaving the hotel and closing the blinds at night, we had to eat at our hotel and stock up the day before on food and drink...
Bhuta Yajna Ritual
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| Hanuman, Hindu Monkey diety |
The night before is the Bhuta Yajna Ritual where the towns youth constructs large monsters or daemons called ogoh-ogoh that are paraded round the center of town to ward of real daemons that might want to take up residence. Some of the 'ogoh-ogoh' are pure fabrications, while some are Hindu deities or represent characters from traditional Balinese folk-tales. Some of the tales are acted out during the parade, all set to loud music from drums, cymbals, gongs, and chanting.
Nyepi
Our 'silent day' was spent editing photos, posting this blog, swimming in the pool, and mostly reading...not to bad a day because our hotel is so lovely!
Poetry Hill
11th century tombs carved from the bedrock
Bali Sunset
