Traveler's Tales        Bali, Indonesia

Cathryn has traveled to Bali four times, lived with a three generation dancing family, told stories in a Middle School, imported hand woven ikat cloth, attended a cockfignt, cremation, and many dances, festivals and ceremonies. Enjoy this rich artistic experience of the only Hindu island in Indonesia.

Shrine to Sri Rice Goddess

              Middle Island Rice Paddies


Though many tourists go to the beaches exclusively, the real life of Bali is in the inland rice paddies, their daily Hindu rituals and temple festivals and their devotion to beauty in all forms.

              Taman Meru


The old style family temples are tall black palm thatches. The stories are always an odd number, reflecting the class of the family.

              Tanah Lot


An unbelievably picturesque temple on the west coast. It is only reachable at low tide.

              Hindu Temple Sculpture


Though the majority of temple carvings are in the natural grey volcanic rock, some in the west are brightly painted, more like the Hindu carvings in India. It is a result of the tropical climate that the softness of this stone is what has kept the Balinese sculptors in excellent form, as replacement of the sculpture is in regular demand.

              Gambling


Temple festivals happen constantly, some more serious than others. Some celebrate the anniversary of the temple, some religious events, some are more like a county fair. Gambling and dancing and music and food are a part of the celebrations.

              Ayu's Morning Prayers


We lived with three generations of dancers and it was a wonderful insight to Balinese family, religious and artistic life. Each morning and evening Ayu would place offerings to the high gods and lower offerings to placate the lower spirits. Each offering is hand made with flowers, leaves and rice.

              Dressing for the Legong Dance


The third generation being dressed for a performance at about age 10. Dancers begin training at six and are given many opportunities to perform. Legong dancers retire from that dance at age 13. We were able to see her perform six years later with her father in California. What a beauty she has become!

              Ubud


A family temple in Ubud lit at night for a festival.

              Legong


This dance is an abstract of a story of an abducted princess. It may last an hour and everyone knows the story by heart. It is some of these stories that are only danced, and presented in shadow puppet plays that I have learned to tell.

              Ikat


One of the artistic expressions of Bali is the high quality ikat cloth. It is mostly cotton and hand tied and died in geometric patterns before being placed on the loom. It is the wide range of colors placed in dramatic juxtaposition that create the shimmer of pattern. I have imported it to very appreciative seamstresses.

              Weaver


Ikat is so expensive, Balinese weavers often cannot afford it themselves. A double ikat, where patterns are died in both warp and weft is considered to have magic powers. The cheap cloth imported as "Balinese" is often wax dyed batik from Java.