Wonderful of Indonesia

Barong Dance @Batubulan

The Barong dance is the classic story of good [The Barong] triumphing over evil [The evil witch Rangda]. The Barong is a large lion type creature played by two men, Rangda is the epitome of evil with long fingernails and droopy breasts. The Barong is going about his business until he is interrupted by Rangda. Ultimately a battle ensues and the Barong’s followers begin attacking Rangda with their Keris [daggers]. Rangda, being a witch, is able to use magical powers to turn the daggers against their owners, who fall into a trance and try to stab themselves.

In Balinese dance the movement is closely associated with the rhythms produced by the gamelan, a musical ensemble specific to Java and Bali. Multiple levels of articulations in the face, eyes, hands, arms, hips, and feet are coordinated to reflect layers of percussive sounds.

The Barong dance is performed when there is illness or misfortune in the village and there is therefore intended to dispel this "evil forces". People gather together at the mortuary temple, Pura Dalem. Women are carrying the offerings. At the temple beautiful umbrellas are used. If illness or adversity prevails in the village, the dance is performed. Evil spirits and demons come from the direction of the sea to the village.

By replaying the story of the widow Rangda and Barong again, the harmony is confirmed in the cosmos. The fight will end undecided. In every part of the island of Bali residents ask the spirit to protect the land and forests. There are different types Barongs. The name of the dance depends on the mask, the Barong, the main character wears. The Barong is defined in each different region as a different animal:

·    a wild pig

·    a tiger

·    a snake

·    a dragon

·    a lion

The Barong is a figure which is used to expel evil. The Barong is usually played by two men, wearing a creepy mask lion. He rattles constantly from his mouth and embodies the good. His opponent is the wicked witch Rangda with frightening eyes and hair. The dance is meant to dispel evil.

There's not a good explanation of the meaning of the word Barong. However, the Barong has a second name, namely Banaspati Raja [King of the jungle]. The classic Barong is the Barong Keket. This does not correspond to any animal. Besides, there are two other forms: Barong Berutuk [young men, wrapped in banana leaves with a mask] and Barung Landung [two giant puppets, performing a dialogue and singing folk songs].

The story:

The story goes that Rangda, the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth century, was condemned by Erlangga's father because she practiced black magic. After she became a widow, she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the leaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of Barong. Barong came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda casted a spell that made Erlangga soldiers all wanted to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and Rangda ran away.

About the origin of the Barong people don't agree. There are several legends about it, We will tell you two versions:

1.  The first Barong version, where we known a little about, is related to Bedulu, which was probably the capital of Bali. The gods ordered the people to make a Barong to free the island of the plague. On Galungan [the largest Balinese holiday] the Barong had to go around to receive offerings and money.

2.  In another story, the Barong is connected to the demon Jero Gede 'Mecaling. This demon came like a Barong with his followers to destroy everything on Bali. A priest said that only a similar Barong with followers could dislodge them. This was done and the Barong could therefore be used to chase sickness and evil forces away.

Kecak Fire Dance @Uluwatu Temple

The Kecak Fire Dance is one of Bali’s most iconic art performances, famous for its dominant use of human vocals in place of gamelan instruments to accompany the dance-drama at its core. Your visit to the island won’t be complete without seeing a show, and the best place to do so is at the cliff-top amphitheatre located just south of the Uluwatu Temple on Bali’s southern Bukit peninsula and at sunset for added drama. Usually, the Kecak Fire Dance show is included as part of the package if you booked a common tour to the temple, and which perfectly serves as a closing highlight to your day out in Bali’s south peninsula area. However, you can go just for the show and purchase tickets at the amphitheatre’s ticket booth up front. Tickets for walk-ins range between IDR 70,000 and 100,000 depending on low and peak season, and includes pamphlets containing the synopsis of the drama.

 

Good thing to note is that the whole Uluwatu site is home to a hoard of grey long-tailed macaques, which are known for being swift and cunning pickpockets. Therefore, go ‘low profile’ with no loose jewellery or clothing when visiting the temple or going on your way to the show, and particularly keep your camera in its bag until you enter the amphitheatre. This open area has tiered concrete seating surrounding its sunken centrepiece stage, and the ocean view beyond is breath-taking. At around 18:00, sunset time, the Kecak Fire Dance show starts. The troupe of around 75 male dancers descend onto the stage with extended arms and shaking hands up in the air while chanting their fast-paced, ‘chak!’ choruses repetitively. The prelude opens the five episodes taken from the Ramayana epic, as dancers in elaborate costumes artistically re-enact the tale with slower or faster tempos provided by the troupe complementing a scene of romance or suspense. The Kecak Fire Dance synopsis goes that Sri Rama, the prince of the Ayodya kingdom was sent into exile by his father King Dasaratha following an evil trick by his stepmother Kaikeyi. Deep in a monkey forest [which fits in perfectly with Uluwatu’s setting], Rama is accompanied by his wife Sita and loyal younger brother Laksamana. The evil Rahwana, who had a crush on Sita, knew of this, and set out to kidnap her. The rescuing effort by the two brothers ensues with help from the monkey king Hanoman and his monkey troops. Rahwana eventually subdued, the two lovers are finally reunited right after the setting sun. The fire torches in the stage’s centre flicker against the darkened sky and the echoing chants subside.

Pandawa Beach

Pandawa Beach, locally referred to as ‘Pantai Pandawa’, is a great addition to Bali’s collection of gorgeous beaches, located on Bali’s southern Bukit Peninsula. The fine, one-kilometre coastal stretch is located in the village of Kutuh, only five kilometres west from the Samabe Bali Suites & Villas and eight kilometres south from the main hub of the BTDC complex in Nusa Dua. ‘Hidden’ behind large carved limestone cliffs that reveal wide views to the Indian Ocean, Pandawa Beach was once also dubbed as ‘Secret Beach’ and it was officially opened in 2012, fast-gaining popularity among local weekenders and international visitors.

Besides it’s impressive natural sea panorama of white sand, blue sky and surf, Pandawa Beach is also best known for its impressive terrain and manmade limestone features that serve as a one-of-a-kind welcome into this coastal area. Huge cliffs were cut through to make way for its winding and smooth asphalt roads which lead down to the beach. The sides remained as high walls, while the ocean-facing cliffs midway down the slope feature deeply carved arches installed with large statues. They each depict the hero characters from the Mahabharata epic, known as Pandawa Lima or the ‘five Pandawas’, hence the name of the beach. There are six white stone statues draped in colourful Balinese waistcloths, namely Dewi Kunti, the mother figure from the epic, and the five heroes: Dharmawangsa [also known by the name Yudhistira], Bima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadewa. A single empty arch seems to make way for another planned character, either the heroes’ father, Pandu, or his second wife, Madri. You can have great photo opportunities here, both against the giants and to the picturesque distant horizon and the stretch of Pandawa Beach 250m down from this vantage point. The road from here branches in two directions toward two different sections of Pandawa Beach. The eastern part comprises local stalls selling snacks and refreshments, and its parasol-shaded sun beds line the coast. This area is a little rugged due to the large rocks along the sand, most likely rubble from the prior road construction through the cliffs. The western counterpart, however, features a cleaner and longer stretch of sand, with various water sport activities and gear rentals, cafes, and stalls serving anything from grilled seafood and local cuisine to sandwiches and burgers.

 

The water at Pandawa Beach, as with most of Bali’s southern coastline, is an exotic combination of blue and green, as local seaweed farmers still tend to their patches along these coasts. On clear days with mild winds, it is a great place to swim, or you can hire a sea kayak, don some life vests and paddle out for fun, and even grab a surfboard to catch a wave beyond the reef breaks [swells are usually consistent with the strongest southern ocean currents moving out in unpredictable directions, so it is strictly for advanced surfers]. Easily, this is one of the far-flung and exotic beaches to retreat to on your Bali holiday.