Kecak and Fire Dance

He said I would see monkeys.  "Secure all your things, only take what you need, they are thieves", he said.  I wasn't scared or worried, but more so excited. I imagined a tug of war with a little monkey over my selfie stick. What a fun story that would be.

Soon I was rushed to a spot and was handed a green sarong cloth, but I want the purple one, I thought, as I pointed unable to use my words because I had none. Bad me didn't study up and learn Indonesian before this trip. No matter how much I promised to study, life kept distracting me.  Looking around at everyone with purple and green sarongs (with accompanying gold sash) I smiled and wondered, where am I again?

 

I was lead down a smooth path which opened at it's end into a marvelous view of the sinian Ocean.  I could hear the waves thundering below and as they crashed I looked over the edge.  We were high up on a spectacular bluff (Uluwatu Cliff) and with the sun low in the sky the scene was dream like.





Continuing down the beautiful cliff side path, I hear melodious Asian music. Getting to the amphitheatre early to secure good seating, we choose to be front and center for the best views of the show.  With the sun slowly setting directly in front of me, I soon move to a cooler side view and avoid all my photos being cast as silhouette.  I wait and gradually the amphitheatre fills up to MORE THAN capacity and as my anticipation grows so does the odor of a pleasant smelling incense.

Finally ready to begin, the show starts with the lighting of a torch like candelabra. 70 bare chested men come running out in black and white checkered skirts. In unison chanting a very strange song while periodically screaming, rocking their their bodies and waving their hands around they are almost mesmerizing  Initially I watch the spectacle in amazement, but after about 20 minutes I am dumbfounded at their



stamina and voices to continue. The leaflet we are all given, in order to help us follow the various acts of this ancient Balinese dance, called the dance the "Sanghyang" or Trance dance. Okay, I get it, the men are in a trance, so they don't even know they are tired.


Various colorful characters enter my view visually telling the story of the "Battle from the Ramayana".  I follow the four acts by reading the descriptions of each of the acts, described in the leaflet.  

Meanwhile a gorgeous sunset off my right shoulder continues to distract me and I stand throughout the show to take numerous sunset shots. A golden deer, thirsty old man (Bagawan), Sita, Laksmana, white monkey (Hanoman), Rama, Garuda, Twalen, Trijata and 3 gaints later, the performance gets exciting with the fire dance.

All said the experience is a very unique and exciting view of the Balinese culture. Make sure not to sit in a front row.  I can only imagine the terror of the old Indian woman whose sari almost caught fire.



For more information go to:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1380108-d3264822-Reviews-Kecak_and_Fire_Dance-Pecatu_Nusa_Dua_Peninsula_Bali.html

Copyright 2016. Vivienne Lettsome. All rights reserved.