Jess in Bali: 2010

Monday, June 28, 2010

Delicious $5 meal at Nomad one of the nicest restaurants Ive ever been to.

Being directed in how to dance Lebong.

The father of the little girl also dances

Grandmother and great grandaughter who are Lebong dancers; dancing for us.

This is the fruit bat that lives at the Ubud Inn, I love him! Were like soulmates.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Day four- Cremation ceremony

Peace offerings to the evil demons: skewers of rotting meats.....pee-yew.

Cremation Precession: Carrying offerings to the Gods.

There are over 150 sarcophaguses in this area, the bodies are buried in the ground for up to 2 years until the family saves enough money for the ceremony. They place the pieces of the body in the back of the sarcophages, which were wrapped in fabrics prior to burial. These sarcophgases are elaborately decorated animals that represent a specific caste.

They tie chicks to the platform of the sarcophagus and when they light it the chicks are freed. Its believed that the spirit will go in the direction of the chick. Some fall in the empty burial holes and are later buried alive (like this one), some run into the flames and some get away.

So I saved one.

I asked to hold a little chick that got loose early and was running about the sarcophagus, he was handed to me and they said I could have him, so I put him in my purse and freed him in a safer environment. I called him Atman which means spirit in Indonesian.

The fires were all lit at once, the energy was amazing, this is a happy time for the Hindu-Balinese, the soul is finally freed from the body and is able to continue on its journey. The energy was so dence with happiness that I didnt even notice the smoke and smell. I was so overwhelmed with this positive energy that I couldnt help but shed a few happy tears.

Day 3- Spa day

Delicious lunch at Cafe Lotus with my roomate Ashley and Art

Spa treatment At Sang Spa. 1 hour traditional Balinese massage, followed by a plumeria scented rice exfoliating body scrub, then a Balinese boreh body mud mask. complimented by a moisterizing yogurt rinse then a flower petal bath totaling 2.15 hours of pure bliss. All for $15!!!

You know this was the highlight of my day!

kecak and fire dance

This fire dancer would kick through a coconut bonfire and dance through it over and over again.

These dancers played out a piece of the Ramayana, which is comparable to the parables of Jesus.

Jess in Bali

No shoes allowed in the center of the temple, its consider the holiest part of the temple.

The gateway to the temple. It is built like this so when evil spirits travel through the doors will shut smashing the evil spirit.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

A real life Hindu guru

Being bless with holy water by a Buddhist priest

Bath of the Gods....the water is considered to hold youthful powers

Balinese woman praying to Ganesha in the Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave).

The elephant cave is used to worship and pray to Ganesha, a god with the head of an Elephant. He at one time looked like a human, because of his powerful magic a jealous man cut off his head. In a panic the people didn't know what to do, he needed a head and they couldn't kill a man for his head, but there was a dead elephant near by, so they decided to use the elephant head and bring back their beloved God.

Ganesha is the son of Shiva (who is the destroyer portion of the Hindu trinity). Ganesha is considered the remover of obstacles as well as the God of new beginnings and the Arts and sciences, and is also the patron of intellect and wisdom. He is commonly prayed to and worshipped in hope for successful business venture.