Category Archives: Bali
An Island Goes Silent for a Day
This year April Fools Day and Nyepi – the Balinese New Year – occur on the same day, so while the tricksters and jokers abound in the western world, the island of Bali goes silent for a day of personal … Continue reading
Posted in Bali
Tagged Bali, Balinese New Year, Day of Silence, Island of the Gods, Mahabharata, Nyepi, Ogoh-Ogoh, pecalang, Ramayana, Suharto regime, Ubud
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Ogoh-Ogoh Monsters
There is rap and hip-hop blaring on the neighboring street of Jalan Sugriwa in Ubud, but this is somehow incongruous with the normal sounds of scooters, horns, gamelan bands, roosters and barking dogs.  A group of teenage boys are rocking out while … Continue reading
Posted in Bali
Tagged Balinese New Year, Day of Silence, exorcism, Mahabharata, monsters, Nyepi, Ogoh-Ogoh, papier mache, pecalang, Ramayan, Ubud
12 Comments
Lemon, Honey and Galangal
There is nothing soothing or comforting about this glass of hot tea. Â The first sensation is sweet and lemony but then the ginger assaults the back of your throat and an instant later your mouth is prickly with all your … Continue reading
Posted in Bali
Tagged batik, Borobudur, galangal, ginger, honey, Indonesian Institute for the Arts, ISI, jamu, Jogja, Kraton, lemon, Mt Merapi Ubud, shadow puppets, Sultan's Palace, Yogya, Yogyakarta
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