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  ULUWATU FIRE DANCE, BALI - INDONESIA

Sept 28

Uluwatu Temple

We went to the small 10th century temple at Uluwatu to see the Kecak (Monkey) and Fire Dance. Legend says that the lump of lime stone found on the location of the temple is the metamorphosis of the Lake Goddess or the Water Goddess. Itis one of the six temples of the world revered by all Balinese.

At the entrance we were required to adorn sarongs and yellow sashes to enter the temple.
The temple grounds are perched high on a black lava cliff and offers an excellent lookout for remarkable sunsets.

Monkey Business

Very pesky monkeys meet us at the bottom of the steps and were determined not to let us by without a bribe of peanuts. The first one I encountered immediately tried to make off with my sunglasses, then attacked my earrings!

I managed to stow both into my backpack but Bob was not so lucky.

We finally did retrieve it, worse for wear, but another monkey was running around with someone’s good glasses.

A monkey grabbed Bob's hat and bounded away to the rooftop where he sat teasing everyone with the hat.

When we coaxed him with a bag of peanuts he put the hat behind his back so we couldn’t get it!

Then he audaciously sat out of reach and chewed the button off the hat.

KECAK (Trance Dance)

The Kecak and Fire Dance began just at sunset. The performance was a combination of ancient ritual, dance, and drama with the sunset cliff setting.  This dance features a male chorus that chants rhythmically, circled around a torch. They became entranced throughout the dance to the beat of the varied chants and swaying movements.

 

Each act brought forth characters in elaborate masks and costumes. The story tells of a young girl who encountered all sorts of perils in the forest, including a white monkey, the red monkey king, giants who try to burn the hero to death, and comic servants.

  

The White Monkey was gifted with Magical Powers.

 

  

The Red Monkey King and the long clawed comic servant  villains in the story

  

For the finale, a dancer stomps on the hot flames without feeling any pain.

 

After the Dance the performers posed for photos and we cold get a good look at the elaborate costumes
The girls were meticulous in their makeup and elaborate costumes.

Becky poses with the mythical Red Monkey King.

We headed to Jimbaran where we had a choice of a number of sea food restaurants. We found a table in the sand on the beach where occasionally the surf would reach right under our table.

A band played American oldie hits and we ate jumbo prawns til we were bursting!