Bali

5th and 6th at sea.Excellent lectures by Dr.Michael Boll on American Mid-East policy and Russia.Tue will be on North Korea.

Welcome to Bali

We anchored in Padang Bay and tendered in.The day was overcast so most of us took an umbrella from the ship.(This is the rainy season) My tour was called "Colors of Bali".Our first visit was to an 11th century temple,quite interesting.We had to cover our legs,even if wearing pants,though not our arms,surprisingly,so we were given sarongs to wear.The men donned them reluctantly and most of them looked quite amusing with them on.

Obligatory sarongs in temple

We then saw a Balinese folk tale performed on an open stage.We were all given a sheet with the explanation in our language of choice,otherwise no one could have followed what was going on.A tiger entered early on and the two men in the remarkably elaborate costume were magnificent.They cavorted around,opened and closed the wooden mouth noisily and lay down to sleep.I don't know how all the actors managed in the heat and humidity,even though the heat was abated by the grey skies.

Balinese performance

We learned that there are 13,700 islands in Indonesia.The Dutch came in 1908 and an uprising evicted them in 1942.Then the Japanese invaded and we saw many bunkers from their occupation.
After the war the monarchy was dissolved and Indonesia became independent.
East Bali is mostly Hindu while West Bali is Muslim
People live in small communities with a central meeting house.All know each other so crime is practically non-existent.
The caste system is prevalent but slowly dying out.The people are generally poor.Those who could afford air conditioning prefer to do without it.They believe that nature is healthier.
We had a lovely buffet lunch in a well known restaurant,then want to a silver manufacturer where we saw lovely filigree work.Our last stop was to see wood carvings,some very large and elaborate,some very small and delicate.They use ebony,mahogany,sandalwood,silkwood and others.
At each coach stop we were surrounded by men and women selling cloth and carvings.I did not buy a thing.

Ceiling in House of Justice

View from old house of justice

Rice field.Brownish is ready for gathering

Ubud, Indonesia