Here’s a short video of a Kuningan procession passing by our villa in Ubud, Bali.
Galungan-Kuningan: A feast for the eyes in Bali
BALI, INDONESIA – Galungan gets underway this week here in Bali.
A major holiday celebrated by Balinese Hindu people, Galungan marks the victory of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (unrighteousness). It’s a time when the spirits of the ancestors return to the Earth and are present among the living.
The ancestral spirits will return to the afterlife on Kuningan day, at the end of the 10-day holiday period.
Continue reading “Galungan-Kuningan: A feast for the eyes in Bali”
Happy Meal: Why is my morning toast smiling at me?
BALI, INDONESIA – We recently moved into an unfurnished villa after several years of traveling around the world and staying in fully furnished apartments, condos, hostels, hotels and Air BnBs.
Every one of those places was outfitted with all the standard trappings. Not necessarily lavish, but we rarely lacked any of the necessities for daily living.
The villa where we stayed for the past year was totally furnished – OVER-FURNISHED, to be honest.
Continue reading “Happy Meal: Why is my morning toast smiling at me?”
Balinese culture on display during Kuningan Day
BALI, INDONESIA – During a recent midday walk we passed dozens of altars piled high with colorful prayer offerings for Kuningan day.
Decorated with intricate woven fabrics, ornate palm frond banners and rosettes, tropical flower blossoms, piles of exotic fruits and coconuts, each altar seemed determined to outdo the one next door.
Balinese people believe Kuningan is the day their ancestors return to heaven after visiting the earth during the 10-day Galungan celebration.
Passport Photos and So Much More
BALI, INDONESIA – Last week Melanie and I went to a local photo studio to get ‘mugshots’ for our new visa application. The required package included four photos in three different sizes – 12 photos in all – for each of us.
I can only guess why they need so many photos. One of the smaller ones will go on our new ID cards. Another one could be incorporated into the new visa sticker that goes inside our passports.
As for the other 10 pictures, I suppose they will be attached to terribly important paperwork and filed away in various official government archives. How could we survive without bureaucracy?