The Scenic Uluwatu Temple and the Intense Kecac Dance performance

I never really expected much to this place and I did not really feel excited when I heard it in our itinerary. Maybe because I was already exhausted with the whole day travelling that I felt the need to just do a close door and lay in the bed. Not until we reached the place, that magnificent location that amazing sunset and that engaging fire dance performance makes me realised that a visit at Uluwatu temple is something one shouldn’t missed.

On our arrival at the place, all guests were given a cloth to cover the lower part of the body. I just follow what was told and felt the cloth could be a nice piece for photoshoot. (Lol! Still thinking about taking an OOTD)

Here are the other things that are kindly requested upon entering:

Pay enter ticket
To be dressed neatly and properly
To be observe the existed directory
Women who are having their period, they can only go to steps of the temple
Keep cleanliness and environmental conservation.

It was a big park with greens everywhere and different small size temples. I love the architecture and how the Balinese consider details. The main attraction of the place is the Bali Kecac and Fire Dance Performance, which will be held at sunset in the open auditorium at the end. And because we still have enough time to roam, instead of heading straight we tried walking at the long way.

Uluwatu Temple, or Pura luhur Uluwatu, one of the six key temples and is renowned for its magnificent location, perched on top of a steep diff approximately 70 meters above sea level. The name of Uluwatu came from the word Ulu meaning the head and Watu meaning stone. Therefore Uluwatu temple mean the temple build in the tip of coral reef.

Take good care of your stuff, it might be taken away by some monkeys in the place.

The island is a place to go to for sunset delights with direct overlooking views of the beautiful Indian Ocean

Look at that details

With Pat Henson. I sat beside her (and Kimi) in the plane going to Indonesia and felt a bit shy learning that I’m sitting next to some Instagram rockstars! hahaha

Price for ticket: International IDK. 30k/pax | Domestic IDR. 20k/pax

Bali Kecac and Fire Dance Performance

When its time to watch the dance performance, I didn’t really felt excited about it. Without knowing anything about what we are about to see (I did not do any research), we decided to sit on the left side of the auditorium, giving us a view to the left.

Short for Kecac Dance, this performance was first developed into performing arts in the village of Bona, Gianyar. Kecac was originally a song or music that is resultant from a combination sounds that make up melodies that is used to accompany the dance Sanghyang and can only be stage in the temple. Then in the early 1930s, they develop a Kecac dance by taking the story of Ramayana for it to be displayed in public as a performance art.

So what I’m about to see is actually a dance performance telling a part of the story of Rama accompanied by the different sounds created by the other performers.

A narrator first came in telling us details of what we are about to see. Then a group of men wearing a cropped pants and a piece of loincloth and a flower in their right ear enters while creating different sounds making such harmony.

Ramayana is one of the largest ancient epics in world literature.

Then after a few minutes, different characters came in one after the other. We were clueless about the story, making us guess the whole scenario, which actually makes it more fun. Especially when we guested it right.

I’ve heard about this story but how they interpret every’ scene is something worthwhile to see.

One of the highlights of the whole performance was the fight scene where the white colored monkey started throwing fireballs to all the enemies. It was pretty intense!

I even got a scene with the white monkey when it started to mingle with the audience and sit beside me. Unfortunately my reflex to take photo was so slow I wasn’t able to take the moment.

All in all, we had a great time watching the whole performance. I was eager to have a photo with the performers but felt that it would take longer to wait for all the audiences to leave the auditorium. And guess what, all the other trip of wonders participants waited and took this shot! I felt such a looser there.

https://www.nognoginthecity.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kecak-dance.mp4?_=2

By the way if your going to visit and watch the Kecac Dance, the best place to sit is across the center entrance where you could be able to have a great view of the sunset while the performance is being held. Just look at this shot by my Indonesian friend, Kama. (Check his IG account: @kamabtara)

Price for ticket: International and Domestic IDR. 100k/pax

Time for dinner! We headed straight to Jimbaran beach Café and tried a Seafood dinner. (Thanks for this shot Thanis)

Around 10 in the evening, we arrived at our hotel, Golden Tulip Devins located in Seminyak, Kuta, Bali. It’s a high standard modern hotel with high ceiling and I love it.

Time to sleep! But we didn’t. Our Indonesian buddies are so into partying and wanted us to visit this famous place they called “La Favela!” So we did meet up after 10 minutes and with our remaining energy, we took an Uber ride to La Favela. It was a nice restaurant that is converted to a party place at night. It got that rustic feel with old furniture’s and Edison lighted lamps. I also felt I was in Europe or America seeing almost 80 percent white people in the dance floor. But being a ‘juice type of person in a bunch of alcohols’, I decided to just sit down for a moment, enjoyed the view and observe.

We went home around 1, while the rest was up till 4. Now it is definitely time to sleep.

Coming up Living the Balinese Life!

#NognoginIndonesia is a trip sponsored by Ministry of Tourism. Check out the tags #TripofWonders & #WonderfulIndonesia to find out the destinations we visited.