Day 1: Getting to Know the Balinese Culture

After a day in Jakarta, we flew to Bali, a leading tourist destination known for its beauty and rich culture. Filled with excitement, we thought about island hopping but the one island that we wanted to visit is too distant and would take much of our time. We also thought about going to Ketut, the fortune teller in the movie "Eat, Pray, Love" but we had to give up that destination since it's too far from the place we stayed. Despite that, we had the most of our vacation and I'll tell you, there's a lot to marvel in Bali.

 

If there's one thing that made me love Bali a few minutes after we set foot on the island, it's their Chicken Satay! The succulent dish is quite spicy yet  too delicious especially when dipped in peanut sauce. I'm really fond of spicy food so even though most Balinese dishes are new to us, I find them really appetizing.

 

Babi Guling, also known as suckling pig is a roasted pig stuffed with spices. Ubud, Bali is famous for it and most tourists would not leave the island without trying this specialty.

20-meter  tall copper statue of Wisnu

Lotus Pond

We headed first to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park which is a few minutes drive from the airport. The tourist attraction didn't only leave us mesmerized of its vast expanse and towering statues but it also showed how the Balinese are able to preserve and cultivate their heritage.

Statue of Wisnu

The statue of Wisnu is an illustration of their God. Known as the source of wisdom, they also believe that He is their creator and caretaker.

Statue of Garuda

Garuda is a giant bird that serves as Wisnu's companion and transportation. It symbolizes freedom  and selfless devotion.



We savored our time looking at these huge dramatic rocks. Very picturesque.

Gotta emote a little

With Adly

With Den

Gamelan, Indonesian traditional musical instruments

Before finally leaving the place, we were able to watch their cultural show. It's a series of traditional dances, showcasing the rich culture and strong religion of the Balinese.

 

After the show, we had a chance to take photos with the performers and try their instruments.

 

When I first saw this creature, i thought it's similar to the Chinese dragon but it's actually a half dog, half lion. The mystical creature named Barong, is said to be the Lord of the forest and protector of the Balinese villages.

Barong Dance

These two ladies performed the Legong dance which is characterized by facial expressions and intricate finger movements. These finger movements or dancing fingers later became a technique in massaging, another thing Bali is famous for. I'll be blogging a separate detailed post about the cultural dance and the story behind it.

That's the part one of our first day in Bali. I hope you had fun! I have more to share so just keep in touch. :)

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