An Indonesian Adventure.

[billyboy]

I got to the Temple for the show very early and noticed that others had come before me and left there brochurs and a bag of food or something on the seats then got of somewheres else, a bit like the old bath towels on the sunbed thing that happens in places abroad.I still managed a front row seat but it did annoy me a little. Anyway, here are a few more photographs from the show.

Betti,I used the P setting on my camera with the flash popped up and i was about six to eight metres away i think when i took these pictures.

Billy.

[Mahindrasarath]

Why they'd performed the hindu narrative ovathere Indonesia,as I heard it's the giant Muslim country in Sean,probable nearly 2 millennium ago that Indo "Dutch East Inde" people converted to Islam, as Marie cites bout the tradition of Indo using the Garuda as symbol of their flag ? I would appreciate if u can explain a little bit.

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

probable nearly 2 millennium ago that Indo "Dutch East Inde" people converted to Islam,

Islam in Indonesia only began 800 years ago and it was only 500 years ago it became the dominant religion.

David

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

Indeed Islam itself is less than 1400 years old.

David

[Betti]

it is fascinating how Hindu elements got absorbed into Muslim culture on Java. they do the same traditional shadow puppet stuff there, with all the Hindu gods, they know the legends, they are proud of that legacy.
the Javanese rulers and nobility got expelled / escaped from Java with the spread of Islam (which people liked converting to because it did away with the caste system! usually it is the other way round, rulers convert and force the people to convert with them), and settled in Bali, developing a unique version of Hinduism there over the centuries.
I would have caught this factual mistake if I still bothered to read Mahin's totally incomprehensible or ignorant posts. if you don't know Hinduism is the main religion in Bali, for gods sake google before saying something. if it hadn't been evident from Billy's posts so far anyway.

I do not like to use the flash during shows like this - but of course, with everyone doing it, it was really annoying. it is not the Metropolitan opera, but these people are still performers, and the darkness + candles and fire are an important part of the show. I think they should make an announcement asking people to only use the flash during the intro or the end or some other predetermined bits that are clearly signalled.

it is fascinating how the same ancient Hindu legends are told in every country in the region, from Laos all the way to Bali, with some variation in dance and music and costumes.

[billyboy]

Some more photographs from the show.

Billy.

[Mahindrasarath]

I remember this dance was performed at Angkor the largest Hindu temple in Cambodia,which all of the country in Asia who has the Ramayana legend ,that was influenced by Indian narrative came to joined the ceremony at Angkor,I'd look in the old magazine,too.

Anyway im glad to learn about the history of other country,and im also proud about the achievement of my ancestors did. During in the past in the Chinese reccorded under the reign of dynasty Voo Ty(Liang) indicated that The Hinduism and Bhuddism were intergrated in Suvannaphumi,it was also mentioned about the name of missioners, abassadors whoes sent to translated the documents from Pali for Chinese dynasty,but i can't search by google right now.

[yy]

The unique way in which the Ramayana dances and (shadow) puppet plays are performed in the Southeast Asian tradition is one of the top reasons that makes me feel very proud to be a Southeast Asian. A very, very sad thing that the wayang kulit seems to have died out even among the Malay community in Singapore, together with the kampongs and the rest of village recreational activities. I will go for a wayang kuilt any time more than a Chinese opera.

[billyboy]

The show was realy entertaining and i would not hesitate to go and watch it again if i ever make it back there sometime. I would recommend a viewing if you are ever in Ubud on holiday at all.Here are a few more photo's again from the show, probably one more post to go after this one then back to the rice paddy fields, after there it will be the rice terraces that are not to far from Ubud and a few other places and Temples. I did also watch another Ballanese show in Ubud equally entertaining but i will post from there towards the end of this Indonesian thread.

Labuan Bajo Flores and the infamous Komodo dragon and Rinca islands where my destinations after this and it was here came face to face and within touching distance with the huge Komodo dragon! Also i visited an island with hundreds of thousands of huge fruit bats.But one of my most memorable...( all where good )..was Kanawa Island, a true idyllic tropical castaway place. I will post about these places after Ubud.

Thanks,

Billy.

[billyboy]

The show finished with a man dressed as a white horse who walked through blazing fiery hot burning coconut shells. As the shells where dispersed with each walk that he done through them they where again pushed back into a burning heap for him to repeat it once more. The cast from the show then came forward for a well earned round of applause from the crowd before it was finally over. The old man who did the fire walking sat quietly with no apparent burns or cuts to his feet.All in all i thoroughly enjoyed the show and would recommend it should you visit.

Billy.