Traditional Bali – A photo tour

Bali. When mentioned, people conjure up images of killer waves, busy night clubs and overcrowded beaches running rampant with young suntanned partiers. But look beyond the surface and you will witness a land rich with tradition, superstition and a people whose dedication to their beliefs has helped the island to maintain their centuries old customs. Enduring the onslaught of tourists who invade their beaches each year, the Balinese continue to live their lives of deep rooted religion, important family values and respect for the spirits of the dead.

Ceremony

Devout Hindus , the Balinese put out offerings each morningresembling works of art. Fruit and flowers beautifully arranged in palmleaves displayed in front of their shops with rich incense burning tobring good luck and to appease the spirits. Great care is taken topreserve their tradition and young and old alike continue to practicethese beliefs. Everyday you will see a ceremony occur. Whether it be awedding a birthday or an elaborate cremation, the Balinese enjoy a lifefull of festivities.

Just a short ride out of the main tourist destination of Kuta beachis the peaceful town of Ubud. This picturesque village situated inBali’s interior, among lush rice terraces is a place where time standsstill.Farmers tend their paddy fields by hand as their flocks of paintedducks waddle on their land. When walking through a peaceful path, youmay be stopped by a local boy who will climb a tree to offer you afresh coconut.

Rice Farmer

Skillful artists sell their masterpieces to the casual buyer or tothe serious collector and handmade treasures of masks and statues canbe bought in the many family run shops. Or you can find a real bargainat the colourful market in the centre of town, selling sarongs andt-shirts to crafts and paintings.

It is famous for its traditional dance performed each night in oneof many ornate temples.. Masked performers dressed in colourfulcostumes telling stories of their history and folklore in the outdoortheatres under the canopy sky. Great dedication is given to the studyof this difficult craft and a highly skilled Balinese Dancer is reveredthroughout the land.

Dancers

Quiet cafes line the road leading to the Monkey Forest Sanctuary, aprotected portion of jungle containing long tail macaques. Unlike othersanctuary’s I have visited in south East Asia, this one does notencourage the monkeys to fend for themselves. Vendors sell bananas andpeanuts for profit so that visiting tourists can feed these feisty creatures. They come to expect their treatsregularly causing fights among the monkeys and tourists alike.

Monkey Forest

Enjoy a luxurious massage at one of the many spas. For thereasonable price of $12 you will enjoy one and a half hours of pureheaven. Skilled masseurs work out your travel weary muscles withancient old techniques, finishing with an herbal body scrub and hotfloral bath. Pure decadence.

Choosing a meal at one of the many eateries can be a difficult task.With food ranging from traditional Indonesian babi guling (suckling pigroasted on a spit and must be ordered a day in advance.) to Italianpasta and pizza or roasted duck. It is a playground for the taste budsand eating in the candle lit setting while Balinese music plays softlyin the background gives a feeling of tranquility. You relax whiledrinking a Bintang beer and think that you may never leave thistropical paradise.

Fire Walker

Ubud is well travelled on many peoples routes in Bali, but its laidback atmosphere dedicated tradition and a thriving artist communitygive it the facade of being the "real" Bali. Many will say that thereal Bali no longer exists, that it has been taken over by tourism andwestern influence. But I see it thriving in the everyday lives of thelocal people and the real Bali exists in their hearts.