Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world by population,
however the small island of Bali is almost all Hindu. Ornate Balinese Hindu
temples are everywhere on the island, and every morning and evening
local Balinese lay banana-leaf offering bowls on sidewalks and in small
temple nooks near their home or business. The traditional culture,
combined with the beauty of the island and the laid back, friendly
locals (who, by the way, have a great sense of humor) make it a magical place, and it's no wonder why travelers come
back again every year.
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Offerings on the street...and on water meters of course
Ryan gettin' crafty with the locals
My mom (and Ryan) never cease to find the musical instruments!
Poor bug...
Old trees are holy in Bali (as they should be!) and are wrapped in cloth. Sometimes you'll find offerings at the bottom of the trees.
This is part of a Balinese dance called the Kecak. More than 100 men sit in a concentric circle and chant while a play from an old Hindu tale called Ramayana takes place in the middle of the circle.
Here is a short clip of the chanting from the movie Baraka so you can get a feel for how powerful it is. After this dance, an older Balinese man did a fire trance dance where he walked on hot coals for at least five minutes...yikes!
A beautiful temple and lotus pond tucked behind restaurants right in the middle of town.
You would think this is yet another temple picture, but it's actually a photo of our hotel in Ubud!
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