Balinese Kite Festival in Sanur

The Bali Kite Festival is an event held in July, where kite enthusiasts use the winds to showcase their designs and flying techniques. During the festival, held at Sanur's Mertasari Beach, participants compete for respect, prestige and prizes for their villages. The festival also has a religious character - its purpose is to thank the Hindu gods for the harvest.

Traditional Balinese kites are huge and require the work of entire teams. Their construction takes about two months and is accompanied by religious ceremonies, including a priest's blessing. The kites symbolize harmony between man, nature and the gods, and their colors - red, white and black - refer to the Hindu trinity.

In Balinese culture, kites (Layangan) are treated with great seriousness. According to legend, the first kite was introduced by Rare Angon, a shepherd and the god of wind, who is also considered an incarnation of Shiva. Kites are not only a part of fun, but also an important symbol in rituals and ceremonies.

The festival features different types of kites, such as the Bebean (fish-shaped), Janggan (bird or dragon-shaped) and Pecukan (leaf-shaped). 

Each kite is a work of art, and its flying is accompanied by gamelan music and the enthusiasm of the crowds.

The festival is not just a competition, but also a celebration of community, tradition and a return to childhood joy, says Yoka Sara, director of a film about kites in Bali. Kites, their construction and flying are deeply rooted in Balinese culture, combining art, religion and community.

More about Balinese kites on: Yv blog.

Warung D'BUCU w Pemuteran - jedzenie na five stars

Moja ulubiona potrawa w Indonezji to soto ayam. W knajpie D'BUCU w Pemuteran ta kwaskowa zupa z kurczakiem była wyjątkowo smaczna. Podczas dziesięciodniowego pobytu w Pemuteran Beach stołowaliśmy się w kilku miejscach, ale bez wątpienia najczęściej zaglądaliśmy właśnie tam.

Z biegiem czasu każde kolejne zamawiane danie wypadało bardzo pozytywnie.

Lima gustował w nasi campur ze saszłykami.

Czuł się tam jak w domu i w oczekiwaniu na posiłek bawił się sam lub z kelnerem.

 

Jalan Raya Tampaksiring in Ubud. Bali road between terraced rice paddies

One of my favorite road is Jalan Raya Tampaksiring running parallel to famous Jalan Raya Tagallalang with great views on terraced rice paddies.

Tampaksiring has less spectacular views but minimal traffic reaffirms the lack os stunning vistas.

Tampaksiring has still retains rural character, but new villas for rent build each year between rice paddies change slowly the countryside.

Hardwood carved doors in Tegallang Bali.

Tegallang next to Ubud is famous for rice terrace. Don't miss some shops with splendid carved doors on the way to terraces.

There are two basic sizes of doors: 2.5 meters and 1.5 meters.

Ganesha in Goa Gajah and others in Bali.

Ganesha is very popular in Bali. The deity fights countless local demons and brings fortune and good luck.

Modern colorful Ganesha welcomes everybody at the entrance to a public building.

Ganesha carved in rock at Goa Gajah cave near Ubud is one of the oldest in Indonesia.
The cave was built in 9th century.


Stone Ganesha is a favorite one among wealthy Balinese. They place him at the entrance of the estate, just behind main door.

Ganesha as a relief for tourists, carved on the buffalo's scull.

Ganesha at one forex bureau in Ubud associated with wealth.

New Ganesha made of plaster.

I Dewa Made Sugita from Ubud. The man who paints women.

The list of great Balinese painters is very long. The style called "modern traditional Balinese paintings" was born in 1930's thanks to an art influeces of Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet.
The painters from Ubud and Sanur have conquered art salons and recognition in Amsterdam, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney and recently in Hong Kong.



Today next generation of artists born in the 1970's is known far beyond Indonesia. The paintings of master I Nyoman Masriadi has fetched regularly prices $100,000.

It's time to look for painters born in 1980's.

I Dewa Made Sugita was born in 1980.
He's received an art education at the University of Denpasar.
His interests are focused on the characters of Balinese women.
In Sugita's works the female figures domineted entire balinese world.

I visit Sugita's studio at the center of Ubud.
He works regularly there, every day except the religious events.
His works are inspired by such masters as Amedeo Modigliani.

Today his paintings are available for $ 200. Tomorrow can be much more expensive.

The world loves the Balinese art.

Tattoo man from Trunyan. Bali island.

Trunyan village on the bank of Batur Lake is one of the oldest continuously populated place in Bali. People living there are called Aga and are considered as the heirs of beliefs that dominated on the island before the arrival of Hinduism.

My 27 years old guide showed some of his tattoos.

An ornamental chest tattoo is one of the typical Balinese formulas.

The others are the product of modern fantasy.

Prayer's time. Island of Bali.

Agung prays at his family ancestral temple.

Photo taken on 18th December 2010 during Kuningan Day.

Monkey mask from Barong Dance. Bali

The monkey mask is one of the most popular in Balinese theatre.
The widely carved eye holes help to show different states of actor’s emotions.

The mask carved in Sukawati village.

The monkey has spotty gray costume and gloves.

Barong dance in Ubud during Kuningan, 22th May 2010.

Time for tea. Bali Indonesia

Tea in a plastic cup must taste deliciously.

Woman from the morning market in Ubud.

Temple Luhur Luwatu. Bali

Pura Luhur Uluwatu has the most spectacular location in Bali.


The temple is built on a high cliff.
The place is famous for its beautiful sunsets.
Pura Luhur is an hour drive south of Kuta
Mountainous asphalt road passes Pecatu village, whence it is a pleasant downhill (if you're going on a motorcycle) in an easterly direction.

This place is well known for water sports activities. It's only one mile away to Mebulu Point with fantastic surfing waves.

The cliff path is occupied by a horde of some aggressive monkeys.
Watch out for your sunglasses, and even hair clips or earrings. The local monkeys are incredibly fast.

All visitors must wear a sarong in the temple area.

The temple buildings themselves are very modest.

Tourists have no right to admission to the Pura.

The temples in Bali are open only to the followers of Hindu religion.

I met stubborn Japanese, who tried to enter the temple through all subsequent gates.

I paid for the ticket – he spoke this phrase like a mantra.

Nobody couldn't explain him this rule.

Yes, I met there some nervous tourists and laid back Balinese people.

Stone Ganesha was also cool ;-)