About this experience
Widespread offerings in baskets, original dwellings, unusual shadow theater - all this is well known to vacationers in Bali. However, it often remains only illustrations of the colorful culture. Meanwhile, one of the most amazing traditions in the world lives on the island. Here, magic, religion, and everyday life are intertwined and interconnected. And everyday life is woven from details carrying ancient and profound meanings. To better understand and feel the world of the Balinese, I invite you on an author's journey to places usually off-limits to foreigners.
What to Expect
Sacred Workshops and Authentic Ceremony
Scheduled excursion dates are not random. These are special auspicious days when ceremonial items are made. By special arrangement with the masters, you will witness the forging of kris (dagger) and the beating of a red-hot gong in sparks. We will also visit puppeteers who carve magical dolls for shadow theater and topeng masks from buffalo hide, whose characters can embody spirits. And on the way back, we will visit a temple for purification and blessings. Apart from us, there will be no 'bule' at the ceremony, as Balinese call foreigners.
Exploring the Island's Ancient Traditions
Workshops and temples are located in the Sukawati province. We will meet in Ubud, Canggu, or Sanur and embark on an ethnographic journey by car or bikes. On the way, I will tell you the essentials about the local culture. We will stop at a traditional house where you will learn about the special principles of construction according to the compass directions and even the parameters of the owner. We will discuss rituals, ceremonies, and objects of worship in Balinese Hinduism. About the stories from the epic portrayed in temples and shadow theater and the meaning of these performances. And also about the Balinese world view, where spirits are part of reality.
Organizational Details
- We can embark on the journey by car or bikes (which is more interesting and faster, I will provide the walkie-talkies for the excursion on the way)
- Transfer is included in the price in both cases
