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[TRAVEL] Kecak Dance @ Uluwatu, Bali

Posted by swisscheese on March 6, 2015 in adventures, bali, culture, greenery, travel |

Uluwatu

Whenever I travel to a city/country, I would always like to catch the sunrise or sunset as it has different landscapes each time. Last July, I went to Bali with my family and we were in the nick of time to see the beautiful sunset at Uluwatu.

Kecak Dance
Uluwatu

Uluwatu
Uluwatu
Uluwatu

We thought we will not make it to Uluwatu on time but we had quite a bit of time to admire the majestic cliffs and sunset over the ocean. It was definitely nature at it’s best and this was my type of vacation that I needed.

Uluwatu
Uluwatu
Uluwatu
Uluwatu
Uluwatu
Uluwatu

Upon arriving at Uluwatu, people who has shorts/skirts/dresses above the knee had to wear a purple sarong to cover up as a sign of respect. I had no idea why I had to tie a yellow ribbon across my maxi dress but from what my relatives told me, it is to ward off any possession or evil from the dance? The Kecak Dance started at 6PM and my aunt was chasing us to be there on time since we were taking tonnes of photos of the beautiful scenery at the uluwatu cliff. There were many seats available but even more tourists that some people could only enjoy the show while standing. There were about 50-70 bare-chested men who entered the stage and they were responsible for the sound of the chant while the performance is ongoing. However, before the start of the performance, a priest had to chant prayers. I heard from my cousins that this is because the people chanting maybe possessed if prayers were not done. I am not entirely sure about this though. The kecak dance tells a love story of how a damsel in distress Shinta was kidnapped by evil King Rahwana.

Uluwatu Uluwatu Uluwatu

It was amazing how the dance was held 50 meters above sea level at a time where the sun was setting. Such view takes your breath away. The climax of the story occurred when the sky turned dark and the monkey king Hanoman was set on fire while he was on his mission to save the goddess Shinta. There was a twist at the end when Hanoman started jumping to sit beside tourist and started taking selfies with them or pulling some of the spectator up on stage to do some performance. I would advise people with children not to sit at the first few rows as some children maybe afraid of people in costumes or masks. I remember I was such a child when I was young.

AREA: ULUWATU
TICKET: 70,000 Rp

Bali maybe filled with tourists that some people may find it a little commercialized but at least it still retains much of it’s culture that is worthy to be explored.

*swisscheese

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