Marta Mari. Theatre Director. Arts Manager

One of the beauties of Bali is its cultural life. Everybody either dances or plays Gamelan music here. Not because everyone is into dancing or art but because it is a part of Balinese life. Little children attend dance classes as soon as they start walking. The classes usually take place in temples or local banjars (community spaces for gathering), and are free. Even the poorest children have a chance to participate-now that’s what access to arts is! -Something we-in the West should re-think! The classes are organized by the community and since everybody dances there is no problem with finding a teacher.

Intrigued and amazed by the performance of one of her friends at a school show, Amelia joined local girls at Legong Dance class. I cannot wait to try it myself…After all, we live in Bali now and it is a part of the life...

To learn the correct position of hands girls practice with little bowls and fans.

Girls practice wearing sarongs but the dances are performed in spectacular costumes and make up. There are several kinds of dances in Bali (I’ll write about each individually later). All of them require lots of precision as there is no room for improvisation. What’s interesting is the importance of eyes in the dance-very expressive and again-precise.

Legong Dance is an expression of beauty so all the girls take it very seriously...

Amelia is practising her hands positions with a fan...

A little play during the break with her friends from Australia and New Zealand who also joined the class.

Unquestionably, motorbikes are most common and the most convenient transport options in Bali. Everyone rides motorbikes. At first I was quite sceptical about it and in horror watched 5-people family (that’s right!) on one motorbike. I soon discovered that what seemed unusual to me was perfectly normal for the Balinese. As one of the expats living here said: Balinese people are very creative in terms of what can be taken onto the bike. When they figure out how they can take a pig onto the bike they soon discover that they might as well take two. I have seen many things being carried on bikes: from TV, other bikes, sacks of rice, hundreds of eggs, live animals not to mention whole families and very popular here sale representatives. When I thought nothing would surprise me anymore I see a new ‘idea’ on bike. Very entertaining I must say. When short distances are concerned things are being carried on women’s heads. Again, huge creativity in what and how to carry  on one’s head-sometimes stones that must weigh at least 40kg (!).

Anyway, riding motorbike is fun. Below you’ll find several photos-most of them taken from the bikeJ or from the car. These are just few examples of what can be seen on the roads of Bali.

After several days of searching for a house in incredible heat, we finally found what we were looking for! A beautiful 2 bedroom house in Mas village, next to inspiring rice fields, orchids everywhere, fish pond with Lotus flower and the pool. Oh, and the house’s name is Cempaka (it’s a name of a flower or tree rather that grows by the entrance). Every night we are visited by shy geckos making Amelia very happy. Every morning I am woken up by the birds singing shortly before the sunrise. It is my favourite part of day. 

Everyday Balinese women bring canang- gifts for the Gods to our front house. This usually consists of flower petals, and rice on a palm leaf, blessed with holy water and burning incense. These are set above the ground for the smoke of incense to lead it to heaven to Gods. The gifts are also put on the ground for demons and evil ghosts and then ants take away the rice gracefully...

 

Amelia started school. She’s enjoying it very much although it’s very different to what she has used to in Scotland and Poland. Everyday we take her to school on a motorbike-she’s ecstatic about it and about her new helmet.


In beauty may we walk
In beauty may we speak
In beauty may we act
In beauty may we be


With these words Pelangi School students start their day...

Life is goodJ