Bali Day 2 - Kecak Dance

I was so tired last night. Roland and Yusri only reached Denpasar about half past nine. After rent a car for 4 days at the airport, we drive straight to Kuta town - Surveying night life. We settled into Legian express in Legian street , Kuta. The lodge is superb. Only 30 USD / night after we told them that we are from Malaysia (normal price is 50 USD/night).

After few pint of beer, I slept while Yusri and Roland went out to club.

I woke up at 10.30 am on the second day. Get some smoke and woke them up. We had breakfast in the hotel. Roland was half death while sipping his cup of coffee.

(A cottage that cost us USD30/ night)

Time is 12pm. To get them ready is just like to wait for a delayed flight. Confirm but slow. After discussion, we decided to visit the biggest hyper market in Bali. Guess what?.. It is Carrefour. WTF, I cant imagine, If anything happened at home and I was needed to go back to KL, the only place in Bali that I visited is the Ngurah Rai Airport and CarreFour.

We had our lunch there. Yusri and Roland were still tired after last night boozzed. I drove them to Nusa Dua. Looking for hotel to settle in on the second night.

After check in , we decided to look for Kecak Dance performance. We drove straight to Garuna Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Nusa Dua. Kecak dance is a form of Balinese music drama originated in the 1930s and is performed primarily by men. Also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant the piece, performed by a circle of 100 or more performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting "chak" and throwing up their arms, depicts a battle from the Ramayana where monkey-like Venara help Prince Rama fight againts the evil king Ravana.

(Group of man chanting "Chak Chak Chak" through out the show)

What makes the Kecak special is that the accompanying music is provided by the human voice, the gamelan , a choir of a hundred men or more sitting in concentric circles, swaying, standing up, lying prone as the story develops.Amongst the swaying masses the voices of the storytellers can be heard telling the unfolding tale.

(White mascot representing good spirit)

The story is a fragment from the Ramayana, the Hindu epic which finds its expression in many forms, not only in dance, but also in painting and carving. Prince Rama, heir to the throne of the kingdom of Ayodya, and his wife Sita have been banished from the kingdom by King Dasarata as a result of trickery by Rama’s stepmother. The story begins with the arrival of Rama and Sita accompanied by Rama’s brother Laksmana in the forest of Dandaka.

The trio have been observed by the demon Rahwana, King of Alengka, who lusts after the beautiful Sita. Rahwana sends his prime minister Marica to try and isolate Sita so that Rahwana can kidnap her. Marica's magical powers turn him into a golden deer and he enters the forest and when the Sita sees the golden deer she is so enchanted by it that she asks Rama to capture it for her. Rama chases after the deer leaving his brother Laksamana behind with strict instuction to protec Sita. When Sita thinks she hears a cry for help from Rama she forces Laksamana to go after Rama by accusing him of cowardice and he goes off to help Rama with great reluctance after drawing a magic circle on the ground and telling Sita the she should not under any circumstance step out side the circle .

(A black mascot to represent evil spirit)

Sita, left alone in the forest becomes an easy prey to the trickery of Rahwana who has disguised himself has an old periest and bags Sita for some food as he is cold and hungry. Sita falls for for his trick, she steps outside the circle to give the old priest some food and rahwana grabs her and takes her to his palace.Once back in his palace in Alengka, Rahwana tries everything he can to seduce Sita without any luck.

(Rahmana enter the stage)

In the palace of Alengka, Sita pours out her heart about her cruel fate to Rahwana's niece Trijata, when Hanoman appears telling her that hi is Rama's envoy and proving it by showing her Rama's ring. Sita gives Hanoman a hairpin to show she is still alive and sand him back to Rama with a massage to come to her rescue.

In the meantime Rama and Laksamana accompanied by Tualen are wandering in the forest looking for Sita when Meganada, Rahwana's son, appeares and engages Rama and Laksamana in Battle. Meganada uses his magic powers and shoots of an arrow which magically turns in to a dragon which overpowers Rama and Laksamana and they are trussed up in ropes.

(Sugriwa King of the Monkeys rescuing Sita)

The bird Garuda, King of all the bird, a good friend of King Dasarata, has observed trouble Rama is in from high up in the sky and comes to the rescue freeing the brothers from the ropes. Rama and Laksamana continue on their way to rescue Sita and are joined by Sugriwa, king of the monkeyes, and his monkeys army.

(The Actor on fire demonstration after the show)

This fragmen of the Ramayana come to an end with the bittle between Sugriwa and his Monkeys Army and Meganada and his Demon Army which ends with the defeat of Meganada.

(Roland with the the actors)

At almost 10 pm , we left Garuna Wisnu Kencana Cultural park to get back to the hotel.