Bali, culture

[update: Hindu story, page 2]

So, what is Bali about besides Hinduism?  Well, the Dutch invaded some time ago from the north at the port of Singaraja.  So, how about a tour to the Royal Palace of the king, destroyed by the conquerors, and rebuilt in 1929.

a small section of the palace

Then let's have a chat with a Hindu guru, Ketut Suradnya

Ketut Suradnya, keeper of the temple

as he explains the symbolism of the “temple of the dead” once destroyed, again by the Dutch during the same invasion, then later rebuilt.

Hindu story, page 1

Hindu story, page 2

Then we cap it off with visit to a brass gong and Metallophone maker.  Pak Gede performs (and he really knows what he is doing) on the metallophone as we observe the making of the gong.

Pak Gede on the vibes

I visited a similar operation in Java 30 years ago and have always thought that it could have been the last of a dying art.  The art lives on.