Whilst in Ubud, I had planned beforehand to visit the Masks and Puppets Museum, always being fascinated by puppets as a child and into my adulthood, you can image the thrill and pleasure I got from this visit!

EXHIBITIONS SPACES
The collections of the House of Masks and Puppets are housed in four different traditional Javanese antique houses or commonly known as Joglo. These unique Joglos are mostly originated from East and Middle Java. They are made out of good quality teak wood and have been put up to help keep their preservation.
All the exhibits are displayed and curated in English as well as Balinese.

The collection of the House of Masks and Puppets currently consists of approximately 7000 items, of which 1300 are masks from Indonesia, Africa, and Japan; whilst the other 5700 are puppets from Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Although the House of Masks and Puppets has several objects from other countries, the collection mostly consists of items from various regions in Indonesia. The acquisition of various masks and puppets from other countries is intended for additional learning, appreciation, and understanding of other cultures.

I have split the collection as in their displays in four houses. From full human sized costumes and masks, to face only masks, to shadow and screen puppets and finally wooden puppets!

I hope you enjoy the collection.

Whilst in Ubud, I had planned beforehand to visit the Masks and Puppets Museum, always being fascinated by puppets as a child and into my adulthood, you can image the thrill and pleasure I got from this visit!

EXHIBITIONS SPACES
The collections of the House of Masks and Puppets are housed in four different traditional Javanese antique houses or commonly known as Joglo. These unique Joglos are mostly originated from East and Middle Java. They are made out of good quality teak wood and have been put up to help keep their preservation.
All the exhibits are displayed and curated in English as well as Balinese.

The collection of the House of Masks and Puppets currently consists of approximately 7000 items, of which 1300 are masks from Indonesia, Africa, and Japan; whilst the other 5700 are puppets from Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Although the House of Masks and Puppets has several objects from other countries, the collection mostly consists of items from various regions in Indonesia. The acquisition of various masks and puppets from other countries is intended for additional learning, appreciation, and understanding of other cultures.

I have split the collection as in their displays in four houses. From full human sized costumes and masks, to face only masks, to shadow and screen puppets and finally wooden puppets!

I hope you enjoy the collection.

Whilst at the GWK Park I was able to attend a performance of Balinese dance. In three main chapters, this is no.3 of the three. I considered them to long to put together for YouTube purposes. I hope you enjoy.

Below is some information about Balinese dancing;

Balinese dance is a variety of dances originating from the island of Bali.
Balinese dance does not always depend on the storyline. The main goal of Balinese dancers is to dance each stage of movement and sequence with full expression. The beauty of Balinese dance can be seen in the abstract and beautiful movements. The most famous Balinese dances include Pendet, Gambuh, Baris, Sanghyang and Legong.

Balinese dances are mostly religious in meaning. Since the 1950s, with the rapid development of tourism, several dances have been performed at activities outside of religious events with some modifications.

Balinese dance is one of the attractions of tourists to come to this island of the gods. In this video, the Balinese dance in GWK shows a dance that we took pictures of at a tourist spot known as Garuda Wisnu Kencana or GWK.

Whilst at the GWK Park I was able to attend a performance of Balinese dance. In three main chapters, this is no.2 of the three. I considered them to long to put together for YouTube purposes. I hope you enjoy.

Below is some information about Balinese dancing;

Balinese dance is a variety of dances originating from the island of Bali.
Balinese dance does not always depend on the storyline. The main goal of Balinese dancers is to dance each stage of movement and sequence with full expression. The beauty of Balinese dance can be seen in the abstract and beautiful movements. The most famous Balinese dances include Pendet, Gambuh, Baris, Sanghyang and Legong.

Balinese dances are mostly religious in meaning. Since the 1950s, with the rapid development of tourism, several dances have been performed at activities outside of religious events with some modifications.

Balinese dance is one of the attractions of tourists to come to this island of the gods. In this video, the Balinese dance in GWK shows a dance that we took pictures of at a tourist spot known as Garuda Wisnu Kencana or GWK.

Whilst at the GWK Park I was able to attend a performance of Balinese dance. In three main chapters, this is no.1 of the three. I considered them to long to put together for YouTube purposes. I hope you enjoy.

Below is some information about Balinese dancing;

Balinese dance is a variety of dances originating from the island of Bali.
Balinese dance does not always depend on the storyline. The main goal of Balinese dancers is to dance each stage of movement and sequence with full expression. The beauty of Balinese dance can be seen in the abstract and beautiful movements. The most famous Balinese dances include Pendet, Gambuh, Baris, Sanghyang and Legong.

Balinese dances are mostly religious in meaning. Since the 1950s, with the rapid development of tourism, several dances have been performed at activities outside of religious events with some modifications.

Balinese dance is one of the attractions of tourists to come to this island of the gods. In this video, the Balinese dance in GWK shows a dance that we took pictures of at a tourist spot known as Garuda Wisnu Kencana or GWK.

During my stay in Ubud, I took the morning to walk along the Camphuan Ridge walk. A walk along a ridge that lifts you up above the rice fields and surrounding valley.

The length of the Campuhan Ridge Walk is ~2km (~1.2 miles) from start to end. It follows a palm-tree lined paved walkway up over the hillside and will take ~30 minutes one way (if you don’t stop to take in the view and snap some photos, which of course I did!).

There is no option to make this walk into a loop walk, and you will need to double back on the same path used on the way. The Campuhan Ridge Walk is an easy-moderate walk, with some gentle inclines up over the hilltop. Although paved, it can be a little uneven as not all of the paving is level, Otherwise I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of the path.

We stopped at the end where there are a few cafe’s. And took in a fresh coconut drink before returning to Ubud town.

Certainly, was a lovely walk and quite popular with expats and Balinese.

Please be aware that this video was taken during the performance, by hand without tripod. Taken during my visit to Ubud -Bali in July 2023

I am not a videographer, but a photographer who occasionally takes video.

You will see four set pieces by the Chandra Mati Ladies Orchestra and Dance Troupe.
These dancers are starting training from the age of 3 years old. Learning the complex hand and eye movements in tandem with their body and feet.

It was a fantastic experience of Balinese dancing that I had to share with anyone who is interested.

Instrumentalia “Kebyar Ding Sempale”

is an expression of heartfelt joy communicated in the form of melody and rhythm and extremely dynamic performance. This musical calls upon and is supported by the glorious sounds of the Gamelan Gong Kebyar with chorus. This piece was composed for Chandra Wati Group.

Puspa Wresti Welcome Dance

This dance derives from the ritual dance: Pendet dance. Symbolizing of gratitude, respect and joy when welcoming the presence of gods who descend from khayangan (realm of gods) . a number of young girls in this Panyembrama represent member of the dance and music troupe to welcome the audience with deep appreciation and peace.

Cendrawasih Dance

Cendrawasih is the beautiful bird from Papua island. It is also known as a bird of paradise. This choreography is about them having mate ritual.

Rabbit Dance

This is the new dance choreography that portrays of the behaviour of the rabbit. This is performed by younger dancers.
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During my very recent visit to Bali, I visited Ulawatu Temple. Whilst there we managed to get tickets for the famous Fire Show.

After having waiting for several hours, and in the pouring rain, we were seated in the amphitheatre at Ulawatu to watch the performance of the kecak fire dance.

For me the sound of a 50 strong male choir, creating a “cak” in different tones and keys was a new experience. This performance did not disappoint on any level, from the costumes to the fine but deliberate dance movements narrating the story from the Ramayana. Not only a challenge to photograph, but to try and watch and immerse oneself in the whole experience.

The Story and Elements of the Kecak Dance;
The Kecak dance is performed by more than a dozen dancers; in fact, it might contain the most dancers on stage at any one time of all of Bali’s famous dances. The choir group consists of 50 or more male dancers who perform very basic routines. The main dancers, who play the most significant roles and perform countless dance routines, typically include around 10 to 15 dancers.
Credit to :Bali life on the Island Now for the above piece.

Although I only spent a short spell here before making the onward journey to Ulawatu I managed to Get some beautiful photos of this wonderful beach. Which I would have loved to spend more time at. Another day!

A popular beach destination located on the island of Bali, Indonesia. It is sometimes known as “Pantai Pandawa” in the local language. Here’s some information about this beautiful beach:

Location: Pandawa Beach is situated in the southern part of Bali, approximately 3-4 kilometers southwest of Nusa Dua and about 15 kilometers from Kuta. The beach is tucked away behind high limestone cliffs, giving it a secluded and picturesque setting.

Scenery and Features: The beach is known for its stunning white sand and crystal-clear blue waters, making it an idyllic spot for swimming, sunbathing, and water activities. The surrounding cliffs offer not only a scenic view but also protection from the wind, making Pandawa Beach an excellent choice for a relaxing day by the sea.

Pandawa Beach is relatively less crowded compared to some other famous beaches in Bali, which adds to its charm and tranquility. Additionally, it is lined with numerous small warungs (local eateries) that serve various Indonesian delicacies and refreshments, allowing visitors to enjoy a beachside meal.

Activities: Besides swimming and sunbathing, Pandawa Beach offers opportunities for water sports like snorkeling, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Many visitors also choose to take leisurely walks along the shoreline, taking in the picturesque scenery and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

Accessibility: The beach used to be relatively inaccessible due to the cliffs that surrounded it, but a road was constructed, making it easier for tourists to reach Pandawa Beach. There is a small entrance fee to access the area.

Overall, Pandawa Beach is a beautiful and serene destination, perfect for those seeking a more tranquil beach experience on the island of Bali.

During my recent stay in Bali, I took time out to visit an Orchid Gardens, Duta Orchid Gardens just on the outskirts of Denpasar, in Bali.

I took many photos of the beautiful Orchids to share with you. I hope you enjoy them. Below is a small description of how Duta Orchid Garden came about, courtesy of their own web site.

Duta Orchid Gardens:
Begining with a fondness of plants and an interest of orchids, Ni Wayan Sri Laba started a hobby as a collector of many kinds of native and hybrid orchids from Indonesia. In pursuit of this hobby and the desire to develop native orchids from Indonesia, an idea emerged to create a showroom named Duta Orchid for development and sales.

This totally affected in orchids market in Bali because it developed rapidly and caused many people to become curious about orchids. In order to introduce all about orchids world to the society which can be entertaining and educating Ni Wayan Sri Laba built a beautiful garden where many people started their orchids world called “Duta Orchid Garden”.

During my recent visit to Bali (two weeks ago at the time of writing) whilst staying in Sanur, I visited this old, abandoned theme park.

Taken over by the local council after failing to even complete, it now sits idle with all traces of attractions removed (for safety reasons) leaving only some derelict buildings on site.

These buildings along with the park itself have attracted many street artists, experienced and not so much. Creating a huge outdoor informal gallery of art. I was told by the ticket man on the gate (yes there is one) that once a year there is a big event when a lot of artists come together to produce new murals.

I have included some photos of the park landscape to give this area context.
Literally a stones throw away from the Black volcanic beach of Keramas. (I will be making a slideshow/video of that also very soon, so please subscribe to get notifications).

SO sit back and enjoy some rather different street art from my other videos. and thank you for watching!

Music free under creative commons licence from You Tube Music Library
Title: The Stoic & The Sailor by Unicorn Heads