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Touring Bali Includes The Barong and the Rangda

 

The black and white checked cloth is ubiquitous in Bali. This scene greets incoming visitors at the aiport in Depensar.

Touring Bali Includes The Barong and the Rangda

While enjoying a day out in Bali with Bali Bliss Tour, I learned quite a lot about Bali’s culture and history. First, the majority of Balinese are Hindu, and there are temples and offerings everywhere…in that, it reminds me of Thailand. In Bali, deities and shrines are covered in material of black and white checks, and offerings of food are covered by a small ornate umbrellas. Both the good and bad spirits are honored. Good is white, Black is evil and this is because the day is light and the night is dark….the Balinese believe you can’t have one without the other, and the evil must be honored in order to keep it at bay. So fascinating!

Bali Bliss Tour is a tour company dedicated to private and personal tours. My guide for the day, Nyomen, was so knowledgeable! Our first stop was to see the traditional Balinese dance of the Barong and the Rangda, the never ending fight between good and evil. The Barong, a mythical creature resembling a lion or tiger,  is the protective spirit of good. In the dance we first see the arrival of the protector, the Barong, with accompanying monkeys. Later the arrival of the bad spirit, Rangda, brings havoc, and a lot more dancing! The battle between good and evil is never ending.

Enter the Protector Spirit of the Barong
The Mythical Barong.
The Barong is often accompanied by monkeys in the tradition.
The evil spirit, Rangda.
The drama of the dance is undeniable. One doesn’t need to know the story…the pageantry is enough.

The Barong and the Rangda meet.
Fighters of the Good. Notice the black and white checks.

I loved the dance!

Afterward, Nyomen took me to a family run coffee plantation for a tasting. The coffee was delicious!

Ganeshathe remover of obstacles is a Hindu and Buddhist Deity and greeted me at the coffee plantation.
The tasting, and yes, I bought a lot of coffee…and tea…and cocoa!

I will pick up on the tour for Fab Photos Friday! Bali is amazing.

Thank you, Nyomen of Bali Bliss Tours!

 

 

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Tam Warner

Award Winning Travel Journalist and Blogger, writing about Eclectic Travels in the Empty Nest! From scuba to luxury cruises to kayaking to expeditions, Tam is ready to go! Contact me at travelswithtam@gmail.com

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Tam Warner

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