Journal Entry 5 May 8, 2004

After the monkey trouble we made it to our seats around a massive stone platform just in time for the Kekuk and Fire Dance (my favorite).  Our self-hired guide finding a nice one for us, right up close near the area reserved for the locals.  What could be better than watching 70 half-naked men performing on a striking ancient stage at sunset?  (the answer could be 70 men that aren’t half over 70).  

Anyways, looking to the right were the jutting limestone cliffs dropping off into the beautiful ocean with a most brilliant pink and red sky.  I had so much to look at I didn’t know where to keep my eyes.  Wow talk about a choir of men.  Scantly dressed in black and white sarongs (representing the balance between good and evil) they together made sounds with their voices almost like high pitched drumming or something very rhythmic with the intention of going into a trance.  I think we went into a trance.  Eventually when the moment was right the beautiful Balinese women dressed as deities entered portraying a battle of the gods. Frightening creatures came out to battle; one even leaping into a tree off stage. , looking to the right were the jutting limestone cliffs dropping off into the beautiful ocean with a most brilliant pink and red sky.  I had so much to look at I didn’t know where to keep my eyes.  Wow talk about a choir of men.  Scantly dressed in black and white sarongs (representing the balance between good and evil) they together made sounds with their voices almost like high pitched drumming or something very rhythmic with the intention of going into a trance.  I think we went into a trance.  Eventually when the moment was right the beautiful Balinese women dressed as deities entered portraying a battle of the gods. Frightening creatures came out to battle; one even leaping into a tree off stage. 

As the hour wore on the men kept-on with the chanting sounds, intensifying and becoming more mystical and exciting (I don’t know how they could continue to breath).  Finally when it was very dark, one of the good gods overcame the evil one and showed his power by dancing, jumping and kicking great balls of brush that were set to fire, which was a both exciting and frightening as we were in the front row and could not only feel the heat but flames were kicked near us.  The whole event was both exciting and yet we could sense the very sacredness of it too.  

HERE IS A LINK TO AN EXAMPLE OF THE KECAK DANCE AT THE SAME TEMPLE, ON YOUTUBE  http://youtu.be/vqke2IrdZxQ