Lost In Bali - Dancing WIth The Garuda

"Sorry miss, I think your baggage might had gone into the plane after this flight. We can't claim it is a missing baggage until 24 hours.", claimed the airline ground staff upon our arrival at Bali Airport

(music: Usher's OMG!)

So there we were, facing the prospect that my girlfriend's baggage might gone lost or misplaced into other flights. So much for the "convenient" online check in and baggage drop-off booth which caters for all destination baggage. Don't be surprise your baggage made a half round world trip before being handed back to you 1 month later.

Moral of the story:

1. Avoid online check in if possible.

2. If you do online check in, avoid going to drop off baggage counter. Go to the normal check in counter. If they shoo you off to the drop off baggage counter, ask them whether they can guarantee your baggage won't got mixed up by the baggage handling crew inside.

3. Please remove all your previous airline sticker! Don't be surprise your bag got into Tiger Airway when you are going Kota Bharu by Airasia!

Last year, my trip to Bali was one of those resolution in my list. As usual, from my experience of self-tour -yet-guided, we engaged a guide in Bali through Internet. Mr. Yande, our guide sent me a text to inform me that he was waiting at the lounge when I switched on my phone inside the terminal. All this while, Yande communicates with me via email. With him embracing the latest technology of Blackberry, his response was almost instant. Getting a quotation from him was brisk and reasonable. With him being first on the list of google search for "Bali Tour Guide", it not difficult to make him the choice for most the people like me. A couple of email exchanged coupled with his generosity, a deal was struck.

Once dropping us in our hotel, I met up with my friends who arrived one day earlier. To cover the lost time we had in the airport,we headed to the Garuda Wisnu Kencana or in short GWK.

"Huh,why are we going to IWK (which stand for Indah Water Consortium)?", I looked at Han Ching with a frown eyes making sure that I didn't heard wrongly.

GWK is a private cultural park. It is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu and Garuda, the mythical bird who is his companion. The statue of Vishnu is 23 m high, although the original plan was for a 146 meter. The park is located at a a limestone quarry area. This place is still being developed and came into some financial problem recently. The idea to build the gigantic statue was not without controversy, and religious authorities on the island complained that its massive size might disrupt the spiritual balance of the island, and that its commercial nature was inappropriate.

After having lunch there, we made our way to Uluwatu. Moving around with our guide's Avanzza car was comfortable you see. Fits perfectly for a small group of 5 people like us. Our guide brought us to a scenic location which oversees the Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple.

The ancient Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple, dedicated to the spirits of the sea, is perched on steep cliffs. Built in the eleventh century, the temple is one of the oldest and most important temples in Bali.. To me, Uluwatu Temple is a classic expression of ancient Bali in a spectacular setting, high above the crashing waves. This is one of the oldest and not to be missed temples in Bali.

I was told there will be a Kechak show at 6pm. The cost for one person was 70,000 rupiah. I was a bit reluctant  at first, but after much persuasion and deep thinking, I gave it a go. After all, I came all the way and to have regret of missing out such event was unforgivable. And I'm glad I made the right choice. To be part of the hundred audience sitting rubbing each other's shoulders was truly enjoyable evening. The fine weather was on our sides too.

Kechak also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, is performed by a circle of 150 or more performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting "chak" and throwing up their arms, depicts a battle of how Ramayana king and the monkey-like Vanara helped Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana who kidnapped his wife.

With a group of chest bared male dancer entering the tarmac, I was treated with the torrential machine-gun -type chants of "chak,chak,chak,chak"

It made me wonder how may "chak" they had chanted during the whole show.  We were already warned by the menace posed by the monkeys in Uluwatu, but the audience were shock to find one dancer who impersonates a white monkey  (Vanara) in the show popped up in the middle of no where; that drew some laughter among us. I have been always against the idea of sitting in front in any show because of fear the performers will choose you as volunteer for any magic show. Luckily, during this show they don't have such slot. However, my advice for you if you are going for any Kechak dances and so be it that you have no choice but to sit in front.

Cover your face with handkerchief against the saliva bullets!