Here is an interesting piece of writing on Balinese Giant Demon Puppet (ogoh-ogoh) taken from Scott A Johnsen’s thesis which is entitled From Royal House to Nation: The Construction of Hinduism and Balinese Ethnicity In Indonesia.

Another aspect of the ogoh-ogoh debate having implications for the use of custom / culture / religion categories concerns the fact that some makers of these figures include realistic genitalia in their depictions of demons. A massive government campaign was underway during my fieldwork to stamp out pornographic video CDs and other examples of porno. Hindu Council officials were instructing gathered local officials that ogoh-ogoh should not be made with genitals, and furthermore that this was the responsibility of the entire village (desa), not simply the ward (banjar) making the ogoh-ogoh. I only saw one example of a “porno” ogoh-ogoh, in a village in Gianyar; however, this was well into the campaign to educate the public.

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Asri Jewel Villas & Spa, a unique jewel in the multifaceted archipelago of Indonesia located at the south of magnificent hill side of Bali, the island of the gods, in Ungasan, overlooking Jimbaran Bay, Benoa Harbor and the city of Kuta, Bali.

Asri Jewel Villas & Spa, uniquely positioned as Bali ’s new Boutique Villa and Day Spa destination, is located on the idylic island cliff of Ungasan Village. Minutes away yet world apart, it offers guests the peace and tranquility of lush garden paradise experience.

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Dusk for Balinese is considered the most dangerous time during the whole day especially around 6 or 7 PM. These hours are known as Sandhi Kala. The word “sandhi” means “secret” and the word “kala” means ‘time”; so “sandhi kala” means “a time full of secret”. Full of unknown things that cannot be seen or felt by common sense.

This time is believed to be the transition between day and night, the time when nocturnal spirits, bhuta kala, and other supernatural creatures come from their hiding place and enjoying their time since the night is believed to be the time for nocturnal creatures to do all their activities. It is believed that the spirits and bhuta kala are in high spirit during the sandi kala, in a magically dangerous day such as Kajeng Kliwon (Friday the 13th a la Balinese), a set of segehan offering is given to the Bhuta Kala during this time and since it is believed that the bhuta kala can only move in straight line and can not turn sharply to left or right there is a great chance for a human wander around during the sandhi kala to collide with the bhuta kala.

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Situated in a small village of Pejeng, Banjar Pande Nyembulan, just outside of Ubud center, Villa Ahn is perfectly far away from hustle and bustle. Villa Ahn is set amongst the uninterrupted rice fields at the front, left and right side, affording superb views and the sound of the enchanting Gamelan at night.

Goa Gajah the famous elephant cave is only 5 minutes drive, while the Ubud market is accessible within 15 minutes, and the Bali ’s International Airport can be reached in around 50 minutes from Villa Ahn.

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Speaking about monster or scary creatures, Egyptians have their mummy, Pennsylvanians boast of their Dracula, but what do Balinese have? Since Leak is technically a human who change their shape into various other scary creatures or weird things and can assume their human form again when their time is over so it cannot be categorized as monster or scary creatures and the last choice for the equivalence of monster and scary creature in Balinese culture is Bhuta Kala.

An exorcist priest destroy Bhuta Kala and hobglobins by meditating. I Rena, Batuan (c. 1940), China ink and watercolour on paper, 25 x 38 cm. Basle, llc 16459 (E. Schlager Beguest, 1971).

Though philosophically Bhuta Kala is defined as negative force of nature not necessarily monsters or scary creatures but most Balinese believe that Bhuta Kala has scary and weird form. There are Bhuta Kalas with monstrous eyes, small heads, large stomach, flaming hairs, bald heads, some consisting of only right or left side of the body, flying head (begoong), of one arm with a face (tangan-tangan), a trunk with a face (lawean), a knee (katugtug), a leg with a face (enjek pupu) or flaying entrails (basang-basang).

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Villa 8 Bali is ideally situated in Basangkasa Village, Seminyak, on the northern boundaries of Kuta. Bali ’s most popular restaurants, shops and beaches are an easy walk away for the Villa 8 Bali guests; leaving Kuta ’s busy tourist atmosphere behind. Villa 8 Bali is only 25 minutes to the Airport and 25 minutes to the nearest Golf Course.

Although located close to the beach and walking distance from restaurants and shops, Villa 8 Bali still envelops tranquility, away from the crowds. The well-appointed and designed Villa 8 Bali concept allows families and business people to enjoy wide, open-plan living with all the comforts of home; combined with that special Balinese touch.

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