At first it looked like it might rain. But then the mood lightened and it was a bright and crisp day. As I walked down the path to Cristina’s house, it hit me. I will never walk this path again. I entered the archway where her helpers, Ibu Ketut and Pak Made had decorated with coconut fronds. Two big “offerings” of fruit and flowers flanked her doorway.

Rio had printed up a lovely photo of Cristina by a river holding her favorite mask, Dalem the king and hung it on the outside door. She was looking up at us. I walked into her living space and there was another photo of her looking out to the actual river and the view outside, in profile with the mask side by side with her, in profile As well.

The kitchen was filled with coffee, tea and Balinese cakes that Asri had organized. I started Working on a “buku kenangan” or memorial book (thank you, Tom Hunter for that idea!), filling it with photos from Cristina’s albums. Everyone who came signed it, saying good bye to Cristina for The last time.

The Gambuh troupe filtered in, we could see them coming down the path carrying their instruments, all the Men in long blue t-shirts and kain (sarongs). They set up the instruments and were given coffee and cakes.

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There are lot of dances and drama performances that you can enjoy in Bali, if you just know where and when they are staged. The best way to find a free traditional dance or drama performance is to find a calendar of cultural event. There is always a performance of traditional dance or drama in the anniversary of a big temple. So all you have to do is check a calendar of event, go to a temple at the date of the temple anniversary, and wait for the show.

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Is your day incomplete without a shopping trip? Then Bali is the vacation spot for you! There are large markets in all of the bigger villages where you can buy just about anything your heart desires, from sarongs to jewelry, furniture to statues, little gift items to new bed frames…there is a Bali market for everything. Prices are great but if you want to bargain for a better deal go right ahead. Unlike the fixed price stores, vendors are willing to deal in most market shops. And bargaining can be half the fun. Early morning is the best time for a good price as the first sale of the day brings luck.

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Cockfights are staged in Bali on auspicious days in conjunction with Hindu ceremonies that require a sacrificial blood offering. The spilt blood is combined with a series of complicated purification offerings to appease the negative forces of the underworld. The Balinese believe that by performing such rites they are satisfying the hunger of the evil spirits that often disturb man and his environment. Chickens are used as they are one of the most accessible creatures from the animal kingdom that roam around village compounds with relative freedom in search of food scraps.

photo taken from flickr.com/photos/jtindall/

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The sarong has become a popular symbol of the island of Bali. It is considered appropriate ceremonial attire for followers of the Hindu faith as well as a form of versatile resort-wear for international travellers’.

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A warung is an Indonesian term for a small roadside stall that sells snacks, drinks and convenient household items. However, in Bali a warung is also the local coffee house, corner store and community meeting spot for neighbours to sit and exchange the latest news or gossip.

Every village has at least a dozen warung’s that serve the daily needs of locals and anyone else who happens to pass by. Some warung’s are crude makeshift structures of bamboo and oddments of timber, while others may be a more permanent construction built as an afterthought on the outer perimeter of the family compound.

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