Contrary to popular beliefs spread by travel guidebooks,
not all of night life activities in Bali are the result
of foreign tourists. Two spectacular night time activities
that are on the opposite end of a spectrum are distintly
Balinese:
- The Kecak Dance
Also dubbed by Westerners as the Monkey Dance, the Kecak
Dance is a spectacular coreographic accomplishment that
showcase another aspect of Balinese artistic excellence.
One hundred or so bare-chested men sit down on the ground
surrounding a bonfire or a fire made from coconut husks,
led by a priest or a female dancer in the middle. The
only music to accompany them are the beats of their palms
clapping or hitting their chests, their thighs, or other
parts of their bodies, rhythmically accompanied by shouting
and chanting. The dancers move in unison, creating a spectacular
sequence of hands stretched out, pulled in, rested on
the shoulder of the next person, and waists gyrated left
and right. All in a dizzying tempo.
- Wayang
Kulit
Or shadow
puppet. Typically performed very late at night, a
Wayang Kulit theatrical performance can last until morning.
The night performance of wayang kulit is usually considered
strictly entertainment, as opposed to a day performance
which usually serves strict religious purpose. Temple
festivals and other ceremonies can sometimes be a good
place to find a wayang performance.
Balinese
dances are sometimes performed at night; regularly
scheduled performances are available throughout the
year.
Besides those two activities, night life as commonly known
in the West also exists in Bali, especially in Kuta. For
you people-watchers, the cafes, pubs, and discotheques lining
the streets of Kuta and Legian are definitely the place
to be and to be seen. Pub crawls can require many nights,
and the varieties beat even the wildest college town you
would ever know. So, if your idea of fun consists of nightly
pub crawls and daily sun bathing to cure the hangover, stop
simply stay in Kuta, day and night. You won't be disappointed.
Up North near Singaraja, Lovina Beach also has its own
collection of pubs, restaurants, and discotheques. The environment
is nice, friendly, and relaxed, certainly not as hectic
as Kuta. And midnight dipping into the tropical water is
also something to experience up there...
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