Why You Should Add Bali to Your Round the World Trip

by aseper | December 21st, 2011   Tweet

The entire region of Southeast Asia is a hotbed for backpackers and those on long-term trips, and Bali is at or near the top of the list. And why wouldn’t it be? The beaches, the rice terraces, the temples, the food, the drinks, and the super cheap prices have travelers coming back for more. No matter what type of trip you’re on, adding an island paradise is always a good idea. If you are planning a RTW trip, then it makes perfect sense to add Bali to your itinerary.

While Bali is definitely the most touristy part of Indonesia, there’s a reason for that. Unfortunately because of the popularity, there are those travelers who leave Bali off their list. Long-term, RTW travelers love to find new and off-the-beaten-path locations, and even if you are not the type who likes super touristy destinations, there are plenty of ways to experience the Indonesian culture in a place like Bali.

Our sister site over on BootsnAll has been putting together city guides that focus on long-term, RTW travel. They have been updating, revamping, and adding tips and advice for getting the most indie experience out of a trip to any city. If you are thinking about adding Bali to a RTW trip, then it’s a good idea to head on over to Boots and see what they have to say.

Photo credit:1

var OutbrainPermaLink="http://www.baliblog.com/travel-tips/why-you-should-add-bali-to-your-round-the-world-trip.html";if(typeof(OB_Script)!='undefined'){OutbrainStart();}else{var OB_PlugInVer="7.0.0.0_Regular";;var OB_raterMode="stars";var OB_recMode="strip";var OBITm="1308063054";var OB_Script=true;var OB_langJS="http://widgets.outbrain.com/lang_en.js";document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='http://widgets.outbrain.com/OutbrainRater.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));}

World Mask Festival to be Held in Bali

by Barrie | March 28th, 2011   Tweet

In Bahasa Indonesia they are known as topeng and indeed there are quite a variety and colour as well as expression to be found in Bali. Over the decades I have collected around sixty masks from across the archipelago and, if you are a collector of cultural items then there are many places to seek these out in Bali. In particular around the areas of Ubud.

Alternatively, you could attend the upcoming World Mask Festival which is to be held later on this year in the Buleleng region during November. The proposed dates are the 23rd-26th of that month. For those of you that have visited the Bali Arts Festival you will know of the cultural significance of topeng in dance drama.

Topeng is an Indonesian form of dance drama in which one or more dancers wear masks and perform ancient stories, often concerning ancient or mythical kings and heroes. It has its origins in the 17th century. Topeng dances are most prevalent in Bali and Java but are also found in other Indonesian islands such as Madura (off the coast of East Java). The dance is accompanied by gamelan music.

It is believed that the use of masks is related to the cult of the ancestors, which considered dancers the interpreters of the gods. Topeng performances open with a series of non-speaking, dancing masked characters that may not be related to the story that will be performed.

The (International Mask Culture and Arts Organization or IMACO regard masks as a cultural part of any culture and therefore support any mask festival occurring in the world.