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Sorted all the shopping from Pepitos amongst the growing mounds of giveaways and shopping in the room already. Sure that the thought of what we were doing with kilos and kilos of rice plus cartons of noodles and cooking oil etc in a 5 * hotel boggled the poor cleaners mind everyday.
Luckily Hannah had a sleep after her TWO massages in the aftie ( last year couldnt get her to have one now have to beat her to it)so no problem going out later .
Picked up by Made and just his youngest daughter as his wife and older daughter in to visit his wifes rele's in Denpasar.
Parked right in front of Stadium sports bar at around 7 pm. Didnt look too busy on the streets and as usual not sure exactly what time the Ogoh Ogoh parade was going to start, so found a spot to sit on the kerb across from Ramayana as the street down to Mataharis was blocked off. Within half an hr quite dark as majority of businesses were closed and crowds increased.
Really didnt know what to expect. But eventually hearing the murmur in the crowded street knew things were about to start. By this time we had lost our good possie with the crowd here now being very sardine like and the temperature feeling like it was climbing and of course all the drink bottles empty ,what with people curb to fence all excited.
The first bit was orderly and parade like with mainly women and children carrying flares followed by a Gamelan orchestra and then the first sighting of the effigy of an evil spirit first sedately carried then lifted by the men on the large bamboo platform up above their heads until they were almost equal to where we were positioned and then the bizarre bit began... The effigies were then ran at full pelt almost, twirling around and around in a circle and up and down when they reached the corner way above everyones heads. Lots of cheering and clapping accompanied all of this by the Balinese. I think we were all very quiet transfixed,just being in awe of it all..
As i was very keen to get some photos missed a few bits of the parade when Hannah said a few had lost their heads( the effigies that is)f from all the movement. As it was so dark was hard to focus the camersa and had to be careful when they came into view that you were well off the roadway otherwise could have had massive problems if one of the platforms connected with you when going by at an alarming speed. Was a bit nervous about Hannah as she wanted to be at the front but bit like a domino effect as one person moved everyone had to to avoid injury.
Some of the effigies were absolutely huge the size of a small truck and the artistic talent amazing. Apparently they take around 4-6 weeks for a village area to complete one, hard to imagine after all this effort majority are burnt.
Think the parade went for approx 1 hr. A few were taken through to the cemetery and burnt that night.
Hannah made the comment " its like the Xmas pageant mum only freaky" . Freaky definately being the word.
Dropped back at the hotel with the intent on having a full day at the pool for Nyepi Day the next day to work on the tan with our much awaited pile of mags to read...
Well so much for a pool day it absolutely bucketed down and was windy as well . Hannah went to kids club and i just did not much. read a book etc
Come that night eerily dark. Bali is usually not that bright anyway but this was pitch black and wet. Ordered room service which took about an hr with the hotels apology. Felt sorry for the poor room service people delivering meals in the dark ,raining and slippery. Just watched a couple of DVDS not that they were the latest since all the DVD shops had been shut.
Next day awake early ,ready to go as Nyepi finishes at 6am, to be greeted once again with a wet very windy day.. Have never seen such windy weather there with huge tides so much so that rubble had ended up in the hotel pool.Palm trees down etc The locals also said that this was not usual think it was also remnants from the cyclones off aust. Also the beach seemed to have collected another thousand odd thongs. Balis like the the place thongs go like the lost socks in the wash.
Decided the only thing for it was retail therapy
Ended up at Centro with Hannah having a play at Amazone and me watching the huge waves breaking on Centros steps with a coffee and amazing views to keep me entertained..
Also discovered a nice little cafe called Celcius which is inside Centro with great views and a nice snack type menu . They have those small platforms with the cushions on the floor of which you settle in nicely ,could easily had a shopping nap.
Had to buy a few kids pressies so stopped at Osh Kosh as they had a sale Buy 2 Get 1 item free which was quite good value.
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