Taking a Vacation to Bali - Cultural Highlights

31 March 2006, 08:14:05 (1373 clicks)

If you're considering going on a vacation to Bali, one of the "must-do" things is to check out the interesting cultural sites and forms of entertainment that are available to tourists. This article will spotlight a few of them so you'll know what to do on your next vacation.

First, you should check out Balinese dance. This is a highly developed art form in Bali, and it's sort of the opposite of American Jazz - instead of being based on improvisation, it is extremely ritualistic and the moves are memorized and unwavering. It requires intense coordination on the part of the dancers and can be an amazing sight to witness. The dancing is accompanied by gamelan music, a sort of traditional village band that plays in the background.

Second, you'll want to see if there are any festivals or public rituals going on related to the Balinese version of Hindu. They often have many publicly accessible celebrations that you can attend, and it's a great way to soak in the culture. In fact, many of the performances are deliberately secular in nature, so you won't have to worry about intruding on someone else's religious practices.

Third, you ought to check out the local painting styles. Art is ubiquitous in Bali - from the lowest peasant to the upper crust, the Balinese have their own unique painting style and there are many excellent works of art available to view or even purchase. The art doesn't just stop with paintings - they do traditional masks, various other adornments and jewelry, and some interesting statues that you'll want to take a look at. -Teve Torbes