Bali has a fascinating culture that is famous world wide. Colorful processions, the 'rattle, glong glong' of the gamelan and the intense devotion to Agama Hindu make Bali a cultural wonderland. The funny thing is Bali is almost a fossilized version of Java. Most of the traditions, the customs, everything from Agama Hindu itself, to the wayang puppets, ceremonial kris (knife), elegant sarongs, originate from Java and some are still made in Java.
Many Balinese have a hard time with this part of their history, that the high caste Balinese themselves, actually came over from Java with the last of the Majapahit empire hundreds of years ago. The language spoken by Balinese high priests, the padanda's is kawi, old Javanese.
A walk past handicraft shops on Jl. Legian in Kuta will take you past carvings, ikat weavings and musical instruments from Sumba, Sumbawa, Flores and Java. Bali is the place where these goods are shipped and where they have their biggest interface with westerners. Feel free to ask a shop attendant where a particular item is from, and to explain the difference between it and ones from other parts of the country.
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