Getting ready for Ogah Ogah in Kuta Bali
Today I went for a breakfast cake at Cafe Moka with Ron and Tina and helped them return their motorbike to the shop on Jalan Dhyana Pura which Mick had suggested.
This is their last day here and they are swimming in the pool at Bali Mystic hotel in Seminyak. My friend Yumi is taking them to Denpasar to buy sarongs for friends.
Tomorrow is the Ogah Ogah festival where all villages of Bali make a huge monster which they wheel round the village to scare away evil spirits. The biggest parade is in Denpasar and the Kuta one is big too. I will check out the Kuta one with Yumi. Tina and Ron will be gone by then and it will be start of an enforced break for me.
The day after Ogah Ogah is called Nyepi Day and is the Balinese day of silence in which the whole island comes to a standstill. Nyepi day is a day of introspection where everyone is required to keep noise to a minimun, keep lights off, tv’s off. No shops or businesses are open, no work can be done and you are not allowed out of your house / hotel. All flights from the airport are blocked for 24 hours, Bali really comes to a standstill.
Most foreigners either go to a big hotel ( they can operate as normal inside the building ) or leave the island for a while. Mick is leaving for Japan today. I think I’ll stay at home and read some books. Have to remember to stock up with some food and do my first cooking since I came over.
What happens if you go out? The local banjar ( local residents association who marshall religious events ) will come and round you up. Same for noise or lights.
I think it’s cool that the Balinese are so into their customs that nothing stands in the way. However, I wonder how much money this little day off costs, with tourists avoiding Bali for this period.
Someone was telling me that after Ogah Ogah the evil spirits get scared away and then return. Since everyone is quiet and no lights are on the evil spirits pass by. Not sure whether this is true or not.
During Nyepi, observant Balinese cannot eat for 24 hours, though a lot do, and sex is banned. All in all not a very fun time if you’re a tourist.
The Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta offering a Nyepi package (Food, drink deals and room) with the tagline ‘Celebrate The Silence’.
I’ll do my celebrating the night before.
By Nick | Permalink
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Comments
Just because they don’t let you speak, turn on the TV, or make noise…it does not mean that you should not work this day Nick. We will be slaving away at your expense on April 1st and you better be too! Sneak out and figure out a way to blog that day. 
Sure no worries. If you can hook me up with satelite access I’m into it.
Will be interesting to see Ogah Ogah and hope the radio blackout for 24 hours won’t spoil your enjoyment.
Our friends at Captain Haddock are all taking off at 3pm tommorrow to their villages.
I remember a lot of travellers who knew about Nyepi would head over to Gili Trawangan off Lombok.
I went there for 3 days and it was great.
I had a tasty lunch (grilled barracuda!)for under 4 bucks US and there were no cars on the island. Plus the snorkeling was phenomenal.
The only thing was the airlines forgot my luggage both ways!
Gotta love Indo sometimes.
Jason
Waikiki, Hawaii.
Make sure you follow the parade of Ogah Ogahs to the beach where they are burnt.You should get some great photos. Any luck at Adrenalin Bungy? See you in May.
A great idea! Whatever the Balinese lose in money, they more than make up for in other ways.
Nick,
it’s Ogogh ogoh.
Ogah ogah could means something else.
Hi Nick,
The festival’s name is Ogoh-Ogoh, not Ogah-Ogah.
In Indonesian language, ogah means unwilling. Have you ever heard about “Pak Ogah” ? It refers to somebody asking for money to help you make turn on busy street.
Nice read Nick. Intersting stats on arrivals in Bali can be found at the Bali Discovery website. Go to http://www.balidiscovery.com and then click on updates.