Visiting the Bali Arts Festival in Denpasar Bali

The annual Bali Arts Festival is in full swing in Denpasar and will continue until July 17th with events scheduled everyday.

The location is the Taman Budaya Cultural Center on Nusa Indah Street in East Denpasar. In my opinion if you are not familiar with Denpasar, which has a horrible one way system and signs that are obsured behind tall trees, you are better off heading for Sanur on the Bypass then up to Denpasar to avoid navigating through that mess.

I arrived around 2pm and after paying my 1,000rp entrance fee wandered around the many booths set up with traditional Balinese paraphanalia representing the different regencies of Bali. The site is quite large with a small river running through the middle. Kids were out with their parents enjoying all the things kids do and the adults were checking out quality sarong wear, handmade kris (knives) and choppers.

I saw baskets used for ceremonies by the ladies to carry offerings and stick puppets, important in Balinese tradition. Artwork was in plentiful supply.

To be honest the whole place was a bit of an orgy of buying and selling. I see a version of this kind of thing everyday and can take it or leave it.

Walking through one cavernous first floor of a building I came to another area set up for vendors. One candidate for funniest sign must be this local clothes vendor.

Here is today’s schedule.

Friday, June 25 2004
Activity : Social Singing “Tembang and Wira” by Sanggar Widya Dharma Sastra Yeh Embang Mendoyo Jembrana Regency
Time : 10.00 - 12.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Balinese Traditional Music: Angklung Parade from (Bangli - Jembrana)
Time : 12.00 - 14.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Remo Dance from East Java
Time : 20.00 - 22.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Arja Konten Dance, Ambeg Jaya Semara Group from Sesetan Village Denpasar
Time : 20.00 - 22.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

The scheduled dancing was over by the time I arrived and wasn’t starting again till 8pm so I decided to call it quits. I look foward to coming back and checking out the different dances from all over the country.

Lovely weather in Bali right now. The evenings are cool and last night I wore my fleece to come down to Kuta. I am in touch with friends in Java and know that many people including my neighbor Lorenzo have the flu and various respiratory infections at the moment. If you are planning on visiting Bali in the next few months bring a light jacket or sweater particularly if you are heading up to Ubud or Kintamani.