11-NOV - Mon - Rain drops falling from the sky…

We were sitting at our preferred Italian restaurant “Il Giardino”, the place empty as the day tourists from Kuta had already left, comfortably seated under the thatched roofed garden, enjoying the peace and quiet, feeling so relaxed, we were watching the rain drops falling into the lily pond, circles being drawn on the smooth watery surface with each drop, the big colourful koi swimming gracefully just beneath the surface, what better way to spend an evening, as the waiter lights a candle, pours a beautiful glass of Italian red wine and one looks into the eyes of his partner? As we are enjoying our plate of pasta the rain starts pounding, we are still the only guests in the place, the waiters chatting to each other at the far end of the restaurant. Is there anything more cozy than being under cover, warm enough whilst dressed in shorts and singlet, as the rain splashes down all around you? Memories of summer nights in Europe as a child! The rain came to an end perfectly timed as we decided to make our way back to our little four walls, skipping from puddle to puddle. Just as we thought our beautiful evening was over, we turned the corner into the main street to witness the most magnificent procession we have ever seen in Bali. The footpath was lined with boys all dressed in white, ceremonial white head scarf and ceremonial white sarong, the night filled with the sound of the big bronze gongs, flutes and tambourines all playing together. Further down the street more Balinese in white, holding the most stunning ceremonial umbrellas in deep red, white and gold, with all the tassels and bells. The music intensified as out of the Royal Palace, further down the street, came a wave of people, again mostly in white, and with them flag after flag carried by more young men, as they were flanking some of the elders (we assume some royal family members, as the Balinese in the crowd around us nodded respectfully as they passed) all dressed in the most magnificent lace. As this already stunning procession made its way down the street, out of the temple came a new procession, even more glorious, with breathtaking religious ornaments carried on shoulders. The two streams of people joining together gracefully to make one, the air filled with thick incense, burning out of big bronze containers carried on the head of stunningly dressed women. We admired the people, the costumes, the dresses, the gold and jewels encrusted representations of all the Balinese gods, good and evil, some so important to have their own umbrella accompanying them to shelter them. We saw a magnificent Garuda, with peacock feathers for its tail, the evil spirit Rangda, and of course our most preferred and most spectacular Barong, god of good. It was a procession like no other, a most amazing Balinese event, it took us completely unprepared and the moment made even the more special as we had no cameras to immortalise it, only our memory to safe-keep this experience, making sure to absorbe every umbrella, every flag, every religious artefact, every smile, every sound!