Bali - Kuta. Day 1 and 2.

At the end of my 13 hour flight to Jakarta, I met a couple who were also travelling to Bali. We spent the first full day at Kuta Beach. Getting there from my hotel was interesting. Every 20 metres you walk, a taxi sounds the horn to invite you in, and this was shortly followed (when walking through the main street) by 'come buy the sarong/bracelets/get a tattoo, I have best price!' Saying no thankyou, once, is not enough here.
I'm glad that as I walked through Kuta, I had Mel and Craig with me, it didn't feel like the safest of places.
Before I left for Bali, someone had mentioned that I should watch my step, as they place religious offerings on the ground in the streets. Now having observed them, I could not understand the placing of the offerings and also I kept asking myself- why are there rice/biscuits in this palm leaf tray and why is there burning incense? I found the concept fascinating and promised myself that I would read up later. I learnt as below:

The Hinduism the Balinese people follow is based on numerous Gods and deities, and the idea of dharma  (order in the cosmos) and adharma  (the disordering force). They seek balance of these forces and believe in a similar three layers of their cosmos to us. Heaven is the abode of the gods, there is the world of man, and then below are the demons.
The offerings are Canang Sari. The Canang is the palm leaf tray. Nuts and leaves in the tray symbolise the main three Hindu God's and there are different colour flowers facing in four different directions which represent further God's or deities. They add rolled up paper money to the tray and often food like rice or biscuits. This is said to represent the selflessness of the offering. The incense takes the offerings to heaven, and they add water to purify and wash away demons to below. I saw these offerings given 3 times a day, possibly more. Often the most senior female member of the household would carry (on their heads) and place the offerings, which are usually put at the front of the house or at shop fronts or on religious statues. Sometimes they are also placed in strange places, like the middle of roads or on cars; this is to protect people from danger or at areas of possible conflict.

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I started filming some sort of celebration in the street... only then to realise - this was a funeral procession. My moment of epiphany came as they manually spun the main float around three times on its wheels, hitting the pavement in the excitement, and nearly sliding the coffin from the vehicle. I have to admit it was quite a comedic moment but I stopped filming immediately as I felt I had been disrespectful having only just spotted the coffin- many others carried on filming, so perhaps not?
I love that the people of the Balinese Hindu religion really do celebrate their each others lives.
There were several people cremated on a fire by the sea, with songs, prayers and dance processions. It is such a contrast to how we congregate in a church or crematorium.

Kuta Beach was beautiful, white with some volcanic sand, little crabs scuttling up the sand; the ones which make impressive and perfect patterns of swirls and shapes to protect their homes. The warm sea, strong sun, and the experience of Bintang (local lager) and Bintang Radler on a sunbed to start the holiday seemed perfect. However, if I had to say anything about Kuta.. it would be to stay there as shorter time as possible, like I did- there are so many more beautiful places to visit. A night or two in Kuta, to get over the jet lag, and as an introduction to the Balinese people and to the climate, will suffice here.

My next post will be all about my time in Ubud, a magical and serene cultural paradise in a mountainous area of Bali.