Bali Photos Part 1 - Barong & Legong dance

Last summer the family and I packed our bags and headed off to Bali. Been so busy that I only managed to look over them now! Well I am finally going to be sharing some of the amazing things from the trip. 

As typical tourist we had a list of places and sights we wanted to see, and of course we had to experience some Balinese dancing.

In legends, Legong is the heavenly dance of divine nymphs. Of all classical Balinese dances, it remains the quintessence of femininity and grace. Girls from the age of five aspire to be selected to represent the community as Legong dancers.

The Barong is probably the most well known dance and a typical good vs evil story.

The barong, mystical dragon-like creature, is portrayed by two dancers wearing a huge sway-backed body with trailing hair and a curved tail. He is a symbol of good, associated with the right and white magical powers. His counterpart is Rangda, an evil panged which with long fingernails, pendulous breasts and a long flaming tongue. She is queen of evil spirits and rules the graveyards and the darkest night, specializing in black magic and evil. The Barong and The Rangda are parts of an eternal pantomime that represents the conflict between good and evil, and the symbolic play they enact is part of a purification ceremony that is designed to restore the equilibrium of these two forces, a means of strengthening the spiritual resistance of the village; maintaining the good health, physical and spiritual, of the community.

Paul Terris from The Social Club backstage at Relentless Live London

An' here I go again on my own 

Goin' down the only road I've ever known, 

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone 

An' I've made up my mind 

I ain't wasting no more time

5 years old today! 04092013

Wow you're 5 years old today, and also set to go to school in a few weeks. I cannot believe how quick the time has gone, I can still remember when we brought you home for the first time, the fear of the unknown, the anxiousness,  but from that moment on your mother and I knew the joy and excitement you would bring us.  I want to tell you how proud I am to be your dad and how much I love you. 

Happy Birthday Ammiamstar...dad xxx

Betong and beyond 30052013 - 04062013

So been back in UK for a few weeks now after an amazing time away. I really didn't have time to update this while I was away, and only now putting some of the photos up.
After getting married this year in the UK I thought, due to having roots in Sarawak, why not also have a wedding in Malaysia but in the traditional Iban way. A fascinating experience as Alice and I got to wear traditional outfits, shared out the local alcoholic drink called "tuak", and finally ended with the Iban dance called "ngagat".  Our trip to Betong wasn't just for the wedding but also coincided with Gawai which is a type of harvest festival celebrated yearly. Lots of drinking and dancing was had during our time in Betong, Sawarak, and the photos can only give a slight insight of longhouse life.