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01 /18 /2001 |
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| Lumajang
- Bali |
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S 08°37 E
115°13 |
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| +38 |
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5.30 am:
this morning we get up at dawn. We are invited
to a Hindu ceremony: the Cremation.
Still asleep and 'floating', our minibus
takes us to Lumajang, a 1 and a half hour
drive. In the villages we cross, we are
surprised by the incredible amount of
vehicles, motorbikes and people. Along the
road, little stands propose fruits and
vegetables, and satés with different meats...
We stop in a little stall to have a 'kopi' -
the Balinese coffee. We discover that the
Balinese, especially in little villages, are
very early risers. They get up at 4 am, wash
in streams, eat a plate of rice and go to
work. In the evening, they go to bed at 7 pm!
In Denpasar and Kuta, in the contrary, they
have adapted to a more occidental rhythm.
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The
Cremation.
We arrive in the place of the
ceremony at 8 o'clock. In front of
us stand a huge and entirely
decorated cart and a giant black
ornamented bull. We are offered
drinks and banana cakes. The
guests arrive gradually: women
dressed in colored sarongs and
laced shirts, men wearing black
and white squared sarongs and a
white t-shirt with the face of the
dead man, with his name and the
date. Here, white is the color of
death.
Under three temples play
without stopping three traditional
bands of 50 to 60 musicians, with
no room left for silence.
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On the main road stands a huge
decorated coffin: M. Ketut Nadha,
dead 2 weeks ago! As the
Balinese's tradition wants, a big
fest has been prepared. Powerful
man, M. Kethut Nadha was ruling
the main newspapers of Bali, and
was also the owner of two national
radios, and the Bali Travel News
(which will publish an article on
us on the 25th of January).
5 hours later and the body is
transferred in a sarcophagus
inside the Bull, with food,
tissues and offerings. A short
benediction and immediately the
flames.
The ashes will be thrown in the
sea.
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| Theo: I
don't read newspapers anymore, I'm
living my own news! |
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We have
been quite shocked to learn that
the Cremation is a part of
packages proposed in travel
agencies. Indeed, in the middle of
the morning a many tourists come
towards the Ceremony. At the same
time appear from nowhere illicit
vendors. The most sold object will
be a Sarong, which has to be worn
to attend the Cremation!
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We'll go
to a small island to realize your
wish: survive in wild nature...
The Journal will be back on the
20th.
Chat with the Team: Sunday at
13h00 GMT time
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| Guide our next steps,insert contacts & info on |
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