The Art, Culture and Shopping of Bali
We were all ready for another quiet, non-structured day, so we spent day six exploring more of Ubud and its myriad of shopping opportunities. The weather was quite temperamental as well, alternating between sunny and humid, cloudy and humid, and torrential rain and humid, and always HOT.
Shopping in Ubud is a joy. The streets of the main town area are lined with boutiques and restaurants. Not only do you find the typical shop selling Balinese souvenir items but also many unique clothing, jewelry and art stores. Ubud has attracted young people from around the world who are seeking an alternative lifestyle and the shopping choices reflects this. There are several large yoga studios and meditation centers. Yoga clothing is, of course, a big seller, as is funky jewellry and other clothing made from natural fabrics. And the quality is top-notch! We certainly came away that day a little poorer.
For dinner that night we decided to try the "Jazz Cafe', which usually has live music each night. This night was a fundraising event and the cafe was packed, mostly with foreigners. After some trouble securing a table, we had drinks and appetizers, and enjoyed the music--some kind of African jazz, very excellent-- for a short while.
The next day was designated "Museum Day". Ubud is a cultural center of Bali and there are two excellent museums displaying a historical overview of the art of the island. Balinese art is of Hindu-Javanese origin. Early examples (before the 1920s) are visual narratives of religious stories and village life. The images are produced in layers of line and colour, and are exquisitely detailed. After 1920, foreign artists came to Bali in search of inspiration and heavily influenced the folk art style, resulting in more modern depictions of the people and the environment.
The Neka museum is a government-run institution that traces the history of Balinese art. It is well organized and contains some exquisite examples. The ARMA museum is a privately-owned collection in a beautiful setting, that also includes a hotel and spa. Cultural events are held there on a regular basis and we were scheduled to return that evening for a Balinese "ballet" and dinner show. After exploring the impressive museums and pausing for lunch, Wayan, our wonderful driver, took us to nearby Sukowati village which has a large market. I found an exquisite wood carving similar to one I saw in the museums, and after some hard bargaining, came away with a wonderful example of beautiful Balinese art.
That evening we booked into a Balinese dance and dinner show. Balinese ballet is nothing like our classical ballet style. The only similarity is that a story is told. Accompanied by a small gamelan orchestra, the dancers, in full costume--masks included--move gracefully around the stage expressing the human conditions of love, hate, jealously and sadness with the occasional grunt, growl or wail. The costumes were spectacular, and even though the story was difficult to follow, we thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle...and the traditional dinner afterwards!
