Padang Bai diving

March 23, 2015  •  Leave a Comment

Did some fun diving in Padang Bai, Bali yesterday. Great spot! The visibility wasn't very good but looking forward to going back when the conditions are a bit better. Lots of nice spots for diving here; big jetty with macro stuff, a small speedboat wreck and there's even a real life submarine floating around.  Will probably not have much time for fun diving the next few weeks, starting my PADi IDC (dive instructor course) on Thursday.

Peeking out.Peeking out.Blenny peeking out of it's hole at Padang Bai, Bali. Sea squirt.Sea squirt.Ascidiacea (Sea squirt) at Padang Bai, Bali. Sea snail.Sea snail.Sea snail at Padang Bai, Bali. Nudibranch.Nudibranch.Nembrotha chamberlaini nudibranch at Padang Bai, Bali.


Nyepi - Balinese New Year

March 22, 2015  •  Leave a Comment

The Day of Silence...

Unlike many of the Western New Year celebrations, the Balinese celebrate New Year in silence. Nyepi, the Day of Silence was on 21 March 2015. The day before Nyepi is called Tawur Sekenga and this is the day ceremonies are held to exorcise the bad spirits. After sunset processions are held on the main village cross roads with ogoh-ogoh, beautifully crafted monsters symbolising the evil spirits. On Nyepi day itself the whole of Bali is eerie quiet. The Balinese believe that on this day the evil spirits will fly over Bali and if the spirits think the island is deserted they will leave them alone for the rest of the year. This is why no one is allowed to leave the house, make noise or turn on lights during the evening. It's quite a contrast between the throngs of people and the loud noises of Tawur Sekenga and the quiet of Nyepi. Nyepi is a great day to read and catch up on sleep.

Ogoh-ogoh.Ogoh-ogoh.Ogoh-ogoh ready for the Tawur Kesanga procession in Sanur, Bali. OfferingsOfferingsOfferings at Sanur, Bali. Ngerebong ceremony.Ngerebong ceremony.Ngerebong ceremony, where a participant attempts to stab himself with a traditional knife (Keris). Ogeh-ogeh.Ogeh-ogeh.Ogoh-ogoh at the Tawur Kesanga procession in Sanur, Bali. Ogoh-ogoh.Ogoh-ogoh.Ogoh-ogoh in the shape of an enormous crab in Sanur, Bali. Moving an Ogoh-ogoh.Moving an Ogoh-ogoh.Moving an Ogoh-ogoh during the Tawur Kesanga procession in Sanur, Bali. Making way for the Ogoh-ogoh.Making way for the Ogoh-ogoh.Participants at the Tawur Kesanga procession in Sanur, Bali moving electricity cables out of the way of the Ogoh-ogoh. Ogoh-ogoh.Ogoh-ogoh.Youth group moving an Ogoh-ogoh during the Tawur Kesanga procession in Sanur, Bali. Nyepi night.Nyepi night.No lights allowed on Nyepi night, which makes for a beautiful sky. Silent day.Silent day.Shop closed for Nyepi, Balinese New Year (Silent day) .


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