Day of Silence

Today is Nyepi, known as the "day of silence".  This is an important event in Balinese Hindu culture and marks the celebration of the Lunar new year.  The airport is closed for 24 hours, the entire country is shut down.  Youu are expected to stay within your compound and no one is allowed on the streets.  It is very quiet and peaceful, a day of meditation and silence.  They came around this morning with a print out for all of the guest with the following four rules:

1- NO TRAVELING

2-NO FIRE OR LIGHTS

3-NO WORK - NO MAKING NOISE

4-NO HAVING FUN

"It is the perfect time to retreat from the hectic world". "Selamat Hari Raya Nyepi"

The night before Nyepi there is a local parade with all of the Ogah- Ogah, which are huge sculptures of  fearsome demons which are supposed to scare away the marauding bad spirits.  The neighborhood kids and adults spend a lot of time and money building these works of art.  They are then placed on grids of bamboo and some are so huge that 20-30 men are required to lift them up and carry them through the town.  It is quite a scene with the coordination of transport, the gamelan "marching band" and the hundreds of people lined up along the streets.  Carnival!  Bali style!  At the end of the night they are set on fire and hopefully any bad spirits will burn up with them.  The following day, silent day, is to confuse the bad spirits into thinking no one is home and they will not enter your home, or town, and they will continue on their way for another year.  As tourist we are extended the privelage of using electricity and being allowed to swim and talk quietly.  It is most generous when the single, childless workers spend the night here so they can continue to take care of our needs. Now there is complete silence... Even the dogs are quiet!