The Kecak dance is one of the most
famous of Balinese
dances. It is unusual because it has
no musical accompaniment like many
other Indonesian dances do,
the rhythm of the dance is produced
by the chanting 'monkey' chorus.
Instead, a troupe of over 150
bare-chested men serve as the
chorus, making a wondrous cacophony
of synchronized "chak-achak-achak"
clicking sounds while swaying their
bodies and waving their hands .From
that chanting noise
of "Cak-cak-cak", then it gave the
dance its name Kecak.
What makes the Kecak such a
fascinating dance to watch are the
fifty or so men in the checkered
pants. They are both the choir and
the props, providing the music for
the story in a series of constant
vocal chants that change with
the mood of the actors. They don't
sit still, either, they wave their
arms to simulate fire, and
reposition themselves around the
stage to represent wind and fire,
prison cells, and unseen hand of
protection from the gods.
The dance is played in five acts and
lasts roughly 45 minutes. It taken
from the Hindu epic Ramayana, which
tells the story of Prince Rama and
his rescue of Princess Sita, who has
been kidnapped by the evil King of
Lanka, Rahwana and somehow with the
help of the white monkey army, Rama
rescues his wife and defeats the
evil Rahwana.
Attending a Kecak recital is a must
for any visitor to Bali. It is a
wondrous experience, and a window
into the musical and artistic
culture that make the Balinese a
special people.
Getting There:
-
By Air:
Numerous international
carriers service Bali's
Ngurah Rai International
Airport either directly or
via Jakarta. Domestic
airlines operate schedule
flights from various cities
within Indonesia.
-
By Land:
Bali is connected to
Java by a regular ferry
service running between
Gilimanuk and Banyuwangi. If
you are taking the train or
a night bus from Jakarta,
Bandung or Yogyakarta,
travels first to Surabaya
for the connection to
Banyuwangi. Buses can be
boarded at Banyuwangi or
Gilimanuk for the final leg
to Denpasar.
-
By Sea:
The state-run passengers
line PELNI operates weekly
sailing's between Bali and
Jakarta, Ujung Pandang and
Balikpapan. Regular ferries
sail between Lombok and
Bali.
Where
To Stay:
No need to worry where youll stay in
Bali. There are many hotels range
provided here, from the luxurious,
middle range and budget hotels are
spread around the island.
Dining
Guide:
There are a variety of restaurants
in Bali offering a good choice of
food to suit a variety of tastes at
reasonable prices. Kuta and Jimbaran
is a great place to eat especially
Seafood and Western dishes are your
best bets while in Ubud lots of
sophisticated restaurants and many
of the shopping centers in the area
have places to eat and there are
several fast food places for those
fast food addicts.
Moving
Around:
Its so easy to move around in Bali,
especially in the tourist area. You
can rent a bike or motorcycle to
move around the city. Theres also
car rental. Public buses ply routes
throughout Bali from Denpasar's
Ubung Terminal.
Other Things To Do or See:
There are a lot of things to do or
see while you are in Bali. Beside
its cultural and art, there are also
numerous temples, ancient sites and
of course, great restaurants around
Ubud while in the roads around Kuta,
Legian and Sanur are lined with
shops and hawkers that sell about
everything, offering a huge choice
of places to eat and a lively
nightlife.
Souvenir Tips:
-
Handwoven fabrics are a great
buy; a simple sarong is an
inexpensive, portable and
practical travel accessory,
-
Ubud is the best place for you
to buy paintings and other
artworks,
-
Browsing at the Sukawati Art
Market and Galeria Nusa Dua
offers a tempting range of
Balinese goods in one place.
Travel
Tips:
-
Various hotels in Bali hold
Kecak Dance performances and
often deal providing dinner
and tickets to the
performance are offered at
the main hotels in Bali. Ask
your hotel for further
information.
-
Weekly (in some places
daily) performances of the
Kecak abound around the
island, but the most
well-known Kecak Theater is
in the town of Batubulan
just north of the Balinese
capital of Denpasar. The
dance company provides
transportation for a nominal
fee to and from the resort.
-
Upon arrival, if your hotel
has not arranged
transportation from the
airport, hire a taxi from
the transport counter
outside the arrival gate.
Fares are listed by
destination and must be paid
in advance. Metered taxis
are also available in Kuta,
Sanur, Nusa Dua and Denpasar.
