Updated on July 8, 2019

ESPAÑOL

FLORAL MOTIFS

Particularly striking is the amount of floral motifs on the island. It is difficult to go through a city without seeing at least one at all times. Considering how perishable they are, it takes a long time to make new ones almost daily. Most are offerings to the gods. There are mainly three types:

• Penjor: a bamboo cane, curved in its end, decorated with coconut leaves and a small structure in the lower part called sanggah cucuk, where offerings are placed. It is located at the entrance of most homes, restaurants and shops, but only twice a year, coinciding with the religious holiday of Galungan, celebrated for 10 days every 210 days.

Penjor

• Canang Sari: the usual floral offerings are mandatory every time they pray, so they are everywhere. They are basically a container made with banana leaves, ideally braiding, actually stapling, where flowers, incense and food are placed. Depending on the type of flowers and their position, it will be dedicated to one or another Hindu deity. Once praying is done, the offering becomes worthless, so it is not collected, no problem if they are destroyed, trampled or eaten by an animal.

• Floral Mandalas, circles representing the cosmos, are my favorite ornaments. It’s impressing how elaborate they are, especially considering that only last a few hours or days until they are replaced.

MOSAICS

• Probably you did not know, but those so cool plates sold in decoration stores that consider themselves modern, made of many coloured reflective square tiles, are typical from here. When still were not fashionable in 2012, we bought a set of three in Ubud market by 5 €. Normally, in a Western country only the smallest plate already costs 5 €. In my opinion they are a great gift, but for those who go backpacking, note that they weighed 3 kilograms; I was carrying them no less than 2 weeks.

• The mosaics are not only used for plates, but they are used in many local crafts.

• A mosaic-like technique is also used to build ornamental structures.

MORE TRADITIONAL THINGS IN BALI:

<RICE TERRACES

KOPI LUWAK, THE BALINESE COFFE>

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