Bali: temple ceremony

I began the day by riding my motorbike, with Sudi, to Dreamland Beach. The location was reached by going down a long modern parkway that lead to the sea. The land along the expressway is all owned by the Suharto family, who are alleged to have pilfered up to $35 billion from the nation during their long rule. The beach is reached by negotiating down a long set of stairs cut into the cliff, down to a small, enclosed beach. The beach had a Baja 1967 sort of feel, kind of hippie, kind of surfer dude. We hung out on the beach for a couple of hours to get a tan and two attractive Aussie women next to us were discussing how whether to take us back to their hotel and lamenting that we just want money for our services. They clearly think I'm a native Balinese. For a moment, I contemplated the possibility of playing the part of a Balinese and letting the Aussie women have their way with us, while getting paid for our troubles. Not a bad game. Later, we had pasta at a cheap Italian joint in Seminyak, before heading back to the hotel. It is evening now, and I am dressed in the traditional temple garb of Balinese and am sittng next to the temple gamelan band pounding out a mind-bending sound. I have already undergone purification and prayer at another temple and have been given the honor of witnessing a rare temple ceremony, which culminates in a sacrifice to the Bali god. I am entranced by the spectacle before my eyes. I feel part of something grand.