Live from Japan!

One of my favorite evenings spent in bali was New Years Eve. In order to celebrate and ring in the new year our trip leader extraordinare, ordered up a feast and, called in some friends she has to lead us all in traditional balinese song and dance. The evening also had its fair share of drink involved making for even a little bit more festiveness.

It was quite the experience, first we all enjoyed a traditional balinese Megi Bung feast. This feast is eaten on the floor all entirely with your right hand. (Your left hand should not be used for anything concerning food for reasons eluded to in my previous post.) The food was very, very good.

A few noteworthy things about the meal.

Although no one else seemed to find them Drew and I had a running total of the number rocks we found in our rice. Most of the rice grown in bali is dried on big blue tarps on the side of the roads. As a result there is a decent chance that a rock in going to be kicked up and into tomorrows lunch. It s not a big deal usually, if you find one you just pick it out and keep eating. However, there is a constant fear of breaking a tooth…

Danielle thought it sounded like a pretty good idea to try some coconut wine. A common high alcohol content drink in bali. Danielle’s thought process, (“I like coconuts and I like wine”), it seems was heavily flawed. The drink itself tasted nothing like either coconuts or wine. The taste was most similar to a really bitey whiskey, with a not so subtle aftertaste that can only be described as white gas or, Methylated spirits. While Drew and I were not entirely opposed to its taste, most everyone else thought it was quite foul tasting. The best part of its purchase was handing the cup around and watching everyones face as they tried drinking it.

Next up was the dancing the group showed up with a jug of palm wine (different from the coconut wine but equally wretched) in hand, a few instruments, and a lot of energy. The energy (not to mention the alcohol) of the two groups really fueled one another, and we were quite cheerful and boisterous. Much to the chagrin of two members of our trip who were next door and trying to make it an early night.

It was a really great time, they sang played instruments and one by one they would get up and dance in their uniquely balinese way. After a brief show they would lead one of our group out to join them. So much fun. I have no real words to express what happened so I leave you with the following photos and video.