Plot

Beginning of the journey at the sea side near Kerobokan: Raphaël meets Antoine Martin, a diving coach and they look at the fishermen who are coming back: one of them Imd Darma Yasa invites them to his house and they eat grill fish, rice and a strong chili sauce.On the morning Antoine and Raphaël dive and they can see a lot fishes, sea cucumber and coral reef.Later Raphaël meets Gek Arik, a young Balinese woman who manages an offering store and they travel by scooter to Besakih.There they meet Gek Arik's father, mother, aunt and cousins.They are preparing a ceremony.On the morning Raphaël wears a traditional Balinese clothing and they go to forest: an Hinduist priest gives offerings to the gods for the happiness of the family: then all the family enters into a river and each throws water over his head and shoulders.While the women are preparing offerings Raphaël and the brother-in-law of Gek visit the temple of Besakih, the most important Hinduist temple in Bali.The place is open to all persons who want to pray.Later they meet the women with their offerings and listen to traditional Balinese music (drum and xylophones).Then Raphaël travels to Ubud; in a very nice hotel (Como Shambala Estate) Raphaël meets Mudra who practices yoga, they share a moment of relaxation. Later Raphaël travels by scooter to Payagan: the residence of the prince of Ubud who shows him the different parts of the palace: this day there is a meeting of princes and princesses at the royal residence.In the countryside Raphaël meets Dewa Putra Diasa , the director of a Balinese music and dance association and Raphaël tries to learn to dance like a Balinese woman moving all parts of his body (the eyes,the hands, the feet).Later there is a spectacle and music and traditional Balinese dances.Last stop: the climbing of the volcano Batur with Kadek, the guide (the last eruption took place in 1926), the volcano has some fumaroles. Besides we can the influence of Hinduist religion in the life of Balinese people; offering in the houses, offerings before the houses, many ceremonies at the Besakih temple, a cremation ritual for a member of the royal family.Also we visit the monkey mountain, a natural reserve for 600 macaques (sacred animals). Alo we can see a zoom about the bamboo and its use for music instrument; the luthier Surate explains how he makes xylophones with bamboo trunks. Bali has become a place of residence of Australian and European retirees: they can buy villas or bamboo houses at a good price. In ll the documentary of Bali we see a lot of motorcycles and scooters in the streets: Ni Made candra , a female mechanic enjoys very the old Vespa and there is a club of Vespa fans in Bali.—zutterjp48