I flew from Singapore to Jakarta, Indonesia, but stayed in the city only long enough to catch a train to Yogyakarta. From Yogyakarta I took a train to Banyuwangi where I caught a ferry to Gilimanuk on Bali. From there it was a bus to Ubud.
Horse carts at the train station in Yogyakarta.
Royal Sultan Palace in Yogyakarta.
I spent one night at Prambanan where I was lucky enough to see one episode of the Ramayana performed in the evening.
Prambanan is a 9th century Hindu temple dedicated to Brahama, the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva, the transformer (not what you think).
Night view of Prambanan.
My first day in Ubud, Bali, I watched a cockfight near the Ubud Palace.
These boys are tying knives onto the cock's legs.
Ready to go.
Chicken clash.
The Pura Desa Gede temple in Peliatan was having it's birthday (Odalan) when I was there. The Bali calendar is 210 days and there are many temples, so it seems as if there's alway an Odalan going on somewhere.
Pura Desa Gede temple in Peliatan (village east of Ubud)
It seemed like every temple in Ubud was decorated in some way.
Hundreds of people took part in the preparation for the ceremony. Offerings of food and flowers were incredible.
The guys, just waiting.
Women carried immense loads of food and other offerings on their heads.
Carefully down the steps.
The procession went from Pura Dese Gede temple went right through central Ubud in a zigzagging path and ended up at the 8th century Pura Gunung Leba in Campuhan.
Pura Gunung Leba temple is in the jungle, so there was some nice stuff to see on the way.
Stone statue of the Hindu god, Ganech.
So many people. So many umbrellas.
Crossing the Campuhan river to Pura Gunung Leba temple.
Another huge and intricate offering.
The long white cloth is always carried during the Odalan procession.
Pura Gunung Leba
Pura Gunung Leba
Pura Gunung Leba
Pura Gunung Leba
Pura Gunung Leba
| Introduction | England | Scotland | Europe |
| Turkey | Iran | Afghanistan | Pakistan |
| India 1 | India 2 | Nepal | Burma |
| Thailand | Malaysia/Singapore | Indonesia 1 | Indonesia 2 |
| Hong Kong | Macau | Japan | Korea |
Photographs and text copyright Michael Newman and William Garsden: 2024