Lucky bastards! Again! We were in Melbourne for Australia day, in Waitangi (the place where the Brithish colonists singed a collaboration treaty with the indigenous population) for NZ day and here we were in Kuta for Bali’s most important ceremony of the year – Nyepi Day – the new Balinese year or Silence Day celebrated on the 9^th of March.

Also known as the Saka New Year, it is ultimately the quietest day of the year when all of its inhabitants abide by a set of local rules that brings all the activities to a complete halt. The roads all over Bali are void of traffic and nobody steps outside of his or her home premises. In the preparation for Nyepi young people in each village or small community build a Ogoh Ogoh, mythical figures with intricately shaped and tied bamboo framework before many layers of artwork.

On the 8^th of March, late afternoon, we assisted at a unique parade of Ogoh Ogoh where more than 30 immense and colorful creatures were walked on the streets by the young Balinese generation, stopping at each corner to shake the creatures as strong as they could. Practical objective? Destroy the Ogoh Ogoh that were going to be burnt the following days anyway. Religious objective? Scare the bad spirits so that the Balinese people can have a calm, peaceful Nyepi day and new year.

We celebrated Women day (evening) at Rock Bar in Ayana Resort! Very nice place, amazing view, cool music, though a little bit too expensive.

The following day – Nyepi – we were blocked in the hotel which had its windows covered in newspaper so that the light inside could not be seen outside. It was a lazy day started with 90 minutes Balinese and hot rocks massage, then breakfast, sleep and rooftop swimming pool. Bintang beer was our friend for the day.