Topeng Bali in Balinese Cultural Character

Happiness and sadness is a sense of self-expression which can be reflected from face expression. Mostly, this self-expression holds the role of a face expression which is so important in some activity and could be adjusted by base on scale of need. Not only being a certain fashion trends that a make-up faces are made only for showbiz purposes, but there are times in some ways people can create a makeover on his face with psychological factors support that wants to be disclosed or the mood to be covered, commonly use to describe a noun known as the “Mask”.

Mask is a shape which is generally used to cover a face. Mask at the beginning of its development is used to realize the imaginary form of a person and is usually associated with religious and magical atmosphere and of course with highly creativity power and art creations. Trust in the form of nature deities and forms of real ancestors reflection is often poured into the form of a mask for a complementary means of a deity or ancestor worship ceremonies at that time. The form of the arts was diverse; form of human faces up until animal’s forms, as in most of African, the mask takes the form of an animal because it is believed to be used as a means to communicate with the Gods and ancestors. While in the Asian region the mask was used to give more meaning to the definition of the characters in such colossal epics Mahabharata and Ramayana which is originally from India, then spread to several regions in Southeast Asia including Indonesia, especially Java and Bali. Development of form and masks character in Java and Bali is much influenced by Hindu & Buddhist cultures of India and China. Universally, mask is used to display the expression of a character in a ceremony or in theatrical performances. In a historic development function of the mask and its power been shifted to other purposes such as face shield even for amusement. Masks are not only used on the face of a dancer or mask user, but there are times when the mask is also used in other parts such as body or finger. Other function is a mask often used in festivals, carnival, even to be used in the Halloween event.

Mask called “Topeng” in Indonesia. By the form that commonly used by the mask dancers, Balinese “Topeng Bungkulan” distinguished as a mask form covering the entire face, and “Topeng Sibakan” is a shape of a mask that just cover half part of the face. “Topeng Bungkulan” is usually used in the Balinese theatrical drama using mastermind and sounding with word and song wearing Ancient Balinese language or a language derived from Sanskrit. While “Topeng Sibakan” on the show not wearing mastermind because the wearer can use their own voice.

In Balinese culture, mask usually became the most important part in the mask dance, and having a very close connection with religious ceremonies because it is often staged in the temple or during religious events which is so sacred. Balinese people call the mask as “Tapel”. Dance mask that very associated with religious ceremonies and performed during some religious ceremony is known as “Topeng Pajegan” or “Topeng Wali”. This mask dance is performed by a single dancer and must bring a few roles using different masks in a dance session. Dancing with five or more dancers who wear masks with different characters called “Topeng Panca”. Appearance of several figures from “Topeng Panca” can also be displayed in “Topeng Prembon” Dance. Mask dance performance that perform comedy road stories or folklore of ordinary Balinese people called “Topeng Arja” or “Topeng Bondres”.

Balinese masks are also used to represent the characters with their respective duties and functions, in order to bring a demand in the mask dance. “Topeng Tua” or “Topeng Keras” represent a character of a wise holy man; it is figure “Pangelembar”. Other strata character known as the figure of “Penasar Kelihan” and “Penasar Cenikan”. There is also a figure called “Ratu Dalem” and “Ratu Patih”. There is also a character that figure ordinary people named “Bondres”. But the character which is acted by the mask dancers must also be able to convey the mask character to the audience explicitly or implicitly.

Theatrical masks nevertheless can sometimes be understood only with the help of the voice from a puppeteer. Strong character traits by a mask user will bring the story in amusement role becomes something meaningful to the audience, although sometimes the wearer’s mood is very different from their mask figure played on role. Likewise for humans also, role of character is inherent in each individual and can give a beautiful conclusion that the world is non-different from a mask theater. What role is on performed behind your face mask, is it joy or sorrow?

Secret of Holy Tears from Fresh Water

White Fresh Water PearlsWorld paradise offers a variety of happiness and joy of life, appear in the wide range formation depending on the individual desires from each creature. Nature as the emerge of all these pleasures reasons has been so loyal in serving their beauty strategy, so that the human conscience will be given joy for setting it up or even trying to find a ways to create a form of beauty with nature assistance.

The beauty is one of femininity character and usually associated with women, one that has managed to tie the wonderful world of women is an object that has unique reflections. The item called a pearl, the pearl is generally known as a hard object has round shape with unique characteristic of light reflections.

Pearls are formed from the accumulation layer of calcium carbonate, mineral aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite, making compound with organic shell for making Conchiolin. The combination of aragonite with conchiolin called nacre which then will give a touch of beauty to the pearls. When an object interrupted into the oyster shell, the oyster coats will be issuing nacre to minimize irritation of the shell body from a foreign object, accumulation layers of nacre over a period of time can produce a pearl.
Pearls can be divided by way of its formation, the formation of environment media, or the shape of the pearl itself. Based on how the formation, divided into natural pearls are formed naturally and synthetic pearls are formed from the captivity. Based on the media environment, pearl can be divided into sea water pearls that are formed by sea shells and freshwater pearls that are formed by mollusk creature living in freshwater, such as rivers or lakes. Based on the natural shape, pearls can be divided into perfectly round pearl, semi round pearl shaped, baroque shaped pearl. Each type of pearl above must have different beauty and different economic value. Natural pearls from the sea shells with perfectly round shape of course will have higher value than synthetic freshwater mussels with semi round shape or baroque.

fresh pearlsPearls frequently used by humans as jewelry of course in the context of satisfying the value of beauty. There are also utilized as raw material in cosmetics, or as beads, a complementary of ritual. Speaking about rituals and religious issues, we will about to see the contents of the Hindu scriptures of Atharvaveda, where written the Garuda Purana which is about the value of the sanctity of the so-called “Nine Pearls” in the description of the mythological and religious aspects. In Sanskrit Hindu also said that Pearl was also featured as costume jewelry or portrayed as a necklace of Lord Vishnu, believe also as a stimulant digestion and treatment for mental ailment. Based on Marco Polo notes, the King of Malabar wear pearls of 108 pcs in strand of necklace and ritually transmitted from generation to generation, in which every king must say 108 prayers every morning and evening.

Earthly beauty of a pearl could contain the heavenly beauty that comes from the excavation mythology values of ancient Sanskrit. Tears of the filled shells layered by nacre formed in the freshness of sea water or freshwater can really soothing pearl lover. Will it also be able to provide freshness in your heart?

Hu’u Bar and Restaurant, Kuta, Bali

corner-hang-outAlong way on the street of Petitenget, Kuta, trying to find a place to chill out in the storm or just to hang out with some colleagues, don’t sleep your eyes and find this corner of place. Have you visit Hu’u Bar and Restaurant at Petitenget, Kuta?, if you don’t, please do so. Hu’u Bar gate whisper a mystic word for you to look and join its ambience. An whispering classy bar, restaurant, and swimming pool at one stop hang out is leisure sound for your earring catalogue. Step inside this getaway of pleasure dream and you will offer to some enjoyable atmosphere of eats and music. Atmosphere of fresh water could also better choice to chill out your evening with a reflection of thousands candles and lights. Whisper wind is blows to continuing announce of Al-fresco dining theme at Hu’u Bar and Restaurant, just grab this menus while thousands music accompanying your appetite trip far away abroad. East or West or mixed style of your night party at Hu’u Bar and Restaurant will always be memorable to take away to your sweet home lullaby. Visit this corner and feel pretty chain of Bar and Restaurant for one stop party all nights long.

“After Storm” Sky Panorama, Seminyak, Kuta, Bali

What could be imagining to the rain drops all day long, the scariest time to stay safely at home. A day could be passing away on the feet of Stormy King. Hardly blowing winds just like to over heavy smoked lung of the earth, black face of the sky will enjoy accompanying this heavy breath. Pain that resulted by waiting over six months is already has their way to come. Flash of light in the sky is their torch alarm of welcoming storm party and sounds of tympani thunder will follow their march to a battle of rain drops.

Soldier of the stormy sky already settle to a position of attacking mother of earth, what will green calm under will do about this attack except of waiting these soldier to flash their kingdom weapon. Creatures under are rush in their busy way to safe their self for not getting wet. Prepared a shield or just to postpone a trip for a better solution.

Here in Bali, attacking rain drops usually come in the beginning of December or could be earlier. It is depending to process of oceans evaporate and atmospheric condensation. But sometimes these “teardrop-shaped” are canceling their trip to fall at Kuta or Seminyak area in Bali just for a special mystical reason. But today, the storm panoramas that hang on the sky in Seminyak could not lying about stormy kingdom attack that just left their footprint in the black cloud. After a storm, it’s come a light of a shy sunset to offering a beauty in the sky of Seminyak. Colour wiping of sunset is forcing balaclava of pearl to drive away black cloud, these beauty behind the storm in Seminyak also forcing you to look up above and heal your fear from the storm.