On the Beach, A Man Introduced Himself
As Jimmy Hendrix.
His name definitely got my attention.
Jimmy Hendrix said he was a teacher for a children’s dance
group and announced that there was a performance that very
evening. As a good salesman, he flashed a paper with written
testimonials and emphasized that there would be no charge,
but they would accept donations. Yes of course, count me in!
I love going to unplanned, behind the scene events and I was
looking forward to something new, especially with children.
Jimmy Hendrix said he was a teacher for a children’s dance
group and announced that there was a performance that very
evening. As a good salesman, he flashed a paper with written
testimonials and emphasized that there would be no charge,
but they would accept donations. Yes of course, count me in!
I love going to unplanned, behind the scene events and I was
looking forward to something new, especially with children.
At 7pm, I was collected from my hotel, along with several other
guests and taken by jeep along a dirt country road for about
two miles, to a family walled in compound.. The outside area was
dimly lit, we were seated on wooden benches in a dusty area and
we could view a small, covered stage area.
Beer was for sale, there were a few Germans in the group and it
happily seemed to be the beverage of choice. All was quiet for a
moment and just then, there was a non-rehearsed song and dance
act. A mother chicken and her tiny chicks began harmoniously
peeping and scampering one by one, across yard.
Ha...I mused. They had become the opening act! .
guests and taken by jeep along a dirt country road for about
two miles, to a family walled in compound.. The outside area was
dimly lit, we were seated on wooden benches in a dusty area and
we could view a small, covered stage area.
Beer was for sale, there were a few Germans in the group and it
happily seemed to be the beverage of choice. All was quiet for a
moment and just then, there was a non-rehearsed song and dance
act. A mother chicken and her tiny chicks began harmoniously
peeping and scampering one by one, across yard.
Ha...I mused. They had become the opening act! .
While the young boys of the group played an out of tune, difficult
to listen to music, with instruments including Bali gamelan
(large xylophone), drums and flutes, the girls sat cross legged, in
the front row with looks of boredom. While the girls waited for
their moments of performance, the boys came out, one by one in
brightly colored Balinese costumes, as a Garuda bird, a Rangda
witch and a funky Monkey.
It was certainly unlike any real professional performances that one
would see in Bali. Yet, I enjoyed the whole experience and when
the children entertained, they were cute.
to listen to music, with instruments including Bali gamelan
(large xylophone), drums and flutes, the girls sat cross legged, in
the front row with looks of boredom. While the girls waited for
their moments of performance, the boys came out, one by one in
brightly colored Balinese costumes, as a Garuda bird, a Rangda
witch and a funky Monkey.
It was certainly unlike any real professional performances that one
would see in Bali. Yet, I enjoyed the whole experience and when
the children entertained, they were cute.
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| Jimmy Hendrix and the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali |
 |
| A Garuda at the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali |
 |
| A Rangda (the witch) at the Children's Dance, Lovina, Bali |
However, at the very end of the performance, there was a surprise.
Jimmy Hendrix came around to each attendee with a clipboard
(not a basket) which listed past performance donations of amounts,
(not a basket) which listed past performance donations of amounts,
300,000 rupiahs ($25.00 U.S.) and more. As everyone watched,
with family members hovering around our group, we were asked
to record our name, our country and the amount of the donation
onto the clipboard.
with family members hovering around our group, we were asked
to record our name, our country and the amount of the donation
onto the clipboard.
While I’m not one to succumb easily to pressure like this,
I thought for a moment , then recorded and gave 80 rupiahs
($7.00 U.S.) as a donation, the same ticket price of a Bali
professional performance. Then, I passed the clipboard on to
the German guy sitting next to me for his donation.
($7.00 U.S.) as a donation, the same ticket price of a Bali
professional performance. Then, I passed the clipboard on to
the German guy sitting next to me for his donation.
However, by the family's tone in Indonesian and the scornful
look on their faces, they were unhappy with the amount of my
“donation”! Although my Indonesian is basic, I could easily
pick up on the intonation of their voices, the aggressive energy
and it was not a pretty moment.
look on their faces, they were unhappy with the amount of my
“donation”! Although my Indonesian is basic, I could easily
pick up on the intonation of their voices, the aggressive energy
and it was not a pretty moment.
In the beginning, it was so sweet and innocent.
And then, suddenly the event had turned out sour!
I easily flashed back on a couple of life circumstances that
started out romantically sweet and turned out sour!
However as I try to do in life, I will always choose to remember
the pure, innocent, sweetness in this "Sweet and Sour"
experience. Sometimes I get carried away with Bali bliss, which
can easily be done because I am only here for a couple of months.
When in reality, anyone who lives here in Bali will announce ......
"All is Not Paradise in Bali".
