Amongst the many cultural attractions decorating the city of Denpasar in Bali, the Bali Museum warrants special focus as it will provide visitors with an intriguing collection of artefacts culled from the annals of history that informed the creation of this astonishing locale. Museum-hoppers had best consider this collection of cultural treasures as the Balinese equivalent of either the Smithsonian in the US or the British Museum (no location specification needed, surely).
The Bali Museum saw its genesis in 1931, courtesy of a Dutch architect by the name of P.J. Moojen, who was concerned about the perpetual export of Balinese artefacts and wanted to preserve a portion of it for the Balinese people. Modern times see the museum’s artefacts arrayed in an orderly fashion with clear signs in English to convey their significance. The grounds of the museum complex feature a tower that visitors can climb for a panoramic perspective of the entire structure.
When you enter the main building, you will encounter an intriguing repository of prehistoric pieces that include stone and bronze implements as well as a series of stone sarcophagi. Venture upstairs to witness traditional artefacts, including those that are still used by the Balinese populace to this day. Explore this section further to come across the carrying cases for transporting roosters used in cock-fighting events, and these containers were intricate constructions of wood and cane. You will also find minute carrying cases that once transported crickets to battle each other in cricket fights.
Walk out onto the grounds and find three directional pavilions, each housing an intriguing selection of items. The northern pavilion is styled after a palace of Tabanan origin, and it features costumes and masks used in Balinese dances. Charcter masks comprise the Rangda (a witch-widow), a Barong (a lion-dog hybrid character of myth), and an imposing Barong Landung, which is a larger version of a Barong. The central pavilion mimics the spacious verandah of the Karangasem architectural style, where the rulers held audiences as part of their office. Within this impressive enclave, you will find objects relating to Balinese spirituality, which includes ceremonial items, priests’ robes, and calendars. The southern pavilion houses a colourful selection of textiles that use a variety of cloth, multi-hued threads, and diverse weaving methods to create these vibrant specimens.
To add to the authenticity of the experience, you’ll encounter musical performances by museum staff to render a mesmerizing effect that will fully round out a tour of the museum. Be advised that many “guides” in the area approach visitors without the best of intentions, and you are able to navigate the museum without the need of one, due to the small size of the collection.
After a day of experiencing the city’s cultural splendours, relax and unwind at a luxury resort Bali has to offer its visitors. A Nusa Dua resort of worth mention is The Laguna Resort & Spa Nusa Dua Bali. Its gracious accommodation and charming hospitality make it a quality Bali resort to
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday. Google+
