A Balinese Royal Cremation Ceremony

A Balinese Royal Cremation Ceremony, Bali, Indonesia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Kiki was adamant. “There is a Royal Cremation Ceremony tomorrow,” she told us, “You must go!” Our villa manager, Kiki had made it her mission to ensure we were getting the breadth of Bali’s local experiences. And while I’m not one for taking photos at funerals (err, or weddings, for that matter), Kiki was right. Mengwi’ Queen … Read more

Gamelan Lessons in Bali – Getting Giddy with the Gamelan in Ubud

A Gamelan lesson in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

The gamelan and its music had always intrigued me as a musician. I’ve always found the Indonesian ensemble of metallophones, xylophones, gongs, and various other instruments wonderful to listen to, but I had little idea as to how the hell they made that enchanting noise. Was there a score that the gamelan orchestra followed, I wondered. Were there … Read more