symbol of protection or gardian of the gate way & sacred cloths of Bali

Bali trip continued

This the guardian figure / mask was over the doorway to our room, Actually  there were three. This called a Kala or Makara kala.  It is a protective symbol and is used throughout South East Asia. The Kala is the doorway keeper of death and life,and as such has great powers. It keeps one out if you are not strong enough to face what lies behind it and eats those who have evil intent.

Here are some photos of sacred cloths that are used & or worn in the temples during various rituals.

These cloths are hand spun,hand dyed with natural dyes and hand woven on back strap looms. There is a concerted  effort to keep alive these hand made textiles.  The textiles seen above are called Songet, a supplemental weave and are woven in the town of Sidiman. A village surrounded by rice fields.
I think one of the things that impressed me or inspired me about these textiles were the woven symbols in repeated patterns reminding of the gamalong music also repeated patterns of sound.

view of borobudur levels & Bali lotus plants

9thC. Buddhist monument Borobudur on the island of Java

As I promised in the last posting the 9thC. Buddhist  monument Borobudur on the island of Java only one hour by air from Bali.  I arrived 2 days early in order to see this UNISCO historic  Temple,Stupa, Mandala site.  It is a place that I have wanted to visit for a long time. It was for pilgrims to climb and walk circumambulating the many levels of the temple.  As I walked and climbed higher and higher I thought of those from the past , who with prayers, wound their up and around these same platforms. Every wall has carved stone panels of Buddha's life on them.  At the lowest levels, each was crowded with everyday people and as one climbed higher the carvings became more spiritual in their content.  Until finally the last level opened to the sky and the great void summarized by the great last stupa on top of the  moument.

Trip to Bali

Bali is just like all the tour books say and more.  Despite  the heat and the 200% humidity I enjoyed  it all,the people. their culture, arts, crafts, and textiles. The name of the trip was
Bali fiber Tour, lead by Barbara Alexander. Barb is the former owner of Batik Butick which was and is a company designing , selling and making batik fabrics in Bali Indonesia.
  Textiles were the focus of the trip. From the sacred to the everyday life, textiles act as an important element to hold and give meaning to their culture.  The Hindu religion is where the people derive their sense of harmony in their lives. It is a place of balance, the place between opposites constantly being held to. Next time Boroburdur (a Buddhist temple, stupa monument) on the island of Java an hour air flight away.