Mardika's for dinner...

Last night Mardika, the Dalang (puppet master) from Sukiwati invited us over for dinner. Traditional Balinese family dinner. It was so warm, fun, and full of laughter. The highlight of the evening was singing kareoke with the family, including some classic Balinese pop songs, Bollywood hits, and Celine Dion (the Canadian's amongst us sweld with pride).

The table of food...

Here are his puppets all hanging up...


These ones are unfinished (note the beautiful Tree of Life)...

Loads of kiddies and wee Balinese bebes...


Eating with the family...


And of course the kareoke...


Raising the roof...


So Bali, how deep is your love?

This would be Canadian pride, eh? (Michael and Ines, theatre practitioners from Toronto)...

Oh, of course, that Indian classic, you know, the one that goes "Kya Karoon Haye, Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai"? I guess not...

Good night was had by all! It was wonderful to experience the family community- aunties, uncles, cousins- generations of Balinese performance practitioners, all eating, sharing, and having a great time. Turns out that all my soul searching to uncover the notion of a universal language has been solved- move over Peter Brook, it's called the Gesture of Kareoke. There. Research paper, done. Boom.