Discovering Myself in Uluwatu

Unexpectedly, the most beautiful sunset wasn't at Jimbaran or on the beaches of Uluwatu, but during the Kecak fire dance performance in Uluwatu. Inspired in my teens, I named myself Sita, thinking it was a self-created term. At 16, I traveled to India and discovered it was the name of a goddess from a well-known Southeast Asian mythological epic. Now in Indonesia, I wanted to see the story about 'myself' firsthand. The Kecak fire dance tells the story of Sita and her husband Rama, and how she was kidnapped by Ravana and taken to present-day Sri Lanka, only to be rescued with the help of Hanuman and returned to India. Important notes: Uluwatu is a commercial tourist area, and the performance lasts only an hour, which is quite short. Upon arrival, you need to queue, and nearby monkeys might snatch your belongings. Interestingly, I met 'compatriots' from Tamil Nadu, India (home of the Isha Center), whose Tamil accent I am very familiar with. The monkeys' nemesis must be the Indian brothers, as they sang monkey hymns upon entering, scaring the monkeys into submission. It's like educating little kids, a definite bloodline suppression. There's a parking fee and entrance ticket for the temple. After seeing the monkeys inside, many people queue to buy fire dance tickets, and then you can enter. I chose the evening show. The weather is extremely hot, so remember to bring two bottles of ice water, an umbrella, and sunscreen. Many people enter an hour early to secure a spot, meaning you'll be under the sun for two hours before sunset. Be prepared. However, witnessing the sunset and performance is truly worth it, as if I connected with Sita and had a conversation with her. #RamaAndSita #Ramayana #India #Indonesia #Nepal #Uluwatu #Temple #DancePerformance #CulturalStudyTour #TravelAndYoga #YogaTeacherLife #MostBeautifulSunset #BaliKecakFireDance #MyYearEndPhoto #SoutheastAsianTraditionalAttire #TraditionalCulture #MyTravelDiary #WorldTour #MyUniqueTravelGuide #OffbeatTravel #EmpoweredWomen