Embedded Files
notes and reflections from the field
Here are the latest activities and happenings in our class...
Here are the latest activities and happenings in our class...
Playlist of recordings by musicians of Mekar Bhuana Gamelan and Dance Centre where we are doing a lot of our studies.
Final Week in Bali
By Amarin
The final week of this Maymester included experiencing life in Bali with limited tourism as well as visiting cities known for tourist attractions. One of the most eye opening experiences was the homestay. Each student was paired with a host and we lived in their homes for a night; we engaged with family members and participated in community activities such as creating a natural herbal tea with the organic plants grown in the village. I found this experience extremely valuable as I got to understand Balinese culture and the community in the village outside urban life. This village had welcoming community members and this experienced offered quiet and slow mornings, and many, many chickens.
The next day, we visited Uluwatu which is one of the most popular cities for tourist attractions. We explored a popular beach (Suluban) with plenty of monkeys and beautiful cliffs. We then attended a traditional Kecak performance at a temple. As Kazu mentioned, the temple was “monkey theft level 5” which was completely accurate; monkeys were stealing many glasses! After watching the sunset, we experienced a live Kecak performance. This was very exciting as we had learned the basics of Kecak during the first week of this Maymester. It was an entertaining performance and allowed me to feel connected with the culture having had this opportunity to learn the background of this tradition.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to understand, experience, and connect with the beautiful Balinese culture. This journey allowed me to take a step back, soak in the moment, and reflect on my experience as a tourist. One of the main observations and themes I noticed was simplicity in Balinese life. Seeing friends gathering and relaxing on their motorbikes, flying kites, and coloring together reinforced the importance of community. This connection and simplicity in life inspires me to adopt some of these practices. From watching professional performances, performing traditional Gamelan instruments and dances, and immersing ourselves in the “simple life,” I deeply appreciate the culture, community, and dedication to their craft in all aspects of life.
This is a picture of my host and I for the homestay before the community performance!
Dinner photo after Kecak performance in Uluwatu!
Sunset, monkeys, and kecak performance at Uluwatu
IMG_0471.MOV
With our homestay families at Tajen Village
Nasi goreng, satay, and eggs for breakfast
May 30, 2026 - Homestay Adventures and lots of Jamming
By Taylor
After spending the night tucked in bed at our respective homestays, it's safe to say we all woke up at the crack of dawn with the roosters' crow. Not to worry, as there was PLENTY on our to-do list. A few of us were able to attend sunrise yoga with Pak Gusti, where he imparted his wisdom on the importance of laughter to make it through life (with many of us needing it after our first squat toilets). After which, I was able to spend the morning with my homestay grandpa who made us some amazing eggs fresh from his hens, nasi goreng, satay, and pisang goreng (my favorite). We learned how to make jamu as a second breakfast treat, fed the cows, and sowed from the garden to make Lak Lak. Unfortunately, after lunch, it was time to say goodbye to our homestay families and head off to Canggu to the Jiwa Community garden. It was a cool switch-up that showed how us how land on an overexpanding tourist hub can be adapted to better suit the people. And of course, I have to add, we ended the night with the best jam session yet- karaoke night to Love On Top by Beyonce.
Nima Video.mp4Student performance with Mekar Bhuana
May 27, 2026 - Final Student Performance with Mekar Bhuana
By Nima
Today was the day that we all had worked so hard for! It was showtime for our gamelan performance, featuring our group and Mekar Bhauna’s group. We played 4 pieces, specifically an instrumental piece, a horse dance, a female dance, and a comical dance (best dance). We both got to dance and play an instrument, so we were fortunate to have the whole package! However, let’s get to the important moments of my day today! First, my classmates and I went to the Mekar Bhauna Centre and made our offerings for the stage to create a decorative, wholesome look!! Then, we had free time for a couple of hours, so I went to Gold Street in Denpasar, and I got my mom a necklace, which was really fulfilling!
Gold necklace that I looked at
Nima and Professor Fry in comical costume fit
After that, I headed back to Mekar Bhauna and rehearsed my comical dance with Professor Fry as well as some instrument pieces before putting on my costume and makeup! The time had come for us to perform, and we delivered. We started with an instrumental piece before alternating with Mekar Bhauna’s group throughout the night. Then, it was followed by a female dance, a horse dance, and a comical dance for our group! As a comical dancer, my goal was to entertain and follow a childish, silly persona in contrast to Professor Fry’s old man, grumpy vibe, so I was running around making noises and even used some improvisation to get the audience engaged. Overall, it was beautiful seeing gamelan at its finest with the combination of music, storytelling, dance, prestige, and us having fun!
May 26, 2026 - Surrounded by music, dolphins and kids!
By Gauri
We have truly built a connection with everything here – the music, the dolphins and the kids! The immense passion for music and growing talent continues to surprise us as we meet the upcoming band Manja! Learning about their story and how they turned a musical concept of “counterpoint” into an inspiration for their music and life story was truly fascinating. And while Lovina Beach had us waking up at 4:30 AM, swimming with the dolphins was truly a dream come true. And music didn’t stop here – with the waves crashing compared to the beautiful silence under the ocean, sound follows us everywhere and makes us feel alive. As a side quest, we tried befriending the kids at the beach but they were slightly judging us for our low skillset in kite-flying…maybe next time the kite will actually fly!
Topeng (mask) dance
May 22, 2026 - The many layers of cultural immersion
By Macire
This week in Bali has been all about performance, preparation, and immersing ourselves deeper into Balinese culture. As we prepare for our final class performance at the Mekar Bhuana Centre, we have been spending a lot of time practicing both dance and gamelan as a group. One of the most exciting experiences this week was participating in a mask workshop, where we learned how dancers fully transform into different characters while wearing masks. It was fascinating to see how posture, facial direction, and movement alone can completely change a performance, even when the dancer’s real face is hidden.
For our class performance, we have been divided into different dance groups. Two students are performing the clown or comedic dances, four are doing the horse dance, and eight of us, including me, are performing the female dance. We have also been alternating between dancing and playing gamelan during rehearsals, which has helped us better understand how connected the music and movement are within Balinese performance traditions.
This week, we also watched three incredible performances that have been some of my favorites so far: the mask performance, the gamelan performance, and the Semara Kirang performance. What has made these experiences especially meaningful is that we often learn and practice elements of the performances earlier in the day before watching professionals perform them at night. Because of this, I feel much more personally connected to the art forms and can better appreciate the level of skill, discipline, and storytelling involved. Watching the professionals after attempting the performances ourselves has given me an even deeper respect for Balinese culture and performance traditions.
Learning to play the Gambang ensemble
With the Mekar Bhuana musicians and Topeng dancer Bayu after an amazing performance!
May 21, 2026 - Coffee tasting in Ubud, cyclical rhythms, and beach day in Canggu
By Charlotte
Today, we had a shorter, 2 hour class at Mekar Bhuana. I woke up early at around 8 and decided to do a coffee tasting at a plantation near Ubud before class. It was incredibly serene, and the tasting, which consisted of about 8 teas, 5 coffees, and 2 hot cocoas, ended up being free. The luwak coffee was super strong and flavorful, and was one of my favorites (which is the famous one they feed to civets before they excrete it out) as well as avocado coffee and mangosteen tea. I ended up purchasing multiple bags to bring back home to my family, and was pretty accidentally wired off caffeine for class after having a whole tasting to myself. Class consisted of practicing our performances and learning a new, more traditional gamelan piece, which was interesting and slightly difficult. It had a more cyclic rhythm that was a bit harder to count than the more contemporary compositions we’ve been learning for our performance. After class I checked out a beautiful beach club in Canggu and swam in the ocean, which was shockingly warm. It also had grey/black sand!
Coffee tasting experience
Charlotte_vid.mp4
Hanging out in Canggu
May 20, 2026 - Notes from our second week with Mekar Bhuana
By Chenaniah
This week we dived deeper into different ensembles of balinese music. On Monday we watched a mask performance. In this performance there was one male dancer, and he had three different segments. The most notable two were when he played an old man and a jokester. In these performances he brought people on stage to participate which made it very interactive. We had a short day on Tuesday. At first we did some gamelan sessions, and then we had free time. For my free time I went and got food at Bread Yard and went to the spa. The spas in Bali are so pretty. Today, Wednesday, we had a full day of practice for our upcoming performance. In the morning we danced, and in the afternoon we played gamelan. To end the day we watched another performance at Mekar Bhuana. This performance featured the bamboo instruments. They played many pieces.
Gambang performance at Mekar Bhuana
May 19, 2026 - Music, food, and some relaxation
By Anita
My day began with a brief Vanderbilt class session before heading over to Mekar Bhuana for our gamelan and gambang workshop. Lunch was yummy homemade chicken pizza, sandwiches, and fresh fruits. We then had a free afternoon, where we could explore Bali further. For me, I chose a relaxing spa day (duh) with Nima and Cheneniah… but before the spa, we made a couple of pit stops:First, I visited a famous gem store in Denpasar, since I heard that precious stones are very popular in Bali. The owner is a funny man, who taught me a lot about rubies and emeralds.
Next, we went to the viral cafe Breadyard in Seminyak. The traffic there was crazy, and I did witness a car crash with a motorcycle; however, before I even comprehended what happened, the motorcycle driver got up, and drove away.
At Breadyard, I ordered the bruschetta pasta, which was phenomenal! They didn’t have fresh apple juice, though 🙁Regardless, I am noticing that the pastas in Bali are cooked to perfection 🙂
Now time for the main theme of the day: spa. We decided to walk there, which took about 25 minutes. Thank goodness there were sidewalks! On the way there, we stopped by a juice store, and I finally got my fresh apple juice for 50K (USD $2.82).
The spa I chose today is [The Routine], located in the heart of Seminyak. The night ended with a calming, 1.5 hour long, Japanese head spa for me, and I feel rejuvenated. I am ready for more music tomorrow!
May 17, 2026 - First Week with Mekar Bhuana Gamelan and Dance Centre, Kesiman Kertalangu
By Aminat
Bali has been so fun so far! We have already learned so much about the culture here. We got to learn about puppeteering, gamelan, and the various cultural dances they do here. We have also got to explore a lot. I have gotten to see the monkeys, practice my haggling skills at the market, zip line over the rice terrace, ride an atv through the jungle, and more! This maymester is off to a great start and I can’t wait to see what we learn and do next!
May 16, 2026 - Sukawati Market and Tirta Empul, Gianyar
By Brooklyn
Today was such a fun day in Bali. We started our morning practicing our bargaining skills at Sukawati Market. Each student was given 350 thousand to support the local sellers. A lot of us bought clothes, art, and toys.
After a few hours at the market, we went to Pura Tirta Empul. We had a wonderful guide who taught us how to do a traditional Hindu prayer to nature. Our guide explained how the prayers honored three different elements, and during the purification ritual we prayed for our minds and bodies. We used offerings filled with colorful flowers during the prayer.
Then we went into the purification pools. There were 13 fountains in the pool, all filled with natural spring water. At each fountain, you were supposed to make a prayer. After the prayer, you washed your face three times with the fountain water and then dunked your head underneath it. My favorite part was the fish swimming alongside us in the spring water. There was one fountain that represented sleep troubles, and a lot of us students spent extra time underneath that one!
We ended the night at the old SIT location for dinner and celebrated Dr. Miranda’s birthday. We practiced our gamelan around the table and ate delicious food!
May 11, 2026 - Scavenger Hunt Activity in Ubud
By Aaryn
A few days ago, our group visited Ubud, Bali. With an aim to complete our scavenger hunt task, a few group members and I went to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. This was a highlight for me because I am very interested in animal culture and how their presence affects the day to day lives of locals and tourists. There were a variety of monkeys from newborns to adults/elders. The monkeys had an enormous amount of space to play, eat, and interact. Unlike many zoos, exhibits or even some sanctuaries in the U.S., this monkey forest is catered towards the wellbeing and development of the monkeys. Their variety of trees, food, company (human and other monkeys), and water sources allow them to grow up in a safe, natural habitat, while still helping with Bali's tourism due to their willingness to interact with human life. This was such a wonderful experience for a minimal expense.
At the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud.
After the monkey forest, our small group visited the Ubud Water Temple. This was another site on the scavenger hunt list and entry cost about $1.50 USD. There were various fountains, statutions, monuments, masks, art, and sacred structures. Every individual must dress in a purple robe and sarong before entering. There was so much beauty and peace to take in. Just walking through the temple really added to the wonders of the Ubud experience!
I Wayan Dibia's GEOKS Art Space
May 11, 2026 - GEOKS Art Space, Singapadu, Gianyar
By Anissa
Selamat pagi! (Good morning!)
We’ve spent our first few days here in Bali getting oriented to the rich culture. This has included learning basic Bahasa Indonesia, riding on the back of a motorbike taxi for the first time, and having our first lesson in kecak. Kecak is a form of dance paired with rhythmic, interlocking vocals and storytelling. Below is a picture of the studio where we had our introduction to kecak from the renowned dancer and ethnomusicologist I Wayan Dibia. Some of the pictures on the walls feature his parents, who were also dancers.
One of my biggest takeaways from our time on the island so far is the interconnected nature of theater, puppetry, dance, and music. The masters of each individual craft that we’ve had the privilege to meet have also built their skills in the other art forms. They emphasized the need for dancers to understand melodic phrases and for musicians to study dramatic timing. Together, they can create highly spiritual and moving works of art.
GEOKS kecak intro.mp4Our first attempt at kecak with Pak Dibia!
May 8-9, 2026 - Taipei Airport Terminal
By Isi (Dr. Miranda)
Some of us made the trans-Pacific journey together via the Taiwanese airline China Air from Seattle to Taipei. The food was good and the crew very welcoming. One of the quirky musical moments for me was the muzak in the lavatories! I recognized some of the '80s ballads, and I was tempted to do an impromptu karaoke. It reminded me of the solo-karaoke booths that they have in Japan -- I've never been in one, but I imagine the feeling of being in it and singing your heart out without a care in the world.
After about a thirteen-hour flight, we were eager to stretch our legs and explore the terminal with its many shops and rich soundscape. Traveling halfway across the world, my excitement is tempered by feelings of confusion and a lost sense of time. Where are we now? When is it? Today is tomorrow for those back home--isn't that crazy?!
Here we are, a bit more refreshed and eager to complete our journey to Bali.
Dr. Fry chilling beneath some children's art from around the world framed as stamps.
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