"Tahk! Tahk! Tahk! Tahk!" The faint sound of rhythmic chanting can be heard in the distance. The sun rays are just beginning to cast a silver glow on the horizon of the Indian Ocean. Hundreds of tourists with cameras wait on steel risers surrounding a stage. "Tahk! Tahk! Tahk!" the chanting gets louder. The energy builds. Balinese men enter in a single file line marching to the fast and steady beat they create with the tips of their tongues.
The teenage boys wave their hands enthusiastically. The veterans with worn skin and wandering eyes clap habitually. The ensemble traditionally has at least 150 men.
Kecak Dance is an abbreviated version of a Balinese trance ritual called Sanghyang which originated as a powerful form of prayer to one's ancestors. Now every night a snippet of it is performed at 6 pm at the majestic Uluwatu Temple hugging the Southern tip of the island.
Be warned: the performance contains elements clearly incorporated for tourists. At one point, a man in a furry monkey suit actually pull members of the audience onto the stage for a twirl. Spectacle aside, the men welcoming the sun set over one of the most sacred spots in Bali is a moment that maintains its power regardless of who's watching.
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