A GLANCE AT LEATHER PUPPET SHADOW PLAY

Wayang kulit is a traditional Leather puppet-shadow play found in the culture of Javanese, Indonesia. In a wayang kulit performance, the puppet figures are rear-projected on a taut linen screen with a coconut-oil (or electric) light. The Dalang (Puppeteer) manipulates carved leather figures between the lamp and the screen to bring the shadows to life.

The stage of a wayang performance includes several components. A stretched linen canvas (kelir) acted as a canvas, dividing the dalang (puppeteer) and the spectator. A coconut-oil lamp (Javanese blencong or Balinese damar) – which in modern time usually replaced with electric light – casts shadow onto the screen. A banana trunk lies on the ground between the screen and the dalang, where the figures are stick to hold them in place.

The Puppeteer in a complete dress

The musicians sit behind the dalang in a gamelan orchestra setting, an integral part of the Javanese wayang kulit performance.

Part of the music orchestra

The performance is also accompanied with female singers (pesinden) and male singers (wirasuara).

 

A traditional wayang kulit performance begins after dark. The first of the three phases, in which the characters are introduced and the conflict is launched, lasts until midnight. The battles and intrigues of the second phase are about three hours. The third phase of reconciliation and friendship is finished at dawn. Wikipedia

 

 

The female singers in their traditional costums

 

THE GREATEST STORYTELLING TRADITION. Wonderful Indonesia

Although the audience watches the story unfold in shadows of figures thrown from behind the screen, the characters of the play are not mere puppets, but are in fact crafted of very finely cut and carved untanned leather which are then beautifully painted over. For this reason, in Indonesia, the performance is called Wayang Kulit, or the Wayang Leather puppet performance, to distinguish it from other forms of wayang puppets that may be made of wood, for example.

Wayang stories are usually taken from episodes of the Hindu classic sagas of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. These stories are not only entertaining but, moreover, teach lofty values and contain deep philosophical thoughts. Accompanied by the remarkable live music of the Javanese gamelan percussion orchestra, Wayang Kulit performances are always present during folk festivities and significant events such at births, weddings, or other celebrations, and lasts the whole night. The particular story presented and messages conveyed are usually relevant to the event.

The Dalang in action

Wayang stories involve moral and ethical dilemmas faced by the characters in their journey through life, love, and war. The stories are about good versus evil, but more than that, they contemplate the existential struggle between right and wrong. They are about the pursuit of living a virtuous, noble life and the search for meaning in life.

The Wayang-themed activities encourage further exploration of moral life goals, integrity, sense of responsibility, perseverance and care for others. For example, making wayang puppets (menatah) would require patience and motivation to do better, and improve oneself. Playing the puppets (mendalang) also tells a moral story that intends to enlighten as well as entertain. Wonderful Indonesia

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The Celebration

TODAY IS MY BLOG 5th ANNIVERSARY

Dear WordPress.com,

I didn’t realize that time passed so quickly.  My blog is 5 years old now.

On this day, I’m grateful for the wonderful WordPress.com that I can step ahead into the 6th year of blogging. I am so impressed with its Blogging Community I have found and all of the inspiration and support I get from my fellow bloggers. So from the bottom of my heart, to each of my readers, followers and likers. You have held me up, offered validation and positive reinforcement, have responded wonderfully to my bare-bones honesty, I am so grateful.

this is me 65 yo

 

back beauty

 

Hellooooo …. is it me ?

 

the world is beautiful

 

cannonball flower

 

Thank you WordPress.com

 

 

BETTA AMAZING BEAUTY

This post today is about Siamesse fighting fish which is often called  Betta splendens.

The species is native to Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietman and can be found in standing waters of canals, rice paddies and floodplains.

B. splendens usually grows to a length of about 6.5 cm (2.6 in). Although aquarium specimens are widely known for their brilliant colours and large, flowing fins, the natural coloration of B. splendens are generally dull green, brown and grey, and the fins of wild specimens are short. In captivity, they have been selectively bred to display a vibrant array of colours and tail types. (Wikipedia).

Enjoy the beauties of some of them from my photography.

WILTING MOMENT

THE WILTING MOMENT

I know
It is really hurt
Part by part fell apart
Wisdom of the wind
The gift of mother nature
The perfect harmony for livings.

May 20. 2017

JUST PHOTOS

My dear friends, “If my words are just nothing then I won’t write them down”.

Just photos.

FLOWER

I am always confused by so many flowers even a single one is beautiful

WILD CANE

Between sky and wind, Wild cane never stop dancing

LANDCARVING

God created the world and Men carved it to live with

RAY OF LIGHT

The moon and year pass and disappear forever, but the most beautiful moments shine through the ray of light.

THE MIST

I am always amazed by the mist, they are housing many mysteries.

Posted for all beloved Blogger friends at WordPress.

GETTING DOWN LOW IN THE FOREST (Part2)

I hope you still remember about one of our hobbies told in my previous post Click here . And this is the continuation of our journey in to the forest.

This was our mushroom hunting preparation

One of our fellow in action

THESE ARE THE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN DURING HUNTING

I hope you enjoy them

Mushrooms in the misty forest

Mushroom in red light

The most beautiful mushroom growing on a fallen fruit

A gigantic one among others

Mushroom in close up

Mushrooms in close up

Artistic Mushrooms

On its nature

Tiny Mushroom in close up

Mushrooms in art

Thank you for visiting

🙂 🙂 🙂

THE MIST THE RAY OF LIGHT AND THE OLD FIREWOOD COLLECTOR

The misty lake is always store the beauty and mystery. I have already been there, sitting by the edge of the silence water front for almost an hour before dawn. When the Sunlight started glowing behind the mountain I saw the silhouette of of its shape, then step by step the scene getting more clear just like what I saw as a start show of a movie in the theater.

 

I stared around widening my eyes at every single point and wondered why I couldn’t see the mist above the water – where the legendary mist that many people told are.

Oh,… Wow! there it is, as soon as the light was about 60 o Centigrade above the earth, they flew over the water surface.  I was fascinated and stunned by my own fantasy, an Evil came out of the water with its long fingernails and large fangs swam toward me so fast. I was shocked and run backward – fell into the shrubs and my eyes were blinded slowly till I saw nothing.

 

Consciousness regained a few minutes later. I looked around no one but beautiful ray of lights attracted me to get up quickly. I kept standing there speechless and amazed.  The golden rays of lights shining from the crevices of trees and leaves down on to the water, glittering into many colors; orange, yellow, and red.

While I dance with the Rays Of Lights, I heard someone greeting me ” Good Morning Sir” He was standing so close to me and I didn’t even knew where he came from. I stopped dancing and ask him who he was. He looked up the sky for a moment and said that he was from there, the dense forest on the mountain as he pointed out the forest in front of me.

I came here for you, there maybe some thing I can do for you, he said.   Oh no,… I just came here to watch the mist and the rays of lights, I responded.  He smile gently, Come with me, we can have some hot coffee to warm up from chilly air here.

 

When we walked toward a direction, I saw a little old house not far from the lake. I asked him if that was his house. He said No. that belongs to an old man who has been here very long, an old firewood collector but he has never talked to people even none knows where the wood he collected had gone to…. So strange…. My nape chilled. We  silence till my questions broke it up. Where is the old man? we didn’t see any one in this house didn’t we?.. No we wont see him.

That old man leaves the house before dawn and returns home with the firewood at an Eagle sounds, almost at midday the eagle usually fly around for the prey every day. then the old man goes back to the woods until Sunset.

And what about you?.. I asked him again… what do you do in here? He told me that he just do fishing with his rickety bamboo raft once in a while.

 

I was quite enjoyed chatting with him and drunk the coffee he made until I realized that the sun is nearly above our heads. As soon as we finished the coffee, I said that I had to go back home. He smiled gently at me and said; Let us finish our coffee, toasted. Just in an eyes blink he was disappeared, the mug he held was fell down the ground and the one I hold vanished nowhere. I stood up and back off, and run as fast as I could, I wanted to scream but I couldn’t. My foot was stumbled on a big root of a tree and I fell down unconscious.

***