One of two great Hindu sagas is entitled the Ramayana, the story of ancient Prince Rama, and numerous traditional dances have sprung from snippits of the story. This performance of the Kechak Fire and Trance Dance at the Pura Dalem Temple in Ubud manifested my most vivid preconceptions of what the Exotic East would be like. The stylized dance recounts the hunting of a golden deer and the mischievous antics of the Monkey-god, Hanuman. Any religion which elevates monkeys to god status is OK in my book. I don't believe there were ANY chimpanzees chronicled in the New Testament, not even a spider monkey. Give me a break.

© Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli