The Barong is a ludicrously excited dragon-dog who likes to shake his groove thing in the street and bless the entryways of businesses; all this to the accompaniment of a gong orchestra (much like myself, ergo our mutual liking). During the festival of Galungan, this Hindu character appears in the alleys daily, dancing his silly dance at a snail's pace.

In reality, his costume carcass is inhabited by 2 or 3 local boys, usually teenagers or younger, with a further complement of kids banging gongs and noisemakers to highlight the show and forewarn the neighbors. The musicians are always anxious to rotate places back inside the Barong, especially in the head, and revel in taunting and snapping at and chasing any passers-by. The Barong seemed particularly fond of trying to eat my camera. It's a little hard to focus one's camera on the Barong when he's 1 inch from your nose and spasming violently. I needed an elephant dart full of Ritalin.

Musicians for a Barong procession, Ubud © Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli