"Gong Xi Buleleng!" (Sonic Documentary / Chinese New Year 2020, Buleleng, Bali)

on 24-25 January 2020, just before the pandemic hit the world, I visited Klenteng Ling Gwan Kiong, Buleleng, to record the soundscape of Chinese New Year atmosphere. It was an amazing night, thousand of Chinese people in north part of Bali celebrate the Chinese New Year in this old, historical and famous temple. What was amazed me is also the fact that during the new year ceremony / ritual, there was two music ensemble: first is traditional Chinese Barongsai ensemble, the second one is the north Balinese style sekehe Gong Kebyar. Its become a long tradition of the cultural relation between Balinese and Chinese, as we seen also in many form, such as Uang Kepeng, or a Chinese Traditional coin that used by Balinese in their Hindu ritual. That night was a wonderful night, the harmony of Barongsai, Sekehe Gong, people, struck my feeling as a Javanese. Sound and image recorded by Gardika Gigih Edited, mixed and mastered by Gardika Gigih