The Stormbird Blog

Nyepi

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Nyepi is the Balinese 'Day of Silence' which marks the start of the Balinese Hindu (lunar) New Year. Nyepi falls on the first dark moon after the vernal equinox. It is preceded by several days of 'High Ceremony', Balinese style.
In the Melasti ritual, the sacred objects from all temples are taken to the ocean, lake or river, in long colourful processions. Here, they are blessed and cleansed by the god Baruna before being taken back to their shrines.
The day before Nyepi sees the Bhuta Yajna ritual performed. Villagers perform large exorcism ceremonies at the crossroads of their village, which is the meeting place of demons. Huge demonic statues, made of bamboo, paper and cement glue and called Ogoh-ogho have been constructed. These are paraded about, and after dark are set on fire in the Ngrupuk ceremony, thus expunging the demons from our lives for another year.
Nyepi day itself is a remarkable occurence in our modern world. For 24 hours the entire island of Bali is engulfed by silence and stillness. No travel, no fires, no light, no work, no entertainment. Even Bali International Airport is closed. Tourists are required to remain in their hotels and the streets are totally deserted apart from the ubiquitous stray dogs. It is designated to be a time of meditation and reflection. It is believed to be a way of 'tricking' the demons who may be passing over into thinking there is no one here, so they would blithely go on their way.
The day after Nyepi is Ngembak Geni, in which all Hindus visit each other to ask and gain forgiveness for wrongs, and celebrate the coming of the new year.

In this satellite image you can see the curiously dark region between Java and Lombok during Nyepi

Man on Moon

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0800

Can you believe it? It's been 40 years since Neil Armstrong stepped foot on our moon, on this day back in 1969. At that time I was in primary school at Merredin, Western Australia. They brought the whole school into the assembly room and showed the moon landing on a tiny black and white tv in one corner. At that time we were just starting to notice the girls too. It was a time of beginnings, discovery and hope...
Last night at sunset we watched the International Space Station passover. It was exciting to see as it sped by high above the beach upon which we stood. Check heavens-above.com for when you can see it. I love that thing, it goes so fast, and there's people in it ! In space !!!

Komodo National Park

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0800

Just returned from an interesting few days in the islands of Komodo in the east of the Indonesian archipelago. Home of the Komodo Dragon, the world's largest lizard, Komodo National Park, a World Heritage Site, also hosts some of the best diving spots anywhere on the planet. The park is managed by PNK, an innovative collaborative management initiative involving a joint venture between the world's largest ecology driven NGO, The Nature Conservancy, and local business interests. Their three-pronged charter resolves to preserve the natural treasures of the area, establish non-destructive livelihood alternatives for the local residents of the park, and develop a self-sustaining financial future through promoting responsible eco-tourism. A forthcoming documentary will tell the story of the trials and triumphs of this ambitious plan.

Accompanied by Steve, my intrepid 2nd unit cameraman, we flew from Bali to Labuan Bajo, a busy fishing village on the west coast of Flores. From here, access to the 'Kingdom of the Dragon' is by boat across the surging, turbulent waters surrounding these ancient and dramatic islands. During our stay we visited Komodo Village, where life goes on much as it has for hundreds of years, trekked through verdant jungle in search of the native wildlife, slept in huts raised on stilts above the reach of hungry jaws, and met European tourists from a cruise ship anchored in the sheltered bay of Loh Liang. It's my third visit to this mysterious and Jurassic realm and it's always a fascinating and memorable journey. We have plans to visit several more times this year. Visit this site to learn more about Komodo National Park's management plan.

New York, New York

Thu, 7 Dec 2006 00:00:00 +0800

Stormbird Media is pleased to announce the opening of an office in New York City. The facility which includes the latest FCP editing platform will foster relationships and co-ordinate projects between clients in New York and Stormbird's international partners. Speaking from Bali, Stormbird chief Dean Allan Tolhurst had this to say. "New York is one of my favorite cities in the world. The opportunity to expand our style of operation into this arena is something we've been working on for some time. With the latest advances in technology and communication, we are embracing the idea of the 'global village' as it can apply to the art of film-making."  Stormbird NY is headed by former MTV producer Jason Braunstein, who has also worked extensively in SE Asia and is a regular visitor to Bali. Mr. Braunstein says, "You know, there are many connections between Manhattan and Bali. Though at opposite ends of the earth, they are two islands which are slightly out of step with the rest of their nation. Both have suffered major terrorist attacks and have come to terms with it. And they are both places where you can buy a bottle of wine at four in the morning."
Tolhurst adds, "The highly spiritual way of life in Balinese society when compared to the commercial prowess of New York is a good example of the principle of duality in life. When the opposing values such as light and darkness, yin and yang, rest and activity, are brought into perfect balance - the result can be harmony and peace. I believe the people of New York and Bali have a lot to offer each other."
You can contact our new New York, New York office here.