Bali warmly welcomes New Year in pouring rain
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar
Parties involving thousands of people, both young and old, residents and visitors alike, dominated the New Year celebrations in Bali.
Bali has always been a special venue for many people, including the first family of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who opted to celebrate the arrival of the new year at the Tampaksiring Palace.
Everywhere on the island, from remote villages to opulent tourist spots, thousands of happy faces could be seen, hoping for the best in the coming year.
In Puputan Park, in the center of Bali's provincial capital, Denpasar, a myriad of traditional performing arts like Bleganjur (gamelan percussion orchestra) festivals, numerous local dances and music entertained the crowds.
Denpasar regent A.A. Ngurah Puspayoga marked the celebrations by hitting a kul kul, a hollow bamboo instrument. Government officials and thousands of local residents also attended an event called the Farewell to the last Sun of 2001.
Pesta Rakyat (people's party) were also held in several parts of the province, including the famous Kuta and Legian beaches. Despite heavy rains, a large number of visitors enjoyed the beauty of the sunrise on Kuta beach.
More glamorous parties were organized in most of the star hotels in Bali as well as at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park in Jimbaran, south of Denpasar.
Numerous singers from Jakarta, including Krisdayanti, Ruth Sahanaya, Chrisye and child star Tasya, who were scheduled to perform at a live event organized by Indosiar private television station, had to cancel their performances due to the heavy rain.
Foreign and domestic tourists also flooded well-known attractions such as Besakih Temple, Bedugul and Kintamani. Hundreds of local youths dressed in a variety of hip hop attire and with dyed hair flocked to village and city streets, singing and dancing throughout the night.
Everybody seemed to forget the hardship and sadness they had faced during 2001 and optimistically hoped for the best in 2002.