BaKCEX Veteran Stories – Read

Stories from people who have experienced Bali Kite Culture.

5 entries.
Maggie from Singapore wrote on May 20, 2018
Awesome Bali!
Invitation to Bali IKF 2017, was a wonderful journey filled with anxiety. Upon arrival on the airport runway, I could vividly remembered seeing kites flown at afar distance. Followed by the prompt pickup that drove my son and I straight to the opening dinner. We were pleased to be received by Andreas Agren together with others kiting family. After dinner, we were whisked back to our resort,where my beautiful room awaits us at SUKUN COTTAGES.
My journey begins....kite field.
Bali local kite festival starts from July to Sept yearly. Year 2017 was known to be held again both internationally and locally. International Kites were beautifully up on the first day with constant wind till evening. Second day was the opening segment for the local kite flyers, we embraced the ceremony with the locals who were beautifully dressed in traditional sarong and costumes. The background was livened up with music, prayers and their creation of kites. Young and old both neatly demonstrating carrying those heavy Bebean and Janggan Kites out from their transportation. All readily to compete with one another.I was watching immensely with excitement, admiring the colours and design of each kite.
Looking at how teamwork was being shared with young and old, was a challenge - as to how the task of assembling and skill flying of their local kites. Generally the little children of about 4years old already had knowlege of pulling the kiteline, helping their grandparents or parents as they move along with their creation. That very minute of kiting spirit flashes in my mind, that will never happen in my homeland.
Bali, a festival with good wind, great hospitality, great kiting community was indeed an eye opener for me relating the bonding of the local kite flyers and each individuals. Nevertheless, had been sharing my experience with friends and family about Bali Kite Festival, this is a 'must-go' kite festival!!
My heartfelt thanks to Andreas Agren and Kadek Armika, Kadek Suprapta, Made Madra for hosting my family in Sanur - Bali.
Yarden Yap from Singapore wrote on May 19, 2018
Bali is a relaxing, fun place to fly. I am happy to be invited with my family to Bali International Kite Festival. I would like to say thank you to Uncle Andreas Agren and Uncle Kardek Armika for giving me the pleasure to participate & performed during the opening ceremony of the festival in 2017. It was really a memorable experience watching the local children kite flyers competing with one another. Their kite was so much heavier than mine😂Their kiting culture is so strong that I will never get to see in my country.
My stay in Sukun Cottage resort was amazing, with a pool just outside our villa. The staff were helpful and friendly.
The city tour had given me a chance to see the volcano and other interesting Hindu temples too. Slowly I got to learn more about their religious and culture.
It was a sad feeling when we had to depart that morning but I will remember Bali as one of the best flying place I had ever been.

I MISS BALI ...I 💙 BALI🙇
Jan Alvares from Australia wrote on May 19, 2018
Michael and I attended the 2017 Bali kite festival. It was an amazing experience. The Bali kite culture is the most wonderful and fascinating thing. Each village builds its own huge kite based on local culture. All villagers are involved in the building and/or the flying of the kite. Others play music to accompany the flying on the day. On the day the kites are flown under instructions from the judges.
The hospitality shown by Andreas and Kadek and his family was very warm and welcoming. We will certainly attend this festival again and recommend it as a must for all kite flyers.
Jan Alvares.
Jo Baker from Australia wrote on February 7, 2018
(Admin note: This entry is copied from a Facebook comment posted in August 2016 after Bali Kite Championships and Belega Kite Competition)

WOW !!!!! what a great experience to attend two of Bali's amazing Kite Competitions. We worked the dates of our trip to Bali over 2 wonderful kite weekends with 5 days in the middle for some R & R in some nice warm weather. We attended July 22 – 24 Bali Kite Championships and July 30 – 31 Belega Kite Competition.

Bali's Kite culture is so very different from the rest of the world, its traditional, religious and colorful.The Kites ( 3 different sorts) are all large and heavy and amazing that they get off the ground. Thankfully Bali has strong winds this time of the year...well most of the time. The blessing of the kites ceremony was moving, the competitions very competitive but full of respect for each other. The first thing you notice is the ages of the kite flyers.... all young athletes... the large numbers of kite flyers needed to get these large kites in the air... and the community that got behind and supported the kite flyers. We were made most welcome and it was lovely to sit back and just enjoy the atmosphere and the kites.

We learnt heaps and had a great time. Many thanks to Andreas Ågren for his organisation and invitation to such a marvelous event. I strongly urge all kite flyers to go to Bali and experience a very different side of Kiting, and there is no need to take your kites...just enjoy the locals doing what they do best.
Yoshiaki Suzuki from Japan wrote on February 7, 2018
(Admin note: This entry is copied from an email received in August 2016 after Bali Kite Championships)

We appreciate very much for your hospitality during stay in Bali.
We were surprised to see the kite competition, because number of kites, size of kites and flying skill of the kite teams.

Before seeing this kite competition, we thought that scale of the Hamamatsu kite competition was the biggest kite competition. But we recognized that Bali kite competition was bigger than Hamamatsu. We were realized that kite festival in Bali is the biggest in the world.

With your guide we could see the great kite festival. We appreciate very much for your hospitality during our stay in Bali.