I grab the yoga mat, a bolster and my iPhone, gently let Hamish down by ending his belly rub and let him follow me to the pool while I set up to meditate. I assume the position and the timer begins. I feel a paw on my leg, then I feel a paw on my hand. I open my eyes and Hamish is on his back again and his paw is tapping my hand waiting for a belly rub.
Then I hear the most piercing noise I've ever heard. I hear screaming and screeching, like something is running for it's life. An animal is dying in a garden behind me or next to me and it sounds like a pig. It definitely sounds like a pig.
Galungan... Wednesday is the beginning of Galungan.
Galungan is a Balinese holiday that occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days. Kuningan is the last day of the holiday. Galungan means "When the Dharma is winning." During this holiday the Balinese gods visit the Earth and leave on Kuningan. The decorations are being built all over Ubud and in my head I'm already planning when I can go out in the morning to take pictures. Right now I'm in denial about the pig screeching, so I text Wayan for confirmation. "Hi my friend! Are u home? Can you hear that animal noise? What is that?". As I hit the send button Wayan walks into the garden, "Hello my friend - how are you?" she says.
"I was just texting you. Did you hear that noise?" Wayan doesn't seem to know what noise I'm talking about so I try to imitate it, "It was like EEEwwwweeeccchhh" I screech. Wayan starts cracking up. She still doesn't know what I'm talking about. I'm sure it will happen again so I decide to be patient and wait. Wayan and I head to the bedroom to look at the new Kabaya, sash and sarong I bought for Galungan. She has invited me to the temple with her family and then to her house for the the beginning of Galungan. Everyone will go to their village temple with their family to pray in the morning. The ceremonial dress for woman is a long fitted lace or cotton traditional Balinese blouse called a "Kebaya" worn with a sash around the waist and sarong. Since I'm going to temple with Wayan's family and then back to her house after I went out and bought a really pretty outfit. I was so touched and excited she invited me with her family, I have a real occasion to wear it all.
As we're checking out the outfit in the bedroom I hear it again. "Eeeewwwwhhheeewwww...eeeeecccchhhhh". The loud screaming of an animal in pain.
"That sound" I say to Wayan. "Oh that, yes" she replies, "that's a pig". All I can say is, "what are they doing?" I think I already know the answer but I have to ask.
"They are probably chasing it around trying to chase it's hoofs together" and she makes the gesture of hooves tied together, "so tomorrow they can" and she takes her finger to her neck showing me the international sign for slitting it's throat. All I can say is, " I was afraid of that". Wayan says, "he's probably squealing because he knows they are going to slit his throat. " and she giggles a little, she's gently laughing at the look on my face. "Don't worry Jen, they not do it now, they maybe do it tonight around 3-4 in the morning." That's not reassuring to me. You have no idea how close it sounds - like it's happening in the backyard. "Ugh" and I make another face. Wayan laughs at me, " you like pig Jen?" All I can say is, " I did like pig, now not so much, it's a little too close for comfort". Then Wayan starts teasing me about Wednesday when someone offers me pig on Wednesday and all I can think about is the shrieking I heard today. As we walk out of the gate together she's still teasing me about hearing the pig in the middle of the night. When we part ways we both giggle and say, "Mimpi Manis Pig". (sweet dreams)
That night I didn't hear another sound from the neighbors pig. When I asked Cat about it she confirmed that, yes, they were slaughtering they pig, Wayan just didn't want to upset me. It's Galungan...
 |
| Hamish |
No comments:
Post a Comment