Makepung the Unique Buffalo Race of Bali
Makepung is an annual event which is held in Bali, Indonesia. “Makepung” is a Balinese language which can be translated as ‘chasing one-another’. Makepung game was first held in 1970’s and until now has had some changes in rules and the property. In origin, Makepung was played by the farmers during their resting farming in rice field.
The buffalo used in this game was stringed in a carriage. But today Makepung uses a pair of buffalos and a smaller size of carriage. The buffalos for this game are made-up in a more colorful and more stylish head-accessories and made like crown. Green flags are put in each side of the carriage.
Compared to other kinds of racing games, Makepung has a very unique rule. If in other race events the winner(s) is based on the first contestant got into the finish line, Makepung determines the winner from any contestant who is able to keep distance in a minimum 10m far from the contestant behind him. If the contestant in the front can’t keep the distance more than 10m, then the second contestant is the one who wins the race. One race in Makepung takes place in 8-10 minutes duration.
Makepung in Bali is divided into two blocks which separate Jembrana territory. Each blocks in Bali Makepung has their own circuit of practicing. The territory is based on the course of Sungai Ijo Gading (Green Ivory River) of Jembrana. In every two weeks, a un official race is held before they finally meet in the official race and the big event is begun as a part of Balinese cultures (exotic tour)
pictures courtesy Barry Kusuma, article taken from various sources.
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why do we travel? Or like the song goes “does anybody know what we are looking for”?? Why do we consider travel a basic desire nowadays? I especially like how George Santayana puts it in The Philosophy of Travel: “We need sometimes to escape into open solitudes, into aimlessness, into the moral holiday of running some pure hazard, in order to sharpen the edge of life, to taste hardship, and to be compelled to work desperately for a moment at no matter what.” Do we travel to lose ourselves or to find ourselves? In order to find the WHERE, WHEN or HOW to travel, we need to rediscover the pure pleasure of travels and the meaning of our own inner journey and rediscovery.