john.robert_mcpherson
84 Farewell BBQ for Palm Beach (Qld) SLSC instructional tour at Waja SLSC, Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia. September 1977
84 Farewell BBQ for Palm Beach (Qld) SLSC instructional tour at Waja SLSC, Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia. September 1977
Barry Magnus was pipped at the post by Topknot. Made was ecstatic at the win, cheering loudly. We could not remember Topknot's name and we dubbed him 'Topknot' after his coiffure. Apparently the topknot identified him as a powerful shaman. He was not a Brahmin priest but rather it was his duty to combat black magic. The Balinese and most Indonesians believed implicitly that a great Manichean struggle between Light and Dark was playing out about them. Topknot was a warrior in that struggle and he would conduct exorcisms of people and places in order to restore things to balance. While this concept of imbalance being external to people was fascinating this was a worldview I did not share, being convinced that my greatest struggle was against myself and that I was my own worst enemy. Doubtless the Indonesians would have found my Calvinist opinions equally fascinating and foreign.
Apart from his battling those who practice the dark arts and the demons that they conjured up Topknot was an excellent masseur. He would have Guri (Gookie) Lluka bellowing in agony as he twisted and manipulated his muscles and joints. Despite accusations of intended homicide by Topknot Gookie was continually back for more. The two would spar like sumo wrestlers and on one occasion they arm wrested on the sand. I would have to say that neither had the better of the other as they were of equal strength and skill.
84 Farewell BBQ for Palm Beach (Qld) SLSC instructional tour at Waja SLSC, Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia. September 1977
84 Farewell BBQ for Palm Beach (Qld) SLSC instructional tour at Waja SLSC, Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia. September 1977
Barry Magnus was pipped at the post by Topknot. Made was ecstatic at the win, cheering loudly. We could not remember Topknot's name and we dubbed him 'Topknot' after his coiffure. Apparently the topknot identified him as a powerful shaman. He was not a Brahmin priest but rather it was his duty to combat black magic. The Balinese and most Indonesians believed implicitly that a great Manichean struggle between Light and Dark was playing out about them. Topknot was a warrior in that struggle and he would conduct exorcisms of people and places in order to restore things to balance. While this concept of imbalance being external to people was fascinating this was a worldview I did not share, being convinced that my greatest struggle was against myself and that I was my own worst enemy. Doubtless the Indonesians would have found my Calvinist opinions equally fascinating and foreign.
Apart from his battling those who practice the dark arts and the demons that they conjured up Topknot was an excellent masseur. He would have Guri (Gookie) Lluka bellowing in agony as he twisted and manipulated his muscles and joints. Despite accusations of intended homicide by Topknot Gookie was continually back for more. The two would spar like sumo wrestlers and on one occasion they arm wrested on the sand. I would have to say that neither had the better of the other as they were of equal strength and skill.