Today we got to witness the cremation of Cokorda Istri, a member of the noble family of Ubud. As the time for the cremation procession approached, the street got fuller and fuller until it was teeming with people, some in ceremonial clothing, some in tourist garb, some in bright green or bright orange uniforms with POLISI emblazoned on the back of their vests. Some people carried colored umbrellas to guard against the heat.
We planted ourselves in the intersection where the main procession would turn right toward the cemetery. The air was filled with honking and sounds of hundreds of scooters. Multiple drones flew overhead, capturing the spectacle from the air. And then it began. It was visceral, remarkable, overwhelming. Watch this movie of what we saw.