Images of Bali from the time of Coward's visit. From a private collection. Click on an image for an enlarged view.

Bali...

As I mentioned this morning to Charlie,
There is far too much music in Bali,
And altho' as a place its entrancing,
There is also a thought too much dancing,
It appears that each Balinese native
From the womb to the tomb is creative,
From sunrise till long after sundown,
Without getting nervy or rundown,
They sculpt and they paint and they practise their songs,
They run through their dances and bang on their gongs,
Each writhe and each wriggle,
Each glamourous giggle,
Each sinous action,
Is timed to a fraction.
And altho' all the 'Lovelies' and 'Pretties'
Unblushingly brandish their titties,

The whole thing's a little too clever
And there's too much artistic endeavour!

Forgive the above mentioned Charlie,
I had to rhyme something with Bali.

Noel Coward