This year’s festival season in Bali starts with the spectacular Bali Barong Festival 2016, which is a series of events celebrating the mythical being that protects the island and its forests. The Barong is an ancient mythical creature that comes in 5 different shapes: the lion, the dragon, the serpent, the boar, and the tiger. Of the 5, the lion is the most popular and well-known, with its domineering and towering figure, often shown in costumes with a height twice that of an adult human being. The Balinese consider the Barong as the King of the Spirits, representing Virtue and Goodness. The creature is also the very symbol of the protective spirit of the islands. The festival is a celebration of all the different incarnations of the Barong, presented in various events such as Barong dance competitions, art exhibitions, a photography exhibit, as well as a presentation of the art …