Ogoh-Ogoh statue. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Still, a topless hag with a selfie stick and red micro-skirt added a new twist to the demonic procession of Ogoh-Ogoh statues on March 20 on this ultra-spiritual, ultra-tribal island.

Southern Chinese ranked among the first settlers in Bali 4,000 years ago but immigrant Hindus have ruled the roost for the last millennium. None of the archipelago's other 13,000 islands have nearly as many rituals.

For one night only, this surfer's paradise, which welcomes 3 million foreign visitors a year, turns into a Hieronymus Bosch painting of witches and wraiths. It then switches to a 24-hour maximum-security prison with the lights dimmed, the airport closed and your hotel gates bolted. It's a big deal. Even the ATM machines and broadcasters are offline.

Imagine Brazil's Carnival with DJ Shadow on the decks and evil spirits made of papier-mache, bamboo and ghoulish makeup heralding New Year's Eve. Bands of religious police, or pecalang, patrol beaches and streets the morning after.

The Conrad's batik class is a perfect way to soak up some culture while locked up. This wax-resistant dyeing technique can take up to six months per garment, and expect to see more of these colorful fabrics with their thickly drawn lines in the future.