a Guide to Bali
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| October 30, 2007 |
| Balinese Caste Structure |
 Bali is truly unique, in that it is the only Hindu island in Indonesia, a country dominated by Islam. Hinduism is a religion that developed out of the way of life of the people living on the banks of the Indus river in India and Hinduism came to Indonesia many centuries ago. The earliest written records in Bali, metal inscriptions called prasasti (Prasasti Blanjong is an example), speak of Buddhist and Hindu influences and date back to the 9th century AD. The caves, statues and bronzes of Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi indicate this too.
As far as Bali is concerned the 3 big events that pushed Hinduism to the fore were the marriage of the Balinese king Udayana to Princess Mahendra from East Java, at the end of the 10th century thus bringing the 2 areas together. This was followed in 1343 by the conquest of Bali by the Majapahit empire of Gajah Mada, prime minister of that kingdom in East Java. Finally in 1515 the Majapahit empire in Java fell to the increasingly powerful Muslim Mataram empire. This created an exodus of priests, crafts people and noblemen and helped to make Bali the unique center of art that it is.
As many people will tell you the version of Hinduism (Agama Hindu ) that is practiced in Bali differs from that practiced in India. One of the most obvious differences is the quantity of offerings given in Bali, which is usually to either ward off evil spirits or to satisfy the Gods, a relic of the Balinese animist beliefs to which Hinduism has been melded.
The 4 main castes in Bali are Brahmana, Ksatria, Wesia and Sudra. Here is a list of Balinese names according to caste.
•Brahmana (priest) caste
Ida Bagus or Bagus (good one) for a male
Ida Ayu or Dayu (beautiful one) for a female.
•Ksatria (rulers, warriors) caste
Anak Agung, Agung, Dewa for a male.
Anak Agung, Agung, Dewi, Dewayu for a female
Cokorda, Dewa Agung for members of the kingdom ruling clan.
Ksatria caste often have the following middle names.
Raka - older sister / brother
Oka - child
Rai - younger sister / brother
Anom - young woman
Ngurah - an indication of authority
•Wesia (merchants and officials ) caste
Gusti - (lord) for men and women
Dewa for a man
Desak for a woman
•Sudra (rice growers ) caste
Wayan, Putu, Gede for 1st born male child
Wayan, Putu, Iluh for 1st born female child
Made, Kadek for 2nd born male child
Made, Kadek, Nengah for 2nd born female child.
Nyoman, Komang for 3rd born male and female children
Ketut for 4th born male or female children.
The 5th born reverts back to the list for 1st born children. Last names are also given names.
There are a tremendous amount of Wayans and Mades in Bali. If someone tells you their name is Nengah Susantini, you know they are Balinese female from the lowest caste, who has at least one older brother or sister. Many Balinese will use a middle name to differentiate from other with the same name. Others will change their name slightly (Yumi for Yuni, Koming for Komang) or use their last name for a form of address.
Long before the caste system came to Bali the local people already had their own form of hierarchy and adapted the caste system to fit over this, just like the Hindu religion blended with their animist beliefs. In the Bali Aga villages of Tenganen and Trunyan up in the mountains the new Hindu religion did not penetrate and the locals practice religion in their own ways today.
Nowadays the language the Balinese pedandas (high priests) use during temple ceremonies is Kawi, old Javanese which is largely composed of Sanskrit. Bahasa Bali (the Balinese language ) has different levels and caste comes into play when speaking. I have asked many young people what languages they speak at work and they say Indonesian, even if the whole staff is Balinese. Back in the village it will all be Bahasa Bali.
Bahasa Bali used to have multiple levels but in the last century it seems to have thinned down to 3 (common Balinese, middle Balinese and high Balinese). Village life is more traditional of course than the free-style living in Kuta and people will be watched more closely as people know who they are. Paying attention to the levels of respect are more important here and super important involving religious activities.
When a Balinese person meets a stranger in the village he will start by using the Middle language and might ask “Antuh lingge?” meaning Where is your place?, as far as caste. The stranger will tell his caste and that will dictate what level of Balinese is used. If one man is high caste and the other low the high caste man will talk in the common language to the other and the man of low caste will reply using high Balinese. Its all about respect.
Using the words (tjai, nyai, nani) which all mean You, are too familiar and impolite, so the word jero is used. Jero is the name given by some Balinese to a child of a nobleman and a commoner and maybe this is a way of saying, I can see you carrying wood in the village but I give you the credit that you came from a nobleman.
Covarrubias writes is 1937 that he finds the levels of Bahasa Bali totally unrelated, not just different dialects or variations of the same language. Common Balinese originates from Malayo-Polynesian dialects of the aboriginal population of the region. Middle Balinese is an adaptation to fill the void when caste becomes an issue and High Balinese is from Sanskrit-Javanese.
In older times the caste system had more power than is does today. It is somewhat taboo for a Balinese woman of high caste to marry a man of lower caste. In such a case she drops to his level. The reverse is true if it were a man.
Interesting cross-overs from the Indian caste-system to the Balinese. The Sanskrit word for color, varna is almost the same as the Indonesian word, warna. I think the Balinese people have a natural easy going mentality and still for the most part live close to the village. Maybe this is why the hardcore caste discrimination did not take hold here.Labels: Culture |
posted by Admin @ 2:56 PM  |
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| Balinese Ceremonies (both large and small) |
 Balinese culture revolves around Agama Hindu, the local version of Hinduism. The highlights of this cultural / religious observance are the upacara (ceremonies) that are colorful and frequent. The most important ones are Galungan, Kuningan, Tumpek and Nyepi to name a few - but there are those ceremonies that a majority of travellers to Bali are unaware of. Here are just a few.
• Bersih Desa: This ‘ritual’ is an expression of appreciation to the fertility Gods such as Dewi Sri. Subsequently, this ritual takes place around the period of the rice harvest. I suppose you could call it a ‘village spring-clean’!. Roads and paths in the village area are repaired. Houses and other buildings of importance are cleaned, as are most of the garden areas within the village. Whatever needs painting gets painted, and in general, the whole village is renewed in appearance.
• Hari Raya Sariswati: Batari Dewi Saraswati, the beautiful goddess, was the wife of Brahma. She was the goddess of the arts, sciences and learning. This day is to commemorate her and nobody on the island is allowed to write or read for the day. Special ceremonies are conducted by a pedanda early in the morning at the Pura Jata Natha temple in Denpasar. On this day, books are offered to be blessed by the Gods. Hari Raya Saraswati is a day of appreciation when wisdom was brought to the world by the Gods.
• Pagerwesi: Literally interpreted means ‘iron fence’. It is a day when man should fortify the space around himself to fend off evil spirits – the continuous battle between good and evil. Pagerwesi is a day of offerings requesting spiritual strength when confronting the life-cycles of suffering and worldly fulfillment. It is also a day of offerings for the protection of the village and families and the world around them. On this day, villagers take offerings to cemeteries for the un-cremated dead. As on the day Galungan, on the day of Pagerwesi ‘penjors’ are raised which makes it a day as almost as important as Galungan. You will find this ceremony almost strictly observed in the regency of Buleleng – the northern regions of Bali.
• Melasti: The day before Nyepi. Everybody knows that the day of Nyepi is a day of silence, but, the day of Melasti is far from that and especially at night. It is a day when the villagers purify the deities - known as ‘Pratima’ – with water. This is the day when the villagers, dressed in their finery and carrying long-poled umbrellas, proceed in lines towards a source of water – a holy spring or the sea. In this procession, the women carry offerings of fruit and sweet cakes and flowers, and the men carry the sacred family statues on bamboo litters. Upon arriving at the water source (generally the sea), the pedanda prays and rings his small bells whilst the men carrying the litters rush the sacred figures into the water symbolically washing them and thus purifying the statues.
On the day of Melasti, you will also find the offerings of the flesh of domestic animals at crossroads – the haven of the evil spirits ‘bhuta‘ and ‘kala’. The offering of flesh is to placate these demons. Later in the evening, all hell breaks loose with all manner of noise and din created to awaken all the evil spirits and demons. This is the most spectacular part of this day.
There is also another very important ceremony called Eka Dasa Rudra. It is a ceremony to restore balance in the world and, is the most important and biggest religious ceremony on the island of Bali. Traditionally, the ceremony of Eka Dasa Rudra occurs every 100 years. There must be a balance in the world between the forces of good and evil, and when the balance favours the latter the ceremony must be performed.
When the ceremony of Eka Dasa Rudra occurs - its preparation and the entire ceremony - it is with the involvement of the entire population of Bali. Basically, the eleven demons (of which Rudra is the most powerful) must be transformed in order that they become less threatening to the world balance. This is why then the ceremonies duration is 11 weeks with the number of ceremonies totalling thirty in all.
The beginning of the Eka Dasa Rudra is spectacular. This involves the symbolic washing of the Gods images in the sea. The whole procession takes three days and in this time the images are carried to the sea. But it is the sacrificing of a buffalo, whose horns are covered in gold casings and adorned with other valuables, to the sea demons that to most westerners would seem cruel, but to the Balinese its not. A large heavy stone is tied around the neck of the buffalo as it is forced into the swirling ocean. There are various chants and prayers by pemangku and pedanda, and there are dance rituals performed. The main one being the war dance, baris.
With the conclusion of the initial sacrifice and accompanying rituals virtually everybody in Bali, or most of them, travel to the mother temple at Besakih. Every path and road leading from all the villages in Bali are filled with lines of worshippers carrying offerings up to the main temple at Besakih. When all are gathered, then the climax of Eka Dasa Rudra begins - the Taur sacrifices. These sacrifices involve the pedanda directing their prayers in all 11 directions of what is called 'Balinese space', according to ancient rituals written on lontar-palm scripts. Whilst these prayers are being directed, two dozen or so priests sacrifice many animals and birds in an effort to appease the demonic manifestation of Bali's supreme-being, Rudra.
Naturally the ceremony of Eka Dasa Rudra is much more complicated and detailed than I have explained. But you have the basics of the ceremony.Labels: Balinese Ceremonies |
| posted by Admin @ 2:52 PM |
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| Nyepi: The Balinese Day of Silence |
‘Nyepi‘ day, the Icaka New Year, the day of absolute silence, no activity is done, no amusement is held, no fire is lit along the day & night. The day of fasting & self-introspecting, the entire island is just like being deserted during the day.
For people not familiar with the ceremonial schedule in Bali, it is extremely complex.
Balinese priests consult 2 calenders, the saka and the wuku. The saka calendar operates on the Hindu lunar cycle that is somewhat similar to the western calendar with 12 months. The preists highlight phases of the moon as being auspicious times. The wuku calendar has no months but is a year of 210 days divided into weeks, 10 of which have from 1 to 10 days and run simultaneously! Each day has a name, thus in the 1 day week every day is called luang.
On Nyepi Day, the whole island shuts down, no walking on the beach, no going out for a bite, no flights in or out. For those who have never experienced Nyepi it is a purification for the whole island. In Balinese Hinduism local temples and villages are purified from time to time, the island once a year and dates to be arranged. In 2006 Nyepi fell on March 30th.
Before Nyepi Day objects from temples are ritually cleansed in streams and the ocean. Specially made offerings are placed at crossroads to lure evil spirits out into the open. The reason for this, is to flush hem out and chase them away with ‘ogah ogahs’, the large Freddie Kruger-like creations that every village makes.
The night before Nyepi, called Ngrepuk, is like a festival, with locals, expats and tourists out on the streets, watching the ogoh ogoh. Balinese people have always been open to incorporating new ideas into their relgion / culture, and the 21st Century has had an influence on the ogoh ogoh’s. One time I saw a one doing a wheelie on a Vespa. The ogoh ogoh’s are carried on bamboo platforms by young guys, who often are a little tipsy after drinking arak. At streetside a panel of banjar judges, give points to the best ogoh ogoh. The platform bearers will edge towards one side of the street, and tilt the platform. In Kuta it can get roudy so watch out if a platform is heading your way.
Best places to watch ogoh ogoh:
•Bemo corner in Kuta.
•Jl. Seminyak at Dhyana Pura in Semnyak.
•Puputan Square in Denpasar.
When the ogoh ogoh’s have departed, the streets clear quite fast. A good place to stock up on supplies is Bintang supermarket in Seminyak, which stays open late, 10pm or later.
The ogoh ogoh’s scare the evil spirits away from Bali, but they return several hours later looking for human activity. All lights, machines, radios must be turned off and no one is allowed out. The pecalang or religious traffic cops, will reprimand anyone who ventures out. The quiet period lasts from around 5am to 5am the next day, with the airport completely closed to traffic.
What does this mean for visitors? Well if you are in a resort you will have access to the facilities, but will have to quieten down a bit. Guest house travelers will have to stay in their guest house, no food places will be open.
One year I taped towels over my windows and cooked for once. It wasn’t bad but if you’ve done it once you probably wouldn’t get much out of it again. I think it would be more interesting being in a local household observing their interactions. Strictly speaking the Balinese are not supposed to talk or eat. The evil spirits will depart and leave Bali alone for another year when they are satisfied, at dawn the day after Nyepi.
What to do on Nyepi for tourists:
•1. Go to Lombok for a couple of days
•2. Stay in a resort, where services continue
•3. Stay with an expat who has enough land that you can party
•4. Get invited to a Balinese household and enjoy a traditional experience
•5. Lock yourself in your room with a bottle of arak and someone you like.Labels: Balinese Ceremonies |
| posted by Admin @ 2:47 PM |
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| October 26, 2007 |
| Bali Taxis Service |
Bali, the attractive seaport in Indonesia, draws the majority of the tourists to the country. There are various means of transport that can be used by the tourists to explore the city or getting in the city. One of the convenient ways to explore the island is by availing of the Bali Taxi Service. Travelers find it quite comfortable to move around the city by taxis. Bali Taxi Service takes the visitors to all locations in and around the city.
When planning to trip in Bali, one need not to be worried for Bali- How to Get There as there are several modes of public transport which will reach you safely and conveniently to your destination.
Taxis in Bali are plentiful, especially in tourist areas such as Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Ubud. Hailing a cab can be as simple as stepping into the street and raising your hand when you see one pass by.
Bali has a selection of taxi companies, each with its own color of car, name and quality. The most established company is Bluebird, based in Jakarta. Bluebird has new light blue colored cars and a good reputation.
Tips for using a taxi in Bali are as follows:
1. Have plenty of change on you, as drivers often claim not to have change, hoping you will allow them to keep the difference.
2. Make sure the driver understands where he’s heading and uses the meter. Some drivers will start out with no idea where you intend to go. Not using the meter can mean getting charged an extortionate fee on arrival.
3. If you know a fast way of getting somewhere, instruct the driver. Local drivers seem to prefer taking a direct route through downtown traffic, rather than a faster route on the Sunset Rd. This saves petrol but takes twice as long.
4. Be careful when getting out as there are often sharp drops into drainage ditches on the
passenger side, fast traffic on the drivers side.
5. Tipping is not required.
Here is a list of taxi companies in Bali:
Bluebird (Bali Praja Transportasi) (0361)701111
Geka PT (0361)289090
Gelora PT (0361)241444
Koperasi Taksi Kowinu Bali (0361)771661
Koperasi Taksi Ngurah Rai (0361)724725
Ngurah Rai Taxi (0361)724724
Pan Wirthi Taxi PT (0361)723954
Rajawali Taxi (0361)484537
Ramayana Taxi (0361)765303
Serasi Autoraya PT:
Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai (0361)703333
Four Seasons Nusa Dua (0361)701010
Jl. Raya Airport (0361)753722
Jl. Raya Airport 2 (0361)753452
Jl. Raya Airport 99X (0361)763333
Kompi Bandara International Ngurah Rai(0361)755003
Taxis in Bali will often allow more than 4 passengers to ride, one sitting on the other’s lap. This is helpful if you don’t want to get 2 taxis. All taxis in Bali charge the same rate, which is a flag rate of 5000rp, plus 2500rp for each extra kilometer. In practice some companies seem more expensive.Labels: Practicalities |
| posted by Admin @ 1:25 AM |
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| October 15, 2007 |
| Bali People |
 LIKE A CONTINUAL UNDER-SEA BALLET, the pulse of life in Bali moves with a measured rhythm reminiscent of the sway of marine plants and the flowing motion of octopus and jellyfish under the sweep of a submarine current. There is a similar correlation of the elegant and decorative people with the clear-cut, extravagant vegetation; of their simple and sensitive temperament with the fertile land.
No other race gives the impression of living in such close touch with nature, creates such a complete feeling of harmony between the people and the surroundings. The slender Balinese bodies are as much a part of the landscape as the palms and the breadfruit trees, and their smooth skins have the same tone as the earth and as the brown rivers where they bathe; a general colour scheme of greens, grays, and ocher's, relieved here and there by bright-coloured sashes and tropical flowers. The Balinese belong in their environment in the same way that a bumming-bird or an orchid belongs in a Central American jungle, or a steel-worker belongs in the grime of Pittsburgh. It was depressing to watch our Balinese friends transplanted to the Paris Fair. They were cold and miserable there in the middle of the summer, shivering in heavy overcoats or wrapped in blankets like red Indians, but they were transformed into normal, beautiful Balinese as soon as they returned from their unhappy experience.
Today the beauty of the Balinese has been exploited to exhaustion in travelogues and by tourist agencies, but as far back as 1619 records mention that Balinese women were in great demand in the slave markets of Bourbon (Reunion), where " they brought as much as 150 florins." The traffic in Balinese slaves continued until 1830, and today there is a colony of Balinese in Batavia, the descendants of former slaves. Their reputation for beauty is well justified: the majority of the population are handsome, with splendid physique and with a dignified elegance of bearing, in both men and women of all ages. From childhood the women walk for miles carrying-heavy loads on their heads; this gives them a great co-ordination of movement, a poised walk and bodily fitness. Old women retain their strength and do not become bent hags. We were astonished at times to discover that the slender, straight silhouette we bad admired from a distance belonged to an old lady with gray hair, walking with ease under forty or fifty pounds of fruit or pottery. Unless physically disabled, elderly people never admit that they are too old or too weak for activity; to " give up " would be dangerous to physical and spiritual health and would render a person vulnerable to attacks of a supernatural character.
Ordinarily free of excessive clothing, the Balinese have small but well-developed bodies, with a peculiar anatomical structure of simple, solid masses reminiscent of Egyptian and Mycenaean sculptures: wide shoulders tapering down in unbroken lines to flexible waists and narrow hips; strong backs, small heads, and firm full breasts. Their slender arms and long legs end in delicate hands and feet, kept skilful and alive by functional use and dance training. Their faces have well-balanced - features, expressive The Beach in Sanur eyes, small noses, and full mouths, and their hair is thick and glossy. Because they are tanned by the sun, their golden-brown skin appears generally darker than it really is, and when seen at a distance, people bathing are considerably whiter around their middles, where the skin is usually covered by clothes, giving the impression that they wear light-coloured pants. Watching a crowd of semi-nude Balinese of all ages, one cannot help wondering what the comparison would be should men and women of our cities suddenly appear in the streets nude above the waist.
Their character is easy, courteous, and gentle, but they can be intense and can show strong temper if aroused. They are gay and witty; there is nothing that a Balinese loves more than a good joke, especially. if it is off-colour, and even children make ribald puns that are applauded by grown-ups. It is perhaps in their mad sense of humour, the spirit of Rabelaisian fun with which they handle even such forbidding subjects as religion and death, that lies the key to their character. The adjective " childish " or 11 childlike," so often misapplied to primitive peoples, does not suit the Balinese, because even the children show a sophistication often lacking in more civilized grown-ups. They are resourceful and intelligent, with acute senses and quick minds. Once, when I mentioned the goodness of a very short friend, the immediate reply was: " How could he be otherwise, be is so small! " One day Spies's monkey got loose and ran all over the house upsetting and breaking things.
All the Balinese boys chased the monkey, but it let them come to within a few feet of it and then leaped out of reach onto the roof or a tree. The only one who did not join in the chase was Rapung, our teacher of Balinese, because he was a newcomer to the household and the monkey snarled and sprung at him every time Rapung passed near where it was tied: they bated each other. When it became plain that the monkey could not be captured so easily, one of the boys had the bright idea of having everybody pretend to attack Rapung, imitating the monkey, making faces, and squealing at him. Soon the monkey forgot that be himself was persecuted and joined in the attack, but when he was most aggressive someone grabbed him.
The pride of the Balinese has not permitted the development of one of the great professions of the East: there are no beggars in Bali. But tourists who lure boys and girls with dimes to take their pictures now threaten this unique distinction, and lately, in places frequented by tourists, people are beginning to ask for money as a return for a service. Ordinarily even a child would be scolded and shamed by anyone who heard him ask something from a stranger. A gift must be reciprocated and we were often embarrassed by the return presents of our poor neighbors. We gave Ketut Adi, a little dancer of eight, a scarf of no great value; one day soon after she came to us with a basket of rice, some eggs, and a live chicken, carried by her mother because the load was too great for her. Children of the neighborhood that Rose had treated for infected wounds always came back with presents of fruit, cakes, or rice which they handed casually to our house-boy, never mentioning them to us, as if they wanted to avoid making a demonstration of their generosity. Even children have a strong sense of pride.
The aristocracy is despotic and arrogant, but the ordinary people, although used to acknowledging the superiority of their masters, are simple and natural in an unservile and unsubmissive way. By the threat of passive disobedience and boycott they kept the princes from overstepping their bounds. Europeans complain that the Balinese make bad servants; they are too free, too frank, and do not respond to the insolent manner that the white man has adopted as " the only way to deal with natives." Their moral code consists in maintaining their traditional behavior, observing their duties towards their fellow villagers and paying due respect to the local feudal princes. Among themselves they are kind and just, avoiding unnecessary quarrels and solving their disputes by the simplest and most direct methods. .1 The villages are organized into compact boards or councils, independent of other villages. Every married man - that is, every grown man - is a member of the council and is morally and physically obliged to co-operate for the welfare of the community.
A man is assisted by his neighbors in every task he cannot perform alone; they help him willingly and as a matter of duty, not expecting any reward other than the knowledge that, were they in his case, he would help in the same manner. In this way paid labors and the relation of boss to coolie are reduced to a minimum in Bali. Since the world of a Balinese is his community, be is anxious to prove his worth, for his own welfare is in direct relation to his social behaviors and his communal standing. Moral sanctions are regarded 2S stronger than physical punishment, and no one will risk the dreaded punishment of exile, from the village, when a man is publicly declared " dead " to his community. Once " thrown away," he cannot be admitted into another of the co-operative villages, so no misfortune could be greater to the Balinese than public disgrace. This makes of every village a closely unified organism in which the communal policy is harmony and co-operation - a system that works to every body's advantage.
By their ingenuity and constant activity they have raised their main occupation, the cultivation of rice, to levels unsurpassed by other rice-growing nations. Being essentially agriculturists, they are not interested in navigation and trade; living the easy life of the tropics, they are satisfied and well fed. The majority works the land for themselves, so they have not yet become wage earners and have enough freedom and leisure left to dedicate to spiritual relaxation. They are extraordinarily fond of music, poetry, and dancing, which have produced a remarkable theatre. Their culture, unlike that of their cultural ancestors, the Javanese, is not yet in frank declin6. Even the common people are better agriculturists, better craftsmen and artists than the average Javanese. The Balinese are by no means a primitive people.
Moreover, unlike the natives of the South Seas and similar races under white domination, the Balinese are not a dying people; far from that, in the last ten years a constant increase in the birth rate has been recorded. The 1930 census gave the population of Bali as 1,148,000 people, or about 500 to the square mile, an enormous figure when compared with the 41 per square mile of the United States. This includes the foreign population: 7,1935 Chinese, 1,544 Arabs and other Mohammedans, and 411 Europeans, of which only a small percentage are of pure European stock, the rest being Eurasians and certain Balinese, Javanese, Chinese, and Japanese who are given equal standing with Europeans by a decree making them " Staatsblad European."
For those interested in knowing something of the racial origins of the Balinese, it may be added that they are by no means a pure race, but a complicated mixture of the native aborigines, with superimposed layers of higher cultures of various types.' The Balinese are descendants of a pure " Indonesian " race mixed with the Hindus of Central and East Java, who were them selves Indonesians of Hindu culture, with Indian and Chinese blood. To these mixtures are further added traces of the Polynesian and Melanesian, the result being a picturesque variety of types among the Balinese: from the noble Hindu and Northern Chinese, to the Malay-Javanese, Polynesian, and even Papuan. While some have sleek hair, high nose bridges, and cream-yellow skins, some are dark and curly haired like South Sea Islanders. Some have large almond eyes, often with the " Mongoloid fold, convex noses, and. fine mouths; others have the concave, flat, broad
Noses, the squinty eyes, bulging foreheads, and prognathic. Jaws of the more primitive Indonesians. Thus the Balinese of today are the same people as the Hindu-Javanese of pre-Mohammedan Java, in the sense that they both underwent the same racial and Cultural influences.Labels: Culture |
| posted by Admin @ 12:09 AM |
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| October 14, 2007 |
| Bali Temple |
# A Sacred Space for God and Man
Above all, the Balinese temple is a sacred space in which the deities are honored with rituals and offerings. Whether a simple enclosure with only one or two tiny shrines, or an elaborate complex with scores of sacred structures, the basic function of each temple is the same - to serve as a site where the Balinese pay reverence to the spiritual powers that play such a large role in their lives.
Temple types
 There are literally tens of thousands of temples in Bali, and new ones are being constructed all the time. Throughout much of the year they lie eerily deserted, but on the date of their anniversary festival they come to life in a brief but glorious burst of activity, as the congregation adorns the temple with beautiful ornaments and arrives bearing elaborate gifts, dressed in their finest apparel.
We just have one word for temple, but the Balinese distinguish two important types. A sanggah (merajan in the refined language) refers to private or family temples, generally translated as "house temples." Each family compound has one, containing shrines to the family's deified ancestors (sanggah kamulan). Thus there are several hundred thousand house temples in Bali.
The other word for temple in Balinese is Pura, originally a Sanskrit term referring to town or palace. In Bali, the word Pura ha come to refer to a temple in the public d main, generally located on public land. These cannot always be neatly classified, but there are generally three types associated with the three most important foci of social organization on Bali - locale, irrigation cooperative (subak) and descent group.
Within the group based on locality are temples of the local village, as well as temple of greater regional and island-wide significance. Irrigation cooperative temples ca belong to a single subak or to a whole group of subaks. And within the group of temple based on descent are temples supported "clans" of greater or lesser degrees of ancestral depth, variously known as Pura dadi Pura kawitan and Pura padharman. Altogether there are at least 10,000 temples on B belonging to these various types.
 Three village temples of special significance are the kahyangan tiga ("three sanctuaries") the Pura Puseh ("temple of origin"), at the upper end of the village, the Pura desa ("village temple") or Pura bale agung ("great meeting hall temple") in the village center, and the Pura dalem (death temple or "temple of the mighty one") lying near the cemeter and cremation grounds at the lower or seaward end of the village. These temples are linked with the gods of the Hindu Trinity: the Pura Puseh with Brahma the Creator, the Pura desa with Vishnu the Preserver, and the Pura dalem with Siwa the Destroyer.
The famous temple sites that tourists visit are regional or island-wide temples. These include the "Mother Temple" of Besakih, high up on the slopes of Mt. Agung, as well as the major temples of Ulun Danu (Batur), Lempuyang, Gua Lawah, Ulu Watu, Batukau, Pusering Jagat (Pejeng), Andakasa and Pucak Mangu. These are nearly all mountain or sea temples, marking the primary poles of the sacred landscape in Bali.
 Lesser regional temples, numbering in the hundreds, are sometimes called Pura dang kahyangan or "temples of the Sacred Ones" because they are associated with legendary Priests who brought Hinduism to Bali from Java. Their supporting congregations are drawn from a wide area, and in the past such temples were often supported by local Princely houses. Nowadays regional governments have taken on the same role. Important regional temples include Pura Sakenan, Pura Tanah Lot, Pura Kehen, Pura Taman Ayun and many others.
Shrines and pavilions
 A temple may contain just one or two shrines within a small courtyard, or it may contain dozens of shrines and other structures within two, or often three courtyards.
The innermost courtyard is the most sacred. Shrines are usually located here in two rows - one lining the mountain (kaja) side and the other lining the eastern (kangin) side. Toward the center of the courtyard is a large structure where the gods gather during rituals. Open pavilions for various purposes complete the arrangement.
Among the shrines lining the mountain ward side one often finds a pair of small closed shrines (gedong) - one with an earthenware dish on its roof, the other with a pointed roof. These honor protective deities of the greatest importance: Dewi Sri, goddess of rice and prosperity, and her consort Rambut Sedana, god of wealth. A small shrine with a deer's head is called menjangan saluwang and honors the legendary priest Mpu Kuturan, or a deity called Bhatara Maospahit.
A particularly striking structure is the meru or Balinese pagoda, which has an odd number of roofs, up to a maximum of eleven. A meru honors a god or a deified ancestor, depending on what kind of temple it is. It was probably introduced from Java during the 14th century.
In the mountain ward-eastward corner, between the rows of shrines, there is often an open seat-type shrine. In its fully developed form, adorned with cosmic turtle and serpents, this is called a padmasana ("lotus throne") and honors the high god Sanghyang Widhi in his manifestation as Siwa Raditya, the sun god. Modern Balinese Hinduism stresses its monotheistic aspect, and the padmasana has recently become more prominent.
Temple festivals are held according to one of two calendrical systems. When it appears on the 210-day wuku calendar, a festival is called an odalan; when it follows the lunar calendar, it is often referred to as an usaba. Various factors, such as local tradition and the size of the ritual, determine whether a festival is officiated by the temple's own priest (Pemangku) or by a brahmana high priest (Pedanda).Labels: Culture |
| posted by Admin @ 11:44 PM |
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| Bali Weddings |
# Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married in Bali
 MARRIAGE LAWS, LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Bali is part of the Republic of Indonesia and is subject to Indonesian Laws. Every couple considering getting married in Bali must comply with these Laws.
In accordance with Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning marriages in Indonesia (Article 2 (1): "a marriage is legitimate if it has been performed according to the laws of the respective religious beliefs of the parties concerned."
All couples who marry in Indonesia must declare a religion. Agnosticism and Atheism are not recognized. The Civil Registry Office can record marriages of persons of Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian-Protestant and Christian-Catholic faiths. Marriage partners must have the same religion, otherwise one partner must make a written declaration of change of religion.
The Religious Marriage under Islam is performed by the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama) in a ceremony at a mosque, the home, a restaurant, or any other place chosen by the couple and is legal immediately after the ceremony.
A Christian, Hindu or Buddhist marriage is usually performed first in a church or temple ceremony. After the religious ceremony, every non-Islamic marriage must be recorded with the Civil Registry (Kantor Catatan Sipil). Without the registration by the Civil Registry these marriages are not legal. Recording by Civil Registry officials can be performed directly at the religious ceremony for an additional fee.
Persons of non-Islamic faith are required to file with the Civil Registry Office in the Regency where they are staying first a 'Notice of Intention to Marry' as well as a 'Letter of No Impediment' obtained from their consular representatives.
For the issue of the Letter of No Impediment to Marriage by your Consular Representative you will need to present for youself and your fiance(e) your Passport(s) valid for more than 6 months and Certified Divorce Decrees (absolute/final) and/or Death Certificates regarding the termination of all previous marriages. Please contact the Consular Representative of your country for details well before your intended date of marriage.
The following countries have Consulates or Consular Representatives in Bali. The telephone and fax numbers must be prefixed with 62-361 when calling from abroad. Australia (Consulate, also representing Canada, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries in emergencies), Jalan Hayum Wuruk No. 88 B, Tanjung Bungak, Denpasar, Tel. 241-118, Fax 241-120; France (Consular Agency), Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai No. 35, Sanur, Tel. 285-485, Fax 285-485; Germany (Honorary Consulate), Jalan Pantai Karang 17, Sanur, Tel. 288-535, 288-826, Fax 288-826; Italy (Honorary Vice Consulate), Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Jimbaran, Tel. 701-005, Fax 701-005; Japan (Consulate), Jalan Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar, Tel. 234-808, Fax 231-308; Mexico (Honorary Consulate), Jalan Moch. Yamin 1A, Renon, Denpasar, Tel. 223-266, Fax 231-740; Netherlands (Consular Agency), Jalan Raya Kuta 99, Kuta, Tel. 751-517, Fax 752-777; Norway & Denmark (Honorary Consulate), Kawasan Bukit Permai, Jimbaran, Tel. 701-070, Fax 701-074; Spain (Honorary Consulate, currently vacant); Sweden & Finland (Honorary Consulate), Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur, Tel. 288-407, Fax 287-242; Switzerland & Austria (Consular Agency), Kompleks Istana Kuta Galleria, Blok Valet 2 No. 12, Jalan Patih Jelantik. Kuta, Tel. 751-735, Fax 754-457; United Kingdom (Honorary Consulate), Jalan Mertasari 2, Sanur, Tel. 270-601, Fax 270-572; U.S.A. (Consular Agency), Jalan Hayam Wuruk 188, Denpasar, Tel. 233-605, Fax 222-426.
For the Notice of Intention to Marry you have to submit the following documents for both partners to the Civil Registry Office (show the original and present a photocopy):
• Certificate of the religious marriage;
• Passport for foreign citizens, or KTP (Identity card) for Indonesian citizens;
• Certified birth certificate;
• Certified divorce decree (absolute) or death certificates regarding the termination of all previous marriages;
• Four 4x6 cm photos, both partners side by side;
• Foreign citizens:
o 'Letter of No Impediment to Marriage' issued by your Consular Representative for Bali or Indonesia;
• Indonesian citizens:
o Never married: letter Surat Keterangan Belum Kawin from Kepala Desa or Lurah (mayor);
o Men aged 18-21 and women aged 16-21: parental letter of consent, signed across the materai/tax stamp Rupiah 2,000.
Before the marriage, you and your fiance(e) also may wish to file with the Civil Registry a prenuptial Property Agreement (Surat Pernyataan Harta) which must be signed before a local Notary Public. This contract is necessary if you wish to hold property separately during the marriage. In the absence of such a document, Indonesian marriage law assumes joint ownership of property, and subsequent property acquisitions by the Indonesian partner will be regulated according to the laws restricting foreign property ownership.
Two witnesses over the age of 18 are required. They must show the originals and present photocopies of their passports if they are foreign citizens or KTP (identity cards) if they are Indonesian citizens. Civil Registry employees can act as witnesses.
The Civil Registry office has a Mandatory Waiting Period of 10 working days from the date of filing. This waiting period may be waived for tourists presenting a guest registration form (Form A).
Islamic Marriage Certificates (Buku Nikah) issued by the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama) are legally valid in Indonesia and do not require registration with any other agency if you are going to live in Indonesia. However, if you might move somewhere else in the future (and who knows?), get a marriage certificate issued by the Civil Registry and an officially certified translation right away (see below).
All other Marriage Certificates will be issued by the Civil Registry usually on the same or next day. A sworn English translation of the marriage certificate should be obtained for use abroad. It is not necessary for the marriage certificate or translation to be registered by your Consular Agency. However, to have the sworn translation of the marriage certificate verified or a special translation made by the Consulate of your home country or the Consulate of your country of residence might prove useful.
Labels: Practicalities |
| posted by Admin @ 1:24 AM |
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| October 10, 2007 |
| Bali runners-up |
Each is an first-rate experience. Don't miss them if you have the time.
 Klungkung
A former kingdom capital rich in cultural heritage. Klungkung is renowned for its classical style architecture and ceiling paintings of the House of Justice and Floating Pavilion (see photo) - and for the traditional Wayang style artists in the nearby village of Kamasan.
Museums (the best five)
Neka (near Ubud) - Bali's artistic jewel. Internationally acclaimed. Admirable presentation. Features Bali-themed paintings by local, Indonesian and foreign artists. (See painting detail on left).
Puri Lukisan (Ubud) - Classical and contemporary Balinese art. Admirable collection. However, it's difficult to fully appreciate the artistic treasures when the lighting is turned down low, as is sometimes the case.
Classical Painting Museum (Klungkung) - Outstanding classical Wayang style paintings.
Bali Museum - (Denpasar) - Fine Balinese art collection, but the presentation needs improvement.
Agung Rai (near Ubud) - Traditional and modern Balinese art. Do not confuse the museum with the nearby gallery.
Shadow puppet performances
A single puppeteer manipulates an assemblage of flat leather puppets (see photo).
He controls them with mounted wooden sticks while he speaks the lines of the puppet characters in a play derived from epic Hindu stories that tell a moral. A lamp behind the puppets casts shadows on a translucent screen.
The audience (often village residents) sits on the other side, seeing the shadows but not the actual puppets.
A small gamelan ensemble sometimes provides background music.
Volcanoes
Bali has active volcanoes. The last disastrous eruption occurred in 1963 on Agung, Bali's highest and holiest mountain.
Batur Volcano is popular with tourists because it has 11 kilometer (7 mile) wide crater that you can drive into. And, it has a large crescent shaped lake, Bali's largest.
Sunsets
Bali is known for its sunsets. However, the awe-inspiring ones seldom occur during the high tourist season when skies tend to be clear instead of having the requisite cloud formations.
Shopping
Bali is known for its bargains in international designer clothes. And, the island's arts & crafts goods make marvelous take-home gifts and can lend a decorative touch in your home.
Other popular attractions include...
Bat Cave - Day time home of thousands of bats.
Bird Park - Exotic birds in pleasant setting.
Day and evening ocean cruises - Several choices.
Denpasar Bird Market - Where locals buy pet birds and other creatures.
Elephant Cave -The carved entranceway is the chief draw.
Monkey Forests - In both Sangeh and Ubud
Labels: Bali Top 10+ |
| posted by Admin @ 9:55 PM |
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| Bali tip sheet |
When to come
Bali has five tourist seasons. The best one for you depends on variables such as time, money, weather, and availability.
Pre-prime season - From April to May. Rooms in Bali are easily found and prices, crowds and the weather are moderate.
Prime season - Spans May through September. Sunny days rule -- it seldom rains. However, prices and crowding soar, and airline seats and hotel rooms in Bali are heavily booked, particularly in August.
Post-prime season - From September to mid December. Variables similar to the pre-prime season (see).
Holiday season - Spans mid-December to early-January when visitors come for their Christmas and New Year's vacations. Like the prime season, prices and crowds rise -- and airline seats and hotel space become scarce. The biggest difference is more rain.
Rainy season - This category spans from early-January to April (though the actual rainy season starts in December). Everything comes down -- prices, crowds, room scarcity and, of course, the rain. That's not as bad as it seems because the rainfall is the refreshing warm tropical variety (not the cold damp type Temperate Zone residents experience). Moreover, there will always be plenty of sun during the rainy season.
How long to stay
Don't underestimate the number of days you'll need. I've asked many a traveler who has been to Bali, "What was your biggest misgiving about your Bali vacation." Most responded that they wished they had added more days to their Bali trips.
At the very least, you need 10 to 14 days. A month would be even better. Bali has many interesting...
Bargaining
It's a fun sport worth learning because it will save you money in Bali. All it takes is a little practice to gain your confidence.
Many sellers automatically inflate their prices beforehand in the expectation that you will bargain them down. If you don't, you're going to grossly overpay -- and often earn their disrespect for being naive.
If something doesn't have a price tag, the cost is likely negotiable. If it is marked, you have to trust your instinct whether to negotiate or not. Obviously, most merchants like quality pharmacies, upmarket hotel stores and major departments stores seldom if ever negotiate. But you may be surprised at the number of upscale sellers that do (including exclusive art studios and galleries).
Here's how to negotiate. First, establish in your mind what you're truly willing to pay (your ultimate max). Next, ask the seller, "What's your very, very lowest price?" Offer considerably less than what he quotes you (don't be shy about offering 50% of his opening figure). Then -- after a series of friendly back-and-forth counter offers -- you and the vendor reach a mutually fair and acceptable figure.
Money exchange
Knowing the options can noticeably decrease the cost of your Bali vacation.
Credit cards - Pay for your purchases with a major credit card -- American Express, MasterCard or Visa -- whenever possible. The applied rate of exchange used by those cards to calculate your statement billings is likely to be more favorable to you than if you exchanged cash or (especially) travelers checks into the Indonesian currency, the rupiah.
Cash vs traveler checks - You receive a noticeably better exchange rate for a major foreign currency than you will for travelers checks. Moreover, you often have to pay an extra fee for cashing travelers checks - that's in addition to the fee you originally paid to purchase them.
Which currency to bring? - You gain more buying power if you exchange hard-currency cash -- such as the Japanese Yen, and Australian Dollar. But for the highest relative rate, bring US dollars or Euros.
Dollar denominations - The dollar denomination affects the exchange rate. Prime reason: The larger the denomination, the less likely the bill will be a counterfeit. That's why US$100 bills get appreciably better rates than $50 bills, which get appreciably better rates than $20 bills. Only some money exchangers bother with $10 bills -- and if you have $5 and $1 bills, forget it. Whatever the denomination, bring the latest design style of US currency. And, be sure notes are crisp, unmarred and unwrinkled.
Money exchangers - Professional money exchange establishments (particularly those in Kuta's main shopping areas) normally give you significantly better exchange rates than banks, which in turn give you appreciably better rates than you get at hotels and the airport. Note: Although nearly all Balinese money exchangers are honest, there are a few who "accidentally" miscount, use sleight of hand deception, use rigged calculators or tag on unexpected commissions. Best to get a reliable local source to point you to one of the many reliable money exchangers.
Taxi meters
Cab fares in Bali are very low if you're charged the metered rate. As you step into a taxi, specify to the driver that you want the meter to run. If he says his meter is broken, get out because it's likely a ruse. Once the cab gets rolling, be sure the meter is running. Otherwise, you risk being charged an exorbitant fare.
Cab fleets in Bali are color coded. The white taxis branded "Bali Taxi Company" are one of the trustworthy fleets.
Car hire
While it makes sense to rent a car in most places, it usually doesn't in Bali. For the same amount you would pay to rent a small car (about $50), you can hire a comfortable automobile that comes with a capable driver plus a knowledgeable guide.
Remember, in Bali, it's easy for strangers to get lost, cars drive on the left, roads are very narrow, oncoming traffic passes you with inches to spare, vehicles dart out from side streets without warning, some vehicles don't use lights at night. Should you have an accident, you won't be able to leave the country until damages are settled -- even if the accident is the other guy's fault. So sit back, leave the driving to your chauffeur and enjoy the passing Bali scenery.
Photography
The intense overhead equatorial light can turn great shots into poor ones. For vividly color photos of scenes such as temples and rice paddies, click them in the early morning or late afternoon.
Etiquette
Respect Balinese customs, rituals and sensibilities (remember, you are a guest on their island).
This means, for example: Don't take a picture of anyone without first obtaining permission. Don't enter a temple unless you're completely covered knees to shoulders. Ditto if you're menstruating. Don't touch anyone's head or point at someone. Don't expose the sole of your shoe by, for instance, crossing your legs as you sit. Don't give or receive an object with your left hand.
Airlines
Confirm your reservations in Bali 72 hours before departure time. Otherwise, with some airlines, you could be bumped off the confirmed reservation list.
Always call the airline before heading to the airport. Cancellations of flights to other islands is not a rarity places and activities.Labels: Made's Tip |
| posted by Admin @ 9:41 PM |
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| October 04, 2007 |
| Beaches |
#10 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the Bali beaches are special
Bali has many long, palm-fringed, white-sand beaches kissed by clear, warm tropical waters.
There are beaches for every taste. Some are packed with sunbathers and lined with convenient shops, eateries, bars and other tourist facilities. Others are serenely off the beaten path and shared by few people.
Best known west coast beaches
They face the warm Indian Ocean waters - and are admiringly oriented for sunset watching.
Jimbaran Beach - Lovely location. Favorite of sunbathers seeking a long, quiet, scenic tropical beach. Never a blanket of people, even during peak season. Luxury resort hotels fronting the beach are discreetly semi-hidden from view.
Kuta Beach - Deservingly praised for its length and white sands, though the beach in front of Kuta's main tourist facilities can become packed.
Legian Beach - Adjacent and similar to Kuta Beach, though not quite as busy and commercialized.
Best known east coast beaches
These lie along the body of water between Bali and Lombok Island.
Nusa Dua Beach - Populated with many international-style five-star resort hotels. Can occasionally become moderately crowded.
Sanur Beach - Once Bali's most popular beach. Still pleasant, though waves in recent decades have eroded some sand.
Candi Dasa Beach - Half as busy and developed as Sanur and Nusa Dua's beaches, but has in recent decades suffered even more sand erosion than Sanur Beach.
Best known north coast beach
Lovina (collective name for a string of seaside villages) - Its beaches are hardly tropical paradises, but they do face the warm tropical Bali Sea -- and are less developed and commercialized than tourism centers like Kuta.
Lovina is known for its "black sand" beaches ("gray" would be more accurate).
Sunning advice
Use a high-rated sun block. Harmful solar rays are filtered less effectively by the earth's atmosphere near the equator than in the Temperate Zones.
Swimming advice
Do it wisely. Many Bali beaches are afflicted with dangerous riptides and undercurrents. Drownings are not uncommon. This is particularly so for some of the west coast beaches (including Kuta).
Unless you're a strong swimmer, enjoy Bali's attractive beaches for sunbathing, strolling and toe-dipping. Do your swimming in a pool. If there is none where you're staying, make inquiries at big resort hotels. Some let visitors use their fancy pool facilities for a daily fee (or, in some instances, for free).
If you are a strong swimmer,
learn the local colored flag warning system before rushing into the surf. Enlist someone on shore to keep an eye on you - and don't venture out alone or too far.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:12 AM |
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| Bali Cuisine |
#9 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why Bali dishes are special
In Bali, most home cooks use quality meats, fresh seafood and newly harvested fruits & vegetables seasoned with an intricate blend of herbs and spices.
Hot chilies are liberally used (though visitors can easily request "mild" in eateries).
Bali's four most famous specialties
Babi Guling - Spit-roasted, crispy skinned suckling pig
Bebek Betutu - Spiced duck slowly cooked in palm or banana leaves
Lawar - Minced innards mixed with chopped vegetables
Bubuh Injin - Black rice pudding (served with sweetened coconut cream)
Balinese cuisine at the table
Most visitors sample few if any local meals because authentic Balinese is difficult to find in restaurants.
The best way to enjoy the real thing is to be invited to dinner in a Balinese home or to attend a temple ceremony or festivity that serves Balinese fare.
If that's not in your cards, you can sometimes find Balinese meals in small roadside eateries called warungs. Or, for a plusher setting, dine at the tourist-focused Bumbu Bali restaurant (just north of Nusa Dua).
Although the atmospheric Ketupet restaurant in Kuta specializes in Indonesia fare, it does offer some Balinese mainstays.
Indonesian
Preparations originating in Java, Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia are easier to find in the Bali restaurants that cater to tourists. Bargain prices usually prevail. Well-known specialties include:
Satay (or Sate) - Charcoal-grilled meat or prawns on mini-skewers.
Gado Gado - Fresh and parboiled vegetables tossed in a spicy peanut sauce.
Nasi Goreng - A fried rice mixture with finely chopped vegetables and either meat or prawns. For the sibling Mei Goreng dish, noodles are used instead of rice.
International
You may be surprised about the large number of Thai, Chinese, Japanese and European restaurants in the tourist areas of Bali. There is even a MacDonald's.
Balinese fruits
Be sure to sample a wide variety of Bali's succulent tropical fruits including mangoes, papayas, snakefruits, rambutans and passion fruits.
They can be eaten out of hand or blended into superb mixed-fruit drinks.
Your favorite gourmet store back home may stock those fruits, but they will never be as fresh, ripe and tasty as in Bali.
Drinking water
Never drink tap water in Bali unless you're positive that that the hotel or restaurant purifies it. Otherwise, you could get sick.
The same is true for drinking beverages containing ice cubes made with tap (instead of purified) water.
Sealed bottled water bearing established brand names is safe, widely available and inexpensive in Bali.
Balinese alcoholic beverages
Imported spirits, wines, beers and soft drinks are expensive in Bali due to a hefty import tax.
More affordable are the Indonesian made beers, soft drinks, wines (top seller is the Hatten brand rose), and these traditional beverages:
Tuak - Sweet palm wine with low potency
Brem - Sweet non-distilled rice based drink with modest potency
Arak - Distilled rice based drink with strong potencyLabels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:07 AM |
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| Kuta Experience |
#8 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the Kuta scene in Bali is special
Some say Kuta is Bali's fun vacation spot, others go out of their way to avoid it.
If you're young or young at heart and love being where the action is, you'll agree with the first assessment.
If you're older and more sedate, it is probably not the place to stay. The town is commercialized and is neither attractive nor romantic. Its main arteries are traffic clogged. Still, it warrants at least a brief visit. It gives those staying in quieter places a change of pace. It has interesting shopping and dining.
Kuta nightlife
The most exciting time for a "check it out" visit to Kuta is after the sun goes down. Its streets, sidewalks, bars and clubs teem with energy. While the nightlife in the rest of Bali generally snoozes by 9 p.m., it pulses into the wee hours.
Kuta dining
It's usually easier to find foreign food (Chinese, Thai, pizza, etc.) than local cuisine. Two good bets for Balinese and Indonesian food are Kepupat and Made Warung.
Kuta Beach
Kuta is blessed with a long, beautiful white sand beach along the warm Indian Ocean. Two decades ago this beach was a tranquil paradise for sun worshipers, but today it is packed with tourists and many pushy hawkers.
Swimmers take note that the ocean undertows and riptides along Kuta Beach can be dangerous, particularly to inexpert swimmers. (Click the green "Beaches" button for insights on beach safety.
Kuta surfing
Surfing is popular. You can do it on the waves near the beach or on those that break well beyond the shoreline at Kuta Reef.
Shopping
True, most of the shops stock tacky goods. However, Kuta has most of Bali's chic upscale designer boutiques - and prices are half those found in Paris and New York for equivalent style and quality.
Hotel accommodations
Lodging range from home stays (very inexpensive) to full service hotels (moderately expensive). You have to go elsewhere in Bali to find the island's luxury resorts.
Legian
The adjoining, overly developed beach resort towns of Legian and Kuta have effectively (but not politically) merged into a single community. It's now difficult to tell where one town ends and the other begins.
Though Legian is less known and slightly quieter of the two, much of what is said in the above paragraphs applies to both towns.
Tourism
The blasts in Kuta of October 2002 and 2005 put a heavy burden on the local and the overall island economies, which deeply depend on tourism money. Because the island has so much to offer travelers, I am confident that tourism will eventually bounce back to its former level.
Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:05 AM |
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| Luxury Resorts |
#7 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the luxury resorts of Bali are special
Bali's luxury resorts are world famous for their exquisite settings, superlative facilities, hospitable employees and attentive service catering to your whims.
Difference between a villa resort and hotel resort
A luxury villa resort consists mostly or exclusively of villas (think of fancy cottages). They are ideal if you seek seclusion and privacy. Guest count is low. You receive highly personalized service (the staff to guest ratio can be as high as 5 to 1. Peak season rates for two typically run about $400 to $1000 per night.
A luxury hotel resort's accommodations are mainly or entirely rooms and suites. They are arranged in the familiar hotel hallway layout (though the buildings are only several stories high and the corridors are usually open aired). These luxury hotel resorts are perfect if you want - as most vacationers do - the big resort experience (many fellow guests, a large pool, and an interesting variety of restaurants and organized activities). Peak season rates for two typically run about $200 to $500 per night.
Best of the best luxury resorts - my top 5 picks
Amandari - Villa resort. Ubud area. Consists of just 40 villas, each with built-in privacy. The Amandari is designed like a traditional Balinese walled village. Its infinity pool is famous and overlooks a spectacular rice terrace gorge.
Begawin Giri - Villa resort. Ubud area. It's Bali's ultimate villa resort seclusion spot. Peaceful garden park setting. Lodging is divided into six widely spaced residences (which can be rented whole by an extended family or shared by several different vacation parties). Each residence has its own private full-length infinity pool (see photo).
Ritz Carlton - Hotel resort. On Jimbaran Bay cliffs overlooking Indian Ocean. Refined personality. Professionally landscaped. Best food among Bali's resorts.
Four Seasons - Villa resort. On Jimbaran Bay. Directly on a beautiful, uncrowded beach.
Inter-Continental - Hotel resort. On Jimbaran Bay. Mammoth pool. Justifiably boasts the widest and finest beach front among the luxury hotels.
Luxury resorts runners-up
Amankila (villa resort near Candi Dasa -- see my Bali map)
Amanusa (villa resort near Candi Dasa)
Bali Cliff (hotel resort near Ulu Watu)
Bali Hilton (hotel resort in Nusa Dua)
Alila Ubud (hotel resort, formerly the Chedi, in Ubud area)
Four Seasons Sayan (hotel resort in Ubud area)
Tuga (villa resort on coast between Kuta and Tanah Lot Temple).
In planning your budget,be aware that...
A 21% surcharge (11% tax plus 10% service charge) is added to bills at upmarket tourist hotels and restaurants.
If your budget is limited
Not to worry. Bali has many small adorable resorts and private cottages in the $50 to $100 a night per couple range to suit individual preferences. Some are on or near the beaches. Some are in the Ubud area hills with superlative views.
If you're on a shoestring budget, you can find spartan accommodations for as low as $10 a night.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 12:56 AM |
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| Adventure Sports |
#6 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the adventure sports of Bali are special
Bali has world class surfing, snorkeling and diving.
These sports draw over a hundred thousand enthusiasts per year.
It's easy to rent good equipment, charter boats with guides and -- if a beginner -- find competent instructors.
Bali has whitewater rafting for thrill-seeking novices (see photo).
Click the "Bali Map" button to locate key places discussed below.
Surfing
Bali's superb surfing draws enthusiasts from around the globe.
The premier surfing spot for skilled practitioners is Ulu Watu (situated at the southern tip of the island).
Accomplished surfers also praise the nearby Padang Padang surf - and the surf at Canggu (between Kuta and Tanah Lot)
The surfing at Kuta Reef (which lies out to sea from Kuta Beach) also receives accolades. However, its waves can become overpopulated with surfers due to its proximity to the bustling tourist town of Kuta.
June, July and August are the ideal months for surfing the above spots.
Snorkeling and scuba-diving
Bali is ringed by many clear-water reefs rich in live coral, colorful tropical fish and other marine life. At one site - Tulamben - you can explore a sunken World War II ship.
Snorkelers and divers relish two of Bali's small off-shore islands named Menjangan and Lembongan. The first is Bali's best overall site. The second makes an interesting day trip from Bali's tourist centers.
May to September is the best period for snorkeling and diving.
Whitewater rafting
Although there are more challenging rapids in the world, the 11 kilometer (7 mile) run in the deep & steep Ajung River gorge near Ubud is breathtakingly beautiful.
You pass isolated rice terraces, dangling jungle growth and high waterfalls. Your 4 to 6 passenger rubber raft is stirred by an able skipper while you and your mates do the paddling.
The Ajung rapids are rated Class 2 -- ideal for rafting novices who want an adrenaline rush without being scared to death.
Bali's other well-established adventure sports
Hiking & Trekking - Walk through tropical foliage and scale active volcanoes.
Sailing - Bali has the right boats, strong winds and open seas to gratify seasoned sailors. You can even rent and sail a tiny outrigger canoe on the ocean.
Wind-surfing - Hop the waves on a sail-surfboard.
Parasailing - View the coastline from a seagull's eye view.
Bungee jumping - Several daunting sites serve those who dare.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 12:44 AM |
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| October 02, 2007 |
| Ubud Experience |
#5 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why Ubud is special
The town of Ubud is the undeniable artistic heart and soul of Bali's art. It rests among lush hills and rice terraces.
The vacation lifestyle is markedly different from Kuta's, the island's other major tourist magnet. It's more cultural, less hedonistic.
Life proceeds at a slow pace in Ubud, even for visitors, which is part of the charm.
The locales are open and friendly -- and you encounter few pushy vendors.
Day trippers from the southern beach resorts miss out on the special sense of place. You need to stay in the Ubud area for at least several days. It's an insightful, unforgettable experience.
Checklist of key attractions & activities in and around Ubud
Traditional dance and gamelan orchestra performances - There's a quality performance practically every night. (Click the "2" button for brief descriptions of Balinese dances and music.)
Art shops, galleries and studios - You find many in Ubud and nearby villages, including in the neighboring village of Penestanam (renowned for its refreshing Young Artist School style of painting).
Museums - The area has world-class museums. Namely, the Neka, Puri Lukisan and Agong Rai. (Click the "top runners-up" button for brief descriptions of those institutions.)
Ubud Palace - Small, walled complex of embellished buildings and courtyards smack in the middle of town.
Restaurants - Good variety to suit different tastes and wallets. Nearly all have a relaxed, unpretentious tone.
Hiking - One of Bali's best areas for short walks on scenic foot paths.
Whitewater rafting - Run the rapids down the eye-arresting Agung River gorge. Easy but challenging enough to thrill novice river rafters. Basic swimming proficiency recommended in case the rapids get the better of your rubber raft.
Doing nothing - Some visitors unwind by renting a cottage or villa with a picturesque rural view -- and hole up with a good book or companion.
Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 2:09 AM |
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| Temples & Ceremonies |
#4 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the temples and ceremonies of Bali are special
Religion runs deep in Bali. About 95% of the Balinese practice Hindu-Dharmaism, a local variant of India's Hinduism. The faithful interweave their religion into their daily lives.
Bali is nicknamed The Island of the Gods because it has over 10,000 temples dedicated to an array of spirits. To the Balinese, every living thing -- from a lowly weed to a human being -- has a spirit.
The Balinese believe that there are both good and evil spirits -- and that this eternal duality exists in balance.
Each year the Balinese hold countless temple ceremonies and make frequent offerings to please the good spirits and appease the evil ones. The fascinating upbeat aura of these ceremonies is unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
The most tourist-frequented temples in Bali
Tanah Lot -- Famous for its tiny, quaint island setting (reachable during low tide). Bursts with tourists during its vaunted sunset.
Besakih -- Bali's largest and holiest temple is Pura Besakih (see photo). It's popularly known as the "Mother Temple".
Ulu Watu -- Dramatically perched on high promontory overlooking the breaking surf.
Ulu Danu -- Photogenic. On Lake Bratan.
Temple ceremonies of Bali
No trip to Bali is fulfilled without observing a festive temple ceremony.
Because there are so many temples in Bali with different ceremony schedules, there should be at least one event taking place on any given day during your visit.
Some ceremonies are grander and more festive than others. Some have traditional dances and music.
Consult your concierge or the local government tourist office for the latest schedules and recommendations when you arrive in Bali.
Ask them to brief you on temple etiquette (for instance, you as a visitor should don a sarong and leave a small monetary gift for the upkeep of the temple).
Temple processions of Bali
A major adjunct of the temple ceremony is the procession of traditionally attired women walking single file down a country road to the temple.
Each gracefully balances on her head a tall colorful tower of neatly arranged fruits, flowers and other offerings (see photo).
Daily offerings in Bali
The Balinese also make offerings to the good and evil spirits on a daily basis with tiny tray baskets (called bantens) made of woven coconut palm fronds.
Each contains simple gifts such as flowers and rice.
You'll see plethora of these baskets. They are placed nearly anywhere including on altars and, to enhance and protect a business's prosperity, on the sidewalk near a shop's doorway.
I've even seen a banten parked on a computer as the operator entered data into a spreadsheet.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 2:03 AM |
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| Arts & Crafts |
#3 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the arts and crafts of Bali are special
On a per capita basis, Bali probably has the most accomplished artists & craftsmen in the world. To the Balinese, personal artistic achievement is part of the religious experience.
Painting of Bali
For centuries the international art world paid little heed to the talented Balinese painters, who focused on traditional motifs geared for Bali's temples and religious ceremonies.
Then, in the late 1920s several expatriate European artists (including the now renowned Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet) successfully taught and encouraged some Balinese artists to become more modern and daring by capturing scenes of everyday Bali life and landscapes. Today, this work is globally recognized as fine art.
Bali's painting capital is Ubud village, followed by the villages of Batuan and Samasan. The first is more eclectic and contemporary in style while the latter two specialize in Bali's traditional Wayan style.
The best way to introduce yourself to Balinese paintings is by visiting the Neka Museum and other leading art institutions (click the "top runners-up" button for their capsule descriptions).
Wood sculptures of Bali
Mas village is clearly Bali's wood carving center.
Its artists create refined Balinese sculptures depicting Hindu-epic Ramayana characters, ordinary people and various animals (the Njana Tilem Gallery is generally regarded as Bali's finest artistic producer).
Mas is also unrivaled in carving the colorful Balinese wood masks (see photo) worn by classical dancers.
Stone sculptures of Bali
Batubulan village is Bali's stone-carving heart.
Most works are of deities and other Balinese temple themed objects.
Many artisans also cater to tourists by sculpting everyday Balinese subjects, real and whimsical.
Gold & silver jewelry of Bali
Celuk village (near Batubulan) is Bali's gold- and silver-smithing epicenter.
Intricate earrings, necklaces, bracelets and broaches are popular items with Bali tourists.
Batiks from Java and Bali
A batik is a fabric richly decorated using a special dying technique.
Many are used as sarongs.
Although virtually all the "Bali batik sarongs" sold to the tourists and Balinese are made in Java, Bali does produce in small quantities some exceptionally fine hand-made batiks, including the rare double itak from the walled village of Tenganan (near Candi Dasa). A single cloth can take years to finish.
Other arts & crafts of Bali
Balinese design and construct colorful kites in unusual forms such as mythical birds and four-masted ships (yes, they fly). Some Balinese kites are as big and wide as a car.
Other Balinese artistic endeavors include the making of ceramics, furniture and shadow puppets.
Observing the Balinese artists and craftsmen
Many studios, galleries and factories openly invite tourists to view their Balinese artisans in action -- and to browse the displayed finished goods with no obligation to buy.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:57 AM |
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| Dance & Music |
#2 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the dance and music of Bali are special
The dance and music of Bali entertain and uplift your spirit. Both art forms have been performed and acclaimed in major cultural centers around the world. Experiencing them in Bali is the ultimate experience.
Dances of Bali
Most Balinese dances relate to segments of the Ramayana, an ancient Hindu epic illustrating the perpetual struggle between good and evil.
The three favorite dances among locals and tourists in Bali are:
Barong - A classic dance. Stunning. Depicts the conflict between the good Barong (dressed in a fanciful lion-like costume) and the evil Rangda.
Legong -. Another classic dance. Graceful. Performed by three pre-pubescent girls in colorful attire.
Kecak - Although this frenetic dance was not choreographed until the 1930s (and by a Westerner), the Kecak is convincingly rooted in Balinese tradition. Typically, it features 50 to 100 bare-chested men sitting cross-legged in tight concentric circles. They play the role of monkeys, which is why the dance is sometimes called the "monkey dance". As they sway in unison, they repeatedly chant the nonsensical phrase "kechak ke chak” virtually non-stop and without musical accompaniment. They do this in a hypnotic beat to scare away an evil spirit. Several Balinese dancers help dramatize the story.
Gamelan music of Bali
Nothing is more mesmerizing than the haunting percussion sounds of a Balinese gamelan orchestra.
The musicians play an assortment of instruments including native metal gongs, drums, chimes, cymbals and metalophones (xylophones). The counterpointing is exhilarating.
Although a 15 to 30 member gamelan orchestra is the one most associated with “gamelan”, many other distinct types exist in Bali. There are marching gamelans – and small-group gamelans that provide music for the Barong and Legong dances.
And, there is the Gamelan Jegog, consisting of two or more floor-seated Balinese musicians playing soft rhythmical melodies on bamboo-based xylophones (Note: Jegog performances are now common in resort lobbies).
Cultural Performances
Many Balinese villages hold dance and music events for temple ceremonies. Some welcome visitors, providing they discreetly observe.
Though not as authentic (or lengthy) as the village presentations, there are many one hour Balinese dance and music performances geared especially for tourists. They are staged in hotel or non-hotel settings. Hotel events are integrated with grand buffets.
Most of the non-hotel performances take place in the Denpasar Art Center and in artisan villages such as Ubud and Batubulan (click the Bali map button to see their locations).
Both the hotel and non-hotel affairs entertain, though those in non-hotel venues are truer to the originals. And, their Balinese performers are noticeably more skilled and talented – and put more of their hearts into their efforts.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:51 AM |
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| Rice Terraces |
#1 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the Bali rice terraces are special?
Rice terraces throughout the world are photogenic. Of all of them, those in Bali are the most beautiful.
Where to find the most photogenic rice terraces in Bali
The emerald-green rice terraces in the river gorge north of Tegallalang village in central Bali (see photo) are generally considered to offer travelers the best photo opportunity.
Other popular lush-green and well-tended Balinese rice paddy sites include those in the Ubud area (including Sayan) -- and in Pupuan, Jatiluwih. Tabanan and Tirtagangga.
Rice terrace history in brief
The Balinese rice terraces go back over 2,000 years when hard-working farmers with primitive hand tools began carving the stepped terraces out of steep hill sides.
Generation after generation has extended and kept them in meticulous shape out of necessity - rice is the staple food of the islanders.
Cooperation is essential for rice terraces
Today's individual rice terrace farmers, as did their ancestors, join a community cooperative.
Each informal agricultural mini-society establishes firm regulations on a local level. This helps ensure that the limited irrigation water is fairly allocated and that only so many farmers tap into the limited-flowing water at the same time.
The community cooperative also makes sure that the complex irrigation system is maintained and that a farmer does not block the water from flowing downward to rice terraces below his.
Rice terrace cooperatives are a major reason why a farmer is able to get up to three crops per year from his paddies.
Rice fields vs rice terraces
Although the maze of rice fields that blanket Bali's flat lands are not quite as visually striking as the rice terraces that follow the natural contours of the hills, they are stunningly picturesque in their own right.
Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:40 AM |
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