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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Beaches op Bali

The Beaches of Bali

The island of Bali is blessed with the line of beaches surrounding it.

Sanur.

On the southeastern side of Bali, Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as you jog along the white sandy beach. Being one of the first resort developed in Bali, Sanur maintains its traditions. Only a stone thrown away from the beach, ancient temples stand as solemn as they have been in centuries past.

Kuta and Legian

Practically on the opposite side of Sanur, the beaches of Kuta and Legian stretch on the southwestern side of Bali, again only about 5 to 10 minute drive from Denpasar or the airport. Surfing is a major activity in these beaches. Shops, Kecak dance performances, pubs, and other facilities make Kuta a tourist mecca.

Jimbaran

Jimbaran is directly south of the airport, on the way from Denpasar towards Nusa Dua. The village of Jimbaran is the narrow neck of the island of Bali, and thus it has two remarkably different beaches. On the west, Jimbaran Beach faces the Jimbaran Bay, recently lined by new luxurious resorts. On the east, the beach faces the body of water sheltered by Benoa Harbor.

Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most sumptuous hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity.

Soka Beach

Further northwest from Denpasar, on the way to Gilimanuk, the ferry port town that connects Bali and Java, there is a small quiet beach called Soka Beach.

Medewi Beach

Continuing along the path towards Gilimanuk, near the village of Pulukan, the beach of Medewi is another beautiful beach.

Lovina Beach

Near the northern tip of the island of Bali lies a stretch of villages by the Bali Sea. Lovina Beach is the name. It is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkeling, and diving. Night life activities are also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea. If you like what Kuta offers but do not like the crowd, Lovina Beach is for you.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Travel Guide To Bali


Travel Guide To Bali

This BALI GUIDE is maintained and updated regularly by foreign residents living in Bali, usually once a week – sometimes more often. You're invited to visit frequently and to bookmark this page.

You'll find on this site current information on the island of Bali in Indonesia and down-to-earth advice, sometimes biased by personal experiences but never influenced by commercial considerations. (The server space is provided by Balivillas.com/Bali.com Ltd as a free service to all visitors to Bali.)

BALI — THE "ULTIMATE ISLAND"

In spite of many changes caused by the rapid development of Bali's economy, local and international tourism, and communications (television, fax, pagers, GSM hand phones, Internet), the influx of people from other Indonesian islands, and the strong influence of the government and "big business" in Jakarta, the island of Bali in Indonesia is year after year voted by the readers of all major travel magazines the most enchanting travel and holiday destination in the whole world.

Bali's wide variety of attractions, the physical beauty of the island, and the year-round pleasant climate make Bali a place regarded by many visitors as the "Ultimate Island".

The friendly people and the absence of any serious criminal activities guarantee visitors a totally relaxing stay – which is a very pleasant surprise for guests who repeatedly felt threatened in Barbados, Jamaica, and other "dream islands" in the Caribbean. To read comments of recent visitors to Bali, please visit the BALItravelFORUM.

INTRODUCTION TO THE ISLAND OF BALI

PLANNING YOUR BALI HOLIDAY

CHOOSING YOUR BALI HOTEL, VILLA, OR RESORT ACCOMMODATION

  • Bali Hotel & Resort Bargain Finder
    Find the GUARANTEED lowest rates at famous boutique hotels, luxury resorts and budget hotels in all parts of Bali. Reserve on-line to save 70% and more. Now with Extra-Special Offers valid for limited periods only.
  • Your Best Choice: Private Vacation Villas in Bali
    Choose from the most beautiful villas in Bali with two to seven bedrooms, a tropical garden with your own swimming pool, trained house staff including a cook and maids, an air-conditioned car with driver, etc. to take care of you around the clock. Check here for Last Minute availabilities and special offers. This "luxury" will be much less expensive than you think.

BALI INSIDER'S GUIDE (continually updated)

  • Bali Weather Report & 5-Day Forecast.
    This report is for the whole island of Bali: this means even if you see rain showers announced these might only be in Ubud and in the mountains while the coastal areas are sunny.
  • Currency Exchange Rates.
    Local exchange rates quoted daily by BII - Bank Indonesia Internasional.
  • VISA ATM Locator.
    Listing of all VISA ATM machines worldwide – including Indonesia and Bali.
  • Internet Access from Bali.
    How and where temporary visitors can access the Internet during their stay in Bali.
  • What You can See and Do in Bali.
    The most important tours and excursions; Balinese dance performances; Wayang Kulit & traditional drama; museums & exhibitions; sports & many other leisure activities, and shopping.
  • Food & Restaurants to Enjoy in Bali.
    Prices & opening hours; "Chaîne des Rôtisseurs" events; International cuisines; Indonesian cooking, Padang food & Balinese delicacies; beer, wine & local alcoholic beverages. Restaurant suggestions: where to eat in Sanur; restaurants in the Kuta area; seafood in Jimbaran; eating out in Nusa Dua; Ubud & surroundings.
  • The Food of Bali – Recipes and Instructions.
    Lavishly illustrated recipes for 75 Balinese delicacies and detailed instructions how to prepare them. Compiled by Bali's food guru Heinz von Holzen.
  • Bali after Dark.
    The most popular pubs, bars and discos for tourists and residents in the Kuta area, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Ubud. Updated frequently!
  • Drugs: Don't even think about it!
    The use (or just ownership) of narcotic drugs is illegal in Indonesia and punishable by death. Drugs offered on the street are of questionable content, and often mixed with toxic substances. Many street vendors cooperate also with the police. If you buy you will be arrested soon afterwards, and you will be released only after paying US$60,000 or more – if at all!
Bali area reference:
  • South Bali: Nusadua, Jimbaran, Tuban, Kuta, Seminyak, Kerobokan, Canggu, Sanur
  • Central Bali: Ubud, Bedugul, Kintamani, Tabanan
  • North Bali: Singaraja, Lovina, Pemuteran
  • East Bali: Candi Dasa, Karangasem
  • West Bali: Menjangan
This page is intended for the minimalist among you. It lists the places of interest with a one line executive summary of what it has to offer.
Print this page, take it with you, and once you are there, glance it quickly to determine where you should go next. Let us know if this is useful.

• Batubulan: Daily barong dance performance, fine stone
carvings, furniture, terracotta pots.
• Mount Batukau: off the beaten path, virgin rainforests,
mossy shade of Pura Luhur temple, serenity.
• Bedugul: highland retreat by the lake, crater,
watersports, quality fruits and vegetables.
• Besakih Temple: Mother Temple on Mount Agung, huge
complex of shrines, majestic.
• Candi Dasa: quiet newest resort area, snorkeling, diving,
beach.
• Celuk: silver and gold jewelry.
• Denpasar: rebuilt ancient city, art center, museum,
government offices.
• Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave): 8th century archaelogical
mystery, Buddhist inscriptions and carvings, elephant head
at entrance.
• Goa Lawah (Bat Cave): One-thousand year old Shiva
temple, millions of fruit bats cover the ceiling.
• Jimbaran: Southwest Bali, fisherman village, beach,
sunset,offshore reefs.
• Kintamani: Mountainous, spectacular view by Lake Batur,
sunrise at peak of Mount Batur.
• Klungkung: Old Palaces, Kertha Gosa Hall of Justice
(painted ceiling a la Sistine Chapel).
• Kuta: surfing, beaches, sunsets, night life, shops of
Legian.
• Lovina: North near Singaraja, still waters, dolphin watch.
• Negara: West Bali, water buffalo races (Jul - Oct).
• Nusa Dua : luxurious resorts, diving and surfing, beaches,
golf course, shops
• Nusa Lembongan: Bali's sister island, coral and sand
beaches, crystal clear water, surfing.
• Sangeh: Monkey Forest, tall nutmeg trees, aggressive
monkeys.
• Sanur: First resort of Bali, beaches, black and white
magic.
• Singaraja: North Bali, main port during colonial time,
quiet, culturally distinctive.
• Tabanan: mountains, rice field terraces, black sand
beaches, rain forests.
• Tampaksiring: wood carving, Tirta Empul temple and
sacred spring water, Sukarno's Palace.
• Tanah Lot: Dramatic ocean front temple,
spectacular sunset, snake filled cave.
• Tenganan: East Bali, village of Bali Aga, wonderful fabrics
(Gringsing double-ikat).
• Tirta Gangga: East Bali, water palace bathing place.
• Trunyan: Lake Batur village, accessible only by boat,
Bali Aga, the dead by a sacred tree.
• Ubud: Haven for the arts, paintings, lush rice fields,
museums, galleries, dances.
• Uluwatu: Spectacular temple on a cliff, real challenging
surf below.

Thank you for visiting our Bali Guide pages, Bali's most up-to-date source for everything to do with the "Ultimate Island" — resorts, boutique hotels, luxury villas, holidays, travel, tours, cruises, exchange rates, weather and more. Make sure you return again soon for the latest information on the island of Bali in Indonesia.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

The Bali Aga

The Bali Aga

The Bali Aga
Bali culture is totally unique and permeates through every aspect of life. The influence of Hinduism the main religion is evident in the music, drama, art, costumes and festivals which take place daily. You'll encounter a festival almost every day, celebrating the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Anthropologists believe that the Balinese are descended from the ancient Chinese, the Indians and Arabs from the west, and others who came to the island directly or via Java. The Bali Aga (The Original Balinese) The original Balinese or Bali Aga, are a unique ethnic group that still live and practise a way of life that pre-dates modern civilisation. The Bali Aga are thought to be the original inhabitants of Bali who fled imperialistic invaders, eventually finding refuge in the solitude of Bali's remote mountains. Only two villages remain - which until recently, were firmly shut away from the rest of the world, hidden in the hills of East Bali. Located just west of Candi Dasa lie the villages of Tenganan and Trunyan, isolated across the vast Lake Kintamani. The villages, home to the Bali Aga, are shut off by a solid wall surrounding the entire village. The wall is only broken by means of four gates, each facing north, south, east and west. Within these walls lies a massive Banyan tree surrounded by a low wall of uncut stones, making up a small enclosure for a very sacred temple. Tenganan has only recently opened up to outsiders although strict rules still apply, especially concerning marriage to outsiders. Tenganan has wonderful fabrics, including the renowned double weave ikat cloth. The villagers of Tenganan are tall and slender with very pale complexions and refined manners. The men folk still wear their hair long and have a communistic system which does not recognize individual ownership of property. Every house in Tenganan looks exactly alike, with a flight of steps leading to a small gate opening into a courtyard with sleeping quarters, kitchen, and a long house for storage. A small empty shrine, signifies a place where spirits may rest when they visit their descendants. Tenganan owns huge tracts of fertile and well cultivated lands capable of satisfying the needs of the village; and also making Tenganan one of the richest in Bali. A people known for their filed and blackened teeth, the Bali Aga are said to bring the spirits of their ancestors down to Earth for protection through sacrifices. The Bali Aga leave the bodies of their dead in the jungle to be carried away by the spirits, and they are believed to have possibly eaten parts of their headmen's bodies to absorb magic powers. Family clans are ruled by a council of elders who are also religious priests. The Bali Aga revere the forces of nature and the spirits of their ancestors, with whom they continue to live as a great family of both the living and the dead.

Bali Aga Rites The Tenganans practice an ancient rite known as mekare kare, the ritual blood sacrifice. This is not as gory as it sounds, but an event where all villagers get involved in an annual ritual combat, using thorny pandan leaves to draw blood. Each combatant hits his opponent with the aim of drawing blood. The ritual fight will be held every time there is a temple ceremony is Tenganan, which tends to fall in the fifth month of the Balinese calendar. The fighting and the blood are real, and all participants come well prepared, carrying weapons of a rotan-woven shield and a bundle of thorny pandan leaves, used to scratch the opponent's skin until it bleeds. Before the fight begins, participants drink rice wine or tuak, fermented local palm, to symbolise brotherhood and sportsmanship. But when the selonding music fills the air, a volley of fierce jeers, insults, cheers and shouts are thrown to instill fear. And the fighting begins. The fighting is judged by a mediator, most probably a prominent figure of the village, and usually lasts for a fierce 5 to 10 minutes. The first person to draw blood with the thorny weapon is victor, and the person he draws blood from is the vanquished. Both victor and vanquished are broken up by the mediator as soon as blood is drawn. As the injured are treated with traditional liquid medicines, and all fighters recover their strength, the whole village prepares food and drink for an elaborate feast which must follow the Balinese sacrifice of human blood. Balinese culture has also got a population control mechanism in their child naming practices, and this is not only confined to the Bali Aga, but encompasses every Balinese. Every first born is named Wayan, second born Made, third Nyoman, and the fourth Ketut. Anymore children will see a repeat of the names following the order. But this practice definitely is a big hint and subtle reminder to stop at a maximum of four!

Balinese Religion Nearly everything in Bali carries a religious significance from creating stone and wood carvings, cremation ceremonies, trance dances and gamelan music, are intended to please and appease the gods. As most pleasing and appeasing rituals take place in a temple, temples are, undisputedly, the most important structure in Balinese culture, providing a pleasant resting place for the gods during their stay on the island. Every house on the island has its own shrine, a resting place for ancestral spirits. Even the paddy fields have a shrine for Dewi Sri, the Rice Goddess. Each village has three temples, the Pura Puseh, dedicated to the villagers' ancestors, the Pura Desa, used for official celebrations, and the Pura Dalem or the temple of death, specially dedicated to the deities of death and of cremation. [Photo] [Photo]

Cremation Ceremonies The Ngaben or Cremation Ceremony is a very important part of Balinese culture. The ceremony is performed to send the dead from death to the next life. When death descends on a Balinese, the village kul kul will sound, hanging in the village temple tower to announce the departure of the deceased. The body will then be placed at the Bale Delod, and the deceased treated as if sleeping. No tears are shed as the Balinese believe that the deceased will return shortly to be reincarnated into the family. The Priest will then consult the Dewasa for the day of the ngaben ceremony. On the appointed day, the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin, which is then placed inside a wadah, or sarcophagus shaped in the form of a buffalo. It is actually a temple structure made of paper and light wood. The funeral procession then leaves for the cremation site, carrying the wadah. The most important part of the ngaben is the burning of the wadah, with fire taken from a holy source, thus sending the deceased to the afterlife,to prepare for a future reincarnation.

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Saturday, October 6, 2007

Bali: An Overview

Bali: An Overview Bali is an island of incredible mystery, beauty, enchantment, culture, hospitality, variety, and serenity; who wouldn't fall under its irresistible spell?

Bali's spectacular beaches, volcanoes, lakes, temples, and terraced rice fields -- combined with its deeply artistic roots and its legendary hospitality -- have made it one of the most visited places on earth. The religion and culture of Bali are unique in the world, and the Balinese have preserved their traditions in spite of the island's growing tourist industry.

While many destinations offer beautiful scenery, few have the variety of Bali, and none has its unique art, culture, and natural hospitality.
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Geography

Geography Located 8 degrees south of the equator in the midst of the 8,000 islands of the Indonesian archipelago, Bali measures approximately 140 km by 80 km and has an area of 5,620 square kilometers. Immediately east of Java, Bali is the first of the Sunda Islands. Its mountain range consists mostly of dormant and active volcanoes, with the highest, the active volcano Mount Gunung Agung, reaching 3,142 meters. Stretched to the south and north of these volcanoes, Bali's fertile agricultural lands produce abundant crops of rice.

The thinly populated West is the only non-cultivated area and includes Bali's National Park, a deeply forested area with many varieties of plants and birds. The eastern and northeastern slopes of Gunung Agung are arid, as is the extreme south of the island. The climate of most of the island is hot and humid, with an average temperature of 28 Celcius, but the higher altitudes can be quite cool. The rainy season lasts from October to March, and the humidity fluctuates between 75% and 80% depending on the season. Winds tend to blow from the West during the rainy season and from the East during the 'dry' season.
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History


It is believed that Bali's first inhabitants came from China at the beginning of the Iron Age, around 3,000 BC. Some Buddhist inscriptions date from the 9th century AD; it was only in the 11th century that Hindu influence from Java began to make its mark on the island. The 13th century saw the emergence of the Majapahit dynasty that ruled over Java and Bali for the next three centuries.

At the end of this era, chased by the arrival of Islam, the Javanese aristocracy and its priests and artisans fled to Bali. Bali then entered an intense period of cultural development, the main traits of which are to be found today in the caste system, the rituals, and certain artistic styles.

The first Dutch seamen landed in Bali in 1597. Starting in 1800 in the north of Bali, the Dutch began a long and troubled campaign to colonize the island. Their efforts climaxed with the collective suicide of 14 September 1906, when 4,000 Balinese killed themselves rather than capitulate. Dutch colonization lasted until World War II, when they were ousted by Japanese forces.

The Japanese occupation lasted from 1942 to 1945. 0n 17 August 1945, Sukarno, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, proclaimed independence. After the end of World War II, however, the Dutch tried to re-assert their colonial control over Bali and Indonesia. At the battle of Marga (Bali) in 1946, the Dutch faced a group of 94 Balinese soldiers led by Lt. Col. I Gusti Ngurah Rai, all of whom died refusing to surrender. In 1949, the Dutch finally relinquished their claims on Indonesia.
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Balinese Life

Balinese Life The strong cultural identity of Bali is based on a combination of closely related elements that include its unique religion, its language, its castes, its community life, and its art.

Although the official language is Indonesian, Balinese remains the everyday language of the people of the island.

The ancient caste system -- still alive but no longer of any official or formal significance -- divides the Balinese into four distinct castes: Priests ('Brahmana'), Rulers ('Ksatria'), Warriors ('Wesia'), and commoners ('Sudra'). Unlike India, Balinese Hinduism has no 'untouchable' caste. Ninety percent of Balinese are commoners, while the remaining ten percent are divided among the three higher castes.

Numerous ceremonies mark the progression of life in Bali, starting, of course, with birth. Children are treated with respect and gentleness; corporal punishment is rare. In adulthood, marriage becomes compulsory and represents the individual's official entry into the community as an adult. Subsequently, participation in the meetings of the Banjar (village association that manages village affairs) becomes obligatory.

The management of the all-important water supply falls under another essential community organization called the Subak, to which each village landowner belongs. Bali's irrigation system, unique in the world, is managed by these associations, which ensure the fair distribution of water and carry out the traditional ceremonial rites to the gods of agriculture.

No discussion of Bali is complete without mentioning Bali's native inhabitants, the so-called 'Bali Aga'. They are the descendants of the first known inhabitants of Bali, and their customs are of prehistoric origin -- long before the arrival of Hinduism. Now their culture represents a unique combination of their animistic origins and Balinese Hinduism. There are only a few villages of Bali Aga left; the two best known are Tenganan in Karangasem and Trunyan in Kintamani, Bangli
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