Indonesia Bali Hotels - Bali Hotels Online Accommodation

Indonesia Bali Hotels - Bali Hotels Online Accommodation

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The Balinese Culture

The Balinese culture is a unique combination of spirituality, religion, tradition and art. Religion is considered to be art and it seems that almost every Balinese is a devoted artist, spending 'free time' applying skills and images which have been passed down from generation to generation and grasped from a very young age. Expressed through beautiful and intricate paintings, extraordinary carvings, superb weaving, and even in rice decorations that cover the myriad shrines found in public areas, in paddy fields or in homes, the island is alive with art and religious homage.

Sekala and Niskala

Balinese culture is a complex event characterised by diversity and adaptability. A central dictum in Balinese thinking is the concept of Desa - Kala - Patra, (time, place and situation), a dynamic notion holding that traditional thinking will blend in harmony with the new. The Balinese distinguish between Sekala, the material, and Niskala the eternal. Reality is a coincidence of the material and the eternal realms. One does not exist without the other. The world, therefore, is the product of the interaction of Sekala and Niskala.

Temple Festivals

Temple festivals are commonplace. Each village will hold some sort of colourful ceremony for each one of its own temples a couple of times a year. Add to this the rituals and celebrations for each persons' passage from birth, puberty, marriage, childbirth to death and the after-world, and include the major island-wide celebrations like Galungan, Kuningan and Nyepi; the day of silence when the whole island closes down in fear of evil spirits flying in from the sea, and you can begin to understand how important religion in Bali is.

Hindu Dharma

Art, culture and day to day activities for most Balinese are strongly bonded to a unique form of Hinduism called Hindu Dharma, which is widely thought to be the closest example to the religion and social framework that existed in Java during the zenith of its power and is now found nowhere else. Classical dance dramas based on the old Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata which arrived from Java, are like everywhere else in Indonesia, mixed with pre-Hindu animist belief and peculiar local folklore. Not all Balinese adopted the new Hindu religion though. The Bali Aga who now live in isolated groups in the mountains at Trunyan and Tenganan, for example, preferred their ancient animist beliefs, which are still practiced and remain largely intact today.

Balinese belief systems

The very soul of Bali and Balinese belief systems is rooted in religion and is expressed in art forms and skills that have been passionately preserved over the centuries. During the mid sixteenth century Bali reached a cultural climax, which encouraged and developed elaborate arts and customs, which are the foundations of what is practiced today. In a sense they have changed very little since that time, but as has been the case throughout much of the Indonesian archipelago, adaptation of new environments is absolutely essential for survival. It was at this time that the Javanese Hindu and the Balinese calendars were combined and a complex schedule of rituals and ceremonies was defined. Nine great temples, the Pura Agung, were also built, linking the structure of the new calendar with that of the gods. The most sacred being the Mother Temple, Pura Besakih, built high on the slopes of Bali 's most sacred mountain, Gunung Agung.

History of Festival in Bali

When tourism took off after 1965, the Balinese insisted that it followed cultural guidelines: if tourism was to be accepted, it was to be a cultural tourism, or "pariwisata budaya".

As the Balinese put it: "Tourism should be for Bali instead of Bali for tourism." In time, this idea become national policy, as part of a larger revping of regional cultures for national purposes. The policy owes much to the former Director General of Culture (1968-1978) and Governor of Bali (1978-1988), Ida Bagus Mantra, an Indian-educed Balinese. It led, on the one side, to the creation of enclave resorts such as Nusa Dua to limit the direct impact of tourism, and on the other, to a long haul cultural policy aimed at nurturing and preserving the traditional agrarian culture while adapting it to the demands of modernity, and in particular of "cultural tourism".

At the village level, local music groups, dances and other cultural events were inventoried, then supported by a series of contests at the district and regency level. The ensuing competition energized the cultural life of villages, whose "young blood" was already being drained to the city by the process of economic change and urbanization.

Schools of dance and art were created, in particular the Kokar conservatory and the STSI School of Dance and Music. Beside research, these schools replaced the traditional master/disciple relationship by modern methods of teaching; standardized the dance movements, produced new types of Balinese dances for tourism and modern village entertainment. Most important, it enabled former students to return to the villages as teachers, where they diffused, beside the creed of cultural resilience and renewal, new dances and standardized versions of old ones.

Many of the performances are held at the amphitheater which can hold up to 6,000 spectators, in a temple-like stage.

Each year, the Bali Arts Festival, beside the fed classical dances of the island, such as the legong, gambuh, kecak, barong, baris, mask dances and the like, is based on the theme around which new "dance choreography" is produced and old village dances and activities revived. Over the years, the whole range of classical Balinese stories - Ramayana, Mahabharata, Sutasoma, Panji - have thus been turned into "colossal" Sendratari Ballets.

The main challenge to the Arts Festival is obviously economic in nature. As village life is increasingly feeling the strains of monetary considerations, dancers, musicians and others cannot be expected to continue participating simply for the sake and the pleasure of it. As costs soar, new sources of financing have to be found. The obvious answer is the private sector and in particular the tourism industry. The greater task then is to convince the hotels, travel agencies and tourist guides to be more participatory in the Arts Festival rather than to their own sponsored events.

Considering the pride the Balinese have in their culture, and the adaptability and dynism they have always demonstrated, this little hurdle can be overcome. Trust the Balinese. They will eventually succeed to transform their tradition into a modern, Balinese culture of their
own.

Eyeglass man

yoga lubak = is something zat to be there ^_^

Step How To Increase Your Blog Traffic

Learn seo and learning to bring it to the blog traffik need perseverance, this may be, many questions: how ya How To Increase Traffic Blog / website, if you are a blogger or a website owner, you definitely want more traffic to a blog or your website is. You may often seek out information on the internet about how I Increase Traffic To Your Blog / Website you. On this paper I will be explaining the 75 How To Improve the Traffik blog / your website. List is different from the others because the simple, original and unique ideas. If you want to search for people to see the website / blog you are, you're reading the right article.

All of 75 How To Increase Traffic Blog / website I believe this can work well for the site / your blog. Here are 75 ways are:

1. Write contain more. If you want traffic, you must write contain. People do not akan charcoal-site you visit if you do not contain the good writing, interesting & quality, and new visitors will not return to your blog. So keep posting the interesting writing.
2. Design & layout is good. If your site design disorganized, difficult to navigate, or the color does not match the vision (glare), also full atao error, visitors certainly will not stand for long time on diblog you.
3. Use your own domain name. I believe that if you have your own domain name will be more traffic. Site by you will be more people & more people will be easy to remember the URL of your blog & you will seem more professional. Try to get your own domain name & "have it from the start." (Until this paper dipost not use my own domain alone, he he he ...)
4. Use StumbleUpon. I have success with pangalaman StumbleUpon. When a good article from your blog in the "StumbleUpon", many people will be expected to assess both your blog and akan "mengstumbling upon" your blog.
5. Post on another blog. Offer any posts to other people for dipost own blog. Even better, when any posts are ready dipost. Leave a blogger is that you have the text ready for the post on the blog, if mekera agree. When you write an article for the blog dipost other people, look at your blog post that you relefan & buatlan link to post it. You get a link on their blog & get traffic from here.
6. Start the "Tagging" diblog your image. When you insert the image dipostingan you, you should always give the identity (tagged). Make sure the size of the image width and height you know. But the most important keywords is write the image tags in the "alt" & "title". Example: img src = http://superbloggingtips.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/kenya-smokey-me-001.jpg alt = "Tortoise Shell Mix Kitten in Sink" title = "Tortoise Shell Kitten Mix in Sink "height =" 300? width = "350?. For more information, click here.
7. Immediate response commentar & email. People will love the blog owner interaktiv & commentar who responded immediately and incoming email. If you do this will be many readers who will be loyal and love you & you will get traffic and more links.
8. Use MyBlogLog. Signup to join MyBlogLog & communities to all MyBlogLog (max. 15 communities per day), and you will see akan visitor came to your blog from MyBlogLog.
9. Do not waste your time. Do not waste your time with program2 of money, such as PTC, PTR, Pay to surf, pay to search or the like. Such a program will not only akan apa2 but a waste of your time. Write contain high quality & traffic will come by itself.
10. Watch and learn the statistics you. Learn statistical Analitic you and google. See what keywords visitors used to find your blog & what the article is not liked or liked your blog readers. This will help you determine your next any posts that can be popular with the keyword disisipi & effective.
11. Links to other potingan. When you link to another blog on potingan, and it will create a Trackback, or pingback. When you ngelink posting to other blogs, if they have a Trackback is enabled then you will receive a linkback at the comments you post a link.
12. In the posting you, ask the readers of your blog a few questions. Readers will be pleased if deemed important & most of them will be happy to exchange opinions. If the next time you make any posts should ask readers a question, or their opinions on things. Then you will get lots of comments and visitor akan much like to return.
13. Create a "Lens" on Squidoo. On Squidoo, you can create a "lens" you own, also aka & page on their site. Create a "lens" that relate to your blog and make sure you mengelinkannya with your blog. On Squidoo you can also make money. click here to learn more.
14. Comment on other blogs. When you log in to comment another 99.9% have box where you can write your blog URL address. Someone from here when you see a comment that they can click the URL of your blog. Give comments on the blog that is different as much as possible, the more you give the comment much traffic you get.
15. Write Post List. All people like akan list posting. Post this list contains poting the potingan-ngelink to another posting. For example: "Top 10 Blog Themes" ' "25 Uses for Vinegar", & "5 Helpful Website Tools". List posting ngelink usually to more potingan & can get more traffic from the regular posting.
16. Submit your blog to search engines. Many of the majority trafficnya obtained from search engines. When people search for the keyword you and find your site, you will get traffic! Click here to submit your blog's index by google that if you had not done so, and remember to keep writing in order to contain the new blog you still have a rank on search engines.
17. Complicated cooperation with other bloggers. Develop cooperation with all the other bloggers who blog, especially in line with your blog. Please comment on their blog a conversation, a link with their complicated friendship &. And before you know they will mengelink blog that you would bring traffic to your blog.
18. Use Traffic Exchange. I'm not sure you will be exposed to penalty from adsense if you use traffic exchange. Traffic exchange will bring the readers a loyal blog if you get good enough next to the traffic that development. See the post on BlogMad traffic exchange.
19. Link to your other posting as much as you can. Internally potingan link to your blog. This will help your blog ranking and will also help traffic. If people come to your blog does not have the option to see more they will go away. When you post your ngeling to another akan They click a link and you will remain on your blog longer.
20. Sign up for Yahoo! Answer. At Yahoo you can answer the questions of others & help others. There are boxes where you can write down the source of your answer. Answer the questions and have a link to your blog as the source.
21. Sign up your blog in the top blog list. Blog top list is a blog of me listing all the blogs that a member on the blog. Blog you will be in a higher rank if you have more traffic, more & more good visitor. Joinnya very simple way, plus how this will be able to add traffic. Click here to see some blogs TOPlist (the world) that you can join & learn more.
22. Submit site to directory. Some of the hundreds of directory melisting site, & a few thousands. Blacklink of the directory is good, but traffic from the directory is only a small tric, even almost no results. Nevertheless submit the name of your site using the keywords you will be able to more tinngi ranking in Google for the keyword, which will mean more traffic.
23. Do not Use Link Train. This is not directly related to traffic, but this is of note. I never make the mistake of joining in ViraLink and ViralTags, and you should not do that, but if the readers like you & they read your blog longer.
24. Re-read, edit and continue posting your article. No one will want me posting a link that is not qualified, even though potingan was a brilliant idea that if full of spelling and grammatical wrong. There is no link that means no traffic.
25. Submit your posting to the blog carnival. Visit the Blog Carnival website and submit as many articles to the carnival you related your niche. When the carnival edition of the article you submit a post, not only you will be able to linkback, but you will get more visitor to your blog. If you do not understand what a blog carnival please review here.
26. Pertahankan your blog carnival. According to my blog carnival is fun to be. People will submit their articles to the carnival you, & almost all orang2 edition of this carnival will be visiting you to see their link there. Carnival and you can also become a major show on the homepage & Blog Carnival website.
27. Link exchange with other site dilingkungan you. In exchange for any link is made, either in the sidebar on every page of site, in the page site, or posting it up on you. Link exchange with other people who have a related blog will help a lot. Site and when they become so large akan more help.

28. Use Feedburner to subscribe people to your blog. When a blog you subscribe via RSS or get your blog updates via email, they will see the posting when you have a new one. This will be vital to keep the readers keep in touch with your blog & draw them back.

29. Use Youtube. Create an account on youtube, and then on your profile you will be able to melist alamat2 your website. List your blog address in there & start a video. When someone view your profile it is likely you will click on the blog.

30. Have a blog more for a link. Bangunlan a good relation ship before you ask something. Make sure you link them first dipostingan you. Before you do this please and abaca "Kumiko's post". If you get a lot of blog links will not only raise your page rank, but also will get a lot of traffic.
31. Use Techorati tags. Get more in the category Techorati means you'll get more Expose, which means getting more traffic. If you want to know more about Techorati please visit the Court's post.

32. Write about celebrity. No matter what you blog, you will be able to know how to adjust to the topic you blog about celebriti. For example, 6 Lessons Britney Spears Can Teach You About Blogging. People will find info about celebriti each time and the gossip about them. Lipatgandakan traffic you get when you gossip about a celebriti after something that is going on celebriti. For example, such as shaving the hair on their birthdays their children, their marriage or the death of them.

33. Encourage readers to "Digg" your article. Digg is a site that collects the vote on the article. In other words, readers like it or not these articles. Blogger akan your friend with the voluntary "Digg" the article if you ask politely with, or better add the Digg button at the bottom of all your posting. Make sure articles get your answer if the post & Digg are good enough they will get thousands of visitor each day.

34. Get the "plugins" to the Social Bookmarking site. On each blog article is often found that the key line mempersilahkan readers to vote and submit articles to social Bookmarking site (Digg, Reddit, Netscape, or other). Antisocial use my own plugin. If you implement your plugin this article you will tersubmit to social Bookmarking site which means more traffic.

35. Link to "A-listers." This technique is used to request the A-lister for a link or coax them to provide a link to you. The more you link to the A-listers and probloggers the more likely they know you, then perhaps they will link to articles that will give you lots of traffic to your blog.

36. Write a post pillar. Pilar post not only a list post. Pillar post merupaka core of your blog. Potingan is usually long, authoritative, & instructional. Pilar post requires a long time to write. You must link to a pillar post in the blog as much as possible & make sure you get the attention pillar post terbanyak. Pilar post will get many links & bring lots of traffic.

37. When the time comes, write about it. When Easter, Lebaran, Thanksgiving, Chrismas, or holidays / celebrations others arrive, make a post about it a month earlier. Make sure your posting & terindex linked. When the day arrived, it is possible to search by many people & blogs you might be found.

38. Use smart URLs in WordPress. If you use wordpress and use the URL they are messy, you should use this plugin to switch the URL including the date and name of post in the link. using the plugin will not be a statistical search engine that you or the other.

39. Create your blog visitors to feel as at home. If you are someone who is not complacent, never give anything to the readers of your blog, not a comment or email, do not help another blogger, or cynical and does not always make the readers feel like your blog into the home of their own, then most likely they will stop for visiting your blog. But if you make them yourself at home as you will get lots of traffic.

40. Be human, not robots. If in all poting you always just off the extrim business, for example, do not show yourself, just talking about the same thing every time, or 100% perfect, it just makes them menjauh. I do not intend you to mangatakan always polite, talk about yourself all the time, melenceng from your topic, or make many errors. But let your readers know that you also like them, that you are also human being. Do not make your blog boring.

41. Remove the ads from your blog. To improve traffic hilangkanlah ads. When you do not have a way to get money from your blog, you will feel pity, but believe that you will get traffic and loyal readers of the blog if you are qualified. And if it is possible you can install again to start the meraup money.

42. Start to create your own blog directory. Make a blog directory, for example, in the miserably. When you first create a directory, make a link with all the free and get a link submit form, the submission will send you an email. You can do a weekly / daily depending on the link sent to you, or you can assign the link to the "proper Categoies" provided. When your blog has become a major, you can submit a Demand "reciprocal link" & akan get "featured site table" that ngelink to your blog.

43. Post about A-listers. For example on blogger Darren Rowse and John Chow. You can write about them as personal or as a blogger, or you can write about how they do things. You can mempost your mind about that or katakana they develop and then posting them to leave a message dipostingan them that you also have done the same thing.

44. Interview other bloggers. Interview other bloggers will usually give a few posts & links. Means that the traffic link.

45. Make posting links that tune. I try to make me post the link like 2 times every week. This is only potingan link to the article in the blogosphere or the web that I like, especially with the theme of relefan my blog. This will not only get a Trackback, but will also give you the opportunity to get a link back medapatkan which means traffic.

46. Make berhadiah contest. This is a good idea. Make a contest with a prize. People who will follow your blog in the hope that will win prizes. If you give a gift that will surely attract beritanga spread, but first make sure that the previous blog that you have many loyal readers.

47. Play puralah sell your blog. This is one way to get traffic, but I do not merekomendasikannya. You can pay a few dollars to your blog in melist marketplace & get traffic from potential buyers. Then cancel bidding and keep your blog. There will be no traffic from that you will return. This is not a target and will only waste money. But if you just want to get traffic right way this can be tested.

48. Be comedian. Make visitors laugh. This is difficult so easy. If you can make your visitors happy and laughing they will remember your blog & will tell others about your blog & will be back again.

49. Help bloggers who need you. If there is a beginner blogger who leave your comments or email them help. Who is a time they will be great, & will always remember your goodness.

50. Make a poll on your blog. People like voting & always want to see the results of a poll. Polling is a popular & will bring traffic.

51. Create a new blog. If you still can make it better with a new blog, be it free or at hosingan your own domain. Whatever you want to try every traffic blog you have, and make sure that all your blog ngelink against the other, especially blogs that have a small link in the blog by the greater. It is expected that anyone who read one of your blog can be introduced to your blog the other.

52. Create a wordpress plugin or hack. Okay, this is only for the pitar "nge-hack" or create a wordpress plugin. I have never done so. But if you can, you will get many links & traffic of all the plugins you use.

53. Make a blog themes (wordpress, blogspot, or whatever). As well as create a plugin, traffic will come along with the link. Even create a blog theme from making it easier plugin or learn seo.

54. Create an image that can be used by other people. If you create an image that's free, you can use other people to their blog, you will get traffic from here. And if you create a professional image, you can get additional money from here.

55. Create images for social networking site. People who use Myspace, facebook, and all site types like to use this image. Banner color, animated images, flash image, making this if they will use, Place your link there.

56. Join in and get a lot of Myspace friends. Myspace klicklah join in the "browse" and add people. If you already have many friends make a link to your blog on the bulletin and in your profile or wherever you can. This will get the traffic if you do it correctly.

57. Answer the questions that you get from a comment or email with a post. If someone give a comment or question and the answer is quite long, Do not waste your time with a link to answer the potingan you. If posting about things that have not yet, make a posting about it.

58. Do Search Engine Optimization. The better your ranking on search engines then the more akan akan visitor that they send.

59. Buatlan a serial award / awards. Take your time to make a trophy or banner for an award or awards. Make sure that the award has a theme or name, for example, "Tropy Award For Best Blogger". Then linkkan banner to 5 other bloggers that you think best. Create a rule that the fifth blogger is to do the same with the banner, the link with five other bloggers who according to their best. Make sure the banner is there in your link as a banner. If this goes then there will be many linkback to your blog & you'll receive a lot of traffic.

60. Order review through ReviewMe. If you order a review on another blog with ReviewMe or PayPerPost many people will read about your blog. Review is the best way to advertise your blog to get your faithful readers.

61. Place an ad on Google Adwords. If you have more money does not have one you buy ads on Google Adwords. Those who are interested will click your ads. Some of them will become a faithful reader mungin and some do not. This is a good way to get traffic.

62. Use ReviewBack to get a free review. You will get a free review here, is useful to get traffic. Check in ReviewBack.

63. Write a Press Release. Click here to find out how bagainama.

64. Get in the Favorites list Techorati. Tachorati top 100 list favorited reviewed here. Will be very difficult to get, you need like a few hundred or even several thousand if you want to be at the top list. But this will generate lots of traffic if you do it successfully.

65. Join & forums and message board. Join the forum and message board that are relevant to the theme of your blog. If allowed to link your blog where you can. People will be happy to see mengecheck your blog.

66. Add your blog link in forum signatures. Ideas, but only if allowed to remain. Add your link in forum signatures and aktiflah communicate. Your link will appear on your every post. You will get a traffic bearable if many forum members.

67. Write a post with the title, interesting & easy to remember the keyword. Posting with the title of this interesting & easy to remember will usually get more traffic, especially if the keyword. You will get ranked on search engines, and if someone link to the article you have keywords you will get a better ranking and will get more traffic from google, yahoo, or the other.

68. Use the picture on your posting. If the posting is only a text postigan will quickly become boring. Images also are useful for SEO, if someone searches for images in search engines. But I recommend using only 1 image per post, so that confusion does not occur in the search engine.

69. Write a review. If you make a good review of a product, it will come to the attention of people who are interested to the product. Make a review of a product that more digandrungi at this time.

70. Create a better quality of any posts. If the articles that you have in Digg or StumbleUpon by the readers of your blog, postinglah article is more interesting and better quality. Let your blog visitors to a blog that you are a quality blog and they will come back.

71. Post about the important events related to your blog. If something important event that matches the theme of your blog will come, write about it a month before the event arrives, give the opportunity for the search engines you mengindext article. And if the event that you will be able to arrive traffic from people searching for articles about the event.

72. Share your secret with the readers of your blog. Whether it your business success secret, confidential or secret seo learn of your life people will know about it and happy will not be antipati against you.

73. Be of the other. Build the image and do something different that other people have never done so. You will get the thanks you get for the reader something new. Your name will be remembered for a long time, but not forever. Muncullah with a new concept that other people have never done so.

Bali Panorama

Most people come to Bali to experience the marvelously rich culture heritage; some come for the beaches and the waves; some come for meeting and convention; others for pure relaxation. But if you are a nature lover don’t miss Jatiluwih, is a breathtaking panorama of genuine and fertile rice fields stretch from the foothills of Batukaru volcano to the south coast.


It is located at the western district of Tabanan. This western uplands of Batukaru are famed for magnificent landscapes. The view from the mountain village, Jatiluwih, takes in the whole of South Bali. Perched on a high terraced slope, Jatiluwih deserves its name, which means “Truly Marvelous”. A wonder of the world. It’s worth a venture.

You can initiate your trip in the morning leaving the hotel at 09.00. A.M. There are many ways to see Bali and each serves its own purpose well. Motorcycles are a pleasant (but extremely risky) way to see the countryside and cooler than ride in a car. Jeep and minivans are also available for hire – with or without a driver. It is advisable to settle the price with the driver before starting on a journey.

After passing the town of Tabanan the road takes you to the north through the villages of Wanasari, Jegu, Buruan and Wangaya Gede. On the route you will be amazed by the wonderful rural ambience; farmhouses, characteristically, a little shrine to place offerings dedicated to Dewi Sri the Goddess of rice, plowing, flocks of ducks that are brought to bathe and feed all day in the flooded paddies, and harvesting, that one pictures when remembering Bali. The cascading terraces of rice fields are the most striking features of the landscape.

If you see farmers are working the rice, planting or harvesting, and if you are interested in experience it, you can stop and joint them, you will be welcomed gladly. “Alo turis, alo turis!” followed by giggles is the standard greeting from children everywhere on Bali. Older people will be more sedate but their curious eyes will follow you, as will their more modest greeting of “mau kemana” (where are you going). Traveling in Bali can be exhilarating and getting off the beaten track can take you right to the heart of Balinese life, although you don’t have to stray far to feel it.

On the route at the village of Wanasari there is a butterflies park, you can stop and watch various kinds of colorful tropical butterflies. And then nearby the temple Pura Luhur is the holy spring of Air Panas, where hot water surges from the river bank. All strange, natural phenomena are believed to be frequented by spirits. Thus, Air Panas is graced by a small temple where people make their prayers with offerings.

The journey continues up the road until it dead ends at Pura Luhur Batukaru (2,278 m / 7,474 ft). Being one of Bali’s most venerated temples, every West Balinese temple has a shrine dedicated to it; it is isolated within its solitary clearing far above the populated farmlands. The dense rainforest of this upland would invite every adventurer to explore it. Wild orchids, healing herbs, fragrant spices and exotic trees could be discovered in this mystical heart and soul of this amazing island.

Then, the last destination (the goal of the journey) is the mountain village Jatiluwih, a breathtaking panorama of genuine and the most fertile terraces rice fields on the island. It is said as the granary of the whole Bali. Perched on a high terraced slope, Jatiluwih deserves its name, which means “Truly Marvelous”. The cascading terraces of rice fields are the most striking features of the landscape. Stretch from the foothill of Batukaru volcano to the south coast. The cool western uplands, overlooking half the island, offer magnificent views.

On the route to Jatiluwih you can observe many kinds of tropical vegetation; coffee, coconuts, cacaos, cloves, jack fruits, bananas, papayas, sirsaks, an extremely juicy fruit, rambutans, mangoes, durians the smelly fruit, etc. The western upland is the most interesting area to hike. If you love hiking (don’t forget your picnic basket). A true journey to the secret soul of Bali. But if you want to have your meals at a restaurant, continue your travel to the east till you arrive at Pacung, there is a good restaurant offers delicious buffet lunch – with its wonderful sight of terraces rice field and the sacred volcano Batukaru in the distance.

Waka Land Cruise a reputable company has been organizing a sacred adventure to the secret soul of Bali. Travel by legendary luxury Land Rover, on tiny country roads and tracks, through terraced rice fields and untouched rainforest to the real heart of Bali.

So keep in mind the beautiful Bali for your holiday, because it would be worth to venture there.

Hotel Lovina Bali

Aditya Beach Bungalows US$ 36/r/n Bungalow consist of Deluxe sea view cottage, Superior Garden view and standard main building. Each room at Aditya Beach Bungalow is equipped with air condition, private verandah, overlooking the sea
Adhirama Hotel US$ 35/r/n 20 spacious and comfortable rooms offer the luxurious amenities including splendid views, king size bed or twin beds, AC or fans, private bathrooms, hot and cold shower
Aneka Bagus Pemutaran US$ 40/r/n fully equipped with air conditioning, IDD phone, mini bar, hair dryer, hot and cold running water, bath tub, out door shower (in villa only), Color TV, Private safe deposit box
Aneka Lovina Hotel US$ 40/r/n 35 villas and 24 standard rooms with Balinese style. Each room at Aneka Lovina Hotel is fully equipped with air conditioned, private bath (tub and shower)
Bali Lovina Hotel US$ 30/r/n air conditioned, private bathroom with bath tub and shower, hot and cold running water, IDD phone, safety box, Color TV, Video/VCD player, hair dryer, mini bar, terrace, balcony
Bali Taman Hotel Lovina US$ 30/r/n 30 rooms in standard, cottages and 2 suites. All rooms at Bali Taman Hotel featuring air condition, IDD telephone, Color TV, mini bar, refrigerator, hot and cold running water
Celuk Agung Hotel US$ 28/r/n 27 rooms in category of Superior, Suites and Balinese Bungalows. Each room at Celuk Agung Hotel is equipped with air condition, private balcony
Damai Hotel US$ 175/r/n 8 bungalows, in Balinese traditional Balinese style with luxury. Antiquities, teak furniture, textile with re-created Indonesian pattern
Jepun Bali Hotel US$ 80/r/n 34 exquisitely decorated and furnished deluxe room (45 square meters) teak furniture, tiled in cool marble and polished granite bathroom
Kalaspa Hotel US$ 105/r/n 6 private and 2 family Villas hidden among the threes of rain forest, located at the height of more than 1200 meters above sea level
Matahari Beach Resort US$ 217/r/n Large swimming pool (23 m x 11 m) has a depth of 1 to 3 m, Boutique, conference room, gallery, open stage, Massage pavilion, David's dive sport center, Balinese art pavilion
Mimpi Resort Hotel US$ 85/r/n Surrounded by tropical flora and fauna, the spacious ground is connected by pathways leading to luxury and privacy of the courtyard villas
Puri Bagus Lovina Hotel US$ 95/r/n 40 spacious villas, first luxury hotel in the area, in traditional Balinese style thatched roofs, zoo beach front
Puri Lumbung Hotel US$ 65/r/n around 1000 meters above sea level. Puri Lumbung Cottages is a real Bali hotel style with materials taken from local sources to give strong impression of Bali hotel
Sunari Bali Hotel US$ 50/r/n 129 rooms in 19 standards, 77 superior, 25 deluxe cottages, 5 villa with pool, 3 deluxe villas and President Suite
Taman Sari Bali Cottages US$ 40/r/n around 10 minutes drive to West Bali National Park and the peer of boats for sailing to famous diving site of Menjangan island
Taman Selini Beach Bungalows US$ 75/r/n around 10 minutes drive to West Bali Barat National Park and the peer of boats for sailing to popular menjangan diving site.
Waka Shorea Resort US$ 153/r/n 12 Bungalows, 1 Villa of 1-bedroom (1 living room-converts to bedroom), 1 open traditional pavilion

Bali Global Business

Global Business Calls for New Climate Change Framework
Bali, 13 December 2007 - "There is a real sense of urgency now," said Bjorn Stigson, President of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) at the Bali Global Business Day on Monday. "Regulators need to come up with a clear policy framework, which can then 'guide the investment decisions by businesses', and within which businesses can then 'do the right thing'"
"There is an urgency to act and define a new global policy framework post 2012 to guide long-term investments in technology and infrastructure"
"The private sector is the major source of innovation, technology and investments that can transform the global energy system. We are making investment decisions that will impact the climate issue for 20, 30, 50 years or more into the future. To do “the right thing” we need clarity on the policy framework within which we do our business" said WBCSD President, Bjorn Stigson at the Bali Global Business Day.
"You have made a clear statement that you stand ready to deliver"
"I firmly believe that the engagement of the business sector in fighting climate change is crucial... An international climate change deal for the post 2012 period should therefore be designed in a way that makes sense from a business point of view. But first we need political agreement on the launch of negotiations on such a new climate deal. And that has to happen this week here in Bali" said UNFCCC's Executive Secretary, Yvo de Boer, during his opening remarks at the Bali Global Business Day.

Jagat Natha Temple Bali

Jagat Natha Temple Bali

One of the most beautiful temples of Denpasar is the Central Pura Jagat Natha, at the Northeast corner of Puputan Square. This this temple comes alive at the full moon ceremony, when worshippers from all over the city gather to bring offerings and devotions. On the main street of Denpasar, its restful shade and gnarled frangipani trees offer a welcome contrast to the hubbub of city traffic. Also, you’ll find the market temple, Pura Melanting, where busy vendors pause

Bali Traditional and Bali Art

Bali Traditional and Bali Art Villages

Baha Village Bali
The population here is dominated by workers and the traditional farming community, who own wide rice fields, and by the ...

Celuk Bali
Balinese jewelry is unique, and Celuk is the home of much of it. Nearly every family in Celuk is involved in some aspect....

Mas Village Bali
This is a village specializing in woodcarvings of any kind. Most of the prominent wood-carvers of Bali dwell in Mas vill...

Tenganan Bali
Protected for centuries from the outside world by its surrounding walls, the village of Tenganan has maintained its anci....

Batubulan Bali
Just outside of Denpasar, on the road to Ubud, is a small village where stone statues line the roadside in a impressive ...

Krambitan Bali
The village of Krambitan, southwest of Tabanan, was once an extension of the ruling Raja’s court and is still a cultural....

Petang - Pelaga Village Bali
Located 800 meters above sea level, about 45 kilometers north of Denpasar at the northern most point of Badung Regency. ....

Ubud Bali
Famous for its paiter’s community, Ubud is special in more ways than one. It has its own magic, and its particularly ...

Christmas Sing

We wish you a marry Christmas
We wish you a marry Christmas
we wish you a marry Christmas
we wish you a marry Christmas
and a happy new year. (2 v.)

Good tidings to you
wherever you are
good tidings for Christmas
and happy new year.

Now bring us some wiggle pudding
now bring us some wiggle pudding
now bring us some wiggle pudding
and bring some right here.
We won't go until we get some
we won't go until we get some
we won't go until we get some
so bring some right here.
We wish...

Good tidings to you
wherever you are
good tidings for Christmas
and happy new year.

Now bring us some tea and crumpets
now bring us some tea and crumpets
now bring us some tea and crumpets
and bring some right here.
We won't go until we get some
we won't go until we get some
we won't go until we get some
so bring some right here.
We wish..

We all know that Santa's coming,
we all know that Santa's coming,
we all know that Santa's coming,
and soon will be here.

Komodo Conservation Camp

Komodo Conservation Camp is one of the facilities existing in the beautiful island where the biggest dragon of Komodo living in east Indonesia National Park. The camps are well equipped by luxury building for the conservation purpose and other part of presentations. It is located just in front of the beautiful white sandy beach or just beside of the national park reception. There are also many beautiful souvenirs presented in this area where you can buy for taking home. In this page is presented the beautiful camp and it is one of the best selection photo from the Komodo National Park.
Komodo National Park Camp
Komodo National Park Camp, Flores Island, Indonesia

Dewandaru Lebih Atraktif Dibanding Buah Sayuran

JAKARTA - Dewandaru disebut juga belimbing mempunyai khasiat mencegah kerusakan oksidatif, akibat radikal bebas yang tidak dapat diatasi oleh antioksidan endogen dalam tubuh.

Dewandaru Lebih Atraktif Dibanding Buah Sayuran
Dewandaru Lebih Atraktif Dibanding Buah Sayuran
Article Tags
antioksidan bebas elektron endogen konsumsi oksidatif orbital radikal senyawa

Polusi yang dikeluarkan kendaraan bermotor dan industri, dan konsumsi cepat saji dapat mendorong terjadinya radikal bebas di dalam tubuh.

Radikal bebas adalah atom atau senyawa elektron yang tidak berpasangan pada orbital terluarnya, sehingga sifatnya tidak stabil dan cenderung dekstruktif.

Tidak ada pasangan elektro ini yang menyebabkan elektron bebas ini sangat reaktif dan mampu bereaksi dengan protein, lipid, karbohidrat, atau DNA.

Penyebab penyakit jantung koroner, kerusakan lensa mata, dan proses penuaan yang terlalu cepat karena terjadi kerusakan sel atau jaringan hidup.

Di dalam tubuh manusia, kerusakan akibat radikal bebas sebenarnya dapat diatasi oleh antioksidan endogen, tetapi jika radikal bebas berlebihan maka dibutuhkan antioksidan tambahan dari luar untuk menetralkan radikal yang terbentuk.

Cara mencegahnya dengan menghindari poluis, tidak merokok, kurangi konsumsi lemak jenuh, olahraga dengan tepat, dan hindari konsumsi makanan berpengawet dan pewarna.

Juga dengan mengkonsumsi vitamin A,C dan E dapat menangkal radikal bebas seperti sayur dan buah.

Dari Dewandaru ini karena mempunyai antioksidan yang lebih atraktif dibanding dengan buah atau sayuran lainnya.

Tanamannya memiliki kandungan polifenol maupun komponen flavonoid yang cukup tinggi.

Sixth International Bird Flu Summit Bali

Top leaders and key decision-makers of major companies representing a broad range of industries will meet with noted scientists, public health officials, law enforcers, and other experts to discuss pandemic prevention, preparedness, responses and recovery of bird flu at the summit, said the agency.

The summit's participants will be able to draw on first-hand best practices to create the solid business continuity plans that their companies and organizations need in order to prepare for, respond to, and survive a pandemic, the agency quoted the organizing committee, the U.S.-based New Fields Exhibitions, Inc. as saying.

More information:

http://www.new-fields.com/birdflu6/

Peranan Guru Spiritual Hindu Di Bali

Guru spiritual mendapat tempat tersendiri dalam tradisi Jawa. Para
guru ini umumnya mereka sudah berusia lanjut, hingga layak mendapat sebutan “orang tua”. Karena itu ilmu yang diajarkan biasanya juga disebut “ilmu tua”, yang artinya ilmu spiritual, yang hanya bisa diberikan kepada mereka yang “cukup umur”. Tentang batasan umur bagi siswa ini ada bermacam-macam, sementara guru bahkan ada yang hanya mau menerima siswa yang sudah pernah “mantu” atau mengawinkan anaknya. Kalau belum masih dianggap terlalu muda dan belum layak mendapat ilmu. Sebenarnya hal yang sama juga berlaku di Bali. Ilmu hanya boleh diajarkan oleh sang “guru”, sedang siswa tidak. Karena itu awalnya jarang ada ilmu “kejawen” bersifat terbuka bisa dipelajari oleh siapa saja. Penerimaan siswa amat selektif. Bila itu terjadi di Jawa tentunya bisa dimaklumi, mungkin karena lingkungannya mengharuskan demikian. tetapi kalau hal yang sama terjadi di Bali, tentunya akan menjadi pertanyaan.

Sikap siswa terhadap guru, umumnya hanya sebatas rasa hormat, dengan menganggapnya sebagai orang suci. Penghargaan yang bersifat materi (Reshi Yadnya) tidak seberapa dan bahkan tidak ada. Guru umumnya benar-benar sepi pamrih. Umumnya orang berpendapat semakin tanpa pamrih nama guru tersebut akan menjadi semakin terkenal dan dihormati. Situasi lingkungan rupanya telah menyebabkan para guru “kebatinan” tersebut, banyak yang tidak mau menunjukkan identitas agamanya secara jelas. Berbagai aturan yang dibuat mengindikasikan bahwa para guru tersebut jauh dari rasa bebas dalam menyampaikan ajarannya. Misalnya mengajarnya di tempat sepi, yang jauh dari keramaian, siswa harus merahasiakan nama gurunya, dilarang membicarakan hal-hal yang diajarkan kecuali dengan sesama siswa, dll. Karena aturan yang begitu ketat, maka para siswa umumnya pun sangat tertutup, bahkan pantang menyebut nama sang guru. Yang terakhir ini juga terjadi di Bali. Hubungan antar sesama siswa sangat akrab. Mereka disumpah untuk menjadi “saudara seperguruan”, yang diistilahkan “sedulur tunggal banyu”, yang artinya “saudara seair”. Mungkin penamaan itu diberikan karena pengangkatannya sebagai saudara seperguruan dilaksanakan dengan upacara “pemercikan air”. Ajaran yang disampaikan oleh para guru itu sebenarnya ajaran biasa, misalnya tentang “sangkan paraning dumadi”, “manunggaling kawula gusti” dan sejenisnya, yang tak jauh berbeda dengan dasar-dasar ajaran Hindu, Ajaran etika menempati tempat yang pokok, berupa berbagai anjuran dan larangan yang bersifat khusus. Anjuran dan larangan itu merupakan hal yang wajib dilaksanakan tanpa harus mengetahui apa alasannya. Hal inilah yang membuat moral dan perilaku para penganut kejawen umumnya selalu terjaga. Biasanya kegiatan belajar ditutup dengan pelajaran “samadhi”, dalam sebuah upacara khusus, yang terkesan sakral dan amat tertutup. Hal ini dilaksanakan setelah siswa mendapat “wejangan” mantra-mantra khusus, yang hanya diberikan setelah melaksanakan “laku” (brata) tertentu. Laku (brata) ini ada bermacam-macam, antara lain: puasa, mutih, tidak tidur (jagra), berpantang seks dan lain-lainnya. Sifat tertutup ini membuat mereka sering mendapat sebutan dukun “klenik”, yang dicurigai dan divonis sebagai pengajar ilmu sesat. Tudingan bahwa mereka adalah kaum sinkretis, yang suka meramu ajaran berbagai agama mungkin ada benarnya, sebab mereka umumnya mengajarkan tentang dasar-dasar ajaran Hindu dan melaksanakan berbagai upacara yang bernafas Hindu tetapi tak jarang doa-doanya dalam bahasa Arab dan Jawa.
Guru spiritual mendapat tempat tersendiri dalam tradisi Jawa. Para
guru ini umumnya mereka sudah berusia lanjut, hingga layak mendapat sebutan “orang tua”. Karena itu ilmu yang diajarkan biasanya juga disebut “ilmu tua”, yang artinya ilmu spiritual, yang hanya bisa diberikan kepada mereka yang “cukup umur”. Tentang batasan umur bagi siswa ini ada bermacam-macam, sementara guru bahkan ada yang hanya mau menerima siswa yang sudah pernah “mantu” atau mengawinkan anaknya. Kalau belum masih dianggap terlalu muda dan belum layak mendapat ilmu. Sebenarnya hal yang sama juga berlaku di Bali. Ilmu hanya boleh diajarkan oleh sang “guru”, sedang siswa tidak. Karena itu awalnya jarang ada ilmu “kejawen” bersifat terbuka bisa dipelajari oleh siapa saja. Penerimaan siswa amat selektif. Bila itu terjadi di Jawa tentunya bisa dimaklumi, mungkin karena lingkungannya mengharuskan demikian. tetapi kalau hal yang sama terjadi di Bali, tentunya akan menjadi pertanyaan.

Sikap siswa terhadap guru, umumnya hanya sebatas rasa hormat, dengan menganggapnya sebagai orang suci. Penghargaan yang bersifat materi (Reshi Yadnya) tidak seberapa dan bahkan tidak ada. Guru umumnya benar-benar sepi pamrih. Umumnya orang berpendapat semakin tanpa pamrih nama guru tersebut akan menjadi semakin terkenal dan dihormati. Situasi lingkungan rupanya telah menyebabkan para guru “kebatinan” tersebut, banyak yang tidak mau menunjukkan identitas agamanya secara jelas. Berbagai aturan yang dibuat mengindikasikan bahwa para guru tersebut jauh dari rasa bebas dalam menyampaikan ajarannya. Misalnya mengajarnya di tempat sepi, yang jauh dari keramaian, siswa harus merahasiakan nama gurunya, dilarang membicarakan hal-hal yang diajarkan kecuali dengan sesama siswa, dll. Karena aturan yang begitu ketat, maka para siswa umumnya pun sangat tertutup, bahkan pantang menyebut nama sang guru. Yang terakhir ini juga terjadi di Bali. Hubungan antar sesama siswa sangat akrab. Mereka disumpah untuk menjadi “saudara seperguruan”, yang diistilahkan “sedulur tunggal banyu”, yang artinya “saudara seair”. Mungkin penamaan itu diberikan karena pengangkatannya sebagai saudara seperguruan dilaksanakan dengan upacara “pemercikan air”. Ajaran yang disampaikan oleh para guru itu sebenarnya ajaran biasa, misalnya tentang “sangkan paraning dumadi”, “manunggaling kawula gusti” dan sejenisnya, yang tak jauh berbeda dengan dasar-dasar ajaran Hindu, Ajaran etika menempati tempat yang pokok, berupa berbagai anjuran dan larangan yang bersifat khusus. Anjuran dan larangan itu merupakan hal yang wajib dilaksanakan tanpa harus mengetahui apa alasannya. Hal inilah yang membuat moral dan perilaku para penganut kejawen umumnya selalu terjaga. Biasanya kegiatan belajar ditutup dengan pelajaran “samadhi”, dalam sebuah upacara khusus, yang terkesan sakral dan amat tertutup. Hal ini dilaksanakan setelah siswa mendapat “wejangan” mantra-mantra khusus, yang hanya diberikan setelah melaksanakan “laku” (brata) tertentu. Laku (brata) ini ada bermacam-macam, antara lain: puasa, mutih, tidak tidur (jagra), berpantang seks dan lain-lainnya. Sifat tertutup ini membuat mereka sering mendapat sebutan dukun “klenik”, yang dicurigai dan divonis sebagai pengajar ilmu sesat. Tudingan bahwa mereka adalah kaum sinkretis, yang suka meramu ajaran berbagai agama mungkin ada benarnya, sebab mereka umumnya mengajarkan tentang dasar-dasar ajaran Hindu dan melaksanakan berbagai upacara yang bernafas Hindu tetapi tak jarang doa-doanya dalam bahasa Arab dan Jawa.

8 - Seputar Bali: Balinese Art & Culture

8 - Seputar Bali: Balinese Art & Culture

Other Balinese Ceremonies

There are many events and ceremonies, religious and non-religious, held all over Bali at one time or another throughout the year.

The most important ones being 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 Jagat 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 sprits - 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 fulfilment. 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 uncremated 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 sprits 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 sprits 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.

Bali Experiences

My Bali Experiences - An island paradise for whom?

SuhartoMy history with Bali first started with a holiday there in 1998. It was a choice between a package holiday to Bali, Jamaica or somewhere else I forget; Bali won as the other possible destinations were going to be in the middle of their rainy seasons. After deciding on Bali I started to research the island and found the hotel options in the "bargain" packages I had discovered were reportedly tourist traps devoid of true Balinese influence (Nusa Dua) or endured hoards of drunken profane red necks (Kuta), so I booked the cheapest option (Wina Cottages Kuta) and decided to stay there only for the first night, then travel around the island to see the "Real Bali". I used what Internet resources existed at the time including a Bali Travel Forum and various hotel sites but had significant cause to question their authenticity and legitimacy, which gave me the idea to set up my own. In retrospect it is ironic though, I did not even think of Bali as part of Indonesia at the time and I had no idea the island was ruled over by a dictator who reportedly killed thousands of his own people. But then perhaps I wouldn't all the time world leaders like John Howard described Suharto as "a very skilled and sensitive national leader"; more of nasty Prime Minister Howard here: Australian Foreign Policy.

The more experience I had of Bali, the sader I became for the Balinese.

When I arrived in Kuta and had a chance to look around, I was very glad I had made plans already to get out of the area. Although many people enjoy the bars and shops of Kuta and I enjoyed a cold beer and walkabout somewhere completely different, it was ultimately as Balinese and tasteful to me as a McDonalds. It is kind of like the Spanish Balearic Islands in that the popular tourist towns are often pretty raucous while the remote areas actually relatively free from mass tourists, unspoiled and even Spanish. So the next day I set off around Bali to places and hotels there were scant information available for at the time. I loved the remote areas of Bali so much, was so amazed as to the contrast between what some people call “The Real Bali” and the tourist south (although I know all is not bad in the south) in terms of enjoyment, historical preservation, authenticity and value for money that when I returned to England I set up the Bali and Lombok Travel Forum and (then called) Bali Direct hotel reservation site as hobbies. With these I tried to focus on real Balinese hotels and culture in both the real Bali and even the mass tourism areas. I also tried my best to speak the truth which is not often appreciated in Indonesia.

My first major problem with the corrupt police of Bali came when two Javanese youths high on marijuana and on a stolen motorbike (they had stolen it on Lombok and were travelling back to Java) crashed into the back of my rental car as I drove legally, responsibly and normally along a straight section of the quiet North Bali coast road. These drug taking thieves hit the back of my car as they tried to overtake me straight into the path of an oncoming truck; if they had not hit the back of my car they would have surely died. Because their hitting my car delayed their bike by a split second they bounced into the side of the truck and then my car and then the truck again. I know they were on drugs because lying next to them on the roads were half smoked joints and because the police later told me so. They were carted off to the public hospital in Singaraja and the police arrived. The police said I had a "good accident" because the damage to my rental car was at the back, so I was proportionately less liable. The truck driver had a "bad accident" because the impact of the bike was at the front side of his truck, so he was proportionately more liable! Liable? Yes, even though neither I nor the truck driver could have done anything about these young men the way they were driving, because I was a foreigner / could afford a car and because the truck belonged to a business which must have money, the police were holding us liable! The police explained it that someone had to pay for the medical treatment and to pay for the two youths to get home to Java now but as they had no money, we had to pay because we were involved. I hear many foreigners talk about this aspect of liability by involvement as being a legitimate system; it is BS.

I was lucky, a local hotel worker I was friends with came with me to the police station. I was amazed, we were taken to the hospital to see the injured men and had to sit down and discuss matters! Actually we were not taken, I was asked to drive using my damaged rental car; the police did not want to use their own vehicles they said because they have to pay for their own petrol ! Then we had to go back to the police station and negotiate a "release fee"; how much "compensation" I would pay in order to be absolved of any liability ! This process took days, the police would comment on my watch saying how nice and expensive it was (it was not that expensive a watch); I had to counter that by explaining how expensive houses are in England so that my house was smaller than the police investigator's. What a "joke" and it became clear to me the money was for the police, not for the bike riders or the hospital (for medical fees which the police said had to be paid by someone). In the end we agreed a price and I asked to pay that directly to the hospital and to the two injured men, which really made the police angry. "You do not trust us?" they screamed. I said "I trust you, I just wanted to wish the hospital and injured men well". My friend said it was best to pay the police or the matter would not end. It was clear these police monkeys in uniform pocketed the release fee themselves. Since that time whenever I have seen Balinese police I have noticed them more. I have noticed how they are always asking for money under false "on the spot fine" pretences and how they never actually do any genuine police work.

My first serious encounter with the equally nasty business culture of Indonesia came when the General Manager of Waka Shorea Hotel on Menjangan Island (Bali Barat National Park) posted a spam “come and stay with us” message on the forum I run. Coincidentally I had only been discussing his hotel a few days before with friends in nearby wonderful Pemuteran; you see the park authority had closed their own small hostel on the basis no accommodations could be located on park grounds as that is unlawful, just before Waka Shorea got their building permit! The locals were furious about this and said Waka had bought their permit from Suharto's son. Anyway, when I replied to his posting “Aren’t you the hotel with an unlawfully gained building permit” he responded by email that he would sue me the Indonesian way, by slashing my throat from behind! When I complained about his threat to the Waka Group, owned by a very influential Balinese family, of course I got no apology and no action was ever taken against this man. I even filed a police complaint about his very clear threat, but nothing happened. Foolishly I did not see the woods for the trees or the writing on the wall about Indonesia. Sure I was being stopped once every two days or so by bent traffic cops alleging ridiculous motoring offences against me to extort 50,000 Rupiah from me, sure I heard Indonesia was a very corrupt country, but like most foreigners at this stage I still had my rose coloured glasses on; this was Bali after all.

I invested large sums of money into a small Balinese and environmentally friendly beachfront villa project which friends and relatives basically own and operate. I can say with pride these villas do everything to bring foreign tourists into contact with the real Balinese, that the villas were only built after a properly / legally obtained building permit was issued (unlike many perhaps most villas in Bali), that the villas are 100% legal (fully licensed, etc.), 100% Balinese friendly (the staff were not sent home after the 2002 bombings and they get an equal share of all the service charges paid by guests), 100% community friendly (the villas paid for local electricity to come to some villagers, maintain the public beach access road and built steps down for the locals to access the beach with safety) and 100% environmentally friendly (the villas even have an Indonesian Ministry of Fisheries backed coral protection and development project running).

I did not just invest in commercial projects I also helped foreign bomb victims with free accommodation plus Balinese hotel worker families desperate after family members were sent home without wages in a country with no social welfare system. I started to set up classes for Balinese children in computer and internet literacy, I was also planning the formation of a small International IT service company and an olive grove test project in one of the poorest areas of Bali which had its citrus plantations destroyed by blight. I had even applied for and been granted a KITAS work permit to come and live and work some of the time in Bali and was starting to look at houses to buy with my wife. Thank God we had not already made any such move when I found out the hard way what Indonesia is all about. You see, because of my legally exercising my freedom of speech rights (outside Indonesia) and due to increasing connections with Bali, I was overdue becoming a victim of the hate and extortion that prevails there; my rose tinted glasses were soon enough to come off.

My then girlfriend (now wife) Suci and I lived in Thailand. We lived there for a number of reasons; because I also had business there, to be candid I much preferred the food and other resources there (such as quality hospitals), we also also both much preferred the atmosphere in Thailand. In Bali, girls who date foreigners are often branded “whores”; not surprising for an island where many young men stone girls while shouting “lesbian” at them simply because they are trying to protect their virtue. When I witnessed such things first hand I started realizing Bali was not the paradise for all I had once thought it was. When Suci and I travelled together once in Bali, Indonesian men would come up to her behind my back and ask her "How much?". As is normal with the Balinese and other Indonesians, my wife did not reveal much of the problems of life in Bali for many years. It was only after she had become a little bit more worldly, confident and secure that she told me what goes on in Balinese villages. Believe me, decent everyday Balinese have little to smile about.

Business wise I saw that the small truly Balinese hotels offered not just a better, more genuine taste of Bali to guests, but that they paid my company the money they owed it; many large hotels cheated us. In Thailand we started going to an Indonesian expatriate group thing and I actually met the former general manager of one of the island's most prestigious hotels, the Bali Padma. I told him they were not paying my company the money they owed us and he asked who I was dealing with there. When I told him he advised me that person had left long ago but they kept his name and email address going to avoid giving out genuine names to suppliers, and that they cheated many people. During my travels around Bali, I tried out many hotels to experience them for myself. I was amazed that hotels like the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel had such a large following; I was actually looking forward to staying there but can say hand-on-heart it was by far the worst so called luxury 5 star hotel I have ever stayed at. It was not just the hotel (rooms, service, food, etc.) quality, it was the fact I was lied to and cheated over my hotel room (I had paid for a sea view but got dumped into a garden room which the hotel insisted was a suite when it was not) and they lost my laptop and luggage; my laptop having been deposited with reception to keep in a safe area. Compared with places like Thailand, I found so many of Bali's so called luxury hotels really terrible value for money, and said so of course. I was also amazed that people posted travel forum messages such as "The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel is the best hotel in Bali if not the world. I have been going back for the last 14 years"; who were these people, travel agents? I slowly began to realize many western tourists were not interested in the real Bali so much but safety in fellow tour group numbers, familiarity and self-vindication of their location choice. That is fine, people are entitled to no brainer package holidays; they deserve their breaks along with the next guy. I am just an avid independent traveller and want to experience the local culture, not an entertainment program for tourists and can honestly say that guests of these concrete blocks get mostly that, concrete.

I believe these self interested self-perpetuating myths illustrate how Bali can be somehow presented as an island paradise when it is not. For me Nusa Dua is easily proven factually to be devoid of Balinese authenticity and being the opposite of a paradise for the people of Bali. After all, the Balinese's legal right to access to all beaches, which are all public, clearly is being abused by token of the fact there are not many "hawkers" on Nusa Dua's beaches and those that are have license ID's! Where some tourists may exclaim "Good, I hate hawkers", that does nothing for Balinese legal rights or for reality, after all the reason there are so many hawkers in Bali is because the islanders are so impoverished. It is relevant to look at the history of Nusa Dua in that the land was compulsory purchased at below market rates from the Balinese owners in order to build expensive hotels almost all part-owned by members of the Suharto family; the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel for example is owned by the Sultan of Brunei and "Tutut" Suharto, through front companies of course. Also unlike many other hotels in Bali you will see more Javanese names on Nusa Dua hotel staff name badges then you do Balinese. Finally, when I stayed at each of the main hotels in Nusa Dua their weekly "cultural performance" almost to a hotel was the Kecak Dance; the Kecak Dance being a German resident's invention in the 1930's, not a cultural Balinese dance at all. Please tell me how Nusa Dua is either Balinese or somehow helps Bali.

Of course my saying these things does not just upset the large hotel owners but the loyal band of no brainer holiday makers that show allegiance to one hotel or another. I did not criticize for the sake of it, I told it as it was. An example of what many tourists hold important and caused a few on another travel forum to "hate" me came from what I said about the beer in Bali; I said "Bintang", the favorite beer of tourists by far and regarded to the point of extremism, sucked. But I am entitled to say and can even prove Bintang sucks, so why did so many western tourists to Bali "hate" me for saying such things? Like all beer in Indonesia, they rely on imported hops and I do not suppose they get the best by token of commercial necessity. Secondly, take a look at how the Balinese / Indonesian shop and restaurant owners store their beer, in sheds which get very hot inside. Then look at the "sell by" date on a bottle of beer and wonder what magical ingredient they put in it that it can last so long in hot sheds? Just get a glass of water and turn a bottle of Bali's "best" beer upside down so it is just beneath the water surface and wait; What you will see is an oil slick! So how is the beer in Bali so great and why does it invoke such an aggressive response when you demean it. By understanding that I believe you begin to understand the false myths about other aspects of Bali.

Do not get me wrong, I think that Bali can be a wonderful holiday destination. I believe however it only becomes wonderful when you take the time to get past the suffocating weight of mass institutional tourism and find what is truly Balinese and Bali friendly. I actually sadly believe there is very little that is so great and so ethical, but it is there if you make the effort (please see my page on Bali's ethical tourism). Being in the business I got to see much more of the ugly truth of Bali than regular tourists. I started to find out about how hotels en mass cheat their staff and Bali generally by unlawfully retaining tax and service charges as profit. I started to find out how travel related businesses cut corners which impacted the health, safety, physical and financial security of their customers. I saw how too many uninsured Indonesian travel agents and tour operators committed credit card fraud, plus used "bait and switch" by advertising a low rate at a popular hotel they could not honour only to report to potential guests that hotel was fully booked, when it was not / they did not even ask, but they had something "better". I got tired of the crime and fraud on the island, all due to the fact the police are out to make extortion money, not uphold the law. I got tired of being offered drugs on the street by pushers working with the police. I got tired of being offered young women and men for rent. I got tired of hearing western tourists swear at the Balinese. I got tired of food from large packets with copious amounts of MSG added in large tourist area hotels and reheated leftovers from last year with copious amounts of MSG added in small tourist area hotels. But I also knew and loved certain areas of Bali, outside the zoo zone, and I had every admiration for many traditional Balinese.

After the October 2002 Bali terrorist bombings I went to Bali as a sign of support and after receiving assurances from many business contacts on Bali that the authorities had now made Bali one of the most secure places in the world. When I arrived at and looked around however I was shocked, became very nervous and then very worried at what I saw. Far from tight security, I saw nothing had changed; laziness and inability prevailed. For me I could not accept this situation for the sake of the safety of future potential visitors to Bali and for the sake of the Balinese themselves. I was sure the recipe was there for another bombing which would take yet more lives and money from the Balinese. So I sent a well intentioned, 100% honest and accurate email to many of the people I did business with in Bali warning them of what I had seen and my fears; you can read that email here. The email was exceptionally well received with many people asking if they could bring it to local security meetings in Bali, etc. to which I said “Yes” as my wish was to protect Bali and its visitors. Unfortunately this act of sharing my email meant a copy of it fell into the hands of a business competitor I had two months earlier caught and stopped offering false hotel rates on the Internet.

Why Bali Wedding?

Why Bali Wedding?


Bali has become a popular destination for honeymoon and wedding ceremony. Because it’s beautifull and exotic island in Indonesia, So it’s the main reason, the wedding should be placed. Welcome to Bali, the paradise isle.So many beautifull places where you could choose for your wedding ceremony, there are temples, rivers, mountain, field rice, carves hillsides and especially beaches. Make Your wedding to be unforgettable memorial. Plus it, don’t hestitate to choose open air wedding area, that’s so long hot season in bali from Januari till September.
Simplicity your wedding in Bali with Low Money, there are consulate, your wedding would be illegal one. Make wedding and your honeymoon becoming simple, cheap and easy. Bali also have a friendly and familiar culture. Balinese culture make bali becoming a place for exotic, friendly, honesty.

KUPU-KUPU BARONG Wedding Package

Wedding Packages | Hotel Profile


Kupu Kupu Barong provides honeymooners with all the ingredients for a perfect romantic journey – complete privacy, exotic setting, a candle light dinner served by a private butler and personalized service. Couples can experience Ayung River Villa with private plunge pool, one-hour massage for two, a bottle of Champagne, round-trip limousine airport transfer, daily flowers and fruit platter, and late check-out.




Balinese Decoration Wedding Package

Package Inclusive of :
• Religious ceremony with English speaking priest
• Religious certificate of marriage
• Civil registration
• Civil certificate of marriage
• Document processing
• Full Decoration - Balinese Style "La View Restaurant" wedding venue
• A small table for signing with top cloth
• Skirting & canang sari arrangement
• Two Janurs
• Two Balinese umbrellas
• Two small penjors
• Pipit (hanging artistic ornaments made of coconut leaves)
• Plengkungan (arches/fences of coconut leaves)
• Two Balinese costum girls with flower arrangement
• Rindik (2 Balinese musicians + instrument)
• Wedding cake (small size to serve 4 guest)