General Thing That You Should and Should Not Do in Your Holiday

Bali is a beautiful island that becomes a good choice to be noted in your holiday destination list. Holiday in Bali is like visiting the heaven. But, before you start your holiday in this paradise island, there are several things that you should know. Below are the general things that you should and shouldn’t do:

Don't !!
× ...forget to bring your passport (or a photocopy of your ID) with you at all times - as well as a copy of Bali Plus!
× ...swim outside designated swimming areas. Currents can be very strong so swim between red and yellow flags.
× ...do drugs! It could lead to death penalty. Enough foreigners reside in Bali in courtesy of the Govt. prison service!
× ...touch people’s heads - it is very offensive to Hindus.
× ....enter a temple during menstruation. Sorry Ladies!
× ...forget to add salt to your food and to drink lots of water - you probably sweat more here than at home.
× ...worry too much about the ice - it’s government quality controlled in established bars and restaurants.
× ....forget to look and listen while crossing the road. Cars may stop, motorbikes may not!
× ...forget to reconfirm your flight 72 hours prior to flying. Airport Departure Tax is: International = Rp. 100,000 Domestic = Rp. 30,000

Do
√ ...change money at a reputable looking location, use your own (or the hotel’s) calculator before changing!
√ ...put on loads of High Factor Waterproof Sun Cream (especially if you intend to spend a lot of time in the water).
√ ...drink a lot of bottled water and eat a lot of fresh fruit - do your body a favor.
√ ...be careful with your belongings at all times. Crime is on the increase and can ruin your holiday. Cases of handbag snatching have been reported so please leave important documents in your hotel safe (carry photo-copies) and wear your bag across your shoulders!
√ ....try not to step on offerings in the street (walk around them).
√ ...respect the slow pace of processions. If stuck behind one don’t honk your horn!
√ ...haggle when buying (except on price-tagged goods.)
√ ...buy ‘Immodium’ to relieve bouts of Bali belly.
√ ..have a great holiday!

Village Temples

Balinese society is complex and multifarious, being divided by social hierarchies based on caste, occupation and descent. In the not so distant past, the life of the ordinary man, or commoner, was largely restricted to his village and its surrounding rice fields, while at a supra-village level there existed an upper crust of priest, noblemen and princes, organised into a ruling elite. These divisions are still in evidence today-though the plight of the common man is far less onerous –but they are mediated by the village temple system and the cycle of festivals associated with them, which periodically draw these diverse groups together as common participants in a shared ritual undertaking.

The Balinese Village

The Balinese Village is referred to by the term desa, which describes both the settlement and its immediate environs as a physical entity, and at the same time refers to a religious community, mad up of local householders and their families, who are responsible for maintaining the ritual purity and spiritual well-being of the village and its surrounding lands. The latter is achieved by observing the local customary laws (desa adat) and by participation in the cycle of religious ceremonies that take place at the village temples. The actual village itself, as a collection of house compounds, is subdivided into neighbourhoods, or wards (banjar), each of which have their own local temple (pura pamasakan). Every banjar has specific ritual duties to fulfill, not only in relation to its own neighbourhood temple, but also to the main village temples. Banjar members also act together in secular matters such as the maintenance of roads and the policing of the neighbourhood.

Pura Desa

Pura Desa are ideally placed in an auspicious location at the centre of the village-a position which is both towards the mountain (kaja) ad to the east (kangin). A sacred banyan tree is usually planted beside the entrance which often grows to enormous proportions, providing a shady centre at the heart of the community. A pavilion (wantilan) for cockfights is also located nearby the sacrificial shedding of blood (caru) plays a crucial role in Balinese rituals and contest are permitted on the occasion of a temple festival, though gambling is strictly prohibited, in theory at least, by the Indonesian government.

Village assemblies to discuss both ritual and secular matters are held every month, either at the pura desa itself or else at the village assembly hall (bale agung) nearby. One of the principal responsibilities of the village assembly is the organization of the anniversary celebrations (odalan) for each of the village temples. The latter fall every 210 days, according to the sacred wuku calendar, and are intended to ritually cleanse the village territory and purify the members of the temple congregation. Everyone in the villages is involved in the preparation of offerings and the organization of various entertainments such as gamelan recitals and shadow puppet performances which are held for the enjoyment of the gods and mortals alike.

Source : Balinese Temples Book

Waste vs Bali clean and green

For several years, waste has been a major problem in Bali and with a lacking waste disposal system in place and a spiraling rise in the population, the streets have never looked worse. Realising that we are all on the cusp of destroying the natural beauty of the island, EcoBali has taken action. Their private waste collection and recycling initiative services private households, villas, hotels and resorts, schools and other companies to keep Bali clean, green, and as beautiful as it should be

"Pollution, land degradation, water contamination, lack of awareness and education on environmental issues, especially on waste management practices and improper disposal of solid waste, continues to be a very serious issue on our island", says Ketut, the director of Eco Bali. Aware of the worsening situation, Eco Bali was founded in 2005 (Jl. Pantai Berawa 34 Canggu, T: 0361 790 7314, 844 6602) to establish a collection service of non-organic waste such as plastic, paper, beverage cartons, glass and metal from the community and recycle the materials in a responsible and effective manner.

The goal of EcoBali is simply to promote a sustainable solution on waste separation at the source as well as increase individual and collective awareness with regard to solid waste management practices, reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfills in Bali and dumping sites thus limiting the environmental consequences as the key step in order to reach the target of a ‘zero waste' climate on the island.

EcoBali currently collect and recycle around two to three tons of non organic waste every month. The waste is then sent to Jimbaran Lestari, a recovery centre in the south of the island where recyclables are further separated according to categories, and sent to various distributors to reach recycling plants, mostly in Surabaya - East Java. Looking at the EcoBali charts it's easy to see that the separation waste system is effectively proven to reduce waste by between fifty to seventy percent for households, while for offices the statistics are higher, reaching ninety per cent. Meanwhile the hotel and resort industries are registering around thirty to forty per cent, many electing to recycle their own materials, many ignorant of the waste dilemma Bali is facing. At present EcoBali covers the Canggu, Kerobokan, Sanur, Jimbaran, and Nusa Dua areas but as tourism development spreads further up the western and eastern shores so is the message of the correct and responsible manner in which to deal with waste removal and recycling.

Apart from their collection and recycling service, EcoBali also provides training programs in composting waste for households and small businesses and they're currently developing an environmental education program in collaboration with Tetra Pak Indonesia to promote waste separation at the source in local schools, spreading the word on environmental awareness and education to elementary and junior high school students in how to preserve the environment in which we live. This program has been established already in eight schools and will be extended to another eight by the end of this year. "We are trying to increase awareness on waste management problems amongst the local communities in Bali as much as servicing the needs of the expatriate and business sector of the island", explains Ketut. Social awareness and individual responsibility plays a big part in assisting the services of private enterprises such as EcoBali. "Bring your own plastic bag when shopping," continues Ketut, "and please don't litter, bury, or burn your waste, it's a simple way to contribute to keeping Bali a clean and safe environment".

For more information on how to take advantage of the services provided by EcoBali, head to their website eco-bali. For around a hundred US dollars a year your home or business can make a huge difference to the face of Bali.

Taste of Surfing in Canggu

In the days when asphalt roads was as rare as Range Rovers in the beachside resort of Kuta, the road to Canggu was…well…sand. In other words, you just pointed your trusty old motorbike towards the beach and when you hit the sand you turned right, then drove along for 15 or 20 minutes, crossing a few small rivers on the way, until you came to a small hill with a temple on it. Walking up this hill and then looking out at the bright blue water, you’d wait for a few seconds before spotting what you were looking for; a spiralling lefthander winding its way onto the beach.

When someone today mentions Canggu as a surf destination, it’s because it’s one of the few righthand waves on the west coast of Bali, which gives the natural footers a chance to surf on their frontside as a change from the plethora of lefts that start from Uluwatu in the south and continue up to Medewi in the north. But according to one of Bali’s legend surfers, Bali Barrel owner Ketut Menda, the left in front of the temple was the original “Canggu”. It was only after it began to become popular that the right started to get some attention, and now most just say Canggu to mean the destination, not the wave itself.

Menda credits Australian ex-pat David Wyllie as being the first to surf Canggu. It was in 1979 that the fourteen-year-old Menda hopped on the back of Wyllie’s motorbike with a surfboard tucked under each arm and together they headed up the beach from Wyllie’s place in what’s now Seminyak to the black lava breaks of Canggu. None of the Balinese had ever surfed there before, and Menda recalls, “when we got there the surf was pretty big, and I was just used to surfing the beach in Kuta, but here was a real reef break so I was a bit scared to go out. But I paddled out on my single fin and got a couple of waves before coming in.” After that initial surf, he would take every chance he got to go there again, sometimes staying at Wyllie’s house at night to get an early start in the morning, much preferring the more powerful reef waves to the sandy bottom beachbeaks of Kuta. Soon Menda was guiding others up to enjoy this newfound wave, and in 1981 a local by the name of Ketut Sudarma built a small warung, seeing the opportunity to give the boys somewhere to get a drink and some food so they wouldn’t have to pack it in each time by themselves.

Over the next few years the likes of Tom Carroll, Mark Richards, Shane Horan, and Brad Gerlach all surfed at Canggu, likening it to Velzlyland on the North Shore of Hawaii. Then in 1985 Canggu played host to its first surf contest, Rivoli was the name, sponsored by Pak Kadek and some Japanese friends. And who do you suppose was the winner? Ketut Menda of course. Local knowledge, you understand.

And that was the beginning that led to the now. First a couple of warungs, then road access, a homestay or two pops up, then ex-pat villas being built, more surf contests, and before you know it Canggu has been well and truly exposed to the worldwide surfing audience. Photos and videos of Andy Irons and his brother Bruce, Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Bobby Martinez and really most of the top professional surfers in the world sampling Canggu’s tasty treats can be found at will.

But it’s not just for the pros now is it? Of course not. Depending upon the season, swell direction and tide, you may have the choice of four waves; the original left in front of the temple, the sand bar just to the north which gives up rights and lefts, the righthander in front of the rivermouth, and then the peaky wave in front of the Pererenan road that can go right and left. Unlike the reefs at the Bukit like Uluwatu and Bingin for example, Canggu is quite user friendly for the average surfer, who would have a hard time getting him or herself raked across razor sharp coral and coming back to the beach with a cheese grated back.

Canggu does hold waves for most of the year, but is best in the morning hours and in all but the dead of rainy season, when at times the wind howls down from the north and blows it into a frothy cauldron a la “victory at sea”. But there is nothing like rocking up to Canggu in the morning as the sun is just peeking up over the rice fields to the east and lighting up the lip of a nice barrel or the long steep wall of a perfectly peeling wave to get you frothing, and keep you making the now (much easier) trek up from Kuta by road…

Water spot in Bali

Air Panas Banyuwedang (Banyuwedang Hot Spring)
District / City: Buleleng
Banyuwedang hot water comes from hot springs that appear on the beach. Hot water is below the water at high tide. Is the largest source of hot water, buildings made of concrete security in the form of a circle that serves as a levee, so that when the tide is not hot water mixed with sea water. This hot water contains sulfur with an average temperature of 40 degrees centigrade.
Because the content high sulfur enough, hot water is believed to be widely even to the island of Java, because hot water can cure some diseases, especially skin diseases. Not surprisingly, when many people who come to this place with the hope that it can recover. Beach where there are sources of water this summer it is the plant that prevent mangroves abrasion. Bayuwedang beach can be said is free from abrasion.
The existence of some bays and white sand in the surrounding increase in tourism assets Banyuwedang about this. Hot Water Banyuwedang located in the village of Pejarakan Subdistrict Gerokgak 60 km from the city of Soweto, in side of limit the area of West Bali National Park. In the southern road to Hot Water Banyuwedang including the National Park area, while in the north is the area of Batu Ampar, which consists of land berkapur. Batu Ampar this area by regional level II Buleleng has been planned as a new area of tourism, considering the potential appeal of the large, including the Marine Park around the island in the.
Road to the hot water from the road Banyuwedang majors Soweto-Gilimanuk has been, and also has built parking. In the hot spring that in handlers built a building with several bathrooms closed. In the area of Hot Water Banyuwedang there are also some toilet facilities built by the Bali Barat National Park, and some shelter. The number of tourists visit the archipelago high if compared with International. Visitors who come with the most goals for treatment. Visitors from the island of Java, most come from the Regional Banyuwangi.
Indeed, the source of hot water Banyuwedang located in the middle of the mangrove forests along the coast. The surrounding areas are relatively dry land because the land consists of limestone and there is no river that can make water sources for reforestation surrounding areas. Therefore the plants that grow crops that are not require much water, such as that known in Bali as a tree "bekeul" or "bangyang." The existence of hot water that contains sulfur, which is located on the coastline by local residents who rarely so quiet atmosphere can be created, causing Provincial Local Government Area Level I Bali will be to develop this area as the area of tourism for Health, or the general called "Health Tourism".

Air Panas Penatahan (Penatahan Spring Water)
District / City: Tabanan
Hot water is located in the village Penatahan Subdistrict Penebel 13 km from the city of Sukkur to the North 34 km from Denpasar, with a beautiful panorama of nature and on the right be left by the rice fields that hills. Hot springs are located at the edge of the river Ezekiel Ho and hot water Penatahan by people in the know with the name of Ezekiel panes. Based on the results of the research laboratory of the Department of Health, the hot water is very good for bathing because it contains sulfur and other minerals that are good to cure skin diseases.

Air Terjun Dusun Kuning (Hamlet Yellow Waterfall)
District / City: Bangli
In the south, about 6 km from the city of Bangli, Village Park in Bali, there is a waterfall. Because of the location in the village of Hamlet called the Yellow waterfall Yellow Hamlet.
This waterfall is 25 meters in height above the surface soar River that flows south. This location can be achieved with a variety of transportation and from the small village can be reached by walking as far as 500 meters. The region with cold air combined with the cool green foliage enhance the enchantment of a natural waterfall. And not far from this place there is a forest inhabited by hundreds of primates.

Air Terjun Singsing (Singsing Waterfall)
District / City: Buleleng
In the summer time, the volume of water falls relative decline. Road to the waterfall, which is slightly uphill to the activities of the "Trek". Remember that not far from the area of Hyderabad, can be achieved even with the foot of Hyderabad, made the object of this many tourists who visited their general living in the area of Orchard Tour. Not far from the waterfall Singsing this, there are monuments Netherlands. The monument was built by the Dutch colonial government to commemorate gugurnya Perwira a Dutch soldier in the war years in the Banjar 1868. Around 1956 the monument was destroyed because this is considered to respect the colonists. However in 1992 the monument was built by the government of Buleleng Regency Dati II with the intention that history can not be removed, in addition to the memorial also symbolizes the heroic people of Banjar, which is able to defeat the Dutch army officer. Water Singsing located in the Banjar Labuhan Haji Temukus Subdistrict Banjar village, 3 km from Hyderabad and 13 km from Soweto. To object to the tour this can be achieved with a motor vehicle departments to the village 3 decade. A sign indicates the direction of bookmarks that must be followed with a walk (along more than 600 meters) for up to the first waterfall. To reach the waterfall is the second location should be higher through the steep roads.
Parking facilities built and cultivated by local train, and stalls around the area have been starters available. the country both tourists and many foreign visit this waterfall because the atmosphere is calm, peaceful and suitable for the physical well-being. Location of water in hilly areas, which provide views of the spread of beach in the direction of North Orchard, a significant attraction for tourists decoy.

The best of Lovina

The beaches of Lovina are characterized by its rural nature and its unique, dark colored sand of volcanic origin. The childfriendly, shallow water of Lovina's reef protected beaches is of an agreeable warm temperature throughout the year, which makes it very suitable for unconcerned family holidays with safe swimming and snorkeling.

The following shows you an impression of the beaches of Lovina, with pictures and a description per beach and a list of hotels, restaurants, shops and healthcare centers to be found in each Lovina beach area. You can scroll through the pagina or jump to a beach of your choice by clicking on a beach name:Adiram, Antura, Banyualit, Binaria, Happy, Kaliasem, Kartika, Pemaron, Rambutan, Spice, Temukus, Tukadmungga


BINARIA BEACH - Central Lovina

Located at the end of Jalan Binaria in Kalibukbuk, and landmarked by the Dolphin Statue at Binaria Square, Binaria Beach is one of the most popular beaches to watch Lovina's famous, romantic sunsets.

The best spots to watch the sun set, apart from the beach itself, are Sea Breeze restaurant (west of the Dolphin Statue) and Santhi Bar (east of the Dolphin Statue).

A beachside boulevard runs through a treed area and connects Binaria Beach via Binaria Square with Jalan Rambutan and Rambutan Beach.


RAMBUTAN BEACH - Central Lovina

Rambutan Beach, located at the end of Jalan Rambutan in Kalibukbuk, is landmarked by dozens of blue-and-white, traditional outriggers.

At the edge of the beach, next to a small parking lot near Waru Bali restaurant and the Tropis Club restaurant-bistro, is a volley field for those who like sports.


KARTIKA BEACH - Central Lovina

Secludedly located at the end of Jalan Kartika, Kartika Beach is surrounded by rice fields, farm land and trees, within short walking distance over small tracks of Binaria / central Lovina.

Visitors of this quiet beach not seldom get invited by the friendly, local farmers and fishermen to visit their traditional beach side homes to have some tea or coffee and a chat.


BANYUALIT BEACH - Central Lovina

Located at the end of Jalan Laviana in Kalibukbuk, Banyualit Beach is one of the more quiet beaches of Lovina. Enjoy a relaxing time at this beach having a tan, a refreshing swim, and a chat with the locals over a cup of Bali coffee (or a cold beer) at a traditional beach warung.

Mutilasi offender arrested in Bali

Sido Utomo(Edo) police arrested resort Gianyar, Bali, on Tuesday (4 / 11) afternoon, in house of his girl friend in the village of Kecicang, Karangasem regency, without resistance. Edo Rizky admitted to killing because offended thief and swindler called by the victim. From the description of Edo, police eventually found the head of the victim in one of the wells in the area Penamparan, Denpasar.

Dead body of Rizky first found residents in the Village Road segment Pering, Blahbatu, Herzliya, with the terrible condition. In addition to hands and feet bound, dead bodies are also victims of my bag and without head [read: Corpses Found Without Head Residents].

In separate places, families, Hendra, the victim mutilation the dead body found in the bus Mayasari Bhkati, yesterday afternoon, taking his body to bury in. During Hendra corpse bury in day evening, sob mourning coloring the funeral. Not only third wife, grain water out of the eyes also Icha, Hendra from his wife and daughter both.

Also felt the grief of families and relatives of victims. How not, Hendra funeral as incomplete because only some pieces of his body buried. Meanwhile the head and fingers victims up to now has not been found. Family demands Sutemi alias Sriyati, Hendra fourth wife, punishable as severe. Until now, Yati is still intensive police checked

Bali bomb:Who indeed manipulator?

October 12, five years ago, precisely on October 12, 2002, two bombs exploded in Bali. The first bomb exploded at Paddys Café, including the wall burst low (low EXPLOSIVE), and then followed with a bomb explosion and said the very high (high EXPLOSIVE) in the Sari Club, Kuta. When the Bush government's incessant middle-vigorous recruiting other countries, one of Indonesia would like to join the U.S. in the war against terrorism.



When President Megawati is less provide feedback. On the insistence of the Islam, Megawati's government is nervous whenever Bush responded to the call. explosion and the Bali bombings. After the tragedy, the Megawati government would also not want to participate, active in the war against what is called the U.S. as a terrorist. Indonesia is very pro-active detain Islamic activists, many to be among the cynical mention of the Republic has become a U.S. state to 51.

Amrozi and friends have recognized the blitz Paddys Café, a low wall burst. However, they reject as a bomb explode be very high, which exploded in the Sari Club, Kuta. "We do not have the ability to make it in a bomb," said Imam Samudera a while.

Former Head of State Intelligence Agency (BIN) alm. Letjen. ZA. Maulani said that when it exploded at the Sari Club is a micro nuclear bomb. "Only a micro-nuclear explosion that has effects like that, especially not the RDX TNT. And micro-nuclear world in which there is only produced in the Dimona nuclear installation, owned by Israel. "

Maulani reinforced the findings by Joe Vialls. Former demolisi experts from the elite army unit British SAS, the desertion and then settled in Australia as observers problems intelligence also believes the bomb exploded at Sari Club is a micro nuclear, because there effects. "The effect of fungi is the only effect that can be created by nuclear bomb. And the bomb that exploded at the Sari Club, Kuta, Bali, the micro nuclear, "said Vialls.

Letjen Maulani breath some time later because of illness. And Joe Vialls also encountered death several years later. His death is suspicious because of a sudden. There are indications Vialls diracun by the Mossad, as Litvinenko is by agents of the KGB Vladimir Putin commands.

When the occurrence of explosion, a U.S. warship to anchor in the middle of Carrie Underwood Bali port of Genoa and can really make sweeping around the ship in a radius of hundreds of meters, so that anyone did not get closer. This is something strange happens a sovereign republic in full.

The testimony of an Australian captain disarm the middle of vacation in Kuta and survivors of the explosion at the Sari Club should also receive attention. According to him, a few seconds before the Sari Club bomb blast, on the flow of electricity in the area, there seems elektomagnetic waves or wave radiation that causes electricity suppressed. And Vialss and Maulani believe that these findings strengthen micro his analyst about nuclear.

However, to this day we still only the police insisted that the head of detonating two bombs in Bali that Amrozi and friends. How's in it Amrozi cs. And police also closed the eyes and ears on the findings that led to the use of micro-nuclear. May be, on the performance of the police this is the U.S. contribute funds and assistance in the form of various training that is not a little to the police to detain more skittish 'terrorist'. The establishment of detachment 88, a special unit terrorist hunter, is one in which the personnel of this detachment trained by instructors, instructors directly imported from the U.S. and is a former member of FBI and CIA.

In addition to the findings above, must also interogerate who indeed Ali Imron, which were never surprised with the police officer Gorries On that Starbuck Café in Masterton, the mare that Ali Imron is the prisoners are. By many circles, Ali Imron believed as a double agent.

And also maybe should be, what elecard accuse any group or indeed followed by Amrozi, Imam Samudera, Dulmatin, terrorism, and 'terrorist, terrorist' the other in the stomach seenak jihad that can be done with the blitz many foreigners in Indonesia? RADIO them on this SAJ a lot of harm the development of the Islamic propaganda.

Amrozi and friends while not necessarily in the LP Nusakambangan never want digebuki other detainees turbulence bedug stated that bid'ah. Amrozi and friends-i is indeed known that this is easy as bid'ah if not in accordance with their understanding. For the police, Amrozi and the attitude gank this could actually be the entrance to prosecute elecard what this was followed by a swarm of bomb here and there? So that the police can immediately suppress them.

In addition, explode a bomb on a house in theory one of these groups in Hastings, Depok, also can be very entrance. Case known bombings as Canberra has to prove to us who is actually a group that is behind terrorist actions in Indonesia for this.

How can a theory was taught how to bomb up. When the police arrest dozens of adult men with short jeans and the wives that they also are in the other room, there are all-imposed purdah. Police, if you want, actually very arrest them one by one. If this would, of course. If that is done will surely be seen who mastermind, who surely players who used or who take advantage of, and who have been wronged. One time this must be opened with honest.

Let's tour Bali

Bali is the island that gives a eksotisme for tourists who set foot in this tiny puiau. In addition to art and culture that is unique, also the panorama of nature, beaches and mountains that bring memories for a beautiful life. Not to rice field berpetak and berlekuk (Terrace rice), green eyes dote on each trip to the Object Power Pull Tour (ODTW). When the hawk feet on the Island of God many options for sightseeing attractions while viewing the art and cultural activities of community life in rural areas in the country is a fake. Many travel bureau (BPW) in Bali offers a travel package (package tours) with a relatively affordable price. All depends on your choice. Here we provide guidelines for regular travel package, which is common with foreign and domestic tourists, both individuals and groups.


Full Day Tour


When the roads in Bali with a half day package tour feels less satisfying because time is limited, then a full day tour (full-day visits with approximately 10 hours) is a suitable choice to fill the long holiday in this tiny island.


1. Tanah Lot and Bedugul

Package traffic is very impresses during the trip because there is a mix of cool and beautiful panoramic mountain views of the sunset that begins with a visit Pura Taman swing relic of King heyday the show. This temple was built with the concept of Tri Mandala and surrounded the pond Indah is a relation with protection. In the main page, there are some westhampton (place of worship that odd-stage ceiling) to extol the Gods that reside in each of the Bali such as Mount Gunung Agung, Mount shelf, Mount Batukaru.

Travel continued to ODTW Bedugul with the natural beauty of Lake Beratan and Pura Ulun Sagittarius is a place of worship to the Goddess Sagittarius (goddess of fertility) as a source of irrigation rice fields of the farmers in Bali. After lunch at the restaurant Mentari Bedugul.

After lunch travel to diianjutkan Kedaton Alas, the forest with a small shrine that 'kept' tens of monkey and bat (giant bats). The last tour to the Land Lot, the area south coast that is famous for the uniqueness of the temple in the middle of the sea (Pura Tanah Lot) and his beautiful sunset. Pura Tanah Lot is a place of worship Sang Hyang Baruna (manifestation of God as a sea Deity). Tanah Lot back from the Derby and enjoy dinner at the Jimbaran Beach beraromakan seafood.

Package tour is to spend the cost of Rp 350.000 per person, including Entrance fees, lunch, dinner and guide fees.


2. Barong and Kintamani

ODTW this tour to visit Bali in the middle that begins with watching Barong dance, dance, which was appointed fragment from the epic Mahabrata the 2 sides of the good life and the lives of poor people. Watch postwar Barong dance, travel layover in Galuh center with the famous batik and souvenir Bali, and then diianjutkan to Celuk, central Bali silver. This package tourists visiting ODTW deliver superior Gianyar Regency namely Goa Gajah, which are the heritage of Hinduism and Buddhism in the 11th century.

Goa Gajah called because in the cave, there are statues of Ganesha Deity believed manifestation of God in human existence elephant head. Then the tour moved toward ODTW Kintamani to see the scenery of Lake and Mount shelf and enjoy lunch at the Grand Peak Sari Kintamani restaurant with a panoramic background of natural shelf Lake and Mt. Diianjutkan then travel to the Pura Empul Tampaksiring tirtha at the victory of the army troops led by God Indra Deity (God as a manifestation of Gods War) against the giant Maya Denawa. Here there are some sacred springs that reputedly created by the Gods Indra army troops to treat the poisoning as a result of the giant RADIO. Next stop on the art market for menncari by Stanger - for by relatives and family as a keepsake.

The cost of this tour package was less than Rp. 350000.00 per person.

Ubud one of the best in sustainable tourism

Bali is a mixed big of tourism projects that represent the absolute worst (Kuta) in sustainable travel and some of the best (Ubud)."

Although consecutively named World’s Best Island for years from major traveller magazines around the world, and loved for its people and the great value it offers Bali has not scored so well in a survey done by the National Geographic Traveler. In behalf of the traveller magazine the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations conducted its fourth annual Destination Scorecard survey, aided by George Washington University.

A panel of 522 experts in sustainable tourism and destination stewardship donated time to review conditions in 111 selected islands and archipelagos. Let's see what these experts have to say about our beloved Bali and our neighboring island of Lombok.

The survey rates the qualities that make a destination unique—"integrity of place." It's not about consumer service, so a poor but unspoiled island like Palawan can rate higher than a Hilton Head, called "the best golf-course-and-gated-community island anywhere."
While Bali is still called in the survey 'one of the world's magical places' it has only come in at rank 27, even Lombok has done slightly better. Hard to believe for those of us living here:) Let's look at the reasons for this:

Bali, Indonesia
Score: 57

"Bali is one of the world's magical places. Even though it has been overrun by tourism development and population growth, somehow it has been able to maintain its unique character, though some parts of the island—Denpasar, Kuta Beach—are now incredibly degraded and depressing for those of us who knew Bali in the good old days."

"Yes, Kuta and Nusa Dua represent the ugly faces of crass commercialism—but if they are developed as specific mass tourism enclaves and generate income, and if development in the rest of the island is more restrained, Bali will still be worth visiting. The flowers are still colorful, the smiles still warm, the rice fields still mesmerizing, and the gamelan music still a calming, soothing backdrop—after 30 years of rampant development."

"Bali is a mixed bag of tourism projects that represent the absolute worst (Kuta) in sustainable travel and some of the best (Ubud)."

"In spite of the recent terrorist events, Bali is still an excellent destination. Magnificent rice terraced landscapes. Gentle, warm people. The culture is strong, vivid, and vibrant. Facilities are varied, catering to many tastes. However, beaches are not good, and the environment is under threat from destruction of reefs and mangroves, linear development, salt water intrusion, etc."

Lombok, Indonesia
Score: 62

"Bali's little sister. Lower numbers of visitors than Bali, so has been slower to develop. It is relaxed, and the local government expresses concern for careful development. There is a lack of interpretive information, although guidebooks generally tell the stories well. Some luxury accommodations."

"Lombok has many scenic natural sites and some lovely, comfortable hotels. It also has several strips of beach that are overdeveloped and disappointing. Some of the cultural tourism in the south is a bit like 'human zoo' tourism, where tourists are accosted by aggressive local people in local dress."

"The strong Islamic culture to a certain extent ensures its cultural survival from the tourist onslaught. A lot of tourist development, some of it illegal, threatens the integrity of its seashores. Huge gap between the tourism resort culture and local incomes and traditions."

take from news.ubud.com

Roads Less Travelled

I'd been smiling like a lunatic on day release for the last eighty or so kilometres of my trip, I'd finally found the serenity and release of a Bali I had suspected was long extinct.

ujung water palaceI was only passing through Amed but I already wanted to stay a month. Stopping for a mid flight Teh Bottle on the side of the road I soon had an irate goat and sunburnt dog for company. Fifteen minutes later I was giving an impromptu and entirely unrehearsed English lesson to a small army of hyperactively high-fiving, red-capped school kids on their way home from studies, a half-minute later the village Kepala Desa was making motions for me to join him in his home for the night, an offer that came too late in the trip and would turn out to be my biggest regret.

The idea was to track the circumference of the island on my trusty Honda bebek from Canggu all the way round to Sanur following only the coastal road via the Taman Nasional Bali Barat Park, Lovina and the bustle of the old Dutch trading capital of Singaraja onto the barren and remote north eastern provinces, Amed and round the corner to Candidasa and beyond. No deviations along the way, just trying to find a life away from the fifth gear madness of Denpasar, Kuta and all the tourist enclaves dotted along the beautiful, but overdeveloped southern coastline, living and eating like the locals do along the way.

Now, I'm more than a little fond of zero preparation when it comes to such undertakings, the best laid plans always leave no margin for spontaneity which tends to lend itself, in turn, to good travelling experiences. Why anyone would want to own a map of anywhere is quite beyond my comprehension. Figuring that so long as I managed to keep

the Indian Ocean over my left shoulder at all times I would eventually circle back round on myself into familiar territories I set off towards the west coast of Tabanan and onto Medewi. The minor problems of a 48 hours time constraint, one stop overnight along the way, and a budget of twenty US Dollars, would necessitate a diet of local food from the roadside vendors.

My big mistake was the utter negligence of Tumpek Landep day that fell slap bang on the Saturday and Sunday of my jaunt. I faintly remembered reading about this holy day where the Balinese give thanks to the Gods of all things metal, including motorised vehicles and Honda bebeks but had all too hastily resigned it to the 'potentially useful' memory bank for later contemplation. Pulling up to the first intersection in Tabanan I stalled at the lights, changed down into first a little too aggressively and parked my front wheel into the back of the exhaust pipe of the family of five in front. In hindsight a round of cheerful apologies should have been in order but the situation rapidly deteriorated into attempted daylight robbery with the father of the scraped exhaust claiming all manner of damages and physically insisting I accompany him to the nearest bengkel for financial compensation. Thinking that a two hundred-word article on being held to ransom in a grimy Tabanan mechanics pit would probably spell instant dismissal from future writing assignments I high-tailed it out of there at top speed glancing furtively into my rear view mirrors to make sure the Anthill Mob weren't giving chase. I think I made it about a five hundred metres before the Gods interjected and my back wheel blew out leaving me limping along the main thoroughfare like a sitting duck.

Evidently I had amassed enough favour with the Gods of retribution and my pursuers didn't catch up. After half an hour of passing the time of day with the local tire changing fraternity I was back on the road, albeit now with a large, colourful palm woven offering tied tightly to my handlebars.

Exiting Tabanan is akin to entering proper Bali - away from all the sunburnt masses on Kuta beach. I spent a happy two hours heading west to Gilimanuk without spotting a single white face until I stopped for a surf recon and a hefty portion of Nasi Campur near Balian. One thing that was very apparent in the cuisine of the west coast, is the heavy Javanese influence, a scoop bandit monkeys while speeding through the wilderness past Menjangan Island, through Gondol Beach and onto what I thought would be the tropical oasis of Lovina.

I was well ahead of time when I pulled into Lovina proper, or should I say, I was well ahead of time when I reached Singaraja and turned back to Lovina, after missing the place entirely on the first go. Lovina isn't without charm but you've got to work hard to find it. Basically a roadside town catering to tourists on dive missions and dolphin watching tours its tiny size and inactivity makes Sanur look like the Vegas strip. The beach hawkers here obviously take lessons from their Kuta counterparts and compounded the misery of a day in the saddle by making themselves a real pain in the ass.
Realising that it was unlikely I would be put up for the night by a local family I abandoned all hope of cultural foraging and settled for a night in a small hut by the beach which sounds on paper a lot nicer than it was in reality.

Dinner was a fairly lacklustre affair but I was thankful to be away from the halal rules and regulations of the Gilimanuk road and tucked into a wholly 'unMuslim' order of Babi Guling followed by an extremely fresh but ludicrously overpriced snapper.

tianyer blossomI was glad to be out of Lovina at five the next morning and made good time through Singaraja after a minor detour to see if any local breakfast fare could be procured. Indonesians are the world's best at breakfast and long ago I put my foot down at scoffing plates of Nasi Goreng to start the day. When breakfast did finally present itself two hours later in the tiny market town of Tianyer Barat, a stone's throw from the mighty northern shores of Mount Abang, I was ready and willing to eat anything put in front of me.

Satay is clearly the order of the day at nine am in this part of the world
and the choice was ridiculous. I liked this village immediately. Anyone prepared to fire up the coconut husks at this hour was my kind of breakfast chef. Parking up next to a family sate operation near the Banjar, I was an instant celebrity and duly found myself whisked from stall to stall sampling a preposterous variety of fish, pork, chicken and Allah only knows what. I finally settled on a bag of Sate Lilit (ground, spicy fish paste moulded onto flat satay sticks) and a risky round of sate pig intestines, simply because the 'Bourdain' moment had taken grip and what's adventurous eating anyhow unless you imbibe a few guts along the way?

The Lilit was good but the pig better. It seemed to have been marinated
in coconut milk, tumeric and red chillis leaving a milky aftertaste mmediately before the chillies kicked in to remove a thin layer from the roof of my mouth. The chillies up here take no prisoners and it was hero points all the way as the traffic ground to a halt to witness the spectacle of a wayward foreigner getting an early morning breakfast fix Tianyer style.

The road to Amed twists and pivots in and out of the foothills of Mounts Nampu, Bisbis and Seraya leading you to countless pristine fishing bays, a mattering of dive schools and retreats transporting you from tiny village to tinier enclave along a rollercoaster ride of epic beauty and incomparable experience. By the time I had wrapped up the English class, bid farewell to my goat and dog companions and found myself spat gloriously into Amlapura I must have smiled at a hundred friendly faces and my voice was a sore as my throttle wrist and brake foot.

The people on the east coast amazed me: here were the real Balinese that have been secluded in this inhospitable but nonetheless breathtaking part of the island. Here was the genuine acceptance, curiosity and friendliness in the culture of a people I had been looking for forever, since my first visit many years ago. It had taken me a whole island's worth of searching to
find it but it's here and I was glad that the trip had (finally) borne some fruit.

The infertile terrain of the Amed area finally gave way to the rampant jungly exuberance of the Ujung beach area with its water temples and alluring, untouched volcanic beaches cascading down to Candidasa. I stopped for a coconut and gawped at the view across to Nusa Penida and in the distance some fifty kilometres away my home goal, Sanur. The sky was as clear as you could wish for, the only clouds wisped across the peaks of the distant Mount Agung and the three storey high palms enveloped the bays like a tropical garrison guarding against the onslaught of tourist development.

Cruising through Padang Bai and skirting though Gianyer back home I played over and over in my mind the last quarter of my journey. I felt a mixture of regret and relief. Regret that it had taken me so long and far to find the best part of Bali and relief that I had done so. I could scarcely believe that there had been no disasters along the way; my glance fell onto the palm offering limply hanging onto the front of my bike. It had served me well, aught me a good lesson in respecting the Gods and I even entertained the thought it may have offered some protection along the way.

Lazing in Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan - two hours from Bali is another world. This little island, where white sand beaches, seaweed farms and sub aqua coral gardens, are surrounded by turqoise waters is still very much of a mystery to most visitors to Bali. But it makes a getaway to be remembered. While it is still part of Bali, it is far enough away to make it either a big day out or a quiet holiday.

nusa lembonganLembongan lies deep in the Lombok Straits close to the sister islands of Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida once famous as an island of banishment in the days when the Regency of KlungKung ruled. While they are still part of Klungkung Regency they are no longer islands of punishment but rather islands of pleasure. And today Nusa Penida is better known for its distinctive red cepuk handloomed cloth and as a great dive site as those swirling waters hide a wealth of big fish and coloured corals.

We leave early one morning from one of the jetties at Benoa Harbour – the departure point for all the boats that go across to Lembongan – The Bounty, Bali Hai, and several other bigger sailboats. Each makes a daily trip providing a big, fun day out for holiday makers We sailed on the Waka – an expansive luxury catamaran - but not big enough for crowds.

nusa lembonganTen to fifteen people is the daily limit and it makes for a much more intimate experience. The day starts with coffee and croissants, as we leave the shelter of the harbour. At Benoa Harbour the crew hand out sea sick pills as the sea was quite high. They were very effective. Settling back on to one of the black covered banquettes, I drifted quickly into a soft slumber – a slumber that lasted all day, only to be interrupted briefly by our arrival at the island, to the Waka Nusa Resort.

I made my way to my room and slept some more – till the lunch bell rang. Then after lunch it was time for some more deep slumber til the cool of the late afternoon called to do a little exploring of the island.

The resort iis a kind of tropical paradise - white sand floors are shaded by tall coconut trees – very beachcomber – the sort of place you feel instantly relaxed. High attap roofs provide shade while allowing lots of space to catch any breezes that may drift by. Behind a strong coral wall are the eight or so individual rooms or lanais. Circular, with thatched attap roofs they are all very safari – very "Out Of Africa" in the tropics. They offer all one could need – a great bed, lots of billowing white drapery, hot water and air conditioning - although the wooden vented windows and big glass doors are all designed to catch the breezes.

nusa lembonganMy favourite time is in the afternoon, as the light begins to fall and the big tour boats leavefor Bali. The island reverts to its customary peacefulness, as village life takes over, leaving you with a more Robinson Crusoe feel.

Dinner at the Waka was an exercise in romantic. Sitting under the coconut
trees with sand underfoot, the simple wooden tables look out over the sea. Candle light and the soft lapping of the sea work magic

Traffic on the island is almost non existant - well there is no traffic really, just the odd motorbike and occaisional car rambling by. We take a motor bike or two and set out for a short exploration. Deserted beaches of white sand and rocks are offset by crashing waves on the other side of the small island - nice for sunset. There are also some good surfing breaks off the island but we had no time to explore them. Watch out for our surfing column on Nusa Lembongan.

nusa lembonganThere are just two villages on the island – Desa Lembongan and Desa
Jumut Batu and both seem to contain an extraordinary number of temples. Perhaps because Lembongan is still qute traditional the people have more
time for doing the things that the Balinese have done or along time.

In the old days the people of Lembongan were very poor but now, something wonderful happened to their island and we are not talking tourism – although that too, brings in additional income. Seaweed! When Japanese varieties were introduced, they took to the cool shallow waters with a vengeance and seaweed has become the biggest money earner on the island. As the demand for seaweed for cosmetic use increased, it began to find markets in Japan and Hong Kong as well as Germany and Java. This created yet another windfall and now most families can afford a hand phone and TV motorbike and usually, a fridge. Wonderful for peope who could barely afford to eat rice in the bad old days!

People who like to do tours wil be happy to visit the "Hobbit House" an underground house built by a priest and the seaweed farms which
give an insight into another kind of island life.

As we sailed back I asked one of the guides about the famous guest he had on board recently. He regaled me with tales of big bodyguards, men with parangs and the needs for privacy - all good stuff as we sat sipping an excellent tropical cocktail accompanied by cheese and biscuits. Wonderful!

For more info go to www.wakaexperience.com