This Month Activity....

Make a splash for the kids

Bali-based humanitarian swimmer Monte Monfore and Australian swim instructor Glenn Schapel teamed up for their second annual Kid’s Day at the Pool for physically and mentally challenged children. This year’s funfest was hosted by Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali located in Kuta.

15 children from Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) enjoyed swimming, splashing, fun and games at the beachside pool.

“I jumped at the chance when Glenn proposed this last year,” said Californian swimmer Monte. “I can’t tell you how fun this is! It’s extremely gratifying to see the children’s smiling and happy faces. We’re very appreciative of Holiday Inn for hosting this year’s event. I want to thank the GM Stephane and Activities Director Mukti for all their support.”

Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali, Jalan Wana Segara 33, Tuban,
T: 0361 755 577, monteswimmer

Ayana Resort and Spa Bali launches a refurbished Padi Restaurant

Padi, previously the resort’s Thai restaurant, has been completely renovated and expanded, and its dinner menu relaunched with an ‘Asian Spice’ concept offering Indian, Indonesian and Thai cuisine.

The international buffet breakfast served at Padi every day has also been relaunched to offer a gourmet dining experience at 6 different food stations. The Ballroom’s refurbishment includes the latest conferencing facilities, bringing it up-to-date with the needs of today’s meeting planners.

Ayana Resort and Spa Bali,
Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera,
T: 0361 702 222, ayanaresort

Screen and heard

The Balinale 2009 International Film Festival proved to be yet another success. Throughout the 20th to 25th of October, 21 Cineplex Kuta Galeria was host to film screenings from all over the globe. Highlights of the event were the showings of films ‘Mary and Max’ and the infamous ‘Inglorious Basterds’, another silver screen gem by Tarantino starring Brad Pitt.

Seminars about film-making and the likes were also held to complement the event. balinale

Bali goes green

Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) presented the 13th edition of the Nusa Dua Fiesta 2009 during five consecutive days for art, culture, sports, music, exhibitions and pure fun. This annual event took place in Peninsula Nusa Dua Bali from the 17th to the 21st of October 2009. According to the President of BTDC, I Made Mandra, “The theme of the festival, ‘Green Tourism’, aims to always remind us of the importance of the environment’s conservation, which in result will bring positive impacts to Tourism in Bali.”
We couldn’t agree more.

By the C Bar at the Aston Bali reopened

The Resort has undertaken renovations at the former bar and has extended it into a chic yet casual Seafood Restaurant and Lounge Bar.

By the C Seafood Restaurant offers tasty light dishes at lunch time and succulent seafood in the evening.

By the C Bar offers even more delicious cocktails than before. Whether at sunset time, before or after dinner, come and sip one of the barman’s newest creations while listening to lounge music and the relaxing sound of the ocean.

Aston Bali Beach Resort & Spa,
Jalan Pratama 68X, Tanjung Benoa,
T: 0361 773 577, astonbali

November 7

The ever-popular frozen yoghurt shop called Sour Sally will be opening in Bali (finally!) to satisfy your fro-yo cravings. Be on the lookout for their beach debut. (Bali Galleria, 1st floor)

November 21

Edmondo Zanolini (Mondo) first came to Bali 20 years ago after a successful career in Italy as a theatre director and designer, and video artist. With references to Lewis Carroll’s famous tale of Alice, Mondo considers Southeast Asia as his ‘wonderland’ and his journey through the looking glass for the past 20 years has been a visually interesting one. Let’s follow him follow his rabbit down the hole to Biasa Art Space starting from Nov 21. Valentine Willie curates this exhibition, which will last until Dec 20.

Jalan Raya Seminyak 34, T: 0361 847 5766, biasaart

tuesday evening art films
Every Tuesday at 7.00 pm

Gaya Fusion Art Space will host an art film screening, free of charge and open to the public. Watch classic silver screen masterpieces such as Once Upon a Time in the West (Nov 3), Life is Beautiful (Nov 10), Raging Bull (Nov 17) and cult favourite Juno (Nov 24).

Jalan Raya Sayan, Ubud,
T: 0361 979 252, www.gayafusion.com

November 27

Irwan Holmes, a Juilliard and UCLA alumnus, first came to Indonesia 40 years ago and instantly fell in love with the archipelago, specifically its unique gemstones. His recent jewellery exhibition (titled Heritage of Indonesia) was successful in raising aesthetic awareness about Indonesia’s many types of semi-precious stones. Most importantly, Irwan Holmes uses fossilized coral, only found in Indonesia, to create most of his pieces. This exhibition will start on Nov 27 at Prapen Jewelry Artifacts and it will be officiated by Suteja Neka.

Jalan Jagaraga 66, Gianyar, T: 0819 9975 5897

Thanksgiving
November 26

Although not a big holiday in Indonesia, but many venues celebrate this day of gratitude (be sure to check out the food talk section in your trusty HelloBali to read about Thanksgiving food events). In America, the holiday is usually celebrated with get-togethers and, the crème de la crème, a succulent turkey dish as a centrepiece.

The holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621. This year, Thanksgiving Day falls on the 26th of November in the United States, whereas in Canada this fete took place in October.

Wonderful of Denpasar

It may not be a camera-lens friendly place, but don’t be fooled, Bali’s capital city has its perks; you just have to know where to look. From a museum of Bali’s history, to hidden culinary and coffee treasures, and an eclectic shopping haven, we go deep city diving to discover Denpasar.

1 four-faced beauty at puputan square
The famous Patung Catur Mukha (which literally translates into ‘the Statue with Four Faces’) is located right smack dab in the middle of Puputan Square and is an image of the God of the Four Directions.

Puputan is a ritual akin to the Japanese hara-kiri (what better way to die than with honour and in your own hands, eh?) and this ritual took place in 1906 when the Dutch seized control of the land and the great King of Badung ordered a mass suicide as their art of war. The fallen heroes of this honourable affair are standing in stone at the Puputan Square.

Try not to visualise this gruesome yet historic event and consider Puputan Square as the key point of orientation of the whole city, meaning that if you ever get lost wandering the streets of Denpasar, this is the spot you should get back to as it is located on the city’s main street, and everyone in Denpasar will know the way to get back here.

There is also an occasional Gong Kebyar Parade that takes place in this square, so be on the lookout for that. (Jalan Gajah Mada)

2 the historical story of bali
You can probably tell from the melting pot of sensations when you first step foot on the island that Bali’s history is an intricate, interesting and tumultuous one.

To experience a rush of time travel and witness the development of Balinese culture and how it became what it is now, visit the Bali Museum in Denpasar.
The museum was built in 1931 by architect P.J. Moojen and is located near to the former Denpasar palace that was burnt down to the ground by Dutch invaders during the turmoil that took place in 1906.

This museum showcases art and historical artefacts that weave the tale of the Island of the Gods, and the building is divided into four sections which displays a different array of Balinese relics: the Tabanan section stores masks and musical instruments used in theatrical performances, Karangasem displays sculptures and paintings, the Buleleng area showcases textiles and last but definitely not least, the Timur section holds a collection of archaeological finds.
(Jalan Mayor Wisnu, open 8.00 am until 3.00 pm daily, closed on Saturdays)

3 shopping paradise
The word ‘Denpasar’ literally means ‘by the market’ so it’s no surprise that one of the most pulsing markets in Bali resides in the island’s capital. Pasar Badung is thrift-shopping heaven, filled with quirks and perks in a 5-storey establishment, open 24 hours, for the avid market-delver.

Even though Pasar Badung is the main pasar in the area, the whole of Denpasar is basically a place of trade (this is, again, where the name of the city originated), so you’ll find heaps of markets and shops, big and small, obvious and obscure, vibrant and listless, lining the streets of Denpasar.

To purchase textiles and Balinese batik by the meter, head over to the Kampung Arab on Jalan Sulawesi, and also go to Jalan Kedondong to find unique shops selling nothing else but unique things (we randomly stumbled upon a custom traditional drum-maker on this street, so try your luck in this area).
If you have no time for a market spree, Pasar Badung itself is enough to quench your thirst for transaction, guaranteed, or check out the adjacent pasar called Pasar Kumbasari which also sells an array of curios.
(Pasar Badung, Jalan Gajah Mada)

4 artistic endeavours
The Bali Werdhi Budaya Art Center spans over 5 hectares of land and was designed by Ida Bagus Tugur, a prominent Balinese architect who also designed the National Art Gallery in Jakarta.

This vast arts centre is the largest cultural centre to have been built until now, and it is just that: a huge centre of cultural expression, starting from performances to paintings to sculptures and anything that can be qualified as cultural art. The main attraction is an open-air amphitheatre, the Ardha Chandra, which occasionally hosts theatrical performances and dances, complete with towering temple gates, impressively breathtaking full-moon effects and a 600-people seating capacity.

In this complex, the Dewi Ratih Building, used during The Bali Art Festival, displays architectural aesthetics and various exhibitions, mostly photographic. There is also an indoor theatre called the Ksirarnawa which seats 800 people. We could go on and on about this arts complex, but with art, you’ll have to see it to believe it.
(Jalan Nusa Indah, visiting hours 8am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday)

5 a steaming cup o’ Joe
Coffee culture has lost its sentimental value since the simultaneous appearance of all these generic coffee shop franchises (you know which we’re talking about), but fear not, coffee lovers! In the heart of Denpasar lies an authentic coffee shop, established by the Tjahjadi family since 1935, which was originally called Bian Ek. They changed their name to BHINEKA JAYA KOPI BALI and their coffee has been exported to international markets due to their high-quality and unique flavours. They’ve even coined the term ‘The Coffee Legend’ in Bali for their taste.

Now, the originally quaint coffee shop has grown into a well-known bean-brew parlour, and provides brews from Toraja, Mandailing, Java, Kenya, Italy and Columbia.
(Jalan Gajah Mada 80, T: 0361 720 589)

6 the enchanting palace
Bali is divided into areas, and each area harbours its own King. Puri Satria is the palace of the King of Denpasar and it’s open for public exhibition. This palace was re-built in 1930 and every 210 days, an anniversary celebration is held at the royal grounds. At Puri Satria, there is an open-air pendopo that was used as a meeting spot for all the Kings of Bali back in its heyday.

If you want to actually sleep like royalty, you can go to Pemecutan Palace, built in the 17th century and managed by the last King of Denpasar, Ida Cokorda Pemecutan, where guests can stay and pretend to be royalty, even if it’s only for one night.
(Puri Satria, Jalan Veteran; Pemecutan Palace, Jalan Thamrin 2)

7 temple of divine deities
Bali and temples seem to be two inseparable things, because spirituality is a major influence in Balinese culture. Located in Denpasar, the Jagatnatha Temple is a sight that’ll enlighten your senses.

Deriving its name from the Sanskrit word ‘jagat’, meaning world, this temple is devoted to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa, exclaimed to be the supreme at divine gatherings. The shrine of Pura Jagatnatha is perched on a turtle, signifying one of the divine forms of the Hindu god Vishnu, and an air of grandiose can be felt in the atmosphere surrounding this temple.

Each month, on every full moon and new moon, a celebration is held on temple grounds. Make sure to visit during the festivities and you’ll definitely come home with a spiritual, if not memorable, experience.
(Jalan Mayor Wisnu)