Bali Bali Tourism News
The Rudana Museum: Peliatan, Ubud
Ubud is, without a doubt, the cultural heart of Bali and it is here you will find some of the best art galleries and museums on the island. Getting from one museum to another or gallery is as easy as taking a walk, or if you prefer, hiring a taxi. For the energetic and healthy person try hiring a pushbike and take in the cool and fresh mountain air. One of the villages that make up the Ubud area is Peliatan and it is here you will find the Rudana Museum. First established in 1995, the fine arts museum’s aim is to provide an outstanding collection of paintings for the public to see and enjoy. The museum houses a beautiful collection of artwork covering the social history of the nation. There are three floors of spell-binding artwork to explore and enjoy.
Date: July 27th, 2008 |
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Waka Namnya Ubud Resort: Penestanan, Ubud
Bali’s major arts and culture centre, Ubud has developed a large tourism industry and is located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the island’s central foothills. The town sits centrally among a group of villages - Padang Tegal and Nyuhkuning are to the south, Peliatan and Kutuh are to the east, Campuhan, Penestenan and Sayan are to the west and Sanggingan and Kedewatan are to the north-west. There is an abundance of accommodation to suit any budget, but if you can afford to lash out a few extra bucks then there are some great value-for-money resort villas in the area. Slightly out of town is Penestenan, you will find the Waka Namya Resort and Spa - a luxury Balinese architecture with a beautiful spa treatment available for every guest staying there.
Date: July 26th, 2008 |
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Official Holidays for 2009
It’s always good to know when the official holidays are in Bali because some dates, like Nyepi, you are losing virtually a day of your holiday having to be in the hotel and in silence. Other major events like Galungan and Kuningan can see shops close for days on end even though it is great to witness these occasions. Then there are the government closure days like Islamic holidays when banks and offices are closed and this can be inconvenient. Bali Discovery has just released a list of the official holidays for travellers to Bali.
Date: July 22nd, 2008 |
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The Valley at Kekeran
There are countless spectacular rice-terrace views on the island of Bali and the most visited being Jataluwih in central Bali. Others would be at Sidemen, Ubud and Belimbing to name a few. Of course, we all have our favourite view and rave endlessly to our friends about it. Wherever you travel across Bali you will see endless patchwork verdant green ricefields and each one a photographers delight depending on the time of day and the light situation. On the road north of Pupuan I came across a great view. As you enter the Kapbupaten of Buleleng along the main Antosari to Mayong road there is a small village, Kekeran. Just off o the side of the road you will notice a small one table warung, hastily put together with a few old planks and sheets of iron roofing. It is owned by a cheery fellow, Nyoman. His wife is quick to sell you freshly cut Papaya, Mango, and Watermelon and the most delicious Krupuk Pisang, or sliced and fried banana. But it is the view from the mountain road that is the attraction.
Date: July 19th, 2008 |
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Snakes in Bali
I have often been asked the question by first-timers to Bali as to the prevalence of things that slither and bite, crawl and bite, or even look downright ferocious. Great news – there are snakes in Bali and only a few of the species are poisonous, in fact about six species. That’s not many compared to Australia or other parts of the world. You will often see on your travels some of the locals offering to let you have a photo taken with their pet 20 foot Python or allow you to play with their pet hairy spider that just happens to be the size of a dinner plate whilst some grinning local snaps away with a polaroid camera. Staying calm in these kind of situations for the normal person is somewhat impossible and generally entails a shriek or a loud scream from the holder of the said animal and of course invoking all manner of laughter from the locals. In general these ‘pets’ are pretty cool and are used to being manhandled and mauled by some freaked-out tourist. But, what will you do if confronted out in the countryside by an inconsiderate snake (according to you) that has crossed your path?.
Date: July 14th, 2008 |
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Tumpek Uduh
Across Bali today it is Tumpek Uduh. This is a day to offer respect to trees, particularly the coconut palm that are important to the livelihood of the Balinese. In South Bali the trees are dressed in traditional Balinese clothes, complete with a headband, tlie udeng, a kilt-like kamben, and a special scarf, saput, as a belt. Then the tree is hit ceremonially with a hammer to notify it that offerings are nearby and to ask it to produce abundant fruit. Tumpek Uduh falls five weeks later on Saturday of Wariga, the seventh week This day has many alternate names, …
Date: July 26th, 2008 |
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6 Crazy Things to Do in Bali
There are numerous adventure companies in Bali offering a wide range of adrenaline-pumping activities. A few I have already experienced and I am looking forward to completing my list of crazy and adventurous things to do. There are the mundane and less adventurous activities like going surfing at night or getting lost in the Bali Barat National Park [been there, done that and wouldn’t recommend it to anybody!] or even diving alone off any of the reefs around the island. However, there are those activities that will give you a buzz and get the heart pumping.
Date: July 24th, 2008 |
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In Search of Prasasti Blanjong
I had heard about it from Balinese friends, read up about it, and finally, went in search of it. The stone pillar of Prasasti Blanjong is one of the oldest man-made objects in Bali dating back to 913AD, and it is the written language on the pillar that I was most keen to observe even though I knew I wouldn’t understand it. After reasonable research I was able to find out the language used on the pillar is most likely old Javanese (kawi), and it tells the story of a king …
Date: July 20th, 2008 |
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The State of the Reefs of Bali
We are all fully aware of global warming and its effects on the environment and oceans worldwide. In the oceans, pristine coral reefs are being bleached to the extent that the organisms living within just die and so does this precious tourism resource for not only Bali, but the whole of Indonesia. Up until now, roughly 34% of Bali`s coral reefs have been destroyed or damaged. This constitutes a large area and it is estimated at over 65.08 square kilometres and this translates to about 27% of coral reef in Bali. …
Date: July 17th, 2008 |
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Bali Coffee Environmentally Friendly
Two things I am passionate about and the environment being one, the other being coffee. Yeah, I am a coffee nut and quite happily slurp down fifteen mugs per day. When I first tasted Bali coffee I thought it was absolute crap and strong, and like most people who first try it, I ended up drinking the dregs in the bottom of the cup much to my disgust. Now, I can’t get enough of the beautiful coffee and I put that down to having tasted the coffees of the archipelago on my travels throughout the islands. I have to admit when I am in a café in Bali I tend to more often than not order Lampung coffee (very strong) or Arabica. However, back at the homestay it is always Bali coffee and drunk delightfully so.
Date: July 11th, 2008 |
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