Nearly every tourist at some time or another has returned home with a piece of woodcarving or similar handicraft to warmly remind them of their holiday in Bali and indeed, all manner of handicrafts abound on the streets in the tourist district and in the major shopping centres. When I was studying Cultural Anthropology at University I had this penchant for collecting tribal carvings from around the archipelago of Indonesia. Subsequently, my office gives the impression of a museum instead of a place of work! One of my favourite carvings are those carved by an ethnic group of New Guinea called the Asmat. You will see these carvings, big and small in shops around the tourist zone but if you care to venture down to Jalan Patih Melantik in Legian then you will find many small workshops selling these magnificent pieces.
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Indonesia is an amazing collection of islands for bird watchers, animal lovers and those who simply enjoy immersing themselves in the beauty of nature and, the island of Bali in the archipelago is no exception. There are literally thousands of species endemic to Indonesia and Bali is fortunate to possess some of these. This was first noticed by naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace the creator of the famous Wallace Line. It runs through the Malay Archipelago, between Borneo and Sulawesi and through the Lombok Strait between Bali (in the west) and Lombok (in the east). I am always in awe at what nature throws my way wherever I travel in Bali and it wasn’t so long ago I was blessed to see one of nature’s magnificent creatures. The only problem being I didn’t know what it was! Sure, I knew it was a Moth of some kind but I had never seen one quite like this. It was the size of a full handspan and delicately beautiful. Perplexed with the task of identifying it, upon return to my multitude of books I scanned through them but to no avail.
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At one time you could walk direct along the beach to the airport fence and watch the planes land and take off, but not now. The more the coastal strip of Tuban has developed the more barriers and inconveniences were constructed to spoil an enjoyable stroll. However, it is possible with a bit of effort. The whole concept of scrambling around and over groynes does tend to dampen the romanticism of a moonlight or sunset walk with your loved one. However, Candika and I did walk from Centro Discovery along the beach past all the flash 5 star hotels down to the airport. Sunset is, without a doubt, the nicest time and, especially when the tide is out. But, for anyone venturing out onto the exposed reefs then I strongly urge you to wear a pair of sneakers to avoid getting cut by coral or even worse, a stung by some weird alien sea species.
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Today in Bali is the beginning of Galungan. Occurring once in every 210 days in the Balinese cycle of days, Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremony that is celebrated by all Balinese at the same time. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. For those families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated but are still buried in the village cemetery, they must make offerings at the graves.
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It is always a nice idea to know the major holidays and festivals in Bali. If for no other reason than to plan your trip around them. Some may be interested in visiting a particular area during a festivals, but other may want to know that dates of these events so that they can avoid them.
What ever you reason is for wanting to know about festivals and holidays in Bali is, you came to the right place. Below is a list of all the major holidays and festivals that take place in Bali. Of course, the …
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I don’t generally put up other people’s writing on the Baliblog (nor do I intend to make it a habit) but in the case of a Baliblog Forum member, Phil Bromley, who recently returned from Bali, so impressed was I with his account regarding his stay in Candi Dasa and the fabulous fotos that I wanted to share the article with you.
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If you have a sweet tooth, as I do, then the shop located inside the Centro Discovery Mall on Jalan Kartika Plaza in Tuban will be your major destination whenever you visit the area. But, BreadTalk is also a diabetic’s nightmare and I feel sorry for those who have this infliction because walking past makes one’s mouth drool. BreadTalk has been around what seems like forever and does a roaring trade, especially on the weekends. Candika never, and I mean never, leaves the mall without grabbing a tray, perusing the delicious …
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Not so long ago I had cause to visit the Australian Consulate in Bali for personal reasons and had a direct appointment with one of the consular staff. A word of warning: If you plan on visiting then take your passport! I, on the other hand, forgot mine and if it wasn’t for my Australian drivers licence and one of my business cards then I would have no chance of getting into the fortress. I use that word’ fortress’ because that is exactly what it is after they moved establishments following the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta several years ago. Having never been to the Embassy, I expected armed guards out the front with a military touch but a few satpam stood around with walkie-talkies. They still gave Candika and I the once-over-glance of who-are-you and what-the-fuck-do-you-want.
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Indonesia has a very strong religious and cultural background and serious rules regarding pornography — so it should come as no surprise that there are really no beaches that are publicly marked as “nude beaches”, even though topless beaches are not only abundant but also popular in tourist areas. The local reaction can vary, much like nudity in the United States. It may be considered against the law, legally or religiously and any time you do this, you are pushing your luck. You might have some luck on the Western or Eastern …
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I was over in Sanur the other day conducting an interview and after I had finished I couldn’t resist stopping in for lunch at one of my favourite haunts on Jl Danau Toba in Sanur – the Mango Café. It’s a great place to sit and relax, watch the world go by and enjoy an icy cold drink. There are so many great places to eat along this strip and even more down on the beach but, for good food you can’t go past the Mango Café. For anyone going there the first time the décor is a tad dazzling with the walls and furniture all coloured bright red but this adds to the warmth of the place. The menu is mostly the usual warung fare, however, it seems to be more scrumptious. I know that might sound crazy but even Candika agreed with me.
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