Bali Events In Bali
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2008
Burgeoning writers, published writers and those who are just lovers of literature, get your gear together and head to Ubud in a weeks time for the 2008 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. Since its beginning I have only managed to attend one of these great festivals and believe me it is well worth the visit. The creator of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is Janet de Neefe. Who founded two restaurants (Casa Luna and Indus) in Ubud as well as the famous Casa Luna Cooking School. Janet has lived in Bali for more than 20 years. The theme of this year’s Festival is Tri Hita Karana - the Balinese concept of balancing Man, Nature, God.
Date: October 7th, 2008 |
No Comments
Enjoy a Week of Chinese Celebration in Kuta
Not many visitors to Bali know of the existence of a Chinese temple in Kuta. In fact, when you leave Bali to head to the airport, you travel right past it and it is easily unnoticed. There are a couple of Klentengs (Chinese temples) in Denpasar but they are smaller whereas the Vihara Dharmayana on Jalan Tanjung Mekar is a relatively large temple and patronised by the Chinese community in Kuta. Anybody can enter the temple, look around and take photographs (please do it discreetly so as not to disturb those praying). There are several Bhuddist statues and the whole temple is decorated in the lucky Chinese colour of red. Both my wife Candika and I are Bhuddists and regularly visit the temple for prayer. One of the greatest times to visit this temple is during the week of Chinese New Year. It is indeed a pageantry of colour and friendliness, but the best is that you are welcomed heartily to join in on the celebrations even if you are not a practising Bhuddist.
Date: September 6th, 2008 |
2 comments
The Karnival is on Again
With a motto of “A Celebration of Life”, the great and always interesting Kuta Karnival is on again in October down on the sands along the stretch of Kuta Beach. This is a good one to visit if you are in Bali at he time because there is so much on offer from sunset dances on the beach through to traditional art performances and sports activities as well as the ever popular bazaar of culinary kiosks set up along the full length of the beach for when you get a tad …
Date: August 24th, 2008 |
7 comments
Kuta Sidewalk Festival
Indonesians are great people for putting on spectacular festivals and I have seen a fair share on my travels around the archipelago. Bali is no different to any of the other islands and they enjoy a good festival or two…or three or four! Coming up this month on the 17th August is Indonesia’s Independence Day and the Balinese intend to celebrate this important date by putting on a 3-day sidewalk festival in Kuta. So, if you are travelling to Bali around this time then don’t miss this great festival. It proves to be an excellent day. Here’s more from the Bali Discovery:
Date: August 4th, 2008 |
1 comment
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 |
1 comment
Nusa Dua Fiesta 2008
All in all the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 has been relatively successful albeit less promotion of events for some islands in the archipelago has been somewhat lacking. However, on the island of Bali it has been a screaming success with a multitude of events receiving record number of tourists. And, it’s not over yet. There is still the Ubud Readers and Writers Festival to come and many more but, before that great event we have the Nusa Dua Fiesta 2008 scheduled for October 10-14.
Since the United Nations Climate Change Summit …
Date: September 17th, 2008 |
No Comments
Kuningan
Today in Bali is Kuningan. Occurring once in every 210 days in the Balinese cycle of days, Kuningan is the end of the most important of the regular religious ceremonies for the 10-day Galungan period. During this 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. Those families who have uncremated deceased ones buried in the village cemetery must make offerings at the graves.
Date: August 29th, 2008 |
2 comments
Galungan
Today in Bali it is the start 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. The families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated, but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves.
Date: August 19th, 2008 |
1 comment
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 |
No Comments
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 |
No Comments
