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Bali Consulates

2011-05-20T23:33:00.000-07:00

Bali Consulates

Bali Consulates at balibestjegeg.blogspot.com, complete list of foreign consulate and contact details.

AUSTRALIA
(also rep. Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea & other commonwealth in emergencies)
Australian Consulate
Jalan Prof. Moh. Yamin No.4 Renon - Denpasar.
Phone : 235 092, 235 093
Fax : 231 990
Email : ausconbali@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
BRITISH
British Honorary Consul
Cat and Fiddle Restaurant
Jalan Mertasari No. 2 Sanur
Phone/Fax : 282 968
Email : bcbali@dps.centrin.net.id
CZECH REPUBLIC
Consulate of the Czech Republic
Jl.Pengembak 17, Sanur
Phone : 286 465
Fax : 286 408
Email : bali@honorary.mzv.cz
FRANCE
Consular Agency of France
Jalan mertasari Gg.II No. 8, Sanur Kauh - Denpasar.
Phone : 285 485
Fax : 286 406
Email : consul@dps.centrin.net.id
GERMANY
Consulate of Germany
Jalan Pantai Karang 17, Sanur Denpasar.
Phone : 288 535, 288 826
Fax : 288 826
Email : germanconsul@bali-ntb.com
ITALY
Honorary Vice Consulate of Italy
Lotus Enterprise Building
Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Jimbaran, Denpasar
Phone/Fax : 701 005
Email : italconsbali@italconsbali.com
JAPAN
Consulate Office of Japan
Jalan Raya Puputan, Renon Denpasar No.170
Phone : 227 628
Fax : 231 308
Email : konjdps@indo.net.id

MEXICO
Honorary Consulate of Mexico
Puri Astina Building
Jalan Prof. Moh. Yamin 1-A, Renon, Denpasar
Phone : 223 266
Fax : 244 568
Email : astina@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
NETHERLANDS
Consulate of The Netherlands
Jalan Raya Kuta No: 127, Kuta
Phone : 751 517 Fax : 752 777
Email : purwa@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
NORWAY
Jalan Jayagiri VII/10 Denpasar
Phone/Fax : 234 834
DENMARK
Royal Danish Consulate
Mimpi Resort, Kawasan Bukit Permai, Jimbaran
Phone : 701 070 (ext 32)
Fax : 701 073, 701 074
Email : mimpi@mimpi.com
SPAIN
Honorary Consulate of Spain
Jl.Raya Sanggingan, br lungsiakan, Kedewatan Ubud
Phone : 975 736 Fax : 975 726
Email : rabik@indo.net.id
SWEDEN & FINLAND
Consulate of Sweden and Finland
Segara Village Hotel
Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur 80228
Phone : 288 407 Fax : 287 242
Email : segara1@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA
Consular Agency of Switzerland
Swiss Restaurant, Jalan Werkudara, Kuta
Phone : 751 735 Fax : 754 457
Email : swisscon@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Consular Agency of the United States of America
Jalan Hayam Wuruk 188, Tanjung Bungkak Denpasar 80235
Phone : 233 605 Fax : 222 426
Email : amcobali@indo.net.id

Bali Local Transportation

2010-09-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

Bali Information - Because of the size of the island, it is not difficult to get around Bali by various modes of transportation. The traditional types of transportation to the high class limousine are available for tourist to choose. Not to forget the sea transportation that connect Bali to some of its sister islands. However, train does not exist in Bali.

Bali Bemo : this is the most used transportation in Bali especially in the city of Denpasar. It is a miniature van with a routine route set by local government periodically. This type of transportation is good for short distance around town and cities, because of its size and passenger can get in and out at any point. Most importantly, it is cheaper compared to some other type of transportations, even though fairly slow. Price ranges usually around Rp 3,200 to Rp 4,000 per one stop over.

Bali Buses : there are buses for transportation between towns that relatively bigger compared to bemo. These buses connect all towns and most places of the island through local bus stations. Likewise bemo, buses also can be stopped at any point of the routes. They mostly operate day time inter island, but some are available at night for long distances within cities. Fares are between Rp. 1.500 to Rp. 10.000 per one stop point.

Bali Taxi : Taxi is the most efficient and convenience transportation in the island. Either chartered or metered one, they are everywhere and quite inexpensive compared to some other countries. In Bali there are some different companies providing taxi services.

Bali Rental Cars, Motorbikes and Bicycles : If you plan to explore Bali in half day or full day trip, the best way is hiring a car with the driver. The average rate is from Rp 120,000 to Rp 300,000 a day depending on the type of the vehicle. There are many independent car rentals around the island. If you wish to have better services, you can go to a Travel Agent. You even can hire a tour guide of your own language. The other possibility is to rent a self drive car. An international driving license from your own country is required. This rule also applicable for motorbike rental, but in some cases you can get a temporary permit at local police office. Price ranges are around Rp. 35,000 to Rp. 50,000 per day for motorbike and Rp. 15,000 for bicycle. Likewise, a safety helmet is a compulsory when you ride a motorbike. Meanwhile, bicycles are normally available for rent at hotels. Some bigger resorts even provides bicycle tour for free including a professional tour guide.

Bali Dokar : in many areas of Indonesia, a traditional horse and cart transportation still can be found in many different versions. In Bali, this kind of transportation is known as “dokar”. Nowadays, the use of dokar is simply limited due to efficiency. In some areas dokars are even prohibited by the government because it becomes a dwindling sight around the street. A dokar ride can be a fairly bumpy and unique experience. That is why some hotels and event organizers sometime offer a dokar ride for their guests, wedding couples or special groups.

Bali Sea transportation : to travel to some sister islands of Bali famous for their marine activities, local cruises is the most convenient. They normally offer a tour package including meal, activities and even a resort to stay over night. Some traditional boats are also in service for shorter distances such as to Serangan or Menjangan island.

BALI TRANSPORT GALLERY

Grand Mirage Resort

2010-07-17T00:14:00.000-07:00

Grand Mirage Resort offers a new concept, share fun, activities, entertainment and sport without formality in an exotic tropical setting with an almost unlimited choice of leisure activities.

The Grand Mirage Resort is a low rise resort spreads out over 5 hectares tropical landscaping with a 1200 meter long beach.

Facilities and supporting services are endless at the Grand Mirage Resort. We can offer you many ways to help and make your holiday, incentive or meeting a real memorable.

And on top of all we are presenting a whole new class of All Inclusive Resorts in Bali. For more information on our “All Inclusive” please see Bali rate and packages.

The island of Bali is unique in offering a superbly rich culture set against a breathtaking backdrop. Not too far from the resort are the famous cliffs of Uluwatu. 20 minutes from the airport, a short drive away and there’s the shopping mecca of Kuta. Further a field there is volcanoes, rivers, wildlife, and a thousand other places of interest, not to mention temple ceremonies. Should you wonder into one, you can be sure of a warm greeting. It all starts at the Grand Mirage Resort.

Guest Rooms & Suite

Deluxe Garden

Deluxe Garden View Room with a view to the landscaped gardens, has his private balcony and is fully equipped with individual controlled air conditioning, coffe tea maker, hair dryer, satellites and cable LCD TV programs, IDD telephone and a personal in room safe. Bathroom, featuring a separate shower and a bath, is uniquely enhanced with wooden shutters separating it from the bedroom. Service includes extra pillow, kimono, slippers and daily evening turn down service and a selection of bathroom amenities.

Deluxe Ocean

Deluxe Ocean View Room with a view to the ocean, has his own balcony and overlooking the Ocean of the golden Nusa Dua beach area. Each room has teak style wood floor and is fully equipped with individual controlled air conditioning, coffe tea maker, hair dryer, satellites and cable LCD TV programs, IDD telephone and a personal in room safe. Bathroom, featuring a separate shower and a bath, is uniquely enhanced with wooden shutters separating it from the bedroom. Service includes extra pillows, kimono, slippers and daily evening turn down service and

wide selection of deluxe bathroom amenities.

Deluxe Romantic

Deluxe Romantic Room with a clear view to the Indian Ocean and white sandy beaches lined with tropical palms and coconut trees. Enjoy the Mirage beach actions and have your meals served on your own balcony. Each romantic room has a wood style floor and is fully equipped with individual controlled air conditioning, coffee tea maker, hair dryer, satellites and cable LCD TV programs, IDD telephone and a personal in room safe. Bathroom, featuring a separate shower and a bath, is uniquely enhanced with wooden shutters separating it from bedroom. Service includes extra pillows, kimono, slipper and daily evening turn down service, fruit basket, flowers and additional deluxe aroma bathroom amenities.

Ocean Suite Room

Ocean View Suite has a spectacular 100% clean ocean view over the ocean. The Suites are stylishly and modern furnished, with 1 king size (200X200) , large bathroom with shower and bathtub. Each, wood style floor and is fully equipped with individual controlled air conditioning, coffee tea maker, hair dryer, satellites and cable TV programs, IDD telephone and a personal in room safe. The Suites service includes a selection of pillows, bathrobe, kimono and slippers, a beach bag, daily evening turn down service, fruit basket and flowers on arrival

Sultan Suite

The ultimate luxury, overlooking the ocean. Each of the two bedroom have large marble bathrooms with sunken baths and bidet, layback and relax in the jacuzzi or at the traditional Balinese pavilion, as you enjoy the spectacular panoramic ocean views. Your luxury stay will include the following special amenities VIP Round trip airport transfer by private car, In-Room Check In, Daily 30 minutes Beach Massage, Daily breakfast at Grand Café Restaurant or in the privacy of your Suite, Complimentary daily minibar stock (soft drink and juices only), Daily fresh fruits, Flower arrangement and Home made cookies, Unlimited use of Gym, Games Room, Karaoke and Mahjong Lounge.

Sport Activities

Tennis
2 hard court tennis courts with float light are available. Regular Tennis group lesson are a part of the weekly guest activities program.
Golf

The Nusa Dua Golf and Country Club is only 10 minutes drive from the Mirage Resort. The golf course offers also an extensive practice areas including driving range, putting greens and chipping areas. Experience golf pro is available for individual or group instruction.

Bicycle: Tour and Rental

Available daily from 10 am till 5 pm. 10 Bicycles are available for use. Regular 3 times a week bicycle tours available. Rental Fee is at U$ 3 per hour for non all inclusive guest. This includes water bottle, helmet and the bike. Bicycle along the beach or direct in to the villages. Non Motorized water sport Equipment

Other outdoor activities

Table Tennis, Aerobics, Jogging and Power Walk, Pool and beach games, volleyball water polo are just a few of the outdoor activities we offer every week with at least 8 different activities every day. We will do everything to make sure you have a nice holiday at the Grand Mirage Resorts.

Watersport

Non motorized watersport equipment available and no extra cost for "All Inclusive" Guest

Hobby Ocean Catamaran "Gateaway"	2 Unit
Ocean Kayak Tandem	4 Unit
Ocean Kayak single	4 Unit
Ocean Surfe Bikes	2 Unit
Windsurfer	5 Unit
Paddle Boat	6 Unit
Buggy Board	4 Unit
Ocean Race Hobby Catamaran	1 Unit

Motorized Watersport equipment available to "All Inclusive" Guest with restriction

Speed Boat	2 Unit
Banana	2 Unit
Jet Ski from 700 cc to 1200 cc	6 Unit
Parasailing	1 Unit
Waterski	2 Unit
Glass bottom Boat & Snorkeling	1 Unit

Seawalker

Grand Mirage Resort proudly announce the new guest activity. It's SEAWALKER. It's now open for Mirage Resort's guest.

Games Lounge (Open daily from 10am till 11pm )

Enjoy a selection of

* 1 Nintendo WII with many different games
* 2 play station with many different games
* Table Tennis
* 2 Billyard Table
* 1 Air hocky Table
* 2 Chess Table
* Darts Corner
* Board Games
* Dance TV Station
* Books and Magazine in many language

For all the little and big star Grand Mirage Resort also provide

* 1 Large Karoke Lounge for up to 8 pax
* 2 Small Karaoke Lounge each for up to 3 pax
* 2 Mahjong Lounge

Grand Mirage Resort Activities

Putri Bali Hotel

2010-07-16T23:36:00.000-07:00

Inna Putri Bali is set on a wide of Nusa Dua. The extensive gardens landscaped around the original established trees, stretch right down to the best beach on the entire peninsula, perfect for swimmers and water sports lovers both high and low tides.

The rhythms of Balinese life in the local community are echoed within the hotel, which as the name Putri (princess) suggests, assures you of a "royal" Bali experience.

Ina Putri Bali Room Category :

289 Superior Rooms
Each superior room, has a bedroom and An additional connecting room can also be arranged for families or couples traveling together.

All rooms are in typical Balinese decor, with individually controlled air-conditioning, balconies, private bath/shower, three music channels, radio broadcast channel, colour television , TV cable, satellite transmission, direct telephone ( IDD ), mini bar, tea or coffee making facility and hairdryer.

60 Deluxe Rooms

Deluxe rooms representing selected nice view on higher level floor, ideal for couples or families travelling together.
All rooms are in typical Balinese decor, with individually controlled air-conditioning, balconies, private bath / shower, three music channels, radio broadcast channel, colour television, satellite transmission, direct telephone ( IDD ) mini bar, Tea & Coffee making facility and Hairdryer.

8 Junior Suites

Junior Suite, Have a comfortable lounge adjoining the bedroom and a large terrace, for entertaining after golf or working late without disturbing your partner.
All rooms are in typical Balinese décor, with individually controlled air-conditioning, balconies, private bath / shower, three music channels, radio broadcast channel, colour television, satellite transmission, direct telephone ( IDD ), mini bar, tea & cofee making facility, and hairdryer.

2 Penthouse

The Penthouse, is a duplex with kitchenette and bar as well as bedroom and lounge with spacious terrace - in case you feel like throwing a party.

All rooms are in typical Balinese decor, with individually controlled air-conditioning, balconies, private bath / shower, three music channels, radio broadcast channel, colour television, satellite transmission, direct telephone ( IDD ) mini bar, tea & coffee making facility, and hairdryer..

18 Garden Cottages

The Garden Cottages, offers the ultimate in privacy - your very own 'home away from home'.

All rooms are in typical Balinese decor, with individually controlled air-conditioning, balconies, private bath / shower, three music channels, radio broadcast channel, colour television , satellite transmission, direct telephone ( IDD ), mini bar, tea & coffee making facility, and hairdryer.

3 Beach Cottages

The Beach Cottage, offers the ultimate in privacy, and has a private inner courtyard as well as an upstairs room that makes a handy study, or reading room - your very own 'home away from home'.

All rooms are in typical Balinese decor, with individually controlled air-conditioning, balconies, three music channels, radio broadcast channel, colour television , in-house video system, satellite transmission, direct telephone ( IDD ) and mini bar.

Ina Putri Bali Hotel Facilities :

From the moment you pass through the gates of Putri Bali towering palms and wide grassy avenues seem to call you wander their shady glades. Touches of traditional Balinese architecture enhance the strong modern lines of the property set amongst this verdant greenery, giving Putri Bali a charm of its own.
The Large outdoor pool with its sunken bar attracts most guests to cool off during the heat of the day. The 384 rooms are large, well-appointed and comfortably furnished with luxurious simplicity overlooking the vast gardens to the sea.
Spacious atriums and walls of hanging vines over secluded gardens give the walkways a peaceful feeling in harmony with nature. The warm smiles and "family-like" service offered by Putri Bali staff never fail to win a heart. Guests are encouraged to join in with traditional activities, and experience true Balinese culture.

A short stroll through lush gardens to the Beach Club, just next to the pool, brings you mediterranean al fresco style dining in a casual atmosphere enhanced by sea breezes. At Taman Tirta Cafe-Restaurant you may dine in an air-conditioned interior, or a shaded garden setting, Choose from a lavish beffet, or a wide selection of International delights a la carte.
Leisure and pleasure are mode easy at Inna Putri Bali. Enjoy a wide range of water sports from sailing, wind-surfing, and skin diving. Anyone for tennis ? Or why not take a bicycle ride around the resort ? or spoil yourself at the Spa. Unique to Putri Bali is the opportunity to join in with our cultural activities. It's fun for all and provides an insight to traditional Balinese arts and crafts.

For those who wish to combine business with pleasure, Putri Bali offers a choice of Conference and Banquet facilities, comfortably accommodating from 50 to 300 people.. And why not a round of golf before your morning meeting? The Bali Golf and Country Club is an invigorating 5 minute buggy ride from the resort.

Ina Putri Bali Hotel Activities

SQUASH
Two airconditioned courts.
TENNIS
Two Floodlit courts
FITNESS CENTER
Exercise equipments, Sauna and Massage facilities.
WATER SPORTS
Windsurfing, Canoe, Parasailing, Jet Ski, Water Skiing.
FUN CLUB
Billiard, Electronic Games, Library Corner, Chess.
SHOPPING ARCADE
Drugstore, Bank, Travel Agency, Boutique, Handicrafts, Beauty Parlor, Money Changer, Post Office, Jewelry

LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING
Seven days a week, same day delivery
LIMOUSINE SERVICE
Details on the tariff for airport transfers or hire by the hour on request.
COMMUNICATIONS
A 24 hours telex and facsimile are available at the Reception Desk.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Travel arrangements including transfers, flight confirmation or reservation can be handled through bell captain.
CLINIC/IN HOUSE DOCTOR
The Doctor is available from 3 pm - 6pm. In case of emergency tho Doctor is available on call.

Bali New Book - Information

2010-06-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Bali Information - Whether it be the charm of a young girl dressed for a festival or the mischief in the eyes of a comic storyteller, in Bali every new look is a surprise. For decades the island has startled the world with a fascinating and vibrant culture, born in deeply rooted cults of ancient magic and fostered by the guiding ritual of a strong religion. Ever since the fall of medieval empires when the spread of Islam drove nobles, priests and intelligentsia from Hindu Java to seek sanctuary in Bali, the island has been a haven for the arts, rituals and classics that were the pride of the Eastern Islands.
Through centuries of isolation, the people viewed the lofty volcano Gunung Agung as "Navel of the World" and nourished their philosophies in temples and palace courts of small kingdoms. The rule of native kings ended violently with the Dutch conquest of Bali early this century. After brief colonial rule and later liberation as part of a new country, Bali has emerged a lively, dynamic community, where past traditions are preserved, yet where styles are forever changing and new contrasts emerging. To understand the character of the people, one must see the island in its true perspective-as an oasis of undying ceremony and quiet beauty, yet as only one of over three thousand islands in Indonesia, fifth largest nation in the world and third richest in natural resources.

The earliest rumors of indonesia to reach the West-rumors of jewels, Mountains of gold the white monkey and even the phoenix-arose from the distant realities of a huge archipelago surrounded by eight seas and two oceans. An immense region of six million square kilometers of land and sea, Indonesia is still growing. One fourth of its four hundred volcanoes (including two in Bali) are still active today, ever changing the country's contours to new scenes spectacular in their contrasts.
Islands to the Far East and west are remnants before the sea rose hundreds of meters during a last glacial period, Sumatra, Kalimantan (Borneo), Java and Bali were all linked to Asia; while in the east, Irian was joined to Australia. The treacherous strait that separates Bali from its neighboring island Lombok is an important landmark, believed to, be the dividing line between Asia and Australia in geologic times. Contrasts between the two islands are obvious. Bali is lush, equatorial, smothered, with the luxuriant vegetation of tropical Asia.Lombok is more wind-blown and dry like the Australian plain. Animals too are different. Rate, marsupials, cockatoos, parrots and giant lizards that roam the arid regions of the eastern islands are nowhere to be founding where tigers, orangutans and pythons range the dense tropical forests.

The people of this varied land share in its diversity. The famous discovery of Pithecanthropos erectus, or Java man, established Indonesia as home of one of the earliest races of mankind. Since then, migrations of many races have swept through the archipelago -aboriginal tribes of hunters which once occupied all Asia primitive Negrito peoples who still inhabit inland wilderness; and advanced Proto Malays who brought from Yunan, in southwest China refined implements of stone. The early Christian era brought sailors, warriors, priests and craftsmen from India in a sudden outburst to Hindu Buddhist expansionism.
No wonder. Then, that no Indonesian island, however small, has a population that is not racially mixed Languages of the archipelago total about one hundred and seventy, with the national language bahasa Indonesia bringing unity of Expression to widely divergent cultures. Ninety Percent. Of Indonesia's one hundred and twenty million people are Muslims, with minorities Of Christians, Hindus and Buddhists. All people off different faiths. Have lived side by side in harmony. This tolerance has endowed with a resilience to sustain centuries of foreign influences, and at last to incorporate them into her own society.
The first European to set foot in the country was none other than Marco Polo in 1292, while serving as an ambassador to the Great Khan of Mongolia. The first Europeans to alight in Bali were a group of Dutch sailors manning a small fleet headed by Cornelius Houtman in 1597. The difference of discoveries being that Marco Polo continued his voyage; the sailors just couldn't leave Bali. Their reaction was a natural one. The captain and all his men fell in love with the island and soon befriended the king, a jovial fatman who surrounded himself with dozens of wives, owned fifty dwarfs as retainers, and drove a chariot drawn by white buffaloes. After numerous postponements, Houtman set a date for his departure. But much to the captain's chagrin, some of his men refused to go, and lie was obliged to sail for Holland with only part of his crew. When news of discovering a new "paradise" reached Europe, it created such a Sensation that the Dutch trader Heemskerk was promptly sent to Bali laden with gifts for the king.
The rapport between voyager and islander remained. For the next two hundred years, Dutchmen and other Europeans continued to visit but not to stay. With the beginnings of Dutch colonization in the 19th century, scholars wrote the first monographs on the culture of Bali. It wasn't until the late 1920s that the remote little island made its debut in the Western world through a series of documentary films, inspiring an elite circle of world travelers and celebrities to adopt Bali as their isle at the rainbow's end and to build villas in Sanur and Ubud. During the thirties, a group of visiting artists, musicians and anthropologists devoted themselves to the study of the culture, leaving some memorable volumes and photographs behind them.
Nowadays Bali is the magic touch to world travel. Though many country sides still linger where an automobile seems to disrupt the quiet solitude of the landscape, the island can now boast of a new international jet airport, a luxurious international hotel (seen for kilometers around as being the first and only building over four stories high), and big plans for further developing beaches as holiday resorts. Yet the years his fortunes reversed; he was murdered and his kingdom destroyed. His son later founded the Javanese dynasty of Majapahit.
With political dissension in Java, Bali temporarily regained its independence. The last king of the Pejeng dynasty in South Bali, the legendary Dalem Bedulu, who was a semi demonic ruler said to have had the head of a pig and the powers of a magician, refused to recognize Majapahit supremacy. He was defeated by the great general Gajah Made, chief minister of Majapahit, whose armies brought much of the archipelago under the rule of the dynasty he served. Ancient chronicles in Java briefly recorded the campaign: "In 1343 Bali, against whose vile and base-hearted ruler an expedition was sent. was overthrown and everyone slain."
The triumphant Gajah Made appointed Sri Kresna Kapakisan, a Brahmana from Kediri, as king. Kapakisan, accompanied by a number of nobles of Majapahit, came tc Bali and established his palace at Samprangan. The chronology of this period is unclear, but according to the traditional dating, towards the end of the 14th century the capital was moved to Gelgel, which for two centuries remained the seat of the Dewa Agung, the king of Bali.
The victorious campaigns of Gajah Made were the last military triumphs of the Majapahit empire. The new faith of Islam lured the princes of Java away from former loyalties to proclaim themselves Sultans Majapahit's glories dissolved 'in squabbles. As Majapahit waned, the Gelgel dynasty under its greatest ruler, Dalem Batur Enggong, waxed and expanded eastwards to Lombok and westwards to East Java. Among the nobles, priests and artisans who came to Bali from Majapahit at that time, the most important was Danghyang Nirartha, a Brahman who became the ruler's court priest. Nirartha had a profound influence on Balinese religion, both at court and in the villages. The complexity of death rituals, offerings and language were all probably introduced at that time. The palaces flourished with performances of plays, masked dances and the clangorous melodies of gamelan orchestras.
When the Dutch arrived in 1597, the Balinese aristocracy was enjoying unprecedented prosperity, and, at first, relations were gloriously friendly. In 1602 the Dutch East Indies Trading Company (Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie) was formed, the policies of which excluded most things but hopes for profits. But at the beginning of its penetration into Indonesia, Bali offered little of economic value and was therefore of little. Importance to the Dutch East Indies Company. The Company concentrated its efforts on capturing control of the emporiums of Java and the spice islands of the Moluccas. By the 19th century, mismanagement and corruption had bankrupted the Company, forcing the Netherlands government to assume full control.
About the year 1710 the Dewa Agung of Gelgel moved his palace to nearby K!ungkung village, thereby becoming raja of Klungkung, still considered among the Balinese as the highest position of the Satrias, the ruling class in Bali. Meanwhile, the lesser rajas, descendants of the nobles of Majapahit who were given lands to rule as appanages of Gelgel, had grown increasingly independent, and the Dutch used their discontent to gain control.
The Dutch began directly interfering in Balinese affairs in the late 19th century. In 1846 the ancient right of the Balinese to claim shipwrecked cargo washed upon, their shores brought the first Dutch military expedition to Bali. After a series of battles, the northern states of Buleleng and Jembrana were placed under the direct administration of the Netherlands East Indies government'in 1882 A few years later, there followed the Lombok War. The Sasaks, vassals of the Balinese in Lombok, rebelled against their rulers and solicited help from the Dutch. In 1894 the Dutch landed a large expedition in Lombok and sent an ultimatum to the old raja there who agreed to pay a "war indemnity" of one million guilders. His decision was rejected by the younger Balinese princes of Lombok and they launched a fierce attack on the Dutch encampments. The attack forced the enemy to retreat to the sea with a loss of nearly one hundred men, including General Van Ham, second in command.
When news of the defeat in Lombok reached Holland, the press exploded with indignation against the "sinister treachery" of the Balinese. The Netherlands government immediately sent reinforcements and heavy artillery. A new Dutch offensive swept over the island, culminating in the capture of Cakra Negara, the last important city of the Balinese in Lombok. The Crown Prince, Anak Agung Ktut, the fiercest enemy of the Dutch, was killed and the old raja was exiled. He soon died of a broken heart.
To a Satria, particularly a Balinese king or prince, the ultimate goal of a warrior is to die in battle. If he has abided by the teachings of his' religion, his soul may then ascend to heaven without the ritual of cremation. To surrender and die in exile is the supreme disgrace of a monarch. This principle of honor characterizes events in the Balinese resistance to the Dutch Conquest of South Bali and the final downfall of the rajas. Most of the common people remained indifferent. Their lives were absorbed in the small communities under the peaceful guidance of Brahmanas, and their contact with the rajas consisted primarily in paying taxes.
In 1904 a small Chinese steamer was shipwrecked and looted off Sanur, five kilometers from Denpasar, in the region of Badung. The owners held the Dutch government responsible which, in turn, demanded that the raja of Badung pay damages of three thousand silver dollars and punish the culprits The raja refused. Two years later the Dutch' used this incident as an excuse to anchor a fleet of warships off Sanur. The opening clash took place on the beach where the Dutch militia of several thousand men landed. Battles raged along the road to Denpasar, but in four days the, Dutch reached the town's outskirts.
On September 20, 1906, the Dutch launched their final attack on the town together with a naval bombardment, realizing they were outnumbered and their weapons no match for cannons, the three ruling princes of Denpasar sought the only honorable solution a dignified death. Abiding by the tradition, the raja “scorched the earth” by commanding that everything of value be destroyed and his palace set on fire He told his people that anyone who wished could follow him into a puputan, “a fight unto death.” Thus the king, his priests and generals, and all his relatives, men and women, adorned themselves with jewels and dress of warriors (short white loincloths caught between the legs) and set out amidst the flame.
The procession was resplendent with the panoply of a great feudal lord. The raja, borne On the shoulders of a retainer, and holding a golden kris studded with rubies and diamonds, led his glittering retinue directly onto the rifles of the Dutch militia. The commanding officer. Astonished by such a spectacle of chivalry, sent interpreters to beg the Balinese to halt, but their pleas had no effect on an entranced people wedded to a code of valor. The battle was suicidal. One by one, the Satrias were gunned down at the enemy's feet. In the end the Dutch were left horrified at a cairn of bodies sprawled out before them. Wounded princes and princes crawled to die upon their king. Twice that day, outside the Denpasar palace and the pemecutan palace, the Satria code led to the massacre of altogether 3,600 Balinese.
Some days later the Dutch marched on Tabanan a disctrict west of Badung. Half way there they were met by the raja of Tabanan who was prepared to surrender on the condition that he retains his title and certain rights to his land. The commander, unable to give him a definite answer without an official reply from the government, took him prisoner. The following morning the raja cut his own throat.
The rajas of Karangasem and Gianyar, in the east, who had formerly pledged their loyaly to the Dutch, were allowed to retain their title and land. Those who opposed were destined to be exiled and their properties confiscated. Rather than face a debased death away from Bali, the raja of Klungkung held a puputan, giving the Dutch control of the island.
In 1914 the army was replaced by a police force and the Dutch reorganized the government along the lines it had had under the rajas. Although the remaining princes were deprived of political powers, they maintained much of their influence and importance as patrons of the arts. Thanks to a handful of devoted Dutch officials, Bali's culture was safeguarded and enjoyed a renaissance during the three decades of Dutch control.
When World War II struck Indonesia, the country was occupied by Japanese forces. After Japan's abrupt capitulation the people refused a return to colonial rule. On August 17, 1945, on behalf of all Indonesians, national leader Soekarno proclaimed Indonesia's independence. Four years of bloody conflict ensued before the Dutch formally relinquished the territory previously known as the Netherlands East Indies. It was during this time, on November 20th, 1946, that the famous battle of Marga was fought in West Bali. Led by Lt. Col. I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Bali's revolutionary forces refused to surrender until national independence was won. The Balinese commander and all his soldiers were killed in a heroic battle which included an air attack by the enemy.
When the Dutch officially recognized Indonesia at the Hague Round Table Conference in 1949, the nation was governed as a constitutional republic headed by President Soekarno. The attempted communist coup of September 1965 brought about far-reaching consequences in Indonesia's political life. Under General Suharto the army moved quickly to end the rebellion. The Indonesian Communist Party was immediately banned and Soekarno delegated wide powers to General Suharto. On March 1968, the People's Consultative Assembly appointed Suharto as President.

Publish : Bali Information

The hottest deals on flights, hotels and holiday packages

2010-05-27T03:54:00.000-07:00

How easy it is to enjoy a vacation in Australia. Easy to enjoy delicious food, and almost all the flavors of the world available in Australia with fresh fruit and vegetables are always available throughout the year. Also easy to get around in Australian cities using public transportation is world class. In addition, the easier it is to shop at will, ranging from small rural markets to big city shopping centers. And the best news is, all this can be done by the student budget.

Traveling to Australia of course not all of them for business spending. On the outskirts of Melbourne, about an hour away by car, can also be found Healesville Nature Reserve, which became the maintenance of more than 200 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles native to Australia.
Nature reserve which covers about 32 hectares that was opened to the public since 1934. Although three animals native to Australia's most widely known is the koala, kangaroo, and dingo (a type of wolf-like dog figures), actually a collection of Australian native animals are still many more, including platypus-mammals that live in two worlds, water and land, which wandering looking for food at night.
The officers in Healesville Natural Reserve is ready to give a detailed explanation about the animals that were there, ranging from kangaroos that can determine their own when their children removed from the womb to the maintenance of his pocket, until that koalas sleep for 21 hours in one day.
Outside the nature reserve, on the outskirts of Melbourne, there are also other places of interest to visit, among other places the manufacture of wine. One is Yering Station in Yarra Valley, which was founded in 1838. Although not the largest wine producer in Australia, Yering Station is one of a family-owned wine companies that are difficult to miss.
As one tourist destination city, Melbourne, which can be categorized as a metropolitan city quite friendly to tourists in economy class are familiar with the term backpacker (ambulant backpack). Coach backpack tourists shelter adjacent to the four-star hotels

for information and how to find hottest deals on flight, hotels, and holiday package it's easy in Australia

find the hottest deals on flights, hotels and holiday packages ?

Bali Island Travel

2010-05-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Bali Information -Yells, giggles and wild laughter: six children scamper out of their houses to shout the favorite play words: "Turis! Turis!" A somnolent dog lazily raises its haunches and shies away. Stately ladies in festival dress, bearing lowers of fruit offerings upon their heads, turn to watch the passer by. The road is a meeting place for everyone. Temples, shrines, ruins, dances, palaces await you everywhere as destinations. The scenes along the road provide the lively drama of the people who give Bali its native charm.
Not all the roads in the island are streamlined. Those in the best condition and with the most traffic connect Denpasar with the main towns and centers of tourism. If you relish smooth traveling it's best to limit yourself to these chief town and villages. But if bumps mean little, nearly every place of interest is accessible by car or jeep. To be safe ' before going exploring, inquire for current information about road conditions. The map on the following pages also indicates the types of roads.
Swiftest transportation is by hired car or microbus. An adequate number of taxis, operated by travel agents and hotels, serve the island. Independently run taxis are stationed at the Suci bus terminal in Denpasar. To head off the beaten track, a jeep is best, available upon special request you will have to ask around. Though recommended only for the hardy, seasoned traveler, the Balinese bus is an incomparable conveyance. Hundreds of buses traverse every district of the island at generally reasonable fares. There are two main bus stations in Denpasar: Kreneng serving the east (toward Ubud and Klungkung), and Ubung serving the west (Tabanan and Bedugul). Quick microbuses, called "Colts", a so leave from these stations. Bemos, small trucks carrying up to twelve people, offer economical transit in Denpasar and surrounding areas. The sound of bells and hoof beats are the accompaniment for a jog through Denpasar in a dokar, a horse-drawn cart carrying up to three passengers. It is advisable to settle the price with the driver before starting on a journey.
An exciting thing to do in Bali is to get lost in the innumerable village compounds off the main streets everyone is about his business a usual. The atmosphere of ease and affability in unmistakably Balinese. It is most fun to go by motor scooter or bicycle, choosing one's pac… and stopping frequently. Vespas, Lambrettas, Yamahas, Hondas and bicycles are rented in most large villages. Where the road ends, tak to the sea. Jukungs, outrigger prahus used for fishing, sail with two orthree passengers to Serangan, "The Turtle Island", a short distance from Sanur. From Kusamba beyond Klungkung in the east, jukungs sail to Nusa Penida Island. From Padangbai boats ferry to Lombok Island.

Much of island travel is left up to the special interests and ingenuity of the individual. There are dozens of activities to choose from when touring Bali. You may enjoy anything from hiking down the crater of a volcano to seeking out a secluded beach to pass the afternoon sunbathing. The following trips are guidelines, to spotlight interesting places and to give an overall view of the possibilities of exploring the island. They are designed to be flexible so that you may pick up and depart from them as you please. Many parts of Bali remain unknown, yet to be discovered. The best guides have their trade secrets and can lead you to places few have seen before.

The nicest times to travel are in the morning hours and late afternoons leaving midday free for a leisurely meal. Local food stands offer hot drinks, fruits and cakes for snacks. Modern toilet facilities and running water are scarce outside the main tourist centers. A guide knows the best places to make stopovers if you plan to be out all day. For those whose stay is short, the Ubud-Kintamani Tour is a good introduction to Bali and its opportunity for shopping. Trips to the east and to the west cover the more remote parts of the island. The trip south concentrates on the shoreline and beach life, and the Northern Round Trip bridges the mountain range to the coast of North Bali

Publish by : Bali Information

Shanghyang Dance

2010-05-05T01:56:00.000-07:00

Bali Dances -In the temple two girls kneel before a brazier of smoking incense. The pemangku priest makes offerings to the deity of the temple requesting protection for the village during the trance ceremony. Behind the girls are seated a group of women who chant the sanghyang song, which ask the celestial nymph to the scend from heaven and dance before the people through the bodies of the girls
    Fragrant is the smoke of incense
    The smoke that coils and upward
    Toward the home of the three divine ones
    We are cleansed to call the nymphs
    To descend from heaven
    Beautiful in their bodices of gold………
With above closed, the girls rock back and forth above the incense until they fall down fully in trance. The attending women put flowered crowns upon their heads and lift them to the shoulders of male retainers who carry them to the place where they are to dance. Set upon the ground between the female choir and male chorus, the little dancers sway listlessly in a dreamy version of the Legong. Their movements coincide automatically although their eyes never open during the entire performance. When the chanting ceases, the girls fall to the ground in a swoon. They are brought out of trance by the pemangku, who prays beside them and blesses them with holy water
Described here is Sanghyang Dedari, a ritual dance where it is believed a divine spirit temporarily descends to a village and reveals itself through the entranced dancers. Sanghyang is the title for a deified spirit and means "The Revered One" or "Holiness"; Dedari” Angel".
    The girls dancing as "Revered Angels'' are always underage, for a virgin child is considered holy. There are other forms of the Sanghyang trance dance as well. In Sanghyang Jaran, an entranced boy (or priest) dances on a horse, jaran , represented by a hobbyhorse. He dances around a bonfire made from coconut husks. If the Sanghyang song leads him, he dances through the fire. Mountain villages near Kintamani perform the Sanghyang Deling, Whele Puppets dance suspended on a string between two poles manipulated by children.
    Sanghyang dances developed from the essential religious function of maintaining the health and well-being of the village. They are performed to exorcise evil spirits that may be infesting the community in the form of sickness or death. The boys and girls selected to be Sanghyang dancers are highly regarded by the community and are exempt from certain village responsibilities. The feats they perform while dancing are accepted as a medium of spiritual expression, since the dancer is thought to be possessed by a deity. The Sanghyang Dedari dancers have never had any dancing lessons. In normal life, they cannot remember nor repeat the motions they enact while in trance. Nor can a Sanghyang Jaran dancer normally walk on fire.
    So intriguing to the island visitor, trance, as an elevated state of consciousness, is part of Balinese life and is viewed as quite natural by the people. An entranced person believed communicating with a divine presence is respected as holy and is left free to express him self under a directive influence, usually that of a priest. The Balinese are careful never to let one entranced get out of hand. There are always guardians from the village who stand by during a trance ceremony to exercise control should it be needed.
    Although previously there were more variations of the Sanghyang than you find today in Bali, this trance dance continues to be influential. The Kecak and Janger are direct offshoots of the Sanghyang, and the notion of a dancer becoming possessed by his role is manifest in a Topeng actor "entering" the characters of his masks, That Balinese children from the earliest age instinctively assimilate the movements of the dance is apparent in the Sanghyang Dedari girls, who with no dance training, can perform the generalized movements of the Legong in unison!

Currency in Bali

2010-04-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

Bali Information - currency in Bali (Indonesia) is RUPIAH or often shortened to Rp followed by values. Rp.50 denominations and 100 are in the form of coins, Rp.100, 500 and 1000 are in either coin or bill, and Rp.5, 000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 is only available in the invoice. Values below Rp.50 rarely seen except as a change and are often replaced by the seller or sellers with candy as a substitute for change.
for your daily expenses in general in Bali, bringing some of Rp.10, 000 to Rp.100, 000. Backing this with a credit card for large purchases is a good idea. Notice though, most mid-range hotels, all top-end hotels and several tourist attractions car dealer, rental and tour companies list their prices in U.S. dollars. Rupiah still acceptable in this company but are usually more favorable exchange rate to the vendor of the tourists.

CHANGE CURRENCYforeign currency, either in the currency or traveler's checks, must be exchanged at major banks or authorized money changers (PT. Central Kuta highly recommended).
U.S. dollar is the foreign currency options in Bali; bring always new, clean bank notes that are not damaged. If for example a lost corner or someone writes something on the bill otherwise perfect, almost no one will accept it with full value.
The exchange rates offered by money changers are generally better than banks, they remain open longer and faster transactions. For U.S. $ 100 notes a better exchange rate than is offered for U.S. $ 10 or $ 20 U.S. bills.
Avoid a hole-in-the wall-operator in every way, and always ask about fees charged before the exchange as much advertising money changers better rates of commission expenses. Counting the money you receive with caution (Rp.10, 000 and Rp.100, 000 a similar record), and never give it back to the money changer after you count them!
Some of these people were witches, and one million, you just suddenly counted less than 700,000 rupiah after the seller's bank records to touch it again!

PLASTIC MONEYMany shops accept credit cards and charge cards, but often adds 3-5 percent to your bill. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express accepted by most larger businesses. The number is signed for and charged in Rupiah and the bill was later amended by the clearing bank into your local currency.
Automatic Teller Machines are mushrooming all over the island, especially in shopping centers and bank branches. Most of them are connected to international banking networks, so making it possible to find machines that are affiliated with their own ATM network.

BANK IN BALI
Most major banks have branches in major tourist centers and provincial capitals. Banking hours are generally 8:00 to 14:00 Monday to Friday and until 11 am on Saturday.

For your information, below are some of the Indonesian currency as follows antiquity :

Publish : BaliBestJegeg

Calonarang is Ratu Leak

2010-04-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

Bali Performance - It may be the bewitching hour the first night with the full moon when long shadows spread like phantoms on the ground, that village crowds gather round a clearing near the temple of the dead to watch the drama of CalonArang the widow witch of Girah. Every Balinese knows the legend of Rangda as Calon Arang a favorite in local folklore.
Long ago, when Airlangga was king, there lived a widow. Calon Arang, who gave birth to a child in the jungle. The child grew up to be the famed beauty Ratna Menggali. CalonArang wanted her daughter to marry a prince from Airlangga's palace, but despite her beauty, no prince came, Angered by this, the widow learned the art of black magic and practiced it against the kingdom, causing many people to die. When Airlangga heard of the epidemic in Girah, he consulted his high priest, Mpu Bharadah. The priest sent his son to ask for the hand of Ratna Menggali. CalonArang was pleased by the offer. The plague subsided, and the couple wed.
Calon Arang had in her possession a lontar (palmleaf book) of black magic teachings. Her son-in-law one day found it and gave it to his father, who then deciphered the formulas to the widow's secret powers. When CalonArang discovered Mpu Bharadah had learned her secrets, she was enraged and declared war upon him. The priest had no choice but to fight and, in a deadly struggle of sorcery, destroyed the widow by casting a spell. Before she died, Calon Arang asked forgiveness. Mpu Bharadah absolved her deeds and showed her the way to heaven.
The story has many variations, and no two Calon Arang plays are exactly the same. Essentially, the play is a drama of magic that serves as a powerful exorcism of evil spirits aligned with the witch-queen Rangda. By dramatizing CalonArang as Rangda at the height of her magical powers, it is hoped the performance will gain the witch's favor and appease her appetite for destruction,

Calon Arang Performance on the temple 04.15 PM

Publish : BaliBestJegeg

BALI MANTRAM

2010-04-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

MANTRAM CARU SALUIRIN CARU
ONG PAKULUN SANG BAGAWATI,
MUNGGUH SIRA RING SAD KAYANGAN DALEM,
ADERBE SANAK SERATUS DUA DELAPAN,
WENANG SIRA MAWEH LARANING JADMA MANUSA PADA,
AJA SIRA MAWEH LARANING JADMA MANUSAN INSUN,
IKI LADAH SAJINI INGULUN SUANG – SUANG
INGGIH SANG BUTA PEMALI SUETA
MIJIL SAKING WETAN,
MUANG BUTA PEMALI BANG,
MIJIL SIRA SAKING KIDUL,
MUANG BUTA PEMALI PITU
MIJIL SIRA SAKING KULON,
IBUTA PEMALI IRENG MIJIL SIRA SAKING LOR,
SARENG SIRA IBUTA PEMALI MANCA WARNA,
MIJIL SIRA SAKING TENGAH,
SAMI PILUGRAN IDA SANGHYANG SIWA,
SADA SIWA, PARAMA SIWA MUANG BUTA PEMALI KABEH
IKI TADAH SAJIN NIRA SUWANG SUWANG.
ONG SANG BANG TANG ANG ING NANG MANG SING WANG YANG,
ONG RANG RING SAH PRAMA SIWA YANAMAH.

MANTRAM CARU PANYAKAP SAWAH
MANTRA, PAKULUN PADUKA BETARA SAPUH JAGAT,
INGSUN I BENDESA WAYAH,
I PASEK PACUNG, KABAYAN BADUNG,
INGSUN KAUTUS ANTUK BETARA GURU TURUN KEMERCAPADA,
ANGASAHAN LEMAHAN SAWAH MUANG SANGGAH KAYANGAN
MUANG PAKUBONAN
APAN ULUN ANAKING BERTARA GURU,
WENANG ULUN ANGASAHAN PALEHAN IKI,
SINAH ASAH, IKI TADAH SAJIN NIRE KETIPAT DAMPUL
TALUH BEKASEM JAJA KUKUS APANINGKEBAN
MAUNTI PENCOK KACANG IJO,
SUCI ASOROH MAULAM ITIK PUTIH,
CANANG BENGE WANGI,
CANANG SARI, CANANG AGUNG MUANG
PEMANGGUH PEMALI PANGULAPAN,
PENEBASAN MUANG SESAYUT PEBERSIHAN,
PERAYASCITA LUWIH, AJA SIRA ANGADAKAKEN PEMALA PEMALING
ONG SIDI RASTU YA NAMAH SUAHE.

MANTRAM PENYAPUH PEKARANGAN
ONG BUTA JAKSA BUTA JAKSI,
PEMALI SEMPULIRING KELOD KAUH, PEMADAKAN NIRA ,
SERTA WATES PEBAJANGAN PALELIAYAKAN KITA PANGKUNG DALEM,
PESADAH KITA KAYU PUTIH, PAEMBONAN KITA GELAGAH,
PENGAMAH KITA DON TEEP, PAUNDURAN KITA KELOD KAUH
KEDEP SIDI MANDI MANTRANKU,
ONG TINGLEH ARIYANG URUKUNG, PAMIRON WAS MAULUN,
AJA SIRA NAGIH MAJAH , KALESAN KITA KEDIS GARUDE,
UANG NIRI BETARI DURGA,
PAKULUN GUMI MANGSUH NARAN KITA TUJU TELUH NARANJANA,
DESTI MAKARA KIRAN ATINORI
ONG AKU ANGUPAL AMUNGPUG, AKU RAJA PINULUH TEKE PUGPUG,
KEDEP SIDI MANDI MANTRAMKU.
BAPAS GURU ING KENE, ANTULAN BATU PUTIH, AREP KIRTAN KECAMPATAN
NANDI TI ANGKUL, TAN ANA SUNG SUNGRINI,
ONG JERO AGUNG PIJAK KALUKAN LARANING JADMA MANUSA DEWA LUKAT,
PEMALI LIKAT , ANAK IRA BERARI DURGA, LAMUN SIRA MANGKU BUMI,
YANG SIRA KE BAYAN MAKUWIG,

ONG SA BAT A I NA MA SIWA YA, 
AKU SANG HYANG TUNGGAL WISESA, ANGERAPUH GUMI KABEH,
TAN ANA WITAN, TAN ANA KIDUL TAN ANA KULON, TAN ANO LOR
TAN ANA PANGKUNG, TAN ANA REDI
TIYAULAN LINTANG TERANGGANA LAMUN KONKONE NGINAIN BANYU.

TAN ANA KERAPUH. ONG NINI BATARI DURGA
KADI BATARI GURU INGSUN ANYALUK SETEREHA
PENGERAPUHAN AGUNG, RAPUH AKEN SEGARA,
RAPUH AKEN GUNUNG, RAPUH AKEN KARANG,
RAPUNG AKEN PANGKUNG,
TAN ANA ULAN LINTANG TERENGGANA,
KERAPUH SARIANKIN TEKA RAPUH

CARU PANCA SANAK
OM PAKULUN KAKI BUTE JANGGITAN RING PURWA GENAH IRA,
IKI TADAH SAJINAN , PENEK LIMANG BUNGKUL
IWAK AYAM PETAK, RINANCANA URIANG
SIBEN URIP, AJAK KALE WADUANIRA AMANGAN ANGINAN
LIMANG DIRI, WUSIRA AMANGGAN CARU
MANTUK SIRA RING DANG KAYANGAN NIRA SUANG – SUANG,
ANGERDANA URIP WIRASIA
KAKI BUTE LANGKIR DAKSINE GENAH IRA ,
IKI TADA SAJINIRA, PENEKA ASIYE BUNGKU;
IWAK AYAM BIYING RIMANCANA WINANGUN URIP
AJAK KALE WIDUANIRA AMANGAN ANGINEM ASIA DIRI
WUSIRE AMANGAN ANGINEM,
MANTUK SIRA RING DANG KAYANGAN NIRA SUANG – SUANG ,
ANGEREDANA URIP WARASIYA
KAKI BURE LAMLAMBUKANIYA PASCIMA GENAH IRA,
IKI TADAH SAJINE PENEK PITUNG BUNGKUL IWAK AYAM PUTIH SIYUNGAN
RINANCANA WINAGUN URIP AJAK KALA WADUANIRA EMANGAN
ANGINUM PITUNG DIRI,
WASIRA ANGANGAN CARU MANTUK SIRA RING DANG KAYANGAN IRA
SUANG SUANG, ANGER DANE URIP WIRASIYE
KAKI BUTE KERUNA, UTARA GENAH IRE
IKI TADAH SAJINE PENEK IRENG PETANG BUNGKUL
IWAK AYAM IRENG, RINANCANA WINANGUN URIP
AJAK KALA WADUANIRE KALANIRE
AMANGAN ANGINEM PETANG DIRI WISIRE AMANGAN CARU
MANTUK SIRA RING DANG KEKAYANGAN NIRE SUWANG SUWANG
ANGERADANA URIP WARASIYE.
KAKI BUTE TIGA SAKTI, RING MADIYA GENAH IRA,
IKI TADAH SAJINIRE, PENEK AMANCA WARNA LIMANG BUNGKUL
IWAK AYAM BRUMBUN, RINANCANA WINANGUN URIP,
AJAK KALA WADUAN KALAM IRA, EMANGAN ANGINUM KUTUS DIRI,
WUSIRA MANGAN CARU, MANTUK SIRA RING DANG KEKAYANGAN
IRA SUWANG SUWANG ANGEREDANA URIP WARASIYE
ONG DURGA BICARI YANAMAH
AKU KATMA BICARI YANAMAH
ONG BUTA BICARI YANAMAH SUAHA

MANTRA NGEBUG LAIT
ONG SANGHYANG INDRA NGANUGRAHIN,
PANUGRAHAN NGEBUG LAIT RING ERSANIYA
ONG URIP MANUSA URIP YASA URIP
GAWE URIP ,ALOTA URIP , LAIT URIP
PADA URIP, TEKE URIP ANG AH 3X

PENGUWUG SUNDUK
ONG TOYA TATUWA YANAMAH
ONG IYE TOYA TATUWAN YANAMAH
IDEP AKU NGAWEG SUNDUK
IDEP SAMARA KETEMU LAWAN RATIH
TEKA NGET NGET NGET IDEP KETEMU
MESESIRE TEYAN ANG AH
PENGURIP SELUIRIN WEWANGUNAN
ONG SE BE TE A I NE ME SE WE YE
WISMA KARMA PERAYA CANEM
KEREA NYANE, BAYU WERDIYE NAMA SWAHA,
PAKULUN BEGAWAN SUKRA,
ANGURIP SANGKANING LARUNG AMONG URIP
TEKE URIP TEKE URIP TEKE URIP

PEMELASPASAN BALE
PAKULUN BAGAWAN BIASA
SURA SAKTI ULUN
ULUN ANGATURAKEN PEMELASPAS MAKADI
PEMANGUN URIP, PRAGI GAWE UMAH
KAJENENGAN DENIRA SANG TERIYA DASA SAKTI
KESAKSENAN DENIYA SANG HYANG TERI PURUSA
SAMPUN ANA KALANIN KANGE KARYA
MEKADI KANG KINARYANAN PADA URIP
EWANA ANG AH
ONG PAT PATIYA NAMAH SWAH
PENYAMBEHAN BERAS
ANG ONG MANG ONG

MANTRAM PENGASEPAN
PEKULUNG SANG PADUPAN DUPAN INGULUN
SANG HYANG KUKUS MUMBUL KINARONCE
KESEPA SANG HYANG WIDYA DARA WIDYA DARI
KAYANGAN IDA BETARA GURU
TITIANG NGATURANG CANANG DAKSINA
RAWUHAN ATURAN TITIYANGE RING SANG HYANG WIDI
TERUS JEG NING MAKECENING
TERUS KASUWARGA ITITIYANG MEGUNTING LANGI
TITIYANG IKA MABAHE, TITIYANG NUNAS LUGRA
AMUPUT SERAYA KARYA KABEH
YE API YE YEH YE ANGIN PADA SIRATAN
PEMARISUDA RING AWAK SERIRAN ANGULUN
ANG AH ANG AH ANG AH

MANTRAM PANGURIP KAYU
PAKULUN SIRA TE BETARA SURYA CANDRA
MANUSAN IDA ANGATUR AKEN SAJI TADAH PAWITRA
LENGE WANGI BURAT WANGI
AKEDIK DE PINATURAKEN DEN PELAKU
MALAKU KEPARIPURNA, NING AWAK SARIRAN INGULUN
PAKULUN SIRA SANG BESA WARNA
SIRA TE URIPING CARU
SIRA TE JUMNA NENG RING YASA
AYUA TEKE GING GANG KANGINGSIR
DEN TEGTEG MADEL EWANA IKANG MANUSA IRA
ONG YANG JAGAT NATA YANAMAH SWAHA
PADA SIRA TAN PAMARISUDA
RING AWAK SARINAN INGULUN
ANG AH 3 X AH ANG

PEMELASPASANA SANGGAR MUANG BALE , NGARANG PEMELASPASAN SAD KAYANGANIDA BETARA SAKING MAJAPAIT
BATARA SAKING DALEM
MIWAH IDA BATARA SAKING PUSEH
MUANG BATARA SAKING GUNUNG LEBAH
SEDAKAN SANIRA NUNAS TIRTA PAMELASPASAN
APANG SAMPUN AMIGRANING RING SANG MADUE PAPAYONAN
ANGANGADEG SAKING PURWA
BATARA ISWARA DEWATANYA
ANGADEG SIRE GENIYA
BETARA MAHESWARA DEWATANIYA
ANGADEG SIRA DAKSINA BATARA BRAHMA DEWATANIYA
ANGADEG SIRA NERITI BETARA LUDRA DEWATANIYA
ANGADEK SIRA PASCIMA BATARA MAHESWARA DEWATANIYA
NGADEG SIRA UTARA BATARA WISNU DEWATANIYA
ANGADEG SIRA BATARA SAMBU DEWATANIYA
ANGADEG SIRA RING MADYA BATARA SIWA DEWATANIYA
ONG SUKA PINAKA PANCERTE
SUNDUK PINAKA AKEHTE
ADEGAN PINAKA PUNYAN TE
LAMBANG PINAKA KATIK DANTE
RAAB PINAKAN DOON TE
TUGEH PINAKA MUNCUK TE
DADAG PINAKA SARINTE
IKA TE URIPIN TAN NGARAN
ONG TRAN TRAN, ONG SIANA KALI KALI
KENA ONG, SWA ONG SADEWA MARING SUNIYA
ONG BUTA MARING SUNIYA
ONG MANUSA MARING SUNIYA
ONG SADEWA MARING SUNIYA
ONG TUYU TELUH MARING SUNIYA
ONG YAWA YATA ONG TOYA

BALI AFTER DARK

2010-03-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

Bali Information - Night life in Bali starts late, which means around midnight. Many visitors wonder where crowds of expats suddenly come from around 1:00 in the morning – even when all of Kuta has been very quiet during the whole evening, the IN-places often become crowded after midnight. There's a simple explanation: during the early evenings many of Bali's night owls either still work, visit friends at home, or simply sleep. Most of them visit pubs, bars, or discos only in the early morning hours. Therefore, if you plan a night out don't start your dinner too early. Between 9:00 p.m. and midnight there are not many places we can recommend. Visitors looking for company don't need to worry. Wherever you go in Sanur and the Kuta area, there are many other single travellers with the same problem around – day and night. In Bali's discos you'll meet also many "kupu kupu malams" ("night butterflies" or working girls) and young boys who compete with the females and service all sexes. All taxi drivers know the more popular karaoke bars and massage parlours in Kuta and Denpasar, and the various "Houses of ill Repute" in Sanur's narrow back lanes. As reported in the BALI travel FORUM: "Prostitution is illegal in Bali. However, like in many countries, everyone turns a blind eye. Many girls can be found in nightclubs and bars in most areas. They look usually just like the girl next door, albeit with a bit more make up on, and they usually dress to please the eye. For the most part, they are gentle, easy to be with, and a lot of fun if you want to dance, drink and have a little fun with. Most will be yours for the whole night for about 500,000 Rupiah although prices range from 200,000 Rupiah to 1,500,000 Rupiah and more – depending on the season, the time of night and the situation".

SANUR & NUSA DUA Some quite popular places in Sanur are the BORNEO PUB on Jalan Danau Tamblingan and the TROPHY PUB in front of the Sanur Beach Hotel. Both, however, close around 1:00 a.m. The discos and pubs in Nusa Dua's 5-star hotels are often rather empty. They are mostly frequented by those visitors who stay in-house and are too tired to make the 30 minutes drive to Kuta.
THE "KUTA" AREA Everybody looking for some action and fun in the evening goes to "Kuta" which nowadays means the area extending about 4 miles or 7 kilometers North from the original village of Kuta and includes now Legian, Seminyak and even Basangkasa. Here are most of the better entertainment places offering EVERYTHING single male or female visitors as well as couples might be looking for. There are several places such as CASABLANCA etc. – down-market open-air pubs and very noisy discos full of stoned Aussies courting Javanese "Kupu Kupu Malams". PEANUTS Discotheque on Jalan Raya Legian at the Jalan Melasti corner (about the border between Kuta and Legian) has been re-opened very soon after it was gutted by a fire. The huge (air-conditioned) dance floor is often crowded, guests are a mix of locals and younger foreign visitors. Closer to the center of Kuta you find the BOUNTY SHIP with a noisy, over-air-conditioned disco in the basement and the re-built PADDY'S not far from the original PADDY'S. Much more "IN" nowadays is the newer M-BAR-GO which features really good music and a better crowd than most other places. SKY GARDEN is also on the main road and an interesting place to go. The bar is on the top floor, the three storeys below feature all different lounge areas. The menu is huge but the food is often disappointing. When most places close around 2.00 or 3.00 in the morning, night owls of all kinds continue drinking at nearby MAMA'S until sunrise. For a somewhat more civilized evening out, you can have dinner and a couple of drinks at the bar at either TJ's or KORI in Kuta, at the open street side bar at NERO Bali right opposite AROMAS Restaurant in Kuta, at the re-built MACCARONI CLUB in Kuta, at MADE'S WARUNG in Basangkasa (see BALI - Restaurants to Enjoy), or at the trendy HU'U Bar & Lounge near the Petitenget temple, LA LUCIOLA and THE LIVING ROOM. One of the most "in" venues in Bali is KUDETA right on the beach adjacent to the Oberoi hotel. This is the place to see and be seen, and from late afternoon there is a DJ providing rather noisy entertainment for Bali's beautiful people. This is a great place to watch Bali's famous sunsets, but expect to pay for a cocktail around US$10 and more. Something more outrageous and only for open-minded people are the HULU CAFE shows in Garlic Lane between Jalan Padma and Jalan Melasti in Kuta/Legian, a place which called itself the "only real gay bar in all of Bali" with drag shows starting at 11:00 p.m. three times per week. The performances are actually kind of funny! Since the original HULU CAFE burnt down in 2008, the shows are now performed at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the BALI BEACH SHACK in the same lane You'll find a large and quite popular HARD ROCK CAFE right at the beginning of Kuta's beach road with live music from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Expect to find many singles of all kinds here looking for company. If you think this is too noisy, too crowded, or the air-conditioning too cold for you, try the CENTER STAGE at the HARD ROCK RESORT located in the back of the CAFE. As the name implies, the band performs on a raised stage in the middle of the huge round lobby bar until 11:00 p.m. Both HARD ROCK outlets are expensive by Bali standards. The JAYA PUB on the main road in Seminyak features also live music and attracts many Indonesian customers who don't mind the chilling air-conditioning and the sometimes horrible bands and singers. MANNEKEPIS, a pleasant Belgian pub/restaurant right opposite the QUEEN'S TANDOOR in Seminyak, features live Jazz on Thurdays, Fridays and Saturdays and serves good meals at reasonable prices. Seminyak's best place to have a drink and some fun after 11 p.m. are nowadays probably OBSESSION World Music Bar and SANTA FEE Bar & Grill, Jalan Abimanyu (also known as Gado Gado Road or Jalan Dhyana Pura). Life music, reasonably priced cocktails and the friendly girls attract many visitors until the early hours. Other popular night spots nearby in the same street are SPY BAR, LIQUID, Q BAR and MIXWELL ("for the alternative lifestyle"), SPACE and THE GLOBE. New bars and "Chill-Out Lounges" are opening all the time, and most of them feature DJ's and/or live music on certain nights. Just walk down the road and check them out ! Later, from 2:00 a.m., it's party time at the SYNDICATE, BACIO and DOUBLE SIX, a large open-air disco with several bars, big dance floor, and many tables. All three are located next to each other on the beach in Seminyak and charge an entrance fee of 30,000 to 100,000 Rupiah (depending on the day) for which you get a voucher for a free drink. Here and in nearby DEJA VU and LA VITA LOCA you'll find most of Bali's night owls drinking and dancing the night away until 4:30 a.m. or so. (The legendary GADO GADO Disco has been re-converted into a restaurant.) Also, watch out for notices and small posters in Kuta and Seminyak announcing special events such as Full Moon Parties, House Warming Parties, Body Painting Parties, etc, etc. If these "parties" are announced to the public (even if only by word-of-mouth), they are open for everybody. You'll have to pay for your drinks, therefore, don't be shy.
UBUD Don't expect too much here. We are not Ubud nightlife experts, but names frequently mentioned include PUTRA BAR, Jl. Monkey Forest (every night live music ranging from Reggae to rock), MAGIC BAR, Jl. Monkey Forest (live music and sometimes great atmosphere), JAZZ CAFE, Jl. Tebesaya (live music and jam sessions on different nights), EXILE BAR (Saturday nights only, great music), and FUNKY MONKEY (early hours cafe).
Have fun!
Popular by : Balibestjegeg

POPULAR BEACH IN BALI

2010-03-31T19:16:00.000-07:00

BADUNG DISTRICT
KUTA BEACH
Description: Kuta is the center of entertainments and has become the favorite destination of multinational visitors. It has everything a tourist looks for i.e. white-sandy beach, rows of excellent bars and restaurants, discotheques, and entertainment spots for an enjoyable nightlife. Rows of kiosks selling souvenirs and everything a tourist need such as garments or latest CDs and cassettes are available along the main road with reasonable prices.

Location: 11 km south of Denpasar. Kuta can be easily reached by public transport from Tegal bemo station in 30 minutes.

SULUBAN BEACH
Description: Suluban Beach is one of the places of interest belonging to Badung regency. It is known for its beautiful beach along with amazing wave; best for surfing. The natural beauty of the southern tip of Bali’s highland with its hollowing waves and peaceful surroundings has attracted more and more visitors to enjoy its serenity and peacefulness.

Location: Suluban beach is one of several frivolous beaches located at Pecatu village on the southern tip of Badung District, about three km from Uluwatu temple. The beach is about 32km south of Denpasar, and can be reached through Kuta, Ngurah Rai International Airport, and Jimbaran. The sloping and bending road around the hill offers a panoramic view.

NUSA DUA BEACH
Description: Nusa Dua enclave has the most complete tourist facilities in Bali, including luxurious hotels, sporting facilities, shopping center and international convention hall, to mention a few. The empty, arid land of Nusa Dua started to develop in 1974 and the government trusted the management to Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC).

Location: The distance between Nusa Dua and Denpasar is 30 km, through Kuta to the south, 12 km from the Ngurah Rai International Airport.

DENPASAR MUNICIPALITY
SANUR BEACH
Description: Sanur has been known worldwide literally a century ago, when the deadly, horrendous battle of Puputan Badung took place on September 20, 1906 as the Dutch troops anchored here. This beach was first introduced into international community by a Belgian painter, A.T. Le Mayeur, who married a Balinese dancer Ni Polok, and stayed here since 1937 and often held painting exhibitions of his own.
The main attraction of Sanur is its calm beach. In the south east, one can observe Nusa Penida Island across the sea and in the eastern side, the panoramic view of South Bali along with its range of mountains is a spectacular sight that should not be missed. In a bright afternoon the scenery is simply beautiful.

Location: Sanur is six km from Denpasar, one can get to this beach by car, motorcycle or regular public transportation.

BENOA HARBOUR
Description: Benoa is the marine activity hub of the island, for both domestic and international. Boating races are regularly held here with overseas participants hosted by Royal Bali Yacht Club, RBYC. From this harbor visitors can extend their vacation to other destinations, including Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Lombok, on their own boats or on cruises available here such as Bali Hai Cruise, The Bounty, Nusa Lembongan, to mention a few.
Location: This harbor is six km to the south from Denpasar.

KARANGASEM DISTRICT
PADANG BAI BEACH
Description: Padang Bai is an harbor area naturally sheltered by cluster of hills and has for centuries been serving as the island’s important sea port. Over the eastern hill of Padang Bai beach lay The Silayukti temple, built by Mpu Kuturan, one of Hindu’s most respected prophets from Java, around the eleventh century. On the western side is another temple called Penataran Agung temple, built by another Hindu holy man from Java named Danghyang Nirartha around the sixteenth century.

Location: Padang Bai is located in the sub-district of Manggis, Karangasem, 53 km from Denpasar or 30 km to west from the Eastern Bali capital of Amlapura.

JEMELUK BEACH
Decription: Jemeluk is a famous among underwater lovers. Crystal clear and steady water, beautiful coral layer on which various kinds of decorative tropical fish live. Other attraction include traditional salting ground along beach towards Amed, besides the breath-taking view with the towering Mt. Agung in the background, hills with valleys, the vast blue ocean adorned with rows of the fishermen’s traditional rowing boats.

Location: Jemeluk is located on the coastal area of Purwakerti Village, sub-district of Abang, Karangasem. About 101 km from Denpasar or 21 km from Amlapura.

TABANAN DISTRICT
SOKA BEACH

Description: Soka is one of the most beautiful beaches in western part of Bali. Panorama view with chains of hills forms natural walls on the west side through to Batukaru Mountain Range on the north. On the eastside, Agung Mountain is seen in the distance and Indonesian ocean is on the south with the eastern tip of east Java in the backdrop.
Soka beach hides thousand of natural miracles and legends. One can find a massive coral stone with size of about 30 cubic meters surrounded by sand and sea water believed to be cooking pot of Balinese mighty man named Kebo Iwa. On the west side of the cooking pot, there is a another coral stone depicting a traditional stove about 10x20 meters in size believed as the stove on which the mighty Kebo Iwa cooked his meal.

Location: Soka beach is in Antap Village, sub-district of Selamadeg, Tabanan, 45 km from Denpasar or 84 km from Gilimanuk

JEMBRANA DISTRICT
MEDEWI BEACH
Description: Medewi is a rocky beach with fairly good waves for surfing. Its sloping part on the west with a bit receding to the south where a number of traditional rowing boats jukung tied up makes an amazing scene mainly at sunset.

Location: Medewi Beach is located about 100 meters from the Denpasar-Gilimanuk main road. It can be easily reached within one and half hours drive from Denpasar, or about 72 km.

DELOD BRAWAH BEACH
Description: Delod Brawah beach is a sloping, black-sandy beach, an ideal location for recreation and swimming. The black color comes from a natural process, especially the swampy (called Berawah in Balinese) area nearby. So then, the people who live on the north side called the newly-formed village Delod Berawah, south of the swampy area. On the north side of Delod Brawah beach is a former rice field where traditional water buffalo race called Makepung is regularly held. This is such an attraction only to be found in Jembrana.

Location: The beach can easily be reached from the sub-district of Mendoyo, Jembrana, about 88 km from Denpasar. It is about 1,5 km to the south from Tegalcangkring through extensive rice field often visited by flock of herons and storks.

PERANCAK BEACH
Description: Perancak or Purancak is located on the southwestern coastal area of Bali, at Purancak Village. At the west tip is the legendary Purancak Temple facing west towards a river with its calm water whereas wild coastal vegetations grow on both side of the river. The ocean is just about 250 meter to the south with its clear blue water while the eastern tip of East Java is seen in the distance. On the right side of estuary are rows of traditional houses under the coconut trees with leaves waving in the breeze

Location: Purancak beach is located about 10 km south east of Tegal Cangkring village, Negara, 96 km from Denpasar following the main road to Gilimanuk.

BULELENG DISTRICT
LOVINA BEACH
Description: Lovina, from Love Ina (Indonesia), is known for its fantastic beach, calm water, black sand, colorful coral and various kinds of tropical fish. Its calm water is an ideal location for various marine activities, such as fishing, swimming, diving, snorkeling, or just immersing in the water. Added to all these attractions is an army of dolphins in their original habitat. Visitors usually depart at dawn to watch hundreds of this friendly fish one km offshore. Lovina also has some other interesting places nearby, such as Banjar hot spring, Buddhist Vihara, Gitgit and Singsing waterfalls.

Location: Lovina beach is also known as Kalibukbuk. It covers a total of five kilometer distance of two sub-districts of Buleleng and Banjar, consisting of six villages including Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan, and Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Temukus. The famous tourist resort is located 10 km to the west of the northern capital of Singaraja.

Popular by : Balibestjegeg

Bali Emergency Numbers

2010-03-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

Below information is very useful for Bali Island visitor.
Bali Information
Police : 110
Fire Dept.: 113
Ambulance : 118
Search ; rescue: 111,115 or 151
Within Indonesia : 100
International : 101
Bali : 147
Indonesia : 106

A world of Bali Sharing

2010-03-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

Bali Information - In Balinese paintings, trees become the secret a boded of fantastic bird and monkeys, the night and invitation for mischievous spirit, and the temple ceremony a panorama of offering, sales stands stylish dress, mystical figures of the theater, fighting cocks, lovers rendezvous and family worship. The Balinese world is one of sharing. The joys of every day life merge with social duties and religious obligations, I the same way that one’s personal fears are projected onto the mysteries of nature. The arts reflect an unconscious integration of environment, religion and community of which every individual is a part.
This feeling of continuity is the cornerstone of the local society. Every form of work of creativity is given group expression. The organization of villages, the cultivation of farm land, and even the creative arts are a communal effort. Within his village, a man belongs to his family, his clan, his caste, his community, and to the total of the Balinese people who share in his heritage and surroundings. Religion is as essential as his livelihood. Every new accession, whether is be the firs birthday of child or the completion of house, receives the priest’s blessing. Every personal calamity is treated as a shared problem a among family, friends and divine guardians. Only in rare moment throughout his live would a Balinese feel oppressive solitude. Nor is death a separation, but a journey of the soul to resting place in heaven where “life as just in Bali, but devoid of all the trouble and illness,” until it is reborn on earth, possibly in the person of a great grandchild.
After creating the world and mountains trees, fruits and flowers, the deities made four human beings whom they provided with tool of work and house to live in. the divine Shiwa then made four women as wives for the four men. The god of love, Semara, made mating a pleasure so that the women could be fertilized, and eventually, the four couples had many children. (From the ancient Catur Yoga)
A child born in Bali awakens to a wondrous world of expectation. His father has Hong centered his hove on having children, preferably a male child who will care him in his old age and, after his death, perform the necessary rites to liberate his soul for reincarnation. A new born baby is believed to have just emerged into this life from a spiritual realm and is respected as holy the impure earth and is carried every where, often riding on the hip of an older sister. Ceremonies are held for him at prescribed intervals, culminating in his first Balinese birthday at 210 day. Offerings are made by the priest and he is allowed to touch the ground for the first time.
As soon as he can walk, the child is set free wander all over the village with other children his age, some times going on excursions that last all day. In this society of his own, he grows to be self reliant at a very early age. At home he is treated cordially, taken by his parents wherever the go, and coaxed into obedience as an equal. He is never beaten, for were one to strike a child, it my harm his tender spirit. This manner of raising children with independence and respect accounts for the exceptional maturity and sense of responsibility in Balinese children. In the most crowded villager festivals, seldom do you hear a child cry or see him fight with other children.
During adolescence a child becomes from initiated into the adult community. When a young girl of a high caste family reaches the age of puberty, a ceremony is healed to announce her status as mature women. First she goes into strict seclusion and thoroughly cleanses her body. After thee days she emerges in gold brocades and a crown of flowers to receive a purification blessing from the priest. Frequently, a tooth-filing ceremony follows, also a custom of initiation for both boys and girls. By having a specialist, usually a Priest, file a small portion of the upper teeth to from a straight line, one diminishes the six evil qualities of human nature: desire, greed, anger, intoxication, irresoluteness, and jealousy. With this ceremony completed, a Balinese looks forward to a life less prone to human frailty and error. Straight teeth make for prettier smiles, too. Ferocious snarls. With long canine’s sweiving from the mouth, are reserved for the ghastly grimaces of witches and demons.

MARRIAGE is the final initiation into the community; only a settled married man can become a member of the village association. The Balinese marry at an early age; the average age for a girl is eighteen to twenty and or a boy between twenty and twenty-five. A young Balinese feels it is his most important duty to marry and to raise a family to perpetuate his family line. To go unmarried is abnormal. It is said that if a male adult dies a bachelor, in the next life he will feed sows, a women's chore, and if a woman does not bear any children, she will be suckled by a giant, caterpillar.

As with everything in, Bali, marriage customs vary from village to village and caste to caste. The two most popular forms of marriage are the mapadik marriage by request, and ngrorod -marriage by elopement. Mapadik is the respectable form of courtship, in which the boy' family bearing offerings and presents visits the girl's family and openly proposes the marriage. Ngrorod is more exciting and clandestine, for here the honeymoon precedes the wedding, and the man is considered to be more heroic like the romantic lover Prince Arjuna, hero of the Mahabharata epic.
The couple secretly decides to run away, usually to a friend's house a good distance from the girl's village. On the appointed day, the girl is suddenly carried off by her suitor, (Nowadays, it's fashionable to kidnap one's bride in a car.) The girl's family pretends to be worried (and sometimes is). The enraged father is supposed to search the surroundings, asking, everyone in the household who took his, daughter. Of course, even a close friend who may have helped the daughter pack her clothes innocently denies any knowledge of the affair. Sometimes even a search party is organized. Usually an envoy is sent to inform the girl's parents, who generally know the suitor and realize that if their daughter took some clothes, she willingly eloped.
Most Balinese agree-the advantage of s that it is economical. In the formal courtship which precedes a mapadik marriage, the suitor must visit the girl's home several time small gifts and bus fares do mount up. On the first night of elopement, a small religious ceremony is held to make the marriage official by customary law. Offerings are presented to lbu Pertiwi, goddess of the earth, who bears witness to the union. Later the entire village is invited to a formal wedding ceremony when the couple is blessed by the priest, and their union is announced through offerings and prayer to their ancestors and deities of the temple. It is then that the woman formally joins the man's family and becomes member of his caste and clan.
Divorce is not difficult in Bali. A man merely reports to village authorities that his marriage is finished; or, if it is a woman, she simply return to her home and the children are cared for by the man's family. However, divorce does not occur often. If the situation arises, it is more likely that a man takes a second wife, and the first remains as head of the household.
THE COMMUNITY revolves around family and religion. A man raises a family that worships common ancestors in the family shrine of each household. The various families composing a village all worship at the three village temples: Pura Puseh, the temple of origin where the traveler to Bali is still the explorer, discovering untouched places and witnessing exotic rituals which have not diminished with the changing times.
From a world streaming beneath you at jet speed, you suddenly find yourself coasting by shaded roads be speckled with sunlight. Relaxing is effortless. Off comes the tie for a sports shirt and city shoes for sandals. No heavy clothing is necessary to meet the weather, and no greeting formalities but a smile are needed to return a welcome. From your arrival, you are treated with the respect befitting a guest and the surprised delight in seeing someone new.
Bali is filled with nooks and corners, back roads and gateways into the heart of a people. When driving around the island, it is difficult to look straight ahead; there is always something eye-catching along the wayside. Take the road, for instance. It is a sidewalk, highway, playground, meeting place, cargo route and the path of ceremonial processions. Along its sides are countless temples, rustic shrines, gamelan rehearsals, markets and harvests. A turn-off inland may lead to a village of craftsmen who labor at a primitive style of woodcarving, or to royal tombs, half-hidden in the farmlands, that mirror the island's legendary past. Perhaps you stop at a hillside restaurant overlooking the mysterious Elephant Cave, or pause for tea at a local food stand shaded by in enormous banyan tree. Even the most secluded retreats provide cool refreshment, since it doesn't usually take long to find a climber eager to fulfill a personal order of one fresh coconut.
"Night life" in Bali is the question for many driest travelers who have just emerged from Bangkok after dark or Hong Kong's torrent of evening entertainment. Night falls early over e island's country towns and farm villages and among the Balinese 9 p.m. is late at night: however, the evenings of holy days, when temples hold their festivals, promise night long dramas of magic, romance plays and dance rituals-ending with good triumphing over evil in the first gray of dawn. For visitors, a respite on Sanur's coast is a pause from all the rush and traffic noise 'he world's cities. With no garish city light night Skies are magnificent, arid few place bring You closer to Bali's romance than a ca seashore lit by the torches of night fisherman scattered along the beach are seaside hotel and restaurants hosting the island's leading dance troupes for starlight performances. At brosial buffets of Indonesian dishes, gamelan music, and the swaying of graceful dance perfectly combine in special Bali Night dinner that capture the spirit of native festivity.
Many who truly enjoy being in Bali told wonder about a future where tourism will ha, a greater impact upon the island community The concern many visitors have to safeguard the unique arts and ceremonies is a sign respect to the people and a compliment their Culture. But just as Bali, seen and experienced today, is the accomplishment past generations, so the island's future ultimately lies with the Balinese themselves. T wish for unconditional preservation of the culture is to put it behind glass and to … Bali its identity as a key province in a developing nation.
Besides, the Balinese have a knack for mixing modernity with tradition. A fashionable, young man these days hires a car to kidnap his bride-a quicker arid more convenient means than carrying her off on his shoulders as was the old custom. Streets by night it Denpasar are now a jubilee of neon lights, yet on every busy intersection stands a statue of e demon-giant to ward off evil spirits who might cause accidents. Even far out in the country are touches of the modern world. Like a light bulb set on top of a temple shrine in a village without electricity. Why the bulb? The reason is simple, practical and typical: where function falls short, form takes over-in this case, the fine shape of glass serves as a good decoration.
In Bali, make no predictions. Each village has its own customs, each kingdom its own history, and every celebration its own style. Anything can happen and the surprises are always well worth it. You may journey to a distant.

BY : BALI JEGEG

Bali Monkey Dance

2010-03-27T03:01:00.000-07:00

Bali Dances - MONKEY dance is Traditional performed after sunset, this event employs a group of Many men who sit in five or six concentric circles by torchlight. in precise unison their bodies sway, circle, and bend as they thrust hands and emit cries, hisses, and an astonishing gamut or of simian sounds. the monkey dance dramatizes a well-known episode from the hindu epic, THE RAMAYANA: King Rama's wife, the lovely SINTA, has been abducted by wicked King RAHWANA. King RAMA slays adversary and retrieves SINTA.

Other Picture :

Post by : http://balibestjegeg.blogspot.com/

INTERNET ACCESS IN BALI

2010-03-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Bali Information -TELKOM is one of the international telephone call operator. Please use 01017 + country code + area code. International call charge to USA is Rp.3,100 per minute; to Australia is Rp. 3,500 per minute, to New Zealand is Rp. 4,980 per minute, to Europe from Rp.5,000 to Rp. 7,000 per minute. Long distance call to Jakarta is around 2,270 per minute, depends on time of call. For additional information, most hotels add a surcharge of 200% or more. Local calls cost Rupiah 180 per minute (most hotels charge Rupiah 1,000 and more).
Local Internet Access:
Several Indonesian service providers maintain local telephone access numbers in Bali. However, it is difficult for non-residents to open their own account. One reason is that the Indonesian ISPs are not interested in having clients for only one or two weeks, others are that their customer service staff does hardly speak any English, and all documentation including system configuration details is written in Bahasa Indonesia only.
Since 1999 TELKOM is also offering Internet access without any registration or contract. Just dial 080-989-999, key in the user name "telkomnet@instan" and the password "telkom" and you're on-line. Rate is Rp. 165 per minute. For further information visit the TELKOMNET web site or call 147. However, keep in mind that some hotels may charge 4,000 Rupiah per minute if you use this 080-number!
Other Local Providers:

TELKOM Speedy (http://www.telkom.net/pojok_telkomnet_speedy.php), YANTEL Teuku Umar No. 6, Denpasar, Bali. Telephone 228-999.
An end-to-end internet access by TELKOM based on ADSL technology at shared 384kbps. Registration fee Rp. 75,000; Personal account (promo) Rp. 200,000 for 1gb/mo; extra usage Rp. 500/mb (all charges are subject to 10% VAT)
XL Data Explor 3G (http://www.xl.co.id/3G/Paket_Data_Xplor_3G), XLCenter, Sunset Road, Denpasar, Bali. Telephone 766-123, email Business_Solutions@xl.co.id
High speed internet access with XL card up to 7.2Mbps. Data Package Rp. 279,000 for 1gb/month; extra usage Rp. 0.4/kb (all charges are subject to 10% VAT).
Indosat 3G Broadband (http://3g.indosat.com/about/tarif.php), Indosat, Jalan Raya Tuban, Tuban, Denpasar, Bali. Telephone 766-001, 764-007
High speed internet access up to 2.6Mbps. Data Package Rp. 350.000 for 2gb/mo, extra usage Rp. 0.5/kb (all charges are subject to 10% VAT).
WASANTARA NET (http://bali.wasantara.net.id/), Central Post Office, Jalan Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar, Bali. Telephone 224-755, Fax 232-753, E-mail: supervisor@denpasar.wasantara.net.id.
Personal account information: Registration fee Rp. 25,000; monthly fee Rp. 55,000 including 20 hours; extra hour Rp. 2,000.
INDOINTERNET (http://www.indo.net.id/), Jalan Dewi Sartika Blok IV, Komplek Duta Permai, Denpasar 80114, Bali. Telephone 240-770, 240-789, Fax 236-781. E-mail: dps.admin@indo.net.id.
Personal account information: Registration fee Rp. 55,000; monthly fee Rp. 143,000 including 15 hours, Rp. 253,000 including 100 hours; extra hour 3,300 Rupiah.
INDOSATnet (http://www.indosat.net.id/), Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai, Tuban, Bali. Telephone 766-001, Fax 767 001, E-mail: lodps@indosat.net.id.
Personal account information: Registration fee Rp. 45,000; monthly fee Rp. 60,500 for 20 Hours; Rp. 110,000 for 38 Hours. Extra usage fee Rp. 2,750 per hour. Unlimited access 2,500,000 Rupiah per month.

Some of the Many Places to Access the Internet (if you did not bring your own computer with you):

Bali@Cyber Cafe, (www.balicyber.net), 9 Kompleks Sriwijaya, Jl. Patih Jelantik, Kuta 80361, Bali. Telephone 761-326, 762-290 Fax 762-292. E-mail: hello@balicyber.net.
8 terminals with a satellite Internet connection in a large open restaurant; 6 are PC based Microsoft Windows XP systems, and 2 Apple Mac OS X systems. Color scanning & printing, CD-Rom burning and live video conferencing offered. You can also connect your own laptop to their wireless network. Color scanning & printing, CD-Rom burning and live video conferencing offered. You can also connect your own laptop to their wireless network. International & Asian menu, no air-conditioning. For fees please visit their web site.
Starbucks Coffee, (http://www.starbucks.com). Telephone 762143 (Kuta).
There are five Starbucks Coffee now i.e. in Discovery Kartika Plaza Jl. Kartika Plaza - Tuban, Hard Rock Hotel's arcade Jl. Raya Pantai Kuta, Jl. Raya Legian, Airport (no wi-fi yet) and Nusa Dua. Charge is Rp. 27,500 for 3 hours.
Tiara Group, Tiara Central Parkir in Jalan Raya Kuta; Tiara Dewata in Jalan Sudirman, Denpasar; Tiara Gatsu in Jalan Gatot Subroto, Denpasar. They provide wi-fi internet access in their food court for free.
Global Xtreme, (http://www.globalxtreme.net), Jalan Raya Krobokan No. 388X Kuta Bali Indonesia Telephone 736-811, Fax 736-833
Reguler charge Rp. 4,000 per hour and multimedia charge Rp. 15,000 per hour.
Roda Internet Cafe, Jalan Bisma 3, Ubud, a few meters off the main road. Telephone 973-325, Fax 976-582. E-mail: rodanet@denpasar.wasantara.net.id.
Cyber Spice, Jalan Binariya, Kalibukbuk, Lovina Beach, near the "big dolphin statue". Telephone (0362) 41-509, Fax (0362) 41-171. E-mail: spicedive@hotmail.com.
Visitors can use 10 PC's for e-mail and to surf the web for Rp. 18,000 per hour. Open from 8 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. daily.

Many restaurants and cafes are offering either free or paid wireless Internet access nowadays, e.g. Bali Bakery in Jalan Raya Kuta, Bali Deli, the Office in Central Parkir Kuta and many more. They usually display a banner in their entrance, just ask the waiter for the "password or key ".

Bali Hotels recomended

2010-03-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

Bali Hotels - is very famous island in the world, in BALI island there are many hotels from 1 star to 5 star hotels or other accommodation such as : Villas, Cottage, Home stay and many more, BALIBESTJEGEG try to give some recommendations hotel in BALI, as follow :

Bounty Hotel
Set in a lush tropical garden, the Bounty Hotel is Bali’s ideal resort. Situated only 15 minutes from Bali’s international airport, the Bounty Hotel is just a few steps away from the white sands and sunset of Kuta Beach and the famous shopping and entertainment district of Legian street.
Mercure Kuta Bali
Mercure Kuta Bali hotel managed by Accor is located at the heart of Kuta. A famous area which is a surfer paradise, and a location for night life entertainment and shopping center. Mercure Kuta Bali is right across Kuta Beach, and side by side with Hard Rock Cafe Bali.
White Rose Hotel Legian
White Rose Hotel was built on 1,6 hectares land, right in the vibrant heart of the famous Legian-Kuta. The 144 rooms stand with the state of grace in serenity and harmony.
Bali Mandira Hotel
Bali the island of the Gods, with a colorful culture and religion unique to this world - famous for its endless stretch of beach, shining sun, and luscious scenery with its magnificant sunsets. These all adds to the legendary beauty of Bali.
Legian Paradiso Hotel
The Legian Paradiso is situated in the heart of Bali's shopping and nighlife district, yet is set in tranquil, landscaped gardens away from busy streets. Centrally located, the property offers an ideal base for visitors wishing to explore Bali
Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa
Dive into fabled Balinese culture and unique island discoveries from your luxurious Bali resort outpost on the island's most sought-after stretch of shore.
Kokonut Suites
Kokonut Suites offer a unique opportunity for Foreigners to legally own a luxurious and spacious suite in fashionable Seminyak. Upon 5000 m2 of tranquil land, designed in modern tropical Balinese style with up to date facilities.
Bali Rani Hotel
Bali Rani Hotel, Combining the proud and mystical culture of the Balinese and its famous hospitality with modern resort comfort, Hotel Bali Rani is the ideal place from where to explore this enchanting island.
Rama Beach Resort & Villa
It's the thing you'll notice about the Rama Beach resort & Spa. The natural spirit of friendly Indonesian hospitality. Warm and captivating.
Santika Beach Hotel
Imagine the glowing elegance of classical and etnic a perfect mixture and modern living, create a magical touch of our hospitality we present an experience that will touch your senses.
The Vira Bali
The Vira Bali nestled on Jalan Dewi Sartika, in tranquil of South Kuta. The Vira Bali is located within 5 minutes drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, the perfect base to start your journey to explore the famous Balinese countryside.
Aston Bali Resort and Spa
Aston Bali Resort and Spa, a five star property is situated in Tanjung Benoa, formerly known as a major traditional fishing village of southern Bali. Unique place which offers a closer relationship with the real charm and natural beauty of Bali and its people. Two kilometers south of Nusa Dua.
Bali Khama
Bali Khama is a contemporary-style beach resort, which is located beside the tranquil shores of Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua
Conrad Bali Resort and Spa
Conrad Bali Resort and Spa secluded on 6.8 acres of tropical gardens and lagoons with cascading waterfalls, the Conrad Bali Resort and Spa is complete with a beautiful white-sand 350 meter beach.
Grand Hyatt Bali
Grand Hyatt Bali was conceived as a "water-palace", with lakes, landscaped gardens and five swimming pools surrounding low-rise Balinese style buildings.
Melia Bali
Meliá Bali is lush tropical gardens with an enormous lagoon swimming pool gently winding throughout. Only a 15 minutes drive away from Ngurah Rai international airport to Meliá Bali the spectacular Nusa Dua beachfront enclave.
Novotel Nusa Dua Bali
Located in the heart of the gated resort community of Nusa Dua, surrounded by an 18-hole golf course, this beautiful haven is the perfect place to relax and to enjoy life with your family.
Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa
Located minutes away from the Ngurah Rai International Airport on the sun-drenched shores of beautiful Nusa Dua, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa’s 23 acres of sculpted gardens provide an oasis of space and tranquility in the heart of exotic Bali.
Bali Intercontinental
Come and stay with us at the Bali InterContinental on an enchanted isle suspended between heaven and earth... Discover a superb resort hotel fronting 500 metres of a secluded, dazzling white-sand beach that shelves down to the azure blue water.
Best Western New Kuta Condotel
Best Western New Kuta Condotel is strategically located in a prime location overlooking the New Kuta Beach worshiped by surfers. Just few meters from famous surfer beach of Dreamland beach and within golf course of New Kuta Golf.
Keraton Jimbaran Resort and Spa
Keraton Jimbaran Resort is Boutique style resort located at Jimbaran bay with beautiful secluded white sandy beach. The uniqueness of the property is design concept that features Bali style palace - be it the buildings, tropical Balinese garden landscape, and ambiance.
Le Grande Pecatu Bali
It's located 15.5 km from Ngurah Rai International Airport, only steps away from Dreamland beach and 30 km from Kuta beach
Mercure Resort Sanur Bali
Ttucked into a peaceful corner of Sanur.with access to a white sand, tree lined beach where you can swim in the clear blue sea protected by a natural coral reef. Stone pathways will lead you around the 5-hectare tropical garden with its fragrant trees, towering palms and 100 species of flora.
Parigata Resort & Spa
Parigata Resort and Spa is nestled amidst a lush tropical garden in the heart in Sanur beach area Bali, the resort is designed in the distinctive and safety style of a contemporary Balinese private estate.
Sri Phala Resort and Villa
Sri Phala Resort is a tastefully furnished hotel in quite part of Sanur offering an intimate setting and the personalized service. A mere minutes walk will bring you to white sand beaches and calm warm water protected by natural coral reef and a long beach.
Tandjung Sari Hotel
Tandjung Sari is a cluster of bungalows conceived and set out in traditional Balinese style on the elegant Sanur Beach, Its twenty six individual bungalows of different sizes are built with local material by Balinese craftsmen using centuries-old architectural techniques.
Beji Ubud Resort
The Beji Ubud Resort is a small boutique resort in Ubud with quiet atmosphere, a place where you can totally relax. Yet it is still closed to stylish shops and restaurants.
Hotel Tjampuhan Ubud Bali
The heart of the Tjampuhan Hotel is the former home of Walter Spies, offering comfort and seclusion with excellent facilities.
Kamandalu Resort
Kamandalu Resort and Spa has a mission to deliver to its guests a simple yet meaningful place where visitors and guests are able to take a break, away from the hectic daily life and experience true inner peace…it's the elixir of life.
Nandini Resort and Spa Ubud
At the heart of this tropical island of paradise is the remarkable town of Ubud, which for more than a century, has been the island's cultural center for art, music and dance. Nesting north of this extraordinary local craft community lies the exclusive Nandini Bali Resort & Spa Ubud.
The Pita Maha Ubud
The Pita Maha Resort and Spa is a mountain retreat laid in the side of Tjampuhan valley, Ubud which benefits from the beautiful River Oos scenery. From the lobby and restaurant, the natural beauty of the Ubud foothills is immediately apparent.
The Royal Pita Maha
The Royal Pita Maha is a relaxation resort, located in Kedewatan village, west part of Ubud. This private retreat has stunning scenery by overlooking valley landscape that descends down to the Ayung River.

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Baris DANCE

2010-03-23T03:02:00.000-07:00

Bali Dances - Baris Dance or Tarian Baris Just as the Legong is essentially feminine, Baris a traditional war dance, glories the man hood of the triumphant Balinese warrior. The word baris means a line or file, in the sense of a line of soldiers, and referred to the warriors who fought for the kings of Bali. There are numerous kinds of Baris, distinguished by the arms borne by the dancers spear, lance, kris, bow, sword, or shield. Originally the dance was a religious ritual: the dedication of warriors and their weapons during a temple feast from the ritualistic Baris Gede grew the dramatic Baris, a story prefaced by a series of exhibition solo dances which showed a warrior's powers in battle. It is from these that the present Baris solo takes its form.
The Balinese say a good Baris dancer rare. He must undergo grouse training to obtain the skill and flexibility that typifies the chivalrous elegance of the male, A Baris dancer must be supple, able to sit on his heels, keeping his knees spread wide apart in line with his body. His face must be mobile to convey fierceness, disdain, pride, acute alertness, and, equally important, compassion and regret-the characteristics of a warlike noble.

The Baris is accompanied by GAMELAN gong. The relation between dancer and orchestra is an intimate one, since the gamelan must be entirely attuned to the changing moods of the warrior's imperious will. The dancer enters the stage-a field of action where he will display the sublimity of his commanding presence. At first, his movements are studied and careful, as if lie were seeking out foes in an unfamiliar place; when he reaches the middle of the stage, hesitation gives way to self-assurance. He rises on his toes to his full stature, his body motionless with quivering limbs. In a flash, he whirls on one leg. His feet patter the ground to the tumult, of the gamelan, and his face renders the storm of passions of a quick tempered warrior. Such a spectacular show of style, mental control and physical dexterity would intimidate any enemy worthy of the Baris.

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Bali Dance - OLEG TAMULILINGAN

2010-03-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Bali dances - Modern dance choreographed by the late Mario in 1952, Oleg Tambulilingan has become a popular addition to the repertoire of dances included in a Legong performance. Originally, it was danced by only one girl and called Oleg, a general term meaning the swaying of a dancer. Later, a male part was added to make it a duet, and the dance gained a new theme depicting two bumblebees (tambulilingan) flirting in a garden. The female enters first. In light, quick steps she circles the stage, fluttering the long silk scarf’s that hang from her sides. If the dancer is a good one, she conveys all the beguiling qualities of a young coquette. At one moment, she is moody and temperamental, her eyes narrow and her lips spread slightly into a seductive smile. The next, she is scornful, she turns, snubbing her viewers- only to return as the most feminine creature with a whimsical air of innocence.

The female's solo is a strenuous one. Her Movements must flow from subdued and delicate to tense gestures of haughtiness and disdain. At one point, she dances in the seated Position. The sensuous sweeps of her hands, the tremble of her fingers and the fluctuating Moods that pass and change, incarnate the idea Of Woman. The male enters unnoticed, eyes her, and cocks his head with a half-smile of affirmation. He moves forward to make a conquest. At first, they shy away from the moment of contact, yet woo with a display of their graces pretending to be unaware of the other's fascinating presence. As the circle of flight smaller, the flirting increases. The female him, he moves forward, she draws backed surprise, yet is secretly pleased with her success. They come together, bringing 'faces close in an affectionate caress, then swirl apart in retreat, only to return to one an other again. In the end, they fall in love and leave together.

Post By : http://balibestjegeg.blogspot.com

Bali Dance - Arja Performance Opera

2010-03-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

Bali Dances - A good performance of the folk opera Arja is a social event for the entire village. Shortly before midnight, everyone gathers around an open stage to watch a long love story unfold and conclude with the dawn. Sweethearts flirt unnoticed in the back rows. Young men attentively eye their favorite actress, a woman either charmingly beautiful or extremely witty.
Arja developed around 1880 as an all male dance drama out of the traditional Gambuh; female roles were later added. With more developed plots than other plays, Arja stories are mostly drawn from classical romances of the kingdoms of medieval East Java-Kediri, Singasari and Majapahit. The leading characters of the opera are members of the court and move in the highly stylized dance of the nobility, while they sing a low, wailing cadence in poetical Balinese. As usual, their staid countenance is complemented by the unruly knockabout of the clowns.

Arja plays are packed with sentimentality and melodrama. Like so many great love stories, there is invariably some tragic issue at stake causing the lovers' union to be near impossible their families prohibit the marriage, a jealous rival makes war on the hero, the princess is captured, the hero falls in love with another woman while under a magic spell. There are always long scenes of heart rending misery. Fallen from grace, the prince may be misunderstood, beaten, kicked and thrown out of his house. His tragic song reaches the peak of suffering, while angry jeers of the healthy and well-off continue their abuse. After interminable episodes of intrigue and misfortune, the lovers are at last reunited. But by this time, excitement has fled with sorrow, and Arja quickly comes to a close.
Although, a favorite among the villagers, Arja is difficult to follow for those who cannot understand the clowns' translations. Now a days Arja has been replaced as the most popular dance-drama by the drama gong, created in the late '60s, in which acting is even more preponderant, music and dance less so.

The Shadow World (Bali shadow puppet performance)

2010-03-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Bali Information - The Wayang Kulit shadow play is a dramatic world in itself. Described as "society's teacher", the play is essential to Balinese education since its enormous repertoire of episodes covers all aspects of life, and shows, in silhouettes, the exemplary actions of mankind. Wayang Kulit was popular at the court of King Airlangga of East Java in the 11 th century, though it is mentioned in a Balinese inscription more than a century before that. Because of the genre's great antiquity and role, too, as a spiritual guide to the people, the shadow play is magically powerful to a high degree and is most frequently performed during religious occasions.

The dalang, the mystic storyteller of Wayang Kulit, is the true hero of the shadow theatre.His talents are far more encompassing than those of a puppeteer in the Western sense. Asidefrom directing the drama, he must have exceptional physical endurance to remain seated,continuously chanting for a time span up to six hours. He is both the conductor of the Gender Wayang orchestra (the ensemble of four xylophones which accompanies the play) and an experienced musician able to play each instrument he leads. He is a scholar of literature who has spent long years mastering the difficult Kawi language. He is an orator with a prodigious memory, enabling him to sing, in dozens of different poetical measures, episodes from the long Kawi versions of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and occasionally from other stories as well. He is also an ordained priest possessing powers to ward off evil influences, make offerings, protect and s- bless the people. This role is prominent in the daytime Wayang when the screen is replaced by a thread tied between branches of the holy dapdap tree. And he is a philosopher who presents a moral truth: good ultimately triumphs and evil meets its ruin. At night the screen is lit by a primitive oil lamp. (Fire is always used because the flickering effect of the torch enhances the motion the puppets.) To either side of the dalang his assistants who hand him the puppets during the performance. As is the custom, the dalang, begins by thrice striking the wooden box containing the puppets, in order to "wake the up". He then hands each puppet to his assistants who put them in their proper place sticking their supports in the soft trunk of the banana tree at the foot of the screen.

The Wayang Kulit stage is a symbolic mici… cosm representing a spiritual world. The screen denotes the sky; the banana trunk, the earth; the lamp, the sun; the puppists, human beings; and the dalang, the deity that conducts them. To the right of the dalang are puppets represe…ing good characters. Set to his left are the antagonists. To indicate the various episodes the story and to mark the beginning and end. Puppet in the shape of a leaf, which represents the tree of life, is placed in the center of the screen.When everything is ready and the offering. Have been made, the dalang begins to chart accenting the rhythm by tapping a horn he holds between his toes against the wooden box. This tapping also emphasizes the action and conducts the Gender Wayang orchestr, One by one, the puppets of the story are introduce; first, an unfocused shade on the screen then as finely delineated shadows puncture with small holes that define their identities through appearance and dress. Like Arja, the characters of courtly stature speak in Kawi while the clowns interpret the story in Balinese AS usual; the clowns provide the most delightful entertainment. There are always four clowns in Wayang Kulit. Tualen and his son Mordah: are on the side of truth and righteousness. Delem and his sidekick Sangut are allies of the wicked. The clowns flash across the screen bobbing each other on the head, pushing and biting, and chasing one another. All the while they exchange crass insults in such rapid succession and with such authenticity that one, begins to wonder if the dalang isn't a ventriloquist as well.

Story By BALIBESTJEGEG

Wayang Gallery

SANUR, KUTA, and THE SOUTH AREA

2010-03-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

Bali Information - It is curious that the two famous tourist centers of Bali are at Kuta and Sanur, villages on opposite sides of the narrow isthmus to Bukit. No longer typical Balinese villages, they have changed much as tourism developed and are now satellite suburbs of Denpasar, connected by a steady stream of bemos. Many people in this area work away from their home villages. A government decision to check the tourist influx has restricted hotel centers to the far south Denpasar, Kuta and Sanur-with any further development to take place at Nusa Dua, on the east coast of Bukit peninsula.
Throughout the island's history this same area (together with the northern villages around Singaraja) has been the first to welcome or defend against outsiders. In popular belief, the demon Jero Gede Macaling annually haunts the coasts of South Bali from his home in Nusa Penida. At Belanjong, beyond the Hotel Sanur, an inscription engraved on a low pillar commemorates the victories of Sri Kesari Warmadewa over his enemies in A.D. 913.
In later times, famous priests from Java trod these shores. The three best-known temples of the area-Pura Sakenan, Pura Luhur Ulu Watu, and Pura Petitenget at kerobokan are associated with the 16th century priest Nirartha.
The first European to settle in South Balis a Danish trader, Mads Lange, who built
Copra factory in Kuta around 1830. By befriending kings of these regions, he persuaded squabbling rajas to give up their quarreling to some degree and unite against pressures from North Bali. Partially successful at this quest for continuing Bali’s independence, Mads Lange was beloved by rulers and detested by others. He was poised by political enemies in the late 19th century; his grave may be seen at Kuta
In 1906 the Dutch invaded the south at the opening clash taking place on the beachs the Dutch militia landed. Battlles waged all along the road from Sanur to Denpasar. The three ruling princes of the Kingdom of Badung climaxed their defense and defiance in battles unto death, puputan. Left in control. After the upheavals Japanese occupation and. Independence, the Dutch in 1946 again landed troops at Sanur.

Sanur has been long famous for its painters and orchestras. You need only walk a short distance inland to hear village music clubs engaged in their nightly practice sessions. Often, in the evening, streets are packed with spectators awaiting local theatre performances. Sanur has always been a great center of the Arja, a traditional opera of courtly romances, and to this day is an avid patron of the Wayang Kulit puppet play.
A great sport of the children of Serangan, "The Turtle Island", is to fly huge kites, some 8 meters long, by hoisting them into the air from outrigger canoes. In fact, kite flying is such popular pastimes here that officials at Bali International Airport feared the kites may be distracting to landing aircraft and suggested everyone shorten their strings. Sanur, Serangan, and Kuta are close by. The journey to the sea temple of Ulu Watu is an enjoyable trip. 
SANUR. Save for a few scattered Villas own by lords and heiresses, during the thir.. sanur beach was left in seclusion. Pand… Art Gallery was then an aquarium and coffee shop. Tandjung 'Sar'i was a solitary temple the cape, and Hotel Bali Beach had neared its conception. The only survive home of those times is that of the Belgian painter              Le Mayeur, who moved to Bali 1932 and lived there for 26 years. The hot with its statued gardens, luxuriant gold crimson carvings, and Le Mayeur's c paintings is now cared for by his widow Polok, once a renowned Legong dancer famed beauty the ideal Balinese of his paintings. On his death Le Mayeur willed the house to the Indonesian Government. A guide is available. The house is situated close the Hotel Bali Beach.
By the fifties, the first cluster of bungalow was built as a small hotel the villagers w… amazed that someone would want to see by the ocean, as beaches were tradition, shunned by the Balinese because of spi… Yet Sanur continued to attract international elite and today is a prominent resort area the Far East. The Hotel Bali Beach, a Soekarno, era project, was opened in 1966. When the Hotel Bali Beach expanded into a n… wing and bungalows (called the Bali Seas Cottage), almost 30 hotels opened their do up and down the beach.
When the Hotal Bali Beach first open, and even to this day, it was a source wonder to the Balinese. They came from over the island to set eyes upon what, to modern world, were everyday matters sk… high rooms, running water, electricity a elevators. The hotel's Cultural Department, still conducts guided tours for groups Balinese who come to the hotel to observer Western ways close up.
After the Hotel Bali Beach, the Bali Hyat and Sanur Beach are the next largest hotel the building boom reached its peak for the PATA Conference early in 1974, when the hotels of Sanur alone provided about 1,60 rooms. A recent, wise government regulation that forbids buildings taller than a coconut palm has allowed Sanur to retain much of …village character. The luxuriant growth vegetation soon covers building scars; and moss transforms a new stone wall. The regi…lation encouraged the growth of bungalow ustyle hotels based on the Balinese norm of many small buildings within the one-house compound. The hotels of Sanur are all comfortable and elegant. The bungalow-style hotels are popular with tourists who enjoy the peace of garden settings.
Built along the beach, the hotels of Sanur are ideal in the early morning, for the coast there faces the sun rising over Nusa Penida. On the clearest days, Lombok's Rinjani volcano floats distantly above its collar of clouds, with Bali's own Gunung Agung closer by. Elegant triangular sails of fishing prahus glide on the calm sea. These boats are called jukungs and there are many for hire for trips along the shore. At low tide, the waters recede, leaving great swathes of sand and coral that stretch for hundreds of meters to the reef. It is then that villagers wander among tide pools to collect coral, which they burn nearby to make building lime. At night, fishermen wade by torchlight to catch shrimp and small bait. Sanur is famous, too, for its magic, because of the many Brahmana families that live there and its proximity to the sea. Its farmers are reputed to grow the most delicious rice in Bali, formerly reserved for the tables of kings.
It is easy to spend a day around Sanur: lazing by the pool-side, walking on the beach, or following paths through the surrounding hamlets, rice fields and coconut groves. You can take a look at the coral pyramid in the sea temple or the old pillar inscription at Belanjong.
In the evening the choices are several. Relax on the beach (especially around the full moon) or on the porch of a bungalow. Wander down to the beach market and try the local food stalls. Watch a dance or drama (your hotel can tell you when they are on). Or if it is action you are looking for, there are night clubs at the three largest hotels the Bali Beach, Hyatt and Sanur Beach.
KUTA. Sunsets make memories at Kuta beach, one of the island's loveliest seacoasts. Skylight descends in warm waves of color, leaving shy stars behind. Village fishermen often set off at dusk, the sails of their prahus shrinking to frail silhouettes that drift across a wide, red sun. They vanish into the night, lulled by the rhythm of waves breaking on a beach longer than vision can discern. They return when the young warmth of early morning lights up the slopes of Mt. Batukau and, on clear days, the mountains on the eastern tip of Java.
Save for the fishermen, the villagers usually busy themselves at sundown and rarely wander down to the beach to sit quietly watching the sun set into the sea. Mads Lange, South Bali's first European resident, must have enjoyed it though. An Englishwoman, Ketut Tantri, who lived through the early years of the revolution in Bali and Java, built a house at Kuta beach. The Kuta Beach Hotel, built on the same site, was opened in 1959, by guests were few.
Only in the late sixties did young traveler at home riding the waves of Hawaii and California and elsewhere, begin to frequent ti beach. At that time, almost everyone stayed in Denpasar, coming to Kuta for a swi… the sunset, a kris dance and sometimes night on the beach.
The villager’s of Kuta were farmers and fishermen and metal-smiths, and they were rather surprised at the great interest the, beach received. But like many Balinese, the saw there was a profit to be made. For a sm… charge they invited the travelers into the homes. Home-stays were set up everywhere by 1975 reaching about 250. These are clean simple and cheap accommodation. A number of new, larger hotels, such as the Kartika Plaza Bali, have also sprung up. Restaurant opened serving many kinds of westernize dishes and "soul" food. Tourist activity spread north up the coast to Legian, on the road to Krobokan.
As the size and fame of Kuta spread, the beach became popular with the residents of Denpasar. Indonesians from the large cities of Java came by the tour load. Dozens of art shops opened along the main streets. On the beach, girls and women carry bundles of sarongs and batiks on their heads, looking for customers. Young boys sell dance tickets, and young girls sell cold drinks. At sunset, especially on weekends, the beach is a lively place, and the roads are full of cars and motorbikes,
It is said the goddess of the sea claims at least one victim each year at Kuta beach, so be careful at times there is a strong under tow. Mostly, however,it is fine swimming and the body surfing is great. Kuta and Ulu Watu have waves as fine as anywhere in the world for board surfing. Boards are for hire. To help along the young Balinese who were eager to try, the Surfing Club of Bali was set up by an Hawaiian in residence. A lifesaving club, with its new large clubhouse, patrols one section of the beach.
You do not need to get wet to enjoy Kuta, though it is nicer. The water stays warm late until after dusk, like its saffron reflections; and the smooth descent of the shore suits anything from building sandcastles to taking long walks. Local beachcombers are on hand gathering fans of white coral and stringing cowries into long necklaces to sell. The Balinese sometimes come from near and far to perform rituals by the ocean.
Kuta is a quiet place at night. 'The island's nightclubs are all at Sanur. But almost every evening there is a performance of Balinese dance somewhere in Kuta, with either local dancers or groups invited from outside. To know what is on, just ask around when you arrive. Kuta is always happening.
SERANGAN. A pleasant sail by prahu carries you to Serangan, an island just off the coasf south of Sanur, nicknamed "The Turtle Island" for the large sea turtles caught there and fattened on sea grass until they are sold as the speciality of village feasts. At low tide it is possible to walk there. The island's sea temple, Pura Sakenan, is held sacred by all the people of South Bali, especially those of the Denpasar and Mengwi areas. It is associated with the 16th century priest Nirartha. Within both this temple and the nearby Pura Susunan Wadon are slender pyramidal shrines called prasada or candi, which are rare in Bali. Over a three day period, once every six months, thousands of devotees cross over the sandbanks. Towering giant puppets Barong Landung  are carried by canoe in a water procession from the mainland. Gamelans ring throughout the day, amidst the steady flow of women bearing offerings to be blessed.

ULU WATU. Connected to the mainland be low, narrow isthmus, the limestone tables of Bukit peninsula, at 200 meters above sea level, is in striking contrast to the lush …mainland. Cacti grow upon this arid la… Some parts are used for grazing cattle. A g…surfaced road meanders across Bukit to western tip, where rocky precipices drop most one hundred meters to the ocean. Small sea temple of Pura Luhur Ulu Watu balances picturesquely on the cliff's ed... Perhaps dating from the 10th century …one of the six prominent temples revered, all Balinese. Honoring the protective sp… of the sea, the temple has an unusual arc… gateway capped by a Kala head and flan by fine statues of Ganesa. At the end of life, the priest Nirariha chose this spot achieve moksa, deliverance from this Vantage spots on, the Bukit road afford visit, of the heartland of Bali rising to the peaks, distant volcanoes.

BALI COCK FIGHTING (TAJEN)

2010-02-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

Bali Unique - Can be seen in almost any village or town usually in the morning. You will hear of them. You only see men at the cockfights. Though women may enter the tourist ones. Fighting cocks are given the greatest loving care. Being massaged, bathed and trained every day. Their feathers,combs,earlobes, and wattles are trimmed so that none protrude to provide a beak-hold for the opponent bird. The owner concentrates on its diet so that it becomes lean and little subject to fatigue. Pet,mascot,child,dreams,income, the bird is always carried with him around his courtyard and to the warung or banjar clubhouse, taking up as much attention as new wife. Their bell shaped cages are placed at roadsides so that the cocks may be amused by the passerby and not get lonely. A village will put up us much us a millions rupiahs on their favorite cock. Two cock eager to fight must be decided upon then equal or unequal bets are placed. The fight is blessed. Evil spirits receive an offering which hopefully satisfies them and also assures a good harvest. Brokers squabble. The birds are teased by their handlers, tails pulled, feathers ruffled, and palm wine sometimes spit down their throats, all to arouse the fighting spirit. Razors are strappedto their spurs. The fight is often finished in 15 – 20 seconds. Amazing ferocity even when crippled with wounds. If they both refuse to continue the fight they are put inside an upside down basket, then one almost always kills the other. Often a badly wounded cock can be revived by artificial respiration or by special massages, then fights again, and wins. The devotion, gesticulating and hysteria of the audience are fascinating to watch.

Cock Fighting

Cockfighting is a very old traditional in Bali, and before the Indonesian government banned gambling in 1981 the sport attracted huge crowds to the public wantilan arenas. Gambling was a large part of the attraction, but not the only one. Cockfights have a ceremonial purpose, and the government's ban includes an exemption - three rounds of a cockfight may be carried out for the purpose of ritually spilling blood, an important appeasement of the demons that accompanies Hindu temple festivals.

A cockfight is not just allowed at every Balinese temple festival or religious ceremony, it is required. The blood is an offering to the hungry forces of evil, the butas and kalas. Since religious ceremonies are almost daily affairs all over Bali, and since Bali is a rather small island, one still has an excellent chance of seeing a cockfight, if he arrives at the right place and at the right time.

The Balinese call the cockfights for ritual purification tabuh rah, "pouring blood." Of course it is illegal to bet on these three matches. But the law is not easy to enforce, given the ancient traditions of betting on cocks and the predilection of the population for this sort of thing, plus the remoteness of many of the ceremonies and accompanying cockfights. Theoretically the cockfights at temples, called tajen telung seet, consist of only three matches - telung means "three." This rule was (and still is) generally ignored. The Balinese can't resist continuing, often until sunset.

Cockfights used to be held on non-religious occasions. Sometimes a village might need money to renovate a temple or improve a public building. It could make quite a bit of money by staging a cockfight, because the house took a cut of the betting pot - often as much as 25 percent. The biggest non-religious cockfights in Bali were held three days a week at a public arena in downtown Denpasar. The gambling there was intense and serious, and amateurs knew they had best away. Permission for a village to hold a cockfight had to be granted by the police. But the big, public cockfights are permanently gone.

There is no point in worrying or preaching about the blood and guts aspect of cockfighting. Although such activities may shock our sensibilities, there is never any sense of guilt among the Balinese about this, or any nation of such treatment being "inhumane." The Balinese are not known for spoiling their animals except, perhaps, their cows and water buffalo's. To them, the death of a chicken in the cockfight arena is in no way different from its demise under the knife in the kitchen.

The cockfight itself, called tajen, meklencan, or ngadu, is only part of the scene. Everywhere you go you see men handling their siap, the fighting cocks. The birds are fondled, massaged, plucked, bathed, deloused, and fed the choicest mixtures of corn, rice, egg, and proprietary strength-building ingredients. It is said that a mixture of chopped grilled meat and jack-fruit leaves thickens the blood and prevents serious bleeding when injury results in the fight. No child is as spoiled as a fighting cock. Whenever two or more cock owners gather there are important mock fights in which the birds are released to confront each other. But no blades are used on their legs, and no injury result. A common late afternoon scene in any village is a group of squatting men, chatting with each other, and playing with each other's animals. In this idle pastime, megecel, the men ruffle the feathers, pull the bills and combs, feel and press the bird's muscles, and frequently hand each other the cocks they are handling. This may go on for hours on end, and the scene is endlessly repeated in village after village. It goes on even today.

No women are ever involved in any aspect of cock handling or fighting. Balinese society in Volvos no sex discrimination in daily activities, although there are some jobs that are basically for women, and others for men. There are, however, no prohibitions against men making offerings or women hoeing rice fields. Women just don't go to cockfights and have nothing to do with husbanding cocks.

Every road is lined with rows of bamboo cock cages, guungan siap, which are shifted regularly to give their inhabitants the proper balance of light and shade. The cages are placed near the roads to accustom the animals to noise, people, and activity. This way, when put into action in the arena, they will not shy from the spectators or run away. Hanging on the outside of the cage is a coconut shell dish, with which the bird is watered and fed his special mixture. The going price for young, untried cock was about Rp.7, 000 to Rp.10, 000 in 1980. The offspring of a good bloodline, like the offspring of a good horse, are highly prized and considerably more expensive. Cocks are generally not fought until they reach a year and a half old, and a cock is considered to be at his fighting peak at three years. The animals can live seven years, but occupational hazards almost always prevent this.

As with many other Balinese rituals, the lore and law of cockfighting is written in sacred palm leaf books called lontars. The writings are unbelievably intricate and detailed. There is a mind-boggling classification of cocks by color, shape, configuration, neck ruff, and other characteristics. Certain colors of cocks should fight cocks of other colors only during specific phases of the moon, on specific days, at specific times of day, from specific directions in the ring - and so on. This is the subject of endless discussions when men exercise their birds in the cool of the evening.

The larger temples generally have a permanent cockfight arena, a wantilan, which is outside the temple proper, but near its entrance. It may or may not have a roof. The arena itself is about 15 meters square, enclosed almost completely by tiered seats. At the smaller temples, an area for the fights is roped off nearby and rows of benches set up just outside the "ring." There is often a huge banyan tree nearby for the little boys to climb and from which they get a good view.

Most cockfights begin in the afternoon. Only the larger temples have morning stars. But people begin to collect long before starting time. The pushcart vendors sell their hot noodle snacks. Ladies set up stands and sell rice cakes, sate, fruit, and shaved ice with sweet, brightly colored syrups. Men play cards and shoot dice. Today, vendors hawk plastic buckets, photographs, calendars, stuffed animals, and squeaky whistles for kids. You can tell long before you arrive that a cockfight is being held. There are huge jams of bicycles, motorbikes, pedestrians, pushcarts, and various forms of public transportation. Getting there early is important, because there is never enough room, and once the fights have begun the crowd is impenetrable, even in the biggest wantilans. At the larger fights a small admission is charged, perhaps Rp.100 to Rp.200.

The cocks are brought to the arena in small, flexible bamboo cages, called kere or kisa, their fluffy tails protrude and it is impossible for the birds to move around. The cages are lined up around the edge of the arena, inside the barricade, and their handlers' squat behind them. It is a noisy affair, with the crowing of the cocks, the cries of the food vendors, and the raucous laughter and chatter of the crowd.

At the appointed hour a white-clad pemangku, a lay priest, advances to the center of the arena and presents offerings on the ground to the butas and kalas, chanting over them, ringing his bell over them, and finally pouring rice wine on the ground. Then he makes similar offerings to the gods in a shrine built up off the ground at a corner of the arena. Blood is on the way. Although the actual fighting is still a long way off, now the actions begin.

The men who handle the cocks before and during the fights are not the owners. They are professional handlers, juru kembar, hired by the owners to manage the animals. A skillful handler is of great importance to an owner. The winning cock is the one that last manages to stay on its feet, even if it is mortally wounded and drops dead seconds later. A good juru kembar has large bag of tricks to revive a seemingly lifeless cock and instill enough spirit in him to return to the fray. He plucks, massages, and ruffles the feathers. He has salved and medicines. He may breathe on the cock's mouth, or even put the cock's whole head inside his mouth - anything to enable the wounded bird to get in there and land one more blow. One good stab is often all it takes to turn an apparent winner into a future feather duster - the fate of losing cocks. Sometimes, if the handler is a gambler himself, he may seek out owners of cocks that he thinks he can make win.

After the pemangku has finished his prayers, a dozen or so their handlers bring out cocks into the arena. Usually a miscellaneous crowd of bystanders collects too. The handlers are seeking opponents. After much wandering around and talking, quite time-consuming, a potential opponent is usually found. The two handlers' squat down, face each other and, still firmly holding their birds, allow the cocks to glare at each other and get in a peck or two. Ruffs flare, and the animals get very excited. Then the handler's exchange birds by simultaneously handing the bird with the right hand and receiving the other with the left. Their opponent's muscles are felt and its strength tested. When a match and the amount of the bet are agreed upon, the handlers signal the owners who are seated in the audience. Owners may veto the match, but they usually abide by the decisions of the handlers. Three or four such pairings constitute one set of matches, called mbakan.

The next step is to affix the blade, the taji, to the cock's leg. The person who does this is usually a specialist, a pemasang taji, or pekembar. It is the taji that gives the cockfight its name - tajen. A taji is a tiny, razor-sharp dagger; 11-15 centimeters (4-6 in.) from tip to tip. The blade is thin, and diamond-shaped in cross section, and terminates in an unsharpened, roundish handle, which is attached to the bird's leg. There are almost as many stories and as much lore about taji as about the powerful kris dagger. Menstruating woman may not look upon them or touch them. They may only be sharpened at the dark of the moon. They must be forged with charcoal from a tree that has been struck by lightning - and some say they may forge only when there is lightning going on outside. A member of a family in which there has been a recent death must not touch them. The prohibitions and lore are endless, and endlessly variable. A good taji may cost up to Rp 10,000 (in 1990, Rp 20,000). There are usually 10 or 15 pemasang taji around to be hired for Rp 500 or so to affix the blades. Sometimes the handler has his own taji. They are carried in a little wooden or leather wallet, called a kupak, which contains half a dozen or so different sixes of the little knives.

A single blade is attached, normally to the left leg, by wrapping twine around the leg and handle of the taji. This is an extremely important part of preparation. If a blade is improperly fastened, the cock will be at a great disadvantage. If the bird is small, the taji is attached to the outside of the leg; if large, to the inside. The angle of the taji is also critical. A good pemasang taji is very important. Sometimes, when one cock clearly outweighs the other, the heavier one is handicapped by modifying the attachment of the blade. But this is never done unless both owners agree. While the blade is being attached, the assistant, the saya taji, holds the cock. A firm grip is important. The blade is very sharp. And if the bird gets loss, the handler or a spectator could be critically injured.

When the cocks for the first set of matches are ready, the arena clears out, and the first match, sebet begins. The handlers of the first two cocks meet, with their birds, in the center of the arena and give the pot for the central bet, the toh dalam, to one of the referees, the saya. The wager was agreed upon when the match was made a few minutes earlier. It is always even money - no odds. If necessary, as indicated above, the birds are handicapped with the taji. The money is provided by the owners, who usually get contributions from family, friends, and backers in the crowd. This bet may be considerable. Even at the small matches, a central bet of Rp 100,000 is not unusual. And at the really big cockfights as much as Rp 1 million (U.S. $600) is often bet. Considering that the 1981 per capital income in Indonesia was U.S. $415, this represents a sizeable risk.

There are always several referees in the arena. But the chief judge, the juru dalem, is the man in charge. A casual visitor might think the timing official is most important, because he is almost visible. But the Balinese know who the juru dalem is. He must be a man of impeccable honesty and reputation, and he must have no relationship to or interest in any of the owners, handlers, or cocks. His word is undisputed law in the arena. If he is tainted in any way, people will not fight their cocks under him.

The juru dalem signals the amount of the bet to the timekeeper at his table overlooking the arena. This is of interest to all, because it indicates the confidence that the owners and handlers have in their animals, and thus will influence the amount of the side bats, the toh kasasi - bets between members of the audience or between them and the cock owners or handlers. To the uninitiated, this phase of proceedings is utter chaos. Bettors yell at each other, wave money around, stand up and gesticulate wildly, and make unfathomable signals with fingers and hands. But to the aficionado, this is all a very intricate and carefully structured series of events. It is as if one was betting on a horse race and there were no ticket windows or pari mutual machines.

Although the central bet is always even money, the side bets are never even money. One of the most fascinating aspects of cockfighting is the way in which odds are set. First the favorite, kebut, and the underdog, ngai, must be established. The first shouts of the betting are generally made by the experienced, more or less professional bettors. These are the men one sees at almost every cockfight. They follow the fights around and have no regular jobs except gambling. They quickly assess the two cocks, using their considerable knowledge and experience, and decide which is the favorite. And then they start shouting its color. The shout is a staccato repetition of the color name. For example, bieng means red and white. So if a red and white cock is being pushed as favorite, one hears; "Bieng, bieng, bieng, bieng, bieng" in rapid-fire succession. Color is classified in a variety of ways. Some examples: putih, white; barak, red; buik, speckled green and black; selem, black; brumbun, black, red, and white. These colors generally refer to the cock's collar or ruff and not to the overall body color. If two cocks have the same color, some other differing aspect will be called out - the size of the tail, the size of the body, or even the side or compass direction of the arena that the cock waving with the hand, palm toward the cock that bettor is backing.

The less experienced bettors listen carefully to the first calls and generally follow their lead. But one must pay strict attention because the favorite may change, depending upon the opinions of the bettors and the overall sentiment of the crowd. If more people yell one color name than the other, and do so more vigorously, the former will replace the latter as the temporary favorite.

After the first color shouts, made to establish the favorite, those who wish to bet on the underdog start yelling the odds they want. The color shouters are the backers off the favorite and the odds yellers are backing each other in a crowd when they are separated by a distance as great as the width of the arena, packed so tightly together that even standing up is difficult, and walking around is impossible. This is done, however, with great efficiency and ease.

If a bettor shouts or "Sapih!" after the odds he wants, then he wants to win in the case of a draw - a rare event. The first four on the above list, the shortest odds, are by far the most common. The backer of the underdog tries to get the longest odds possible, and the favorite backer tries to get shortest. The underdog backers usually start at about 3:2 and are forced by lack of takes to work down to 4:3 or 5:4. The favorite backers look for shouters of low odds, but, if there are none, have to settle for worse odds. Both types of backers usually indicate the amount they want to bet by holding up fingers.

Curiously enough, the monetary unit of betting is not the Indonesian rupiah, the standard of currency for the entire country, but the ringgit, an absolute unit used during Dutch colonial days. Nowhere in Bali will you hear a price quoted in ringgits except at a cockfight, and there nothing but ringgits are used. Since there is no ringgit currency in Indonesia, debts are paid in rupiahs - but they are always wagered in ringgits. It is rather like the way the guinea is used by the British in Transactions with high snob appeal. The number of fingers held up indicates the number of thousands of ringgits being wagered, unless the bettor indicates by his shouts that it should be interpreted as hundreds of ringgits. The conversion rate for Balinese cockfight "ringgits" is always one ringgit to two-and-one half rupiahs. Two fingers mean 2,000 ringgits (Rp 5,000), an average side bet at a medium size cockfight.

Favorite and underdog backers scan the crowd quickly, looking for someone to take their bets. The backers of the favorite stand and wave toward their choice, while the underdog backer's wave rupiah notes, not to indicate the amount they wish to bet, just to attract attention. When eye contact is made with a likely looking prospect, the two exchange a complex and rapid series of signals to make sure each understands the nature of the bet. Palm waving indicates the favorite. Finger extension indicates the bet size. Lip movement reinforces the signals, because the din makes oral communication impossible at a distance. If the bet is agreed upon, the two men signal the fact by touching their heads or pulling at the fronts of their shirts. I f there is disagreement; they break eye contact and look elsewhere. If someone shouting odds cannot get a bet, he lowers them one notch on the scale and keeps trying, getting closer to, but never attaining, even money. The handlers also bet, spurring the crowed to back their cocks by holding them aloft and walking around the arena. During this phase of proceedings, confusion and noise reign supreme. The sound is deafening, as the odds criers yell: "Cok, cok, cok, cok!" or "Gasal, gasal, gasal, gasal!" The backers of the favorite shout his colors in a frenzied patter.

While the betting is taking place the handlers carry the cocks to the center of the arena and incite them to fury by pushing them at each other, plucking their combs, and bouncing them on the ground. As fight time approaches, the frenzy of betting reaches a state of pandemonium.

Then the timekeeper sounds his gong. The match is to begin. Last minute bets are sealed and the crowed becomes quite. The chief referee and the judge's squat down in the corners, and the handlers release their charges from opposite sides of the arena. At this point, anything can happen. Usually the birds flare their ruffs, extend their necks, and after a preliminary glare, have at each other in a fury of feathers and flying feet, so quickly that the eye can hardly follow the action. The crowd groans and shouts almost as one man, following the action with their bodies. Pretty soon one cock lands a solid blow with its taji. At once its handler signals the head referee, who signals the timekeeper to stop the first round, or elebaan. This is to prevent the two animals from making further contact - at this point the aggressor's instinct is to move in and peck his opponent to death, but the wounded bird, at such close range, could easily stab him with his taji.

When the bird is pulled apart, the timekeeper starts his clock, called the ceeng. It is a half coconut shell with a hole in the bottom, placed large side up, in a bucket of water. It sinks in about 10 seconds, or one ceeng. The timekeeper's gong, the kemong, is sounded once after each ceeng. The cocks are allowed three ceengs to recoup between rounds.

During the break, the handler of the wounded cock works frantically, trying all of his tricks to revive the bird's fighting spirit. He is often quite successful, and the injured animal, seemingly indifferent to its wound, sails right at his opponent. At the end of the third ceeng, both cocks have to be put on the ground immediately. Failure to do so forfeits the match. Round two starts. If the wounded cock cannot stand, and if the other one can stand for one ceeng, the match is over. If the two birds start fighting, the match proceeds as in round one, until one or the other is struck. The gong is sounded again, a three-ceeng period is allowed for the revival of the injured animal, and the fight continues. If both cocks are still going strong after five rounds, the match is declared a draw. This seldom occurs. The timekeeper keeps track of rounds on a counter called a pengetekan, a wooden frame with a horizontal wire. Five wooden strips are suspended vertically from the wire, sort of like the beads of an abacus. The timer pushes one counter aside after each round.

Often the wounded cock loses its appetite for fighting. Or, in some cases, a cock may not have any desire to fight at all right from the beginning, and tries to escape from the arena. The crowd scatters quickly because a wild flapping cock with a lethal dagger strapped to its leg could cause great harm. One or another of the spectators grabs it by the neck and returns it to the ring. The handler has nine ceengs to get his animal back into action or he forfeits the fight.

Another rest is signaled if the cock stays in the arena, but do not start fighting. During this time out, the handlers of the reluctant cocks try to urge them on. In the next round, if the cocks still do not clash, the pemeruputan is ordered. This is an ordinary bamboo cock cage without a bottom. It is the tiebreaker - the finisher. The word mruput means, "to fight in a surrounded place." The two reluctant cocks are placed on the ground under the cage, and the referee brings it down quickly and leaves it down for one ceeng. The head referee watches carefully from close up. Victory goes simply to the aggressor. It need not kill or even wound the other cock, although it frequently does. It merely has to display aggression. But if the cocks - now face to face with no retreat - start to fight again, the cage is pulled off and the fight continues as before.

As soon as the winner is declared, money starts to fly. Side bets are paid in cash - at once. No I.O.U.'s. Those who are wedged into the crowd wad up their bills and throw them at the person who won their money. If the money misses or lands in the arena, someone always forwards it to the rightful owner. There is remarkably little bickering and dispute over whom owes what to whom. I have been told of an increasing number of gamblers who bet with no cash on hand. The police quickly grab these men. And, if they cannot raise money from friends on the sport, are hauled off to jail and sufficient of their property sold so that the debt can be paid.

The owner gets the entire pot from the main betting, which has been watched by the referee during the fight. From this money he pays the handlers and the taji man, gives the house its cut, and distributes the winnings to all those who contributed to the bet. He also gets the body of the loosing cock. He always gives the taji leg to the pemasang taji. The lower part of the leg is chopped off and placed, with taji still attached, on the timekeeper's table. The owner retrieves it, unwinds the sting, puts the blade back in stock, and looks for further work.

The match itself has lasted only a few minutes. Immediately the second match of the set begins. The cocks have already had their tajis attached. Their handlers carry them into the arena, the central bet is quickly made, and the side betting begins just as before. There is no connection at all between the separate matches. One set consists of four or five matches. When they are over, the handlers and hangers-on come out into the arena and start looking for opponents, just as they did before the first set. These goes on until dark, the crowd never thinning until it is all over. Many temple anniversary festivals last three days, and so does the cockfighting.

Some cockfights actually take place inside temples. It is not an especially common event, but it does happen. I recall one such instance at Eka Dasa Rudra, the once-a-century exorcism that took place at Bali's mother temple, Besakih, in 1979. It was considered important to spill blood in the actual temple itself, since the ceremonies concerned themselves largely with the exorcism of evil spirits. The cocks were handled only by the pemangku, who told the spectators not to bet because of the sacred nature of the offerings. But the urge was irresistible, and money changed hands as usual during the three brief tabuh rah.

Cockfights are regularly held at the ceremonies performed in family house compounds when it has been determined that the grounds are unclean and in need of some sort of purification. At such times a very large offering, called a caru, is made inside an enclosure of coconut leaf mats, and the butas and kalas are placated. Word of the cockfight gets around fast, and villagers from all over come to help stage an impromptu tajen right inside the family house compound. Some temples regularly have their obligatory three tabuh rah inside, but these are conducted rather quickly and unceremoniously, so that the outsider will be unlikely to be able too see them.

Gambling on cocks has been responsible for the dissipation of good many Balinese fortunes, large and small. Many a raja of old lost his palace, wives, and treasure by being "cook crazy," as the Balinese call a habitual bettor. I have heard from many of my Balinese friends how their fathers or grandfathers were reduced to poverty by this addicting habit. There are now even troops of professional gamblers who go from fight to fight, pooling their financial resources to back a favorite in the central bet. Stories are told of wild rages and uncontrolled fury displayed by those who lose large sums of money. Countless friends have told me that they really should stop betting. But they never did.

Fighting cocks, cockfighting, and wagering on the fights have been popular obsessions with the Balinese for generations. The tourist who could worm his way into the sweating, jostling, noisy, gesticulating crowd of men and join them, standing around an open arena, watching the proceedings, might have wondered if he had stepped into a different country. Are these the graceful, deferential, dignified people whom he has seen in his hotel? Are these the same individuals who carry the offerings to the temples and pray with such heart-felt fervor? The boisterous crowd was a sight to behold. As it suddenly quieted down and the action began, the fast and flurries of engagement were punctuated with the "Ooohs" and "Aaahs" of the audience.

This opportunity is no longer available, and although this is probably beneficial in the long run to the Balinese people, it unfortunately transforms rather routine studies and photographs of cockfighting into irreplaceable historical documents.

Source: Bali, Sekala & Niskala,

BALI WOODCARVING

2010-02-02T01:10:00.000-08:00

Did you ever sleep easier because your room was guarded by a winged lion perched upon the lintel? In Bali, it happens. Mythological beasts are very much at home in the traditional architecture of the island. Were you to walk into a Balinese palace of bygone days, from the crossbeam would gaze a Garuda bird, on its back would ride the god Vishnu, near the corner would stand a fantastic demon clasping the kris of the king, and in the temple shrine of the royal family would rest two majestic deities covered with gold leaf.

In the olden days, no building of importance was complete without its share of splendid woodcarvings. They appeared in relief on the doors, pedestals and beams of temple shrines and royal pavilions. As free-standing statues, the carvings served as protective figures for the household, or as sacred figurines of divinities honored during ritual ceremonies. Their sources of inspiration were the valiant heroes, beasts of magic, and ghoulish villains immortalized in myths and fairy tales. In style, they were traditional Balinese beautifully carved in robust, volumetric proportions, dressed in classical attire and set in strong angular postures similar to the ceremonial stone statues in temple art.

Carvers of old also whittled minute figures from wood, bone and horn as bottle-stoppers or the hilts of betef-nut pounders. Carvings of insects, frogs, birds and clever portraits of village folk and noblemen reflected a playful folk art which paralleled the more formal decorative style. But though the carvings of the past were expressive inventions showing exceptional skill, they always served a definite utilitarian purpose. Furthermore, all the carvings were meant to be painted in bright colors, lacquer and gold. Only in exceptional cases was the wood left in its original state.

In the 1930s, a dramatic change placed woodcarving in a new perspective. Rather than a decorative craft for enriching the decor of temples, palaces and household objects, woodcarving became an independent art form. Visitors to Bali presented a new market for carvers who had never thought to sell their work before. Woodcarvings for sale suddenly appeared on street corners, in market places, harbors, airports and even in shops in countries far distant from Bali.

Competition encouraged carvers to experiment. From large mythological statues came smaller figures of ordinary people and animals, inspired by familiar scenes of daily life. Statuettes of women seated in prayer, girls bathing, dancers, or an ascetic old man with his dog were all new to Bali. The material used-hardwoods of teak, jackfruit and dark ebony-was left in its natural state, smoothed and polished. In striving for refinement, carvers employed a more simplified line and less adornment than the polychrome traditional scuiptures.

The most striking change in rendering form was elongating the torso of a figure. Claire Holt writes of one instance which helped encourage this new style. In 1930, German painter Walter Spies, who loved Indonesia and had settled in Bali, commissioned a carver to make him two statues from a long piece of wood. The carver returned with a single statue of a girl with a particularly lengthened torso, telling Spies that it seemed a shame to cut such a beautiful piece of wood in two. Spies was surprised at such an unusual statue, yet also very pleased, and because he had shown a keen interest in the art community of Bali, his opinion counted.

Not all craftsmen followed suit in making the smooth, attenuated forms created in Mas and Ubud. In the villages of Nyuhkuning and Peliatan, carvers liked to reproduce birds and animals in a distinctly realistic manner, accented by sharp contours and an unerring precision in modeling. In tune with the mischievous love of play among the Balinese, some of these spry creatures bore a remarkable resemblance to certain human personalities. (Certainly, one way to undercut a pompous individual is -to carve him as a pompous toad, which a few tricky carvers did.) The famous carver I Tjokot of the small village of Jati evolved a highly individual "primitive" style. His subjects were born in a visionary sphere of unworldly monsters, ghouls, spooks and enchantresses which he roughly chiseled from huge branches of wood. Often abiding by the utilitarian tradition, Tjokot would artfully design his sculptures as lamp rests, pot supports or even chairs. Today it is easy to recognize a carving in Tjokot's style because so many of them are hollowed tree stumps over one meter high. Some of his original works are preserved in the Ubud museum, and Tjokot's carvings are well worth the visit.

Ida Bagus Njana of Mas, one of the finest woodcarvers in Bali, continued from the thirties through the sixties to create extra ordinary carvings-from startling abstractions of the human body into interlacing limbs and curves, to a polished tree stump with knobbed roots, which he transfigured into a surrealistic sylvan ghost. During the fifties, when most carvers were pursuing the fashion of elongated forms, Ida Bagus Njana swung to the opposite extreme by making fat, bulky statues of dozing women. His modeling was superb-only slightly indented lines skimmed the surface of his carvings, letting the waving grain of wood enhance the flow of movement and texturing of form. For decades Ida Bagus Njana's work commanded the prices on the international market. A few of his carvings are still in display in the Ubud Museum and in Mas at the gallery of his son, Ida Bagus Tilem, who is himself, an exceptionally gifted carver.

Like painting, contemporary, woodcarving flourishes in a variety of unusual styles. Mas remains the center of extremely stylized f1gores, made from glossy ebony and teak. Incredible themes and compositions and dramatic distortions of the body lend these figures a Mood of exoticism and fantasy. Schools of woodcarvers in mountain villages near Ubud fashion crude, primitive figures which recall the mysterious power of magic art in ancient , Batuan produces statues of boys (mostly young musicians) with round torsos I and truncated limbs. And in Denpasar, large workshops are booming in a near-mass production of both smooth unadorned statues and finely detailed miniatures of fantastic, which are sold in galleries throughout the island.

As has usually been the case in Bali, there remain only a few master carvers who produce original work and a host of craftsmen who labor within the set conventions of an established style. Unfortunately in recent years, the art of woodcarving has been increasingly directed to a commercial market, and the desire to experiment has given way to making stereotype statues that sell. Yet although the majority of today's carvings are patterned after a recognizable design, it is easy to overlook their merit. In each style are traits characteristically Balinese-the precision of fine craftsmanship, a strong feeling for nature, a free passage into the world of the imaginary, and most apparent, a love for the material the richness and beauty of wood.

Because Bali is entering a new era of prosperity, more and more carvers are given the chance to express their talents and to gain the training needed to become master carvers. Bali's artists are extremely skillful at their trade. Even more typical, they approach their work with delightful nonchalance. Seldom is there exaggerated pride in being among the elite of artists. Nor is a new technique carefully guarded in secret. A carver is naturally generous with his ideas. Instead of clinging to his inventions, he immediately teaches his style to his sons or assistants. It is no wonder that Tjokot's entire village is now engaged in producing carvings in his style, or that Ida Bagus Tilem creates pieces as splendid as those of his father. Like everything in the community, works of art are shared and admired by all-friends, family and village. The appreciation an artist receives from his close acquaintances is his true encouragement. Besides, everyone knows you can't keep a secret long in Bali.

LINK EXCHANGE

2010-01-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

What You Can See & Do in Bali, Indonesia

2010-01-18T21:59:00.000-08:00

What You Can See & Do in Bali, Indonesia

Bali's natural attractions include miles of sandy beaches (many are well-known amongst surfers), picturesque rice terraces, towering active volcanoes over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) high, fast flowing rivers, deep ravines, pristine crater lakes, sacred caves, and lush tropical forests full of exotic wildlife.
The island's rich cultural heritage is visible everywhere - in over 20,000 temples and palaces, in many colorful festivals and ceremonies (including tooth filings and cremations), in drama, music, and dance.
You can experience Bali on many different excursions and guided tours by coach, private car or "Big Bike", by boat or by air plane: seeing Bali's beaches and rice terraces, the famous Besakih Temple on the slopes of holy Mount Agung, Lake Batur and it's active volcano, Ubud, Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and the temples of Tanah Lot and Ulu Watu from a helicopter is a really special experience. For helicopter tours and private charters (3 to 6 passengers) please contact the Balivillas.com Service Center at 703-060 as soon as you arrive.
Most full day tours by car (about 8 to 10 hours, min 2 persons) cost about US$45 to US$50 per person, half day tours US$30 to US$35. These prices include a multi-lingual guide and transport in an air-conditioned private car, all entrance fees, but no meals. Which guide and driver you choose can make or break your day: be warned that those who offer very low prices tend to waste your time by showing you hardly any more than those shops which pay them a commission on your purchases.

BALI WEDDINGS

2010-01-18T20:30:00.000-08:00

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married in Bali

MARRIAGE LAWS, LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES

Bali is part of the Republic of Indonesia and is subject to Indonesian Laws. Every couple considering getting married in Bali must comply with these Laws.

In accordance with Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning marriages in Indonesia (Article 2 (1): "a marriage is legitimate if it has been performed according to the laws of the respective religious beliefs of the parties concerned."

All couples who marry in Indonesia must declare a religion. Agnosticism and Atheism are not recognized. The Civil Registry Office can record marriages of persons of Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian-Protestant and Christian-Catholic faiths. Marriage partners must have the same religion, otherwise one partner must make a written declaration of change of religion.

The Religious Marriage under Islam is performed by the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama) in a ceremony at a mosque, the home, a restaurant, or any other place chosen by the couple and is legal immediately after the ceremony.

A Christian, Hindu or Buddhist marriage is usually performed first in a church or temple ceremony. After the religious ceremony, every non-Islamic marriage must be recorded with the Civil Registry (Kantor Catatan Sipil). Without the registration by the Civil Registry these marriages are not legal. Recording by Civil Registry officials can be performed directly at the religious ceremony for an additional fee.

Persons of non-Islamic faith are required to file with the Civil Registry Office in the Regency where they are staying first a 'Notice of Intention to Marry' as well as a 'Letter of No Impediment' obtained from their consular representatives.

For the issue of the Letter of No Impediment to Marriage by your Consular Representative you will need to present for youself and your fiance(e) your Passport(s) valid for more than 6 months and Certified Divorce Decrees (absolute/final) and/or Death Certificates regarding the termination of all previous marriages. Please contact the Consular Representative of your country for details well before your intended date of marriage.

The following countries have Consulates or Consular Representatives in Bali. The telephone and fax numbers must be prefixed with 62-361 when calling from abroad. Australia (Consulate, also representing Canada, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries in emergencies), Jalan Hayum Wuruk No. 88 B, Tanjung Bungak, Denpasar, Tel. 241-118, Fax 241-120; France (Consular Agency), Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai No. 35, Sanur, Tel. 285-485, Fax 285-485; Germany (Honorary Consulate), Jalan Pantai Karang 17, Sanur, Tel. 288-535, 288-826, Fax 288-826; Italy (Honorary Vice Consulate), Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Jimbaran, Tel. 701-005, Fax 701-005; Japan (Consulate), Jalan Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar, Tel. 234-808, Fax 231-308; Mexico (Honorary Consulate), Jalan Moch. Yamin 1A, Renon, Denpasar, Tel. 223-266, Fax 231-740; Netherlands (Consular Agency), Jalan Raya Kuta 99, Kuta, Tel. 751-517, Fax 752-777; Norway & Denmark (Honorary Consulate), Kawasan Bukit Permai, Jimbaran, Tel. 701-070, Fax 701-074; Spain (Honorary Consulate, currently vacant); Sweden & Finland (Honorary Consulate), Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur, Tel. 288-407, Fax 287-242; Switzerland & Austria (Consular Agency), Kompleks Istana Kuta Galleria, Blok Valet 2 No. 12, Jalan Patih Jelantik. Kuta, Tel. 751-735, Fax 754-457; United Kingdom (Honorary Consulate), Jalan Mertasari 2, Sanur, Tel. 270-601, Fax 270-572; U.S.A. (Consular Agency), Jalan Hayam Wuruk 188, Denpasar, Tel. 233-605, Fax 222-426.

For the Notice of Intention to Marry you have to submit the following documents for both partners to the Civil Registry Office (show the original and present a photocopy):

Certificate of the religious marriage;
Passport for foreign citizens, or KTP (Identity card) for Indonesian citizens;
Certified birth certificate;
Certified divorce decree (absolute) or death certificates regarding the termination of all previous marriages;
Four 4x6 cm photos, both partners side by side;
Foreign citizens:
- 'Letter of No Impediment to Marriage' issued by your Consular Representative for Bali or Indonesia;
Indonesian citizens:
- Never married: letter Surat Keterangan Belum Kawin from Kepala Desa or Lurah (mayor);
- Men aged 18-21 and women aged 16-21: parental letter of consent, signed across the materai/tax stamp Rupiah 2,000.

Before the marriage, you and your fiance(e) also may wish to file with the Civil Registry a prenuptial Property Agreement (Surat Pernyataan Harta) which must be signed before a local Notary Public. This contract is necessary if you wish to hold property separately during the marriage. In the absence of such a document, Indonesian marriage law assumes joint ownership of property, and subsequent property acquisitions by the Indonesian partner will be regulated according to the laws restricting foreign property ownership.

Two witnesses over the age of 18 are required. They must show the originals and present photocopies of their passports if they are foreign citizens or KTP (identity cards) if they are Indonesian citizens. Civil Registry employees can act as witnesses.

The Civil Registry office has a Mandatory Waiting Period of 10 working days from the date of filing. This waiting period may be waived for tourists presenting a guest registration form (Form A).

Islamic Marriage Certificates (Buku Nikah) issued by the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama) are legally valid in Indonesia and do not require registration with any other agency if you are going to live in Indonesia. However, if you might move somewhere else in the future (and who knows?), get a marriage certificate issued by the Civil Registry and an officially certified translation right away (see below).

All other Marriage Certificates will be issued by the Civil Registry usually on the same or next day. A sworn English translation of the marriage certificate should be obtained for use abroad. It is not necessary for the marriage certificate or translation to be registered by your Consular Agency. However, to have the sworn translation of the marriage certificate verified or a special translation made by the Consulate of your home country or the Consulate of your country of residence might prove useful.

WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS

Balivillas.com offers a FREE Wedding Ceremony if you book one of the more luxurious villas for 7 days or more. We will also assist with villa decoration, catering & party service and transportation. Please visit Romantic-Weddings.com, our associated Wedding Co-ordinator, for additional Bali wedding arrangements such as more elaborate ceremonies, handling of legal formalities, rental of bridal dresses, hair styling, make-up, flowers, dancers & musicians, photo & video shooting etc.

Special Bali Honeymoon Accommodation
No matter if you want to stay at a romantic private villa, a resort on the beach or a secluded hotel, Balivillas.com can arrange just the right honeymoon accommodation to meet your needs and make your honeymoon truly special and memorable.