Kuta Karnival: 19th - 27th September 2009

by Barrie | September 2nd, 2009

Well, it’s on again and for anyone being on holidays in Bali at this time you are in for one fabulous treat. If last year’s Kuta Karnival is anything to go by then this year’s is definitely going to be even better and judging by their website and the events on offer, it is going to be one heck of a fun time. The 7th annual international Kuta Karnival will be held on the sands of Kuta Beach and attracts thousands of people from all over the world. It is a whole week of fun, food, music, sporting events and there are many other attractions as well. It is a community event held in the highest of spirits ad one event not to be missed; especially for the kids. Besides the activities on the beach there are also street parades. The Kuta Karnival truly is a celebration of life with fun and activities for all ages.

According to the Kuta Karnival website some of the events include: Opening Ceremony with Turtle Release and Paddle for Peace, Kite Festival, Puja Shanti, “Morning of the Earth” Yoga, Mepantigan Balinese Martial Art, Bali Hotels Association’s Bartender Competition, Graffiti Cartoon Expose, T-Shirt Cartoon Competition, Sunset Dances, Mini Cartoon Exhibition, Youth Race, Movie Screening, Barong Reptile Show, Street Art Sand Sculpture Competition, SFO and Oakley present Open Stage, Kuta Young Architects, Youth Info Centre, Raremotion Artist Series, Bali Blogger Community, Environment Day, Surfer Girl Presents the Surfer Girl Big Splash ‘09, Cardinal Music Awards, Bali Food Festival, Fishing Fun and Street Parade.

With all those events happening, you can’t help but have a fabulous time. Enjoy!

Website:kutakarnival

Image Credit: Bali Discovery

Six Fabulous Scenic Spots in Bali

by Barrie | September 8th, 2009

Travelling around Bali affords some spectacular scenic views and panoramas. Of course not everybody’s tastes are the same. Some like beaches, others mountains whilst some prefer the green textures of rice paddies clinging to hillsides.

The delightful thing about Bali [and in fact, the rest of Indonesia] is that wherever you go, your senses are tantalised by sheer beauty. After nearly four decades wandering the archipelago of Indonesia it can be truly said that I have seen some spectacular scenery.

But, I am always touched by the panoramas that are afforded us all on the island of Bali. If I was asked to choose a few that really left me speechless then I would have a hard time sorting them all out. However, I narrowed it down to six of my favourite spots on the island.

Jataluwih

Located in the region of Tabanan, Jataluwih is the most striking examples of terraced agriculture in the world. The road north from Tabanan to Jataluwih takes you through some of the most famous rice-paddy views on the island. There are expansive panoramas over the gently sloping terraces and it truly is surreal. It is, without a doubt, Bali’s oldest and most complex example of the Subak rice terrace system of agriculture.

Located in vary convenient places along the road are some great, small restorans to sit and view the splendour. After you have completes all your photography of this stunning place then I would recommend sitting in the Jataluwih Café and enjoying a cold one whilst watching the sunset.

Belimbing

On the road north to Pupuan is a small place called Belimbing and although you really can’t see the village from the road you will see an isolated warung that is a great place for a rest stop.

When you walk through the back of the shop to the rear of the premises there are some shaded wooden tables and chairs. It’s not the delightful setting or the lovely gardens that are appealing but rather the fabulous views of terraced ricefields at the rear of the place.

What I found most intriguing about this place are the massive fruit bats that hang from a small tree in the courtyard. I walked right past them without even noticing. Candika found another nice thing about this place and that is they sell a fabulous collection of packaged spices and nuts. Naturally, she bought quite a few!

Gunung Kawi

Gunung Kawi is located about a kilometre north of Tampaksiring and is one of the oldest religious places in Bali and contains candi or tombs built to honour an 11th Century king.

The entire site sits in a small river valley (the Pakerisan River) and the hike down a set of steps affords some spectacular views as you pass local vendors strategically located as you descend (the reasons become obvious as you ascend the steps!). The scenery is delightful with rice fields in constant view and the further you descend the temple complex comes into sight.

On the way down the 300 or so steps, you reach a stone archway that has been carved out of the rock. You will be instructed to stop, bless yourself with holy water from the pot and continue. There are 4 Queen’s Tombs which maybe for King Anak Wungsu’s attendants. These are complimented by 5 Royal Tombs across the narrow river, which are thought to be for the king himself and his 4 favourite wives.

Kekeran

On the road north of Pupuan I came across a great view. As you enter the Kapbupaten of Buleleng along the main Antosari to Mayong road there is a small village, Kekeran. Just off the side of the road you will notice a small one table warung hastily put together with a few old planks and sheets of iron roofing. It is owned by a cheery fellow, Nyoman. His wife is quick to sell you freshly cut Papaya, Mango, and Watermelon and the most delicious Krupuk Pisang, or sliced and fried banana.

But it is the view from the mountain road that is the attraction. Below in the valley expanse, a river winds its way through there, the terraced padi fields symetrically line the faces of the mountains and fields, emerald green and the sheaths of padi sway in the light breeze.

From the warung you can see as far as ten kilometres and even the road you were just on to get to this point. Nyoman was telling me he has had this spot for five years and delights in meeting all the visitors who come to his plot of soil. It is a great place to stop for a rest, satiate your thirst and imbibe in some fresh fruit whilst being spoilt by the beauty before your eyes.

Abang Ngis

One place on the east coast of the island that is seldom seem by regular tourists that, in my opinion, is the most stunning and beautiful panoramic view of rice fields on the whole island is a place called Ngis, a small village barely visible from the main road.

If you travel to Amlapura on the east coast then head north from there to the village of Abang, just in between these two places you will come to a sharp bend in the road and here you will find the heavenly view. There are small gravel places to park off the side of the road. The best time to really appreciate this stunning panorama is late afternoon and an ideal time for taking photos.

Danau Buyan Danau Tamblingan

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Located north of Danau Bratan about five kilometres on the road to Singaraja there is a lookout point where the valley below looks into dense jungle.

Here you will find a troop of monkeys playing on the road and some sitting on the road barrier waiting to be fed by passing travellers. The monkeys are not so friendly so be careful. However, opposite there is a road that veers sharply to the left. Follow this road for about five kilometres and before too long the vast northern lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan come into view.

There are several parking areas with wooden tables and benches along this road. The ideal place to view this spectacular panorama is roughly half way between the two lakes. There are literally dozens of vantage points for photographers and I suggest you take a slow walk along the road and take as many photos as possible. This is one sight you will never forget.

Well, there is the concise version of my six favourite scenic places on the island of Bali. What are yours?

Get PADI certified, or just enjoy scuba diving in Bali

by Roger | September 10th, 2009

Unless you are already a big fan of the activity, it might not occur to you that Bali is considered one of the best scuba diving areas in the region. Travel and Leisure Magazine recently published an article on the World’s 10 Best Diving Spots, and 2 of the 10 are in Indonesia. Neither of those two are Bali specifically, but Bali has some things that the other islands mentioned don’t have – it’s very easy to reach and has a legendary tourist infrastructure where many things are weirdly cheap in spite of the quality you get.

This is among the reasons why Bali has a few dozen scuba diving companies that are set up for all skill levels, from the absolute beginner to the lifelong expert looking to combine some diving with an unforgettable trip to an island paradise.

Casual diving or getting PADI certified

As you may know, you can scuba dive under supervision as you are learning, but once you want to join proper trips and be responsible for yourself, you need to be PADI certified. Many of the scuba outfits in Bali will take beginners on one or two-day trips just to get their feet wet in the sport, and some of those even count toward eventual PADI certification, but you can also sign up for a full PADI program and be certified in as few as 3 days.

I recently spoke to Simon of Bali Scuba – a well regarded company in business since 2000 – and he said the most important consideration for beginners coming to Bali to learn diving is to first find an authorized PADI dive center and then decide whether to take the whole course there, or to study the theory online first.

His company is located in Sanur, which puts participants on the eastern edge of the island, where the best diving in the region can be had, and away from the distracting Kuta Beach madness. Bali Scuba has a choice of 1-day programs starting at US$110 for everything, as well as 2-day or longer training programs or general diving safaris. They don’t book your travel arrangements, but they do everything else once you arrive here, so you can concentrate on enjoying yourself and the experience, instead of worrying about finding bottled water and a place to eat.

Becoming a PADI instructor

If you are considering even a one-day scuba course just for fun, it might be a bit more comforting to know that not only are your instructors qualified to teach PADI certificate programs, they are also qualified to teach PADI instructors. Simon added “From small acorns do great oaks grow. If your first dive gets you hooked, Bali Scuba offer courses all the way from beginner up to PADI Instructor, plus internship options those with more time.”

Photo by Ilse Reijs en Jan-Noud Hutten on Flickr

Photo of the Day: Street Eating

by Barrie | September 13th, 2009

Travellers to Bali are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to food. There are a multitude of international restaurants serving all manner of scrumptious food. In reality, tourists never have to veer too far away from relatively safe eating, that is, unless they wish to immerse their palate in the savoury foods that Indonesia has to offer. I’m not just talking about the run-of-the-mill Nasi Goreng or other Indo-tourist fares. I mean good, delicious street food; food that makes your mouth salivate and leaves you hungering for more. There are numerous good warungs that serve local delicacies and those from various parts of the archipelago. These places are a good introduction to Indonesian food but, if your stomach is not made of cast-iron then it’s best not to over-imbibe.

I seldom venture through the doors of restorans much preferring the cheap and delicious foods of backstreet warungs and the food that is virtually cooked right out there on the street.

Bali surfing camp offers foolproof holidays for all skill levels

by Roger | September 15th, 2009

I grew up just a few miles from Huntington Beach, California, and most of my friends surfed that legendary beach as often as they could. The problem was, when the waves weren’t breaking they were totally out of luck until things changed. The fact that one doesn’t need to be a slave to a single beach is just one of the things that makes learning to surf, or surfing with an experienced guide, so brilliant in Bali.

Padang Padang is one of the most popular surfing camps on the island of Bali, and when you click around the internet searching for reviews it’s easy to see why. They’ve purpose-built their own all-inclusive surf resort on the Bukit Peninsula, walking distance to at least three reliable breaks, but they also keep close tabs on what’s happening all over the island, so if the close beaches are no good they drive the guests to one that is. If you are curious as to how this works you can just click over to their homepage and check out their daily Bali surf report, which explains what is and isn’t happening at the moment.

Not just a surfing school

The resort complex is an ideal place for newcomers to the sport to learn enough to be surfing on their own almost right away, but it’s also set up as a proper surf camp catering to all levels. Beginners will learn the basics starting in the pool right on the grounds, before making their way into the ocean for the experience part.

But surfers of every kind also make the pilgrimage to stay here because intermediate and advanced surfers have a daily program all for themselves. There are two long surfing sessions every day (times depend on the breaks), and non-beginners will be taken by experienced guides to find special spots and learn the best strategies for each one.

I recently had a chat with Andrew, who runs Bali Surf Camp, and he mentioned their success with beginners is no accident. “We have very experienced fully qualified instructors who will get you riding green unbroken waves very quickly, and in addition to learning quickly, you will have great fun with the instructors.” Their location is another part of their success according to Andrew. “We have the best beginner surf break in Bali very near to us but are fully mobile and will travel to other breaks according to the conditions on the day.”

The waves in Bali have a reputation as some of the finest in the world for experienced surfers, and that worries some novices, according to Andrew. “Occasionally first time surfers tell us that they see the images of huge waves on the site and worry that the conditions are going to be too big for them. Bali is indeed blessed with many world-class breaks, but our guides are skilled in finding the right break for every level. Great waves are well documented in the sites surfing photos archive section. Our surf photographer does not only follow the advanced groups, within that section youll find the beginners group, surfing what can only be described as perfect glassy beginner breaks.”

The camp is almost all-inclusive

The Padang Padang Surfing Camp is set up, in a way, like one of those fancy all-inclusive resorts in nearby Nusa Dua, but the price is much lower and the whole thing is specifically set up to house and entertain surfer-types. Dinner isn’t included in the one or two-week package prices, but just about everything else is, from airport transfers to accommodations to two healthy meals each day to almost all of your entertainment as well.

If this is your first time and you’ll be learning to surf, the lessons package adds an extra €150 (about US$200) to the price, but for everyone else the guides and transport are all included with your stay.

The camp holds 16 people when it’s completely full, but as the camp gets quite a few solo travelers you’ll typically find only between 8 and 12 international campers in the 8 double-occupancy bedrooms. They do get quite a few repeat visitors and referrals from previous guests, so they usually stay fairly full, but if you reserve early enough you should get a spot.

Prices of surf camp

• Basic room: €295 (about US$420) per person for 1 week, or €550 for 2 weeks (based on double occupancy), single rooms are €399 for 1 week and €740 for 2 weeks


• Deluxe upstairs room: €399 per person for 1 week and €740 for 2 weeks (based on double occupancy), single rooms are €565 for 1 week and €1050 for 2 weeks


• Villa rental for up to 8 people in 4 bedrooms: €1095 per week

What NOT to Forget on a Road Trip in Bali

by Barrie | September 17th, 2009

Everyone that goes to Bali for a holiday or a longer term stay always enjoy getting out of the frantic mayhem of the tourist strip and into the countryside. Generally, these are only day trips but if you are one of the adventurous then hiring your own vehicle is a good idea. Group day trips organised by the hotel you are staying in are more often than not, controlled. This means you see a set number of places and in each you have little time to appreciate the culture or beauty. It is far better to do these roadtrips at your own pace in a hired vehicle or by hiring a bemo and driver for the day.

As delightful as it is being out there on-the-road, occasionally unfortunate things occur and it is always best to be prepared. Think about it. You could be stung by an insect, get sunburnt badly, twist your ankle or a worse injury, cut yourself on a sharp object or suffer diarrhoea and other ailments. So, the first thing to put in your daypack is a basic first-aid kit. I carry the Red Cross kit which has everything you need for any unfortunate circumstances.

A lot of people scoff at the idea of carrying a kit but to me it makes common sense. Can you imagine cutting yourself on a rock or a piece of metal and dismissing it as merely ‘bad luck’. Heck, you are in the Tropics and even the smallest wound festers that in turn could lead you to visiting the BIMC or other clinic. Another good thing to carry with you is antibacterial hand gel. Good for cleaning your hands after visiting the toilet and even after you have finished a meal.

Secondly, and very important is headwear. Being in the Tropics the sun can be very fierce and especially during the middle of the day. Being macho or thinking you don’t need one is sheer idiocy. When the body heats up, then you perspire and the more you perspire, the faster dehydration sets in. That, you don’t need because it leads to a multitude of ailments. Which brings me to the third not-to-forget – water. Sure, you can buy it wherever you go as warungs and shops are everywhere but it is always best to carry a couple of litres per person with you in your vehicle. The first sign of dehydration is feeling thirsty. Anyone that has done a lot of trekking in the tropics will tell you this.

Not that I do this but a friend of mine who has travelled extensively throughout South-east Asia has a unique way of cooling down. She soaks a couple of facecloths in water, folds them and places them into a plastic bag and puts them into the freezer part of the refrigerator in the hotel she is staying in. The following morning of the roadtrip she takes them out and puts them in her daypack. Within a couple of hours she has a very cold facecloth that is a delight in the heat of the day for cooling down the body.

Sarungs are a fabulous multi-purpose piece of material. Not only can you place it around the nape of your neck to keep the heat off, you will need one when visiting temples or other places of worship. They are also good for keeping your pants up if something unforseen occurs!

On my roadtrips I carry a multitude of items mainly because I usually travel for days on end. Besides the above, I carry notebooks, Swiss Army knife, spare batteries for the DSLR camera, munchies for when hunger hits in between meals and the list goes on. But one thing I NEVER forget is Jelly Beans! I am a jelly bean addict; they are a great source of glucose.

Tumpek Uduh in Bali Today

by Barrie | September 18th, 2009

Wherever you travel in Bali today you will observe the Balinese partaking in a ritual called Tumpek Uduh. Tumpek is one of the most interesting of the coincidence dates on the island of Bali. Tumpek occurs six times in every Pawukon and each of these dates is separately important. The ritual of Tumpek Uduh falls five weeks later on Saturday of Wariga, the seventh week in the cycle. This particular day has many alternate names including Tumpek Nyuh (coconut). It is a day when the Balinese offer respect to trees, particularly to the coconut palm as they are important to the livelihood of the Balinese.

In Southern Bali, the trees are dressed in traditional Balinese clothes complete with a headband, tlie udeng, a kilt-like kamben, and a special scarf, saput, as a belt. Then the tree is hit ceremonially with a hammer to notify the tree that offerings are nearby and to ask it to produce abundant fruit.