Tips for a Better Holiday in Bali Island

"Bali time" is an expression that shows the Balinese reluctance to be obsessed by punctuality but many Balinese in tourism industry or other economic sectors are now familiar with punctuality. This “Bali time” is still used in traditional ceremony, punctual visitors who want to cover a cremation or other ceremony have to wait for an hour or two, be patience.

Keep cool is a golden rule in Bali. Patience is very helpful in this island where everything takes a little longer to accomplish then you are used to. Always in a hurry may turn your holiday into a nightmare. Talking loudly and forcefully will results more consolation words from Balinese, and will impede the immediate action to solve the problem since Balinese will hear your complaints patiently up to finish. Once again, there is no use to be in a hurry, besides you are in holiday anyway.

The best time to visit Bali is during the dry season, from May through September since the weather is pleasant and the visitor can enjoy a long and uninterrupted tropical sunshine. However, it is also the tourist season; the visitors will likely compete for hotel room or villa. The toughest competition will occur in the period of two weeks before and after Christmas and New Year, when Australians are on holiday and domestic visitors flood in from Java.

How much money you spend per day in Bali depends upon your tastes, the level of comfort you want, where you want to go, how you get there, and what season you traveling in. In high season -Juli to August and Christmas holiday, you will spend more money since the price of all tourist accommodation goes up a little bit. Most tourists and travelers stay within the Ubud-Sanur-Kuta-Nusa Dua axis where price is higher than the rest of the island.

Do not think in your home currency when shopping in Bali. Asking how much Indonesian currency is worth in your home country money than feeling relieved and grateful for the cheap price, is dangerous for your budget. Think in rupiah. Think that the stuff you want to buy does not “just” a buck, it cost 9,000 rupiah.

Your trip to Bali will not be a great moment if you are constantly obsessed with getting the cheapest price. Bali is cheap by any foreign standard. Instead of paying Rp. 60,000, for a great meal many travelers pay Rp. 15.000 or less for a simple fired rice and soft drink. Why travel and save few bucks if you eat rice the whole time?

Always carry enough small change and bills to pay for taxi or public transport driver and market sellers. If you pay with big bills they can use "out of change" pretext to charge you higher than the normal price or simply give you less money than they owe you. (source:www.baliwww.com)

Balinese Holiday: Galungan Day

Galungan is a Balinese holiday. And if you happen to visit Bali on Galungan day you will be hailed by thousands of Penjor along the roadside all over of Bali.
What is Penjor? Penjor is made from a long bamboo pole about eight meter high with curved end, and decorated with palm leaves, rice paddies, corn on the cob, coconut, cakes, a piece of white or yellow cloth, etc. It is the symbol of Mount Agung and also as gratitude for the agricultural produce. The arched top of the bamboo pole represents Mount Agung, the body of the pole is a river that flows from the mountains to the sea, and along its route are the products of the harvest, tied to the pole.

Each part and ornament of Penjor is not merely an ornament but it has a deep religious meaning. For instance bamboo pole is a symbol of strong determination to serve God. The four essential ornaments of Penjor which are Tamyang, Bakang-bakang, Sampyan, and Lamak are symbol of Catur Weda (four divisions of Hindu Holy Scripture which are Atarwa Weda, Sama Weda, Yayur Weda and Rg Weda). Ubag-abig a square ornament made of palm and cocunut leaves represents the power of virtue. Palm leaves, rice paddies, corn on the cob, coconut, cakes, and a piece of white or yellow cloth are the symbol of prosperity and gratitude to Ida Sanghyang Widhi (God Almighty).

Balinese believed that the best way to express gratitude to the God is making an offering which is comprise of all God’s grace (crops, clothes, etc). This also serves as a sign for reminding the human that everything we enjoy in this world is from the God. Sanggah cucuk, A triangle shaped temporary shrine is attached at the foot of the penjor. This shrine serves as a place for placing additional offering which is offered on Galungan day.

Penjor is stuck along side of the road, precisely on the left side of house compound entrance. The penjor is not just stuck on the ground, installation of penjor requires an offering comprise of Kwangen (simple arrangement of flowers on banana leaf) and 11 pieces of Pis Bolong (traditional Balinese coin) place in the hole where penjor is going to be stuck. Penjor is installed on Penampahan Galungan (a day before Galungan).

After 42 days penjor is removed with special offering. All penjor’s ornaments are burnt and the ashes penjor’s ornaments are put into a yellow coconut and buried in house compound. Other alternative is the ashes of penjor’s ornaments are put into the hole where penjor had been stuck with an offering of special porridge made of rice flour, milk, honey and 3 padang lepas leaves. (blog.baliwww.com)

Salak Bali: Snake Skin Fruit to Tasty Wine

From dozens of tropical fruits that can be found in Bali, Salak or snake fruit is the oddest looking one. It is about the size and shape of a ripe fig usually round with a distinct tip, with an edible pulp; to peel, pinch the tip of the fruit and pull away. The fruit inside consists of three lobes, each lobe containing a large inedible seed. The lobes look and have the consistency of peeled garlic cloves, creamy yellow in color and have a sweet acid taste rather like a pineapple, but are crisp and crunchy. But the most distinctive feature of Salak is its reddish-brown scaly skin, and due to this feature salak is dubbed as snake fruit.


Salak plant needs high temperature and humidity throughout the year and also high and continuous water requirement. Due to this requirements, Salak plantations in Bali are concentrated in central and east Bali especially Karangasem Regency, especially in the southern slope of Mount Agung.

In Bali, Salak is usually harvested in early in August, during this month the supply of Salak will far surpass the market demand. You can get incredibly cheap Salak around this month. To cope with this problem Salk farmer produce various salak product to cope with the situation, one of the successful salak products is the Salak Wine.

Salak farmer in Sibetan distiled this wine from the essence of Salak. Salak Wine is quite mild liquor with 7 % alcohol content. The surprisingly rich taste of this Salak Wine just make you crave for more and more. This wine can be purchased directly Sibetan village or restaurant and hotel in east coast of Bali.
Editor’s Note:Book Sibetan Village Day Trips

US government declares Bali airport safe

The US government has declared that Ngurah Rai international airport here meets international flight security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a report said.

The decision was made based on an evaluation conducted by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the US Embassy`s charge d`affairs John Heffern said in a press release issued here Wednesday.

The embassy praised Ngurah Rai international airport`s security management for its effort to improve its security standards for the past two years.

According to the statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had instructed all airport managements in the US to revoke a public warning on security at Ngurah Rai international airport which was issued on December 23, 2005.

DHS told all airlines that notifications to buy tickets for travel to Bali were no longer needed.
US law requires DHS to evaluate security at airports which serve flights to the US.
About 10,000 participants around the globe will attend the 13th UN conference on climate change in the world-renowned resort island of Bali in December.

The Bali conference will seek to lay the groundwork for a new climate deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012. (source: antara.co.id)

Villa Dadi

Villa Dadi is an exclusive private villa which is set in a manicured tropical garden facing the swimming pool and the out door Jacuzzi over looking the rice fields in Canggu. Villa Dadi offers a unique chance to experience the magical island of Bali in a relaxed sitting.

Located in the western coast of Bali, Villa Dadi is sited among the infamous rice field terrace. Thirty minutes away from the airport, twenty minutes to the busy street of Seminyak and Oberoi the famous shopping and entertaining area and fifteen minutes to Nirwana one of the best Asia's Golf Course.

Sited atop of a 2200 m2 lush tropical garden and lily ponds, Each of the four bedrooms features hardwood floors, double sliding glass and beautifully carved wooden doors that open onto en-suite bathrooms, fitted wardrobes and safety deposit boxes. A sizeable, open-air lounge and dining area overlooks the rice terrace, creating a real feeling of space. The fully equipped kitchen is located next to dining and the living area which created for convenient. The garden and pool area provide the perfect spot for relaxation equipped with a large Gazebo with plenty of space to enjoy the afternoons in luxurious style. The garden area is large enough for a children play or to entertain some friends. All the modern equipment such as large TV screen, stereo sound system, DVD players as well as wireless high speed internet connection is provided to ensure the necessary international high level of comfort.

Villa Dadi is a unique combination of modern comfort and Balinese architecture accentuated by Indonesian antiques overlooks the green rice terrace and the free style swimming pool. Designed to harmonize with the environment by using highest quality local materials, this exclusive villa comfortably sleeps up to ten people in five stylish and spacious air-conditioned bedrooms. Villa Dadi offering the best of the tropical living. [bali villas]