Restrictions on carrying liquids on board

On International flight, the carrying of liquids (including gels and aerosol products) on board is restricted.  But if you must carry liquids on board, please refer to conditions beforehand from appropriate sources especially when you visit Bali island

If you lose your passport

The important things, you must responsible for your passport during trip.  In case you lose it you must have a new travel document issued.  We recommend you to carry a copy of your passport with you just in case.

Purchasing overseas accident insurance is recommended

Climate change is serious threat to the ecosystems that human rely upon and air travel is the fastest growing contributor to the problem. You might be tired or sick during a trip due to the difference in climate, or unexpected events may happen such as having belongings stolen.  To be prepared for such trouble, we recommend you to purchase overseas accident insurance before departing your country.

Travel Tips, Thing you must know before visit to bali

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When you visit Bali rain seems to be the main concern  rain can “ruin” your holiday, it is hard to enjoy Bali when rain pour from one morning to the next morning.  The  best time to come is between April to October when the dry season is “on”.

More than sun and sand wait every of you to visit Bali with beautiful coast.  Kuta  with its pounding waves for surfing, Sanur, with its protecting reef for a quiet family swim, Uluwatu, with its fascinating rock pools, and Benoa Bay’s mangrove forest all host a world of creatures, large and small with habitat in  the shallow waters of island’s coast.

KUTA

Visit Bali beach that run along Tuban, Kuta, Legian and Seminyak has no offshore reef and is full of energy, with large waves pounding onto gently sloping beach.  The Bali ’s sea creatures here have to be either good burrowers,  the Donax shells and sand dollar are found just below the surface of the fine sand.

Also Bubbler crabs live below the sand’s surface, they rebuild their burrows twice each day, leaving circles of sand.

ULUWATU

Uluwatu Temple  is flanked  on both sides by steep cliffs and sandy bays, it is possible to walk down to the northerly bay, where the local people gather a wide rang of foods from the rocks and coral, people with hooked sticks search the flat reef at the low tide looking for turban shells, whose meat makes a tasty meal.

the octopus and lobster are also popular finds.

SANUR BEACH

Sanur is protected from the force of the ocean waves by a coral reef ranging from 300 to 3000 feet offshore, so the waves on the shore are rather small and gentle.  Out in the meadows of the sea grass are brittle stars, starfish, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, free living fungia corals, and sea urchins, waders, such as the common sandpiper, search for food among the bountiful life at the sea’s edge.

BENOA BAY

This bay is fringed by the last mangrove forest on Bali, at the low tide of soil surface is teeming with fiddler crabs, periwinkles and barnacles cover the roots of Rhizophora trees.

In the sandy mud in front of the mangroves, cockles are much sought after as food.  In creeks running through Benoa Bay’s mangrove forest some two dozen species of fish can be found, including the piper fish and small puffer fish.

Bali’s Coast, Visit Bali

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]]> http://visitbalionline.com/balis-coast/feed/ 0 http://visitbalionline.com/Offerings http://visitbalionline.com/Offerings#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:04:07 +0000 admin http://visitbalionline.com/?p=706

Visit Bali is the best idea when you interested in Bali culture,  such as Bali Offerings. What is Bali Offerings ? Bali Offering made of palm leaf, flowers also foodstuffs are an art form associated with every ritual occasion in Bali.  The Balinese belief in the forces of the invisible world dictates that offerings be created with a spirit of thankfulness and loving attention detail.  The Balinese seem never to tire of producing these colorful and highly symbolic, ephemeral creations for every ritual, from the simplest daily household offerings to gods, demons, and ancestors to massive ceremonies such as the Panca Wali Krama held at Pura Besakih to purify and bring blessings upon the entire world.

Gebogan

Gebogan is bali offerings tower, with constructed around the base of a banana  trunk, made by the women of the household, they are presented to the deities at the temple birthdays,  the first layer is composed of fruits and followed by layers of rice cakes in many shapes and colors.  The next layer commonly set with a Bali canang sari offering or chili and with the top an exuberant arrangement of flowers.

Sarad

Elaborate offerings made by dyed rice dough arranged against with a frame work of bamboo and cloth symbolize the form and content of the Balinese mythic world.  The story background about  sarad is representation of  Turtle Nala and Dragon Basuki, the cosmic turtle and dragon who provide support for the physical world.  Also the popular subject is Boma, son of the earth Goddess, was protective figure who represents all living things growing from the earth.

Lamak

A small temporary shrine of bamboo called a sanggah cucuk is always found beneath a bali penjor, small offerings to the deities are placed here for as long as the penjor is in use.  This shrine is often “clothed” in a symbolic garment called a Lamak , the colorful runners made plaited palm leaf often contain images of prosperity and fertility like the chili, an ancient symbol of both human and rice life cycles.

Penjor

A Bali Penjor is a bali offering in the form of a tall bamboo pole whose gracefully curving upper end is said to resemble both the tail of the Barong, symbol of goodnes , and the peak of the sacred mountain , Mount Agung.  Penjor are placed in front of each Balinese household for the Galungan holiday and are also used in conjunction with important temple ceremonies and life cycle rituals.  Hanging from the end of every bali penjor are beautifully plaited palm leaf creations called sampian.

Canang Sari

Bali Canang sari offerings differ in form and function depending on locality but in general are said to embody the essence or sari of human prosperity, a kind of repayment to the forces the invicible world for their gifts to human society.  Typically Bali canang sari offerings contain flowers, leaves, liquid fragrance, and a symbolic betel quid.

Kwangen

The Bali Kwangen is a small, triangular offering contain flowers, a small betel quid and often Chinese coins.  Bali Kwangen are used in the Balinese from of prayer called muspa ( pray with flowers).  The Chinese coin in a Kwangen are said to represent human action, purified in the act of worship.

Find so many offerings when you visit bali with beautiful flowers

offerings, bali culture

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]]> http://visitbalionline.com/Offerings/feed/ 0 http://visitbalionline.com/rite-of-passage http://visitbalionline.com/rite-of-passage#comments Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:28:06 +0000 admin http://visitbalionline.com/?p=677

Bali have a unique culture, when you visit Bali island you could learn about rite of passage from Balinese culture

In the eyes of the Hindu Balinese, existence is a continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth, until one attains moksa, when the soul becomes one with the macrocosm.  Rituals at various stages of life on earth ensure that the individual progresses toward this desired state.

INFANT GODS

The baby, which embodies the soul of a reincarnating ancestor, is said to be an infant god or Dewa , until it is 42 days old.  It is carried about on a family membership as it is not allowed to touch the impure soil until it is 105 days old.  Its first birthday is celebrated 210 days after birth, a year in the Balinese calender, and the mother makes a temple offering to announce the child’s arrival in the village.

TOOTH FILING ( MEPANDES )
The ceremony of   tooth filing,   meant to  overcome the elements of man’s bestiality cause Balinese  believe every human born with animal characteristics, occurs   after a child reaches  puberty. The pointed canine teeth are considered animalistic, and all six  upper front teeth are filed even. Because of the expense of this ceremony, a number of families may join in a mass tooth filing to share costs.

MARRIAGE
Full adulthood begins after marriage During the ceremony, offerings are addressed to the demonic forces, who have to be placated before proper sexual desire is exercised. To show knowledge of domestic duties, a bride and bridegroom may simulate activities such as weaving or washing during the ceremony.

CREMATION TOWER
A cremation is the most important rite of passage that a  family can perform for its loved ones.  The body may be  buried until a  cremation can be  arranged, then it is  hoisted up an   elaborate stairway to a decorated tower  (right) supported on  a bamboo substructure. The tower is a symbolic representation of the universe, with the upper tiers symbolizing the various heavens where the soul is  heading.

SARCOPHAGUS ( NGABEN )
In a joyous procession, the cremation tower is transported to the  grounds where the body is placed in an animal-shaped sarcophagus. The sarcophagus is the dead’s vehicle to the  mountain of the soul’s origin. Pots of holy water are poured  over the corpse, then it and the tower and other cremation  paraphernalia are consumed by fire.

COLLECTING THE ASHES
After the body is burned, the ashes are  collected, ground  finely, and offered to the sea.  All  physical remains  having been  restored to the  five elements,  the soul is now  freed to journey  through  purgatory and, if  need be, taken to  hell to be tortured  and eventually  cleansed.

RETURNING HOME
In a final ceremony that may be held years later, the soul is called back from the sea and after several cleansing rituals, taken to the mountain temple and released to return to its heavenly abode. It has become a deified ancestor, and is worshiped at a special shrine.

Bali Culture

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When you already decided for visit Bali, try to travel around Kuta Beach, at the end of Jalan Double Six, about 15 minute from Kuta centre is Dreamland Beach. Lots of afternoon action and beach game activities. Visit Bali especially Kuta Beach it is a good idea for getting new friends, with plenty of drinks stands at the beach area. No shortage of bars and places to eat with some excellent places to chill and drink like Zanzibar and Blue Ocean.

Surfing! Bring your own surfing board or rent one from the guys on the beach.  No problem if you haven’t surfed before, its the perfect place to learn. You can get a boat ride out to the outer reef breaks of Tuban or surf mellow beach breaks in front of the Bali Hard Rock Hotel.

Kuta Beach Night Life

Don’t forget the night life when you visit Bali.  Kuta Beach is entertainment central which means, you can get so many options like music clubs, open-air pubs, karaoke bars, very noisy discos and drag shows. It’s a lively party scene to say the least and the kind of place where being single and alone – male or female is no problem what so ever, also with a huge selection of restaurants serving both local and a wide variety of foreign cuisines.

Shopping

Shopping! Bali has its own designers producing one-off pieces for fashion clothing and lifestyle goods. Lots of individuality here at often reasonable prices. You’ll end up with a treasure trove of interesting, fascinating and irresistible buys. Excellent for unusual clothes and lifestyle items. Kuta’s main street has renowned shopping, in mostly small locally owned shops. Individual styles, excellent craftsmanship and low prices.

Travel Around Kuta Beach

Kuta and Legian also Seminyak are easy to walk around. Often you’ll find yourself browsing the shops at one of town and before you realise it, you’re already at the other end! Always bring your travel map when you visit Bali, also don’t be afraid to ask some one if you get lost.

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Nearly all Balinese speak the national language of Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia, a language Indonesian nationalists developed from the Malay language. The Balinese language is a completely different language from Bahasa Indonesia,

The Balinese language has many levels but each of the level uses the same basic linguistic structure and  many common nouns,  you can find so many vocabulary for each level varies. This is particularly true of verbs connected with human activities and body parts.

When referring to eating, for example, one would ask “Have you eaten?” by saying to a member of the higher castes “Ratu sampun marayunan,” but to a person of low status, the same question is “cai subs madaar”.

The Balinese caste system requires that different vocabularies be used according to differences in rank. This means that a low caste person uses the formal high Balinese words in speaking to a person of a higher caste, while the latter will answer using the low vocabulary; you speak “up” to a person of higher status, who speaks “down” to you. As caste distinctions loosen, people prefer to use a respectful version of high Balinese among people they do not know or in formal situations, while still speaking low or common Balinese among family and friends.

Since Bahasa Indonesia is taught in schools and used as the lingua franca of commerce and government, its use has had a democratizing effect, unifying the scattered islands of the country and blurring the once distinct levels of Balinese speech.

Visit Bali

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What are you going to do when visit Bali

Bali has been attracting visitors for centuries with its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, warm sea breezes, tropical fragrances, lush mountains, gorgeous sunset, breathtaking scenery and the warm hospitality of its people. All these factors have made it one of the world’s most exotic and diverse tourist destination, to visit Bali. Bali offers wonderful cultural and adventure tours, an exciting and vibrant nightlife, shopping and many more.

Sight Seeing
When you visit Bali there are so many places of interest you could visit to experience the rich cultural heritage of Bali.  Such As Tanah Lot with its temple and sunset; Kertagosa (Klungkung), former seat of the oldest kingdom of Bali; Tenganan, one of the original Bali “Aga” villages where traditions have changed little over the centuries; Besakih, the mother temple in Bali, just to name a few of the places.

Shopping
Shopping is one of the most exciting activities in visit Bali. Try not to accept the first price that you are given as it is normal to bargain in Bali, unless the product is price-tagged. Although tempting, try not to make any major purchases for the first few days. Look around, take your time, bargain and then buy at the right price. Bali offers a wide selection, from stone and wood carvings, traditional and modern paintings, ceramics, to fashion. All of them are available in shops and galleries throughout the island.

Just five minutes away the Bali Collection, a shopping & entertainment complex offers both everyday needs and travel treasures. Please visit their website for detailed information www.bali-collection.com

Sport & Adventure
A wide choice of outdoor adventure and water-sport activities will enhance your holiday when you visit Bali. These include mountain cycling, rafting and bungee jumping. For the water-sport lovers, the best place is Tanjung Benoa, Bali’s center for water sport just 10 minutes driving from the Nusa Dua resort area. Scuba diving, parasailing, jet skiing, surfing, banana boat rides can all be enjoyed from pristine beaches of Nusa Dua. 18-hole championship Bali Golf and Country Club featuring spectacular views of the Indian Ocean to the south and Mt. Agung in the north. The Nelson & Wright designed course ensures playability for all levels with multiple tees ranging from 5,208 to6,871 yards.

Night Life
Don’t forget the night life  when you visit Bali, It is commonly known in the west also exists in Bali, especially in Kuta. Cafes, pubs and discotheques lining the street of Kuta and Legian are definitely the place to be and to be seen.

Visit Bali

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Religion

Thought 90 percent of the Indonesian population is Moslem’s, in Bali 90 percent follow Hinduism.  The left hand is considered unclean and therefore, when you hand something over or shake hands, make sure to do so with your right hand.  Also, don’t touch some one’s head, and when you visit a temple, avoid wearing revealing clothes, ( Menstruating women are not allowed to enter a temple).  Sometimes you are required to wear a sarong or sash before entering a temple (some places rent these out of charge)

Currency & Exchange

The basic Currency is rupiah ( Rp.),

The bill are:  Rp. 100; 500; 1.000; 5.000; 10.000; 20.000; 50.000; 100.000.

The coins are : Rp. 100; 500;1.000

Money below Rp. 100 is rarely in circulation. You might get candies instead of small change.

Water

Though water in most parts of Indonesia is soft water, the tap water in Bali is hard.  Never drink from the tap and always be sure to use bottled water.  Be careful with ice as it is often made from water that is not purified.

Time difference

As Indonesia is long from east to west, there are three time zones.  Bali belongs to the central time zones.  While Jakarta and Yogyakarta, the west time zone, so there is a difference  of one hour between Bali and those areas.  When you are going to Yogyakarta, don’t forget this one hour time difference.

Tipping

Tipping is not usually necessary in major hotels and restaurants as a service charge is added to your bill.  But if you ask someone to do special service, it is OK to give a tip.  Currently, tipping for room service is somewhere from Rp. 10.000 to 50.000.

Telephone

When making domestic calls in same area, dial the number directly.  When calling outside the area code beginning with 0 and then the number.  There are public phones but it is likely that they will be out of order.  Use WARTEL – a privately owned telephone service company – or call from the hotel.

Language

The Official Language is Indonesian.  Balinese speak together using Balinese.  At hotels and many restaurants and major tourist sites, there are staff capable of speaking English and major foreign languages.

Climate and Clothes

Bali has a tropical monsoon climate.  In which April to September is dry season and October to March, the rainy season.  Bali is hot throughout the year but during the dry season it may get chilly at night and early morning.  A jacket will help.

Voltage

The voltage and frequency in Indonesia are 220 volt and 50 hertz respectively.   The plug is a C type:   two round pin as shown above.  When using an electrical appliance from another country, you might need a transformer and plug adapter.

Credit Cards

Major hotels, restaurants for tourists and duty free shops accept credit cards.  But there are cases when a handling charge of a few percents is added.  The exchange rate at the time of using the card in Bali will be different from when it is billed to you in your country.

Protecting Valuables

There are cases of pickpockets, luggage stealing and purse-snatching.  When you go out, don’t take valuables with you and when you walk on the sidewalks, don’t carry your bag on the road side.  Keep valuables, including your passport and cash, in the safe deposit box at your hotel.

Narcotics (Illegal drugs)

There are many foreigner tourist arrested because of involvement with narcotics.  Just by possessing narcotics results in severe punishment in Indonesia.  So never get involved in narcotics.

On Street Survey

You might encounter someone who says he/she is talking a survey on the street or beach.  When you fill in the sheet, he/she tells you just won a prize or hotel voucher and ask you to come a place where you are told to buy an expensive membership or product.  To avoid becoming involved in trouble, don’t disclose casually to a stranger either your name, the name of your hotel, or your room number.

Hot Water Supply at Your Hotel

Hotels use hot water supply tank there are times when hot water does not run very well, when many people are using hot water or when you use the bathtub or shower one after the other.

Card Gambling ( Blackjack)

These people come to you with a smile and invite you to take part in gambling, such as cards (blackjack), and the steal your money.  They maybe Indonesians or non-Indonesians.  If you go their house, they won’t let you go easily and there have been times when victims have been forced to pay large amount of cash, hand over valuables or use a credit card.  As a gambling is not allowed in Indonesia, you won’t be able to resort to legal procedures.  Be careful when stranger invites you go to somewhere with them.

Travel Tips,  Useful Knowledge When Travel to Bali

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Bali culture is  a very  unique  culture from many Indonesian culture, If you’re considering going on a vacation to  visit Bali, one of the “must-do” things is to check out the interesting cultural site sand forms of entertainment that are available to tourists.

First, you should check out Balinese dance as one of unique Bali culture when you visit Bali. This is a highly developed art form in Bali,  it is extremely ritualistic and the moves are memorized and  unwavering. It requires intense coordination on the part of the dancers and can be an amazing sight to witness.

You can catch a quality Balinese dance performance in Bali anywhere there’s festival or celebration, and you’ll find exceptional performances in and around Ubud.

The dancing is accompanied by Gamelan music, a sort of traditional village band that plays in the background. Second, you’ll want to see if there are any festivals or public rituals going on related to the Balinese version of Hindu. They often have many publicly accessible celebrations that you can attend, and it’s a great way to soak in the culture.

In fact, many of the performances are deliberately secular in nature, so you won’t have to worry about intruding on someone else   religious practices.

Third, you ought to check out the local painting styles.  Until the tourist invasion, the acts of painting or carving were purely to decorate temples and shrines and to enrich ceremonies. Today, with galleries and craft shops everywhere.

Art is ubiquitous in Bali – from the lowest peasant to the upper crust, the Balinese have their own unique painting style and there are many excellent works of art available to view or even purchase.

The art doesn’t just stop with paintings – they do traditional masks, various other adornments and jewelry, and some interesting statues that you’ll want to take a look at. You could even look around for local craft fairs or shops that cater to tourists – you’ll likely be able to pick up some great, cheap pieces to bring back home with you as  a gift for your friend or family.

Visit Bali, Bali Culture

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]]> http://visitbalionline.com/bali-culture/feed/ 0 http://visitbalionline.com/not-miss-beautiful-ubud-for-your-bali-vacation http://visitbalionline.com/not-miss-beautiful-ubud-for-your-bali-vacation#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:30:11 +0000 admin http://visitbalionline.com/?p=252

What is it about Ubud that one should visit this beautiful village? Because Ubud has much to offer; from its stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and the terraces rice filed, its most talented artist, its typical traditional market and myriad of shops that line the road is a heaven for shopping, its undying culture, its serene environs and plentiful of nice small hotels and restaurants and many more.

Ubud has no great beaches to speak of, no mountain lakes, and no grand hotels. Yet it has the richness of soil and it is the center of Bali’s art and culture. If you don’t stay in Ubud, or you don’t have much time during your Bali Holiday, a visit is worth because it would offer you a memorable stay in Bali.

Driving out of bustling Denpasar, the tranquil green of rice paddies contrast sharply with the boisterous sounds of the city.

Palm-leaf carvings of Dewi Sri (the Rice Goddess) guards over the crops, and small thatch huts dot the rice fields, giving shade to those who work them. Temples and small shrines can be seen along the way, women lay out offerings of flowers, rice, incense and holy water to placate evils spirits and please the good one.

Even with the great influx of tourism, village life basically goes on the same. Almost every village on the way up to Ubud specializes in some kind of art form. You can stop off and see the artisans at work in their studios.

Many places near Ubud make beautiful side trips. Morning walk through the villages lead to out-of-the-way retreats. The route to Tegalalang offer beautiful views of terraces rice field and myriad of art studios, Mas, Penestanan and Peliatan, the centers of wood carving and painting, Sayan offer a stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and still home to spectacular view of gorges and palms and rice fields. Campuhan , the place where three rivers meet – a sacred site. There is a very beautiful templecalled Pura Gunung Lebah is worth a visit.

To the north is Petulu village is known for many things but the most spectacular is the kokokan or white herons. Every morning at dawn and the afternoon around three or four o’clock, you can see them circling the trees in droves.

To the south a short walk you will arrive at Monkey Forest. To visit it, one must by a ticket. There are hundreds of tame monkeys and a temple stands in the middle of the forest. In the center of town the interesting places to see are the Puri (the court of palace of former kings), here every Sunday morning at 10 o’clock dozen of young girls study traditional Balinese dance.

Ubud main market just opposite the Puri offer varieties of merchandises; Produce, dry goods, linens, T-shirts, paintings, wood carvings, even traveling medicine men appear here. Closed to market you can visit Puri Lukisan (Museum of Paintings). Established in 1954, it is dedicated to showing the works of local painters. It is the excellent place to get an overview of the stylistic differences between artists.

Ubud is a picturesque township and visitors have been attracted by its charm and beauty for decades. If shopping is your interest, Ubud has a myriad of shops which line the road to Monkey Forest and the Museum Puri Lukisan. Don’t forget to bargain!!! If art is your interest, in Ubud, Mas and Peliatan, one can study dance, music, painting or a number of other art forms.

The best way to meet a teacher is to find a style that appeal to you (by going to galleries and watching performances) and than approach the artist directly about lessons.

While you are in Ubud and need more complete information, you can visit Bina Wisata a local Tourism Bureau. It prepare map of Bali and Ubud. There is a massage board, small book store and a printing press on the premises. It’s about 500 m past the market.

Waka Namya Resort is a nice place to stay. It offers free luxury shuttle service to the center of town and to the Rudana Museum and Arts Gallery; it is one of the best galleries in Ubud. It also offers a free tracking to the rice field.

Excellent service and very friendly staffs. I know the managervery well, so I sand many guests to this resort. Waka di Ume, Komaneka, Santi Mandala Resort and Maya Ubud are also very nice place to stay. For more affordable accommodation you can choose Ubud Sari; small, charming and rustic ambience. It has a complete Spa and Beauty Salon service, Yoga, Chiropractic, Healing Week in Bali Program. Raw Health Food Program and Colonic Hydrotherapy.

So Ubud has many attractive objects can be seen for your Bali Vacation. And do not hesitate to choose beautiful Bali for your holiday. Bali is a small, beautiful island in Indonesia, the ultimate tourist destination in Asia.

The quickest and easiest way to find Bali hotels at your destination is to go online and visit a hotel reservation website. Do a search for Bali you are traveling to and you will be presented with a list of available hotels in Bali, Choose your preferred Bali Hotels.

Author: Made Dertha,  Bali Turista Tours

Visit Bali, Do Not Miss Beautiful Ubud For Your Bali Vacation

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