Bali Handicraft

Barong Ubud bali

2011-07-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

Bali, especially Ubud, is a popular destination for artists, dancers and musicians who find the island environment conducive to creativity and artistic collaboration. This island radiates in creative energy, and when you are here you will find yourself inspired to practice your skill, whatever level that may be. Following here is olo ur list of classes for adults and children, including classes in the creative arts and in the language (Bahasa Indonesia) and culture of Indonesia/Bali.

Ukiran Bali - Reaching Artistic Height

2011-01-30T08:22:00.000-08:00

A cursory look may make one think that Indonesian wood CARVINGS are the same. They are not. Motifs vary from one place to the other and the level of skill is not the same among regions. For deep reliefs, the top carvers are in Bali, Cerebon (West Java) and Madura (East Java).

Witnessing the carvers in is fascinating. If I have to play favorites, I would gravitate towards Balinese ukiran or carving. Whether the piece is partial relief or full figure sculpture, Balinese carving is distinctive, intricate and stylized. Over the years, I have collected numerous panels and reliefs and obviously, I could not get enough.

Witnessing the carvers in motion is fascinating. Like art guilds in the past, these workshops offer a ready lesson of dedicated artisanship to those who are willing to stop and observe.

Historical and Cultural Considerations of Balinese Gambelan

2011-01-29T07:47:00.000-08:00

The great variety of ensembles is at least partly due to the history and geography of Bali. As on most Indonesian islands, repeated waves of immigration and movement of populations has led to a rich and varied culture. Bali is a relatively small island (much smaller than its near neighbor Java, the other Indonesian island with a famous gamelan tradition), but until the twentieth century, its remoteness and geography as a small island dominated by volcanoes, thick forests, and deep ravines, allowed its various communities and small kingdoms to develop distinctive local religious and entertainment traditions.

While Java was largely converted to Islam, Bali has retained this diversity of local Hindu religious practices. Religion is an important part of the culture of Bali, and a very important aspect of Balinese gamelan music. There are literally thousands of different ceremonies associated with Balinese Hinduism, and gamelan music is an important element of many of these ceremonies.

Gamelan music was probably imported to Bali from Java. Both traditions began as upper-class court music, and the gamelan practices of the two islands still share many important similarities. But because Islam officially disapproves of music, Javanese gamelan practices are much less likely to be associated with religion. The quieter, more improvisational style of Javanese gamelan reflects a fairly continuous history as a classical music for upper-class courts. On Bali, on the other hand, the royal courts lost their power and influence during the period of Dutch control in the early twentieth century, at which time community cooperatives took over much of the performing arts traditions. The louder and more intensely cooperative Balinese music has been strongly influenced by village traditions using gamelan for the people's ceremonies and celebrations. The difference between the two islands' music is easily audible even to the average Westerner.
Note:
Because of the religious associations, the playing area and the instruments themselves are treated with great respect. To avoid giving offense, Westerners who do not know the proper way to do this should keep a respectful distance from the ensemble.

Many of the instruments are very carefully crafted, not only to give beautiful and very-carefully-tuned sounds, but also to be visually pleasing works of art. The wooden frames that hold the instruments are often intricately carved and brightly painted, usually with instruments in a particular gamelan carved and painted to look like, as well as sound like, a matching set.

There are dozens of different types of gamelan. Some types are found in almost every community, others in only a few isolated villages. Each type of gamelan has its own established tradition that includes a standard repertoire of music, in forms specific to that ensemble, to be played in a particular context. As already noted, some of these contexts are religious; one type of ensemble may be found in funeral processions, for example, or at particular temple celebrations.

Other gamelan may provide music for a specific kind of dance or theater performance. For example, wayang kulit, the famous shadow-puppet theater, is traditionally accompanied by a gender wayang ensemble, while dance-dramas may be accompanied by gamelan gambuh.

Specific kinds of dance may also call for specific kinds of ensembles. The conception of dance is also somewhat different from Western ideas; when a performance includes dance, the dance and music are considered to be intensely interdependent, two aspects of a single artistic expression, rather than separable "accompaniments" to each other. Traditionally, women are more likely to be dancers and men are more likely play instruments, but some traditional dances are for men, and it is more common now for women to also play in the gamelan.

Bali Calendar of Festivals and Events 2011 / 2012

2011-01-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

Bali has much to celebrate and most months of the year have something of interest happening, with various seasonal things to do and tourist-friendly events taking place, often within the countless temples. March is one of the most important festival months on Bali, with the exciting Melasti and Nyepi religious festivals taking place and always being the cause for much celebration.

Other popular events include the Bali Arts Festival, which kicks off in June for a month and showcases the island's cultural appeal. Independence Day takes place each year on August 17th and its colourful processions are watched by crowds of onlookers.

Bali Events and Festivals in January - Bali, Indonesia, ID

New Year's Day - January 1st, the celebrations of the previous night continue into the day, although things become more sedate by midday
Pager Wesi - celebrates Sang Yang (the creator of the universe) with grand ceremonies island-wide

Bali Events and Festivals in February - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Kuningan Ceremony - in early February, spanning ten days and signifying the end of the new year holiday. Yellow rice is offered and temples are beautified to bade farewell to the gods

Bali Events and Festivals in March - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Melasti - precedes Nyepi and is the loud part of the two-day event, where well-dressed villagers offer flowers and fruit and holy men sacrifice pigs
Nyepi - the quiet day after Melasti welcomes the beginning of the lunar year with a silent vigil to fool the spirits. Bali's airport is closed on Nyepi
Galungan - the Balinese gods descend to earth during Galungan, a major festival of the Pawukon calendar each March, celebrating the good Dharma over the evil Adharma

Bali Events and Festivals in April - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Kartini Day - mid-April, women don traditional attire to commemorate the birth of the founder of the Balinese women's rights movement, Raden Ajeng Kartini

Bali Events and Festivals in May - Bali, Indonesia, ID

National Awakening Day - May 20th, 'Hari Kebangkitan Nasional' is a public holiday in Indonesia to mark the principles of Indonesian state philosophy. Government offices and schools host this event

Bali Events and Festivals in June - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Bali Arts Festival - runs between June and July and celebrates the arts and culture of Bali
Kite Festival - a fun event seeing lots of kite flying throughout the day, and a real boon for tourists who want to get a unique glimpse of another side of Bali

Bali Events and Festivals in July - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Negara Bull Races - bulls are washed and decorated with garlands, coupled to chariots and then raced in an enthralling event. The bull races are staged between July and October

Bali Events and Festivals in August - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Independence Day - August 17th sees Bali adorned with national flags, along with the rest of the country, and feature processions, traditional music and dancing
Nusa Dua Festival - a week-long event in Bali's popular Nusa Dua resort is a must-see, featuring many Balinese treats including singing, dancing and eating

Bali Events and Festivals in September - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Temple Celebrations - all prominent temples in Bali feature celebrations throughout September, including at Kuta, Sanur, Ubud and Denpasar

Bali Events and Festivals in October - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival - goes off for five days every year in October and sees dozens of writers from several countries gather, culminating in one of the best events of its type in the country

Bali Events and Festivals in November - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Bali International Jazz Festival - a major event on the island, and in Indonesia as a whole, with performers from all over the world playing out to crowds over a period of three days

Bali Events and Festivals in December - Bali, Indonesia, ID

Christmas Day - December 25th as with elsewhere in Asia, Christmas is celebrated by Bali's Christian faithful and tourists get particularly jovial at resort bars and restaurants
New Year's Eve - December 31st sees dinners, dancing, partying, a traditional countdown and lots of fireworks in the bigger resorts

Bali History

2010-08-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

The Balinese believe in the eternal cycle of reincarnation and view their life on Earth as just one stage in their continued existence. As part of this belief, a person’s life is marked by rites of passages that are celebrated by the whole family .

The first important ritual is performed sixth months during pregnancy (magedong gedongan ceremony). However the first noted ritual is done at birth when the baby’s placenta is buried in coconut shell near the entrance to the family house. Babies are regarded as being the reincarnation of the ancestors. They are therefore thought of as being holy and are treated with reverence. At puberty the tooth-filing ceremony takes place, although this expensive custom is often delayed until marriage to save money.

Marriage rituals in Bali are unique and often involve the entire families of the bride and groom in elaborate mock drama.

The final and most important cycle of life is the cremation. Cremation rituals are seen as joyous occasions as they release the soul from the Earth so it may start its journey to heaven before being reborn. The mukur ceremony is done 40 days after a cremation to mark the entry of the person into heaven.

A Three day odalan festival takes place in a village every 210 days on the anniversary of the village temple’s dedication. During the island-wide festival of Galungan, ancestors are thought to descend from the heaven and enter the world. On the 10th day, Kuningan, the spirits ascend back to Heaven. Nyepi, the new year of the Caka calendar is celebrated in March.

Bali Travel Tips

2010-08-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

General Info

Passports and Visas

Visitors from USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe don't need a visa to enter Indonesia. Provided you have a ticket out of the country and your passport has at least six months validity at the time of your arrival, you'll be issued with a tourist card which is valid for a 60-day stay. Keep the card with your passport as you'll have to hand it back when you leave the country. It is good for 60 days, not two months; some travelers have been fined for overstaying by only a day or so. It is not possible to get an extension on a tourist visa, unless there is a medical emergency or you have to answer legal charges. There are visas, particularly a business visitor's visa, which may be valid for a longer period. The immigration office is in Denpasar. If you have to visit this office, make sure you wear your most respectable clothes.

Currency

The Rupiah. Notes 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000. Coins 100, 500, 1000.

Time Zone

GMT + 8 hours. Same as Beijing, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Perth.
Accommodation

As you can imagine there's an enormous variety of accommodation available in Bali. It varies from magnificent five star resorts to simple jungle cabins, depending on the location and your holiday budget.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards are acceptable in most hotels along with American dollar traveler's cheques.

Electricity

Most hotels use 220 volts, 50 cycles and a round, two-pronged slim plug. Bathroom shaver plugs usually have a transformer switch. We suggest taking an adaptor for your appliance.

General Info

Getting Around

You will find a range of chauffeur driven limousines, self-drive cars, taxis and hotel courtesy cars. Many taxis are not metered so it's wise to negotiate the fare before you climb aboard. Bemos are a unique form of transport. They are a mini-van masquerading as a communal bus. You simply hail the driver and negotiate the fare that suits you both. Motorcycles can also be hired in many places but special care should be exercised at all times as road and traffic conditions can be somewhat hazardous in certain locations. Traveling around Bali is made all the easier because everywhere you go you'll find friendly people only to happy to give you advice and directions on how to get where you want to go.

Driver's License

If you wish to hire a car you must be over 18 years of age and posses an International Driver's License or license from ASEAN countries.

Clothing

Light, airy, casual clothes are the most practical and you'll find natural fibers like cotton or linen are the most comfortable in Bali's often humid conditions. Waist sashes should be worn when visiting temples.

Useful Numbers

• Taxis
o Taksi Praja : 289191, 289090
o Taksi Bali : 701111

• Medical
o AEA International (Medical Evac) Jl. Hayam Wuruk 40, Denpasar. Tel : 228996
o Medical Centre Jl Bypass Ngurah Rai 100X Denpasar. Tel : 761263
o Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada (Hospital) Jl. Panglima Sudirman No.50, Denpasar. Tel : 227560
o Kuta Clinic : Jl. Raya Kuta No.100X, Kuta. Tel : 753268
o Nusa Dua Clinic : Jl. Pramata No. 81A, Nusa Dua. Tel : 771324
o Rumah Sakit Umum Sanglah (Hospital) : Jl. Diponegoro, Denpasar. Tel : 227911

• Emergency Numbers
o Ambulance : 118
o Fire : 113
o Police : 110
o Search & Rescue : 51111
o Red Cross : 26465

• Operator Assisted Calls
o Within Indonesia : 100
o International : 101

• Directory Information
o Bali : 108
o Indonesia : 106

• Credit Card Enquiries
o American Express :
? Galleria Nusa Dua Shopping Center. Tel : 773334
? Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur. Tel : 288511 ext. 111
o Mastercard :
? Bank Central Asia, Jl. Cokroaminoto, Denpasar. Tel : 222652
o Visa Card :
? Bank Duta, Jl. Hayam Wuruk 165, Denpasar. Tel : 226578

Balinese Culture: Balinese Culture and Traditions

2010-07-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Balinese Culture: Balinese Culture and Traditions

A Lesson in Tea and Coffee

2010-07-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

Tea and coffee are both drinks which inspire passion. More than just simple beverages, tea and coffee are part of a cultural phenomenon filled with social meaning and ritual. They both have fairly long, extensive histories—here’s a short look at them.

As old time legends have it, the origins of coffee can be traced to Ethiopia, where it grows copiously, and in the wild. Shepherds were apparently the first to discover its stimulating effects after their flock nibbled on some and couldn’t settle down for the night. Another ancient tale tells of a man who was shipped out to the desert to starve to death. In the desert, the man could only find the coffee plant, so he took chance, boiled it and lived. He then made it to the neighboring town of Mocha; the locals there thought his survival was a miracle.

According to researchers, coffee made its first appearance as a beverage in 1000 AD. Sufi monks, in Yemen, in the south of Arabia, supposedly made and drank coffee in their monasteries. Coffee was first brought to Yemen and Egypt through Ethiopia. The Arabians are the ones that get credit for making coffee, roasting it and brewing it, as we know it today. Coffee spread from the Middle East to the North of Africa by the middle of the fifteenth century. It made its way to Europe first through Italy; from there it went to Indonesia and soon enough it arrived in the Americas.

The Arabians weren’t keen to share their precious coffee beans; so in order to make sure no one else could grow them, they cooked or boiled the beans, making them infertile. However, according to one tale, an Indian by the name of Baba Budan smuggled out some fertile beans by taping them to his belly. This way, coffee arrived in Venice and spread all around Europe.

The Dutch began growing their own coffee plants and cultivating the beans in 1616 despite the Arab prohibition on exporting beans. Dutch coffee was thus taken to Java and Ceylon. According to historians, by the early 1700’s Indonesian coffee was being drunk by Dutchmen and women by the cupful.

Today, coffee is ubiquitous. You really can’t go anywhere without seeing it. The art of brewing the perfect cup is something that is prided by many.

Tea has a long and varied history too. It can be traced back to ancient China. The emperor Shen Nung is credited with discovering tea about 5,000 years ago. As a wise and learned man, the emperor passed an edict that all water should be boiled before it was drank. One day, while the emperor and his court were traveling, they stopped for some water. The servants set up the pot to boil it and some dried leaves from a bush fell into it, making tea. The emperor, always inquisitive, tasted the new concoction and was delighted. This was the birth of tea.

Tea became a staple in China. It became so entrenched in Chinese daily life that Lu Yu wrote a guide book about the beverage codifying cultivation methods and drinking traditions. The book became a classic amongst Chinese society.

The Japanese weren’t introduced to the beverage until the priest Yeisei brought it back to his homeland from China some years later. After that tea was big in Japan.

Europe came to know tea by way of a Portuguese priest who brought the drink back by way of the East in 1560. Since then tea has become very popular.

Bali Fashion shop

2010-02-16T05:14:00.000-08:00

We are an Indonesian company involves with manufacturing, souring, wholesaling, distributing and exporting export local products and merchandises include clothing apparel, ethnic garments, handicrafts, furnitures, silver jewelry, tribal costume jewellery.

Baliclothingexporter.com is a online wholesale catalog to supply international market demand of fine quality sarong clothing, home decoration, giftware and furnitures, Balinese handicraft with competitive price. Our products are originally crafted in Bali, the tropical island with vibrant culture, artistic people and beautiful scenary.

Please visit our site www.baliclothingexporter.com for wide range of images of all our products. We specialise in all kind of dresses, pareo, sarong, stoles, ponchos, shawls, beach wear, bandana, headwraps, wraps, triangles, handbags, purses, belts, caps, hair wear, ties, costume jewellery in variety of styles, fabrics such as chiffon, georgette, cotton, rayon, polyester, silk, crochet in different sizes and style such as prints, solid, fringes, tassels, bead, sequined, hand embroidery etc. We have been exported and wholesaled to top-notch labels and wholesalers in Europe, North America And Asia for more than 5 years.

We would appreciate if you could let us know more about your organization and items you are dealing in and some more details of your interest and requirements.

Bali and Hinduism

2009-11-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

Unlike the rest of Indonesia where the predominant religion is Islam, over 90% of Balinese are Hindus, although very particular practice a form of Hinduism called "Hindu Balinese" which blends a belief in gods and Hindu doctrines next animistic beliefs and worship of Buddhist saints.

Bali is a giant of Hindu mythology who, having been defeated by Vishnu, acknowledged him as supreme god.Bali threatened to destroy the gods and tried to proclaim himself ruler of the world.
Given this threat, Vishnu took the form of a Brahmin dwarf named Vamana-avatar, and asked the giant all land that could cover with his three steps, at which agreed Bali.

Thus, Vishnu suddenly becoming a colossal size, covered the earth with only one of its steps, in another step covered the distance between earth and sky. With the third and last of his steps would arrive at twenty hell and was at the time when Bali was recognized as the supreme God and worshiped him.Vishnu let him be ruler of the subterranean regions of hell or "kingdom of potatoes."In Hindu mythology, Bali represents the evil spirit cast into the abyss by Vishnu comes to earth once a year to exercise their evil power over men.

Until the fifteenth century, the Hindu kingdom of Majapahit ruled the territories of Southeast Asia, even to Madagascar. They maintained trade relations with Cambodia. The Hindu Kingdom was, in economic terms, very prosperous. The great known Gajahmada was then Prime Minister of the Kingdom.Hinduism quickly spread to the lands of the Kingdom, including Bali.

The Balinese Hinduism practiced thus continuing their traditions and culture. It is for this reason that Balinese Hinduism is not exactly the same as Hinduism in India despite the religion comes from this country. In Bali is called The Agama Hindu Dharma (meaning literally, Hinduism Dharma, universal law governing the order of beings and things) which means in fact a mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism. Mahayanna rudiments of Buddhism came to Japan, China and Korea.

Traditional Balinese Children Song

2009-06-24T17:49:00.000-07:00

Back in a childhood days, my friends and I used to play traditional Balinese children game called “meong-meongan” or “the cat” game. It is a simple game, derived from the well known theme of a cat chasing a mouse. But this time I will not talk about the game but the song that accompanied this game. The game is accompanied by a simple a joyful traditional Balinese children song entitled “meong-meong” (free translation into English: “cat, oh cat”)

The song runs as follow:

Meong-meong alih je bikule (cat, oh cat, please catch the mice)
Bikul gede-gede buin mokoh-mokoh (the mice are big and fat)
Kereng pesan ngerusuhin (always making troubles)
Juk meng, juk kul, juk meng, juk kul (catch the cat, catch the mice, catch the cat, catch the mice)
Dije nengeng ditu nengkul (where the eyes open widely, there crouching)

Nglawang at Bali Art Festival

2009-06-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

Art Center bali was filled with visitors. Men-women, young-old, and native-foreigners seemed never want to blink their eyes as if they did not want to miss a thing from this show. They were hypnotized. Wherever the show went then those people would follow it as if they were the part of this show.

Bali Art Festival does not just present Balinese handmade goods or Balinese culinary heritage but also performances that begin to be neglected. One of them is Nglawang. This show had been presented twice to re-popularize it to the people, especially to the Balinese children.

Nglawang actually is a Balinese tradition aiming to ward a village from disasters. This tradition is similar to Pangrebongan which is held in Kesiman village (see the article). Nglawang is usually held after Kuningan day in several villages in Bali but it becomes rare ritual to be held in the town nowadays.

Nglawang derives from word ‘lawang’ meaning door. Nglawang means showing sanctified tapakan (similar to statue made from metal or wood which is usually glorify and kept in one village) barong, from one door to another, from one house to another and from one village to another.

Nglawang nowadays develops to another function. This tradition changes to be a part of art show. Groups of people exhibit their unsacred barong, rangda, etc and demonstrate a procession of Nglawang to entertain the visitors.

This kind of performance was also conducted at Bali Art Festival XXX on June 28th by representatives from 5 regions in Bali. Every representative brought its barong, rangda, monkey costume and gamelan. Moreover their performances were accompanied by Pemangku (Balinese priest who officiate the traditional ceremonies).

Late in the afternoon, Representative from Jembrana, Karangasem, and Badung has ended their performance. Then representative from Bangli’s turn to conduct the core of this show in front yard of Ardha Candra. In the meantime, column of people from Tabanan began to walk around the Art Center. On the very back column, people who played gamelan followed. And that gamelan player was preceded by people who wore very scary barong, Rangda, and monkey costume who dance while walking as part of parade. In front of them there were six little girls who wore mask waving a very big ‘handkerchief’. The two men with red ceremonial umbrella walked after them And Pemangku guided them all in front.

Many children got close to Rangda or Barong and then took a photo together. Children were not afraid with Barong and Rangda because they caressed the children instead of frightened them. But, do not try this if you are in the real nglawang.

Next, they started entering the front yard of Ardha Candra where the core of nglawang took place. Many people happened to be there, waiting the last performance from Tabanan, although they had watched nglawang performance from other regions.

People who played gamelan and two men brought the umbrella parted from the column. The little girls started to dance. After that Rangda also began to dance and the musical accompaniment was beaten more andmore energetic. Barong entered the arena to fight Rangda. It made many more people came to stand around Barong and Rangda.

When Barong was fighting with rangda, a group of men entered the arena and stabbed their self with Keris while screaming as if they all were in trance. The actors were very good because that performance looked like reality. Some children became emotional moreover. “Oh no, that man near the tree is still in trance,” and another child screamed cheering Barong. “Come on Barong!! Those Rangda must be defeated,” A boy run to his parent and tell them what he already watched. Well, all people there were entertained and children got something new from those performance. Wishing that they can share their experience to their friends and this tradition will be known widely once again.

Barong succeeds to defeat Rangda. And the musical accompaniment stopped then, signing that performance ended. People gave their loud applause, thank to outstanding performance which had given.

Bali Supermarket Favorite

2009-06-24T17:41:00.001-07:00

Bintang Supermarket is one favorite places for tourist, expats, and locals to buy their daily stuff.

Address
Bintang Supermarket
Raya Seminyak St.
Seminyak Village, Kuta
Badung District 80361
Tel +62-361-730552

Around the supermarket is as busy as inside the store, Raja Restaurant and Seminyak Cafe is on the same area. A small post office, Phone Shop, CD’s store for PC’s program and games are in the same building.

Other favorite is Bali Deli where many expats buy food, drinks, and bakery with an inside bakery coffee shop. They sell wine, sauces, and beers.

Bali Deli located near to The Villas and Prana Spa.

Address
Jl. Kunti 117X
Seminyak
(0361) 733 555

The BEST of BALI

2009-06-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

BALI ESSENTIALS
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Bali-dreamland.com: Acquiring & Owning Property in Bali

Many regular visitors are interested in acquiring a villa in Bali, either to enjoy as a vacation home, for future retirement, or as an investment.
Here you find straight-forward and up-to-date information on Indonesian property laws, recommended areas, acquisition, construction and maintenance costs, and legal options for potential investors.
Baliproperties.com is NOT a property agent. However, to expand its portfolio of luxurious villas in Bali, the company offers for selected villas free management/maintenance services and an attractive guaranteed annual return.

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Bali Sourching

2009-02-09T16:32:00.001-08:00

SOURCING BALI is the Trading Name of PT Sourcing Bali - established in 2000 - supporting the needs of overseas buyers of Indonesian products. We cater to private buyers, hotels, resorts, interior decorators, professional meeting planners, wholesalers and retailers of home wares, furnishings, clothing etc.

Sourcing Bali is based on the beautiful island of Bali. We provide the professional buyer with complete product sourcing service for a diverse range of Indonesian products. Whether from your design or from our catalogue, for quality, reliability and service, contact SOURCING BALI.

Sourcing Bali is committed to promoting high quality products at the best prices. We aim to provide a platform for thousands of skillful people, many of who live in remote villages and who do not have direct access to the market to sell their goods.

Indonesian handicrafts

2009-01-28T18:09:00.000-08:00

Indonesian handicrafts have continued to gain in popularity over the years. They have earned a dominant place in the highly competitive international giftware and furnishings market place. Millions of dollars of handicrafts are now being exported all over the globe annually to gift shops, supermarkets, department stores, wholesalers, importers and distributors. ArtsBali.com supplies quality Bali handicrafts to such entities and currently exports to at least forty countries all over the globe.

Human resources and empowerment
Bali handicraft industry has thrived and it now provides employment and business opportunities for quite literally thousands of people. In addition to providing a livelihood for those in the handicraft industry, it has given a big boost to the economy. To appreciate how the handicraft industry functions and provides a living for so many people, you have to go off into the hills, far off the beaten track. You will find Balinese communities who are working hard turning bits of wood, bamboo, metal, leaves, and clay into truly amazing and marketable products.

The supply of Bali handicraft
We use the Internet and direct promotion campaigns to keep the handicraft industry alive in Indonesia and provides many of the home industry manufacturers with a channel to sell their arts and craft wares. Many handicraft products that we supply are the creations of the highly skilled artisans. To this end, we look forward to continuing our drive to keep supporting the communities of Indonesia by helping them to bring their unique skills and crafts to the world market place.

Come on in and see for yourself all the handicrafts that Indonesia has to offer. You'll be truly amazed!
Our Best Product Category:
1.Bali Bales
2.Bali Lamp
3.Photo Album
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5.Bali Wooden Cat
Arts Bali Updated News
Bali handicraft exports
Bali's export of various handicraft products in the first ten months of 2007 rose 8.6 percent to US$202.8 million from US186.7 million in the same period last year. Wooden handicraft goods and furniture still dominated the export with a value of U..
Bangli’s crafts product exported to European markets'.
Bangli’s as part of the regencies in Bali, which has a lot of unique handicraft products such handicraft made of glass. During the time, local craftsmen exported the product to European markets.

Stone Handicraft

2009-01-05T19:34:00.000-08:00

Bali Stone Bali Stone
Buying agent for quality Balinese stone carving direct from Balinese sculptor. Bali known as paradise on earth with thousands of holy temple or "Pura". You can find stone carving in every house in Bali. In balihand you can find all stone carving art with traditional and modern style of statue, wall relief, garden lamp, candle holder, animal stone statue, and many others. The artworks direct from our Balinese sculptor.
Bali Handicraft Bali Handicraft
Buying agent for quality handicrafts products direct from qualified Bali handicraft supplier. We have many collection of handicraft products such as, wooden craft, wooden statue, wooden animal, bali masks, bali statue, bali music tools, bali box, natural album photo, bags, sandals, and many others with wholesale pri

Bali Stone
Buying agent for quality Balinese stone carving direct from Balinese sculptor. Bali known as paradise on earth with thousands of holy temple or "Pura". You can find stone carving in every house in Bali. In balihand you can find all stone carving art with traditional and modern style of statue, wall relief, garden lamp, candle holder, animal stone statue, and many others. The artworks direct from our Balinese sculptor.

Bali Tourism Promotion Budget Reduced for 2009

2008-12-25T17:11:00.000-08:00

Less Money and a More Selective Approach to Promoting Tourism on the Cards for Bali in 2009.

Bali News: Bali Tourism Promotion Budget Reduced for 2009
(12/20/2008) The Bali Tourism Authority (BTA) has revealed that Bali will have only Rp. 4 billion (US$360,000) for tourism promotion in 2009, 20% less than the Rp. 5 billion allocated in 2008.

Bali officials are blaming the reduced promotional budget on the worsening global financial crisis and the need to prioritize spending on health services and poverty eradication.

The move to curtail promotional funding has been labeled as "unwise" by the Bali Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agents (ASITA), Al Purwa. Purwa told The Jakarta Post that, in fact, the government needs to increase promotional budgets to counteract the expected downturn in tourism markets in 2009: "Promotions are a necessity regardless of the given economic conditions. In a time of financial crisis, we must strengthen promotional efforts and not weaken them."

Purwa also warned that his members were reporting cancellations and reduced levels of new bookings for the coming year.

The Chief of the BTA, I Gede Nurjaya, said he remained optimistic that a 2.1 million target for foreign visitors was achievable for 2009. He explained that total, higher than the 1.9 million plus visitors expected to be in hand by the end of 2008, will be achieved through targeted promotions; coordinated visits by the press, travel agents and foreign officials; and cooperative programs with international airlines flying to Bali.

Quoted separately in Beritabali.com, Nurjaya said promotional efforts would be reduced in "markets deemed to not have great potential such as Russia" and instead see marketing concentrated on more promising markets such as Japan, Australia, China and India.

The total budget of the BTA is Rp. 6 billion (US$540,500) with two-thirds of that amount dedicated to promotional activities and the remaining one-third for the daily operations of his office.

Bali International Triathlon

2008-12-25T17:03:00.001-08:00

Bali International Triathlon, LLC has opened registration for the 2nd Annual Bali International Triathlon to be held on the island of Bali on June 29, 2008 at Jimbaran Bay, Bali.

The Olympic distance course, consisting of a 1.5 kilometer swim in the warm waters of Jimbaran Bay, a 40 kilometer bike course through the Nusa Dua area, and a 10 kilometer run through Jimbaran Village ending with a beach finish, will provide participating athletes with both a challenging and scenic race. As with last year's event, athletes can compete in both individual age group categories or through three-person relay teams. A 5 kilometer "Fun Run" will also take place through Jimbaran Village.

Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay, one of the leading race sponsors, is offering a prize package consisting of a seven day, six night stay in one of their world famous luxury villas for both the overall first male and first female finishers. Four Seasons Resort will also provide a pre-race athlete reception and dinner as well as post-race food for athletes. Awards will also be given to the first three triathlon finishers in each age group category, and the top male and female finishers of the 5K Fun Run. All triathletes will be provided with high quality race T-shirts, entrance to the pre-race party, and unique finisher's award handcrafted by local Balinese artists.

"Our goal is to repeat the huge success of last year's inaugural triathlon. In the process, we hope to promote tourism on the island and provide a quality race that will attract both professional and top age group athletes," says Robb Strom, one of the principals involved in the organization of the race. Race organizers also include Brennan Lindner of Generic Events in Los Angeles, and Bali Discovery Tours in Bali.

Participating athletes are expected to come from all over the world to take advantage of this unique destination race. While in Bali, they can take advantage of the wide range of activities available, including scuba diving, elephant riding, white water river rafting, parasailing, and jet skiing. Bali is famous for its spa properties, and athletes will once again be treated to post-race massage by local Balinese therapists.

Special hotel and tour packages for athletes and their families can be arranged by contacting Bali Discovery Tours.

Balinese Moments - An Exhibition by Ventje

2008-12-25T17:02:00.001-08:00

Bali's Casa Iseabo - Gallery of Contemporary Art will host an exhibition of paintings depicting Balinese life by Ventje S.

With inspiration drawn from the daily life and spiritual practice of the Balinese, Ventje's paintings reflect his deep love of the Island and its people. Colorful, realistic and rich in detail - Ventje's works reveal a spiritual understanding of the Balinese drawn from months dedicated to sitting and careful observation in a Denpasar market or roaming the rice fields of Bali.

Born in Jakarta of Manadonese parentage, Ventje has spent the past 42 years living and painting in Bali.

Despite enjoying a world wide audience for his artwork, the current exhibition will be Ventje's first solo exhibition in Bali and only his second internationally, the first of which held in the Maison de France, Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1971. Working traditionally with oil paints on canvas for his larger composition, Ventje employs a special technique of layering oils, creating an exciting visual effect in his smaller works. The exhibition also includes a number of large black pen sketches on paper that depict daily life in Bali.

Casa Iseabo

Casa Iseabo is located in Seminyak in Bali and was established to provide an international platform for Balinese and Indonesian artists. The gallery works with artists who share a fierce commitment to their artistic vision, whatever the medium; whether hand-sculptured stone or wood, glass, painting, bronze and iron, marble, weaving, batik design, paintings or drawings.

The exhibition, "Balinese Moments" runs untils January 31, 2008.

For more information contact Susana Archibald at telephone ++62-(0) 81805503193.

BALI TROPIC RESORT AND SPA

2008-12-17T22:50:00.001-08:00

Tanjung Benoa - Nusa Dua
Welcome to the real Balinese Architecture resort of Bali Tropic, this is set in front of the ocean and the golden sand of Nusa Dua Beach. It is about 25 minutes drive from Bali's International Airport. The resort building that is designed with the Balinese touch gives the warm welcome atmosphere and friendly of Bali's nuance. The resort is completed by the comfortable facilities and it is situated in the clean white sandy beach with the calm seawater that is suitable for relaxation during your vacation in Bali. The friendly service from the well-trained staff and complete hotel facilities will give a memory that is not fallen into oblivion. The Resort is offering all-inclusive service gives you the wide opportunity to enjoy the food and beverage until your satisfactory level. Bali Tropic is located in Tanjung Benoa Area and only 5 minutes from elite resort area of Nusa Dua Bali.

Bali Hotels, Bali Tropic Resort and Spa
All Inclusive Hotel in Tanjung Benoa Bali
Bali Tropic Resort Beach sideLet the authentic Balinese entrance greet you and the professional staff serves you with natural warmth and pleasant hospitality. Its resort is set amidst in the lush tropical gardens and lotus ponds with access to the sea. Bali Tropic Resort and Spa is beach resort in Tanjung Benoa Bali and Bali Water Sport Center that is designed permanently with Balinese architecture provides comfortable room and excellent beach for relaxation and fun for Bali Holiday . All-inclusive services are the main service that let you to enjoy the food and beverage, which are wrapped in one package rate.
Accommodations
Bali Tropic Resort bed roomRest and relax at your spacious Balinese style bedroom. Each bungalow has a private balcony, overlooking the lush tropical gardens and a private bathroom with a bathtub and a collection of amenities. All rooms are designed comfortable with the air conditioning and private balcony to let you to enjoy the tropical atmosphere that is covering the resort.

Bali Rattan Furniture

2008-12-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

Best Bali Furniture

We provide Bali rattan furniture, Bali wicker furniture, rattan dining set furniture, rattan living room set furniture and other kinds of Bali furniture made from rattan.

We also provide others Bali furniture like banana leaf furniture, sea grass furniture, teak furniture, patio furniture, outdoor furniture, bedroom furniture, office furniture, home furniture, garden furniture and indoor furniture, knock down house, wood flooring, decking and special project..bali rattan furniture

Also we have any Bali handicraft, ata handicrafts Bali, bag, basket, Bali wooden cat, Bali wooden animal, wooden lamp, wooden car, table lamp, Bali wooden accessories, home decoration, Bali interior design merchandize and much more all available for export from Bali – Indonesia. For complete informations please see our Bali handicraft catalog.

Bali Blinds and Shades

2008-11-11T16:41:00.000-08:00

Compare All Window Treatments
Bali Sliding Panel

NEW Bali Sliding Panels
Bali sliding panels are perfect for covering patio doors and wide windows, or for dividing a room. Available in many of the same colors featured in Bali Roman, roller, solar and natural shades.
Bali Wood Blinds

Bali Wood Blinds
The natural beauty of Bali Northern Heights™ wood blinds complement any décor style. These energy efficient wood blinds keep rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Bali Cellular Shades

Bali Cellular Shades
The insulation of other window treatments can't compare to the energy-efficient honeycomb design of Bali cellular shades.
Bali Pleated Shades

Bali Pleated Shades
An impressive collection of designer colors in a variety of on-trend fabrics. From sheer to semi-private to room darkening (by adding a liner), Bali offers a perfectly pleated shade!

Bali Natural Shades

Bali Natural Shades
The unique materials of Bali natural shades (often called woven woods or bamboo shades) create a relaxed atmosphere of casual elegance or simple sophistication.
Bali Roman Shades

Bali Roman Shades
The classic style of Bali Roman shades combines a soft, drapery appearance with the easy operation of a shade. NEW Custom Tailored Roman Shades are now available!

Bali Roller Shades

Bali Roller Shades
Bali roller shades blend a retro look with modern sensibility. Choose from fabrics ranging from sheer to blackout.

Bali Vertical Blinds
Add drama, dimension and sleek, contemporary styling to patio doors and wider windows with Bali vertical blinds.

Bali Solar Shades

Bali Solar Shades
Bali solar shades allow you to maintain view to the outside, reduce glare and UV rays, and keep rooms cool and comfortable.
Bali Faux Wood Blinds

Faux Wood Blinds
Bali composite and faux wood blinds are an affordable alternative to real wood blinds. Use in kitchens and bathrooms as slats won't warp in high humidity.

Bali Horizontal Blinds
Bali vinyl and aluminum horizontal blinds offer a wide range of colors and slat sizes to match today’s decorating styles.

Asian Beach Games

2008-10-28T22:53:00.000-07:00

The Asian Beach Game Will be open on kuta bali....
if you want to watching it you can coming to bali,....welcome

Arsa Handicraft in Bali

2008-10-22T01:45:00.000-07:00

ARSA Handicraft are handicraft exporter, wholesaler and manufacture High Quality products from Bali, Indonesia. We have Highly skilled in furniture, home design, Gazebo, and Handicraft.

We have earned a reputation for competitive pricing whilst providing an unmatched personalized service, continually striving for through innovative design, attention to detail and prompt delivery.

Products with Balinese artist hand you can feel here. Every product is produced with creative hands and touch of naturalistic sence. Quality is our top care. Let us to realize your imagination with natural sense.

All kinds of products bellow are our specialist :
- Handicraft.
- Art Glass Painted, Sandblasted & Engraved.
- Engraved Stone & River stone.
- Cast Stone & Resin.
- Games.
- Statuary and Wood Carving.
- Water Fountains.
- Iron Art.
- Forever Candle.
- Gift, Souvenirs & Promotional Item.
- Home & Office Accessories.
- Spa Accessories.
- Gazebo and Carving Gazebo
- Sarong.

All of our products respond to an ethics code, are hand-made and therefore unique.

Just send us an email and you will see that we really take care of our customers.

WHY ARSA HANDICRAFT ?
You need someone that you can rely on, that you can trust, someone to control the production, the quality and to make of your money the best investment possible. We are Bali Handicraft Exporter, Wholesale, and Manufacture

About BALI HOLIDAYS WEDDING

2008-10-10T21:17:00.001-07:00

Bali is a last paradise in the world, all of people over the world consider this. Beside leisure and relaxation, Bali also offers many beautiful and romantic locations for those in love to experience a unique wedding. Bali is the chosen venue for sweethearts from all over the world to be legally married.

Bali airport

2008-10-10T01:57:00.000-07:00

Ngurah Rai Denpasar, Bali airport
| click to see bali airport pictures |

Airport Location

The international airport of Bali, Ngurah Rai, is located at the south coast of Bali in Tuban close to Kuta Beach and Legian, at a distance of 13 km from the city of Denpasar.

The airport of Bali has a domestic and an international terminal.

Geography

The geographic location of Bali airport is at 08.44.51 S - 115.10.09 1. It's elevation is 4,3 M / 14 Feet and it comprises a total area of 265.60 Ha.
Bali airport info

At both of the terminals information desks are located.
Luggage

A left luggage counter is to be found next to the international departures terminal entrance.
Changing money

There are banks and money change offices, but you would get a more favourable rate at the banks in the towns, so just change as much as you need.
Shopping

A variety of shops serve the airport, including the duty free Plaza Bali at international departures. With world class outlets such as Hermes, Burberry's and Fendi.
Eating / Drinking

Restaurants and cafes from McDonalds to coffee shops to smart Balinese dining are open from 6am till the last flight in both terminals.
Airport Tax

Payable at departure:
Rp. 100,000 on international flights
Rp. 9 - 20,000 on domestic flights.
Business Facilities

Citibank offers executive lounges in both terminals and there is another one on the third floor with internet access and showers. Secretarial services and catering can be hired.
Disabled Facilities

Wheelchairs, lifts and general assistance are readily available.
Available Transport

Taxi, Car Rental, City Transportation

International Departures

Other Information

* Airport classification
Class 1
.
* Airport ICAO/IATA Code
WADD / DPS.
.
* Runway
Name: R-09 - 27.
Surface: asphalt / concrete.
Magnetic angle: 088-26.
Dimension: 3000m x 45m.
.
* Apron
Wide : 126.730 m 2 + 30.000 m 2 (inv. 1996)
Strengths : PCN 69 RCXT
Surface : Concrete cement
Capacity : type B- 747/ MD-11=6 ; Max. a/c B-747.400
type DC-10 =4
type DC-9 =21
.
* Street and Parking:
STREET : 134.110 m2
PARKING : 38.358 m2.
.
* Terminals:
Domestic Arrival and Departure Wide : 9.039 m2
International Arrival and Departure Wide : 28.630 m2
.
* Security facilities:
X-Ray, Walk Trough, Explosive Detector, Handy Metal Detector, PAS, PABX, Fire Alarm, CCTV, Perimeter System, Door Control, FIDS.

Contact information

Bandar Udara Ngurah Rai
Jl. Raya I Gusti Ngurah Rai
DENPASAR
80361 BALI
Phone: +62 (0)361 751011
Fax: +62 (0)361 751032
E-mail: dps@angkasapura1.co.id

The new info in bali

2008-10-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

Now in bali we can get many job, because many factory want to people smarth..
if you want you can coming:),hehehhe

WE ARE BALI HANDICRAFT WHOLESALER & BUYING AGENT OF BALI HANDICRAFTS, BALI WOODEN STATUE, BALI MASK AND ANY KIND OF BALI, LOMBOK, AND JAVA HANDICRAFTS

2008-09-15T01:14:00.001-07:00

Welcome to bali handicraft wholesale website, the source of Bali handicraft where you are able to find various type of handicraft such as and many more...

We ship fast and honest. Our customers received only products they love. It's too often here in Indonesia, customer places his/her order, and what they receive in the container is a far cry from what they thought they were getting.This such a horror story will not happen to you if you do business with us.

The best way to convinced you to place an order is to meet us personally. That's why we invite you to come to Bali. If you can't come to Bali only to meet us, why don't you put Bali as your next holiday destination. Bali is one of the best holiday/travel destination in the world. We have so much to offer here...If you come to Bali, we'll visit you at your hotel or if you have plenty of time we'll take you around.

We hold that we are not the best, but we would try our best to give you best products, best service at best prices, this is our duty and have close business. We sincerely hope to have business cooperation and business dealing with the importers, wholesalers and distributors from all over the world and have close relationship with regular business works together.

The Dynamism of Bali's Arts

2008-08-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

The richness of Bali's Arts today can be thought of as the crystallisation of serveral cultural phenomena. Let's again look at dance as an example. Before Hinduism came to Bali, there already existed here various dance forms designed to defer evil, for example the dance known as Sanghyang, which is still performed to this day in some villages and mountain areas. The influence of Java was clearly felt after the fall of the Majapahit Kingdom in Java. At the beginning of the 15th century, many of the Majapahit left Java and began to delovp their arts in Bali. It has been noted in fact that the period of the Balinese Kingdom - between the 16th and 19th centuries is considered the golden age of Bali s art. Gambuh theatre, which is considered the well spring of the performed arts of music and dance was creation of the ruling classes of that epoch. Music, and particularly Balinese gamelan likewise developed around the same time under the influence of the Hindu-Majapahit.

Event today fine art is enjoying a wealth of influence from abroad. Specific styles are named patra Mesir -Egyptian ornament, or elements of Chinese-patra China or Dutch art-patra Olanda, imported into Balinese carvings.

Colonialism-in the Dutch and Japanese perioddidn't affect the existence of the arts in Bali, at least as far as music and dance are concerned. Infact is can be said to have made a positive contribution to the performing arts. Gong Kebyar, for example, which became famous around the turn of the century thanks to pioneer I Gusti Nyoman Panji Gede in the north of Bali, is noted as having been influenced by western culture via Holland. During the 1930 s, Walter Spies, a German painter who lived in Bali focussed his attention on dance and gamelan, so much so that the Kecak dance is performed today in a form enriched by contact with Spies. And in 1931 the Dutch goverment sent an arts mission to Paris, France, an event which took Europe by storm.

Balinese Profil

2008-08-22T20:34:00.001-07:00

Balinese Profile

I Nyoman Tjokot (Balinese Maestro)

"His creations are quite exotic to look at, traditional but without academic influence. His works have a frighteningly macabre feel, his animal carvings eerie,
his figurative sculptures showing strange and frightening forms, as well as beasts whose features are indistinct" The detritus logs and roots commonly found along the river's edge have a unique artistic potential. Click Details

I Gusti Nyoman Lempad (Balinese Maestro)

Home of the painter "I Gusti Nyoman Lempad" - reads the name board outside the former home of this legendary Balinese artist, which is not difficult to find amidst the many art shops mushrooming along Ubud s main high street. You only have to walk about 500m to the east of Puri Ubud and you will see the sign. Otherwise, any body you ask is sure to know the whereabouts of the home of this most famous public figure. Click details

Ida Pedanda Made Sidemen (Balinese Maestro)

"Got no land? So, let's sew within our own selves instead". On the 10th of September 1984 Dewi Sasih was clearly seen in the sky. Dewi Sasih (or, the moon, as it was full at that night) was shining, appearing, it seemed, as a wit ness to the passing of a multi-talented priest, Ida Pedanda Made Sidemen, who was to meet his maker, concluding his long devotion in the earth at the grand old age of 126! Click details

NI KETUT RENENG (Balinese Maestro)

"I feel God sitting in the forefront of my mind. From then I don't feel anything. I just move. My body becomes light as a feather. I feel extremely beaudm and the audience are enchanted." A simple 2 x 3 metre cell in Hayam Wuruk street, Denpasar, remained the . A faithful home of Ni Ketut Reneng during the days leading up to her ...Click Details

I Ketut Mario (Balinese Maestro)

The improvisational dance that came out of his response to the music that day later became known as Kebyar Duduk, or, if danced with trompong, Kebyar Trompong.These creations soon stirred a revolution in Balinese dance ...The foreign tongue refers to him as Mario, and yet the naine of this artist, who was born in 1897, was actually I Ketut Marya. Passing away on March 22, 1968, this dancer had a somewhat slight build, but he made a big name for himself, and for Bali and Indonesia too. Click Details

Bali Galungan Holiday

2008-08-22T01:56:00.001-07:00

Galungan holiday" celebration as to commemorate the victory of "Dharma" (virtue) upon "Adharma" (evil) based on the mythology of "Mayadenawa" (a demon king) who was involved i a war against God Indra's troops. On this day, a tall bamboo pole decorated with young cocounut leaves, flower, fruit and rice-paddy symbolizing prosperity is stuck on every house entrance to make a marvelous view along the village roads, Throughout Bali.

Bali Indonesia Handicrafts Directory

2008-08-17T05:16:00.001-07:00

You've come to the right place for quality Bali and Indonesia Handicrafts, wholesale craft supplier. This website is a well-established Manufacturer, Wholesaler and Exporter of quality Bali and Indonesian craft products. Products range includes all the classic Balinese products like wind chimes, photo albums, stoneware, miniature surfboards, incense, hand crafted terracotta ceramic, carving, wooden statue, candle and incense holders, sarongs, fashion accessories as well as many more handcrafted gift and home ware items from not only Bali but the entire archipelago of Indonesia.

Bali Travel & Culture

2008-08-15T04:37:00.001-07:00

By Scott Vogel
The Washington Post

It was a long time before I felt comfortable asking the Danes why they are the happiest people on Earth, and by then I had already sullied the country’s largest park with a sign that read, “WHY ARE THE DANES THE WORLD’S HAPPIEST PEOPLE? AMERICAN NEWSPAPER WANTS TO KNOW.”

It was all very melodramatic and, as such, distinctly un-Scandinavian, but I had only a few days for a pursuit of their happiness and needed to make every moment count. My tip-off came courtesy the University of Michigan’s World Values Survey, which in June proclaimed Denmark to be the happiest nation among 97 surveyed, a conclusion arrived at by asking souls all around the world whether they were very happy, rather happy, not very happy or not at all happy.

A high percentage of Danes put themselves in the first category. This needed to be investigated, but then I got there and found that happiness was a difficult subject to broach, mostly because of what it seemed to imply.

“Is it that the people of the United States are not happy?” said the first person I asked, a woman selling sausages from a cart on the Radhuspladsen, Copenhagen’s expansive central square.

I gave her my best whatever-gave-you-that-idea face, which she immediately saw through. Then I sighed.

“We’re sixteenth.”

Sixteenth happiest, that is. The sausage lady smiled vacantly, the same smile she’d given me earlier when I’d asked for a knakker, one of those glorious sausages that snap when you bite into them.

“I think we are happiest because of the Carlsberg,” she finally said.

At first I thought the sausage lady was being flip, just trying to take the edge off her conversation with the American, whose countrymen are known for their competitiveness and penchant for concealed weapons. Then it occurred to me that she might be serious. After all, Carlsberg is a Danish beer even more ubiquitous than the sausages, and thus could double as a handy metaphor for the country itself: simple, unremarkable, blond. Furthermore, a few pints into it, simplicity does indeed seem a virtue, unremarkable things become their opposite and, well, blonds do appear to have more fun. But then the buzz lifts, the dazzle evaporates and with it any real chance you’ll ever be as happy as the Danes.

* * * * *

The Moorish architecture and minarets have been restored to former glory and there’s now a loop coaster that you might see in any amusement park in the world. Copenhagen’s celebrated Tivoli Gardens, which dates to 1843, still impresses with its odd combination of string quartets and thrill rides, and the 120,000 light bulbs still don’t come into their own until sundown, which, this being Copenhagen in summer, doesn’t happen until 10.

“I came from a working-class family in Essex,” said Paul Cunningham. He was sitting on a stairway behind the Tivoli restaurant that bears his name — the Paul. His airy, glass-walled eatery (it’s haute cuisine in a conservatory) is one of 11 Copenhagen restaurants in possession of a Michelin star, and so Cunningham is by definition a “hot chef,” a British transplant who is helping lead a resurgence in Danish cooking.

“The only time my family ever sat together was for a Sunday meal. In Denmark, it’s every day,” he told me. I listened as Cunningham gave me the social democracy elevator pitch, nodded as he spoke of “this secure society” and how “everything is built for the middle class, not the upper class” and “the health system is great” and “90 percent of the places serve non-chain coffee,” all of which no doubt make their contributions to Danish well-being. But it was the image of the families sitting together every day that stuck with me, families where everyone knows each other’s stories and kids fall easily into their parents’ arms at midnight in the Tivoli.

And then there were the brief glimpses of joy I caught each time a fireworks shell burst or a fountain danced to life. It is probably unwise to judge a country’s happiness by the faces of its children as lit by fireworks, but the quiet awe of Danish children at such moments was priceless.

On the other side of the park stands Restaurant Herman, which is new and does not yet have a Michelin star but is nevertheless the province of another hot chef, Thomas Herman. He is young, Danish and fiercely committed to keeping the country’s dinner table interesting. This he does by taking Denmark’s many comfort foods and moving them out of their comfort zones, which can be something of a dangerous game. Strawberries are still served with cream, for instance, but now the cream is infused with foie gras.

get bizarre in Bali

2008-08-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

Things are starting to get bizarre in Bali. On Saturday night, the environmental groups threw their much anticipated beach bash (which lived up to its billing). When I arrived the US chief negotiator present at the talks for the first week, Dr Harlan Watson was shuffling on the outskirts of the dance floor, Yvo de Boer, the UN climate chief, was busting the moves on the dance floor, and people were swimming out into the ocean with one hand in the water and one hand above holding their beverage. But Minister John Baird took the cake.

I wasn’t privy to the conversation, but the body language was peculiar to put it mildly. The Minister was yelling in the face of a David Suzuki climate campaigner, poking him in the chest in what looked to be quite an assertive way. Fortunately no fist-a-cuffs broke out.

On Sunday, Trade Ministers wrapped up their first ever meeting. The following countries sent their Minister to the talks: Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerand, and the US. Japan, who has been Canada’s soul mate in Bali on the topic of competitiveness concerns to do with tackling climate change, sent a 12-member delegation including its Vice-Minister. Canada was one of only two countries to have a one-man delegation (Argentina was the other) led by John T. Holmes, our Ambassador to Indonesia, who is meant to be a really nice guy, but probably not the best person to be discussing the scope for redefining the multilateral trading system to take climate change into account.

While the Canadian government was missing in action at the meeting, Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development’s four-strong delegation led by David Runnalls set the tone, presenting the Ministers with an IISD opening report marking the emergence of climate change as the trade issue of our time.

Bright Spot: Everyone from the US who is not part of the US official delegation is tripping over themselves to explain how there are two America’s and Bush’s climate skeptic America is the old one, soon to give way to a new President, and a current majority of States and Senators to take bold action on climate change. What about Canada? Good authority has it that Quebec (not one to let regionalism get in the way of progress J) may soon join the California Governator’s Western Regional Climate Change Action Initiative (WRCAI), aimed at having an emissiona trading market up and running by August 2008. Manitoba is already on board. Premier McGuinty met with Governator when he visited Toronto. If Ontario jumps on board as well, that will cover off the majority of Canada’s population. Ontario Environment Minister John Garretson is in Bali this week—maybe it will be a topic of discussion.

Hostels"Kuta Beach"

2008-08-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

There is good news and bad news here. The bad news is that there really aren’t any traditional hostels anywhere on the island of Bali, at least the kind with dorm beds and common facilities. The good news is that the reason there are no hostels in Bali is that hotels and guesthouses all over the island start at prices so low that there is really no demand for that sort of low budget communal living.

Low budget beds in Bali

They can go by different names, but generally speaking the lower end of the accommodation scene in Bali consists of guesthouses and small hotels. These places can call themselves inns, cottages, bungalows or a few other things as well, but more good news is that you generally get what you pay for in Bali. If one place charges twice as much as the place next door, chances are it’s twice as nice as well.

Guesthouses – These can range from perhaps 4 small rooms all the way up to 50 rooms or so, but they tend to be very basic. They’ll usually have an en-suite bathroom, but expect something close to campground-style facilities rather than what you normally see in hotels in the US and Europe. Beds tend to be hard and furniture is minimal, and usually you’ll have a ceiling fan as your only method for combating the muggy nights during the rainy season. Prices start around US$5 per room, and most tourist cities in Bali have quite a few guesthouses with prices under US$10 per night. Very few of these places are available to be booked on the internet, unfortunately. There are some very luxurious places that call themselves “guesthouses” so price is probably a better indicator of quality than just the name alone.

Hotels – In Bali there are a couple dozen large international hotels and most of them are strung together in the Nusa Dua resort area in the south, but throughout the island there are also small, locally-owned hotels. Some only have a few rooms and others are much larger, but they tend to be a bit more luxurious than the aforementioned guesthouses. For only a bit more money you might be getting a refrigerator in the room and a comfortable bed and nice bathroom as well. Air conditioning is available in some rooms at some places, and usually for a higher price. Depending on the person and the time of year, A/C might be your only hope of getting to sleep or a complete waste of money. Many hotels are available online, and prices can start as low as US$15 per night for quite a nice place, so this is a good place for a bit of a splurge for many people.

Kuta Beach

The center of this famous tourist area is filled with guesthouses and hotels. You can usually get a place by just walking up with your bag in hand, but during peak season and special events it can get quite crowded. There isn’t much chance of having to sleep on the sidewalk (or the beach), but you might have to hoof it around the area for an hour or two and then settle for a place that was way down your list.

If you feel like taking a chance with your room you might still consider booking your first night ahead of time. This means you’ll be able to go straight there and put your bags away, and then you’ll have nearly 24 hours to find a cheaper place you like if you are still motivated. The cheap guesthouse rooms are a bargain in some ways, but they aren’t very comfortable, and often not very clean either.

Bali Souvenir, Bali Painting, Bali Wood Carving, Bali Nameplate, Bali Stone Carving, Bali Sculpture, Bali Furniture, Bali Accessories, Bali Custom T-S

2008-08-11T22:23:00.001-07:00

Bali Souvenir, Bali Painting, Bali Wood Carving, Bali Nameplate, Bali Stone Carving, Bali Sculpture, Bali Furniture, Bali Accessories, Bali Custom T-Shirt, Bali Textile, From Bali Handicraft Home Industry Community
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Specific Balinese Souvenir

Special Bali Kids Accessories & Cloth from Ubud Bali Indonesia
Kids Accessories

BaliExist.com a Bali handicraft home industry community bring Bali handicrafts, Bali arts and Bali souvenirs closer to you. We reflects the beauty of art to each our handmade products, which meet with good quality. Various collection of handicrafts & souvenirs from the chic and simple one to glamour and extra vaganza collections are suported by creative Bali artists & craftsmen creation. We proudly offer for businessmen & the art admirer.

BaliExist.com is our online address. We are Bali Handicraft Home Industy Community. Sported by Pondok Frog and ABC (Art Business Centre). We are community of Bali painting, Bali woodcarving, Bali stone carving, Bali sculpture, Bali furniture, Bali textile, Bali accessories and Bali souvenir home industries based in Ubud Bali which is famous as Bali handicraft, Bali art and Bali culture center.

We are Bali handicrafts and artwork crafts home industry community and handicrafts supplier community. We help Bali artists, Bali craftsmen and craftswomen to supply their products from their each home industries in Bali with hard selected quality, design and competitive price to the buyers.

Proudly offer Bali painting, Bali woodcarving, Bali nameplate, Bali accessories, Bali textile, recycle paper product, rubbish art, exotic Bali product, exotic Bali piggy bank, paper waste money box, handmade paper statue, home decoration, exclusive coin box made of coconut shell and recycle paper, excellent & unique Bali handicraft products with new original design from Bali artists. Good quality for collection, because artistic and
quality is our first priorities.

Also offer you Bali t-shirt, cotton t-thirt, original Bali t-shirt, Bali handmade t-shirt, Bali tangtop and singlet in all size for men and women with colour full Bali design: Balinese girl, mosquito, mosquitokoil, Ubud map, sexy girl, naked dance, sunshine, yoga frog, long feet frog, long neck frog, frog and moon, kecak dance, legong dance, Bali talisman, for rent, not for sale, etc from Bali handicraft home industry.

Unique Indonesian batik cloth, Javanese batik, Tuban batik art, natural brown cotton, scarf, sarong, batik gedog, batik t-shirt, useful Bali handmade accessories, necklaces, Nameplate, Bali wooden nameplate which are made by special craftsmen and craftswomen. Also proudly offer you traditional and modern Bali fine art of Bali woodcarving, animal statue, dolphin statue, shark statue, tropical fish, turtle, komodo dragon, dragon, crocodile, cat, abstract statue, Buddha statue, Buddha antique, Rama and Sita statue, Kwan In statue and Bali painting, oil painting, Bali oil painting, abstract painting in many styles and emotions of the artists: specialy from Indonesian & Bali famous painting artist, Mohammed, Roso, Med Mandor, Widodo, Poetoe AB, Ketut Soki, Nyoman Meja, Yongki, Wianta, etc. All from Bali handicraft home industry community.

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Welcome to Tupai Handycraft ...

2008-08-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

We provides thousands item for souvenirs and handycrafts.
Distributors are welcome. Please take a look to our varieties items in our website.

Location :

Manufacture	:	Jl. Panglima Sudirman no 72, Jombang city, East Java
Warehouse and office	:	Kompleks mangga dua B-1 no. 8 Jl. Jagir wonokromo no. 100, Surabaya city, East Java
Showroom	:	Pasar Atum Baru Tahap I Lt III No BA29-30, Surabaya city, East Java

Suidical Bali

2008-08-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Bali always welcome every body who wants to come to bali with friendly smile. Not only for torism, Bali is also famous for one of the biggest handicarft manufacture i the world. We mostly produced handmade handicraft with the basic mterials that we found on our surrounding island without destroying them as we are committed to heritage them with our children.

Along with this website we try to connect between artisant who normally live in the villages with buyers. We responsible for the quality of the product and in the side we can also arrange your shipment to destination. For all what you you purchase from us, we are sure we have already contributed some percentages to help artisants, their families and also their community.

All the products we sell, are selling in many countries because we are so concerned with quality, time and also price, so we are very positive to serve you better.

Supermarkets & Makro Store in Bali

2008-08-09T01:44:00.001-07:00

Matahari's : Always stock up here : Check into your hotel , empty the minibar/fridge and set sail for the supermarket. Good range of beverages, alcohol / fruit / soft drinks. (including spirits, cocktails and mixers ) Great range of Toiletries, food for all types of meals and snacks ... It's also fun looking at all the different items that you can't get at home and you will be surprised by the amount you "wished" you could get at home. [ Kuta : at the end of Kuta Square ] or ask at your hotel for the closest one. Pic's Of Matahari's Kuta Sq
The Makro Store situated on the Denpasar bypass Rd to Sanur. At Makro you will be able to stock up on many many everyday items available in "Bulk" Great if you have a large family or there are a few of you. Makro stocks everything from electronic equipment, fridges, Microwave ovens to noodles, beer, soft drinks, water, fruit and vegetables. They also have a great range of Lollies ( Sweets ) for the children, pens pencils etc.
You have to pay 1,000Rp entrance fee p.p. ( in 2001, may be a little more now. ) They will not permit any bags or camera's into the store. There is a taxi rank outside the store in the car park. Situated app 10 mins from Kuta and 15 mins from Sanur it's well worth a visit..... ( Check they take your credit card before entering or have at least 500,000rp in cash on you. hehe )

Bringing back Food :
I have brought back many items from Bali including sauces, spices and tinned fruit juices unavailable in Australia ( like soursop ) for cocktails. Generally anything that is in an unopened air tight container are fine to bring back to Australia. ( Not Tupperwear ) Declare all food items anyway to be on the safe side.

Department Stores :
Larger stores in Denpasar.However the one above, Matahari's in Kuta square has a great range. Great place to get a good Idea of the local prices for goods. They also have an honest money exchange counter with good rates. [ Well worth a visit.] You can purchase a dress / trousers from the racks , at very good prices , and have them altered for free while you wait. Ladies will love the prices of the cosmetics, under ½ price , and they are the real thing [ Revlon , Clinique and most of the famous brands. ]

TimeZone Game's arcade :
If you have kids this could be a good answer to some free shopping time. Both TimeZone game's arcades are located at the Matahari department stores. Kuta store ( Kuta Square ) on the top floor ( 4Th floor ) and in Legian its on the ground floor.( Matahari store JL Legian ) They are very cheap @ under 20c Australian a Token. OR 1,000Rp ea. Great chance to leave the teenagers with 20-30,000 Rp ( $6-$7AUS ) while you shop in the department stores and they will have 20-30 games , which should give you over an hour's shopping. ( The same games in Australia are $1AUS ea go. )

International drivers licence :
If you intend to hire a CAR in Bali , this is a must.
Always carry your insurance and registration papers with you for the hired car when driving.

Travellers cheques :
Handy if you are taking a large sum of money and it is insured when you purchase this style of currency.
Downside : Not as good an exchange rate.

Credit cards:
Visa , Amex , Bankcard are all accepted credit cards and can be used in 90% of the stores and Hotels.
( Some hotels may ask for a 3% surcharge for using a credit card but you can generally argue this or retrieve it from your credit card company.) Great if you need to have some "stand by" cash in case you find that bargain of a life time or wish to make a large purchase and would rather keep your cash for day to day purchases OR for peace of mind. If you do lose your cash or travellers cheques you have something to fall back on. ( I generally split my spending money into my VISA card and cash. )

Cash :
Larger notes attract a better exchange rate AUS , CAD , Pounds Sterling and US notes in 50 and 100 denominations and are easily exchanged anywhere. Your hotel should have a safety deposit box available free of charge for security. USE IT !!! ( I generally split my sending money into my VISA card and cash. )

ATM's :
Although there are more and more ATM's ( Automatic teller machine's ) around in the Kuta area and a few less in Sanur ,there is a transaction limit of 400,000 Rp ( App US$40 ) So you may have to insert your card a few times to get the amount you need, also every transaction will be met with a bank fee when you get home. There are 3 ATM's at the airport in the international arrivals area where you pickup your suit cases. A small problem in Bali is that ATM's aren't always reliable as they go offline often and if they do this during a transaction , your account maybe debited and you may not get the cash.

Money Exchangers WARNING :
Don't rely on their calculators. Ask what size notes they have and if they only have 5,000Rp or 10,000Rp notes there is a very good chance they are going to try and rip you off. ( Look for 50,000Rp or at least 20,000Rp notes.) The less notes you recieve, the less you have to count and the less chance of being ripped off. Try and always change an amount that will give you a round and easy figure to work out in your head.
EG: $100AUS @ 5200Rp to the Aus$ = 520,000 Rp

10 x 50,000 notes + 2 x 10,000 notes
OR 104 x 5,000 notes
( thats 12 notes to count OR 104 whats easier ? )

Look for the guys that charge NO commision and ask again when you are in the shop if there is a commision. Be wary of any money changer offering a surprisingly high exchange rate. Take them on if you wish but be the last to count OR touch your money , as soon as you are handed the cash for the last time and before you walk out the shop...count it again!!! Understand before you start exchanging money with money changers , exactly how much you will recieve back.
Be wary of changers ending with 90RP they will quickly swap a 50,000 for a 5,000.
EG $100AUS @ 5490 = 549,000
They will give you 10x 50,000 OR 500,000 Rp in one form or another and say because its 49 at the end , do you have a 1,000Rp note and we will give you a 5,000Rp back. If you are confused by all the 000's you may quickly say okay..and you just lost 45,000Rp

Buying Furniture :
The moisture content ( humidity ) in the air in Bali is very high so unless you come from a tropical area with a high moisture content , be careful not to purchase things with large wood panels. This is because once you get it home it will start to dry out and large splits may start to appear due to the lack of moisture. If you can, buy teak but make sure it is teak and not treated pine OR buy kiln dried timber to avoid the cracking. ( this maybe hard as they will claim everything is kiln dried ) Unless you pay a large price for quality don't buy a dining table as they tend to fall apart at home.
Warning: If you plan to order things to be made. Don't pay for it until you have seen it packed in the container and definitely be there for the packing and closing of the container.

Duty Free :
There isn't much at the airport in Denpasar and what there is is the same price as you would pay at an Australian airport prior to departure. So if you would like to have that bottle of scotch, rum or whatever in your room, I suggest you get it before you leave Australia. If you like wine,bring it with you as wine is VERY expensive in Bali. Perfume/Aftershave , although it is available in Bali , the perfume on the streets is a copy and at times bad copies. Any electronic gear. There isnt a great range available in Bali and what is available is either the same price or a little under. [ Its best to spend the extra $10 and have the warranty in Australia.] If you smoke , get them in Australia as well , although there are now export cartons of Winfield blue and B & H available in Bali for around $12 a carton, they arent quite the same flavour.

Travel insurance :
A must . From as little as $70 AUS per person , you can cover yourself for 8 days travel ( Whole Family cover is available ) If you are from Australia and travel frequently , ask about Executive travel insurance. This will cost around two times more than a fortnight's family insurance - however it will cover you AND your family for a full 12 months. [ Including internal travel. IE : those easter or christmas holidays interstate.]

First Aid Kit / Bali Belly :
A kit similar to what you may have in the car. Something small that may contain "immodium" anti diarrhoea tablets , "charcoal" tablets taken if Bali Belly is suffered, "dettol" ( antiseptic ) for cleaning any cuts and abrasions, panadol, anti fungal powder, insect repellant , some burn cream ( for relief from sunburn ) and some bandaids. There are chemists in Bali , however not all drugs are available. *** If you can, take a bottle of Raspberry Juice Cordial usually found in the "Cascade Brand" in Oz.( Not Raspberry Flavour ) For some reason this has been proven to help prevent and cure stomach problems. "Bali Belly" It worked for us.

Your Doctor :
If you are in any way worried about what you may catch in Bali , a trip to your local GP will help with any prescribed drugs you may wish to take and he will be able to help with any recommended Innoculations that maybe required by your country. ( Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B are recommended if you are going to visit remote areas of Bali. )
LAST RESORTS : Foreign Consulates in Bali
Netherlands, Jl. Imam Bonjol 599, Denpasar (tel. 0361-751904 or 751497, fax 752777)
France, Jl. Raya Sesetan 46 D, Banjar Pesanggaran, Denpasar (tel. 0361-233555)
Japan, Jl. Moh. Yamin 9, Renon, Denpasar (tel. 0361-231308 or 234808)
Germany, Jl. Pantai Karang 17, Sanur (tel. 0361-288535); Italy, Jl. Padang Galak, Sanur (tel. 0361-288996 or 288896)
Switzerland/Austria, c/o Swiss Restaurant, Jl. Pura Bagus Taruna, Legian (tel. 0361-751735)
Sweden/Finland, Segara Village Hotel, Sanur (tel. 0361-288407 or 288408)
U.S.A., Jl. Sanur Ayu 5, Sanur (tel. 0361-288478
Norway Denmark, Jl. Jayagiri, Gang VIII/10, Denpasar (tel. 0361-235098 or 233053)
Australia, Jl. Prof. Moh. Yamin Kav. 51, P.O. Box 243, Renon, Denpasar (tel. 0361-235092 or 235093, fax 231990).

Balinese Horoscope

2008-08-08T01:14:00.001-07:00

For Balinese people the days and the minutes can be lucky or unlucky according to their own unique correspond to a simple characteristic such as Monday – ‘moon’day, Sunday -‘sun’day, and Saturday – ‘saturn’ day.
In the Balinese calendar system, the days have many more names and therefore more characteristics which determine their over-all quality. For example Friday August 10, 2007, becomes in the Balinese calendar ‘Jumat Wage, Wuku Krulu’, and so 10 August 2007 will be different from the same date in 2006. Even if two persons were born on the same day, let say between 23 November and 20 December, if they were born in different years they will have the same zodiac sign but not the same characteristic as the result of the different days of the Balinese Horoscope.
Two children who were born on the same date but in different years will have different Balinese birthdays. Those who were born on 18 December, 1998 will have a different birthday, therefore to those born on 18 December, 1999.
In general, both will inherit the characteristics of Sagittarius. A more detailed description of their characteristics can be found, however, in the Balinese horoscope. Bali Travel News is willing to answer any questions from readers interested in learning more about the Balinese system. Just send your date of birth to our Balinese Horoscope Consultant. He will help you to find out about your Balinese birthday and your personal characteristic according to Balinese horoscope. Please write to Bali Travel News, Jalan Kepundung 67A Denpasar, Fax: 62.361 249486 or email: batrav@indo.net.id.

Your birth-date
While we wait for readers’ letters we return in this edition to the characteristic and fortunes of LEO (21 July – 21 August). We accept of course that not all people born under the sign of the lion possess identical personality traits. This is due to the fact that many are born on different days.
According to the Balinese Horoscope, people born on January 1 1999, are born on a day called ‘Jumat Umanis, Wuku Merakih’ (Friday), whereas those born on January 1, 2000 will be born on a day called ‘Sabtu Umanis, Wuku Sungsang’ (Saturday). These two days will be determinate of different personality traits even though both are born under the sign of Capricorn.
Being born on Jumat Umanis (1/1, 1999) means the influence of many stars will combine to produce dominant traits such as honesty, proper conduct and direct speaking. There will also be a willingness to help others. Anybody born on this day will be a sucker for bargains, and tend to get mixed up in other people’s business. Meanwhile somebody born on Sabtu Umanis (January 1, 2000) will be influenced by the constellation known in Bali as Bagong (a pot-bellied character from the wayang puppet theatre), and by the moon. He or she will be careful in all things, and diplomatic, too, particularly in written transactions.
Now let’s look at the other horoscope entries concurrent with this issue of ‘Bali Travel News”. And once again, if there is anybody out there who wants information about their own birth date according to the Balinese Horoscope, please write to Bali Travel News e-mail: batrav@indo.net.id, fax: 62.361 249486.

Jumat Wage (10 August, 2007)
This day is highly influenced by the stars. Magelut (hugging) is the symbol of this day. Priestly characteristics are dominant, suggesting a quiet intelligence and honesty. Often made the black sheep of the family, he becomes fiercely individualistic and this can cause problems. A partner born on Sunday Wage, Tuesday Pon or Friday Umanis, will be the most suitable for him.

Saturday Kliwon (11 August, 2007)
This day is influenced by the bumi (the earth). The person born on this day has a careful personality, is diplomatic when speaking and full of admiration for many worthy things. He rarely takes risks and this can bring about a state of apathy and resignation when faced with difficulties of any kind, however trite. His suitable partner is someone born on
Wednesday Pon, Thursday Umanis or Friday Umanis.

Sunday Umanis (12 August, 2007)
This day is influenced by Kala Sungsang. Someone born on this day has a reserved personality, is intelligent, and is interested in mysticism. His ambitions are rarely fulfilled. However, fame can still be achieved through creative arts and achievements, written or otherwise. He is quick to forgive, ready to take on almost any kind of work, but can be pretentious. His ideal partner is someone born on Sunday Wage, Tuesday Pon or Friday Umanis.

Monday Paing (13 August, 2007)
Someone born on this day is influenced by the star Bintang Kukus (the comet). He speaks very fast but is soft at heart. He is honest and diligent, highly ambitious, and yet frugal. He is sensitive and always keeps his promise. His suitable marriage partner is someone born on Wednesday Kliwon, Thursday Paing or Saturday Paing.

Tuesday Pon (14 August, 2007)
This day is influenced by Asu (the dog). He is charismatic, quiet, and stubborn. Although he is intelligent, he tends to be irrational sometimes. He is careful and even suspicious, but will do any task that is set for him. His ideal marriage partner is someone born on Sunday Wage, Tuesday Pon or Friday Umanis.

Wednesday Wage (15 August, 2007)
The sign of this day is Kartika (lit. ‘star’). He is noble, charismatic, and highly sociable. He always behaves fairly. He is careful in spending his money and is often considered stingy by others, yet this is not necessarily so. He is inclined towards harsh and awkward talk. His ideal partner is someone born on Thursday Umanis or Friday Umanis. (BTN/doc)

Living Room Destination at Eastern Indonesia

2008-08-08T01:07:00.001-07:00

Makassar City, known as Maritime City, retains abundant natural and cultural potentials. Similarly, this city serves as the hub of trading activities in East Indonesia Region.
Observing such potential, slow but sure, Makassar would become the leading tourism destination of South Celebes. “And today Makassar needs to diversify its tourism products in order that tourists would not feel saturated with those very same things,” stated Anggiat Sinaga, Chairman of Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) of Makassar City at Clarion Hotel Makassar recently.
Anggiat revealed that Makassar is now preparing itself as a ‘living room’ destination along with brand image Great Expectation. “One of them is by designing the seafood as culinary tourism,” said Anggiat who is now chairing three 4-star hotels in Makassar City namely Clarion, Quality and Grand Palace.
He further explained that product diversification of Makassar would flourish if it is thoroughly supported by local government. “Industry is ready. The problem now lies in whether the government would entrust the industry to promote tourism because industry in fact, is more familiar with the tourism market,” he stated firmly.
Sumatera-born Anggiat appealed that in short-term the government of Makassar City, together with tourism businessmen, performs a promotion to Bali Island because Bali has become the hub of tourism in Indonesia. “If this promotion is consistently executed every year, I’m sure that tourism of Makassar would develop rapidly and become renowned,” he revealed while explaining that this matter was once discussed in the forum of Tourism Development and Promotion Board (BP3) of Makassar. Unfortunately the institution inaugurated by tourism businesspeople had no power because it was not supported by promotional fund.
“On the other hand, the Office of Cultural and Tourism Service would like to go in its own way whereas all personnel of BP3 consist of experts at tourism. Indeed, we intend to help but such institution intends to make their own way, so we could do nothing,” he revealed disappointingly. Best regards from Makassar!! (image/poll)

Bali events

2008-08-08T00:41:00.000-07:00

Apart from the usual western calendar, the Balinese also use two local calendars, the Hindu saka and the wuku . The wuku calendar, which is used to determine festival dates, uses 10 different types of weeks between one and 10 days long, all running simultaneously! The intersection of the various weeks determines auspicious days. It's impossible to work it out yourself: when you arrive in Bali, go to a tourist office and ask which festivals and celebrations are coming up. Try to get to at least one.

The Galungan Festival , Bali's major feast, is held throughout the island and is an annual event in the wuku year. During this 10-day period all the gods come down to earth for the festivities and barongs (mythical lion-dog creatures) prance from temple to temple and village to village. The last and most important day of the festival is Kuningan .
is the major festival of the saka year - it's the last day of the year, and usually falls towards the end of March or the beginning of April. The day before is set aside as a day of purification across the island. The night before, evil spirits are noisily chased away with cymbals, gongs, drums and flaming torches. On Nyepi itself, everyone stays quietly at home, making no noise, using no lights and doing no cooking. The idea is that when evil spirits descend, they are fooled into thinking that Bali is uninhabited and leave the island in peace for another year.

Bali Shopping Style

2008-08-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

Crafting Excellence from Clay
What began in 1976 as an experimental industry that made functional tableware for one hotel, has now grown into a developed industry producing high standard elegant pieces.

Traditionally pottery, or ceramics, on Bali was low fired; meaning fired with a wood burning stove at low temperatures and although the pottery produced was useful to the Balinese (large terracotta jars were made to store water and flat plates were used for food), there was no longevity to these items, which were fragile and cracked easily. The other disadvantage to the modern user was that the pottery was unable to be thoroughly washed, and while there was a traditional ceramic industry in Bali, most notably in the village of Kapal between Canggu and Tanah Lot, there was not the commercial viability that traditional crafts such as carving and silver jewelry could offer to the burgeoning market of westerners looking to export handicrafts.

When Brent Hesslyn entered the picture some thirty years ago, Balinese potters were creating functional designs using this ancient firing method. Brent then introduced the first high firing kilns into Bali that back then were powered by diesel (but now use LPG gas), and thus began a journey that has taken Jenggala Ceramics into the 21st Century as the finest producers of ceramics and glass on the island. What began in 1976 as an experimental industry in Sanur that made functional tableware for one hotel, has now grown into a developed industry employing over 270 people, producing high standard, high quality and elegant pieces for hotels, restaurants and private homes.

According to John Adsit, who has been with Jenggala for eleven years, the key to the success of Jenggala has been the combination of Balinese artistic flair and talent with the modern technology now available. Using internally developed glazes the production team can now make beautiful and functional pieces that are durable and exquisitely designed. A walk around the vast showroom at Jimbaran will have you re-designing your home just to showcase some of these marvelous items.

Amongst the most popular is the "Frangipani", a seriously textural range with overlapping petals of frangipani that appear to curl and furl at will. This range is accompanied by two other very Balinese motifs, the "Banana Leaf" and the "Lotus Flower". Glazed to look almost liquid, the relief surfaces of these three designs shimmer as the light shines on them, and in any setting would recall the beauty of Bali in a moment.

"Jenggala has also recently entered glass production, and with their ever-expanding skills, the artisans of Jenggala are unlikely to stop there"

There is a seemingly unending choice of styles, and to contrast the Frangipani range a very subtle glaze covers the "Java" range of coffee services. From pots to cups, and saucers to serving bowls, the Java range has a contemporary style and muted elegance. There are also some quirky items like the Bird of Paradise red teapot, which Jenggala calls Beautiful Orange, just one of their two hundred or so glaze finishes.

It is crafted in the shape of an elephant with a cross-legged rider and just cried out for a place in my house! There’s something for everyone here, even for the kids.

Jenggala has two specific activities for children, though adults are most welcome to participate as well. These are plate painting and pot making. Each craft is easily adaptable to age and can provide you with a real treasure. The items for painting, ranging from plates to mugs and vases, come with six colors to choose from and 19 different choices of glazing. The pots can be made from scratch with six kilos of clay as your starting point. Instruction, colors and firing are included in the cost.

Upon completion of your family heirloom, the ceramic masterpiece will be ready after a few days so this is a good activity to start the holidays with, or if you wish, the final product can be shipped to your home, where you no doubt will be busily reorganizing the dining area to create the perfect space for your especially ordered Jenggala dinner service with complementing coffee set and vases.

Jenggala has also recently entered glass production, and with their ever-expanding skills the artisans of Jenggala are unlikely to stop there.

Their show room is a testament to the value of investing in talent and creativity. With a lovely café offering delicious food served on elegant plates, and an art gallery of mixed media works from Indonesian and international artists on display, visitors are surrounded by an uplifting and inspiring environment that just begs to be admired. Jenggala also has retail outlets at Made’s Warung in Seminyak and Toko East in Ubud.
Pottery courses are run from the showroom and can be undertaken over two weeks or up to six months for the seriously inspired. Jenggala’s main showroom is in Jimbaran, south on the Nusa Dua – Airport road, well signposted at the traffic lights and has spacious and secure parking.

Handicraft In Dreamland bali

2008-08-06T00:14:00.000-07:00

	Dreamland Access
	same bay like bingin and impossibles.Drive the Uluwatu street (Jalan Uluwatu), direction Uluwatu and 3 Km before Uluwatu Beach you'll have a big entrance, with no guards, on your right, to what was suposed to be a big private condominium made by the sun of former Indonesian President Suharto (he was arrested).You enter there and drive in direction of the sea, in the middle of the road you'll have to pay some guys to let you in (not much) and then just follow the road signs

The Bali Island

2008-08-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

BALI

Bali Island, the perfect holiday destination for all ages offers something for everyone. Bali offers not just various customs but also various "adrenalin pump" parks. Many exciting amusements are available in Bali, with something new opening all the time. The number of offshore and inland attraction are on the rise because many tourists want them. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping and a rich past and heritage. After white water rafting that has gained popularity in Bali, comes offshore rafting or ocean rafting. The more adventurous sort of amusement has now become an alternative sport for tourists. Meanwhile white water rafting is still a popular activity with trips on Ayung, Telaga Waja, Unda Rivers, etc. The tourists can refresh their mind by watching beautiful scenery along the route. Those are not enough, some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island whilst conversely the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.

Bali is small island, just 140 Km by 80 Km and lies between Java, the most highly populated and influential of all the islands, and Lombok, one of the quieter and moderately slower paced islands. Like many islands, Bali has developed a world of its own. It not only captures what is special about Indonesia but also has a uniqueness of its own.

Handicraf Bali

2008-08-05T00:54:00.001-07:00

Bali Handycraft

		Kipas Bali Kipas Bali adalah salah satu kerajinan tangan dibali yang sangat unik serta memiliki nilai seni yang tinggi dimana anda bisa memesan produk kipas bali dari kayu putih yang langka dan memiliki aroma yang wangi dengan mengrafir nama, bahkan photo anda diatasnya.

		Balimove Balimove supplies best quality magical handicrafts orginally from bali wiht the competitive price and save delivery to all country in this world.

		Christina Bali Christina is the name of the business as well as the name of the owner. Christina is sourcing most of Indonesia, including Bali, and so is able to supply a very wide range of products. These include furniture, homewares, jewellry, gazebos, handicrafts, statues and fabrics.

		Balinese Design Balinese Design is the only one online handycraft shop which has special characteristic of bali handicraf like bedcovers, bali kite, statue, sarong, bag, sandals, frame photo, album photo and more of Bali product handmade.

		Purnama Batik Purnama Batik is Bali Online Quilt / Bed Cover Shop, we are specializing in producing & exporting high quality of hand painted products, such as; Quilts, Duvet Covers, Sheets, Cushions, Pillow Cases, Etc, from Gianyar Regency – the Art Capital of Bali. .

		Mekar Wangi Bali Mekar Wangi, based in Gianyar Bali, is an art studio painting especially in Abstract. We offers many variously abstract and modern painting as well as our ideology. .

Skate in Bali, Cool not Cold

2008-08-04T01:58:00.001-07:00

For a tropical island like Bali, sport such as ice skate is something we only see on TV. But for Bali Galleria Mall, this is so much possible, they recently (a month ago I think) open a new skate run without any ice. How could this possible? from what I see, they use a new technology imported from Europe using instead of frozen ice, the place using wax as the platform.

For me, it’s cool, you don’t need to use winter clothes to try it, but off course it is not as fast when you slide on ice. So when you interested to try it, visit Bali Galleria Mall, just in the corner of Dewa Ruci Statue on bypass Ngurah Rai Road.

Near it, some small cafe and restaurant are available with affordable range of price. A book store on second floor, and soon Bali Galleria Mall will become larger with the building still under construction.

Get Bali Handicraft

2008-08-01T23:33:00.000-07:00

We are bali handicraft designs and wholesale exporters of a wide range crafts from Indonesia. The source of Bali handicraft where you are able to find various type of handicraft such as Bali Wood carving, Air brush key chain, Wooden statue, Abstacts statue, Bali natural Book, Bali leaf album, Mosaic mirror, Wooden mask, Wooden flower, Lombok handicrafts, Bali bag, >Bali sandals, Bali Instrument, bali handicraft & lombok pottery, Bali Painting, The global market place for Indonesian handicrafts have continued to gain in popularity over the years. We are suppliers to large and small retailers, wholesalers and importers all over the world. Being based in Ubud, the cradle of art in Bali, we are bali handicraft in the center where new ideas and designs get born. We have also, of course, good connections to art centers in our neighbors islands, Lombok and Java. Every item we produce is quality controlled to make sure you get what you are promised. Please, take a look at our online catalogue, and if you have some questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Welcome to bali handicraft wholesale website, the source of Bali handicraft where you are able to find various type of handicraft such as Bali Wood carving, Air brush key chain, Wooden statue, Abstacts statue, Bali natural Book, Bali leaf album, Mosaic mirror, Wooden mask, Wooden flower, Lombok handicrafts, Bali bag, Bali sandals, Bali Instrument, bali handicraft & lombok pottery, Bali Painting, The global market place for Indonesian handicrafts have continued to gain in popularity over the years. They have earned a dominant place in the highly competitive international giftware and furnishings market place. Millions of dollars of handicrafts are now being exported all over the globe annually to gift shops, supermarkets, department stores, wholesalers, importers and distributors. Indonesian handicraft supplies quality Bali handicrafts to such entities and currently exports to at least forty countries all over the globe. More of bali products handicrafts We ship fast and honest. Our customers received only products they love. It's too often here in Indonesia, customer places his/her order, and what they receive in the container is a far cry from what they thought they were getting.This such a horror story will not happen to you if you do business with us. The best way to convinced you to place an order is to meet us personally. That's why we invite you to come to Bali. If you can't come to Bali only to meet us, why don't you put Bali as your next holiday destination. Bali is one of the best holiday/travel destination in the world. We have so much to offer here...If you come to Bali, we'll visit you at your hotel or if you have plenty of time we'll take you around. We hold that we are not the best, but we would try our best to give you best products, best service at best prices, this is our duty and have close business. We sincerely hope to have business cooperation and business dealing with the importers, wholesalers and distributors from all over the world and have close relationship with regular business works together. Bali handicrafts updated news: we update our bali products regularly. Below is our last update products • Bali cats, frog and duck animal, Bali candle, Ceramic Gifts (astray, oil burner, etc), Gecko, Bali dried flower, Bali Mask Welcome to Bali Handicraft - arts and crafts website Bali handicraft wholesale - Artsbali.com, provides many types of handicraft such as: natural leaves photo album, photo frame, address book, note book, wind chimes, drums in carving, full carving, painting, full painting, plain, airbrush and special alpine, abstract carving, Lombok handicrafts and many others. We invite you to come to Bali-the major tourist destination. We will give our best products and services. We are willing to cooperate with importers, wholesalers, and distributor from all around the world. The connection between Bali handicrafts, culture, arts and crafts Bali is a place where arts, culture, religion, and people blend together to form harmony. This unique blend serves as a root for the creation of what has developed and grown into a truly wonderful arts and crafts industry. Please visit Bali Handicraft's Blog that related with culture, arts and craft. Human resources and empowerment Bali handicraft industry has thrived and it now provides employment and business opportunities for quite literally thousands of people. In addition to providing a livelihood for those in the handicraft industry, it has given a big boost to the economy. To appreciate how the handicraft industry functions and provides a living for so many people, you have to go off into the hills, far off the beaten track. You will find Balinese communities who are working hard turning bits of wood, bamboo, metal, leaves, and clay into truly amazing and marketable products. The supply of Bali handicraft We use the Internet and direct promotion campaigns to keep the handicraft industry alive in Indonesia and provides many of the home industry manufacturers with a channel to sell their arts and craft wares. Many handicraft products that we supply are the creations of the highly skilled artisans. To this end, we look forward to continuing our drive to keep supporting the communities of Indonesia by helping them to bring their unique skills and crafts to the world market place. Come on in and see for yourself all the handicrafts that Indonesia has to offer. You'll be truly amazed! Arts Bali Updated News Bali handicraft exports Bali's export of various handicraft products in the first ten months of 2007 rose 8.6 percent to US$202.8 million from US186.7 million in the same period last year. Wooden handicraft goods and furniture still dominated the export with a value of U.. Bangli’s crafts product exported to European markets Bangli’s as part of the regencies in Bali, which has a lot of unique handicraft products such handicraft made of glass. During the time, local craftsmen exported the product to European markets. Silver crafts exports experience increase Bali’s jewelry made of gold and silver well-known in foreign countries, particularly Europe and USA. Bali’s craftsmen created the product with the unique design, a seller of silver accessories, Agustin said on Wednesday in Kuta. Find more updated news!

Bali Culture Tour

2008-07-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

Visiting Bali is most people dream to spend their holiday in. Not only the beauty of that island that will attract them, but more than that. Spending holiday in Bali is believed as one of the ways to raise someone’s prestige among others.

For this sight seeing activity, we suggest you to choose a tour board or full board tour that provides you with all the benefits you need. This type will enable you to calculate accurately the amount of money you will spend during your vacation in Bali. Therefore, you will be able to anticipate unpredictable expenses during the holiday.

Most of tourists who visit Bali have very limited time to be spent. There are not many places to see, then. Culture Bali Tour invites you to observe the Balinese culture. And at the same time, you will be able to have a closer and deeper contact toward it. Have a nice vacation in Bali…..

Bali Exotic

2008-07-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

Bali Exotic Wedding

Getting Married in Bali

People all over the world consider Bali to be a true paradise. Besides leisure and relaxation, Bali also offers many beautiful and romantic locations for those in love to experience a unique wedding. Bali is the chosen venue for sweethearts from all over the world to be legally married. It is possible for most nationalities of the world to be legally married here in the beautiful island of Bali.

Bali Exotic Wedding International (PT. Bali Exotic Wedding) was established in 2000 specially to assist foreigners who choose to be married here in beautiful Bali. We also have experience in planning other functions such as wedding anniversaries, wedding receptions, or birthday parties. We can be relied upon to ensure perfect preparation and co-ordination of every aspect of your wedding. We have successfully arranged many beautiful wedding ceremonies, receptions and parties over the years.

Whether there are just two or you have a huge group of friends and family traveling with you, we are at your service and will be pleased to assist.
Many couples, who are already legally married to each other, choose Bali as the most romantic place to renew their vows and to experience marriage in the island of the Gods. We can, of course, assist you in this too.

Vilas in Legian

2008-07-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

Legian

The Daun

Price: From US$ 300 >, Legian, Villas within walking distance to the Beach

Villa de daun is an exclusive villa retreat encompassed within a one-hectare tropical landscape in the heart of Bali’s celebrated Kuta beach resort.

Villa Baliana Bali

Price: Less than US$ 300, Legian, Villas within walking distance to the Beach

A centrally located two story solid brick, three bedroom home set on a 1,000 m2 block with around 150 m2 of living space. One of very few homes of this standard in such close proximity to 'Legian Beach'

Bali Traveller Tips

2008-07-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

Passport & Visas

A 2 (two) month tourist visa will be automatically issued for visitors from all West European countries, ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and , Thailand, Canada and USA while others countries not mentioned above would have to obtain from their local Indonesian consulate or embassy. Passport must be valid for 6 (six) month upon entry into Indonesia territory and you also should have proof of onward passage. For details on obtaining other types of visas, please contact your local Indonesian consulate or embassy in your country.

Currency

The Local currency is the Rupiah as the basic unit of money. The smallest denominations in the forms of coin are Rp. 5, Rp. 10 (very rarely seen nowadays), Rp. 25, Rp. 50, Rp. 100, Rp. 500, and Rp. 1000. And in the form of bills are Rp. 100, Rp. 500, Rp. 1000, Rp. 5000, Rp. 10.000, Rp. 20.000, Rp. 50.000, Rp. 100.000. The exchange rate againts US dollar is has fluctuated widely recently but is now heading toward stability. Please be sure to check the current exchange rate before you changing money at local money changer. If you have an internet connection you may log in to Http://www.bii.co.id for the updated exchange rate. Most major credit card and traveler's checks are accepted in almost big store and hotels in Bali. Also be cautions when paying with credit cards as most merchant will add 3% againts the total of transaction for the cards.

Health

Travellers coming from infected areas are recommended to obtain International health certificates of vaccination against smallpox, cholera, yellow fever, typhoid and paratyphoid. For those who intended to stay for a longer period of time in Bali, it is recommended to have gammaglobulin injections.

Good advise for visitors when they have infamous "Bali Belly" during their stay in Bali is to take Lomotil and Imodium as an first medications. It is also advisable to drink a strong, hot tea and avoid all fruits and spicy foods at the first sign of discomfort (diarrhea and cramping). It will help to lessen the cramping if you do charcoal tablets (the brand name is Norit). To stop from dehydration, Oralite (mineral replacement salts) is a good choice and is available at nearly every store or local pharmacy. In the worst cases caused by viral infection, get a doctor for an antibiotics prescription.

To avoid Malaria, visitors should consult their doctor for a supply of malaria-repressant tablets. Chloroquine is available widely in Bali and much cheaper than abroad.
Drinking-it's best-drink bottled mineral water. Be cautions for the sun as it is become very intense in the afternoon especially in dry season.

Dress and what to wear

Balinese Show respect by dressing neatly and modestly. Very informal dress in certain situations can be seen as an insolt to those you meet and Bali has a humid climate and it is best to bring along all-cotton sundreses, shortsleeve shirts. Bali has become a center of garment manufature so you may find a casual fashion at a cheaper prices. Local traditions in Bali encourages visitors to take off the shoes before going into a house. For formal occasions, mean usually wear batik or ikat shirts and dark trousers while for women usually opt for modest dresses. Pay attention when entering a temple in Bali. It is suggested that guest wear pakaian adat- the full native dress of a kain, kebaya and sash for the women and a kain, saput (overskirt), niche shirt and sash for the men.

What to bring

Do not carry too much luggage as you will be surprised to see if you soon become out of space of your luggage when you travel to Bali as so many beautiful, inexpensive things to buy. You might bring insect repellent, a flashlight if you plan to stay in the hotel near the village where the road to go to your hotel may be a bit dark, sunscreen, a supply of prescription medicines and an extra set of prescription glasses.

Animal Quarantine

Bali is free of rabbies. When planning to carry your pets with you, please prepare an official letter from your vetenarian stating that your pet is disease free. However this is also not a guarantee that your pet will not be quarantined. Please consult your nearest Indonesian consulate or embassy for details.

Culture and local customs

Indonesian laws forbids visitors from bringing weapons, narcotics and pornography material into the country. Fresh fruits, plants, animals and exposed films and video might be checked.

You may carry a maximum of two liters of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco, and a reasonable amount of perfume. Photograpgic equipment, typewriters and radios are granted admittance provided these will be taken out on departure. Visitors are encouraged to declare all the equipment and the amount of foreign currencies they carry by completing a declaration form upon arrival. This is usually handed over at the immigration counter. The limit of the foreign currencies you may import or export is US$5.000 and for Indonesian currencies is Rp. 50.000,-

Export of national treasures is prohibited as well as tortoise shell, crocodile skin, and ivory products.

To the Balinese, the world is their living room and its foreign visitors their guests. Decades of tourism have somewhat diminished this positive attitude, however people in Bali remain notably friendly and courteous. Balinese people also remain substantialy conservative, for tradition is the backbone of their highly civilized culture thereby please do your best to respect their traditions and attitudes. The Balinese are a very polite people and smiles are an island-wide characteristic. Shaking hands on introduction is common for both men and women. It is consider bad or taboo if you use the left hand to give or to receive something- as the left hand is used for hygienic purposes. Also pointing with your left hand is consider rude and the same case for crooking a finger when calling someone.
A good principal when shopping is never to ask for the price if you do not intended to buy, and always bargain before payment.

Weights & Measures

Indonesia use the metric system of measurement. 1 kilometer is equal to 0.6214 miles; one meter is equal to 3.2808 feet; one kilogram is equal to 0.2642 U.S. gallons or 0.22 imperial gallons. To convert Celcius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 and add 32; to convert Fahrenheit to Celcius, substract 32 and multiply by .55.

Electricity

In most places, it is 220 volts, 50 cycles, but check first as 110 volts is still used in some areas. The plug is two pronged round. In most good hotels, a voltage converter usually available on request.

Business Hours and Holidays

The goverment office hours usually starts at 08.00 am and finish at 05.00 pm except for Saturdays when office hours usually shorter but some goverment office closed. This is also applied for banks and private office. The labor working rules suggest 8 working hours a day plus 1 hour for meal time and 40 hours working days in a week.

Religion is way of life for Indonesia and especially Bali where there are no days without ceremony and offerings. There are only five major religion in Indonesia: Muslims (90% of total population), Chatolicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, and Buddhism and each of these has their own official holidays in a year.

Airport & Flight

Airport Tax
International : Rupiah 100,000 per person
Domestic : Rupiah 30,000 per person

Please make sure that you reconfirm your flight at least 3 days prior to departure. Show your guide your ticket the day after your arrival in Bali and he will reconfirm for you.

Departure Information
If your departure transfer from your hotel to Ngurah Rai airport, Denpasar, has been booked with agent, confirmation of the pick-up time from your hotel will be placed in your hotel key box or with the reception one day prior to your departure. Pick-up time is approximately 2 to 3 hours prior to your flight departure time.

Check out Time
at hotels in Bali is normally 12 noon. If your pick-up time for departure is in the late afternoon, please check with your hotel reception to see if you can keep your room for an extra hour or two. (Note that hotels might charge you for this facility and this will be at your own expense).
Please make sure that you have settled your HOTEL “EXTRAS” BILL (drinks, meals, telephone, laundry, etc) in plenty of time so that you are ready when the guide comes to pick you up.

Please check that your LUGGAGE IS CLEARLY LABELLED with your name and address (inside and outside) and that it is locked. Contact your hotel’s Bell Captain at least 15 minutes before leaving the hotel so that he has plenty of time to collect your luggage from your room. Your luggage will be transferred to the airport. Please note that you will personally have to take it through the security check. Luggage trolleys are not allowed through security but porters are available and they charge RUPIAH 500 per piece of luggage. Just to remind you - keep your passport and tickets in your hand luggage !.

If you are CHANGING PLANES IN JAKARTA, please note the following information :
Two boarding passes should be issued by Garuda Airlines when you check in at Denpasar airport, one for you Denpasar to Jakarta flight and one for Jakarta to your next destination. You can thus proceed directly to the boarding lounge at Jakarta airport for your next flight.

If you are issued with only one boarding pas by Garuda Airlines, you must make your way immediately upon arrival at Jakarta airport to the TRANSFER DESK to collect your boarding pass for your onward flight. Denpasar airport has a restaurant and duty free shopping facilities.

Driving Information

Getting Around

Although the island is only 140 kilometers (84 miles) long by 80 kilometers (48 miles) wide, a week would not be enough to appreciate all of Bali's beaches, temples, volcanoes, and towns. Bali has several beach areas on the southern coast, where 90% of its visitors stay. Each has its distinctive appeal, and they are within easy reach of one another.

Travelling by hire car, stopping when you want to explore the villages, mountains and beaches, is a great way to discover the beauty of Bali. About two hours drive North-east of the Denpasar Airport and Kuta, you'll arrive at Candi Dasa. From here you can explore the coast further north, or return to drive inland into the hills. The central inland village of Ubud, is about one hour from the airport and Kuta. Along the way you'll pass many villages and find that most of them specialise in handcrafts of a particular type such as exquisite wood-carvings and unique jewellery.

Car Hire

Car hire is easy on Bali. Large international rental companies offer good deals, but local companies are very competitive. The most popular rental vehicle is the Jimny - a small, Suzuki Katana jeep with ample ground clearance. The Jimny has a tiny 800 cc engine, two seats in the front, and two to four bench seats in the back. The larger Toyota Kijang seats six and is very economical and lightweight. The majority of hire-cars have manual 'stick-shift' gears as opposed to automatic transmission.

TIP - Shop around for a good rental deal. Check out the net, Bali's local papers and Magazines for the best prices.

TIP Carefully check the condition of your car before accepting terms (especially the horn, as this is used to warn other road users of your presence).

TIP - All rental cars should have registration documents and registration plates prefixed with the letters: RC (for 'Rental Car'). These are legal requirements for renting and without them the police could stop you and impose fines. Registration plates should also include both Balinese and Lambok licensing for use on both islands. Inform the rental company if you intend to use the vehicle on both islands and request appropriate documentation.

TIP - During the major holiday periods of Galungan and Nyepi, hire vehicles are in great demand from Balinese locals going home for the festivities, so it is advisable to book your vehicle in advance of these periods. Car Hire with Driver Known in Bali as 'chartered transport'. Although prices vary, depending on the places you wish to visit (and the distance covered), a car with driver will run about 15,000 - 20,000 rp per day (12 hours). Negotiate with the driver before agreeing a deal and check what extra costs will have to be paid such as petrol, meals, etc. Insurance Requirements Some rental companies offer insurance for an added fee. Check the small print as the conditions of policies vary considerably.

TIP - Maximum write-off damage will require an approximate payment of US $25 variable according to the individual policy, but minor damage such as a smashed wing or headlight could result in the hirer paying the full cost of repair which can be very expensive. Licence Requirements An International Driving Permit is required in addition to your own national Driving Licence. These are obtainable from motoring organisations in your country.

WARNING - Driving in Bali without a licence can incur a fine of 2,000,000 rp. Seat Belts Seat belts are fitted to some vehicles, but there are no legal requirements to use them. If you intend to rent a motorcycle, helmets will be supplied by the hire company for the rider and passenger. It is a legal requirement to wear one and it has to be in good condition. Which Side of the Road Traffic drives on the left. Priority It is your responsibility as driver to avoid all other road users. Any vehicle has the right of way to pull out in front of you. Drivers in Bali rely on audible warnings, so use the horn regularly to let them know of your presence and in particular when overtaking. Likewise, other drivers will use their horns to let you know of their presence.

WARNING - Be extra vigilant when driving at dusk or at night in rural areas. Many bicycles and carts are not illuminated by lights and street lighting is to be found only in the larger towns. Routes Indonesia's main roads are generally excellent surfaced highways, though overland travel may be hampered by the IMF's insistence that the government remove price subsidies on petrol. In Badung regency especially, there are certain roads that change priority from two-way to one-way during the course of the day. Be extremely careful as road priorities can change without warning and the police will fine anybody driving in contravention of altered road priorities. Speed Limits There is a maximum speed limit of 70 kph. Petrol Expect to pay over 1,150 rp a litre.

Emergency Numbers

The emergency telephone numbers are as follows:
Ambulance 118
Fire 113
Police 110

Handicraft Product From Bali

2008-07-22T01:41:00.000-07:00

We are manufacture, wholesaler Handicraft and painting in Bali island.

Sinar Bali provides many type of handicrfat such as :

bali aromatic incense, spa products, zen garden, cinnamons handicraft, candle holders, frame, silver, bronze items, fountains, game, abstract carving, bali painting and many more

.... Our Bali Handicraft price are negotiable and we guarantee lowest price .........

Within our product range of more than 10.000 bali handicraft products,
we are sure you find what you are looking for, but if you not found in our cataloque, tell us what you're looking for ....what a description of the items you desire ( photos if possible ), we can get it for you.


Bali Wooden Frame Best Bali wooden frame see more...	Bali Flower Best Bali flower see more...	Bali Wooden Frame Best Bali wooden frame see more...

The best way to convinced you to place and order is to meet us personally. That's why we invite you to come to Bali.

If you can't come to Bali only to meet us, why don't you put Bali as your next holiday destination. Bali is one of the best holiday / travel destination in the world we have so much to offer here........if you come to bali, we invite you to come to my showroom or if you have plenty of time we'll take you arround. We hold that we are not the best, but we would try our best to give you best products, best service at best price, this is our duty and have close business.

We sincerely hope to have business cooperation and business dealing with the importer, wholesalers and distributors from the all over world and have closed, regular works together.

Handicraft Village

2008-07-22T00:05:00.000-07:00

from sanskrit for Seventh Heaven Khayangan estate brings you to a place where the gods themselves may choose to dwell, a blend of new and old, taking the romance of the past and encapsulating it with the comfort and technology of today in bali"s ultimate five star luxury resort.
Designed by jasmine saunders-davies, and built by Cheong Yew Kuan, one of Asia's leading resort and luxury villa architects,khayangan estate is a fully self contained,luxury estate set in 1.5 hectares of lush tropical gardens,located at the edge of the cliff, adjacent to bvlgari resort on the bukit bali.
Eight traditional javanese joglos-once the homes of java aristocracy- have been lovingly restored and refitted with contemporary luxury interiors and state of the art fixtures and fitings to bring you an unforgettable holiday experience.
khayangan estate invites you to luxuriate in your sprrounding;swim in the infinity edge pool,indulge and be pampered at the private cliff top luxury spa,dine on sumptuous cuisine prepared by our in-house chef,play tennis, work out, or simply spend sunset in the cliff-side pavilion over looking selonding beach an the Indian Ocean, champagne in hand, farewelling the day.

Claris Bali is wholesaler of bali handicraft, garment and accessories from Bali.

2008-07-21T20:48:00.001-07:00

We provide type of handmade products, good quality of garment and beautiful accessories. We are not the best, but we try to give you best products, best service in best prices, this is our duty and business goal.

All handicraft and the other products are made by professional craftsmen, using only the highest quality materials. The craftsmen have an understanding and much knowledge about all the materials used, ensuring exceptional standards of work and vigorous quality controls, those producing the highest export quality of them.

Bali Handicraft Product

2008-07-19T01:47:00.000-07:00

Bali Handicraft Product: Indonesia - Bali handicrafts products as bali home decorations, wooden crafts, bali statue, wood carving, gifts, wooden mirror and bali natural handbags. More then 2000 kinds bali craft and gifts products.

	Bali wooden handicraft We have many kinds bali handicraft products from wood like bali wooden cat, wooden flower, wooden animal, Christmas, bali wooden fish, frame and mirror, mash, puzzle, magnet, holder, hanger, and other kinds.
	Bali Home Decorations We have special bali handicrafts products for home decoration like bali wall decoration, Bali umbrella, garden lamp, lamp for bedroom, wind chimes, candle stick and cushion cover.
	Bali Gifts Bali gift products as key ring, bali kite, miniature surfboard, drummed, puzzle, bali incense and essential oil.
	Bali Natural Handbags and Boxes Special Balinese handbags and box from atta and rattan. The handbags is hand make with combination rattan, natural material, cloth and atta. We can made to order for this products.
	Bali Kitchen Accessories We have many kind product for kitchen accessories like bowl from wood and aluminum, place mate and trey, and coconut shell and caster.

The Luxury Bali SPA

2008-07-19T01:36:00.000-07:00

Guests to Ibah Luxury Villas and Spa will receive the following services and amenities while staying in our Ubud Bali hotel.

The Legend

Centuiries ago, a holy man from India, Rei Markandya saw a distant light rising from the earth to the sky and returning again. So Rei organized a large group of men and women to find the place which was the source of the light. On this first journey he found what is now the beautiful island of Bali. By the time Rei and the search party eventually found the place of the light in the central mountains of Bali, much of the group had died. So Rei returned once again to Java and formed yet another group of men and women to find Besakih again and this time build a sacred temple on the site.

On the journey, Rei was led to stop and meditate at a place where two rivers met. It was at Campuhan (which actually means two rivers meet) that Rei Markandya received the inspiration he needed on how to build what is now one of the most revered and beautiful temples in all the world. Campuhan has continued to be a source of light and inspiration for many, attracting artists and musicians of worldwide notoriety such as Walter Spies, Rudolf Bonnet, Colin Macphee, and Noel Coward.

To mark this place of holy inspiration, a small temple was built on the banks of Campuhan and the surrounding land granted to the royal family of the town near Campuhan, Ubud. Ubud means medicine in Balinese and refers to the healing power of this most sacred ground. Tjokorda Raka of the Ubud Royal family has had a dream of opening up this and sharing the rejuvenating life of this place with visitors of other cultures.

General Information

Bali, one of some 13,000 islands comprising the Indonesian Archipelago, had an auspicious start. According to legend, when the world was formed Bali was put afloat on the back of a giant sea turtle with fragrant skies above. Bali has approximately 3,500,000 inhabitants of which probably 80% are Hindu Balinese. The remaining having come from neighboring islands of Java, Lombok, Madura in search of employment.

Bali lies just 8.67° (965 km) south of the equator. As such the weather is tropical - consistently hot and sunny. Days are almost universally 12 hours long with sunrise is approximately 6:10 a.m.; sunset at 6:30 p.m. depending on the time of year. The daytime temperature averages between 27° C to 32° C (80° F to 90° F) in the southern lowlands (the main tourist venues). Humidity is quite high - a sticky 75% so often times it feels much hotter. Average temperature in the mountains is between 20° C to 25° C (70° F to 80° F). At night the mountains can get downright chilly - so bring a sweater if you plan to overnight there.

Bali’s tropical monsoon climate has two distinct seasons; dry (May to September) and wet (October to April). Monsoon refers to the wind, not the rain. However even in the wet monsoon there’s a better than even chance that it will be sunny for a good part of the day. Weather wise May, June and July are generally considered the best.

A Short History

Bali was first settled by Chinese immigrants sometime around 2500 BC and after working on it for 2,000 years the complex irrigation system that is still the focal point of Balinese agriculture and way of life today was established. Things remained pretty much unchanged until the 11th century. Around 1010 AD a Balinese Prince named Airlangha took over East Java intending to unite it with Bali under his rule. Successful, he subsequently appointed his brother, Anak Wungsu, to rule Bali. As such there was a great deal of commerce between Bali and Java bringing with it an exchange of politics and arts. It was at this time the Bali adopted the Javanese language, Kawi that is still used today.

Airlangha's death brought on several wars waged by Javanese Kings to continue the Javanese control of Bali. Finally in 1343 Bali succumbed to Javanese control when it was defeated by a General by the name of Gajah Mada from the Majapahit Empire, the last Hindu Javanese empire.

When Islam began spreading south from Sumatra into Java in the 16th century, the Majapahit empire collapsed and a large number of aristocrats, priests, and artists fled to Bali. From then until the Dutch arrived in 1597 little changed except the culture continued to be refined - which is where we pick up the story.

The People of Bali

The Balinese were not able to develop and sustain their extremely complex agricultural economy for centuries on end without a very organized community structure. The basis of this community structure is the Subak and the Banjar. Everyone who owns a rice paddy must join the Subak in their village. The Subak controls who will plant rice and when (plantings are staggered so that pestilence is minimized). As well and more importantly the Subak ensures that all farmers receive their fair share of irrigation water since traditionally the head the Subak was the farmer whose field was at the bottom of the hill and water first had to pass through everybody else's field before it was allowed to irrigate his.

The other important community structure, the Banjar, organizes all other aspects of Balinese life (i.e. marriages, cremations, community service, festivals and the like). When a man marries he is expected to join the village Banjar and must participate in community affairs. Meetings are held at a large open air building called the Bale Banjar.

Religion

Although the Balinese are Hindu and worship the Hindu trinity Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, the Balinese religion is very different from the Indian variety. The Balinese do have a caste system but there are no untouchables. The caste system is most evident in the language which has three levels: a low level for commoners, a mid level to address strangers and a high level only used when addressing aristocracy.

The Balinese are an unusual island people in that they have never been sea faring people. They believe that good spirits dwell in the mountains and that the seas are home to demons. Most villages have at least three main temples: one of which is the Pura Puseh or ‘temple of origin’, is dedicated to the village founders and which faces to Mt Agung - home to Pura Besakih the mother temple on Bali. Together with the other two village temples each house may several temples and as well as rice fields, markets etc. etc. etc. Now you can see why Bali is often referred to as the Island of the Gods.

The Balinese are extremely devout and no day goes by without making offerings to the gods. These daily offerings - called Banten are a major part of Balinese life. You will see these offerings nearly everywhere in Bali. Made of flowers, cigarettes, cookies, rice and even sometimes money (the actual items used are not as important as the process of making and offering it to the spirits) these offerings are given to the good spirits in hopes of continued prosperity as well as to the evil spirits as an appeasement.

Simple Etiquette

The Balinese are inclusive by nature and take great pride in their heritage and therefore do not mind visitors observing ceremonies and traditional dances, just as long as you follow a few simple, basic points of etiquette. (After all, how would you like a group of foreign speaking tourists invading your wedding or funeral of a close relative to snap a few photos?). First, dress appropriately - smart casual is appropriate - swim wear is not appropriate. Two, be quiet and respectful. Cameras and camcorders are ok - but do be unobtrusive.

Also do not step in front of anyone to snap a photo and do not sit higher than the local priest presiding over the ceremony. As well, do not touch or pat anyone (including children) on the head.

When visiting temples be aware that you should wear long pants or a sarong with a selendang tied around the waist (men and women). Whilst you can take your own every major temple has selendangs to borrow for a small donation. It is extremely bad form (in fact it’s taboo) for women who are menstruating to enter a temple.

Lastly a word about being stuck in traffic. If you do find yourself stuck in traffic for no apparent reason you may have come up on a Balinese procession on the way to temple. Be patient. No amount of honking the car's horn is going to speed things up and it's rude to try and pass.

Bali Handicrafts - Handicrafts collection from Bali

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Bali Handicrafts - Handicrafts collection from Bali

Welcome to Bali Duo

Bali Duo is a new site designed to provide potential customers and clients an online friendly use website to search and order thousands of Bali handicraft and furniture products such as Sterling Silver Jewelry, Bali Sandals, Bali Handbags, Bali Shalls, Bali Accessories and many other handicraft products with their prices for wholesale and retails services.

Bali is an island where many artists resided and have in many years this magical island is known for its best authentic produces such as stone carving, wood carving, paintings, silver jewelry, arts and crafts and many more.

Therefore, through this site we would like to bring you the opportunity to purchase online your products of interest for both individual and business purposes.

Painting Of Bali

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Paintings of Bali have experienced remarkable evolution. Traditionally another means of expressing religious and mythological ideas, paintings of Bali have been subjected to a number of influences, including deep interaction with Western painters who came and lived in Bali. As with any other artistic expression found in the island, these influences have been uniquely adapted into Bali's personality, creating new nuances and styles of paintings that are distinctly Balinese. Instead of religious or mythical characters of wayang, contemporary paintings present nature, daily lives of Balinese, or even tourists. The shades of coal gray that dominate traditional paintings are now accompanied by vibrant play of color capturing Jalak Bali or Gunung Agung in the morning sun.

The Raja of Ubud was known for his fondness of arts and paintings, and his openness to foreigners. Thus Ubud became the center of arts, welcoming into its heart renowned artists such as Bonnet, Spies, Blanco, Snel, et., many of whom came and never could leave Bali. Today's Ubud is only slightly different. You should not be surprised to run into a foreign writer who has spent months living in a homestay facing a rice field terrace while writing his next book. Fabulous museums of paintings such as the Puri Museum Lukisan, the Neka Museum, and the Rudana Museum have in their permanent collections some of the best paintings ever produced by Balinese or foreigners who found their physical and artistic home in Bali.

Textile Of Bali

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Textiles of Bali

The Batik of Bali provides another venue of showing the artistic excellence of the Balinese people. Their beautiful designs, inspired by religious mythologies to everyday encounters, spread throughout the world. Originally stimulated by Javanese motifs, dominated by wayang and other mythological characters, contemporary batik artists have also experienced artistic development that parallels that of paintings. Modern batik artists express themselves through various subjects, from objects of nature such as birds or fish to daily activities such as cremation (ngaben) procession or tourist attractions as well as religious and mythological stories, accompanied by modern interpretation.

The Ikat and Double Ikat are two amazing techniques that the Balinese have perfected. A piece of Ikat cloth is woven in such a way that the ink is 'tied' (which is what 'ikat' literally translates to) in one of the two threads. A Double Ikat recursively repeats this technique; both threads contain ink. The ink will bleed to its neihboring area, and the result is a piece of cloth with distinctive, subtle patterns.

The village of Tenganan is well known for its superb double ikat work. A good piece of double ikat may take months to complete, and it usually belongs to the family heirloom. Certain patterns, such as the black and white, checkered, double ikat are considered to have protective powers against the evil spirits. Thus, they are used a lot to cover or to dress statues that guard the entrance to a temple or sacred masks like Barong.

A piece of ikat shirt or a batik wrap-around, each can be had for as little as a few dollars, are must have. Local garment shops will gladly supply you with these or any other kinds of Balinese garments that might interest you.

Shoping In Paradise

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Shopping in Bali is not simply walking into a shop, picking something from a shelf and paying for it. Shopping is an art. In every traditional market and art shop around Bali bargaining is a must.

This traditional way makes shopping in Bali a fun time, where you can feel the warmth of human value in every transaction. Before you begin your shopping tour on this island, please obtain cash because most places do not accept credit cards.

Even if you are not a seasoned negotiator be prepared to enjoy the bargaining process. It is a fun activity and be patient and you will get the 'best (and maybe even local) price'. In some places you can bargain until you get 50% off. Always go in at less than a third of the price (maybe even a quarter) and bargaining and even walk away, until you get the price you want. Then make sure you pay the right money.

I remember seeing a man negotiating for an umbrella on Kuta beach. He did well in the bargaining process and got the price to Rp5,000 and paid up with a Rp50,000 note. But he went away happy believing he had a bargain. Isn't that the most important part of bargaining - to be happy with your purchase. So where can you go to spend your Rupiah?

Denpasar
As the capital of Bali, Denpasar is the center of "market" activity for local people. The biggest traditional market stands near Badung's river, Kumbasari market. It can give you an insight into the traditional Indonesia market where local people do their daily shopping. Fruit, vegetables and meat can be found in the basement; on the second level is the place for spices and dried goods; while household wares, clothing, art and craft is on the third level. Here you can get a very good price if you're smart in bargaining. In the northern part is Gajahmada Street, where you can find handicrafts and some shoe shops and restaurants. In the eastern part is Sulawesi Street, the place for all kind of fabrics on its both sides with some shops providing household ware in between. The area here is very colorful with all types of material from the traditional 'songket' (cloth woven with strands of gold or silver) to modern day stretchy and shiny material. Why not buy your cloth by the meter and have a suit or dress made up by a local tailor. In the southern part is Hasanudin Street where you can see gold shops, selling jewelry to local people but, of course, the visitor is welcome to buy but please bargain. On the west Side of the market is the place for people to buy coconut leaf and ceremony supplies.

Kuta area
As an international village almost all of the shops and restaurants here are for tourist market. You can find handicrafts, clothing, jewelry, CDs, furniture and leather crafts on each side of the road. But you can also see many street hawkers with their various offerings along the road. If you do not want to buy anything from them, do not make eye contact and do not ever look at their products, for if you do, they will follow you along the street and pester you to buy something.

Sanur area
The shopping center in Sanur is on Jalan Danau Tamblingan where the situation is almost the same as Kuta but with very few hawkers. Many products are on offer in the shops and nice restaurants.

The Bypass
The Bypass is the term for Ngurah Rai Street, perhaps the widest road in Bali. If you travel from Nusa Dua to Sanur you will see on the road has many antique, pottery, natural stone and furniture stores. You can get excellent pieces and prices if you look carefully and remember to bargain.

Batubulan area
Batubulan, on the border of Denpasar and Gianyar, is the home of stone sculptures. You can find various kinds of style here, from traditional to modern, small to large. The craftsmen can make up your order and even arrange to ship it to your address back home.

Celuk area
On the way to Ubud you'll pass Celuk, the place for gold and silver jewelry. The artisans in this area are well known for their quality and various designs. Huge art shops along the main road give you a chance to compare prices.

Sukawati
This area is popular because for its Art Market. If you ask Balinese where to find art and craft with the cheapest price, they will recommend Sukawati. Here you can find cloth, paintings and statue, jewelry and also Balinese ceremonial items.

Ubud
This well-known village offers you fine arts with an international standard. Respected galleries such as Agung Rai, Sumertha, Rudana, Sika and Neka are recommended visiting as well as the big names of Hans Snel and Antonio Blanco.

Tegalalang
Various woodcarvings can be found in this village and its neighbors. Very colorful carvings of flowers, animals and other designs are displayed along the road.

Bono
This village is the home of bamboo. The villagers create furniture and mats from bamboo; they also make some articles from lontar leaf.
Kamasan
This village in Klungkung is popular with its own style of painting called Kamasan where a drawing is made in black ink then colored by natural pigments.

Tenganan
Tenganan, the Bali Aga (the original Balinese people) village in Karangasem, is the only place in Bali that produces Geringsing fabric. All the material for Geringsing is taken from nature and its process is very traditional. No chemicals are used in the process. There is a legend that when dying the cloth red, human blood was used. Nowadays a vegetable dye is used. But the price of this fabric is expensive.

Bali Handicraft News

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The Balinese sculpture with natural media - wood, stone, bone, horn, deadwood, and even gnarled tree roots. Nowadays, souvenir-caliber wood carving is churned out and successful creations are mass produced. Any visitor to Bali is likely to be exposed to wood carving in all forms, be it the traditional ornate carved doors, the carved figures of gods, or the countless carved items in craft shops. Wood carving is a craft practiced all over Bali. Open your ears to the tapping sound of the carver’s mallet and you would know that there is one around. It would be taxing to separate traditional and foreign influences. However, Balinese are intense observers of the outside world, effortlessly incorporating and adapting foreign themes into their work.

For quality wood carving, head to Tegallalang, Pujung, and Sebatu, which is north of Ubud. It is a great area to meet woodcarvers; it is best to take note of the artist’s name and visit him at the workshop to negotiate a better price. Bali is a perfect place for western artists to study their crafts. There are wood carving lessons in which you can learn to carve your own mask in about three weeks.

Bali Music and Dance

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Bali Music and Dance

Music, dance and drama are all closely related in Bali, in fact drama and dance are synonymous. The most important thing about Balinese dances, however, is that they're fun and accessible. Balinese dances are not hard to find; there are dances virtually every night at all the tourist centers.

The Gamelan

Balinese music is based around an instrument known as the gamelan. The gamelan is such a central part of Balinese music that the whole 'orchestra' is also referred to as a gamelan. Gamelan music is almost completely percussion. Though it sounds strange at first with its noisy, jangly percussion it's exciting and enjoyable.

Kecak

Probably the best known of the many Balinese dances, the Kechak is also unusual in that it does not have a gamelan accompaniment. Instead the background is provided by a chanting 'choir' of men who provide the 'chak-a-chak-a-chak' noise.

Tourists especially enjoy the performance staged by the Kechak dancers. This dance is also deeply rooted in local tradi- tion and Indian mythology and is inspired by Ramayana, an epic poem written in Sanskrit. The dance brings to life the tale of King Rama, his wife Dewi Sita and his brother Laksamana who were exiled to the forest for 14 years following some complex scheming in a struggle for power. In the forest, they are persecuted by Rahwana, the ogre king who then abducts Dewi Sita and makes her a prisoner of his palace on the Island of Lanka (Ceylon). Rama strikes an alliance with the monkey people whose army de- feats Rahwana’s troups, making it possible for King Rama to rescue his wife. In each Kechak performance, a hundred or so dancers play the monkey army while a few female dancers are assigned specific roles (Dewi Sita, Trijata). The performance generally lasts one hour and takes place in the evening, preferably around 7 PM.

Barong & Rangda

It's the most popular dance for tourists. A straightforward battle between good, the barong, and bad, the rangda. The barong is a strange creature, half shaggy dog, half lion, propelled by two men like a circus clown-horse. The widow-witch rangda is bad though and certainly not the sort of thing you'd like to meet on a midnight stroll through the rice paddies.

The Barong dance is truly a triumphant display of bright colors and graceful movements. Greatly appreciated by the tourists, special performances are staged for their benefit, generally in the morning, and last one hour. The villages of Batubulan as well as Tegaltamu and Singapadu, small towns located 30 minutes from the capital, are known for putting on the best performances. There is, however, more to the Barong dance than the folkloristic dimension, It is, in fact, an integral part of the island's culture and has an evident sacred connotation. It isn't rare, in fact, to see the Balinese dancing the Barong during their religious ceremonies, regardless of the presence of tourists. Inspired by an episode taken from Mahabharata, an epic poem written in Sanskrit. the dance evolves around the character of the Barong, the king of the jungle. A mythical animal, not clearly identified (perhaps a lion), he is the symbol of virtue and good, subject to the continuous struggle against the evil forces that threaten life and the integrity of the forest, this being an element very dear to the Balinese population. In detail, the Barong embodies everything that can be beneficial to man, and help him defeat illness. black magic and any other kind of misfortune. The evil entity against which he must relentlessly fight is personified by Rangda, queen of death and devourer of children. She is characterized by a dark and gloomy mask from which a red tongue of fire hangs. The entire dance is centered around the struggle between these two rival characters. The Barong is interpreted by two dancers whose rhythmic movements bring to life the beautiful and elaborate cos tume they wear. a large animal head skillfully carved out of wood, brightly colored in red, white, black and gold. It is adorned with a crown extending outwards from the sides of the head, and by a prominent necklace which hangs from the neck, The final touch of the costume is a tail made out of bison leather which is elaborately finished and guilded. The first character to appear on the stage is the Barong with his swaying gait: his dance is meant to express the joy of living. He is followed by a group of armed supporters who stand ready to defend him.

When Rangda strikes her terrible blows. It isn't at all rare for the dancers playing the Barong's followers to become so engrossed in the sacredness of the per- formance that they go into a real trance. A cloud of characters surround the Barong on stage. Rangda, goddess of death, personification of evil, the young girl servant Kalika; Dewi Kunti, queen of the kingdom of Hastina and her stepson Sadewa who will be sacrificed in order to placate the anger of Rangda, the minister Dewi Kunti; Patih who ex- presses sorrow for the fate of Sadewa (Rangda will have to enter his soul in order to make him accept the sacrifice), and then the monkey supporters of the Barong, producers of palm tree wine (nira). A very important element in the entire dance is the large orchestra, known as gamelan, which is essential to underscore the ritual nature of the performance. Many are the instruments that make up the orchestra: some metal xylophones which stand out not only because they are so numerous but because of their power ful and imperious sound; there are also drums as well as flutes, the rebab (a type of violin) and the gender (typical xylophones). All together, these instruments are essential in guiding the dance and underscoring the rhythm of well coordinated movements. These along with the joyful colors are the most alluring elements of this remarkable perfor mance. At the end of the dance, the masks of the Barong and of Rangda, as proof of their sacred nature, are stowed in a special room inside the temple. They are covered very carefully, especially Rangda's mask, because its deadly powers are greatly feared. It's a way of saying that the ritual victory of the Barong, that is of good, which marks the end of the dance, is only temporary: tomorrow the eternal and unresolved conflict could begin again.

The end of the Barong dance is like an entirely separate performance. Also known as the Kris dance, it is named after the famous Malese dagger. The idea is based on the philosophical concept rwa bhineda. good and bad, evil and goodness which have always been present and have always existed together albeit in a constant and inevitably unresolved conflict. Nothing will change in the future. While man is left free to try to develop his positive attitudes and let them win over the negative ones, he must nonetheless resign himself to the fact that the presence of both good and evil is a law of nature and as such must be accepted. When the dance is performed, Rangda is the evil spirit which enters the bodies of his victims, usually followers of the Barong, and pushes them to the edge of suicide. The dancers attempt to stab themselves in the chest with their krises until they are finally stopped by the beneficial appearance of the Barong. It is he who will save these unfortunate beings by revealing that the notion of good and evil will always be inevitably present in the world and in everyone's life and that they must therefore accept it.

Keris Dance

In the Barong play, Bali's mythical guardian, Barong, battles Rangda, the demon - Queen. barong's supporters are a group of Balinese men with the natural ability to enter a trance state. They are armed with a kris ( traditional sword). Rangda insults Barong and taunts the menenraged and in a trance they attack her! But her powers are so strong that they are knocked out. When they come to they are so distressed by their failure, that they try to impale themselves on their kris. But their trance state amazingly protects them from injury.

Legong

It's the most graceful of Balinese dances. A legong dancer is known as young girl, often as young as eight or nine years, rarely older than her early teens. There are various forms of the Legong but the Legong Kraton is the one most often performed.

Baris

The warrior dance, known as the Baris, is traditionally a male equivalent of the Legong femininity and grace give way to energetic and warlike martial spirit.

Ramayana Ballet

Basically, it tells the same story of Rama and Sita as told in the Kechak but without the monkey ensemble and with a normal gamelan gong accompaniment.

Kebyar

It's a male solo dance like the Baris but with greater emphasis on the performer's individual abilities. There are various forms of Kebyar including the Kebyar Duduk and Kebyar Trompong.

Barong Landung

The giant puppet dance take place annually on the island of Pulau Serangan and a few other places in southern Bali.

Janger

The Janger is a relatively new dance which suddenly popped up in the '20s and '30s. Today it has become part of the standard repertoire and no longer looks so unusual.

Topeng

A mask dance where the dancers have to imitate the character represented by mask. A full collection of Topeng masks may number 30 or 40. Closely liriked to religious ceremonies and processions, and danced as a ritual interval, the Topeng dance ultimately takes on a sacred connotation. As a matter of fact, foreigners are allowed to see the dance only if they behave appropriately and respectfully. Actually, some performances are staged only for the benefit of the tourists, but do not enjoy the same following of the Barong and Kechak dances. Peculiar components of the Topeng dance are the masks used to hide the faces of the dancers. Specific attributes are used, instead, to identify the characters (a mustache and thick eyebrows for the elder, arrogance and defiance for Patih, and so on). The rhythm of movements (perfectly in accordance to the age and role of the character) is underscored by a large orchestra, the garnelan, which is essential for the success of the performance.

Jauk

Also a mask dance but strictly a solo performance.

Pendet

It's an everyday dance of the temples, a small procedure to go through before making temple offerings.

Sanghyang (Fire Dance)
The Sanghyang trance dance originally developed to drive out evil spirits from a village. The Sanghyang Dedari dance is performed by two young girls who dance a dream-like version of the Legong but with their eyes closed. The Sanghyang Jaran, a boy dances around and through a fire, riding a coconut palm hobby-horse. In both dances, a priest is always on hand to help bring the dancers out of theritrance -state at the end of the performance.

about denpasar

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Imaging from an inspiration, covered wit spirit, willing hard and never ending struggle. Combined with people creativity creating art work, with a high esthetical value.This indeed makes a community of Denpasar countinuouses in competing and producing on the international market.

Denpasar is a capital city of Bali province has been developed as a centre of economic. Its vission as a city which is culturaly decided is carried out and in line with the promotion of exporting and out of all guests, were almost 70 % of bali's industry are located in the area of Denpasar.

The Export commudity progressed of the capital city of Denpasar exist parencing a gradual proggres each year. Tis is indeed is sign that the city still to have a prospective obesious market. But however they are some efforts to improve the quality and productivity. Reffering to that conditions, the Goverment of Denpasar allways earries out the training and promoting that the bussiness means and craftment of Denpasar will be able to compete on the international market

"Wholesale "Bali"" handicrafts""....."

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You've come to the right place for quality Bali handicrafts from an Indonesia based wholesale craft supplier. Bali Direct is a well-established manufacturer, wholesaler and exporter of quality Indonesian craft products. Our product range includes all the classic Balinese products like wind chimes, photo albums, stoneware, miniature surfboards, incense, hand crafted terracotta ceramic, candle and incense holders, sarongs, fashion accessories as well as many more handcrafted gift and home ware items from not only Bali but the entire archipelago of Indonesia.
Bali handicrafts, culture, arts and crafts... the connection.

Bali is a dynamic centre of arts, culture, religion and people. What comes out of this is a unique magical blend of mysticism, righteousness, peace, tolerance, creativity and, of course, the famous Balinese friendliness. These very attributes come together and serve as a root for the creation of what has developed and grown into a truly wonderful art and craft industry that Indonesia has become world renowned for.

Indonesian handicrafts in the global market place.....

Hand crafted gifts and arts and crafts from Indonesia have continued to gain in popularity over the years. Bali handicrafts now adorn the homes of millions of consumers the world over. At some time or another, you may have come across a hand crafted item that has caught your eye. Perhaps a melodic bamboo wind chime, or a cute brightly painted cat, maybe a leaf covered photo frame, an elegant wooden sculpture, a hand woven cushion cover. These, and many other such items often originate from right here in Indonesia. Indonesian handicrafts have rightly earned a dominant place in the highly competitive international giftware and furnishings market place. Millions of dollars of handicrafts are now being exported all over the globe annually to gift shops, supermarkets, department stores, wholesalers, importers and distributors. Bali Direct supplies quality Bali handicrafts to such entities and currently exports to at least forty countries all over the globe.

People and empowerment.....

Demand has meant that the Bali handicraft industry has thrived and it now provides employment and business opportunities for quite literally thousands of people. In addition to providing a livelihood for those in the handicraft industry, it has given a big boost to the economy. To truly appreciate how the handicraft industry functions and provides a living for so many people, one has to go off into the hills, far off the beaten track. For it is in the remote villages that you will find the true artisans of all of the handicraft products that Bali has become so famous for. It is here that whole Balinese communities are hard at work turning bits of wood, bamboo, metal, leaves and clay into truly amazing and marketable products. That's real empowerment for you!

Bali handicraft supply....

We draw on the production power of these remote Indonesian communities and provide assistance to manufacturers and artisans in the form of marketing via the internet and through direct promotion campaigns. This helps to keep the handicraft industry alive in Indonesia and provides many of the home industry manufacturers with a channel to sell their arts and craft wares. Many handicraft products that we supply are the creations of the highly skilled artisans mentioned above, but we are also a supplier of our own unique craft items that we have developed with the help of the very same people. Simply put, without them we would not have been able to achieve any of this. To this end, we look forward to continuing our drive to keep supporting the communities of Indonesia by helping them to bring their unique skills and crafts to the world market place.

Come on in and see for yourself all the handicrafts that Indonesia has to offer. You'll be truly amazed!

29th Bali Art Festival 2007

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Bali Art Festival is a staging event of Balinese traditional artistry which is performed every once a year. In this year, this even has been executed to the 29 times and carried out during one month from 16 June - 14 July 2007. There are 13 thousand actors/actress which are merged into 156 sekaa (group of Balinese actors) will properly perform their artistry from dance, gamelan traditional, child/adult game, exhibition of gold, silver, batik, clothes of traditional Bali and others.

Why this event is held?

Globalization growth that is happened in Bali is one of threat for Balinese culture where foreign culture tends to more aggressive and worried that a august artistic value exist in Bali society will lose. Therefore, Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra - former Bali Governor trigger the idea to preserve this Balinese culture by performing a staging artistic event once a year and it is more recognized by Bali Art Festival. This event invites all components from actor/actress of entire Bali to show their ability and expected can dig the art potency which is not yet popular in Bali .

Where the event is executed?

Bali Art Center is a center of art event performance in Bali provides complete art demonstration facilities. The open stage which have been built and decorated by beautiful ornament with Balinese architecture is very good place to perform the art performance like drama, dance, music and other. This place is more known by the name of Arda Chandra Open Stage. The other side, a lot of buildings has been built to show the artistry or exhibition. In courtyard of Art Center is also used as a place to demonstrate the Balinese artistry which more popular in Bali society like Jogen Bumbung Dance (the dance is accompanied by made gamelan from bamboo) or game. Bali Art Center is located in Nusa Indah Street, Denpasar Town or 30 minutes drives from Bali's International Airport .

What else can be visited on Bali Art Festival?

Bali Art Festival beside provide a lot of entertainment amusement start from dance, drama, puppets, game, gamelan and art competitions, there is another side which can be enjoyed like exhibition. This exhibition provides the multifarious of artwork like gold, silver, batik, cloth, Balinese Traditional costume, painting, handy craft and other. At the west side corner of Bali Art Center is a place to sell the various of food and beverage. The Balinese Traditional Foods are also available in this place.

When the right time to visit Bali Art Festival?

It is open from 09.00 until last time performance (around 12.00 midnight). The best time to visit this place is the night time from 19.00 – 22.00 hours. You will meet the various of Balinese attraction in several stage including the Balinese art exhibition offering the competitive price. If you visit in the day time, some of Balinese performance and attraction are may be held based on the schedule. Bali Art Festival is a very good moment for you to see the Balinese artistry exhaustively. You will see the Balinese art truthfully and played by all reliable and professional actors/actress inclusive of Popular Sekaa (A popular actors/actress group ).

Released on 19 June 2007
At 15:30 pm - by Balistarisland.com

"handicraft""bali""wood"

2008-07-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

Precise identification of wood samples can be very difficult indeed, especially when one considers how many different types of wood there are. For this requirement, it will suffice to bring in five samples and teach the student to distinguish between them. Unless you are already an expert at identifying wood, you would be well served to visit a specialty lumber establishment and ask for a few samples of five species. These types of stores are staffed by extremely knowledgeable people. You may also have luck at a hardware/lumber store such as Lowes or Home Depot. These stores will often display their hardwoods in a different section away from the construction lumber (which is mostly fir and pine). They commonly carry oak, maple, and poplar lumber, and less commonly, cedar. Beech, oak, and luan (a cheap grade of mahogany) are usually available in plywood form. You may also be able to get free samples at a hardwood floor store.

When you have your samples, label them on one side so you can be sure of their identities.

Wooden handicraft

Pine

Pines is among the most commercially important genus of tree, valued for its timber and wood pulp throughout the world. Pine wood is widely used in high-value carpentry items such as furniture, window frames, paneling and floors. Pine is readily available at commercial lumberyards, being among the least expensive forms of lumber. Pine is light yellow to white with a reddish tinge. It darkens to an orange tint with age. The wood is soft and easily shaped with both hand and power tools, making it a very popular choice for wood craft.

Balinese Handicraft Villages

2008-07-11T01:33:00.000-07:00

Bali is famous for its culture, art and handicrafts. A visitor might browse what is on offer in the Kuta area, but want a more dedicated place, focusing on one kind of product. Here is where you will find a particular type of handicraft.

Babat: Sandstone carvings, silver & goldwork.
Bangli & Tampaksiring: Coconut, cattle-bone, and buckhorn carvings.
Batuan: Woven goods. Known for traditional woven cloth and carved and decorated painted wooden panels.
Batubulan: Stone sculptures. Lining the street are many stone figures and statues. Buddhas, demons, and ornaments for family
shrines are sold here. You can watch the carvers at work in certain places.
Blaju & Gianyar: Weaving center. Many quality sarongs are made here. Good place for textiles.
Bona: Close to Gianyar. Known as the place where the best bamboo comes from, hence the bamboo furniture. Also a center for
plaited baskets, hats and sandles.
Bratan & Celuk: Weaving, gold & silver. Celuk is a mile long street lined with silversmiths. You can buy ready made stuff
or order custom work.
Goa Gajah: Baskets, shell carvings.
Klungkung: Wood & hornwork handicrafts, bone carvings, fine woven silk. Also shops selling Chinese porcelain, ornamental gold
and silver jewelry.
Mas, Peliatan & Ubud: Carving & painting centers. Some very good carvers are found in Mas.
Penestanan: Paintings and beaded purses.
Puaya: Close to Sukawati. Puppets made from old Chinese coins. Leather puppets also made

Denpasar Hotel Bali Handycraft

2008-07-10T01:46:00.001-07:00

Denpasar Hotels Bali

An interesting feature of Denpasar is the way it combines tradition with modernity. The old provincial kingdoms and villages of the densely-populated rice plain also perforate the urban landscape.
While functioning very much in the traditional way, these "villages in the city" still have their exclusive banjar neighborhood, dance groups, and temple festivals.
This blending of styles sometimes results in a stunning cohabitation of architectural genres. Hidden behind the harsh rows of Chinese shops along Jalan Gajah Mada, the old city centre, are traditional compounds with much of their original architecture preserved, kori gates and temples giving this city a historical look rarely found in other Indonesian cities.

Denpasar has two hotels of historical and cultural note, Bali Hotel and the Pemecutan Palace Hotel as well many losman - homestay, bed & breakast type places to stay. If you're on a tight budget a, these type of places can be a great bargain. During the Indonesian holiday seasons (June through August, Lebaran and Christmas/New Year), the hotels fill up.

As a modern metropolis, Denpasar offers a range of shopping centres, restaurants and food centres. For those interested in textiles and handicraft, go to Pasar Badung and Pasar Kumbasari markets, located on either side of the Badung river in the old city centre. The new centre has moved south to the Sudirman and Diponegoro roads.Rimo, Robinsons, Matahari, Tiara and Libi department stores, as well as Sudirman Mall, cater to all the needs of tourists and local customers, all at fixed prices. And for food, the south of Denpasar offers a complete range of restaurants

IronHandicrafts

2008-07-04T21:13:00.000-07:00

IronHandicrafts.net - Balinese Handicrafts & Souvenirs

IronHandicrafts.net is one of online shopping which provides unique souvenirs and Balinese handicrafts. Why Bali handicraft? As popularly known, that Bali is one of famous tourist destination and have so many talented art workers with their valuable artworks.

Handicrafts as one of Balinese art worker products, had popularly known entire Indonesia and overseas.

IronHandicrafts.net will professionally provide the customer needs without differentiate whether the customers are local people or foreigner because customer satisfaction is our base concept.

If you could not find the product you are looking for in our catalogue, you may order by sending details products you wished and provide the picture (if available) to us. Order now and find out our products at our catalogue.

Happy Shopping! so visit it ok!

Greetings from Bali Handicraft Product

2008-07-02T00:37:00.000-07:00

Bali Handicraft Product proudly put forward Balinese hands skills that were unique with the newest design. All of our Bali Handicraft Products were made by the professional craftsman, by using only quality materials was highest. We were your Bali-Indonesia Handicraft partner, we were prepared to co-operate with the importer, the broker, and the distributor from all over the world.

We offered the best quality, the best price and the price of bargaining handicraft we were negotiations where we guaranteed the cheapest price. If you were looking for the thing Bali Handicraft please was looked for by you at Bali Handicraft Catalogue, that was the source from various Bali Handicrafts and you would find.

Handycraft Today

2008-06-30T20:26:00.001-07:00

`Handycraft Walton on Thames`

Welcome to Handycraft - the premier joiner, carpenter and kitchen designer of Walton on Thames.

Here at Handycraft we provide a full service ranging from kitchen design to electrical work to all domestic and commercial customers within Walton on Thames.
Adding the personal touch to every job we do, we're small enough to care but big enough to cope with any electrical, joinery or home design or maintenance job.

Our range of services include:

- Kitchen and Bathroom Design
- Kitchen and Bathroom Installation
- Carpentry
- Joinery
- Plastering
- Plumbing
- Electrical Contractors

And more!

With years of experience we have built up an excellent local reputation for providing quality workmanship throughout all our work and have many word of mouth recommendations and much repeat business.

No job is too small and all home maintenance work is considered - just ask!

Open throughout the year our competitive prices and great service makes us the number one choice for all home maintenance work within Walton on Thames.

For more information or a quote call Handycraft today!

Welcome To handycraft

2008-06-30T00:26:00.000-07:00

WELCOME

Our art shop provide hotel's sandal. The product made from the selected material whichs is easily found in Indonesia's environment such as enceng gondok, akar wlingi and another selected materials.

If you need further information about our product, please do not be hesitate to send us e-mail or directly by phone, we can discuss about everything that you want to know. Beside that, you can make another design (or send me a sample) and material as you want, we can make it.

The price of hotel's sandal is US$ 1,8 per unit net. The minimum order is 1000 unit. Get special discount for more than 1500 order. The order will be fullfiled within 45 days since the signing of purchasing order.

Inside AdSense: Make the move...to Google Accounts

2008-06-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Inside AdSense: Make the move...to Google Accounts
www.newbalihandycraft.blogspot.com

Welcome to Bali Handicraft - arts and crafts website

2008-06-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

Bali handicraft wholesale - Artsbali.com, provides many types of handicraft such as: natural leaves photo album, photo frame, address book, note book, wind chimes, drums in carving, full carving, painting, full painting, plain, airbrush and special alpine, abstract carving, Lombok handicrafts and many others.
We invite you to come to Bali-the major tourist destination. We will give our best products and services. We are willing to cooperate with importers, wholesalers, and distributor from all around the world.

The connection between Bali handicrafts, culture, arts and crafts
Bali is a place where arts, culture, religion, and people blend together to form harmony. This unique blend serves as a root for the creation of what has developed and grown into a truly wonderful arts and crafts industry. Please visit Bali Handicraft's Blog that related with culture, arts and craft.

The global market place for Indonesian handicrafts
Indonesian handicrafts have continued to gain in popularity over the years. They have earned a dominant place in the highly competitive international giftware and furnishings market place. Millions of dollars of handicrafts are now being exported all over the globe annually to gift shops, supermarkets, department stores, wholesalers, importers and distributors. ArtsBali.com supplies quality Bali handicrafts to such entities and currently exports to at least forty countries all over the globe.

Human resources and empowerment
Bali handicraft industry has thrived and it now provides employment and business opportunities for quite literally thousands of people. In addition to providing a livelihood for those in the handicraft industry, it has given a big boost to the economy. To appreciate how the handicraft industry functions and provides a living for so many people, you have to go off into the hills, far off the beaten track. You will find Balinese communities who are working hard turning bits of wood, bamboo, metal, leaves, and clay into truly amazing and marketable products.

The supply of Bali handicraft
We use the Internet and direct promotion campaigns to keep the handicraft industry alive in Indonesia and provides many of the home industry manufacturers with a channel to sell their arts and craft wares. Many handicraft products that we supply are the creations of the highly skilled artisans. To this end, we look forward to continuing our drive to keep supporting the communities of Indonesia by helping them to bring their unique skills and crafts to the world market place.

Come on in and see for yourself all the handicrafts that Indonesia has to offer. You'll be truly amazed!

Handycraft in bali

2008-06-24T18:15:00.001-07:00

Balinese Design is an online bali handicraft shop. Balinese design is sourcing most of Bali, and so is able to supply a very wide range of products. These include Bali Gazebo, homewares, handicrafts, statues, fabrics and more of other bali handicrafts.
Balinese design demonstrates them desire to source and supply whatever products them customers may require
Personalised shopping tours can be arranged for customer, These will take in visits to suppliers in the Kuta, Denpasar ,Ubud and other part of Bali.
Balinese design is familiar with the import requirements of European, American and Australian customs departments. We have experience shipping and exporting to these and other countries
Choose our Bali handicraft product and make an order now we will do the Best

Bali Product Handycraft

2008-06-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Bali Handicraft ProductBali Handicraft Product proudly put forward Balinese hands skills that were unique with the newest design. All of our Bali Handicraft Products were made by the professional craftsman, by using only quality materials was highest. We were your Bali-Indonesia Handicraft partner, we were prepared to co-operate with the importer, the broker, and the distributor from all over the world.We offered the best quality, the best price and the price of bargaining handicraft we were negotiations where we guaranteed the cheapest price. If you were looking for the thing Bali Handicraft please was looked for by you at Bali Handicraft Catalogue, that was the source from various Bali Handicrafts and you would find.

Bali Music and Dance

2008-06-23T00:41:00.000-07:00

Bali Music and DanceMusic, dance and drama are all closely related in Bali, in fact drama and dance are synonymous. The most important thing about Balinese dances, however, is that they're fun and accessible. Balinese dances are not hard to find; there are dances virtually every night at all the tourist centers.
The GamelanBalinese music is based around an instrument known as the gamelan. The gamelan is such a central part of Balinese music that the whole 'orchestra' is also referred to as a gamelan. Gamelan music is almost completely percussion. Though it sounds strange at first with its noisy, jangly percussion it's exciting and enjoyable.
KecakProbably the best known of the many Balinese dances, the Kechak is also unusual in that it does not have a gamelan accompaniment. Instead the background is provided by a chanting 'choir' of men who provide the 'chak-a-chak-a-chak' noise.
Tourists especially enjoy the performance staged by the Kechak dancers. This dance is also deeply rooted in local tradi- tion and Indian mythology and is inspired by Ramayana, an epic poem written in Sanskrit. The dance brings to life the tale of King Rama, his wife Dewi Sita and his brother Laksamana who were exiled to the forest for 14 years following some complex scheming in a struggle for power. In the forest, they are persecuted by Rahwana, the ogre king who then abducts Dewi Sita and makes her a prisoner of his palace on the Island of Lanka (Ceylon). Rama strikes an alliance with the monkey people whose army de- feats Rahwana’s troups, making it possible for King Rama to rescue his wife. In each Kechak performance, a hundred or so dancers play the monkey army while a few female dancers are assigned specific roles (Dewi Sita, Trijata). The performance generally lasts one hour and takes place in the evening, preferably around 7 PM.
Barong & RangdaIt's the most popular dance for tourists. A straightforward battle between good, the barong, and bad, the rangda. The barong is a strange creature, half shaggy dog, half lion, propelled by two men like a circus clown-horse. The widow-witch rangda is bad though and certainly not the sort of thing you'd like to meet on a midnight stroll through the rice paddies.
The Barong dance is truly a triumphant display of bright colors and graceful movements. Greatly appreciated by the tourists, special performances are staged for their benefit, generally in the morning, and last one hour. The villages of Batubulan as well as Tegaltamu and Singapadu, small towns located 30 minutes from the capital, are known for putting on the best performances. There is, however, more to the Barong dance than the folkloristic dimension, It is, in fact, an integral part of the island's culture and has an evident sacred connotation. It isn't rare, in fact, to see the Balinese dancing the Barong during their religious ceremonies, regardless of the presence of tourists. Inspired by an episode taken from Mahabharata, an epic poem written in Sanskrit. the dance evolves around the character of the Barong, the king of the jungle. A mythical animal, not clearly identified (perhaps a lion), he is the symbol of virtue and good, subject to the continuous struggle against the evil forces that threaten life and the integrity of the forest, this being an element very dear to the Balinese population. In detail, the Barong embodies everything that can be beneficial to man, and help him defeat illness. black magic and any other kind of misfortune. The evil entity against which he must relentlessly fight is personified by Rangda, queen of death and devourer of children. She is characterized by a dark and gloomy mask from which a red tongue of fire hangs. The entire dance is centered around the struggle between these two rival characters. The Barong is interpreted by two dancers whose rhythmic movements bring to life the beautiful and elaborate cos tume they wear. a large animal head skillfully carved out of wood, brightly colored in red, white, black and gold. It is adorned with a crown extending outwards from the sides of the head, and by a prominent necklace which hangs from the neck, The final touch of the costume is a tail made out of bison leather which is elaborately finished and guilded. The first character to appear on the stage is the Barong with his swaying gait: his dance is meant to express the joy of living. He is followed by a group of armed supporters who stand ready to defend him.
When Rangda strikes her terrible blows. It isn't at all rare for the dancers playing the Barong's followers to become so engrossed in the sacredness of the per- formance that they go into a real trance. A cloud of characters surround the Barong on stage. Rangda, goddess of death, personification of evil, the young girl servant Kalika; Dewi Kunti, queen of the kingdom of Hastina and her stepson Sadewa who will be sacrificed in order to placate the anger of Rangda, the minister Dewi Kunti; Patih who ex- presses sorrow for the fate of Sadewa (Rangda will have to enter his soul in order to make him accept the sacrifice), and then the monkey supporters of the Barong, producers of palm tree wine (nira). A very important element in the entire dance is the large orchestra, known as gamelan, which is essential to underscore the ritual nature of the performance. Many are the instruments that make up the orchestra: some metal xylophones which stand out not only because they are so numerous but because of their power ful and imperious sound; there are also drums as well as flutes, the rebab (a type of violin) and the gender (typical xylophones). All together, these instruments are essential in guiding the dance and underscoring the rhythm of well coordinated movements. These along with the joyful colors are the most alluring elements of this remarkable perfor mance. At the end of the dance, the masks of the Barong and of Rangda, as proof of their sacred nature, are stowed in a special room inside the temple. They are covered very carefully, especially Rangda's mask, because its deadly powers are greatly feared. It's a way of saying that the ritual victory of the Barong, that is of good, which marks the end of the dance, is only temporary: tomorrow the eternal and unresolved conflict could begin again.
The end of the Barong dance is like an entirely separate performance. Also known as the Kris dance, it is named after the famous Malese dagger. The idea is based on the philosophical concept rwa bhineda. good and bad, evil and goodness which have always been present and have always existed together albeit in a constant and inevitably unre solved conflict. Nothing will change in the future. While man is left free to try to develop his positive attitudes and let them win over the negative ones, he must nonetheless resign himself to the fact that the presence of both good and evil is a law of nature and as such must be accepted. When the dance is performed, Rangda is the evil spirit which enters the bodies of his victims, usually followers of the Barong, and pushes them to the edge of suicide. The dancers attempt to stab themselves in the chest with their krises until they are finally stopped by the beneficial appearance of the Barong. It is he who will save these unfortunate beings by revealing that the notion of good and evil will always be inevitably present in the world and in everyone's life and that they must therefore accept it.
Keris DanceIn the Barong play, Bali's mythical guardian, Barong, battles Rangda, the demon - Queen. barong's supporters are a group of Balinese men with the natural ability to enter a trance state. They are armed with a kris ( traditional sword). Rangda insults Barong and taunts the menenraged and in a trance they attack her! But her powers are so strong that they are knocked out. When they come to they are so distressed by their failure, that they try to impale themselves on their kris. But their trance state amazingly protects them from injury.
LegongIt's the most graceful of Balinese dances. A legong dancer is known as young girl, often as young as eight or nine years, rarely older than her early teens. There are various forms of the Legong but the Legong Kraton is the one most often performed.
BarisThe warrior dance, known as the Baris, is traditionally a male equivalent of the Legong femininity and grace give way to energetic and warlike martial spirit.
Ramayana BalletBasically, it tells the same story of Rama and Sita as told in the Kechak but without the monkey ensemble and with a normal gamelan gong accompaniment.
KebyarIt's a male solo dance like the Baris but with greater emphasis on the performer's individual abilities. There are various forms of Kebyar including the Kebyar Duduk and Kebyar Trompong.
Barong LandungThe giant puppet dance take place annually on the island of Pulau Serangan and a few other places in southern Bali.
JangerThe Janger is a relatively new dance which suddenly popped up in the '20s and '30s. Today it has become part of the standard repertoire and no longer looks so unusual.
TopengA mask dance where the dancers have to imitate the character represented by mask. A full collection of Topeng masks may number 30 or 40. Closely liriked to religious ceremonies and processions, and danced as a ritual interval, the Topeng dance ultimately takes on a sacred connotation. As a matter of fact, foreigners are allowed to see the dance only if they behave appropriately and respectfully. Actually, some performances are staged only for the benefit of the tourists, but do not enjoy the same following of the Barong and Kechak dances. Peculiar components of the Topeng dance are the masks used to hide the faces of the dancers. Specific attributes are used, instead, to identify the characters (a mustache and thick eyebrows for the elder, arrogance and defiance for Patih, and so on). The rhythm of movements (perfectly in accordance to the age and role of the character) is underscored by a large orchestra, the garnelan, which is essential for the success of the performance.
JaukAlso a mask dance but strictly a solo performance.
PendetIt's an everyday dance of the temples, a small procedure to go through before making temple offerings.
Sanghyang (Fire Dance)The Sanghyang trance dance originally developed to drive out evil spirits from a village. The Sanghyang Dedari dance is performed by two young girls who dance a dream-like version of the Legong but with their eyes closed. The Sanghyang Jaran, a boy dances around and through a fire, riding a coconut palm hobby-horse. In both dances, a priest is always on hand to help bring the dancers out of theri trance -state at the end of the performance.

Bali Temple

2008-06-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Over a thousand years old, Temple is known as the "pray for the gods" Perched on the every pure place. Named of the gods that we pray is depand on the day we praying
Bali have much temple.every province we have temple,every mountains we have temple,and every house we have small temple that we call sanggah and merajan but it's speciall for hindu religion.
Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu, is name of our gods .shiva is god of air,brahma is god of fire and wisnu is god of water. The biggest temple is Besakih located at Karangasem Regency, eastcoast Bali. A climb north, through the astonishing landscapes of Bukit Jambul, ascends over 900 meters up the slopes of Gunung Agung to Pura Besakih, the holiest of all temples in Bali.the weather there is so cool.