Bali Tourism News

Japan Airlines flying daily direct to Bali

Japan Airlines (JAL) is returning to direct daily flights to Bali.

The service was downgraded after the bombings in 2005, to a Tokyo-Jakarta-Denpasar route. The resumption of direct flights will begin in July and also there is a direct flight between Bali and Osaka. The Japanese market is important to Bali and many Japanese have strong links, business and otherwise, to Bali, in the same way as Aussies do.

www.baliblog.com

Add comment May 26th, 2006

Garuda gives free kids fare to Bali

Garuda Indonesia is giving free kids fares to Bali. The free fares are for children between the ages of 2 and 12 years, who are traveling with an adult in either Business or Economy class.

Garuda is trying to jump start Bali tourism, and the price of hauling your kids from Australia to Bali is a major barrier to coming. With this barrier removed, we should see a lot more people. I think this is a smart move, as after the first few groups come and have a great time, their friends will follow.

Garuda’s move is aimed at the Australian market. The offer is for flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Tickets must be booked and paid for by June 28, 2006. Travel dates must be between June 15 to July 31, an ideal time of the year.

Add comment May 26th, 2006

Friday night May 26th in Bali

Bali nightlife is active and the 2 main party places are Kuta and Seminyak. Here are a few things going on on Friday May 26th.

•De Ja Vu
Progressive music played by DJ Bone, with help from DJ Emon, Jonny & Sofyan.
From 11pm. De Ja Vu is located at the end of Jl. Double Six (turn left) in Seminyak

•F Lounge
DJ GoldDigga spins hip hop funky classics.
From 10pm. F Lounge is located at Fabio’s on Jl. Seminyak, in Seminyak.

•Waroeng Bonita
Egyptian dancers, fashion show, BBQ buffet dinner - 100,000rp. (0361) 731918. Waroeng Bonita has an ‘omni sexual’ manager who is part of the show, sporting creative attire.
From 8pm. Waroeng Bonita is located on Jl. Petitenget in Seminyak / Kerobokan

•JP’s Warung
JP’s has live music 7 nights a week starting at 10pm. Usually an all male line up of musicians, often favoring music with a Latin twist.
JP’s is located on Jl. Dhyana Pura about 30 meters from Jl. Seminyak.

•Santa Fe
Santa Fe has live music 7 nights a week starting at 11pm. Bands are usually male backed with female lead singers, banging out pop songs.
Santa Fe is located on Jl. Dhyana Pura about 100 meters in from Jl. Seminyak

•Hu’u
DJ Nason plays African inspired tunes with help from Benk-Benk.
From 11pm. Hu’u is locate on Jl. Petitenget, past Ku De Ta and the temple.

•MBarGo
DJ Ifin plays music from 70s-90’s downstairs. Upstairs DJ Kent & DJ Leon spin House & Progressive funk.
Free Bintang from 10pm - 12 midnight. MBarGo is located on Jl. Legian in Kuta

Add comment May 26th, 2006

Goddess of Knowledge comes to Earth.

DENPASAR (indo.com): Blessings will be given at every family compound, clan temple, school temple and many other places of worship in order to celebrate Saraswati Day. The day is devoted to Sang Hyang Aji Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Arts, and reminds us of the value of our holy scriptures and the disciplines of science and art. The day is a holiday on the island, and the night before is characterised by Mekekawin - the singing of ancient Balinese songs, written on ancient lontar parchment.

Saraswati comes twice a year. According to the Balinese lunar month, the celebration falls on Watugunung, the last week of the Balinese calendar. All Balinese Hindu people welcome the descent of the God of Knowledge by conducting a series of ceremonies, starting early in the morning.

The name comes from a very beautiful goddess called Saraswati, the manifestation of the God Brahma (the Creator) in Hinduism. The complete symbol is the Goddess, holding a wina (a kind of guitar), a genitri (a small loop of holy chain), and the keropak (holy book). The Goddess is standing on a lotus with a goose and a peacock on either side.

This image is loaded with symbolism. The feminine beauty of the goddess symbolises the attraction and fascination that science has over mankind, whereas the genitri denotes that science is a continuing process without beginning nor end. The keropak simply symbolizes literature and books, the places in which science and knowledge are stored, and the musical instrument, the wina, indicates that science is a masterpiece of art and culture.

As is common throughout Balinese symbolism, the lotus flower represents holiness, and the peacock is the symbol of the charismatic power of those in possession of science. The goose symbolizes the wisdom of aligning with the good things in life, instead of the bad, in order that life in this world may become increasingly harmonious.

Add comment May 26th, 2006

July - the season for Balinese tooth filing ceremonies

DENPASAR (indo.com): Throughout the months of July and August it is common to find tooth-filing ceremonies throughout Bali. In the Balinese belief system, the ceremony helps people rid themselves of the invisible forces of evil - teeth are the symbol of lust, greed, anger, insobriety, confusion and jealousy. Filing the teeth therefore renders someone both more physically and more spiritually beautiful, as well as symbolising the rite of passage for an adolescent into adulthood.

Whenever possible, the filer is a member of the highest caste, the Brahmin (priest). They are known as Sangging, and use simple tools to conduct their work - a file, a small hammer, and a carver. These are purified with holy water prior to the ceremony by a lay priest. Items provided by the family include a mirror, a piece of sugar cane, and some young coconut. The person having their teeth filed must remain in isolation indoors for the whole day prior to the ceremony, in order to remain protected from the negative influences of magic - while they are still considered “immature’, prior to the ceremony, they are particularly vulnerable to the influence of evil spirits.

Artifacts found in the Buleleng regency have resealed that the Balinese have been holding the tooth filing ceremony for over 2000 years, hence it was not originally a Hindu ceremony. However, amidst the influx of other influences on the island, the tradition has remained, now having been absorbed into the predominantly Hindu belief system prevalent on the island. The principal of karma phala demonstrates how the Balinese always link present events with the past: karma means “action” or “attitude” and Phala means “effect”.

Ceremonies are usually held between 4.00 am to 6.00 am, before the sun rises, and are accompanied by religious songs. After the tooth filing ceremony, the teenager is considered to be a mature adult. In recent years, families have taken to holding their children’s ceremonies in a group in order to economise.

If you are fortunate enough to be in Bali during the months of July and August, ask around and find out when and where you can catch a tooth-filing. It is one of Bali’s most idiosyncratic ceremonies - one that you are unlikely to find elsewhere in the world.

Add comment May 26th, 2006