Typing up some articles at La Cabana restaurant in Kuta, manager
Yani from Balikpapan, Kalimantan, came and sat next to me. If you are ever lonely, bored, or just want to chat to someone, go to La Cabana, and Yani will spill the beans on everything that is happening in her life.
Born to a Catholic father and Muslim mother, Yani shook up the jelly beans jar, by marrying an Australian Buddhist, and having a son him. Single again, Yani is the peppy representative of La Cabana.
One subject that came up today, was Ramadan. Yani spent her first Ramadan in Bali last year. Kalimantan is Muslim and in the main towns, everyone is going to the mosque and worshipping. In the villages its even more intense. Yani told me that after morning prayers people must fast all day. After sundown people head to the mosque (masjid) to take part in prayers, then everyone in the village will meet and greet everyone else, offering them a thanks for Ramadan and apologising for past deeds. Yani said people will be crying they are so into it. After the session at the mosque, people will visit the graveyard and spend an hour giving thanks to their ancestors. I told Yani I have a piece of paper saying I am a certified Mus.
The food is something she misses. During Idul Fitri, the end of the holy month of Ramadan, people will visit neighbors, relatives and friends, who visit the house and enjoy special food. Yani said the food they cook is SO complicated and hard to make, but that doesn’t stop her auntie and granny, from spending enormous effort to make it. One dish she described was a dough made into 4 inch circles, which became a type of noodle, only better. It would be filled with fish, fresh water and other ingredients and cooked.
I reckon someone should get up to these areas in Indonesia, and check out the special food during the times of celebration. You don’t know how long they will be around.
Yani is going back to Kalimantan for 2 weeks, covering the week of idul Fitri, so she can be with her relatives.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 26th, 2006
Ramayana Shopping mall is a place most westerners don’t visit. But a trip to Denpasar might take you past this past. If you head north on Jl. Tueku Umar and keep going, taking the compulsory left turn, onto Jl. Diponegoro, you will see the large orange-brick Ramayana Mall on the right hand side.
Why would you go to Ramayana Mall?
To get cheap eye test and glasses, cheap clothing, or just to check out a local Indonesian department store.
What can you get at Ramayana Mall?
Cheap food, clothing, glasses, household goods, books, new motorbike, Pizza Hut, mobile phones, haircut.
When is Ramayana Mall open?
Ramayana Mall is open daily from 9.30am-10pm.
Parking:
There is parking for cars (1,000rp) and motorbikes (500rp).
Next to the motorbike parking area are a line of ATMs, wartel, kunci (key shop), furniture and bed stalls.
1st Floor:
The 1st floor at Ramayana features a large area, selling a selection of cheap local clothing, the kind of place my wife and her sister would love to dig through. There is a selection of the latest Honda motorbikes in bright colors. Optik Seis is an optician with a wide selction of frames, including Calvin Klein for just over 1m rp. The staff told me they can do eye tests onsite, free if you buy a pair of glasses. New pairs take a week, but for single focus lenses, it can be as little as 1 hour if they have the lenses in the shop.
Optik Seis
Mal Bali (Ramayana)
Lantai Dasar
Jl. Diponegoro
(0361) 246182
Open from 10am-9pm
Countet Sports & Music, combines the 2 subjects in its very visible space. As well as running machines and exercise equipment, they sell a decent range of electric guitars, keyboards, drums and accoustic guitars. I bought a pack of nylon guitar strings for 50,000rp. A Yamaha classical guitar was going for 1,030,000rp.
Counter Sports & Music
Duta Ayu Bali Lt. Dasar
Jl. Diponegoro #103
(0361) 243843
On the 1st floor there are also small cosmetic and bread stalls.
The place westerners will probably like the most is Pizza Hut, although let me warn you that what you get, is more like warm bread with sauce and food items scattered on top. At least that was what I had at the Kuta one.
2nd Floor:
The whole of the 2nd floor is set up like one sprawling Matahari Department store, with cheap clothing, spilling out from everywhere. You can buy a new shirt for 29,000, cargo pants for 49,000rp.
3rd Floor:
The 3rd floor has a large food court area stretching 50 meters down one side. You can smell the place before you see it, by the cinnamon rolls. The food court is about 50 meters long, with many small stalls, brightly colored, selling Indonesian dishes. My rice, vegetable and beef in sauce was 21,000rp and was quite nasty. I think you’d have to experiment a little to get something to your taste. The largest food stall is CLS, which as well as a buffet type display, serve orange squash, Milo, Nestle capuccino, blackcurrent and iced tea.
One of the stalls is called Kare Jepang Samurai. They serve curry and rice, curry and spaghetti, curry and vegetable. Prices are all around 13,000rp.
Next to the food court is Pasar Swalayan, which is loaded with basic supermarket type goods, plus clothes, durable goods, rice cookers etc.
Also on the 3rd floor is Guardian apotek (pharmacy) Onix photo booth and a cell phone stall. Serba 5000 sells drinks and cheap goods. There is also a small fruit and veg market.
4th Floor:
Toko Gunung Agung is a large book store, that stocks a good selction of Indonesian and English language books, including best sellers and western business books. I bought a pad of paper and a pen for about 18,000rp. They also sell office equipment / furniture.
Zone 2000 is a loud amusement arcade popular with Balinese kids. It is located next to Zenith Cellular and Sakura DVD (pirated).
Bali Shinju reflexolgy sits in a tucked away location and in front of the DVD shop is a small photo booth, 7,500rp for 2 photos. DeKubu is a fairly large bowling alley (its amazing what you find in an Indonesian shopping mall!) .
The 4th floor also features 2 salons situated next to each other, Guh Wijaya Negara and Yopie. Guh Wijaya Negara does a haircut for 9,000rp.
Atmosphere:
The atmosphere at Ramayana Mall is part low-end shopping mall in Melbourne, and part fun fair, with families and kids (Indonesian) enjoying their shopping experience.
When I asked in Optik Seis if many ‘bules’ (foreigners) came by, I was told ‘Many, Australians’. For a few things, (glasses, a cheap guitar, strings, new motorbike, cheap clothes, quick snack, cell phone, DVD’s, etc. Ramayana can be a handy 1 stop shop.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 26th, 2006
Pantai Geger is located on the eastern side of the Bukit Peninsula. Pantai Geger is ideal for families with young kids, as the beach is protected from waves and is comfortable.
Getting to Pantai Geger:
From Kuta you can take the Bypass towards Nusa Dua, go through the main gate and turn right towards the Bali Golf and Country Club. You ride past The Bale, and Sekar Nusa to a narrow gang (alley) leading to Pantai Geger (Geger Beach). On weekends you will see other westerners heading that way also.
There is an large intersection on the Bypass, before you get to the Main Gate at Nusa Dua. You can take a right turn here and shoot over the hill directly to Pantai Geger.
Time from Kuta:
Driving time from Kuta is approximately 20 minutes, although it will take a little while to locate the beach, if you have never been there before. If in doubt, ask a local or a westerner, for Geger Beach. Looking at the map the temple, Pura Geger, is right there.
Vehicle access:
You can get cars and motorbikes almost down to the beach, so fmaileis with small kids will have no trouble. There is parking also. When you et to the beach look around as there are a couple of areas people park, one right at the beach, the other on an access road higher up.
Charges for beach access. I have been to Pantai Geger a cuple of times and I don’t remember beinig charged for access / parking, but even if you are it won’t be more than 1,000rp most likely.
Lifeguards:
I did not see any obvious lifeguard facilities at Pantai Geger.
Beach vendors:
There are beach vendors. some who will sit next to you, but not at the level of Kuta Beach.
Shops:
There are no shop here. Bring your own sunscreen, newspaper, sunhat, chewing gum.
Sunshades:
Sunshades are available, you can negotiate a price.
Natural shade:
This beach does not have the handy line of trees that Kuta Beach does. Instead most of the families who visit tend to gather on the extreme right of the beach under shade provided by the cliff.
Food Drinks:
Food & drinks are available at the popular Nusa Dua Beach Grill. Their food menu is western friendly and the drinks menu includes very good smoothies and arak madu’s.
Who is Pantai Geger good for?
Pantai Geger is good for people who don’t like surfing, or big waves. Families with young kids, who want a clean beach, with east access and a restaurant. This beach attracts a lot of Europeans and expats. Topless sunbathnig is popular here.
Who is Pantai Geger not good for?
Pantai Geger is not good for people who want a more traditional Balinese beach experience. This place really feels more like the South of France. If you don’t like to be around oiled up Euro’s with kids, this beach is not good for you.
Best time to go to Pantai Geger?
The most popular time to visit Pantai Geger is weekends. If you want a quieter scene, go during the week. Located on the eastern side of the Bukit, both wet season and dry season are okay for this beach.
Review:
Pantai Geger has clean yellow sand, decent clean water and small ripples rather than large waves. It is same for families with young kids and can be a pleasant change from Kuta/Legian/Semiyak Beach. The restaurant makes all the diffence and you can grab decent food and drinks while enjoying a sunny afternoon.
source : www.balibolg.com
September 26th, 2006