Archive for October 30th, 2006
Living in Bali I know what my impression of the place is. You get to hear it everyday, changing its degree of positive / negative, depending on what has gone on in the last 24 hours.
Lina is a young lady with a website, who visited Bali recently with a female friend. Her account is what first time visitors dream of, sun, fun, friends and adventure. Read her account of her trip to Bali for some ideas for your next trip.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 30th, 2006
Cockfighting is part of the Balinese landscape. Anyone who drives around the island, especially on Sundays, will see large whicker baskets contains the fighting cocks at the roadside. This is to get them used to loud noises.
I’ve been to a couple of cockfights in Kuta. There used to be a pit between Poppies I & II, and daily events at 1pm. For me the most exciting parts, was the frantic betting before the match. It was like the New York Stock Exchange on steroids, with people waving, gesturing and shouting.
Gambling is actually illegal, but the Balinese got away with it by saying it was for ‘religious purposes’, blood having to be spill, and all. That’s changed and the big cockfights are not happening, except in villages.
One fellow who understands the intricacies of a Balinese cock fight is anthroplogist Clifford James Geertz, who has an extended article on the meanings, and proceedures of the cock fight.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 30th, 2006
Basa Bali, the language of the Balinese has some similarities with Bahasa Indonesia. It is though, a separate language in its own right. For people coming to Bali, or living in Bali, is learning Basa Bali worth the effort?
A recent thread of the
expat forum, asks that exact question. Good point mentioned and it is true that in most areas of the islands nowadays, younger people can speak Bahasa Indonesia and some English. The need to learn Basa Bali, for getting things done, does not exist. My wife Ika does not speak, and does not want to learn Basa Bali. She can get by very well in Indonesian.
A linguist I’m not, but I’d still like to learn some Balinese, as it adds spice to a casual conversation. Whenever I’m in a village and someone asks “Apa kabar?” and I respond “Becik becik kemantan,’ they break into laughter. The idea of a westerner speaking the lcoal language tickles them, and for that reason, it can be rewarding. I have also been in situations in the highlands and also here in Seminyak, where a 60 year old Balinese person cannot understand me, because they can’t speak Indonesian. Being able to pull up to a rice field on my motorbike, and chat with the old guy working in it, would be wonderful.
Anyone have tips of learning Basa Bali?
source : www.baliblog.com
October 30th, 2006
Bali resident Monte Monfore, is a world record breaking distance swimmer, having swum the
Bali Strait, between Bali and Java, and the
Badung Strait between Nusa Lembongan and the Bali. Monte has added another feather to his cap, by swimming across Lake Batur. Here’s the official account of Monte’s swim.
October 16, 2006 world record ocean swimmer Monte Monfore made the first recorded swim across holy Lake Batur, in the highlands of Bali, Indonesia. The Bali Swim for Peace and Against Poverty supported two major events: Dewa Sraya, a Bali Hindu ceremony conducted at Pura Tuluk Biyu temple overlooking the lake, and the United Nations Stand Up campaign.
Located next to still-active Mount Batur, inside a huge crater at 1050 meters, Lake Batur is considered sacred by the Balinese. Following permission to enter the water the 45-year-old Californian was blessed by a Bali Hindu priest at lakeside Pura Jati temple prior to the historic swim.
Monte’s route connected the two holiest locations on the lake: the isolated village of Trunyan nestled under the eastern rim of the crater wall, and Toyabungkah at the foot of Mount Batur, which last erupted in 1994. In a pre-swim announcement the endurance athlete dedicated his swim to “the beautiful Balinese people”.
Beginning at 3:40pm the marathon swimmer was accompanied by a small boat decorated with Balinese ceremonial adornments, which carried local Hindu priests, community leaders, and a gamelan bronze-gong orchestra. Despite high winds and the frigid mountain water Monte made the three kilometer crossing in just under an hour (58 minutes 25 seconds).
The swim took place prior to the conclusion of the nineteen-day Dewa Sraya purification ritual at Pura Tuluk Biyu temple in Kitamani, one of the oldest and most sacred in Bali. Held once every five years, the Dewa Sraya ceremony attracted thousands of worshippers from across the island, who prayed for the restoration of balance and harmony in Bali and the entire world.
In a post swim announcement Monte sent a message of peace around the world and said, “Here on this beautiful island of Bali, peace is not just a word, it’s a way of life.”
The swim was also part of the global, UN-sponsored Stand Up Against Poverty and Stand Up For the Millennium Development Goals event held on 15 and 16 October. More than 23 million people participated worldwide, including some 300,000 in Indonesia .
Monte concluded speaking about his island home, “Bali is no longer only a place of transience for surfers and holiday makers. It has evolved into a place of substance. More than 20,000 foreigners live here. Many, like me, are planting roots and intending to spend the rest of their lives on the Island of the Gods.
Bali is one of the most spectacular places on the planet. It has one of the richest cultures and most beautiful people in the world. This place is a tropical paradise with incredible scenery, fantastic beaches, and great surf. There’s a reason readers of international travel magazines continually vote Bali the most beautiful island in the world and I encourage everyone to visit this magical place.”
A Bali resident since 2004, the marathon swimmer holds numerous channel crossing records throughout the region. This was his third UN-related event in six months. Earlier this year he contributed to two World Food Program efforts. In May as part of the worldwide Walk the World/Fight Hunger campaign the athlete swam a double crossing of the four-kilometer Bali Strait. In June following the devastating earthquake in central Java Monte’s 12.5-kilometer Yogyakarta Earthquake Relief Swim raised awareness and support for victims and publicized WFP emergency relief efforts.
Bali Swim for Peace and Against Poverty event footage was sent worldwide by Reuters Television and Associated Press Television News.
For more information please search Monte Monfore on the Internet.
Contact Monte at: montemon4@hotmail.com
source : www.baliblog.com
October 30th, 2006
Sunday morning I took off on the motorbike for a cruise in the Bali highlands. My route, Seminyak-Canggu-Beraban-Tabanan-Penebel-Baturiti-Lake Tamblingan-Pupuan-Sanda-Antosari-Tabanan-Canggu-Seminyak.
The main thing here is keeping off of main roads, enjoying the peaceful roads and seeing a bit of Balinese life. The route up to Penebel takes more effort, than just blazing up towards Singaraja, but its worth it. Up in the area of the lakes, I stopped off for one of those tourist buffets. In certain places on the main road, you find large restaurants with a view, serving bus tours. The buffet was 75,000rp, but I made sure I had 4 courses. Looking at the other diners, from Japan and Java, it was obvious the food wasn’t that great. Remind me to avoid these places in future.
Today I feel like I drove the Monaco Grand Prix. If I had a nasi goreng, for every hairpin bend I went through, I’d be rolling in nasi. You should see the route dotted on my sat-nav. Its all hairpin bends in the highlands, and 10km in a straight line on the map, takes considerably more time than you calculate.
Of the few photos I took today, a couple were of rice terraces and another couple were of Sanda Butik Villas, south of Pupuan, where I stopped off for a pot of ginger tea. Almost dozing off in the arm chair, the owner prompted me, to not look so tired. Riding a motorbike takes a lot of concentration. Its fun, but is taxing, especially in crazy Bali, where a pothole, dog or local is coming your way every other moment.
I arrived back home at 5.30pm in one piece. My 100cc bike was up to the task of getting around the mountains and back. I would like a Tiger 2000, because of the suspension as well as the extra power. If you are coming to Bali and plan to explore my motorbike, a Tiger is better for the island as a whole, a scooter okay for downtown.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 30th, 2006