Archive for December, 2006
My old friend Toby, from Eugene Oregon, brought his 3 year old daughter Maya, with him as well as friends, Ollie and Asia. This morning we strolled down to Cafe Seminyak for a coffee, and the ‘kid treatment’ started, with every waitress and shop attendent carrying Maya off, telling her she was ‘cantik‘ (beautiful). This morning they were getting the ‘Bali experience’, seeing Balinese people laying offerings on the street and acquaintences of mine saying hello. I know as a parent you have to be careful who you leave your child with, but out here, there are many willing pairs of hands, and the kids definteily feel comfortable with people who are used to kids.
Today after a session at the beach, Maya asked if we could go back to the swimming pool. Toby said “Yes Maya, that’s where we’re going.” She said “No I want to go to the swimming pool with the surfboards and the monkey.” (there was a monkey on the beach today). Many more interactions and adventures to come for sure.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
Morning Toby’s friend Oliie wanted to rent a surfboard, for the duration of his 2 weeks in Bali. Repeating wahtt I had heard before, I told him not to rent from the guys on the beach. All those boards are snapped, and will snap again at some point, in the same place. When that happens, the oowner will demand $300. My friend Palu from Byron Bay, has 3 shops selling boards, as well as a surf school. He also has a selection of used boards for rent of sale.
Meeting with Palu on Poppies Lane II, around 9.40am, we checked out his boards and prices. Palu told Ollie that if he rented a board, he could change it if the conditions changed. Palu does a range of boards, focusing on the learner end of the market. Ollie did find a fish type board, ideal for an experienced surfer in small swell. The prices for the brand new rental for a week was 600,000rp. The price to buy its was 2.5m rp.
Short term rental include 20,000rp per hour, 150,000rp, 600,000rp, deposit or passport required. Day surf trips can be arranged, including lunch for $100.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
Being married to an Indonesian, means ther pantry gets a mixture of items, that often have nothing in common. Having friends from around the world who travel, also adds to the stuff in my pantry. Taking a photo this afternoon, the line up was interesting. We had
Belizean Pepper Sauce, Kee’s Dark Soy Sauce (Singapore),
Green Mole (Mexico),
Kecap Manis (Indonesia),
Habanero Pepper Mash (Belize),
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Italy).
Toby goes to Central America a lot and loves Belize. He brought me packets of Belizean spices, that we can use at a bbq. These include Belizean Stew Chicken, Hot & Spicy Belizean Blackening and Belizean Black Dinner (Chimole). Sitting here typing, I can smell that pepper, and it will liven up anything I chuck on the grill for sure. Toby already annouced he is looking forward to getting the bbq back in action.
For people living in Bali, you can find a selection of peppers and spices at the back of Bintang supermarket, in Seminyak. Everything from black pepper to cilatro (coriander) seeds, cloves, tumeric, all kinds of stuff. These locally made packets are a few thousand rp, and are about an ounce.
Jimbaran is the place to get your hands on fish for a low price. In my experience, you need to find a way tto keep the fish chilled, otherwise it will go off fast. I have ridden down there on my motorbike, coming back loaded down with fresh fish. This is not the optimum way to go, and a taxi will not want to carry you and your fish.
In the past I have picked up 5kg of tuna for 50,000rp. its cheap, and if you get there in the morning, after the boats come in the fish will be that much fresher. Let’s see what we can come up with!
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
Kuta Beach is a crash course in how to deal with locals and bargaining. Today I took my freinds form Oregon, to the section of Kuta Beach, directly across from Poppies II. Kuta Beach can leave people with varying impressions and I was a bit nervous, knowing the vendors can descend like mozzies on a bare bottom. Sitting under a tree, next to a drink vendor (Niki), we were provided with chairs and were immediatley swamped by vendors, selling temporary tattoes, bow and arrows, massage, nail cleaning and other goods and services. Nobody panicked and after 15 minures most of them drfited off, realising we weren’t buying.
Today was great as far a beach day, but not so good for serious surfing. There is no swell right now and the only people catching waves were learners and a few locals, who were content with the ripple in front of McDonalds on Kuta Beach. One guy came along selling kids toys, including a frog like puppet, that spat out a rolled up tongue and made a sqeak. Maya indicated she wanted it, Toby indicated he did not. I told the vendor ‘tidak mau’ (don’t want), but his rebuttle was that the kid wanted it. Very annoying to be a parent in some instances. Funny thing was, when Maya and Asia went to the waters edge to paddle, the same guy tried to sell toys, to us 3 guys. Banging a square peg through a round hole” I said. Still, people were good vibes and Kuta Beach was not a bad place to be this morning.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
People taking a break on Kuta Beach might like to go for a spot of lunch, that is within a short walk. That is exactly what, Toby, Maya, Ollie, Asia and myself did today. The deal with Bali, is that on the busy main streets, rents are high, making restaurants more expensive. Down the narrow alleys the rents are cheaper, so the costs are lower for food. The nearest place to the beach on Poppies II is Ninety Degree Bar & Restaurant, located at the first 90 degree bend in Poppies II, 100 meters from the beach. Today was hot, but the upstairs area of the place enjoyed sea breezes.
Here’s the menu:
Breakfast - including American breakfast (juice, toast with jam, 2 eggs any style, with sausage and bacon, coffee of tea (35,000rp).
Appetizers - including Shrimp cocktail (17,500rp)
Soup - inclduing Tum Yum Kung (20,500rp)
Main Dishes Seafood - including Fish & Chips (30,500rp)
All Day Favourites - including Sirloin Steak (35,500rp)
Indonesian & Chinese Favourites - including Satay of your choice (28,500rp)
Pasta, sandwich & Burger - including Club Sandwich (28,500rp)
Balinese Specialities - including Seafood Mabese Bali (35,500rp)
Ninety Degrees Pizza Garden - including Pizza Due, with ham & olive (28,500rp)
Vegetarian Favourites - including Baked aubergine & tofu (23,500rp)
Japanese Food - including Tempura (35,500rp)
Dessert - including Banana Split (20,500rp
My lunch was the Club sandwich which came with chips. It was quite good. Ninety Degree Bar & Restaurant is located ideally for people looking for food and drinks at a reasonable cost, close to Kuta Beach.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
Eco tourism, or ecological tourism, as Wikipedia defines it, is a growing phenomenon around the world. The idea behind it, is to leave either minimal impact, or a positive impact on the local environment / culture. That sounds great, and identifies that fact that some people are actually thinking about the impact of tourism. A BBC article discusses some of the benefits of eco tourism, and asks whether its what it’s cracked up to be.
The central issue to the debate around eco tourism, is a refined version of the same debate around tourism in general, ‘is tourism good for the local people, land, culture, economy?’ Depending on who you talk to, whether it be Tony Wheeler, the head of Four Seasons, a spokesman for Greenpeace, or a local tribal person, you’ll get varying views, on the effects.
Bringing the subject of eco-tourism to Bali, one has to wonder what is the ideal, we are chasing. Do we let the locals (who have a perfect right to live as they see fit) continue to destroy Bali, with pesticide, burning of plastics, trashing rivers, roads, beaches, with garbage? Do we gently try to establish some rules of engagement and programs, eg. curb side recycling, car emissions standards, fines for littering. Or do we go for a ‘US National Park’ approach, enforcing strict regulations on the most scenic areas, charging for entry, and limiting the activitities inside that area?
The National park system in the US is wonderful, but it is restricting. Some organisations such as JED are trying to encourage Balinese locals to act in a more eco-consious way, realising tourism can pay the bills. The downside to this, is that a village area / rice fields, will have a ‘turnstyle’ so to speak, and remember, Bali is not that big. In 20 years, will Bali be a Sunshine Coast of villas, an over-used garbage dump, or a eco theme park, complete with Barong dances at dinner time?
In my opinion the goal of future development should be focused on 3 things: Preserving the natural aspects of the island of Bali, preserving the Balinese culture, by encouraging cultural events and developing an economic environment, with increased education, that creates realistic and desirable jobs for Balinese people.
There are reasons why people burn plastic, dump garbage and pull stunts, when it comes to money. Eco tourism takes into consideration my 3 main points, so for me its positive.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 18th, 2006
Lonely Planet puts out a book called the Blue List, listing the new ‘hot spots around the world’, that offer the most tantalizing opportunities for adventure. Indonesia features, with good reason, thoguh perhaps Bali has passed the point where one could call it the ‘next hot place’.
If we were to draw up a Blue List for Bali what would be on it? Here’s a start.
Top 5 beaches: Pasir Putih (Prasi), Biastugal / Pantai Kecil (Padangbai), Dreamland (Bukit), Pura Masuka (Bukit), Balangan (Bukit).
Top 5 restaurants: Warisan, Ultimo, Kori Restaurant, KuDeTa, Living Room
Top 5 nightspots: Double Six, MBarGo, DeJaVu, Paddy’s, Santa Fe
Top 5 overnight trips: Ubud, Balian, Candi Dasa, Cliff top on Bukit, Amed
What other categories are there and what are your choices?
source : www.baliblog.com
December 18th, 2006
The crest of Indonesia, the symbol displayed on all government buildings is the angry looking bird (the Javanese hawk eagle) with its wings outstretched. The bird holds between its claws a ribbon, with the statement, Bhinneka Tunngal Ika, Sanskrit for We are many but we are one. Indonesia has 17,000 islands and 180 ethnic groups.
Its a very challenging place to govern and getting everyone on the same page is difficult. Indonesia leaders have sought to foster a national identity by using the idea called Pancasila (5 principles). The 5 principles of Indonesian national identity are:
•1) Belief in 1 supreme God
•2) A just and civilized humanity
•3) Nationalism, the unity of Indonesia
•4) Democracy guided by the wisdom of unanimity arising from discussion (musjawarah) and mutual assistance (gotong royong)
•5) Social justice, the equality of political rights and the rights of citizenship, as well as social and cultural equality
Even with a homogenous society it would hard to get everybody to agree to these principles and with Indonesias diversity some people may not even understand them.
There have been advances in all these since the fall of Suharto in 1999. Every country has high ideals that often do not come to fruition. I guess stating the national ideals are a start.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 18th, 2006
Rice is the Balinese staple. Ask anyone ‘Sudah Makan?’ (already eat?) And they will say, ‘Yes, makan nasi’, which means, yes, rice. Bali and Java have the most well developed sawah (rice terraces) in Indonesia. In Bali as well as Indonesia there are really 2 types of farming, ladang and sawah.
Ladang is carried out on arid land or land where the soil is only inches deep. It is usually used for crops requiring a small amount of rain or cattle. After 1 or 2 crops the soil is exhausted and the farmer must move on to another part of his land. With sawah, the rich volcanic soil, plentiful water and powerful sunlight mean the same land can be farmed without a break, producing huge amounts of rice. In Bali 3 harvests a year are possible on the same land.
The growing and harvesting of rice are governed by adat (traditional law) and the subak (water access governing body) approves and controls the flooding of fields and the diverting of streams. The need for communal cooperation in growing rice is a major factor in Balinese agrarian socialism.Balinese also believe that Dewi Sri, the Goddess of rice, must be honored and shrines are set up in every sawah to honor her. The Balinese believe that Dewi Sri dwells in every stalk of rice and during harvesting Balinese women use a small curved knife hidden in their palm, cutting only a few stalks with every cut so not to scare Dewi Sri.
Rice means life to the Balinese and is much more than something to fill a belly.
Rice has 3 names: still in the sawah its called padi, in the sack it is beras, on the plate its nasi.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 18th, 2006
Bali Bombers Amrozi, Muklas and Samudra, are appealling their conviction, for executing the 2002 attacks in Kuta. The dateset for there appeal is December 22nd 2006.
Here in Bali no one has mentioned anything about this case, or these guys. Seems to me people wouldl ike to see them dead, but have enough personal things going on with family, ceremonies and the economy.
The 3 bombers are filing a Supreme Court challenge, insisting the use of a retroactive law, is against the law. The appeal will take place in Bali, since it was filed there, but Amrozi and Co. don’t need to attend. The bombers are currently incarserated in Nusa Kambangan jail on the Central Java coast. Fingers crossed for no suprises.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 18th, 2006
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