After visiting many tourism resorts and enjoying art works in Bali, Seminyak Bali is a smart choice to come to. There many visitors can find many villas to stay. It is about 25 minutes from Ngurah Rai airport by taxi. When they are thirsty, hungry, tired, and unwell and need clothes in Seminyak Bali there are a lot of restaurants, bakeries, bars, cafes, and spa houses, massage houses, boutiques and clinics that will meet all your needs. Most of them open for 24 hours a day. Taxis driven by careful and experienced drivers will take visitors wherever they want. They are available at any time. By calling by phone they will come immediately. Is it so easy, isn’t it?

For more details please find Villa Aqua here

“We identified each of 9 regions, which is their benefit. After that we found the similarity of them. If two districts show same dance like mask dance, then we chose one which is the best and still gives characteristic of that region,” said Dibia at the time of signing Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. Dibia gave example as Gambuh from Gianyar and Denpasar. Finally, Gambuh from Gianyar was chosen.

“We chose Gianyar because Seka in Gianyar is still active on it,” said him. Seka is an unique organization. Meanwhile, Dibia described Wayang Wong was chosen from Buleleng district because in other regions this art has become fade.

“In Buleleng, the art of Wayang Wong is still strong and really traditional,” he said. He added that many Seka have been visited by tourists, both international and domestic. They commonly doing show in Pura and touristic show. For example, Gambuh in Gianyar usually gives show twice a month.

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik, has described that for registering 9 Balinese dance needs 9 districts. So, each district gave one dance. He said that it is hard to register all of Indonesian culture. If all Indonesian culture are registered, it would need hundreds of million rupiahs to spend. In addition, UNESCO limits the nominations of each country.

Balinese Traditional Dances were nominated in Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Noken or handy craft of Papua as a nomination of Urgent Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. While TMII (The miniature garden of Indonesia) as a nomination of Best Practices of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

“These nominations would be positive stimulation for Balinese dance community, especially which is still active,” said Dibia.

Source: Kompas.com | Monday, 28 March 2011

Nyepi Day is celebrated every Caka new year, on Tilem Kesanga day (IX) which is the sacred day of Ocean Gods that bring the essence of water of life (Tirtha Amertha Kamandalu). That is why Hindus worship those Gods.

The main purpose of Nyepi day is to ask to the Gods to purify human nature (Bhuwana Alit) and the universe (Bhuwana Agung).  The series of Nyepi Day are:

1. Tawur (Pecaruan), Pengrupukan and Melasti

One day before Nyepi, on “panglong ping 14 sasih kesanga”, Hindus doing Butha Yadnya ceremony at the cross road and around living area, by taking one of some kinds of “caru” based on its power. Bhuta Yadnya’s names are: Panca Sata (small), Panca Sanak (average) and Tawar Agung (big).

Tawur or Pecaruan is a purifying or pemarisudha Butha Kala, and every dirt (leteh) is gone.

Caru which are done in living area are coming from: 5 package of nasi panca warna (rice with five colors), ayam brumbun (chicken in various colors) and arak. Bhuta Yadnya is purposed to the Bhuta Kings, Bhuta Kala and Bhatara Kala, so that they do not do something bad to the life.

After mecaru there is Pengrupukan, which means spreading the tawur rice, giving obor (the lights made from fire in the bamboo) around living and field, spreading the living and field by mesui, and hit everything which is as usually is kentongan (bamboo) to make noises. This ceremony has purpose to repel Bhuta Kala from the living house, field and around.

After that, Hindus are doing Melasti. Melasti is a ceremony to immerses all of the dirt (leteh) into the ocean, and to purify “pretima”. This ceremony is done at the ocean because ocean (segara) is considered as the source of Tirtha Amertha (Dewa Ruci and Pemuteran Mandaragiri). Melasti should be done on Tilem afternoon.

2. Nyepi

The next day, at “Panglong Ping 15″ (Tilem Kesanga) is Nyepi day. In this time Hindus do fasting/peberatan Nyepi that called Catur Beratha Penyepian that consists: amati geni (no fire), amati karya (no working), amati lelungan (no traveling), amati lelanguan (no entertainment). Beratha is done since before sunrise.

According to Hindus, all of which are transitional, always started by dark symbolism. For the example, a babies who will get a transition to children (1 oton/6 months), this symbolism is manifested by doing ‘matekep guwungan’ (covered by chicken’s cage). Women who get transition from children to adults (Ngeraja Sewala), the ceremony starts by ‘ngekep’ (being secluded).

Overall, the most important thing is to clean up the heart that is a must for Hindus.

Every intellect (sang wruhing tatwa dnjana) does: Bharata (emotional control), yoga (connecting soul and paramatma/God), tapa (training exercise endurance of suffering) and samadhi (focusing to the only God/Ida Sang Hyang Widhi, for a pure life).

All of them is a must for Hindus, so that their inner is ready to face challenges of life in a new year. The sprees and get drunk in celebrating new year is a wrong habit and should be changed.

3. Ngembak Geni (Ngembak Api)

The last thing in Nyepi Day is Ngembak Geni Day at the date of ping pisan (1) sasih kedasa (X). The Caka New Year starts by this date. Hindus usually coming to their big family to gather and to forgive (ksama) each other.

With new environment, the new life starts with a clean heart.

Be the most-known-part of Bali, Seminyak area comes bringing everything to spoil everyone who is looking for a satisfy. Walking at the best sunset beaches, shopping at famous boutiques, having great dinner at international restaurants, get massage in the best spas and stay privately in luxury villas. All are offered by kindness and hospitality.

Foods are so fantastic. We will find every kind of food in Bali. Internationally or traditionally restaurants come to serve many kinds of great food. Steak, rib, fried rice even gado-gado are provided to satisfy us. Great cooks and butlers, and also trained staffs make everything perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Babi guling is the famous food in Bali and many restaurants of babi guling are situated in Seminyak. We can get it all just in steps away, makes easier to find what we want. The taste of local foods is really delicious. It gives other culinary experiences when we taste local foods which are contains various good spices of Indonesia. They are hot, they are good, they are really tasteful and bring pleasure when eating them.

Situated on tranquil parts of Seminyak district, there are lots of luxury villas. Places where we can get pampered and peaceful, get away from busy line of Seminyak. Luxury buildings, great furniture, fantastic facilities and best staffs offer us a great emotional and feeling, touch the tropical sense during stay in Bali. It is really unforgettable moment we will ever get.

Touch Bali, feel the warmth of sunshine, get and reach the joyful, kindness also the peaceful of the Island of Gods.

For us, in Bali, we see offerings everyday. There was a Dutch visiting Bali in 1920s to research Bali. The researcher said, Balinese people at that time do not find an art as a commercial show. Every single daily movement, such as farming or dancing, is done as an offering to God.

If there is anyone who is walking slowly in a silence in offering places, ans also being fused in order of bhur bvah svah, tourists with the hidden treasure of Bali are no more being monopoly of tourists.  They are included of the treasures which were born, lived, grown, old and died in Bali. And when we find Bali in ourselves, the tears are dropping, because we are very touched of the beauty and the great of Bali’s nature. There is something telling in the soul: “Matur suksma!” which means deliver to the soul. Even the soul is offered. Modifying the words of Mahatma Gandhi: my life is my true message, the last one would be whispering: my life is my true offering.

If we think about the answer of the tourist that every time tourists come to Bali they find hidden treasures of Bali, so what about us Balinese? Have we found the hidden treasure of our own island? Try to find out of Bali is like peeling red onion: when we peel it more and more, the onion becomes whiter and whiter, and after that there is nothing but our tears. What about us Balinese people? Do our tears come out after trying to find out of Bali?

At another side, Ubud nowadays has high class hotels, villas, restaurants and spas. It became a major tourism destination in Bali for some tourists from every part of this world. Most of them come to Ubud to seek a peaceful and the balance of life. The beauty of Ubud’s nature brings other sensation of naturalness. People come for yoga, spa and retreat.

Ubud’s nature is dominated by jungles and rice fields. They are beautiful and really give a refreshing of mind out of the routines. There is Tegallalang which has wonderful rice fields we can see along the journey. If you want to feel the real taste of Bali, just come and diffuse to the local people activities. In Ubud, it is still possible to find women are bringing their offering on their head, walking through the small path between rice fields to the Pura (Hindu’s temple). They are all elegant and really show the exoticism of Balinese women.

In the center of Ubud, we can find Ubud art market. People come here for shopping various art things. There is Sukawati which is known as the center of art gifts. There is Ubud Palace, Bali’s royal heritage. It is a place to stay king of Ubud. Between Padang the village of Padang Tegal and Nyuh Kuning there is a small forest being a residence of hundreds of monkey. The monkeys is nice and tourists usually play with them. But should be remembered that most of them wait for food, so we should give some food to them to keep they are being nice. Beside it, the tourists also come there to see the Balinese grave. If the time is right, they can see the ritual of burying the body (odalan) or burning it (ngaben).

Exoticism of Ubud is unmatched with other place in the world. The nature and also the culture mixed together in a beautiful harmony. If you want to reach the peaceful and the balance of life, Ubud is the best place you can visit.

(Ritual sembahyang)

Mengawali hari, terlihat seorang wanita memberikan persembahaan di sebuah sanggah, di tengah sawah yang hijau dan tenang. Sebuah ungkapan syukur atas segala hal yang telah diterima dari Yang Maha Kuasa, untuk membawa kebaikan bagi seluruh anggota keluarga bagi umat Hindu.

Mengawali hari di Bali memiliki kesan yang tersendiri, di mana alam masih hijau, kicauan burung masih terdengar dan aroma rumput masi tercium. Bersyukur bisa berada di tengah alam yang hijau. Ketika matahari mulai muncul, orang-orang mulai beraktivitas sehari-hari. Ada yang pergi ke sawah untuk bertani, ada yang berjualan di pasar-pasar tradisional.

Keasyikan terasa saat menyaksikan sebuah sekolah dasar yang dipenuhi oleh anak-anak SD yang hendak menuntut ilmu. Wajah-wajah mereka terlihat ceria. Ada yang diantar orang tua, tapi juga ada yang pergi sendiri dengan berjalan kaki dan naik sepeda. Wajah-wajah yang sangat natural. Mereka berlarian ke sana ke mari, berkejar-kejaran dengan kawan-kawannya. Jadi flash back ke masa lalu.

Kalau sudah jam kerja, huh, jalanan jadi macet! Banyak kendaraan lalu lalang di jalan. Ditambah lagi dengan jalanan Bali yang sempit, urat jadi menegang berkonsentrasi dalam berkendara. Terlihat pak polisi sibuk mengatur lalu lintas yang padat. Kasihan pak polisi, yang sabar ya pak!

Tapi biar bagaimana pun Bali tetaplah Bali, yang Bersih Aman Lestari Indah.