Beratan and Buyan Lake

Beratan Lake is a shallow lake with the high caldera about 1231m above sea level and it is located atBedugul, the famous tourist destinations in Bali.This lake have wide 3,8 km2 and also its deepness is up to 22 meters. The water volume in this lake is about 0,049 km3, so Beratan Lake is the closed lake. Tourist can access the Beratan Lake through the dock which have been provided or desist around Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. In this place, the visitor can do various activities like doing recreation to look around in dock or do the other outdoor activities. The various water recreation activities can also be conducted here, for example riding the boat motorize to circle the lake, canoeing with the traditional boat, banana boating, water skiing, and others. Fishing activities are also available in this places for who one love fishing in the lake.

Magnificent View

Beratan Lake is situated in the plateau area with cool atmosphere surround it. It is an ideal place for relaxation while enjoy the beautiful panorama of lake. The accommodations are also available in this area where is the perfect place for overnight stay, resting and enjoy the beautiful panoramic of lake with the Ulun Danu Temple as a magnificence. The small scale of agriculture activities are likely conducted around this lake and can be perceived at the same time circle around it. If we encircle it, we can take photograph with the beautiful background view or make the picture sketch face in painting mini studio at the lakeside with a short time as a souvenir.

Other Places of Interest in Bedugul

If the tourist paying a visit to the Beratan Lake, they also can visit other places of interest in Bedugul Tabanan Bali nearby like Bedugul Botanical Garden or Kebun Raya Eka Karya where the visitors can relax while enjoy the various of flora types,traditional Balinese houses and others. Candi Kuning Market is a Traditional Vegetable and Fruit Market located at Candi Kuning countryside which can be reached only in a few minutes from the lake. Various fruit type, vegetables and also mace can be bought here with many choices. It is not far from Ulun Danu Temple. Buyan Lake and Tamblingan Lake are the next places of interest existing near the Beratan Lake and it is just 3 minutes drive by car from this place. Beratan Lake can be reached easily from the main road from Denpasar to Bedugul and it takes about 2 hours from the town with the good road access. 

The Balinese’s Knowledge Day

Saraswati Ceremony.

On Saniscara Kliwon Watugunung (Balinese Calendar) The Balinese Hindus have a special day devoted to the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati. Saraswati is God’s manifestation of knowledge and wisdom.
She is depicted as a beautiful and gracious goddess, a personification of all knowledge, with four arms holding the following item; a chain symbolizing the ever lasting quality of knowledge, a “lontar” palm book symbolizing the source of accumulated knowledge, a lotus water lily as the symbol of beauty and purify and the “rebab” (Balinese violin) the symbol of science and culture. Saraswati ride a white swan which s the symbol of prudence. It is though prudence one’s knowledge can be used to distinguished good from bad. The swans struggle to keep floating on the swift unending current of passing time. Saraswati itself means flowing in Sanskrit which represents knowledge.
The Saraswati holiday’s believed as the day knowledge descends to earth and ever six months or so, according the Balinese lunar “wuku” calendar, Saraswati as the source of knowledge and guardian of all books and learning, is given a well-earned rest for one day and material is temporary made unavailable to mortals. On that holiday, Balinese refrain from reading and writing, for to do so, would show their ingratitude to the goddess.

Some students are praying on Saraswati Day

On the Saraswati day ceremonies will be held all over Bali, however Balinese people learn or work, using written materials. The celebration begins with a prayer requesting a blessing for peace and knowledge which has descended to the earth. Special offering called “Canang Saraswati” are made for all books, including “lontar “traditional palm leaf , the source of knowledge. The tool of knowledge will be blessed and showered with offering; not only the old holy “books” (written on along, thin, slabs of stiff lontar palm), but all other form of written material and this now include computers and typewriters with their built-in memory. Children have their school books blessed at home but may still make a trip to school to help organize the blessing of other written material kept at school. Libraries temporarily off laden books from shelves so the books can be blessed. Offices attend to their books in much the same way and people visit their temple as “the island of the Gods” says thank-you to the Saraswati.
The following day, the Balinese will have a self purification ceremony to enable them to receive the knowledge and wisdom from the goodness. Four days after Saraswati ceremonies, the Balinese will hold “Pagerwesi” which a continuation of the Saraswati ceremonies. This is hope that knowledge will make people aware of their duty of their fellow beings and that man will use science for improvement not destruction.

Although the ceremony is in the Balinese month of “Sasih”, on the day called “Watugunung”, it is always falls on the western Saturday. If you wish to see mass of offering being carried out by the Balinese on this special day, you can visit the Jagatnatha Temple in central Denpasar at about 09:00 a.m. Perhaps with the blessing of the goddess Saraswati, a little knowledge concerning this day can be bestowed upon you. We wish you a Happy Saraswati Day!

World’s best festivals: Nyepi (Balinese New Year)

• 

View gallery

This is an excerpt from Lonely Planet’s A Year of Festivals.

Location: Throughout Bali

Dates: The Lunar New Year, according to the Balinese saka calendar, falling on the first new moon after mid-March

Level of Participation: 1 – enjoy the Nyepi eve parades then settle back for the quietest New Year’s Day of your life

Bali’s major festival pushes one year noisily out the door and very quietly ushers in the next one – if raucous, riotous New Year events are not your thing, then Bali well and truly has the celebration for you. If you keep alert you’ll probably notice Nyepi preparations beginning three days ahead of the New Year, with all the statues of gods removed from temples on this day and paraded to rivers, where they are washed and bathed before being returned to the temples. The day before Nyepi, Tawur Agung Kesanga, is when you’ll see most action around the island. This is the ‘Day of Great Sacrifices’, with ceremonies held at town squares and sports grounds throughout the island. At about 4pm villagers dressed in traditional garb gather in town centres, playing music and offering gifts of food and flowers to the ogoh-ogoh, which are huge monster dolls with menacing fingers, bulging eyes and faces fit to give a child nightmares. This is followed by the ngrupuk, a grand procession in which the ogoh-ogoh figures are lifted on bamboo poles and, accompanied by gamelan music, paraded through the streets to frighten away all the evil spirits. After prayers and speeches, the ogoh-ogoh dolls are burnt with torches and bonfires in a final symbolic gesture to be rid of the evil spirits for the year ahead. Much revelry ensues. Wherever you are in Bali, you’ll almost certainly find a ngrupuk procession in the nearest large town, with the island capital, Denpasar, staging the most impressive parade. The day of Nyepi itself officially lasts for 24 hours from sunrise, and is one of complete inactivity, so that when the evil spirits descend they will decide that Bali is uninhabited and leave the island alone for another year. They call it the ‘Day of Silence’, and all human activity stops – all shops, bars and restaurants close and no-one is allowed to leave their home or hotel. Even Bali’s international airport closes down. No fires are permitted and at night all buildings must be blacked out – only emergency services are exempt.

Essentials: On the day of Nyepi you must stay in your hotel. Consider it a day to catch up on sleep and some reading. Resist all other hotel-room thoughts and temptations since sex is also supposedly forbidden this day. Most places will arrange to serve you meals but should you wander off, the pecalang (village police) will politely but firmly send you back to your hotel.

Local Attractions: From Denpasar, hit the beaches of Kuta or Sanur, or cool down on higher ground in Ubud, Bali’s culinary capital.

Surfing Indonesia: where to find the perfect wave

• 
• 
• 
• 

View gallery

Surfers have long been known for a nomadic lifestyle spent scouring the globe in search of the perfect wave, and at some point in their search every self-respecting surfer will find themselves drawn to the wave gardens of Indonesia. Here’s where to find them, whether you’re a beginner or after something more challenging:

Bali

Bali, with its glut of world class surf spots, is the epicentre of Indonesian surfing. Any surf trip here almost invariably begins on Kuta beach, the original Indonesian beach resort. The waves here offer something for everyone; advanced surfers will revel in fun, peaky conditions whilst beginners will find the soft sand beach breaks, and numerous surf schools, the perfect setting for a first taste of surfing.

Not far from Kuta is the Bukit Peninsula where the best waves in Bali can be found. Padang Padang is one of Indonesia’s banner spots. It only comes to life on the biggest of swells but when it does you can expect one of the most intense lefthanders in the world. You can also expect serious crowds and lots of aggro in the water.

Nusa Tenggara

Just south of Bali is the island chain of Nusa Tenggara, which is rammed with surf spots. Lombok, the closest island to Bali, is the most visited by surfers and the jewel in the surf crown here is the legendry Desert Point; possibly the best wave in the world. It’s a highly fickle wave but when all the elements come together this near endless, freight train lefthander offers tube rides of up to twenty seconds. For something a little more beginner friendly try either Don Don or Inside Ekas both of which are found on the south coast of Lombok.

Java

The most famous wave on Java, Bali’s northern neighbour, is G-Land (also known as Grajagan). This is one of those freak of nature waves against which all other waves are measured. Endlessly long, flawlessly perfect and super consistent, G-Land is most commonly reached via boat charter from Bali.

For something less nerve-wracking, try the long, mellow sand bottom right point inBatu Karas. Needing a really solid swell to get going this is probably the most user-friendly spot in Indonesia and though experienced surfers might find it a little uninspiring it seems almost tailor made for learners and intermediates. There are a couple of surf schools and board hire places here as well as a few cheap places to stay.

Sumatra

Surfing Sumatra is all about the necklace of islands that lie off the west coast. Nias, in the far north, is the most famous. An almost hypnotically perfect righthander, this wave has always been considered perfect, but following the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami the wave actually improved dramatically after the reef rose upward by around a metre and made the wave hollower, faster and much more consistent.

Good as Nias is though if you ask the average surfer where they’d most like to go surfing the answer will almost invariably be the Mentawai Islands. These islands are home to more world class surf spots than any other place on Earth and it’s almost a given that on any single day of the year unbelievable waves will be breaking somewhere in the Mentawais. Surf trips here have long been the preserve of (expensive) boat charters and (equally expensive) surf resorts, but for the adventurous it’s still possible to charter a local fishing boat and put together your own Mentawai adventure.

When to go

Indonesia is basically a year-round surf destination, but it’s the dry season (May-October) – when the offshore southeast trade winds blow and the swell, pouring out of the Southern Ocean, is at its biggest and most consistent – that is far and away the best time to venture here.

Sukawati Art Market

Spending a nice holiday on the island of Paradise is full of
endless experience. This tiny island has so many treasures and
challenging adventure to explore. See the unique rice terraces
in Tegalalang or Jatiluwih with its serenity and beauty on the
rice fields. Or follow and inhale fresh air along the rapid on
the river with a wide choice of different rapid. Another
activity you will enjoy is an original "shopping adventure"
to hunt souvenirs and the like in the art market. 


One of art markets that are already popular among visitors is
Sukawati art market. Sukawati road-facing market located in
the Gianyar Regency has a strategic position as it is passed
through during the tour to some destinations to the east.
Sukawati art market is close to the village of Celuk, the
center of gold & silversmiths. You can drop in after watching
barong and kris dance performance in the morning. It can be
accessed through bemo transport, tour bus or taxi.
It is just like a myriad of art shops that offers wide range
of products. Simply one stop-shopping. Many items sold in Kuta
or other areas originate from here and are considerably
cheaper if bought here. One outlet may provide more than one
item, like garments, souvenirs, paintings (unframed),
basketry, colorful kites and so on.
Buying giveaways to commemorate the holiday has to be a must.
So take advantage the holiday time to find out something
memorable on the art market of Sukawati. This market is very
unique as it is already open in the early morning and visited
by both domestic and foreign visitors. It is very close to
other destinations in the Gianyar Regency.
A good place to explore the shopping experience in a natural
way, get in touch with common people and see how the locals go
about the art of negotiation. Yes, shopping is also an art of
experience. On the one hand, you may enjoy many kinds of art
products all in one spot. It reflects the diversity of local
art and crafts and the creativity of its people.
You will get a new experience in the 'art of buying'. You must
bargain the price eventhough the vendor offers you a "morning
price." Meaning especially low, to start off the trading day
with a few sales already and make the day a successful one.
It does not mean you have to accept it as it is, it's
not a fixed price. If you are good at bargaining you will get
the best price you can afford and the vendor keeps "smiling
and thanking you". If they don't smile anymore, you know his
cost is higher than your offer. Good at bargaining is a bit
more than insisting on a price. You need to provide a logical
reason why your offer is so low and still should be accepted.

Nightlife in Bali

Bali's main areas that attract visitors also all have their
night spots. The tastes are different, so for some people the
nightlife has something to do with the "Happy hour" offered at
many bars and restaurants, others just wake up at this time
of day to get ready for the night according to the motto
the-later-the-better. 


A preferred area is the Kuta-Legian-Seminyak strip, busy at
all times of day and also open 'til late" or even 24 hours.
We could write a long list of restaurants and venues with
100's of names - instead we like to take you on the Classic
Clubbers' Trail, as recommended by the founders of Bali night
clubbing. If you never have done this you're in for a new
experience to see Bali after sunset and some of the classic
"in" spots.
1) At around 8-9 PM it's time to visit the restaurant that
raised your attention this afternoon on the way back from the
beach. It's time for dinner. Be careful and selective, don't
eat all that looks promising on the menue, there will be other
opportunities later today.
2) Woops! Time went so fast while talking and dining, it's
already 10 PM and you are on your way to Made's Warung to have
coffee and some desert. See who else is in Bali this week.
Appreciate the fact that "Latin music" was here on the
turntable 10 years before it went mainstream. We like to pay
credit to a original site that served excellent food to
"Bali stylists" that have been ALWAYS years ahead in world
behavior/design for the last 20 years. No, I'm not kidding.
3) Well, it was difficult not to meet a lot of people there
and now we all are on the way to Goa 2001 for more chat and
drinks. At midnight it's getting real crowded here. You have
to be a person that can focus on detail to not lose control
on how many interesting people are here. Walk around, mingle
with the crowd and have a mouthful of "small snacks" offered
in japanese, balinese and other flavors.
4) It's 1 am and still looking fresh, now it depends on your
personal preference to visit Double 6 Disco, Gado-Gado Club
or to go back to Hard Rock Cafe in Kuta, but they might close
soon, so better stay in Seminyak for more pub-disco action.
How to find these places? Don't be shy, talk to the person
next to you, most will know.
5) Depending on how you arranged your personal immediate
future you could end up on a private party in one of the
houses in the area, or if you really are The Night Dancer
to will be still in one of the discos until 5 am.
Now at this point of history we do not advise to go straight
for breakfast that early, it would be kind of overdoing it,
it really is now time to go home.
There are many variations to this strategy plan, this is
however the original Classic Bali Clubbers "1'1'1" (no "0") as
delivered by the founders of Bali night clubbing. Have fun!

How to pick the airline to fly to Bali ?

Airline tickets vary in prices and conditions and more than
one airline can bring you to Bali.

The big difference between the airlines are in the route they take and from whom you will purchase the ticket from.  

Since routes are changing quite often, it makes sense to ask an agent about your particular flight, chances are they know or can find out. Experiences tell it's still 50% uncertainty left after they advice you, because schedules change faster than the normal travel agent can keep up with.

Many times the cheapest tickets involve the most stop overs en route, so it actually makes sense to pay a bit more to have a shorter flight. My personal experiences only cover exit airports in Europe like Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London. Here there are at times huge differences among the airlines.

Thai Airways had always those lengthy 4 hour transits in
Bangkok that made the flight to Bali about 18 hours long,
Garuda stopped a lot at different airports to make sure the
plane was always packed full - a 21 hours trip, ouch!
Really convincing was only Singapore Airlines, nonstop to
Singapore, after 45 minutes transit straight to Bali. 14 hours after leaving Amsterdam we finally reached Balinese soil.

Interesting can also be Quantas flights going to Australia
that have a stop in Bali. As I said it depends where you fly
from and how much you are prepared to pay for the ticket. Best is always a nonstop flight, nonstop Singapore is fine too. Be aware that a "direct" flight is not necessarily also a nonstop flight.

Understanding the Language of the Markets

As you fight your way through the streets, restaurants and markets of Sanur, Ubud and Kuta, you quickly realize that there is a small selection of "standard" English greetings and phrases used by many of the people involved in the tourist.

The first greeting is always "Hello Mister/Missus/Boss",
usually followed immediately by "You want to come to my
shop?", or something similar. (Although, in Ubud, the whole
conversation often consists solely of the word "Transport?")
If you keep walking, you will hear "Where are you going?". For many people in Bali this is serves the same purpose as "How are you going?" in the English-speaking world. The actual answer is not relevant. (Just as few people are really interested in how you really are going.) For Indonesians, it is usual to ask someone out in the street where they are going, because, even in modern Indonesia, there are still many people who have not traveled more than a few kilometers from their village. An honest answer to "Where?" you are going is more interesting and acceptable to the inquirer than an honest "How?" you are going.
If you have stopped to browse and/or chat, you are asked
"Where do you come from?". Again, in a village, this would be a natural question to ask a stranger. Once this topic has been dealt with, the conversation turns to topics that seem to verge on an invasion of privacy. However, people who grow up in a country as populated as Indonesia have a different concept of "personal space" to many born in countries such as the United States and Australia. Answers to questions such as "Are you travelling alone?" and "Are you married" (both absolute certainties for women on their own) are of interest to many young Indonesian men and women. A "Yes" to either, or both, questions has led to many happy relationships.
Once the small talk has been dealt with, it's down to business. "You want one more?" is a common opening once the "salesperson" spots the shirt/t-shirt/sarong/watch that you are already wearing. (It would be interesting to find out how many people actually buy a second item, once the opportunity to do so has been pointed out to them.) For most people, this doesn't work, because they are looking for something they haven't yet bought. This seems to be not obvious for many stall holders.
Another common practice, again, unlikely to encourage anyone to buy anything, is to keep badgering the customer. Even though you have said "No", probably more than once, and, possibly, in more than one language, it is not understood as an absolute refusal. Again, how many people will change their mind and buy, after having refused several times?
The current phrase in the Sanur beach markets is "Only two dollars!"(U.S.) It is a mystery why this phrase has suddenly
become the only one in use, because most tourists in the area
would be carrying rupiah, Australian dollars or European currencies. It is also interesting to note that, in other parts of Bali, "Only one dollar!" is the cry - inflation? Since U.S.$2 is currently worth at least Rp 17,000, and many of the items on sale can be bought for half this amount, bargaining down to, at most, half the opening amount is still economically smart.
When clothes are being tried on for size, "personal" remarks
about your body size, shape, colour, etc. are often made. To
the stall holder, they are honest, often helpful, observations, and may help you to make a more satisfying purchase. As in many other countries, being "large" is a sign of wealth, and is usually complimented.
The important thing to remember is that, even though every
person with something to sell wants you to buy it, most stall
holders and street sellers have a genuine interest in people
and things foreign. Enjoy the conversations.

Sunset Dinner at Jimbaran Beach

Jimbaran beach is stretching between the barren limestone hill to the south and Kedonganan beach near the international airport on the north. This white beach is so tranquil and just the right place for relaxing in the afternoon while waiting for the sunset. It has been more known after the presence of five-star and luxury hotels since the beginning of the 1990s. Suddenly it was on everyone's lips. 

The new arising tourist resorts at Jimbaran now have more

option to dine out. Along the Jimbaran to Kedonganan Beach

there are many cafes operated by local people. It is something

like night markets where visitors can choose a wide range of

seafoods. Nearly all cafes provide special seafood menus

with local recipes or combination with the western one. Fish

is supplied by a nearby fishermen village at Kedonganan. Some

vendors there still sell their fish until to the afternoon.

When the west horizon turns yellowish red, the cafes spread

their colorful chairs on the sand overlooking the beach.

Slowly the activity on the beach reduces, while other activities begin at cafes. And when the night arrives, it starts getting to be romantic. Candle lights and live musicians enhancing the atmosphere. There are many small and big jukungs that are ready to sail and will become an artistic background for your dinner.

The shining stars in the sky, candle-like lights from the

resorts on the hill and the spotlight from the airport has

changed Jimbaran Beach to something like a celebration night.

Taste the grilled fish on the sand of a open-air beachfront

café and enrich your dining experience with one not usually

available at 5 star hotels . You can choose the kind and size

of fish and other seafood yourself. The local characteristic

of the recipe is that grilled fish is topped with Balinese

raw spices (basa matah). It is then traditionally accompanied

with stir-fried water spinach and white steamed rice.

Only a ten-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport,

also easily reachable from Kuta or Nusa Dua by inexpensive

taxis. Always worth a visit.

The Art of Tropical Living

In the 1960's all local houses consisted of very basic constructions, foreigners rented rooms in family inns (losmen). Shortly after trendy Sanur was the first area that attracted more sophisticated buildings, usually under supervision of western designers and architects.

Around 1980 the situation started to be influenced strongly
by western business people that came to Bali frequently enough
to build their own house. These houses and villas somehow took
some traditional Balinese essentials to blend with imported
Western standards. Although there was suddenly the comfort of
a western bathroom, the bottom line was usually a lack of
professional competence in an overall architectural context.

Starting around 1990 the present situation started to emerge:
Elements of Balinese architecture like thatched materials for
the roof or carved doors are used in a modern context and in
combination with the Western tradition of comfortable
furniture and furnishings.

That is not a general evolution of the "Bali style" it is
rather used as reinterpretation in a decorative and usually
aesthetic way. Many Westerners have build their Balinese dream
home based on a mixture of Western comfort and Asian styles.

The indoor-outdoor living style is dominant to express the
best possibilities the tropical climate has to offer. Natural
materials used are wood, alang-alang, bamboo, stone, glass and
ceramics.

The traditional Balinese way to construct buildings followed
very strict rules of shapes and sizes, also positioning and
orientation was absolutely predetermined. Constructing a
building is guided by religious motives not by practical or
designer aesthetics. Therefore it is originally not an art
form but religious ritual.

The latest development is however an extracting of Balinese
designs to merge with new international styles in an artistic
way, giving birth to a new Bali style.

Now designers are getting creative in an unpreceded way to
redefine this so typical local art of tropical living in a new,
internationally valid way that possibly will set the trend for
years to come.