South Lombok - The Undiscovered Pearl of Lombok!

 Until recently, due to its challenging reef breaks at BangkoBangko and Desert Point, south-west Lombok was only known amongst surfers. Now this paradise has also been discovered by scuba divers and vacationers searching for white beaches, relaxation, and great scuba dive adventures.

The roads in south-west Lombok are well maintained, and the scenic drive from Mataram or Lembar is fairly relaxing. The price for transport depends on your talent in bargaining and can vary quite a bit therefore. If you calculate around USD 25, you should be able to find a car with a driver without too many problems. In any case, make sure you arrange the price before the journey starts.

Even though the clean white sandy beaches of Sekotong are amongst the best on Lombok, you will not find many travelers on these beaches. Here it's still possible to take relaxing walks along the beach without meeting annoying sellers trying to sell their watches, necklaces and so on. You also can experience the underwater paradise by snorkeling near one of the beaches or go scuba diving around one of the many small islands in the bay of Sekotong.

The local people in south-west Lombok haven't been influenced by mass tourism and are very friendly, sometimes curious. The language spoken is "Bahasa Indonesia" and "Bahasa Sasak". Many people also speak basic English and it's no problem for the traveler to communicate his needs. The inhabitants' main source of income in South Lombok is fishing and pearl farming (South Lombok's pearl farms are the main exporter of quality pearls in Indonesia).

When the tide reaches its lowest level, you can watch women and children collecting clams, crabs and other "treasures of the sea". On Sundays, the traditional "off day" for the Indonesian community, you can see families with their children enjoying and playing at the beach. Join in the fun and laugh along with them. Discover scuba diving around South Lombok! In South Lombok every diver can find his dive adventure: from relaxed diving in Southwest Lombok up to exciting "adrenalin dives" in Belongas Bay. South Lombok is a highlight for every scuba diver and offers many dive sites for all levels of experience!

South Lombok is uncommon amongst the other dive locations around Lombok. Here one still finds diving as a distinct experience and exclusive dive sites with the chance to explore undiscovered waters. These new dive sites offer even the well-traveled and experienced diver a surprising and breathtaking experience, and due to the great variety of dive sites, there is exciting diving for all levels of training.

"The Magnet", in South-East Lombok, is a pinnacle in the open sea. It rises from a depth of about 80m and can be reached in approximately 25 minutes from the mainland. Diving there, the seasonable sighting of schooling hammerhead sharks, barracudas, tunas, and other pelagic life is, fairly regular, and also mola mola have occasionally been sighted.

To dive in Sekotong means experiencing the tropics, relaxing and diving, and while scuba diving in south west Lombok you are likely to sight blue spotted stingrays, cuttlefish, scorpion fish as well as an amazing abundance of macro life. A little further south toward Bangko Bangko, also the chances of seeing turtles and white tip reef sharks are fairly high.

Magical Evening at Uluwatu

From the top of the cliff that towers above the legendary surf breaks of Southern Bali, I could see the turquoise water smash on the rocks and enter the caves which were used by the Japanese to defend Bali from the allies military attack at the end of world war II. Dramatic and soundless as the waves are so far below.

Uluwatu (ulu means land's end and watu means rock, so it is not to hard to see where Uluwatu came from), is about 45 minutes drive from Nusa Dua or one and half hour drive from Kuta. And comprises jungles, cliffs, and the vast deep blue ocean. The southern tip of Bali is rightly famous for its magical sunset at the temple located right at the edge of the majestic sea cliffs.

I arrived at the temple around five in the evening, my mission to see its famous sunset. There is an official entrance fee to enter, sarongs are available for rental next to the ticket-window and must be worn to comply with the temple rules. I followed the track till the end then turned right to the edge of a cliff, and there it was the temple perched on the edge of the cliff on my right side. The sky was overcast but there was some rays of light streaking out from narrow gaps between the dark grey clouds. Hundreds of meters below, the Indian Ocean reflected the dying sun light, on its soundless waves. As the sun went down, the scene became even more dramatic.

Uluwatu temple, its correct name is Pura Luhur Uluwatu, is one of the Sad Khayangan the six most important temples in Bali. It is dedicated to Rudra, the God of the Storm, the Wind, and the Hunt, and is one of those that Pedanda Sak'i Wawu Rauh, a priest from Java who came to Bali in A.D. 1546, built The temple and its surroundings are considered as one of the very sacred sites in the island.

The deep blue ocean surrounds the majestic cliffs on the sea side but the natural forest is also still there on the land side. When I walked through the jungle path, I was struck by really bad smell, nauseating in fact, later on I found out that the jungle is home to a number of Rafflessia arnoldii, giant flowers which grow close to the soil and spread the smell of rotting flesh when it is blooming. Little did I know how privileged I was!.

The natural jungle is also home for some families of monkey. Precautionary signs have been put at a few places to remind visitors about their aggressiveness.The ticket officer and even my driver also reminded me of the same thing. I didn't experience any problems with the monkeys because I hid my glasses and accessories in my bag, but I did see how the"monkey scam"works. One Japanese tourist was concentrating to get shots of the temple when a monkey came and quickly snatched his specs. A local man came to help, approaching the monkey with fruit to be exchanged with the specs. He didn't ask for anything from the unlucky Japanese but another approached the tourist and told him to give the "hero"some money for his services. Could it be this wasn't a real accident but a bit of monkey business? The reason I am telling you is just to remind you to be careful.

But now the real action starts on this marvelous spot. It is the Kecak Fire Dance. The performance started at 6pm. the half circle wooden theater was full of people, the evening sunlight was peeping from behind the dark grey clouds, and part of the sky not covered by cloud slowly turned fire red itself. It was a marvelous sight. Then more then twenty men entered the stage while creating a mesmerizing chant. Cak..cak...cakcakcak...! The magic had started.

The southern part of Bali with its dramatic rocky peninsula, remains a must visit site, even though the thick grey cloud hung on the sky covering the sun through the evening, my visit was still wonderful.The darkness of the night finally fell when the show over. Mission accomplished.

Going to Ubud - 5 Unique Activities For a Perfect Day

 

Ubud is one of the most fascinating and picturesque villages in Bali. It seems that the traditional Balinese lifestyle has been able to coincide with the many tourists visiting the little village. While travelers walk around amazed about Ubud's beauty, the local people are still able to do their daily tasks such as placing offerings along the roads and on the paths, or going to the many ceremonies that are held to honor the gods.

I can imagine that once you arrive in this village and you have little time, you will find it difficult to decide what to do; there are just too many sights to see. So to ensure you will experience the wonders that Ubud offers, here are the 5 activities that you can do during a full day there. So go to bed early to prepare for a full day of cultural overdose...

Morning activity: Morning market

First of all, a thing that should be seen and experienced is the morning market. Early in the morning local people head to the market to buy the things they need for the day. This can include fruit and vegetables, but also flowers and flower petals for their decorations and offerings. It is even possible to buy a full bag of ready made offerings, so no hassle with that anymore.

To see this colorful spectacle you do need to wake up early. If you are there by 6.30am the market is already out and about, so you will see enough action that will wake you up immediately. At the market you can buy delicious cakes and fruits too. This will be a good addition to your breakfast at the hotel.

The Monkey Forest

Once you have returned to your hotel and have enjoyed your breakfast, head to the Monkey Forest where you can meet the 300 macaque monkeys up close. The forest is located on the south part of Monkey Forest Road. At the entrance you can buy peanuts or bananas for the monkeys. These monkeys will eagerly wait for their treat, so be careful if they jump on you once they have spotted the goodies.

You can walk all around the forest and across an ancient looking bridge supported by a big banyan tree. There are several temples located there as well which are used during cremation ceremonies. Each village in Bali has their own temple of the death. Here it is located in the Monkey forest. Common characteristics of such temples are statues of the Rangda, the goddess of the death. Her statues show Rangda with bulging eyes, sharp fangs, long finger nails and her lolling tongue.

Afternoon activity: ARMA-museum

From the Monkey Forest you can head over to the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA). This beautifully set museum exhibits a wide range of Balinese paintings from the past till present. Here you are given the opportunity to see the many different styles and their changes through time.

In the past painters made paintings for the temples only. This style is known as Kamasan style and is characterized by long canvases covered with paintings about religious stories and myths. With the influence of foreigners, especially Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet who settled in this inspiring village, the style of painting changed. Balinese started to paint the Balinese daily life. This is known as the Ubud style.

Other influences followed which resulted into the Young Artist style. This style is known for its childish and colorful way of painting.

Rice field walk around Campuan area

In the Northern part of the village, around the Campuan area you can find the rice fields which Bali is famous for. The best time to see stunning views of the rice fields is in the late afternoon. There is an ideal path to walk on that starts at the end of the narrow road Jln. Kajeng and ends at the Campuan temple.

During the 1.5 hour walk you will be able to see many rice farmers at work, men and women enjoying the shade, children flying the kite and many ducks wobbling along the narrow paths. These animals are part of the scene as their droppings provide fertilizers and they eat the pests found in the fields. You will also notice many shrines standing in the field. These are used by the farmers, who place offerings for the rice-goddess Dewi Sri to ensure a successful rice yield.

Evening activity: Performances

Every evening there are many cultural performances. Often, a specific location has another program each day. So if one location does not have the performance planned which you are hoping to see, there are many others that might have it scheduled that day.

The ticket sellers, who are found along the streets all over Ubud, always know when and where the performances are. In their bag they have all the tickets of the performances for that night, so you can just choose on the spot and pay. There are also tickets for sale at the tourist information office at Jalan Raya, who put out signs about the performances every day.

The tickets for the performances are usually Rp.50.000 each but some performance can be slightly more expensive. The performances start at 19.00 and 20.00 at the latest.

The most regular dances that you can choose from are: Legong Dances, Kecak Fire Dance, Women Gamelan and Dance Group, Barong and Keris, Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) and Jegog (Bamboo Gamelan). One thing that is worth mentioning is that ARMA museum is the only place to see the Topeng Jimat performance. ARMA also has Kecak performances but only during every full moon and new moon making the setting even more appropriate.

Ubud has many restaurants and cafés that are beautifully decorated and some even have an amazing tropical garden. So to finish the day, stroll to one of these many restaurants, sit, relax and recollect all the amazing things of your day.

Bali Safari and Marine Park

 

For animal lovers a trip to Bali is not complete without visiting Bali Safari & Marine Park. Designed for animals to live in a natural habitat, however also allow you to get closer to them than you ever thought possible.

Have the chance to cuddle a baby orangutan, tiger, lion or leopard. Observe and get up close to over 60 different species as you enjoy a safari journey, on a tram, straight through animal enclosures. Enjoy the daily animal education & elephant conservation shows where these amazing animals show off their talents with a variety of tricks.

Explore the fresh water aquarium and have the chance to touch a baby shark. Cool down at the water park designed for both kids & adults or enjoy the rides at the fun zone. Discover your dance skills with a free Balinese dance class or if visiting the park on a Tuesday or Saturday enjoy the Balinese show Hanoman the Hero held at 6pm.

For those looking for that extra something special the Bali Safari & Marine Park Rhino Package offers the following:

• The Elephant Back Safari offers a breathtaking experience of a 45 minute elephant ride through African themed bush land surrounded by wildebeests, zebras, and rhinoceros, roaming free.

• Have the once in a lifetime experience of dining with the lions at Tsavo restaurant. Enjoy a delicious five course meal up close and personal with these magnificent animals with just a wall of glass to separate you.

• 10 minute camel ride

• Unlimited Animal Encounters

• Professional photograph with you and your favourite animal

Bali Safari Park also offer a free daily shuttle to get you to and from the park that leaves from certain check points around Bali.

If you are looking for a truly memorable day in Bali look no further than Bali Safari & Marine Park.

[http://www.balisuccesstours.com.au] is an Australian owned and run business working closely with quality Balinese Companies to showcase all Bali has to offer for the ultimate holiday experience.

History of Balinese Dances

 

Southeast Asia brings in thousands of travelers from across the globe every year. From Singapore to Bali, people are eager to try the local cuisine, see the sights, and experience the traditional culture.

Bali has a long and interesting history. Their dances accompany this history in more ways than one might expect. When you watch a Balinese dance, you are seeing something that began as much as 500 years ago. Stories and poetry that are sometimes told along with the dancing may have been influenced by the court stories of a pre-Majapahit Java. As cultures changed, religions shifted, and history continued, Bali took in all these changes and adapted them within their dance. It has since become inseparable from religion. Food and flowers come first, dancers pray, and then the festivities begin. There can be a great deal of meaning in any single dance.

There are many popular Balinese dances you may have the privilege of seeing on your trip. The Barong dance is for Barong, a lord of the forest and protector of Balinese villages. Various stories, such as Barong fighting off evil like Rangda the witch, are performed. The Kecak dance is one of the most popular Balinese dances and most visitors will have the chance to see it. Its story if of the Ramayana epic. It is practiced at several locations and may occasionally include a fire dance.

There are many more things to see within Bali as well as in Lombok, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and other nearby locations. You may have the chance to see several dances while visiting, as well as shadow puppetry, dramas, and other cultural delights along the way. Brilliant colors, vibrating drums, chanting, singing-if all these things don't get you excited about your trip, then perhaps the stunning sights and neat roadside crafts will. There is so much to see and do while you travel to Bali and its surrounding locations. Get your itinerary organized so you know exactly which dances you want to see, which stories you want to learn, and exactly where to go in order to experience them.

From sandy beaches to bustling town centers, you'll need plenty of time to see and do all the things you want. Take one day to kick back on the beach and view a dance at night. Use the next day to travel and shop, and perhaps enjoy an afternoon dance. Culture has never been so bright or so amazing as within a Balinese dance.