The Most Interesting Aspect of Bali

Whether it?s the slow pace of the Island or the vast contrasts you can experience over just a few kilometres, Bali seems to make you stop and put things into perspective. Just taking a stroll on the beach allows your mind to take a break as everywhere you look becomes a feast for your eyes. From a group of young locals playing a game of soccer to a stunning European model having a photo shoot in the gentle waves, Bali is truly a place of diversity and there is no where you can turn without seeing a smiling face.

The most interesting aspect of Bali is its ability to allow any person from any background to take hold of their passion and make it a reality. This Island allows you to explore your creativity, spirituality and even for those here to make some serious money; Bali is the land of opportunity. In the moss and vine covered hills of Ubud the air seems thick with not only the fresh smell of the rainforest but the urge to take a look at ones spiritual state.The small town is packed with healthy and alternative options for dining out and lost dog style posters are stapled to almost every pole advertising some sort of spiritual healing, retreat or detox deep in the hills. The local people in Ubud, like the rest of Bali, are a lively lot eager to sell you the must need items in their street side stalls, always asking questions and joking around with the tourists. There is a specific type of Westerner that seems to be drawn to Ubud, usually dressed in colourful, loose fitting clothing and sipping on green tea, it's an almost hippie like culture that has claimed this picturesque town.

Only a 40minute drive down the hill and you enter another world entirely, a slightly faster paced town seen as the upmarket area of Bali. Welcome to Seminyak. A place where 5star resorts line the sun soaked beach and where you can step off the side walk into fashion boutiques and top class restaurants, although it seems no matter where you go its practically impossible to have a bad meal in Bali. Seminyak has an air of creativity and every second person you talk to is some sort of artist or designer, you feel compelled to whip out a sketch pad and lap up the creative juices flowing around you. Most expats also live close by and the high end bars and ocean front lounges are the place to be and get noticed.

A complete contrast again is Kuta, the tourism hotspot accommodating any and all budgets and activities from shopping, markets, surf schools and a water park to worldwide cuisine and the Bali night life. I could go on forever describing each and every corner of this fabulous Island asthey all have something so special to offer, but the best way to find out is to come on over, hop on a scooter and explore every alley way and secret passage you find.Who knows, you could find your own corner of Bali no travel guide or information leaflet could ever lead you to. However you experience this magical Island it is sure to feed your mind body and soul, you will be hooked and I'm sure we will see you time and time again.

Another Aspect of the Balinese Culture

The first thing you notice when you arrive in Bali is the parfum in the air, a scent of incense cradles and carries you far way from the places that you used to know, evrywhere you can see colors and flowers, hear charming melodies and meet sincere smiles, you can feel the essence of Bali Hindu culture. Unlike the majority of the Indonesian population wich is Muslim, Bali is 90% Hindu. The remaining 10% is made up of Balinese Muslims, Buddhists, Catholics and Protestants, ethnic groups who live in mutual respect. Many Balinese rituals are reflected in everyday life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies and festivals. They honor the mountain, the land and sea Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It coaxes the gods. It soothes the demons. Everything breathes religion on the island of a thousand temples.

Bali it’s not only religion and spiritualism. It’s the ideal holiday place that meets evrybody needs. The island is a perfect blend of cheap hotels and luxury villas, shopping opprtunities and a traditional culture. It can be fun and seductive at the same time, perfect for those looking for “the real life” in Indonesia or just party till dawn in the beachside clubs at Kuta and trendy bars in Seminyak. If shopping is your first love you will find evrything you wish in Bali. Indonesians are artists in many fields: famous for silk and cotton clothing but also jewelry, wood and stone carving, leather bags and jackets and musical instruments, the island offers you a variety of unique items at unbeatable prices. The balinese massage is also a traditional art taught in this island for generations perfect to relax after a day of intense shopping in Legian street or a day at beach.

The island is also one of the surfers favorite destinations, from the rugged coastlines to the long sandy beaches, Bali attracts wave hunters from all over the world. There are many options of Bali beaches to be explored, the south of the island is a true paradise with beatiful white beaches and famous waves, the calm seas of  the east coasts are ideal for families especially in the Nusa Dua area. In the northern region the famous black sand beach of Lovina is a place to see when you visit Bali, it’s perfect for those who enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling. If you want to take a break from the beaches, Bali has exclusive landscapes of hills and mountains, lush rice terraces and volcanoes, you can go traking in the jungle, rafting down the Ayung River or cycling and discover the stunning scenery of  Ubud, the artistic capital of the island where everything speaks of the ancient traditions.

Another aspect of the balinese culture is certainly the food, tasty and characterized by the use of many spices produced in the countryside. Rice and noodles are the base of most dishes, with meat, fish, seaafood served fried or skewered. But you can also find good international food from the french croissants to spaghetti carbonara, those who miss home will not be disappointed! Bali is defined as “the perfect island” for the mild climate, or “the island of the gods” for numerous temples. From outdoor activities to beach relaxation, Bali is now one of the favorite tourist destinations in Asia. The island has a lot to offer travelers in search of adventure. It’s the perfect place to escape from the West, from the bondage of body and let the senses feel the natural Bali spirit.

Hotspot Villas Rentals in Seminyak

Seminyak is the hotspot in Bali for the luxury villas for rent and also the premier nightlife destinations in the island.Situated just 4km from the airport of Denpasar, Seminyak is considered as trendy as its more famous neighbour,plus the local and fashion shooping is one ofe the best in Indonesia.
Seminyak is very much the location for those in the know and has attracted for the balinese beachs and the expat nightlife

Though occupied since 20 years ago for the expat community now a lot properties grow, including  luxury villas and apartments, many are available to rent in Seminya today in all seasons, so when you see Seminyak villas for sale or Seminyak villas rent all around the area is meean villa rental in Seminyak is big business for the local and expat peoples.

The beauty of the beachs  is complemented by a lot trendy shop and expat restaurant and all sorts of adventure tours in the most beautiful places as well as countless relaxing or tropical activities.Why stay in a booring hotel when you can take pleasure of a fully furnished holiday villas for rent in Seminyak Bali for you and your friends.Seminyak villas offer international quality, space, location and most importantly a great holiday.

Help keep Bumi Sehat Alive

Dear World Family



As a Mom, Grandma, Midiwfe, and "Mother of Bumi Sehat" I am appealing to all of you, Earth Keepers, to help me keep Bumi Sehat alive, well and open.


In this Season we celebrate the Birth of Christ, and we are reminded that All births are a sacred miracle,
All Mothers and Babies and Families are Blessed. This out flowing of LOVE and respect for all sentient beings is
the message of the Good Shepherd, the message of building Peace, one Baby, one Mother, one Family at a time
from the heart of the Divine Mother.

The service of Bumi Sehat’s community health care and childbirth clinics in Aceh and Bali, Indonesia, are a beautiful example of Charity building Peace on Earth. Bumi Sehat needs your help. Please consider remembering Bumi Sehat when you do your Christmas Giving. Please share this message with your loved ones all over the world.


With the dawn of 2011 we have only four years to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals. Bumi Sehat's work is addressing Goal 4: Reduce Child mortality rate. Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health. Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. I believe we can make a difference and reduce suffering, together.

Peace on Earth… Ibu Robin and Team Bumi Sehat

Online Donations: You may donate via credit card or Paypal via our website:
www.bumisehatbali.org

From the US: You may support our work by donating, to our partner organization
by sending a personal check or money order to the address below:

Sakthi Foundation
1507 Lone Oak Circle
Fairfield, Iowa 52556 USA
Attn: Bumi Sehat Project

From outside of the US: Please donate to us directly by transferring your contribution
to our US$ account at:

PT. Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI)
Branch: Denpasar KLN Ubud
Address: Jl. Gajah Mada, No. 30, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Account Name: Yayasan Bumi Sehat, Ds. PKR Nyuh Kuning
USD: Account No. 117 766 133
Swift code: BNINI DJADPS
Yayasan Bumi Sehat
Nyuh Kuning Village
PO Box 116, Ubud, Bali 80571 Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 970 002
Fax: +62 361 972 969
Email: info@bumisehatbali.org
iburobin@bumisehatbali.org

http://www.bumisehatbali.org/

Thank You! Terima Kasih!

Bali Housemaids

After spending time on the island of Bali you can’t help but feel that it is one of those special places. The Indonesia government spends virtually nothing to advertise Bali to the international community but it still attracts millions of visitors each year and for an island with a population of only 3.5 million that is a considerable number. Its low prices, currency exchange rate, beaches and night clubs make it a perfect cheap holiday for young travels who want to relax at home party and surf. There is also another side to Bali and that is one of holiday making families and settled expatriate families.Such areas like Sanur and Changgu are popular destination for those travelling with young children in Bali.

Families travel to Bali for the obvious reasons of sun, sea, sand and favourable exchange rates - but it is also the affordable Bali child care at home and housekeeping that draws people to the island. The average monthly wage for a live-in housemaid is 1,000,000 Rupia (approximately 105 USD). These sorts of prices make it desirable to spend the extra cost on Bali nanny or housekeeping and make life that much more relaxing. Surprisingly it is not easy to find agencies or recruitment centres that provide child carers and housekeepers it seems that this industry works by word of mouth. Most of therecruitment agencies in Bali are owned by expatriates and not local Balinese this means they do not have the right networks to the find the girls who do the child care and Bali housemaids work. The question is - if you are a family living or on holiday in Bali how can you find a nanny/babysitter or housemaid that you can trust?

Bali Tree

This photo was taken by a pioneer of Bali the Dutch great-grandfather of a dear friend who owns a number of rare beauty pictures.

Villa Rental Bali

Bali real estate overview

The resent years tremendous growth in the Balinese villa rental market continues, with a large number of developments coming up chattering for this fast growing market. Tourism arrivals and villa rental growth was at a all time high 2007, so fare the figures for 2008 is up with another 24% in an average. The Bali real estate developer for villa rental market also sees a much wider spread in the market than before, whit virtually all markets wanting more and more villa rental. The obvious high value for money and the most inviting holiday experience a private villa rental can produce is something the market becomes more and more aware of. The privacy and space that private villa rental market offers compare to the traditional hotel market for almost same prices is hard to match. Now also more and more private rental villas structure them self with reasonable and good additional facilities with in F & B, spa and others, allowing same convenience as with in 5 star hotel premises. The villa rental market therefore not only grows its numbers in new markets, but also competes more and more with the 5 star hotels. With then also a higher number of these rental villas in central and wanted locations it is an easy choice for a already loyal Bali real estate markets as well as first time arrivals to Bali. Some of the up market rental villas now also offer full in house butler service taking care of any and all needs. Rental villa companies is now also creating more and more packages around their guests stay, making the villa rental business now also much more attractive to larger travel companies ensuring a even larger volume for the villa rental market and Bali property.

Japanese Restaurant in Bali

When Japanese Restaurant in Bali is your favorite


A small authentic Bali Japanese restaurant, styling its menu mostly on sushi and sashimi that tastes so unique and delicious you would be forgiven to get that sweet surrender feeling on each visit. This is no such fancy place of a fine dining concept neither does it stress on the interior décor. It’s simply a small eatery with great food, great taste and great value that would put any big names to shame. It serves only the real, the careful, the best from all other Japanese restaurants in Bali .

The owner Chef, Hideo Yamamoto started his career in INAGIKU in 1980s, Tokyo’s most prestigious high-end restaurant. He then moved to foreign countries and in the end. decided to settle down in Bali where he set up SUSHI BAR TEMPURA TSUKIJI TEI in Jl. Kartika Plaza (KUTA CENTER) & a couple of years back with a local partner. And just recently, they opened a second SUSHI BAR at Bali’s greatest commercial complex, the Discovery Mall (SOGO DEPARTMENT STORE KUTA) .with two new upcoming outlets scheduled in August by the name of: Sushi Bar Teppanyaki ‘’TSUKIJI TEI’’ at Bali Collection (SOGO DEPARTMENT STORE NUSA DUA) and Sushi bar Tempura ‘’TSUKIJI TEI’’ on jl:Danau Toba 7. Sanur

It doesn’t matter if you are not familiar with Japanese cuisine, at least you have the desire to try something delicious; then ‘Yamamoto food’ would be perfect. For gourmet lovers, SUSHI BAR is second to none to discover your own latent tastes. With indoor tatami-style and outdoor seating, you have a choice that suits your mood. Open for lunch and dinner, all the friendly staff will greet and serve you with their heart, or ‘kokoro’ as they say in Japanese. , styling its menu mostly on sushi and sashimi that tastes so unique and delicious you would be forgiven to get that sweet surrender feeling on each visit. This is no such fancy place of a fine dining concept neither does it stress on the interior décor. It’s simply a small eatery with great food, great taste and great value that would put any big names to shame. It serves only the real, the careful, the best from all other Japanese restaurants on Bali island.

The owner Chef, Hideo Yamamoto started his career in INAGIKU in 1980s, Tokyo’s most prestigious high-end restaurant. He then moved to foreign countries and in the end. decided to settle down in Bali where he set up SUSHI BAR TEMPURA TSUKIJI TEI in Jl. Kartika Plaza (KUTA CENTER) & a couple of years back with a local partner. And just recently, they opened a second SUSHI BAR at Bali’s greatest commercial complex, the Discovery Mall (SOGO DEPARTMENT STORE KUTA) .with two new upcoming outlets scheduled in August by the name of: Sushi Bar Teppanyaki ‘’TSUKIJI TEI’’ at Bali Collection (SOGO DEPARTMENT STORE NUSA DUA) and Sushi bar Tempura ‘’TSUKIJI TEI’’ on jl:Danau Toba 7. Sanur


It doesn’t matter if you are not familiar with Japanese cuisine, at least you have the desire to try something delicious; then ‘Yamamoto food’ would be perfect. For gourmet lovers, SUSHI BAR is second to none to discover your own latent tastes. With indoor tatami-style and outdoor seating, you have a choice that suits your mood. Open for lunch and dinner, all the friendly staff will greet and serve you with their heart, or ‘kokoro’ as they say in Japanese.

Joglo house Bali

Today i was in Uluwatu near to the oldest temples in Bali, Pura Uluwatu. Being a popular surfing spot for the very experienced, so i walk in the middle of nothing in the border of the cliff this Joglo a tipical house from java and i take some shot,enjoy the view.....

House of Bali environment

TRADITIONAL BALINESE HOUSE

Traditional Balinese architecture has Javanese, Chinese, and South Indian elements, all laid over a strong ancient Indonesian/Polynesian base--the Balinese love to absorb, adopt, and adapt. The simple longhouses and terraced sanctuaries of the ancient pre-Hindu Balinese have become highly stylized hybrids of both Hindu and Chinese parentage.

TRI ANGGA

Tri angga means "three parts" ; high middle,and low and can be represented in the human body,bulding structures,town planning and the environment in wich the Balinese live amongst.The tri Angga of Bali as a wole place are divided as follow:the high-sacred mountains wichform a ridge from east to west through the center of the island,the middle-is where most of the Balinese live,the low-is the sea.

BALI LAND

Natural forest area 18,1 % ,Protect forest area 963 km 2,rice field nearly 30 %,non irrigate field 30 % ,garden of cash crops such as coffe 17 % ,temperature average 29 degrees , in mountainous area 10 degrees .Wet season from November to March.The population of Bali is over 3 milion , with density of 522 people per km 2.Total area of Bali is 5,561 km 2.Bali is located betwen 8 and 9 degrees south of the equator,114.5 and 115.5 degrees of longitute east.
Geographically, Bali is the end of Asia: Wallace's line.

History of the Bali House

History of the Bali House
A patron of arts, Dewa Agung Gusti Sideman took greatness in supervising the design and construction of his palace in Klungkung - an example of Hindu-Balinese architecture. Kertha Gosa architecture took shape of a mandala - a Buddhist influence domed-mountain shape. Mandalas help people further their enlightment; pure forces of good come from a mountain. Kertha Gosa’s first major function pertained to court of law and justice. The Kertha Gosa pavilion was the meeting place for the raja (Hindu prince) and Brahman judges (Kerthas) to discuss issues of law and human affairs. Whether or not the king instructed his court painters to decorate the ceiling at the time Kertha Gosa was built is impossible to know. Moreover, it is impossible to know whether or not the story of Bhima Swarga was the first painting in the pavilion. The earliest and only record of paintings at Kertha Gosa dates from the year 1842 and is written in a lontar book (a book that holds prayers, history of Bali, and epics)
Balinese house (kuren) consists of a family or a number of related families living within one enclosure, praying at a common family temple, with one gate and one kitchen. The square plot of land (pekarangan) in which the various units. of the house
stand is entirely surrounded by a wall of whitewashed mud, protected from rain erosion by a crude roofing of thatch. The Balinese feel uneasy when they sleep without a wall, as, for instance, the servants must in the un walled Western-style houses. The gate of a well-to-do family can be an imposing affair of brick and carved stone, but more often it consists of two simple pillars of mud supporting a thick roof of thatch. In front of the gate on either side 'are two small shrines (apit lawang) for offerings, of brick and stone, or merely two little niches excavated in the mud of the gate, while the simplest are made of split bamboo. Directly behind the ' doorway is a small wall aling aling that screens off.The house of a poor family is called pekarangan, that of a nobleman is a jero and a Brahmana's is a griya, but these differences are mostly in the name, the qualityof the materials employed, the workmanship, and of course in the larger -and richer family temple. The fundamental, plan is based on the same rules for everyone. Only the great palace (puri) of the local ruling. prince is infinitely more elaborate, with a lily pond, compartments for the Radja's brothers and his countless wives, a great temple divided into three courts, and even special sections for the preservation of the corpses and for the seclusion of " impure " palace women during the time of menstruation.