Those with a keen interest in history should not pass up an opportunity to visit the Gedong Arca Museum, which has a fascinating collection of Balinese heritage pieces. While the museum is not officially recognized as a tourist site, it is an important study centre for students and those with the desire to delve deeper into the ancient beginnings of Balinese civilization.

The museum is located in the village of Bedulu, which is on the road to the Presidential Palace in Tampak Siring in the regency of Gianyar. Gedong Arca is well known throughout Indonesia as a field archeological museum that was built in 1960 and opened to the public in 1974.

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Ritually, Balinese have a special ceremony to beg any prosperity for vegetations so they can always provide their crops for mankind. The ceremony is called Tumpek Wariga or Tumpek Pengatag will be held on Saturday 4^th November 2006. Tumpek Wariga or devoted to Sanghyang Sangkara, Lord of all food - plants when blessing ceremony is given to them for good crops and products, held at every plantation and farm throughout the island. Tumpek Wariga is celebrated every 210 days or 6 months of the Balinese calendar. It’s a right time to beg the God to give His grace so the vegetation can provide a lot of crops. Tumpek Wariga is also called Tumpek Bubuh, because the offerings contain bubuh (porridge) such as bubuh sumsum (porridge made using refined flour). In committing the ceremony, the bubuh is smeared on the tree bark as a symbol of fertilizers (the proper food for vegetation).

The offering is dedicated to all plants that help human life, such as coconuts, mangoes, durian, bananas, etc. Not just by presenting an offering, plants are also decorated with clothes and special decoration made from coconut leaf.

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The Slovakian Embassy in Jakarta has announced the opening of the honorary Consulate of Slovakia in Denpasar, Bali, which will officially commence operation on November 1.

The growing exchange of travelers and entrepreneurs between the two countries, especially from Slovakia to Bali, becomes a major reason for the opening, The Jakarta Post newspaper reported Saturday.

The embassy said the consulate means to promote trade and cultural ties between Slovakia and Indonesia. Juergen Schreiber will assume his post as the Slovak honorary consul in Denpasar.

Can anyone help me with the name of an art shop I recently saw in Ubud. It sold paintings only. As you walk down the main street it is about half way down on the left. It is reasonably modern art with not much balinese painting at all. You had to walk up a few steps.

thanks

tia

For those of you visiting Bali for the first time, welcome and enjoy yourselves to the absolute maximum! Bali is a marvelous place to have a holiday and I certainly don’t want to scare you off. We need more visitors to come and enjoy the beauty of this magical island. And you will!

But, and there always is a ‘but’ isn’t there, Bali ain’t what it used to be, and is in danger of changing from the “Bali we want it to be” if we are not very, very careful.

Bali, in the minds of millions of tourists and armchair tourists around the world, is the epitome of tropical, exotic travel, where beautiful native girls dance to the hypnotic pounding of gongs in temples and palaces surrounded by lush terraces of paddy fields, and palm trees wave in the gentle breezes as the sunset cocktails are sipped. Idyllic indeed!

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Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort combines world-class facilities with graceful charm. Positioned along the magnificent south-west coast, with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and Tanah Lot Temple, this is where a true Balinese experience begins.

The award-winning Greg Norman-designed Nirwana Bali Golf Course at the resort is a haven for golfers from around the world. Voted ‘Best Golf Course in Asia’, ‘Best Golf Course in Indonesia’ and ‘Best Golf Resort in Asia’ in the Asian Golf Monthly Annual Awards.

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