For Balinese, as other people around the globe, house compound is a private place that has to be separated from public domain and protected from any outside disturbance. Balinese contrive many ways to protect their house compound from outside disturbance whether it is a physical and mystical one. And the first means of protection that protect Balinese house compound from outside disturbance is the wall and the gate.

Wall, called tembok penyengker by Balinese translated literally as “protective wall”. Balinese house compound is a closed area, surrounded by wall. It is usually 1.5 m – 2 m high or high enough to screen the household activity and layout from the view of passerby.

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Pura Agung Pulaki, a large, dramatic temple only 25 meters from the sea, is located 30 km of Seririt (48 km west of Singaraja) near the grape-growing village of Banyupoh. This important temple commemorates the arrival of the Javanese saint-priest Nirartha to Bali in the early 16^th century.

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Cliffs tower behind the temple surrounded by jungle and overrun by hordes of simians. Considered sacred, the macaques are well fed by pilgrims. The monkeys on the hills range have existed before the arrival of Danghyang Nirartha. It is said that when he entered the forest of Pulaki he was escorted by those monkey troops. As his respect to those monkeys Danghyang Nirartha then established the Pulaki Temple and the entire monkeys there came to be its guardian.

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One of Bali’s finest gourmet retreats, ‘CasCades Restaurant’ at Ubud’s ‘The Viceroy Bali’, has announced the arrival of their new international executive Chef, Jean Francois Brouck.

Jean Francois graduated from Ecole Hoteliere Provinciale de Namur in Belgium and spent the next six years working with great Chefs such as Freddy Van Decasserie in the two starred Michelin restaurant La Villa Lorraine. He also refined his craft alongside Yves Mattagnes at the Sea Grill.

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Holy water and veiled green

The last king of East Bali had two beautiful water-palaces layed out during his reigning period. By the eruption of the Gunung Agung in 1963, which involved earthquakes throughout the east region, the palaces were largely destroyed. In recent years however, they both have been renovated and rebuilt.

Tirtagangga Water Garden

On the slope of the Gunung Agung amidst ricefields you will find Tirtagangga. The water-palace is situated around a natural well of which the water is held to be holy. Five water-basins, fountains and statues from hindu-culture rend the gardens the atmosphere of an open air museum. And whether it is on the account of the water or not, with an abundance of veiled green and blossom the gardens breathe a serene quietness that borders upon spirituality.

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Orient-Express Hotels has announced that it has reached agreement to accelerate its planned acquisition of the Pansea group of hotels in South East Asia.

Orient-Express Hotels’ relationship with Pansea dates back to 2004 when Orient-Express invested funds to assist the original owners with the development of the business. The structure of the deal allowed for Orient-Express Hotels to acquire 100 per cent of Pansea after five years, in 2009.

There are six Pansea Orient-Express hotels. They are La Résidence Phou Vao in Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital of Laos; The Governor’s Residence in Rangoon, Burma, a former palace; La Résidence d’Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, close to the famous temples of Ankor Wat; Napasai in Koh Samui on the Gulf of Siam in Thailand; and Bali, Indonesia where there are two hotels, Jimbaran Puri Bali in an exceptional beach location and the other, Ubud Hanging Gardens, on the spectacular Ayung river gorge.

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Ancestors worship is the core of Balinese-Hindus. Ancestors are deified as spirits who have special affinity for the family, and can be counted upon to protect and help the family in time of disaster or need. The ancestors can help ward of evil forces and insure the prosperity, happiness, and peace.

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Alternately – like most forces in Hindu Bali – they can cause constant trouble, causing just the opposite of the above benevolence. Which of the two, they do depends upon the respect of the family accords them. If the family directs good feeling toward them, if the family invites them into the religious ceremonies, if the family makes regular offerings to them, and if the family maintains the shrines to the limit of their financial ability, then their powers will be turn to aiding the family. If the family neglects these courtesies, the sickness, death, and all sorts of unimaginably bad things may results.

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