Kertalangu Cultural Village, as its slogan says is a new concept destination in Bali. Situated in the middle of the rice field in Sanur area Kertalangu gives a rural nuances yet easily reached from the city center. Strategically located on the By Pass in in Kesiman Kertalangu, Padang Galak, East Denpasar, Kertalangu Cultural village is only 15 minutes away from the airport and 10 minutes drive from the city center.

Kertalangu Cultural Village covers 80 hectares area, houses 16 types of handicraft industries , recreational and tourist facilities, organic farming facilities and rows of rice fields which also serves as jogging track. Upon arrival in this cultural village, gallery and shop selling ornamental plants and earthenware on the side of the thoroughfare greet visitors. There are also an open-air restaurant with a stage and a sound system, workshop center, art market, and other tourism facilities in the main area.

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Balinese dance is an aspect of Balinese culture that undergoes many changes and gets many influences from various sources. These changes and influences create add a new flavor to the established genre of Balinese traditional dance. An example of a traditional dance genre that gets many changes and influences from various source is the Baris (warrior dance).

The changes and influences give birth to what is called ‘Modern Baris”. The modern Baris at first introduced in solo Baris performance, a new development of classic Baris Gede. It is not clear when or where the first modern variations on the old Baris Gede was introduced, but they seem to be an early twentieth century development. The modern Baris dance is performed by a soloist, for some fifteen minutes, accompanied by gamelan gong. The dancer wears a distinctive costume based on that of Baris Gede, with its shimmering pointed helmet. The basic movements have also been taken from the older dance, but have been refined and embellished in considerable degree.

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Are you food lovers? So you have to try this Balinese new recipe. Pan Suweca, a restaurant located at Bedugul Street, Sidakarya, Denpasar, will serve you special chicken dishes as its specialty. From his talented hands a different tasty meal was created, named roasted suckling chicken or Balinese familiar with Ayam Guling. This meal is categorized as a new dishes since only pig is suckled and roasted by Balinese before.

Similar to roasted suckling pig this meal uses the same spices and cooked in the same way with roasted suckling pig. First, the spices such as garlic, onion, citronella/lemongrass, and others Balinese spices are pounded. Then that pounded spices mix with cassava leaves. The chef put the mixture into chicken abdomen that its internal organ has been taken out and cleaned. That chicken is ready to be roasted.

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Dare to be different…

Capturing the ambience and authenticity of the African wilderness, Mara River Safari Lodge is a themed resort that offers a truly unique experience. Accommodation is composed of a series of comfortably appointed thatched dwellings orientated towards a landscape inhabited by wildlife.

With the shadow of Bali’s sacred Mount Agung looming in the distance, embrace the rare tranquillity of this retreat as rhinos, zebras and oryx graze contentedly at close range. Savour the raw beauty surrounding the lodge, while lions majestically roar declaring their status as king of the beasts.

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On Thursday, 4/24/08, a sacred and unique ceremony known as Siat Sampian (war of sampian) was held in Samuan Tiga temple as a part of series of rituals to commemorate the temple anniversary that had been commenced from Sunday, 4/20/08 up to Thursday, 4/24/08.

As its name suggests, Siat Sampian (war of sampian) is a ritual in which the participants armed with a sampian (a decoration made of woven coconut leaves) attack each other accompanied by hysterical shouts and the smile of joy. As a matter of fact, Siat Sampian is a ritual dance in which the dancers enact a battle of good and evil. As this dance the Siat Sampian dance is performed by two groups of dancers, each group consists of hundreds of dancers; the female group known as ‘permas’ (female servants of the deities) with white cloth and black sarong and ‘parekan’ (male servant of the deities) with all white attires.

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Contrary to most of people in the world who are so interested with their birthday party that they are fond of creating something to make their birthday to be a luxurious moment, Balinese prefer to celebrate their birthday with spiritual touch. Balinese call it otonan.

Otonan is quite different from common birthday party. It is held twice a year because its celebration is based on wuku. Wuku itself is based on Balinese Pawukon system in which each cycle consists of 30 wuku. Each Wuku lasts for a week; so a cycle comprises of 210 days. The wuku is a bit similar of zodiac; each name reflects characters of someone who was born on that wuku. What wuku and day a Balinese was born; on that same wuku and day the otonan is held. This birthday celebration needs not a fancy dress because Balinese use only simple traditional dress on that celebration.

Balinese believe that they were born with four guardian brothers or sisters (kanda pat). When otonan is held, the four siblings are called to gather around the child and protect her/him. Then the child is hoped to be aware of who she/he actually is with help from his/her four siblings. If she/he doesn’t care with these siblings, the they will leave him/her then she/he will be vulnerable to any magical attack and tend to do ill conducts. Otonan is a day when Balinese aware of their self. (more…)