Six km west of Singaraja, three hours drive from Denpasar, the popular beach resort of Lovina is a long stretch of black sand with crystal-clear water. Actually, Lovina is a generic term for a whole line of six small villages and palm-fringed beaches. From east to west it includes: Pemaron, Tukadmungga, Anturan, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem, and Temukus. The strip starts at about six km mark west of Singaraja to about five km past of Kaliasem. Kalibukbuk has the highest concentration of restaurants and accommodations while the fishing villages of Anturan and Temukus are less densely packed and thus quieter.

Lovina has a lot to offer. The beach is better than most of the beach in eastern part of Bali with a string of nine hills on the background creates a pretty view to behold. Glass-clear water of this beach and the proximity of the reef to the beach make Lovina a perfect place for snorkeling and diving and also excellence for swimming. Beautiful sunset can be enjoyed simply while walking on the beach. Visitor can also find good trekking paths, temples, and hot sulphur pools in the hills. Lovina is also a convenient base point for day trips to Tulamben, West Bali National Park, Pemuteran, and Menjangan Island. Do not miss the Lovina’s Dolphin Trip where you can breakfast with hundreds of wandering dolphins, just few hundreds meter off the beach.

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Six km west of Singaraja, three hours drive from Denpasar, the popular beach resort of Lovina is a long stretch of black sand with crystal-clear water. Actually, Lovina is a generic term for a whole line of six small villages and palm-fringed beaches. From east to west it includes: Pemaron, Tukadmungga, Anturan, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem, and Temukus. The strip starts at about six km mark west of Singaraja to about five km past of Kaliasem. Kalibukbuk has the highest concentration of restaurants and accommodations while the fishing villages of Anturan and Temukus are less densely packed and thus quieter.

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History has it, Lovina beach was the first seaside resort to appear in the mid-‘70s. The name “Lovina” was coined by the last King of Buleleng, Anak Agung Panji Tisna. He named this stretch of coast after the English word “love” in 1953. He founded the first hotel in this beach, Tasik Madu Hotel, or “sea of honey” hotel. The few simple accommodations that existed in the sleepy early 1970s were demolished in 1976 earthquake. The resort began anew and during the 1980s new accommodations and restaurants appeared. Lovina has had its ups and downs through the years, and always appears to be on the brink of a renaissance.

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Gambuh, a classic dance drama that now is in the edge of extinction, is considered as the ancestor of all Balinese dances. All dance-technique originates in its movement, all scales and melodies from its peculiar gamelan. It is so rare that a Balinese may never see a gambuh performance throughout his life.

The origin of gambuh can be traced back to 1007 A.D. the first mention of gambuh appears in a lontar, palm leave manuscript, with a Candra Sengkala (a method of expressing time), in the year of 929 Caka or 1007 A.D. This lontar mentions that in 1007 A.D. King Udayana Warmadewa of Bali had married a Javanese princess from Daha, east Java, named Cri Gunapriya Dharmapatni. When the princess went to Bali, in her entourage she brought Javanese dancers and artist with her. According to the lontar, King Udayana was very fond of Javanese dancing and in this period developed the dance known as gambuh, here is an excerpt from the lontar:

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