During the heyday of tourism in Bali around 70s and 80s, the visitors to the paradise island usually had a chance or two to be showered by flowers by a group of girls with golden shiny costume holding a bowl of colorful flowers who danced the “Welcoming Dance” either in the hotel lobby or in airport. The Panyembrama (Welcoming) dance is a standard welcome dance that is always performed first in a dance program and regularly performed at Ngurah Rai Airport when distinguished guests from Jakarta or foreign dignitaries arrive.

The Panyembrama (Welcoming) dance is a purely secular dance that was created in 1967 by I Gusti Gede Raka, a well-known dance teacher form the village of Saba, in Gianyar regency’ based on the movement of the sacred rejang dance. After some reworking by I Wayan Beratha in 1970, the Panyembrama (Welcoming) dance reached its present form.

(more…)

Just a few hours from Bali airport. Light year away from the crowds. A retreat dedicated to the finer things in life. Beauty. Tranquility. And very good food. Welcome to Damai Lovina Villas. Bali’s gourmet retreat. Eight luxury bungalows with a softly spoken elegance, and a restaurant well worth a journey.

8 private bungalows. Antiques. Fine woods. Meticulous craftsmanship. Beautiful textiles recreating ancient Indonesian patterns. Luxury whispered. Spacious open-air bathrooms. Some with spa, some without. All the luxuries that matter. None that doesn’t.

Organic produce from our own gardens. Spices from the field next door. Delicacies from around the world. Combining the best of European and Asian traditions the cuisine at Damai has been celebrated in both cook books and magazine articles around the journey. Even for our club sandwich, some say.

A soothing massage scented with our own traditional oils to relax your muscles from the journey. Or our flagship four hand massage with two masseurs working in perfect unison.

(more…)