Wednesday, May 6, 2009

INFO : CANCER

What is cancer?

The organs and tissues of the body are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Cancer is a disease of these cells.

Cells in different parts of the body may look and work differently but most reproduce themselves in the same way. Cells are constantly becoming old and dying, and new cells are produced to replace them. Normally, cells divide in an orderly and controlled manner. If for some reason the process gets out of control, the cells carry on dividing, developing into a lump which is called a tumour.


Two diagrams, one showing normal cells and the second showing cells forming a tumour.

Tumours can be either benign or malignant. Cancer is the name given to a malignant tumour. Doctors can tell if a tumour is benign or malignant by examining a small sample of cells under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.

In a benign tumour the cells do not spread to other parts of the body and so are not cancerous. However, if they continue to grow at the original site, they may cause a problem by pressing on the surrounding organs.

A malignant tumour consists of cancer cells that have the ability to spread beyond the original area. If the tumour is left untreated, it may spread into and destroy surrounding tissue. Sometimes cells break away from the original (primary) cancer. They may spread to other organs in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is part of the immune system - the body's natural defence against infection and disease. It is a complex system made up of organs, such as bone marrow, the thymus, the spleen, and lymph nodes. The lymph nodes (or glands) throughout the body are connected by a network of tiny lymphatic ducts.

When the cancer cells reach a new area they may go on dividing and form a new tumour. This is known as a secondary cancer or metastasis.

It is important to realise that cancer is not a single disease with a single type of treatment. There are more than 200 different kinds of cancer, each with its own name and treatment.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

INFO : MESOTHELIOMA

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen and surrounds the organs in these areas. The lining around the lungs is called the pleura and in the abdomen it is known as the peritoneum.

About 2000 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.

Mesothelioma of the lining of the lungs, known as pleural mesothelioma, is much more common than mesothelioma in the peritoneum. For every one person with peritoneal mesothelioma, there will be about 12 people who have pleural mesothelioma.

A. Pleural mesothelioma

The pleura has two layers: the inner (visceral) layer, which is next to the lung; and the outer (parietal) layer, which lines the chest wall. The two layers of the pleura are usually in contact and slide over each other as we breathe. The membranes produce fluid, which allows them to slide over each other easily.

When mesothelioma develops in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), the delicate membranes thicken and may press inwards on the lung. Fluid may also collect between the two layers of the pleura: this is known as a pleural effusion.


Structure of the lungs and pleura
Structure of the lungs and pleura

B. Peritoneal mesothelioma

The lining of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. It also has two layers: the inner (visceral) layer, which is next to the abdominal organs, and the outer (parietal) layer, which lines the abdominal wall.

If the mesothelioma is in the peritoneum it is called peritoneal mesothelioma and causes thickening of the membranes surrounding the abdominal organs and a collection of fluid in the abdomen. The collection of fluid is called ascites and causes swelling of the abdomen.


Side view of the abdomen. The peritoneum is shown as the thick line surrounding the abdominal organs.
Side view of the abdomen. The peritoneum is shown as the thick line surrounding the abdominal organs.



Friday, May 1, 2009

Credit cards in Bali

Info :

International credit cards are honored in Bali and in many shops, hotels and restaurants the cards accepted will be displayed in the window. Popular cards are Visa, Mastercard, Citibank and DinersClub.

Bali has a branch of Citibank located on Jl. Teuku Umar in Denpasar and foreigners living in Bali can sign up for a variety of accounts. Local banks charge 3.25% for using their cards. When you get an account at BCA bank in Bali, they will offer you a BCA Master / Visa and plain BCA card.

Mastercard charges 3% for using its card in Bali. Sometimes shops will charge 3%, (as they get charged 3%), sometimes not. If you lose your credit card while in Bali, the best strategy is contact your bank via phone ASAP. I lost my debit card last year and was able to cancel it and order a new one using online banking.

American Express is not so popular in Bali. The vendor has to wait longer to get paid (as in the US) and has to apply to be a vendor. When shopping in Bali you’ll need to use cash for most things in the street, better shops will be able to handle credit cards.

Info Banks and Credit cards in Bali

Here is the contact info for banks and credit cards in Bali

Banks

•American Express Bank (0361) 283973
•ABN-AMRO Bank (0361) 244277
•Bank Central Asia (BCA) (0361) 756283
•Bank Danamon (0361) 757836
•Bank International Indonesia (BII) (0361) 756671
•Bank Lippo (0361) 284158
•Bank Mandiri (0361) 770259
•Bank Niaga (0361) 232969
•Bank Permata (0361) 263373
•Citibank (0361) 255077
•Commonwealth Bank (0361) 237077
•Standard Chartered Bank (0361) 223700

Credit Cards

•American Express (0361) 283970
•Mastercard / Visa (0361) 759010

Banks in Bali have ATM machines that are compatible with foreign banks so you will be able to withdraw money in local currency. There are actually a ton of branches and you can look in the local Yellow Pages for a complete listing, of banks in Bali.

Banking hours are from 8.00 am to 12.00 am Mondays to Fridays, and from 8.00 am to 11.00 am on Saturdays.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

BALINESE HINDU TEMPLE

In accordance with the rules of traditional Balinese architecture, the temples are normally built in three courtyards, namely an outer courtyard, a middle courtyard, and an inner courtyard. This division is made based on the religious concept of cosmologies.

In the upslope north direction, higher than the rest of the temple is the inner sunctom, which contains the sacred shrines. It is clearly divided from the rest of th temple by a wall and a huge called the "Kori Agung". If the land is relativetly flat the inner sunctom is often artificially elevated above the other division of the temple, either upon a stone base or upon an earth fill.

The middle section of the temple is called "Jaba Tengah" and is transitional betwen sacred and secural spaces. It contains storage rooms, the structure for arrange offering before they are taken into the inner sunctom. Saparated from the middle area by another wall and a large split gate called "Candi Bentar" is the most south, hence the lowest and least sacred courtyard, it is called "Jabaan", meaning outside. Here secular activities are permitted, food - stalls are set up at festival times, where the people come to eat and chat.

In each of these three temples areas only certain kinds of artistic performance are permitted during the usual three days period of an anniversary festival. Only the most sacred performances of music and dance called "Wali" are permitted in the inner sunctom. Performances are usually limited to those that welcome the deified ancestors who have been invited to attend.

Sometimes passessions of a performer or a spirit occurs and the spirits possessing the person may speak through the mouth of the possessed, who is in trance. Priest listen with a great attention to what is said.

Performances of the middle courtyard of the temples are classified as "Bebali", and are mostly dramatic in nature, more secular than the sacred performances of the inner sunctom, but having considerable religious significant.

In the outer - courtyard of the temples one finds secular performances called "Bali - Balian" that are presented mostly entertainment of the audience, although there is considerable feeling that the visiting deities will enjoy them too.

And in Bali, each village has at least three main temples, and most villages of any size have many more public temples than the minimum, there are in addition, the State Temples, The Regional Temples, The Irrigation Temples that belong to the rice growers association, and every family has a family temple. There are so many temples in Bali, so that's why Bali is also called the island of thousands temples. Someone once estimated that there are about 25,000 temple in Bali big and small.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Balinese Ceremony and Ritual

Bali the magic island. It is said there is never a day in Bali without a ceremony of some kind and if you include all the life cycle rites (baby ceremonies, puberty rites, weddings, cremations,Temple festivals), then this adage is probably true. There are definitely certain times that are “ceremony-heavy” such as the full moons in April and October and the high holy days of Galungan (see below for more info). Balinese religion (called Agama Hindu Dharma) consist of three primary elements: Hinduism based on what is practiced in India but differing substantially from those traditions, animism (where every living thing has a soul) and ancestor worship (the Balinese deify their ancestors after a proscribed process of cleansing has been done).

Temple festivals are held on the anniversary of when the temple in question was consecrated. This could be an annual event, held on a new or full moon or more likely every 210 days, based on the wuku system, a complex calculation of overlapping days of confluence, some being more “powerful” than others (think of Friday the 13th).

An Odalan or temple ceremony usually lasts for three days, but larger ones (which occur every 5, 10, 30 or 100 years) can last for 11 days or longer. The gist of what is happening here is that the Balinese are honoring the deities that rule over the temple by giving them a myriad of offerings, performances of vocal music, dance and gamelan music. They invite them down from their abode on Mount Agung to partake in the activities.

The temple is dressed up in colorful golden clothes, the images of the deities are taken to the local holy spring to be bathed and dressed in their best, shrines are cleaned, performances are rehearsed, committees are formed and then the big day arrives. Usually people take their offerings to the temple in the late afternoon, after the heat of the day has gone, and everyone's work and school obligations are over.

The offerings, consisting of fruits, rice cakes and flowers, are brought in on women's heads and placed at strategic points around the temple. These are blessed with holy water by the temple Pemangku or priest. The pilgrims then pray, are blessed with and drink holy water and then take the offerings home to share with their families. The gods have taken the sari or essence of the offerings, leaving the “leftovers” for the humans to consume. In the evenings, there could be spectacular performances of music and dance by local groups.

Since every village has at least three major temples (and often many more than that), there is always some kind of community religious activity going on. Aside from the village temple festivals, every household compound's family temple (mrajan/sanggah) also has its ceremony every 210 days.

Aside from the Odalan, there are a dozen or so life and death cycle rites that are performed throughout a child's life:

child praying
  1. Gedong-gedongan : this is done in the 8th month (Gregorian calendar/7th month Balinese calendar) of pregnancy to ask blessings for an easy birth. The pregnant woman and her husband wade into the river, where eels and small fish are placed face down on her protruding belly to show the baby the right way out!
  2. Birth: Only the husband and the midwife/doctor are allowed to hold the placenta or after birth. This is washed and then buried on the right (if the baby is a boy) side of the northern pavilion or left (if a girl). With it are buried a comb, a dance fan, a pen, a book—whatever the family wishes the child will grow up to enjoy.The parents are not allowed to go into the kitchen for three days.
  3. Three Days after birth: the parents undergo a simple cleansing ritual so they can go into the kitchen
  4. Rorasin: 12 days after the birth the umbilical cord has usually fallen off. This is placed in a special shrine dedicated to Kumara, the Guardian of Babies.
  5. 42-day ceremony: Once a baby has reached this age, a rather large ritual is performed for her/him. This is to ensure that her/his development will continue unhindered. One of the things done at this time is that a baby chick and baby duck are brought in to peck off/dust off cooked rice that is on the baby's third eye. This is to show the child how to use her hands and feet as well as her mouth to gather food, as the animals do. She is placed under a cockfighting basket where she grabs items that have previously been placed into a clay pot. It is said that whatever she grabs is her vocation.
  6. Three month ceremony: This is also quite a grand ceremony that all the relatives and neighbors are invited to. This marks the first time a child touches the ground for the first time (he is carried everywhere previously). In some villages, this is when the child is “replaced” by a dressed up eggplant or cucumber. The priest sings the praises of the the eggplant so that spirits of chaos that might be lurking around will follow the eggplant when it's thrown out the front door, while the real baby stays protected.
  7. Odalan or six months (210 days) ceremony. This is the baby's birthday and will be celebrated ritually every 6 months. But no birthday cakes here!
  8. Three odalans is traditionally when the child has her or his hair cut off and head shaved to represent purity.
  9. Menek kelih or puberty. Not all castes perform this ceremony. It happens when the girl gets her period and the boy's voice cracks. They are paraded around the village announcing to all that they are now adults (and in the olden days, ready to marry)
  10. Tooth filing: In their late teens, Balinese get the top middle teeth filed; this symbolizes the filing away of greed, anger, lust, drunkenness, envy and confusion.
  11. Wedding: the ultimate fusion of male and female
  12. Death: within death, there are a number of rites. The first is the ritual cleansing of the corpse by the family and the banjar (neighborhood), then comes the burial or the cremation (if the family can afford to cremate right away, they will choose that option) and then the post-crematory purification rites where the soul becomes a deity that shall be worshipped in the family temple.

Aside from these major rituals, there are also honor days which occur every 35 days and are made for

  1. Anything out of metal: daggers, knives, gamelan instruments and now cars and the like
  2. Any fruiting trees
  3. Any domesticated animals, such as pigs, cows, chickens, goats.
  4. Shadow puppets and dance paraphenelia
  5. Literature (Goddess Saraswati)
  6. Kuningan : the end of the l0 day cycle of Galungan
offerings

Then we have Nyepi, the day of Silence, when one is not allowed to cook, light fires, go outside the home, drive, have sex or make a lot of noise. It occurs in March or April and one can palpably feel the energy in the air diminish for 24 hours.

Galungan is the day when the victory of Dharma or Justice/Truth wins over Adharma. It is when the family ancestors descend into the family temples, led there by seeing the long curved bamboo pole (penjor) that are erected in front of every Balinese house. For ten days, the ancestors are feted in the family temples; many temple festivals occur at this time of year and there is great feasting. On the last day, Kuningan, the ancestors are seen off with a flurry of yellow offerings and yellow rice.

There are also days to honor Dewi Sri, the goddess of rice, within the rice-growing cycle and other agricultural products.

Yes, nearly every day is a day to celebrate something in Bali! The above essay was written by Rucina Ballinger, founder of Dyana Putri Adventures.

Saraswati

Hari Raya Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, science and literature - Jan 3 & Aug 1, 2009

In accordance with Balinese Hindu belief, knowledge is an essential medium to achieve the goal of life as a human being. This day celebrates Saraswati in Bali, a special day devoted to the Goddess of learning, science and literature. Saraswati rules the intellectual and creative realm, and is the patron saint of libraries and schools. For Balinese Hindus, she is celebrated as she succeeded in taming the wandering and lustful mind of her consort, Brahma, who was preoccupied with the goddess of material existence, Shatarupa. On this day no one is allowed to read or write, and offerings are made to the lontar (palm-leaf scripts), books and shrines.

Saraswati Day is celebrated every 210-days on Saniscara Umanis Wuku Watugunung and marks the start of the new year according to the Balinese Pawukon calendar. Ceremonies and prayers are held at the temples in family compounds, villages and businesses from morning to noon. Prayers are also held in school temples. Teachers and students abandon their uniforms for the day in place of bright and colourful ceremony gear, filling the island with colour! Children bring fruit and traditional cakes to school for offerings at the temple.

Ogoh-ogoh

Hari Raya Nyepi, the Silence Day - March 26, 2009

The month of March brings us Nyepi - Bali's official day of silence (24hrs) on Monday, March 19th. Nyepi marks the first day of the Balinese Saka calendar (1929) and is practiced island-wide where the Balinese dedicate an entire day to introspection and spiritual cleansing, embarking on a new year based on the Balinese lunar calendar.

This is the only place in the world where the government will shut down an airport for meditation & introspection!

Nyepi is my favorite day of the year. The night before the silence begins, there is an island wide parade of paper mache monsters (Ogoh-Ogoh) sent about making a rukus to scare evil spirits off the island, back to where ever they came from. Starting from approximately 6 a.m. on Monday, March 19 and continuing until 6 a.m. the next morning, EVERYONE will stay in their family compounds (or hotels) and silence will overcome the island. There are no cars, no tv's or loud radios, no lamps or fires and no airplanes overhead.

Healthy Eating in Bali

Bali is experiencing a new revolution in organic growing! Local farmers are increasingly aware of the impact & costs of using harmful chemicals and are choosing to return to traditional farming techniques. A wider choice of healthy organic foods is flowing into Indonesia's markets, inspiring new restaurants and health food shops in Bali and Jakarta.

The reasons for going organic are many, including health, compassion, preserving natural resources, and making better use of water and farm lands.
Serious vegetarians won't go hungry in Indonesia. To help the preservation of Indonesia's environment, see Bali's list of non-profit organizations.

BALI WEEDING

Few weeks go I got a client for photo shooting. It was their wedding day. The bride is natively from Tabanan Regency and the groom is from Northern regency of Buleleng. Both groom and bride are belonging to ‘brahmin’ family.

We started the photo shooting from the bride house. This day, the groom family will be coming to the bridge house, pick up the bride and bring it to the groom house to do the wedding ceremony. There would also several step of ritual would be done in the bride house before. It took about an hour for the bride to do the make and put on the heavy hair dress and colorful Balinese outfits. The groom and the family come on time. A formal meeting between two families is done after a welcome drink given. The meeting was run smooth and the bride family agrees to let their daughter to merry the groom as it was decided on previous meeting. So far the process was normal. Now, it is time for the family to call the bride to join the meeting. During the meeting the bride was staying in inside the room.

The procession to call the bride to go out from the room was the first unique event. One man is appointed (on behalf of the groom) to sing a very touchy and interesting song to call the bride. On the other side of the door, an appointed lady (on behalf of the bride) replies the calling song with very loving song. After several time singing back and forth, they get an agreement. They let the door open and the groom went in inside and take the bride out. Locally this procession is called ‘ngungkab lawang’ literally mean ‘open the door.

The bride went out but we cannot see her faces as it was covered by a piece of semi transparent textile. Another unique part of this weeding. The ritual proceeds. It is time for the bride to say good bye to her family especially her mother. A lady sing a very sad song act as the bride to ask forgiveness and good bye to her family. A sad situation arouse. When the bride ask to say good bye by her self, the silence sad was explode. She was crying deeply and followed by her mother. Only few words come out from her. It must be hard time for her to realize that she had to leave her family and have to join the new family of her husband. The sad situation was ended when a bride family member giving some married advice to the newly couple in a funny way.

The ritual proceed by going to the family temple to do ‘good bye’ prayer. The bride and groom were carried out on hand by four men to the temple. Another uniqueness. The transparent textile that covering the bride was open by the groom before the praying. After the prayer finish then the groom family with the bridge drive back to Buleleng. It was followed by the bridge family afterward. The ceremony in groom family kind of normal but still interesting to see.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Google AdSense

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Bali Dive Safaris

A safari (diving/hotel package) is a great way to see more of Bali, visit several sites and cut down on travel time. If this is your first visit to Bali, you can dive several locations and pick your favourites for your return visit.

The price includes accommodation and, because you are staying near the dive sites, you can do early and late dives which means you can dive before and after the day trips when the dive sites are virtually empty of divers. Photographers can time dives to the best lighting conditions. A Bali Dive Safari provides our guests with the opportunity to do more dives each day at the beach entry locations.

All the dive packages (multiple and single day trips) can be combined with Padi Open Water or Advanced Courses at a reduced price.

Suggested Dive Safari Itineraries:

"Bali's Most Wanted" Dive Package
(from 3days/2nights):
A fantastic 3 days diving
  • Tulamben (USAT Liberty Wreck, great photography)
  • Padangbai (Biaha, Mimpang, Tepekong
    including Shark Point) with a Beach Barbeque Lunch
  • Nusa Penida (drift-diving) and
  • 2 nts at The Watergarden Hotel, Candidasa
Photographers' Dream Package
(from 4days/3nights):
  • 2 days diving at Tulamben for macro and wide-angle
  • 2 days diving at Secret Bay, a macro-photographers' paradise
Beautiful Bali Dive Package
(from 3days/2nights)
designed for the more novice diver or divers who simply prefer their diving slow and gentle:
  • 3 days diving at Tulamben (USAT Liberty Wreck, Wall and Coral Garden),
  • Amed (reef-diving) and
  • Menjangan (wall-diving)
  • 2 nights accommodation in Tulamben

BALI VILLA RENTALS


When you are escaping your routines for a holiday, would you share it with strangers? Why share them your hard-earned moment if you can have it all to yourself? Book a private villa and enjoy the luxury of having everything solely dedicated to yourself and your beloved ones only.

We preset you Bali villas. In contrast to public accommodation like resort hotels, private villas serve as private holiday homes. You will not see any strangers unless you invited them to come, or you go out for a fun outside the villa. Some villas even offer private beach front facade, solely at your disposal.

Private villas are private holiday home of the owners. Each carries their personal taste and style, which may not fit yours completely. We have a wide range of choices in our villa portfolio, and know each of them individually deep into the smallest details. Tell us what you like and we will surely come with suitable options which fit your distingushed personal preferences.

Whilst private villas are luxury on their own, distinguished travelers may need something more. Check out our selection of fabulous Bali luxury villas. These premium properties offered unparalelled luxury beyond expectation. Attention to fine details such as specially ordered Thai silk, state of the art private jacuzzis, ocean view bathrooms, dedicated professional chefs, and even private beach, are a few attributes the ultra-luxury money can get.

Form more information please contact to : www.villarentalbali.com/

Monday, February 2, 2009

About Us

Welcome to the exciting world of traveling. Whether you are a client, seasoned traveler or a first timer, we hope you find something of interest in our site.

You are planning to visit the island of Bali, you definitely made a good choice on that, as Bali has something that you cannot find in most other tourist destinations. Despite having welcomed foreign people from all over the world for over a century, the island and its people haven’t changed their way of living, their habits, and their culture.

We from Koming Bali Tours want you to share our feeling as to be a part of this “Island of the Gods”. The best way to find out what Bali is all a bout, is to go on a tour. And explore the authentic part of Bali.

We ensure your trip with us will be truly peaceful and luxurious one and gives you an unforgettable memory of your holiday to Bali.

For more information please contact us to : 08170579306 ( sms only ) or to my email : lisnawatikadek38@gmail.com

Do Not Miss Beautiful Ubud For Your Bali Vacation


What is it about Ubud that one should visit this beautiful village? Because Ubud has much to offer; from its stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and the terraces rice filed, its most talented artist, its typical traditional market and myriad of shops that line the road is a heaven for shopping, its undying culture, its serene environs and plentiful of nice small hotels and restaurants and many more.

Ubud has no great beaches to speak of, no mountain lakes, and no grand hotels. Yet it has the richness of soil and it is the center of Bali’s art and culture. If you don’t stay in Ubud, or you don’t have much time during your Bali Holiday, a visit is worth because it would offer you a memorable stay in Bali.

Driving out of bustling Denpasar, the tranquil green of rice paddies contrast sharply with the boisterous sounds of the city. Palm-leaf carvings of Dewi Sri (the Rice Goddess) guards over the crops, and small thatch huts dot the rice fields, giving shade to those who work them. Temples and small shrines can be seen along the way, women lay out offerings of flowers, rice, incense and holy water to placate evils spirits and please the good one. Even with the great influx of tourism, village life basically goes on the same. Almost every village on the way up to Ubud specializes in some kind of art form. You can stop off and see the artisans at work in their studios.

Many places near Ubud make beautiful side trips. Morning walk through the villages lead to out-of-the-way retreats. The route to Tegalalang offer beautiful views of terraces rice field and myriad of art studios, Mas, Penestanan and Peliatan, the centers of wood carving and painting, Sayan offer a stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and still home to spectacular view of gorges and palms and rice fields. Campuhan , the place where three rivers meet – a sacred site. There is a very beautiful temple called Pura Gunung Lebah is worth a visit.

To the north is Petulu village is known for many things but the most spectacular is the kokokan or white herons. Every morning at dawn and the afternoon around three or four o’clock, you can see them circling the trees in droves.

To the south a short walk you will arrive at Monkey Forest. To visit it, one must by a ticket. There are hundreds of tame monkeys and a temple stands in the middle of the forest. In the center of town the interesting places to see are the Puri (the court of palace of former kings), here every Sunday morning at 10 o’clock dozen of young girls study traditional Balinese dance. Ubud main market just opposite the Puri offer varieties of merchandises; Produce, dry goods, linens, T-shirts, paintings, wood carvings, even traveling medicine men appear here. Closed to market you can visit Puri Lukisan (Museum of Paintings). Established in 1954, it is dedicated to showing the works of local painters. It is the excellent place to get an overview of the stylistic differences between artists.

Ubud is a picturesque township and visitors have been attracted by its charm and beauty for decades. If shopping is your interest, Ubud has a myriad of shops which line the road to Monkey Forest and the Museum Puri Lukisan. Don’t forget to bargain!!! If art is your interest, in Ubud, Mas and Peliatan, one can study dance, music, painting or a number of other art forms. The best way to meet a teacher is to find a style that appeal to you (by going to galleries and watching performances) and than approach the artist directly about lessons.

While you are in Ubud and need more complete information, you can visit Bina Wisata a local Tourism Bureau. It prepare map of Bali and Ubud. There is a massage board, small book store and a printing press on the premises. It’s about 500 m past the market.

Waka Namya Resort is a nice place to stay. It offers free luxury shuttle service to the center of town and to the Rudana Museum and Arts Gallery; it is one of the best galleries in Ubud. It also offers a free tracking to the rice field. Excellent service and very friendly staffs. I know the manager very well, so I sand many guests to this resort. Waka di Ume, Komaneka, Santi Mandala Resort and Maya Ubud are also very nice place to stay. For more affordable accommodation you can choose Ubud Sari; small, charming and rustic ambience. It has a complete Spa and Beauty Salon service, Yoga, Chiropractic, Healing Week in Bali Program. Raw Health Food Program and Colonic Hydrotherapy.

So Ubud has many attractive objects can be seen for your Bali Vacation. And do not hesitate to choose beautiful Bali for your holiday. Bali is a small, beautiful island in Indonesia, the ultimate tourist destination in Asia.

The quickest and easiest way to find Bali hotels at your destination is to go online and visit a hotel reservation website. Do a search for Bali you are traveling to and you will be presented with a list of available hotels in Bali, Choose your preferred Bali Hotels.

Tip List Of Honeymoon Vacation In Bali









Bali is the paradise for honeymooner that many couple wish to spend such a special occasion on the island. It’s mesmerized various views such as; beaches, mountain, rice field, and romantic place to stay like: Bali hotel, resort, villa, Bali private villa shall enable you to get a perfect honeymoon, no disturbance, no noisy sound, truly serenity, just sound of nature. Fresh atmosphere will refresh your mind & body. Bali rich culture would contribute to make your honeymoon the unforgettable one, you’ll find something that is unique, beautiful, memorable and fun, the experience of a lifetime, which cannot be gained at other places.

Bali is a tiny island but has so much wonderful things to offer. Many travel agents / tour operator provide worldwide choice of honeymoon ideas.

Here are some tips to get comfortable honeymoon in Bali:

- Schedule your departure day two days after the wedding to give you ample time for rest after the activities and the celebrations. If you must travel immediately, remember to leave in the middle of the day and not the early morning so you’ll get a good night’s sleep.

- Ask your travel agent for Honeymoon Packages, these usually offer the best destinations for honeymooners, not to mention discounts and freebies.

- Never, ever overbook day trips, you’re not just travelling, you’re with your new spouse, better save up some energy for the night’s fireworks.

- Don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask about certain perks, events.

- In addition to the above, don’t be afraid to request extra stuff, like a big bathtub, a double bed, or a romantic view.

- Don’t forget to bring your marriage certificate along with you, especially if the name of the bride is already under her husband’s name.

- Pack your camera and lots of film; you won’t want to miss anything. You might also want to pack a disposable underwater camera and extra batteries, these are absurdly pricey in tourist spots, and you wouldn’t want to overspend.

- Mention to anyone, especially in the cafĂ© or in the tour boat, that you’re on your honeymoon, yes this may sound a bit embarrassing, but some restaurants give extras like free drinks or gifts for honeymooners. This also works for birthday celebrants.

- If you want an active honeymoon, research and prepare for water sports; the tropics are a great place, to learn them, always remember to consult hubby before you try one though.

- Stock up on sun protection. The higher the SPF the better, as you’ll probably be spending whole days out in the sun; you wouldn’t want to get skin cancer after just two weeks of marriage.

- Some travel agencies include island-hopping trips, these are great ways to explore, and enjoy. This is especially good because you’ll get a change in scenery, and won’t easily get bored, especially if you have an extended honeymoon.

- Even if your valuables are inside your hotel room, keep them under lock, and if you decide to bring them with you, always watch out for stray pickpockets.

- Bring with you a stock of candles and massage oils that you can place inside your hotel room for that romantic evening after touring and swimming.

Remember that the entire objective of a honeymoon vacation is to have an unforgettable romance. Follow the quick tips above and you can head your way to a memorable honeymoon in Bali.

How To Select Your Preferred Bali Hotels


Bali is a wonderful island situated in Indonesia, the ultimate tourist destination in Asia, is worth a visit. Most people come to Bali for its beach, waves, sun, some come for business, some come for its undying art and culture, some come for its breathtaking landscapes and some for pure relaxation.

Choosing Bali for your holiday destination, of course you should select and decide your preferred Bali Hotel which would match your interests. There are myriad of accommodations to choose from in Bali, from five-star luxury hotels to budget accommodations.

Bali Hotels by locations: Accommodations by the sea (has beach front), in town and hotels are situated in countryside. Or Bali Hotels by interest (boutique hotels, villas, small hotels in traditional Balinese style bungalow and big or leading Bali Hotels).

Every place has its own attractions and features:

Sanur: Famed for its white sandy beach, sun rise, sea activities, close to other places of interest. Is for gracious living, peaceful and quiet. More “international” but somehow far less cosmopolitan than frenetic Kuta. There are so many excellent hotels here that you can scarcely go wrong.

Kuta: Frenetic, sometime chaotic, noisy, lots of hype, but a great playground. Originally what drew visitors to Kuta was the wide beach and the surf. It still has best sea front on the island. Kuta also famed for its shopping, dine and night lives. Though there are now many first-class hotels and home stays, caters best to the economy traveler who likes to be in the thick of things.

Legian & Seminyak: Lie at the north end of Kuta Beach strip. This is the place to stay if you want the best of both worlds. Conveniently located within 15 minutes from the center of Kuta, yet safely removed from the nerve-wrecking intensity and hype. The villages are perfect for extended vacations. There are several first-class hotels, a great number of intermediate-range bungalow, and inexpensive accommodations.

Nusa Dua & Tanjung Benoa: The area is rather isolated from the rest of Bali. Nusa Dua is providing a “total” hotel environment, everything you could possibly ask for is available on the premises. White sandy beach and a wide range of sea activities.

Jimbaran bay: Has nice and wide beach, good sunset (weather permitted), and close to Airport. There are two leading hotels, good villas and nice hotels in Balinese style bungalow.

Ubud & environs: The heart of arts and cultures of Bali. There are many small resorts deluxe and intermediate accommodations, most blend of typical Balinese and modern amenities. Situated either in town or in the countryside, most have wonderful gardens and views. Ubud is a paradise for shopping too.

The east: Offer more restful vacation.

Nusa Lembongan: Is a surfing, snorkeling and diving paradise. There are some excellent hotel resorts and some inexpensive hotels.

Balina beach: Buitan Village, this is spacious, gorgeous white sand beach, is one of the major scuba diving centers of Bali. There are a deluxe hotel and some intermediates and budget hotels.

Candi Dasa: The beach (at low tide, at high tide there IS no beach) because it has been eroded by the waves, but Candi Dasa offer restful vacation. There are first-class, intermediate and inexpensive hotels. You will be treated here with the utmost of graceful service.

The North:

Lovina beach: A northern beachfront alternative to Kuta and Sanur, this is a serene and infrequently visited vacation spot. Black sand beaches and quite waters nestles inside of extensive coral reefs distinguish this idyllic beach. Snorkeling is superb here and the reef is close enough that even children and beginner swimmers can feel comfortable here. There are first-class, intermediate and inexpensive hotels.

Western Beaches:

Up along this coast north of Kuta and Legian lies a stretch of black sand beach with a dangerous reef and heavy undertow, these beaches are not ideal for swimming and beginner surfers. At Canggu there are some luxury hotels. Yeh Gangga boast a small luxury resort Waka Gangga is facing the Indian Ocean. Tanah Lot boast a leading hotel Le Meridian and a world championship golf course with breathtaking view of famous Tanah Lot temple and sunset.

Western Interior:

Bedugul: This mountain resort is famous for its air, restful and serene. There are a number of places to stay here, from luxury hotels to budget accommodations (losmen).

The quickest and easiest way to select your preferred Bali Hotels is to go online and visit hotel reservation website. Do a search for the city or place (Indonesia, Bali, Hotels) you are traveling to and you will be presented with a list of available hotels in that area. There are also more information about hotel’s and room’s facilities. Most luxury hotel has excellent spa facilities.

The wide choice can be confusing – especially for first-time visitors – and it’s sometimes difficult to select the right accommodation. So still go online and click travel. Choose your reputable travel agent (contact him by e-mail). Just let him know your personal needs and preferences that he can recommend those hotels he feel suit you best.

My immense thanks to you readers.


Friday, January 30, 2009

FLORA AND FAUNA

Bali has an interesting collection of animal and plant life. The rice terraces are the most common sight in everyday Bali, particularly in the heavily populated and extravagantly fertile south. Balinese gardens are a delight. The soil and climate in Bali can support a huge range of plants, and the Balinese love of beauty, and the abundance of cheap labor, means that every space can be landscaped. The style is generally informal, with curved paths, a rich variety of plants and usually a water feature. You can find almost every type of flower in Bali, though some varieties, such as hydrangeas, are restricted to the cooler mountain areas. Orchids are a special attraction, and orchid fanciers should see the collection at the botanical gardens near Bedugul. The temperate weather of the mountain also allows pines to grow.
Wood plants like teakwood grow in gorges. Gorges, which are very numerous in Bali owing to the ash structure of the soil, are favorite places for tropical trees such as Banyan tree (ficus elastica), or Pule tree (alstonia scholarish), two of the sacred trees of Bali. The latter is used in particular for the making of the sacred mask. Other trees, such as the Pangge Baya or the Ebony are getting rare as they are the favored material for woodcarving. Along the rivers grows bamboo, a multipurpose material. One makes pipes, rope, baskets and even food from bamboo.
The shores of Bali are abundant in animal and floral species. The mangrove forest contains all sorts of big and small crabs, shrimps and fishes. The coral reefs contain colorful fish which have long been exported abroad. These fish, and crab, are now disappearing, as has the giant turtle, which used to come by the thousands onto Balinese shores. It is now prohibited to sell and export its shell. On both straits that flank the island, though, there still remain many dolphins.
Bali is situated in the Asian zone of Indonesia, characterized by big carnivore mammals, such as the tiger or smaller ones such as black panthers or the leopard. The most famous one, perhaps, was the Bali Tiger (Panthera tigris balica), the most dangerous carnivore that lived in paradise. The last one was shot in 1937. There are also big herbivores such as the deer and the wild buffalo. Bali's cattle consists of the tamed wild-ox and the Banteng (Bos Sondaicus), the wild version of which can still be found in the National Park.
One species of birds particularly endangered is the Bali Starling, of which less than fifty are surviving in their natural habitat. Riversides also have a rich bird life where one can also find Kepodang (Oriole), Kipasan (Fantail), and Kutilang (Pynocnotus), some of which are good singers, who sometimes join the great choir of crickets.

ENTERTAINMENT

















As well as superb traditional dances, there are classical Gamelan orchestras, Shadow Puppet Plays, Dramas, and a variety of traditional cultural entertainments unique to this culture. Nightlife also abounds in certain areas, Discos, Restaurants, and Supper Clubs provide western style enjoyment.

CLIMATE

Located just 8 degrees south of the equator, Bali has a tropical climate all year round. The average temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius year-round. There are dry and wet seasons - dry from April to September and wet from October to March - but it can rain at any time of the year and even during the wet season rain is likely to pass quickly. Temperatures range from 30-31 C' by day, 24-25 C' at night in the wet season and 28-29 C' by day, and a pleasant 23 C' at night in the dry season. In general May to August are the best months in Bali. At that time of year the climate is likely to be cooler and the rains lightest. Around the coast, sea breezes temper the heat and as you move inland you also move up so the altitude works to keep things cool. It can get very cool up in the highlands and a warm sweater can be a good idea in mountain villages like Kintamani or Bedugul.

ART AND CRAFT

Artistically Bali is a melting pot of cultures and traditions. The Balinese have a natural capacity for absorbing different cultural elements to blend them with their own to produce dynamic new hybrids. Over the years Bali has been the recipient of numerous influences; Chinese, Buddhist, Indian, Hindu, Javanese and most recently, Western. For centuries artists and craftsmen in Bali worked under the patronage of the priests and ruling classes, decorating palaces and temples. The artists themselves were anonymous, never signing their work and usually living close together in artists' 'villages'. Although highly skilled, Bali's carvers, sculptors, weavers and painters, who decorate the island's temples and palaces, were never paid for their work, and would earn their living as farmers or traders, just like everybody else. They worked as artists only when summoned by the raja or the high priest. By the 1930s, however, Balinese society was undergoing quite significant changes. The rajas had lost a great deal of their power to the Dutch colonials (many had in fact lost their lives, or at least their homes), and foreign tourists were gradually taking their place as patrons of the arts and paying for the work. Over time, this encouraged a whole variety of changes; artists began to carve and paint secular subjects, to experiment with new material, to express themselves as individuals and sign their own work. Making paintings and carvings became a full time and relatively lucrative job, and the arts and crafts industry is now one of the most profitable on Bali. Generally the artists did not have much room for personal expression as their designs followed strict aesthetic and religious guidelines. With the arrival of European artists at the start of this century, this soon began to change and artists started developing their own individual styles.