When attending a temple ceremony, remember that it is not a party but a celebration to welcome the gods down to earth. Balinese always, no matter how many hardships they may face in their material life, put on their finest traditional clothing as a gesture of respect to both the worldly hosts of the event and the divine guests. Women wear a sarong, a long length of cloth wrapped from waist to ankles, a lacy blouse called a kebaya, and a sash tied around the waist. They will often tie up their hair in elaborate styles, and decorate it with fresh tropical flowers. If they own a piece of precious gold jewelry, they will wear it, and they will wear makeup and lipstick, for the Balinese gods delight in beauty. Men as well will be sure to dress respectfully, in a sarong, their best shirt or ceremonial jacket, a sash around the waist and an elaborately folded headdress (Udeng). The Balinese are thrilled to see visitors wearing Balinese ceremonial dress and deeply appreciate the respect it shows. So if you want to share the experience of attending a ceremony, ask a Balinese friend or someone in your hotel to help you find the correct clothing and show you how to wear it.

Here are some things to keep in mind if you wish to participate in a Balinese Temple Ceremony.

At minimum, wear a sarong and a sash to attend a ceremony or enter a temple. Women should wear blouses with sleeves that cover their shoulders. It’s all right to wrap your sarong over your shorts or dress.

Never position yourself higher than the offerings or the priest, or climb temple
walls or statues to get a better photo angle.

Do not walk in front of people praying.

Be sensitive with your camera and flash, and respect the religious nature of the occasion.

Women who are menstruating are not allowed to enter temples. This is not necessarily a sign of gender discrimination, but a general prohibition against blood on holy ground.

If you are invited to a ceremony in someone’s home, such as a wedding or baby ceremony, it is appropriate to bring a small, wrapped gift. A card is not necessary.

Like in many other parts of the world, the left hand is considered unclean, and to eat with it, point with it, shake hands with it or offer or receive something with it is perceived as extremely rude.

Shorts and sleeveless tops are fine for the beach and for shopping, but when visiting cultural sights or small villages they may be seen as offensive.

Feet are considered impure and the head is considered to be the most sacred part of the body. Don’t point with your feet or prop them up on tables, and don’t pat people, even small children, on the head.

Ask questions, share experiences and opinions, and you will be sure to learn and enjoy!

Every culture has their way of drinking, there even rules for drinking, Balinese also has a way in drinking, especially for traditional liquors- Tuak and Arak. Tuak is a sweet wine made from the coconut palm flower, while Arak is strong liquors distilled from tuak. For Balinese drink liquors is men prerogative. In old days there is no woman drinks arak or tuak but with the passing of the time women start to drink tuak but never arak (too strong for woman) it is not discrimination, Balinese believe that arak is dangerous for womb. Women usually drink tuak secretly or in house compound not in public (warung stalls, on the road side, or balai banjar/sub village public hall) as men do.

Drinking for Balinese is usually for recreational purposes. We drink to strengthen the friendship among friends and to make a friend among strangers. There is an old saying among teenagers, it runs “cigarette and liquors are tools for making friends. It is common for Balinese to invite a stranger to join a “drink circle”. (We usually sit in a circle while drinking).We seldom drink for stress relieving purpose or Drink for Drunk (drink for the sake of getting drunk) drinking for recreational purpose can be a very creative way of drinking. Balinese usually sing while drinking, this habit originated genjek tradition.

Genjek is a traditional form of singing in which a group of men (usually 6 to12) sitting in a circle, some of them singing, while the rest of them imitating the sound of musical instruments. The songs are mainly about love and everyday life. Genjek is usually performed in wedding ceremony. The genjek performers have to be half drunk before the show begin. It is believed that the quality of the song depends on the level of intoxication of the performers. High level of intoxication means a high quality song.

In drinking Balinese have a certain code of conduct such as an offering of small quantity of liquor have to be made before Balinese start to drink. We usually pour a small amount of drink on the ground or floor in order to pacify bhuta kala (negative nature force) so it will not disturb the drinking activity. The way of drinking tuak is slightly different with arak. In drinking tuak every participant has his own kélé (a mug made of bamboo) and uses it privately. While in drinking arak we use only one small glass for all the participants, we drink in turn. An exception is made when someone from higher caste (Brahmana, Ksatrya, or Weysya) join the circle, an offer to use a private glass have to be made. An offer for private glass is a sign of respect for him. We welcome him into the circle whether he use private glass or not. An offer to taste a glass of arak for passing stranger is often made. If you want it, do not hesitate take it as soon as it is offered. Say thank you if you do not want to join the circle. If you want to join the circle, ask for it after you finish the offered drink. If you do not want to taste the offered liquor, refuse it with a good reason. Medical or religious prohibition is the best excuse.

In eastern part of Bali, tuak is a substitution for water. An offer of drinking tuak is a part of politeness there. It is considered to be impolite to turn down the offer without a proper apology and a good reason. Again, Medical or religious prohibition is a preferred excuse to hear by the host. But accepting the offer will be a perfect way to interact with the community.

The lunch concerts and evening concerts take place on the outdoor stage of the Bali Taman Hotel, Lovina Beach. The program features a selection of traditional music and dance styles of the various cultural centers of Buleleng, introduced by I Wayan Dibia and North Balinese seniman tua (old masters). The evening concerts focus on specific topics:

- old fashioned mabarung (competition) between east and west Buleleng, featuring dances like Taruna Jaya/Wiran Jaya and Palawakia,

- rare and sacred ensembles, featuring a unique semar pagulingan from the Munduk/Gobleg area and a recently restored gong gede from Tejakula,

- contemporary works from A.A. Bulan Trisna (dance) and a newly commissioned work by I Gusti Bagus Suarsana (gong kebyar).

The program will be regularly updated on the schedule page.

Sanghyang Jaran, the Pemangku (temple priest) or a group of chosen men becomes himself the Sanghyang, possessed by ancestral deity, a Gandarwa (celestial soldier) on horseback. The dance is performed in the inner court yard of the death temple. As in Sanghyang Dedari the dancer is put into trance with wafted of incense and chorus of Sanghyang song. In the state of trance the dancer fall, convulsed to the ground and rush to grab hobby horses. During the pre-trance chanting, coconut shells have been lit, leaving red hot coals.

Read More

Here is the most popular Balinese love story that has a touch of tragedy in it

Jayaprana and Layonsari

Once upon a time, mthere was a family consisted parents and their 4 children. They lived in Kalianget village, North Bali. One day deadly plague attacked the village. The members of that family dead except the third child, named Jayaprana.

More Story

Belandingan is located on a hilly area, make it suitable for jungle tracking and agro-tourism. Most of the inhabitant of Belandingan are farmers and their farms are usually far from their house so they made huts (pondok) in their farms and live there most of the time. They usually go back to their house when there is a temple ceremony in the village.

More story

Kintamani Map

Home | Bali Dive | Bali Car Rental | Search more 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15| 16| 17 | E-postcard| Wedding Photography | Bali & Indonesia Journal Photography | Groups

Picture: Pearl Rings

Atlas South Sea Pearl’s Hatchery is located in Penyambangan village, Buleleng regency, in North Bali, as soon as you enter the Penyambangan village find a road sign “Atlas South Sea Pearl, 600 meter” on the right side of the street then turn right, after negotiating a narrow bumpy and dusty road take another right turn behind a modest beachfront hotel, pass the hotel then you will arrive at Atlas South Sea Pearl’s hatchery facilities.
More Story | Pemuteran Map

Hotel & Villas

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Search more 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Wedding Photography | Bali & Indonesia Journal Photography | Groups

If you happen to take a vacation in the island of Lombok don’t miss the Sindang (Sendang) Gila waterfall. The Sindang Gila waterfall is located in Senaru Village around 2,5 hours drive from Mataram or Senggigi. This waterfall is percehed on the slope of mount Rinjani about 600m above sea level and can be seen from some restaurants in Senaru village.

More Story | 2 |

Lombok Map

Search more 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Wedding Photography | Bali Journal Photography | Groups

The word “Kuta” is not just a name for a beautiful beach in Bali, but also the name for equally beautiful beach in Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara province. Kuta beach of Lombok is situated on the south coast of Lombok island. It has 5 km of an unbroken expanse of clean white sand and turquoise sea with rugged hills as background, though this beach open directly to Indian Ocean but it is safe for bathing and swimming here. Further to the west there are surfer’s and windsurfer’s beaches.

More Story | 2 |

Best View

Lombok Tengah Map

Search more 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Wedding Photography | Bali & Indonesia Journal Photography | Groups

Bunut Bolong is a sacred and unique tree that is located in Manggisari village 11 km to the north from the main Denpasar – Gilimanuk road, 86 km from Denpasar. The sacred tree is situated on the ridge of a hill flanked on east sides by clove plantation and on the west side gorge with excellent lush green tropical forest.

The name Bunut Bolong is given due to the unique characteristic of this tree. the word “bunut” is Balinese name for a species of fig family which has similar characteristic with banyan tree, and the word “bolong” means “hole”, so the word “Bunut Bolong” means a bunut tree which has a hole in it. As a matter fact, this sacred tree has a big hole in the bottom of it, so big that a road can through it and the diameter of the hole can accommodate two cars side by side.

More Story

Medewi Map

Search more 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Wedding Photography | Bali & Indonesia Journal Photography | Groups