Joannes Rhino's Blog, page 12

Bali's Adventure Dining

This island will inspire you with its never-ending list of things to do that will allow you to soak up its vibrant culture. While exploring Bali, one of the important components that define an enjoyable trip is having good food with excellent views. We highlight some of the unique restaurants around the island. From the appetizing menus with spectacular settings, the striking contemporary interiors with authentic architecture, to the warm friendly Balinese hospitality. Be sure to satisfy your palates at these restaurants while you tour the island for something different from the ordinary.

Ayung Valley
Nestled in Ayung River Valley, majestically sweeping vistas of the valley and river with stunning views of lush greenery all around, Ayung Valley Restaurant is one of the luxurious restaurants in the rural Ubud. Due to its bucolic ambience, the place is popular for wedding dinners. Nature enthusiasts are sure to enjoy a delectable meal amidst this breathtaking landscape. For guests who come from highly urbanised cities, feasting on superb dining in such an unspoiled terrain is a perfect opportunity to relieve them from the stress.
With nature literally at your doorstep and the beauty of the views purportedly unparalleled, Ayung Valley Restaurant is the place to go to for the gastronomic experience of your lifetime. International dishes served at Ayung Valley Restaurant, outperform culinary boundaries to soothe the appetites of the guests. Using only the best ingredients and cooked by professional chefs, the quality of the food is guaranteed, ensuring that your meal will be a satisfying one. 
The Royal Pita Maha
Kedewatan Village, Ubud
+62 361 980022
www.royalpitamaha-bali.com

Bali Asli
Located in a secluded spot in the north-eastern part of the island, Bali Asli Restaurant offers majestic views of Mount Agung. Surrounded by rice fields, the setting is idyllic and one that is imbued with a sense of serenity. Bali Asli serves authentic Balinese home-style cuisine with traditional methods of cooking, like mortars, pestles, and wood-fired mud brick stoves. The freshest ingredients are only sourced from their own garden or the local market, bringing classical Balinese delicacies to satiate the taste buds of even the most discerning foodies.
The exterior of the restaurant is a stone wall with a carving of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and art. Then, a set of stairs leads you to a conventional Balinese doorway with intricately carved wooden doors, where you will find a traditional open-concept kitchen and circular with polished wood floors.
If you would like to opt for a set lunch, you get to choose from a four course or six course tasting menu with every dish freshly made from scratch. These dishes are carefully prepared by Executive Chef Penelope Williams, who apprenticed at world-renowned The Savoy in London. With stunning views of Mount Agung, Bali Asli promises an absolute divine Balinese culinary experience that will make you reminisce the good old times while you revel in tasty Balinese food!
Jalan Raya Tengading, Gelumpang Village, Amlapura
www.baliasli.com.au

Bali Tower Resto
Located in West Bali National Park, Bali Tower Resto provides a rare opportunity to have a fancy dining from above ground and being surrounded by bountiful nature. The restaurant has an extraordinary and unique structure made from five huge logs, each 33 meters long and 80 centimetres in diameter. Perched on the second and third floor of tower logs, Bali Tower Resto offers sweeping views of the verdant valleys and the blue ocean surrounding it. The top floor viewing platform reaches over 30 metres in height, which make it the best restaurant to bear witness the magnificent Bali’s sunrise and sunset.
Specialising in Mediterranean and Indonesian cuisine, with vegetarian options available, Bali Tower Resto does not have a very large variety of appetisers and main courses to choose from, but it is primarily the atmosphere that wins the hearts of the diners. The venue accentuates the importance of having a natural and relaxed getaway as a respite from the stresses of urban dwellers, while working in harmony with nature.
While tucking into dishes, gaze out of the window for the finest view of lush vegetation to please your eyes. You may watch the deer on the move in the woods and hear the occasional chirping of birds in the forest. You will luxuriate in the pleasant surroundings which seem so much like a natural paradise. Relaxing your minds amidst the beautiful and pristine environment, Bali Tower Resto welcomes you to a gastronomic experience like no other. A photo opportunity, especially at sunset, would also make the trip to this restaurant worth it.
The Menjangan
Jalan Raya Gilimanuk Singaraja, Pajarakan Village, West Bali National Park
+62 362 94700
www.themenjangan.com

The View
Nothing can be more enchanting than a view of dense forests, rice paddies and manicured gardens right under your nose. Roosted in the picturesque and tranquil valley of Pengosekan, overlooking lush rice paddies, The View Restaurant offers a picturesque dining experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. The ambience instantly brings a sense of tranquillity and peace, away from the hustle bustle of life. The venue is designed to make you feel an integral part of the nature.
This signature restaurant of Plataran Ubud Hotel & Spa has made its mark as a creative culinary experience in Ubud, and caters an excellent local Balinese as well as international cuisine. Get closer to the nature, guests can choose to dine at the outdoor wooden deck dining area for a more relaxed and warm ambience. Embellished with beautiful gardens, you can soak in the serene atmosphere as you dine.
The location of the venue will also provide an experience that is somewhat the best of both worlds: to experience the calmness of the back deck with its spectacular views, and simultaneously, the hustle and bustle of Ubud Centre. The View in Plataran Ubud Hotel & Spa promises a dining experience that you will want to come back for, particularly with its congenial surroundings and its noteworthy food. After all, that is why the restaurant is aptly named “The View”, as it is primarily the spectacular view that draws diners to this place – one that is just so alluring.Plataran Ubud Hotel & SpaJalan Hanoman Pengosekan, Ubud
+62 361 978340
www.plataran.com

The L’ Altitude
If you love dining while getting to view nature’s ethereal beauty, you may want to consider heading to L’Altitude Restaurant in Tabanan. Just recently opened its door to the public, The L’Altitude serves both local and international cuisine using in-house grown herbs and spices from on-site rooftop garden, and locally sourced vegetables, presented in a market style display so guests can observe the preparation in the open kitchen. The restaurant combines exemplary service with fresh and organic produce sourced daily to deliver guests a quality and pleasant dining journey.
The theme of sustainability is emphasised in the restaurant’s goal to minimise harm to the environment and benefit local communities. The team of experienced chefs is led by Executive Chef Michael Deutsch, a Canadian who has a vast experience of working and using organic and sustainable produce to cook. The health-conscious will also delight in knowing that most foods here are gluten-free and low in fats, so the true essence of the flavours are naturally pure and not hidden by the use of commercial salts or refined sugar.
However, it is not only the taste and the views that should be the main reason drawing you to dine here. Rice fields, mountains, natural spring pools and Hindu temples encircle you, as you are greeted with gorgeous and picturesque views all round emblematic of rural Balinese villages.
Royal Tulip Saranam Resort & SpaJalan Raya Baturiti, Pacung, Tabanan
+62 368 21038
www.royaltulipsaranam.com  
Tsavo Lion
Imagine dining just metres away from the king of the jungle. Tsavo Lion offers a very unique adventure dining experience, which allows you to have such a close encounter with real wildlife. Situated in Bali Safari & Marine Park in Gianyar, this first African-themed restaurant in Asia surrounds you with lions as you feast on your meal, with only a thick glass wall separating you from their den.
Lying beneath a thatched roof top with Mount Agung visible in the distance, the restaurant’s architecture imitates that from a Kenyan lodge. With African-style interior design and music, plus brilliant lighting effects, you will feel like dining amongst the African savanna. The lions are fed not far away from the glass wall, allowing diners to view them eating and at the same time offering a rare photo opportunity.
The restaurant serves a variety of cuisine from around the globe, cooked by an experienced chef, Chef Mahadi, who has a wealth of experience from his years of work in luxury hotels in Bali and Dubai. If you opt for the standard set menu, you will enjoy roasted Foie Gras, Tasmanian salmon and lamb, accompanied with pumpkin soup and a dessert known as Sake Pasu Panacotta. However, one dish that stands out is the Crispy Duck. While dining with a glass wall separating you from lions may not come near to the authentic experience of dining in a safari camp in the open-air African savannah, it surely is a great experience and one that does not cost much. After all, you are bound to have the greatest adventurous meal of your life.
Bali Safari Marine & Park Jalan Bypass Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra, Gianyar
+62 361 950000
www.balisafarimarinepark.com

Waka Bar & Restaurant
Perched on the edge of a hill and encircled by the black sand beach, deep blue ocean as well as rice paddy fields, dining at Waka Bar & Restaurant will surely take your breath away with its stunningly scenic natural and unspoiled landscape. As you tuck into delicious Indonesian and Western dishes, you are bound to experience an inner peace – something that is hard to describe in words as you engage your senses with your surroundings. With your eyes taking in panoramic views, your ears hearing the waves crash onto the shore, your face and body feeling the freshness of the ocean air, your nose and tongue smelling and tasting all the mouth-watering food, dining there is simply magical.
If you plan to come at dinner time, consider having a live lobster candle-lit dinner specially prepared by the Corporate Executive Chef, Putu Yudana, which you need to reserve one day in advance. The restaurant also provides a vast menu of vegetarian items as well as an exclusive wine menu to choose from. To make your night more special, the mouth-watering food is served along with live music. Waka Bar & Restaurant will tantalise your taste buds and captivates you with nature’s beauty as you engage your five senses while dining in the peaceful environment.Waka GanggaJalan Yeh Gangga, Sudimara Village, Tanah Lot, Tabanan
+62 361 484085
www.wakahotelsandresorts.com 
Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia

Playing ground for your little ones

Parents are so busy with their work lives to keep track what their kids are up to. They need whatever help they can get to keep their brood in order and, for the most part, happy. Some of gone down the road going to any attraction sites available, jumping from one playground to another, or even looking for nannies to keep their little ones busy. But they are just not enough, knowing the fact that kids always want to do more.
Cubby House Kids Club in Canggu Club offers a safe, cosy and conducive environment where your children can have fun and learn while you do other activities. Catered to kids aged 2 to 12, the kids club offers a myriad of toys and activities that will keep your little ones occupied all day long. The place is lively, vibrant and definitely noisy, such a proper place for the kids to play, laugh and move freely. And you do not have to worry about your kids' safety as they are in the safe hands. Children from 2 to 4 years old are watched over by responsible, friendly and reliable English-speaking staff (caregivers) of the club. Please be advised that parents and nannies are not allowed to enter the area, unless your kid is under 2 years old.
 There is a unique space dedicated to children of a certain age range. While being monitored by attentive caregivers, the very young children (aged 2 to 4) have a special space where they can read stories. If your kid is the hyperactive type who cannot sit still or prefers to move around, soft tunnels are available for him/her to crawl through. Toddlers seeking intellectual stimulation can also play Lego or blocks, triggering their brain to be more creative. Toy racing cars are also an alternative activity to keep them busy.
 Technology savvy kids, particularly those with some elementary education, get to enjoy the use of the Nintendo Wii to play various famous handheld games. Mac Computers are also provided for them to surf the internet, watch videos or play online games. You can join the movie session at the movie theatre.
 Children who do not have a penchant for gaming can immerse themselves in books available in the library. Alternatively, those who are more artsy in nature can let their creative juices flow by doing hands-on at the arts and crafts area. For the girls, who are into dolls and fashions, dressing up doll houses can definitely be a perfect spot for them to hang around.
 Older children are treated differently, especially for those with the “outdoor” type and love sports. The kids club boasts two undercover outdoor play areas which offer a wide range of outdoor activities. One is meant for kids who are much older (near 12 years old) due to the intensity of the activities, like air hockey and basketball. Kids who need some physical activity to get their daily dose of adrenaline rush will enjoy the outdoor areas, which allow them to sweat it out.
 Of course, what is a kids’ club without meals being provided, especially after a great physical workout or to act as energy boosters for the kids to play? The kid’s menu offers a number of healthy dining options which are mostly Western dishes. Then, your kids can quench their thirst with cold juices or soft drinks alongside their main course. Ice cream is available as an indulgence to wrap up the entire meal. After all, which kid does not like to satisfy his/her sweet tooth?
 With all the mentioned facilities and services provided, the entrance to the club is relatively affordable at IDR140,000++ for a 2-hour casual pass. If you intend to bring your kid frequently, there is more to rejoice. A Super Fun Pass can be purchased for just IDR1,200,000++, allowing 10 visits of up to 4 hours each time.
Cubby House Kids Club at Canggu Club promises a satisfying experience for your kids. While you spend some quality time with yourself doing a spa or massage, you can have peace of mind knowing that your little ones are safe and engaging in meaningful activities.

Cubby House Kids Club
Canggu Club, Jalan Canggu Club, Canggu,
+62 848 3939
www.cubbyhousekidsclub.com

Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia

Beat the heat with a perfect healthy summer drink!

Hot days only mean one thing, cold drinks! During summer, it is almost a necessity to cool our body from the inside out, and that means tons of cold glasses of water! Ice water, obviously, the first summer drink that pops up in our head that keep our body, skin and mind healthy. However, while pure water with heaps of ice is a total breeze, sometimes we want to taste a little flavor in our refreshment. It is easy to get some cold cocktails, but those are not the option when it comes to healthy summer drinks. Try some of these healthy, cooling, summer drinks instead!
Cucumber Mint Water – serving this drink is quite easy, all you need is a few slices of cucumber and a mint sprig and that’s it. Put those into your half-full of water, add a handful of ice if necessary, stir, and sip!
  Watermelon Juice – based on research, consuming watermelon regularly helps you lose weight because more than 90% from a watermelon is water. To enjoy it during summer time, you can serve it in a traditional way, or add mint leaves and rock salt to reduce the sweet taste.
  Mango milkshake – this refreshment is quite popular among little kids. The combination of mango and milk in your drink will create a super yummy summer drink. Some of the benefits are controlling blood pressure, increasing one’s immunity and preventing anemia.

Sugarcane juice – rich in potassium, antioxidants, glucose, magnesium and calcium, drinking sugarcane prevents a heatstroke and also helps to fight infections. To make it fresh, make sure to serve it with ice.
  Iced Ginger Tea with Lemon – much better to serve it in a pitcher. Simply boil enough water and pour over large bowl with enough bags of ginger tea. Steep for around 15 or 20 minutes, then remove the bags and pour it into a pitcher full of ice and lemons.
Coconut water – one of the famous drinks in Asia, coconut water provides so many nutrients such as amino acids, B vitamins, zero cholesterol and also a diuretic, which can help someone to recover someone from diarrhea. There are 2 ways to drink it; pour the coconut water into a glass of ice or pour a handful of ice to the coconut fruit. Either way, it is going to be the best summer drink on the island.
Online Editor - Freelance Writer

Restoring Sight to The Blind

One of the critical problems directly associated with poverty that is facing Indonesia is blindness due to development of cataracts. Around three million Indonesians are affected by this – not just a dimming of their vision, but actual blindness. This means that the cataracts have developed to such an extent that they are actually blocking the vision completely – not a common situation in the western world where cataracts are dealt with in the early stages of their progress.
 Imagine how a person living in a remote village where people survive by subsistence farming lives day-to-day – if it is an older person, he or she would just sit, virtually waiting to die, unable to move about much, totally reliant on their family members for the simplest tasks. A younger person would have their life curtailed dramatically, unable to progress at school, having no hope of finding a job, unable to help their family in the fields, unlikely to marry and raise a family – a person without a future in this culture.
 Cataract blindness is totally curable! A simple operation where the cataract lens is extracted and replaced by a new plastic lens takes just around 20 minutes. The day after the operation, the person can see through the operated eye, even if they have been blind for many years.
 The John Fawcett Foundation (JFF) is an Australian-registered NGO based in Bali, whose mission is to identify and operate as many of Indonesian’s cataract blind as it can. Its experienced team of ophthalmologists, nurses, technicians and support personnel travel to villages around Bali screening village people who present with eye problems, providing glasses to those who need them and eye drops to those with infections, and identifying those who are blind with cataracts. With the team travels a mobile operating theater, and the cataract blind are operated then and there in their village in a safe, sterile ophthalmic theater.
 All services provided by JFF are free for the poor, including cataract surgery. To reach communities off-shore from Bali and on more remote islands, JFF’s mobile eye clinic and team, in a unique partnership with the Indonesian Air Force, are transported by C130 Hercules plane. Air Force ophthalmologists work with the JFF team to operate the blind, sometimes as many as 300 in one single trip.
 However, cataract operations don’t come cheap, and quality of service is of paramount importance to the Foundation. In 25 years, JFF has given 48,000 Indonesians the free gift of sight. With over three million cataract blind people, most of them in the lower sociology-economic group, there is still a long way to go and a huge challenge ahead.
JFF is planning to significantly increase its output of cataract surgeries by partnering with private ophthalmic outreach clinics across Indonesia. With sufficient funds, JFF could reach even more in need and increase its annual output from around 2,500 to over 10,000 operations. Your contribution is needed. This would make a difference to their lives!
 Online donations at www.johnfawcett.org are tax-deductible in Australia. For tax deductible in the UK and USA, see the JFF website.
Jalan Pengembak 16, Blanjong, Sanur
Phone: +62 361 270812
website: www.johnfawcett.org
Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia

Courtesy of Lake Tamblingan

Lake Buyan is closely related to Lake Tamblingan in terms of location and ecosystem, and therefore both lakes are generally referred to as Bali Twin Lake. An interesting fact is that Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan used to be one whole lake until a landslide separated them in around the year 1800. Now they are separated by almost 2 kilometers wide of narrow ridges.
Lake Tamblingan seems to exude a mystical appeal and charm, with some regarding it as having the most unspoiled natural scenery as compared to Lake Bratan or Lake Buyan. The lake is located in the heart of Bali’s farming area and the slopes are covered with coffee plantations, vegetable fields and rice paddies. Its official location is on the north slope of Mount Lesung, Munduk Village area, District of Banjar, Buleleng Regency, about 3 hours from Denpasar. You will have the best experience while driving to this place with the cool wind blowing on your face and the feeling of pure, clean air all around you. It is advisable to pull over for a few photographs or have a small picnic on the roadside.
The entire lake area is a protected land within the 4356-acre Batukaru Nature Reserve, which is a major reason that both Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan have become increasingly popular with mountain trekkers, adventure seekers, bird watchers and Eco-tourists. And since the lake is located at such great heights, you will find that it is mostly covered in fog to cast a beautiful spell on the tourists. The depth of the water and reflection of the surrounding trees makes you witness some of the best shades of blue, green and grey all at the same time. The scenic beauty is just like a palette of colors.
Though motorized boating is not available on this lake, you can rent row boats or bring along your kayaks for exploring the water. Fishing is also permitted. You can opt for a jungle tour, which involves crossing the sacred Tamblingan Lake by old-style hollow canoes. Near Lake Tamblingan, visitors can perform activities, like trekking in the tropical forest with a variety of distances, ranging from 2 to 8 hours of trip. The idea is to spend quality time in and around the lake, and absorb its breathtaking beauty.
There are a few sights worth visiting in the vicinity of the lake. Numerous temples can be found on the outskirts of Lake Tamblingan, and the most popular one is Gubug Temple. This water temple, that use the traditional ‘Subak’ irrigation system at the edge of the lake, is a must visit place if you are around the neighborhood. It retains much of the architectural design, as Ulun Danu Temple, but is less crowded, offering you good photo-taking opportunities.
If you plan to explore the real Bali a bit more, these four lakes offer you some interesting stories behind it. Alternatively, you can always nourish your soul in the stunning scenery, relax at the lakeside hot springs, stroll in the beautiful local villages, take a tour of the exotic plantations, or camp in the mountains and dense jungles. Very rightly said, that Bali is a true treasure trove of natural beauty.
Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia

Courtesy of Lake Buyan

Lake Buyan is one of Bali’s unexposed and untouched attractions. Located in Pancasari Village, in Sukasada District, Buleleng Regency, the lake is spanning approximately 4.5 square kilometres just below the northern rim of the Bedugul caldera. Situated in a plateau region characterised by generally very wet and cool climate, Lake Buyan is surrounded by lush vegetation, featuring fog and cool air, which allows one to appreciate the authenticity of nature’s wonders. Based on people’s testimony, the sight of this lake can have a soothing effect to temporarily take away the stress of daily life.
Getting to this lake is a bit tricky, involving a 3-hour drive from Denpasar and following the road winding up the hill, where you can see an increasing number of monkeys on the road sides, before you arrive at the junction on the top of the hill. Turn left at this junction and continue to follow the quiet asphalt road which will lead you to the lake.
 A community pool, known as Telaga Aya, is connected to the lake via a narrow canal. Telaga Aya is located between the two twin lakes, which are separated by a rainforest-covered hill. At the top of the hill, Asah Gobleg village, is the primary vantage point with panoramic views of both lakes and the surrounding. Make sure to get the perfect flattering selfie with the lake in the background from the lookout in Asah Gobleg Village on the trek down to the lake.
 Encircled by coffee and clove plantations, Lake Buyan has a camping site at its southern edge with the ground being flat there. However, the most common activities are boating or fishing. Hiking or trekking is doable, but best done with local guides, granting scenic views of the landscape. For those who are into mediation and yoga, Lake Buyan offers the peaceful, serene aura, ideal for relaxation techniques. Nature lovers and Eco-tourists should find the entire area as a whole an ideal getaway. With limited tourist activities and the absence of human intervention, Lake Buyan still maintains its natural, intact ecosystem by protecting its fragile environment and promoting Eco-tourism.
Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia

Courtesy of Lake Batur

Lake Batur is Bali’s largest and widest lake with an area of approximately 18 square kilometres. The large crescent shaped lake sits on the old crater of Mount Batur and is surrounded by the high walls of the crater rim, with an active volcano of Mount Batur adjacent to it. Located in the mountainous area of Bangli Regency on the south-eastern side of Batur caldera, the lake lies at the feet of two majestic surrounding mountains, Mount Batur and Mount Abang. The crater is situated approximately 500 meters above sea level, and a couple of hot springs can be seen surrounding the lake with one in the middle of the lake. The water is much cooler than the other lakes in Bali. Try to dip your fingers while boating in this lake to feel how amazingly cold the water actually is. 
On the journey to the lake via Bangli or Tampaksiring road, the ashy residues and active hot springs indicate it is the remains of a volcano. As you get closer and continue over the last ridge, the massive outlining of the crater becomes visible, making you smile and awe at the same time. You can continue along the road from Penelokan, it continues right around the rim towards Kintamani to circle around the crater. The majestic and spectacular view of Lake Batur can also be viewed from Kintamani.
 The only boat access to the lake is through the Trunyan village, home to the Bali Aga people. These local indigenous inhabitants are true descendants of native Balinese and have been isolated from the other inhabitants on other parts of the island. They communicate in the ancient language of Balinese and to date still practice traditional Balinese culture and religion. It is believed that when Bali Aga tribe people die, they are neither cremated nor buried, but laid under a sacred tree, the Taru Menyan, inside their open air cemetery. They members of the tribe believe that roots and the branches of this sacred tree helps to mask and remove the odour of the rotting, decomposing bodies.
Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia

Courtesy of Lake Bratan

Let’s begin the exploration in the central part of Bali to visit Lake Bratan. Situated in a crater of an inactive volcano, Mount Catur, this second largest lake in Bali is surrounded by the majestic mountain of Mount Bratan. It is recommended to hire a motorcycle to get there, but be warned that there will be many narrow mountain roads that you will have to navigate along the way. Alternatively, if you want to use public transportation, which can be unreliable at times, you can choose either from Singaraja’s bus station or from Denpasar’s Ubung station via minibus. It takes around 2-hour drive from Denpasar to arrive in Candi Kuning Village, Baturiti district, Tabanan, where the lake lies.
 Located in Bali’s central highlands, this lake is a favourite tourist attraction. Its high altitude allows visitors to enjoy a respite from the hot and humid weather. The surrounding area is a natural spectacle offering splendid views of mountains and greenery. The lake is surprisingly shallow with a maximum depth of only 22 metres. Irises of a number of colours: yellow, fuchsia and magenta, dot the edge of the lake. The misty peak of dormant Mount Catur looms ahead of you.
 Across the lake, there are three 25-metre-deep caves excavated by Indonesian slaves for the Japanese during World War II. There are also a few shrines worth exploring in the vicinity of Lake Bratan. Another popular sight is Bukit Mungsu Market, which located in Candi Kuning. Visitors can buy a variety of fresh spices, including nutmeg and turmeric, fruits and vegetables. Due to the cool weather there, you can also pick strawberries on the fields, a unique find considering Bali’s tropical climate.
 There are so many activities you can do around the area. The surrounding mountains are popular destinations for hiking and trekking, offering routes of various levels of difficulty. Water sports lovers will rejoice with the abundance of water activities available. Boat rides on pedal boats, speed boats or traditional boats known as Jukung are all available. Other types of water sports that you can enjoy include water-skiing, parasailing, jet skiing and paddle sports. Swimming is permitted, of course, only if you can stand the cold waters.
 Lake Bratan is considered to be the most holy lake in Bali, as it is a home to one of Bali’s most famous temples, the Ulun Danu Temple, which dates back to stories told in Balinese mythology. This beautiful 17th century temple of Ulun Danu, which appears to float on the water, is dedicated to worship Dewi Danu or the Lake Goddess. Offerings are made at the temple on special festive occasions, as it is believed will bring economic prosperity to the area.
 The lake is a very important source of irrigation for many farms and rice paddies in the Bedugul region. Because of its surrounding temperatures and irrigation system, the area around Lake Bratan provides a high fertility rate, and for that reason Lake Bratan is also known as the Lake of Holy Mountain. 
Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia

Book, Ease and Dream before you go

Whether it’s for a holiday or a business trip away from home, you need to get a place where you’ll be comfortable and feel at ease. No one wants to stay in a crappy hotel, even when they don’t have that much money. Even if you’re staying in a place for one night, it still feels good to stay in a place where you can feel comfort. Have you ever been to a place where you feel so much at home that you actually forget you’re actually away from home? Aside from the fact that your family might not be there with you, there are villas where the feeling of being at home is something they live for. These are the places that we all want to find and spend our days away from home. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to escape from your home life and stay at a villa. All I’m saying is that for those times when you have to be away from home, you should try to be as comfortable as you possibly can.
 The question is where and how to find such villas. I mean you could search the internet, but aside the fact that is only time consuming, but there’s also no assurance that you will find what you are looking for. It’s like searching for a needle in a hay stack, there are so many villas out there, but if you don’t know where to look, the chances of you getting the right ones is pretty slim. The good thing is that we are here to guide you, so you need not fret.
  Book Ease and Dream or better known as BED is a company that is devoted to getting you the best villas in Bali. We have a whole team of experts dedicated to cover all areas in the island, specifically in Seminyak, Ubud, Canggu, and some other locations. We aim to ensure that you find the most captivating and luxurious villas that meet your satisfaction. Our highly experienced team of travel experts examine each of the villas individually, meaning that we approach to them personally to make sure that the villas are up to the standard that BED has set. It is one thing for someone to recommend something and it is another thing for that person to recommend something that they have actually had experience with, or which they have seen firsthand. Given the extent of the research that our experts do, you can rest assured regardless of your destination, BED will find you a perfect villa that you will love and which will definitely make your dreams come true.
 The best thing about BED is that our team of experts not only picks the best villas, but we also negotiate the best prices to ensure you will stay in a luxury and affordable accommodation in Bali. Our company understands the best things in life don’t need to be that expensive and that you will enjoy your stay much more, if you don’t have to sell your blood to afford it. I remember the first time BED quoted a price for a European honeymooner, they thought there was no way we could possibly get them a good room at that price. To their surprise, in their testimony, the room was better than the more expensive rooms they had been to. It was spacious, private, homey and conveniently located in Seminyak area. It was really everything they wanted. BED has made the lovely couple realize that it doesn’t have to be very expensive for one to stay at a luxury/private villa in Seminyak, which they have always dreamt of.
 Besides our excellent choice in villas, BED is also there to ensure you get all the help you need throughout your travel. Right from the time you make your booking to when you go back home, BED will have you covered. Booking a villa and organizing such things can be exhausting and time consuming which is why our consultants are there to help you all the way. The BED consultants are available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and are willing to help you with organizing everything that is associated with your trip, from airport transfers to babysitting. If you like to go around exploring the area, BED consultants can hook you up with the local tour guides and give the best recommendation. All we ask in return is only for you to enjoy your stay much more. Plain and simple. 
BED is definitely a service provider you can trust to get you the perfect villa and any other request you might have along with it. Regardless of what you need, all you have to do is pick up the phone and talk to our consultants.
www.bookeasedream.com Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia

The culture and philosophy of Indonesian tradition

The culture of Indonesia has been molded after multiple foreign influences and with long interaction from original indigenous societies. Indonesia is geographically centrally located following antique trade pathways between the East, South-East Asia and the West, which has resulted in many cultural traditions and with strong influence from a plethora of different eastern philosophies, such as: including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam and Christianity, with a stronghold in the ancient capital cities. The resulting mix are complex arts and crafts artifacts which are nowadays preserved by activities, workshops and tour destination organized by Bali Cultural Center as a mixture of different painting technique classes taught by indigenous people to tourists.
  Examples of this cultural synthesis could be experienced in Bali Cultural Center handicrafts workshops, such as painting on unusual kind of materials, as egg, mask or batik painting, by homemade tools,which depicts natural themes, or stories about ancient kingdoms. Moreover, traditional handicraft painting, music and dance are fused in an exquisite workshop program, with natural materials and subtle tools made of wood and textile. Painting can be done with many types of dye and wax on cotton, silk and other natural fabrics.
Therefore, if you would like to know better or learn ancient, subtle techniques of Bali classic handicrafts and various paintings, in the peaceful and serene atmosphere,all you need to do is to choose and sign up for any of the Balinese Cultures workshops. Every guest will involve him or herself in a very unique and impressive experience by learning the ancient painting techniques and the diverse activities which is directed by friendly staff. There following workshops available are Boomerang Painting, Egg Painting, Mask Painting and Batik Painting.
If you go to the workshop for boomerang painting situated in the adjacent room to the entrance, you will be able to learn how to decorate the ancient tool of boomerang going back to 40,000 years ago. Workshop participants paint motifs and design separate painting techniques refining them till they reach the finished product. The most common themes are usually the nature: flower, bird, landscape or geometrical patterns. Egg painting is the new trend of where themes and patterns are painted by the ink, while eggs painted are actually empty.
 Batik preserves modern process for making designs on textiles, by using uses wax for blank areas in the dyed fabric with complex multicolored designs. Here are some testimonials from batik workshop participants:“The Batik painting workshops that I was taught in Bali Cultural Center are fun, friendly and amazing. Before I came to this place I didn't know anything about Batik, and it opened a whole new wonderful world of modern Batik for me. At BCC they taught us a lot about traditional batik, and his own spin on it to make modern Batik, which is a combination of waxing, dying, and inking, making it a very a unique process. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to learn this technique from such batik masters.I really hope to try other handicraft workshops in the future and I would recommend it to all my friends and family.”

Online Editor - Freelance Indonesia