Joannes Rhino's Blog, page 19

Courtesy of Bali Culture Centre - Balinese Dancing Class

The philosophy of Indonesian tradition
Dance has been traditionally present in Indonesian culture from the earliest times, passing from one generation to the next. In Bali, dance and drama historically met for preserving cultural values through the performances of Ramayana, Mahabharata and other national stories from Balinese history. Interestingly enough, the Balinese never get tired of watching these dances themselves, even though they may have seen them and known the whole story by heart.
Last week, I travelled to Ubud and made a long stop at the Bali Culture Center. I was in mirth walking through the compound to see how green the plants were. The scent of earth, water, wind, and flowers impregnated my senses at once. This is one of the cultural places in the region that should be in the ‘must-to-do’ list. When you come to Bali, for sure you need to explore a bit deeper about the Balinese culture. That is the original reason Bali Culture Center first created. 
So, there I was, taking a Balinese dance class. From the minute I sat down to watch the dancers, I was amazed and I know I had to give it a try, which I did. At first, I couldn’t do the moves. Thanked God the instructors were tireless to motivate me, applying the right balance, ensuring me to do the dance movements correctly. I learned about Indonesian philosophy by learning how to dance perfectly, as each step, each movement represented some deep insight into the nature of life and universal law surrounding us. Even the garments, the costumes, and the colours, all represent a unique aspect and harmony of life. 
As a famous American Author Robert Fulghum said, “Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life -- learn some as well as think some and also draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”  Referring to the quote, in order for one to have a harmonious and balanced life, one need to create harmony within self and surroundings to build a decent life. Balinese dance will teach you how.

Bali Culture Centre
Address: Jalan Br Nyuh Kuning Mas Ubud
Phone: +62 361 978144
Email: komangsupartabcc@yahoo.com
Website: www.baliculturecentre.com
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Courtesy of Bali Culture Centre - Handicraft Painting

Make Your Home Colorful Through Painting
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “If you hear a voice within you that says you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” You do not need to be a professional artist to be able to give your home a new artistic look or to surprise your friends with your artistic works. In fact, even your little siblings or children at home can get involved in painting and actually make awesome art pieces to design your home or even commercialize the art pieces. 
Related to painting, I recently visited Bali Culture Center (BCC) in Ubud. It was more than just a visit but a lifelong experience. I thought it would be a normal painting experience. However, the experience was not what I anticipated. 
Having a real life experience of painting batik “resist” ensured that I learnt to make attractive designs on fabrics. You can actually make your own paintings at home by buying cheap cloth, pencil, wax and a few other materials to aid you in the process. You can use these to paint pictures to put in your living room or even to design your own clothes. The most common themes are usually the nature: flower, bird, landscape or geometrical patterns.
Together with that, I did not just learn but also got to practice making good use of the recovered domestic paints in making colorful boomerang paintings. The addition of virgin materials to these recovered paints provided adequate and very consistent paints for production of some of the most aesthetic pieces of art I have ever made in my entire life.
The easiest to learn was the Easter egg painting. Egg painting is the art of painting or decorating eggs. It is particularly amazing because of the oval, smooth and striking nature of the eggs that makes them look even more attractive when the decoration is done. You can use duck, goose and hen eggs to make your art pieces. It is advisable however to use larger and stronger eggs so that they do not easily get damaged. In most cases, you need to make a small hole on either ends of the egg so as to remove its inner contents although you may decide not to. After that, you can start painting or dying the eggs. After the eggs are dry, you can store them for celebrations or simply as house decorations.
To flower the whole experience, I had a wonderful experience when it came to mask painting. Here, you can make your own masks by painting animal faces. It is advisable when painting to use tape to prevent certain paint colors from getting to some sections of the mask by using tape.
After learning to do these activities, even not that perfect, I realized just how much I was capable of making something wonderful. For me personally, this kind of activity triggers one’s creativity.
Bali Culture Centre Address: Jalan Br Nyuh Kuning Mas UbudPhone: +62 361 978144Email: komangsupartabcc@yahoo.comWebsite: www.baliculturecentre.com
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Courtesy of Awarta Nusa Dua Luxury Villas & Spa

Health is the most important affair Like it’s often said, “Your health is your wealth.” Water is one of the free resources that humanity is blessed with. The availability of water to mankind is unlimited, but the same water can either make or mar your health. In my mid-30s, I have visited numerous tourist and resort centres all over the world and I can categorically say that of all my visits, the Kneipp Water Therapy is the most hygienic of them all. With sophisticated water treatment plants in place, Awarta Nusa Dua Luxury Villas & Spa ranks first on my list because their priority is to provide safe, clean and healthy water for everyday life.

As I inquisitively asked to be shown the features that make the spa to be associated with wellness, I was led to the water therapy section where I became exquisitely connected to the water treatment section. The section has been well designed and built up in such a manner that I did my internal environment feel relaxed after the Kneipp therapy but I also felt the relaxing environment outside my body. 
Due to the healing experience I had at the spa, I became duly indebted to my comrade who recommended me to try this treatment at Awarta. The fitness facilities and the relaxation I felt led me to the realization that I had not yet had the best body experiences before. Taking my time to undergo the Kneipp therapy, it dawned to my attention that Awarta spa is really ensuring their customers’ health rejuvenated. 
After working hard throughout the quarter, my visit at Awarta was meant to rejuvenate my fatigued body. The Kneipp water foot therapy was such a new experience for me. The therapy reduced stress from my body muscles and mind, and at the same time induced vitality to my system. 
Early in the afternoon, I set to rejuvenate myself by the use of simple water therapy. The Kneipp therapy was not a tall order as I thought. Starting with right then the left arm, I immersed my arms till my upper arm was halfway immersed. Gently, I kept my arms moving while I was counting aloud so as to keep me breathing fast. After just thirty seconds, I was instructed to warm my arms back up by moving my arms in circular motions. After swirling my hands in the water, I moved on to begin walking in water. With my feet completely immersed in water like a stork, I began to walk, removing each leg entirely from the water. Afterwards, I did pull on a pair of warm wool socks as instructed. 
The experience was one that anyone would want to experience again. My body became stimulated but the good thing is that it was not over stimulated. I also experienced a psycho-vegetative relaxation though without the need of going through psycho sessions. My performance lows were counteracted as from thereafter, I was no longer slow at performance.

Awarta Nusa Dua Luxury Villas & Spa
Address: BTDC Complex Lot NW 2 & 3, Nusa Dua, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80363, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 773300
Email: naomi@awartaresorts.com
Website: www.awartaresorts.com

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Courtesy of The Leaf Jimbaran Featuring Chef Daniel Green

Known as a Healthy Eating Expert and world renowned Television Celebrity Cook, Chef Daniel Green teaches people how to cook healthy, nutritious, and easy to make meals. He has a way of showing his techniques with such finesse that you can almost do it yourself. Green prefers light menus which brings beauty and harmony to your taste buds, but not at the expense of your metabolism, but to its favor. He has also brought his own kind of art, one that appeals on subtle and stunning roles for the fruits and vegetables on the plate. 
The concept and philosophy of The Leaf Jimbaran dining menu has been created on dishes with originality and flair of Chef Daniel Green's Paleo diet, supplying primal, powerful, nourishing, healthy food made succulent. What Dan is doing at The Leaf Jimbaran is entirely his own production, a kind of exercise in personal expression. He and his staff are intensely focused, drawing no attention to themselves. Then there is silence as forks go to the food, and food goes into mouths as well as suddenly everyone starts nodding and chirping and staring at cooks who suddenly might as well be magicians. His recipes focus on classic, traditional, and international dishes from a historical, linguistic, and cultural perspective.
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Courtesy of Now! Bali Magazine Featuring Adventure & Spirit

Sports is one of those things that we are always encouraged to do. However, many of us are often not sure of which sports activities to participate in, or which are the most appropriate for our lifestyles.

I remember a time when I used to say I was too busy for any sport, because I had to work all day and I had a family to take care of. To be honest, the only times I would participate in any sports activity was when they were organized at work for competition purposes. I think all that confusion was brought about because of the fact that I wasn’t sure as to which sport I enjoyed. All this has changed since I discovered canyoning, thanks to Adventure & Spirit. 
I don’t know if you have ever heard of canyoning as an extreme water sport, but if you haven’t, now is your chance to hear about something amazing and exciting. The first time I heard of this sport was when I was planning a trip with my colleagues at work and I wanted to do something different. I’m the kind of person who wants to set myself apart from all the rest, which is why I wanted something exciting and original.

I started researching water sports and it was at that point that I got to learn about Adventure and Spirit. The name alone contained the two things I wanted in the trip, which is why I thought this would be the best deal. There were so many activities on their website, but what caught my eye was canyoning. I managed to convince my colleagues and though most of us did not know what the activity entailed, we were ready to experience some adventure and escape our busy lives, so we set off for Bali. 
I finally discovered that canyoning is actually simply travelling in canyons. It is the mode of travelling that is fun and adventurous. All the canyons that we were taken to were different from each other and we were told that they took thousands of years to become what they are now, which in my opinion is what makes them so beautiful. It was no surprise that something amazing takes years to form. 
The journey down the canyons was unlike any other. What I found most exciting was the fact that we used various styles to walk down the various canyons that we went through. We walked, climbed, jumped and swum in a number of places. There were so many activities and my heart kept pounding the whole time. At every turn and with every activity, I couldn’t wait to see what the canyon had to offer next. I could also see the excitement on the faces of our instructors. I thought that since they do this on a daily basis, they would have gotten over the excitement a long time ago, but they informed us that they too get surprised every once in a while, especially given the fact that each canyon you go through has something different to offer.
They also indicated that no two trips down the canyons were anything similar, which is why you could keep going back without getting bored. You never know what is going to happen tomorrow, which is the same thing with canyoning. What I discovered from this activity was that it was easy to get caught up and be drawn to the beauty of the canyons itself that you forget the ultimate goal, which is to go through them. I was so drawn to the beautiful waterfalls and wanted to stop at every turn to take pictures. Good thing our instructors were there to remind us of the time and the fact that we still had a long way ahead of us. The beauty and freshness of the place really made us forget about how long we had been on our feet. 
When we were almost getting tired, we came by a place where we jumped into the water and did some light swimming. I must confess that not everything during the trip was rosy and easy (much like life). At one point we would be having fun and then the next we would go through something so challenging that would make you wish you could go back. However, this was for a short time only, which proved to many of us on the trip that with resolve and determination, it was possible to go through almost anything. Our instructors were always there to lend a helping hand, but they always tried to let us experience the canyon for ourselves. Going inside a canyon is a real life adventure as you never know what will happen once you go in.
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Courtesy of Now! Bali Magazine Featuring Cocoon Beach Club

When times get tough and you feel as if you have the burden of the world on your shoulders, you need to unwind. I have experienced that feeling many times in my life. As the Beatles used to sing, ‘It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve been working like a dog’. In such situations, I really feel the need for a getaway. Thankfully, there is no shortage of places to unwind in Bali.
After a very tiring week, I found myself debating on which club to visit. I have been hearing good things about this beach club located on Double Six, the famous street filled with popular nightlife and hangout spots. The club is called Cocoon Beach Club. I came to know that this club was more than just a beach club. It had a well-stocked bar and a fantastic restaurant.
 As I entered the club, my eyes were immediately attracted to the pool that served as the centrepiece of the club, inviting me to plunge into its blue waters. Balinese-style embroidered parasols surrounded the pool. Of course, like all good beach clubs, this one provides a spectacular view of the sea as well.
 The bar had a unique variety of delicious cocktails on offer. I was given a range of Mediterranean tapas to choose from along with a classic mojito. I decided to try their signature cocktail, B Svenaz. The bartender informed me as he adeptly prepared a chilled margarita glass that it consists of orange liquor, tequila, a dash of rhubarb sorbet and orange juice. The drink’s bright orange colour matched perfectly to the reddening sky as the sun began to set.
 With the drink in hand, I headed down to the pool and noticed a group of people down there who hired out a VIP cabana for socialising. I decided to take a cool dip into the pool while an international DJ began to pump up the excitement of the crowd. The breath-taking views of the beach, the energetic music and the mouth-watering snacks made the perfect combination.
 Cocoon Beach Club has a delightful range of cuisines on offer. One of the waiters recommended one of the specialities of the club, House Smoked Tasmanian Salmon with Crème Fraiche. I was also informed that the White Fish Carpaccio with lemon oil and mint was another delicious dish that needs to be tried out. However I was in the mood for something meatier, so I ended up ordering the Roasted Veal Chops that was served with raisins, pine nuts and sweet and sour peppers. I ended my day with a scoop of mouth-watering homemade black sesame ice-cream, and I am telling you, it was the best dinner I’ve had in a few weeks.
 The one thing I also noticed about Cocoon Beach Club is that their service is tailored to the relaxation of their customers. Their openness in service actually allows you to give reviews, whether they are positive or negative.
 With metres of swimmable water, great views and wonderful service, there is no reason why you shouldn’t come to Cocoon Beach Club. It has everything you need to relax and have a little getaway. They are one of the most famous hot spots in Seminyak, therefore booking in advance is advisable to hire the VIP cabana or simply just to avoid standing in line, especially in high heels.
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Courtesy of Now! Bali Magazine Featuring Mua Mua Dolls

Looking at all the shops and their fashionable wares in Seminyak, there had to be some truth behind the popular saying, ‘Those who hate shopping, don’t know how to shop’. Each of these Mua Mua Dolls are exclusively made in Bali by women from the rural regions. How could you say no to these beautiful dolls? They are tugging at the strings of your heart. Mua Mua Dolls are more than just crochet impressions of famous celebrities. These adorable soft toys can repel negative and evil energy and transform them into positive and loving energy. Looking into their big eyes, it is easy to see why. These dolls can be purchased in many countries around the world from the official website.
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Courtesy of Now! Bali Magazine Featuring Tulola Jewellery

Inspiration can take on many forms. Many artists find inspiration in the deep, rich history and culture of Indonesia. As one of the owners of a cute little boutique called Tulola Jewellery at the corner of Jalan Petitenget, Dewa Sri Luce Rusna believes that jewellery is a form of expression, individuality and emotion. As a daughter of a famous Balinese entrepreneur and silversmith, her skills in making jewellery run in the family. After studying art history at New York University followed by political science at Bond University in Australia, Sri couldn’t stay away from her native Bali for long. Being a jewellery designer was her calling. She believes that jewellery is more than just a fashion accessory; it can also hold a profound meaning. Sri uses her designs to communicate the heritage of Indonesia and its culture. ‘Jewellery can have a deep meaning’. Each piece in her collection, from subtle rings to gorgeous earrings to stunning necklaces, has been finely carved by hand that adds a layer of beauty.- www.sethlestath.com -

Courtesy of AWAY Spa

There is no shortage of beauty on Bali. During my years of stay I have come across many incredible sights. However, no matter the beauty of the place, you can still get tired after a hard day's work. Having had to work for weeks at a stretch, I really needed a break. Rather unfortunately, the beaches at Bali did nothing to alleviate my exhaustion.

I mentioned this to a friend who suggested that I visit a spa. "They are really good", she said. There are, in fact, a number of spas in the Seminyak district of Bali. My friend recommended that I visit the AWAY Spa on that district. Later I was to congratulate on her good choice and advice.

One of the first things I came to know after checking into AWAY Spa was that it was open 24 hours a day. I decided to file this little bit of information away as I often ended up working long hours. Next time, I could head over to the spa directly no matter how late I worked.

Generally, I dislike extravagance. However it was just extravagance that I came to enjoy when I was in the spa. The indoor treatment areas were beautifully decorated and extravagant. The high level of privacy offered by the spa during the treatment was of great help in making me feel more relaxed.

It was altogether a memorable experience. There was a distinct sense of playfulness at work here with the vivid colors and the lovely scents. I suspect this was intentional as these sensory delights made me feel a lot less stressed. I was ushered into a private treatment room where I got the full course I had signed up for. There was a meditation platform inside the treatment room. I was informed by the attendants that there were separate rooms for each customer and double treatment rooms for couples. I appreciated the pains taken by the spa to ensure privacy.

AWAY Spa had offered me a choice between three menus which were Fit & Fabulous, Glamour & Glitz and Serene & Soulful. I decided that glamour was most certainly not meant for me and I did not want to feel fabulous either. Therefore, I opted for Serene $ Soulful. The attendant told me that all treatments were Balinese in their inspiration and I was free to take accessories and essentials with me after my treatment, all of which was branded by AWAY.

After my treatment, I accepted their offer to enjoy a bath and a dip in a pool. The hot stone bath was intense. I could feel each of muscles melting in pure ecstasy. I followed it up by immersing myself in the cold waters of the vitality pool. A wave of blissfulness washed over me. ‘Let us do this again!’ my body seemed to be telling me. I wrapped up my trip by gifting myself a new look at the hair salon in the spa.

As I walked out of the spa, I felt more than just rejuvenated. I was positively looking forward to a long day of work.
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Courtesy of The Spa at The breezes

Traveling, even for the purposes of tourism, is by no means a relaxing journey. That is what I discovered to my dismay after I spent a long weekend in the rural areas of Bali. Those places rarely fall into the itineraries of tourists to Bali but they are beautiful nonetheless. In spite of their beauty, I was quite exhausted and in need of a long rest after my trip. My fellow travelers recommended me to visit a spa in order to restore my lost energy levels.

With that hope, I found myself standing in front of the Spa at The Breezes Resort in Bali. The very sight of the spa inspired a sense of tranquility and relaxation with its peaceful lily ponds and the charming streams. The treatments, I found, were Balinese in their origins and used creams and scrubs all made by hand. The clam that surrounded each activity in the spa told me one thing: I am at the right place.

I was handed a rather extensive menu of treatments to choose from. I would most certainly have opted for the traditional Balinese body treatment but my eye had caught sight of another intriguing treatment. It was called Ultimate Chocolate and Almond Body Treatment. Now, there is a reason why I have been called chocoholic. As the saying goes, ‘Chocolate is the health food for the soul’. It was this love of sweet chocolate that made me choose this particular treatment even though I knew I would not be consuming any of the sweet dessert.

The treatment did not disappoint. It started off with a foot bath. ‘That hit the spot!’ I thought to myself as the strain on my feet of hiking around the interiors of Bali began to wear off. The next part of the treatment greeted me with the mouth-watering smell of cocoa butter. It was the time for the body massage. As the cocoa butter was gently massaged into my skin, I allowed my thoughts to wander. My body began to feel much better and more relaxed than it had been for the last few days.

The body massage was followed by body scrub and the body mask. Chocolate was used for these treatments. I was almost tempted to get a taste of the chocolate. The feeling of being wrapped in glorious chocolate was almost too sinful. The last part of the treatment saw me heading off to the bath. However, it was not any bath but chocolate bath. I dipped myself in the chocolaty bath and, for the first time in many days, I felt completely relaxed. My entire body felt lighter as if a great burden had been lifted. However, my trip to the spa was not over. I had decided to indulge myself and get a lot of pampering. Therefore, I got myself a manicure and a pedicure. It was a thoroughly enjoyable affair.

It was only when I had reached home that I realized the extent to which the treatment at the spa affected me. I felt not only more relaxed but looked the part as well. Next time, I decided, I would opt for the Royal Touch Pampering Package. After all, it’s okay to indulge yourself once in a while.
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