Month: December 2024

Participant : Marteen and Family

We left the hotel for an half day tour to see closely the authentic of Balinese life. First visit we made was SDN 1 Tumbu (The Public Elementary school located in Tumbu Village) to see the real life of education system in Indonesian. Interacted directly with the Kindergarten teachers and students, saw the class room, playing ground, the garden, library etc. It was a nice fun for the kid to find how the local students interaction amongst friends and teachers and also had a comparison when they get back home.

Then proceeded to visit the local pottery in Jasri Village. In the old time when Balinese haven’t introduced yet with modern stove and other kitchen utensils, all Balinese used clay pan, pot and the traditional fire wood stove. Now the pottery products are mostly used for ceremonies equipment, flower pots, and also ashtray. Our guests could join the class how to make the pottery with the master.

We continued the trip to visit other local home industry making Dodol Nangka in Jasri Village. Dodol is a traditional Indonesian sweet snack made from coconut milk, glutinous rice flour and. brown sugar. Dodol produced through a 4 hours process to get a very low moisture so it can preserve it for longer time. They are producing 2 variants; a Jackfruit Dodol and Dodol Tape (permented Grutten rice)

Last visit before going back home, we stopped at Sorga Chocolate, one of the local chocolate factory also located in Jasri Village. Guest made a short tour to learn deeply about the Cocoa, how to process the bean, and how to make the final product of Bali chocolate.

Participant : Mr. Freek and friends / 5 guest / Dutch

Departed the hotel in Tanjung Benoa at 04.00 pm. Trip to Uluwatu temple took an hour drive from the hotel. Uluwatu temple is one of 9 holiest temples in Bali (Sad Kahyangan) located on a high cliff in the south-most of the island facing the Indian Ocean. Uluwatu Temple was built at the first time by a Hindus Priest from East Java, Mpu Kuturan on11th Century then rebuilt again in 16th Century.

The Balinese Hindus believe that the powers of the Hindu Trinity — Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva — are merged here. It is also belived that Uluwatu Temple a place of worship of Siva Rudra, the Balinese Hindu deity of all elements and aspects of life in the universe.

This temple is guarded by hundred of monkeys around the nearby sanctuary as one of tourist spot in the area.

Then at 7.00 pm, the guests started to watch Kecak Dance on an open stage on other cliff nearby overlooking the beautiful sunset and the silhouette of the temple on a distance. Kecak dance is known as Monkey and Fire Dance taken from Indian Love Story Ramayana. It becomes unique since there is no music instrument accompany the dance instead the dance sound “Cak Cak Cak”

Participant : Mr. Freek Kettner, Karin and friends (4 guest) / Dutch

We departed from hotel in Tanjung Benoa south Bali at 07.30 am to reach the first stop we made at Kanto Lampo Waterfall. This site is located in town of Gianyar about 1 hour drive from Denpasar. A huge cascade that tumbles over a rocky wall face into a natural pool below. The access to step down for about 5 minutes. The waterfall itself is about 15 meters high (roughly 50 feet). A beautiful spot for photography.

From this waterfall, we continued to visit Besakih, the Mother temple of Bali. The biggest temple complex with 25 temples on the slope of Mt. Agung, the most sacred temple of the island. A magnificent panorama with multi roofed Metu (Pagoda).

Before proceeding the trip to Tirtagangga, we made a stop to a local restaurant Mahagiri, offers both buffet style Indonesian menus and A la Carte. This restaurant located on the slope of a hill overlooking a beautiful valley with local rice field on a distance.

After lunch, we drove directly to Tirtagangga with a minutes stop at Kutabali, the area near Sibetan village for rice terraces view. Tirta Gangga is a water palace built by the latest King of Karangasem set up as a recreation palace for the king and the royal family. It is now the most visited tourist spot in East Bali with a fountain and huge Koi’s pond and huge swimming pool with the fresh water directly from the spring water next door.

Late afternoon, we drove back to Tanjung Benoa.