Getting married is one of the most unforgettable moments in one’s life. Bali is a perfect place for weddings or honeymoons due to its tropical climate, gorgeous scenery and mystical ambiance. The island has been famous destination to get married since years. Bali International Diving Professionals(BIDP) will organize a dream wedding in the underwater world. The underwater wedding can be organized for certified and people who never have tried scuba diving before. Exchanging vows amidst the coral reefs while the underwater living things do their daily activities is an unforgettable experience. The package can be arranged as an official legal wedding with all papers or as a symbolical marriage underwater. With the highest safety standard applied by BIDP’s professionals, your underwater wedding will be remarkable, and safe. www.bidp-balidiving.com

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Established in 1995, Museum Rudana is located in the tranquil atmosphere of Ubud. The museum boasts an outstanding collection of Balinese and Indonesian classical, traditional, and contemporary paintings. The collection is from Indonesian prominent artists; new talented Indonesian artists; and also prominent expatriates who made Bali as their source of creativity. The three-story museum building was designed according to the Balinese philosophy of Tri Angga (foot, body, and head) and Tri Mandala (inner court, middle court, and outer court). The main entrance takes me to the second floor where a collection of contemporary paintings by Indonesian famous artists such as Made Wianta, Nyoman Gunarsa, and Sri Hadi Sudarsono was exhibited. After admiring the collection on the second floor, I climbed the stairs to the third floor where a collection of historical inheritance has been put on display.There are works by traditional maestros from Ubud and Batuan such as I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, I Wayan Bendi, I Ketut Gelgel, Nyoman Sumantra, and you can also appreciate a collection of Kamasan Painting with the oldest is made in 1860 by an anonymous artist as it was functioned as a flag in a temple. From the third floor I went down to the first floor. Besides a collection of paintings by Indonesian and expatriate artists, there is also a unique collection of wood carvings on this floor. Getting out from the first floor, I arrived at a garden with lotus pond and green grass backed by the local’s traditional paddy field. In the middle court, I stopped for a while in a building with a verandah where local artists put their ideas to the off-white canvas. Students from some art institutes usually do the internship in the workshop. The regeneration processes, where the young artists learn from the experienced ones, occurs in the workshop area.The works of the painters are put on display and for sale in the gallery at the same building. Afterward, I followed the pavement track to the three parallel buildings that are also galleries on the display are a collection of contemporary paintings from Nyoman Gunarsa, Made Wianta, and also traditional paintings in some different styles and themes for example paintings in Gedeg Bali style fromTu Pageh. The museum is really a place for art lovers, collectors, and art critics either to appreciate the invaluable art as well as to enhance their understanding of art as the museum host a collection of 400 paintings including the works of legendary artists such as Affandi, Basuki Abdulah, Antonio Blanco, and others. The paintings are selected and collected by Nyoman Rudana and Ni Wayan Olasthini, who have dedicated a remarkable effort in promoting Indonesian art. Apparently, the museum has successfully realized the vision of the owner, Nyoman Rudana, to promote the richness of Indonesian art to the local, national, and international as well as to provide a cultural education institution for the public.

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Bali and Lombok have a rich flora and fauna. Human activity, including agriculture and (more recently) tourism, has caused some loss of habitat diversity. Nevertheless, large areas are still unspoilt, and some are officially protected. There are few places better for the nature-lover than Bali and Lombok, wh ere conditions for walking and exploring range from arid mountain slopes and high natural forests to the margins of rivers and ricefields and the seashore. FOREST Much of Bali and Lombok was once covered in forest, including large areas of lowland rainforest. Much has been destroyed; causes include volcanic eruptions, coffee and coconut cultivation and collection of firewood. Lush forests still grow on Bali’s southern and western mountain slopes. On the drier, northern slopes the forest is deciduous. Giant golden orb weaver , common in lowland areas. The black-winged starling is an endangered species that lives in the deciduous forest of nortwest Bali, as well as in open grasslands. The long-tailed macaque monkey is often seen in forest, on roadsides and around temples. VOLCANIC PEAKS After volcanic ash is deposited by an eruption, centuries pass before the formation of soil capable of sustaining a rich plant life. However, the slopes are soon colonized by mosses, grasses and ferns, and there is a diverse bird life. On the grid northern and eastern slopes grows a grassland vegetation often punctuated by lontar palms. The mountain white-eye gathers in treetops, uttering a characteristic high-pitched call. The helmeted friar bird inhabits the arid mountain areas of Lombok The senduduk flower , with its exotic pink petals, is found in mountain scrub. RIVERS AND RICEFIELDS Some 150 rivers flow through the gorges of Bali and Lombok, assisting irrigation of the rice crops. Here birds, frogs, toads and spiders can live on planthoppers and other small pests which cause damage to the rice itself. The birds include egrets, herons, ducks and small finches. The Java sparrow , a red-billed native of Java and Bali, is found around river gorges and ricefields. Toads live in the damp habitats such as ricefields; here they survive on the diet of insect, including grass-hoppers, beetles and crickets. COASTLINES The beaches, coral reefs and shallow waters around these islands support a huge variety of marine life, even in developed areas such as Sanur. Although little true mangrove forest remains, mangroves still absorb the force of waves, helping to reduce coastal erosion. The lionfish , while visually attractive, is poisonous to touch. It lives in waters off the smaller islands around Bali. The green turtle is endangered; it is hunted for its meat, sometimes used in Balinese ritual.

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Tucked in the vibrant, artistic village of Ubud , Agung Rai Museum offers a tranquil atmosphere to appreciate the visual arts. But more than that, this is a place where one can integrate with the source of the inspiration itself: life in Ubud. Agung Rai Museum of Art was officially opened on 9 June 1996 but the Arma complex was began in 1989. The museum boasts not only collections of paintings from legendary Balinese artists but also works of prominent Indonesian artists from the Indonesia Archipelago such as Jeihan Sukmantoro, Affandi, Srihadi Soedarsono and others, as well as foreign artists who drew inspiration from the natural beauty of landscape and culture in Bali . Among those are Walter Spies, Theo Meier, Le Mayeur, Rudolf Bonnet and others whose names are now bound to Ubud and Bali forever . There are two spacious buildings made from red brick, lime stone and black stone, as the symbol of the natural colors, set among the grandeur of a garden sprinkled with ponds and fountains. The first building, called Bale Daja, is where one can study and appreciate traditional paintings from Balinese artists. Here I went through the journey of accelerating development of Balinese painting. The collection starts from 1940’s “Batuan” style paintings by anonymous artists . Batuan style painting is reflection of all daily activities, put onto canvas in such an immense detail. The very early age of Batuan painting is black and white as the artists might not have been very much familiar with the technicalities of color. Gradually, colors appeared in the next generation of the same style of painting while the anatomy of the objects also became more detailed. Three of the later Batuan artists whose works enrich the museum collection are I Wayan Taweng, I Wayan Bendi and Made Jata. “Ubud” style however comes out with different signatures. This style of painting involves fewer objects than Batuan style.The characters are usually painted in large sizes and one can appreciate this style of painting from a distance. The works of the famous I Ketut Gelgel are in the display. In the same building one also can appreciate a collection of”Sanur” style paintings which show simplicity: ancient Kamasan painting which tells story of two great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabrata. Others traditional schools of painting from parts of Bali, including the unique works of the legendary I Gusti Nyoman Lempad also are on the wall to be appreciated. Crossing a well maintained green garden full of local flora we come to Bale Dauh, the second building in the complex. It is the show case for modern paintings from several prominent artists from inside and outside Indonesia. Of particular note is a unique famous painting by Raden Saleh called ‘Regent of Magelang and His wife’. Then there are the marvelous works of Walter Spies which boast beautiful lighting and gradation techniques which also can be found in the Bale Dauh. Agung Rai, the founder, started collecting paintings from all over the world in the 1980’s. For him the Arma complex is a dream come true. His vision is to establish a space to conserve the arts and the source of the inspiration. The creation of ARMA is the manifestation of his vision. On a seven hectare plot of land he built an art space that is integrated with nature and Balinese traditional daily life as the farm land adjacent is not a separate entity but an integral part of the complex. ARMA Museum is an inspiring place where people can come to watch art performances such as Balinese dance join cultural and skill based workshops, for instance wood carving, Balinese cooking class, Balinese painting and other activities, enjoy the tranquility of the Arma environment while having coffee,and even spend the night in the beautiful villas that are part of the complex across the river. Just walking around the complex is a joy with clear air, picturesque scenery, and the melody of the water flowing in the river. So don’t miss this tranquil experience, it illustrates life in Bali so well.

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Many of us undertake a long journey to reach our holiday destination. So many things can happen on this road to escape routine. When finally we reach our dream location, most of us just want to be left alone to enjoy the sunny climes, the relaxing full of music and friendly people-local and fellow travelers alike – who leave us to bask in our privacy. During such moments when we are relaxing under the sun, we dread the spotlight of curious stares and we could become agitated, even furious, if a stranger suddenly brushes against us. We may feel such uninvited contact to be intrusive, bursting our holiday bubble – besides, our sunscreen suit now has a clean spot where we might burn! The ocean sunfish may empathize with us. This fish is commonly known as the mola, a name that comes from the Latin word meaning ‘millstone’ in reference to its round shape. It is called poison lune (moon fish) in France, schimmernderkopf (swimming head) in Germany, and manbou (flipping wheel fish) in japan. It is one of three members belonging to the Molidae family: Mola mola, the common mola; Masturus lanceolatus, the sharp-tailed mola; and Ranzania laevis, the slender mola. In Indonesia , Mola mola can be found in the waters around Nusa Penida, one of the three ’sister’ islands located off the eastern coast of Bali . They ‘arrive’ in the area around June, specifically in Crystal Bay and Blue Corner, and usually stay till October. They use these few months to sunbathe like many seasonal holidaymakers hence their name. Spending most of their time in the upper 40-50m of the ocean, the mola restore their body temperature with the heat from the sun by floating horizontally to soak up the rays. In the afternoons, the fish dive repeatedly to 100-300m and occasionally to depths of over 600m and in the evenings, the rest near the surface. They also use this time to bathe, as in cleaning their bodies. Amazingly, the mola can host up to forty different parasites on its skin; for this reason it is wise for us not to touch it unless you want a sample of marine parasites. As it sunbathes near the ocean surface, the mola acts as a free buffet for seabirds and cleaner fish. So if we meet a mola, it is a good idea not to disturb them during their food-supplying program. Besides, in touching the fish we will remove the outer layer of mucus that protects it against infection. Spotting a mola during a diving trip is a wondrous, joyous experience. Despite our excitement, however, it is important to be courteous to the fish. During their sunbathing ‘holiday’, our awe-filled gaze will not disturb them as long as we maintain a minimum distance of 3m when the fish is at a cleaning station, and a minimum distance of 10m the fish is considering an approach to the reef or appears unsettled. It is also best that we do not make any unnecessary noice, so as not to disturb the rhythm of marine music. Coming accross the mola is a lucky meeting that may inspire a Kodak moment but don’t use flash, because it disturb them. Be careful no to block their escape route, and swim ahead of or next to the fish so as not to startle their friendly cleaner fish with bubbles from our breathing apparatus. The sunfish live on a diet of jellyfish, supplemented with zooplankton, squid, fish, larvae, crustaceans, algae, eelgrass, and various seabed invertebrates. With such items on their menu, the fish increases its weight about 60 million times as they grow from larva to adult. A mola at California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium apparently gained 346kg in only 14 months! Obviously, the sunfish do not have a problem with obesity. A mola reaches its full size in 10 years, attaining a vertical span of over 3m from it dorsal to anal fins and weighing about 1000kg, and enjoy an underwater lifespan of an average 20 years. These unique ships with their parasitic passengers also carry a secret. While it is known that female sunfish lay their eggs in the water for the males to fertilize externally, no one has ever witnessed the mola spawn in the wild. A few of the mola’s spawning areas have been identified, but it is believed that there are many more areas yet to be discovered.

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Up, up, and away! I love take-offs and landings because I can observe the passing landscape from on high. I’m a self-confessed window-seat junkie, and can put up a fight to get my spot. When the moment of lift-off (or descent) comes, I’ll put my face a centimeter from the window and open my eyes as wide as they’ll go to take in the idyllic landscape as it unrolls. Hands down, that’s the best moment in every flight. When it comes to the ‘Island of the Gods’ the experience is even more special, as Bali has a breathtaking panorama both from the ground and in the air. It would be a crime not to capture a view of Bali from such an exhilarating angle. If you’re like me and your struggles to get a window seat do not come to a good end, don’t worry! Of course you could just wait for your next flight over Bali, but if you need a more immediate fix, Bali Eye Balloon can lift you up to 100m to take in the epic beauty of the island. Located in the BTDC complex of Nusa Dua, Bali Eye has an enormous, colorful balloon that’s anchored to the ground. Moreover, this bird’s-eye adventure is worth trying because only 25 balloons like this exist in the world. The one in Bali has a diameter of 24m. First, it’s a good idea to wish for good weather on a shooting star the night before your ride, since the balloon will not operate in strong winds or bad weather. Even if the weather seems fine to you, actual winds at floating altitude can be dangerous for the flight. Just listen to the professionals – it’s the best we can do for our own safety. Be sure not to forget to bring your camera or camcorder of choice, or at least binoculars. The weather got in my way on my first visit, but I finally got my chance to go aloft on my second attempt.The day was bright, but not enough to give it a sunny forecast, with overcast skies grey enough to send drops of rain down to earth. I was a bit worried that I would not be able to take off in the balloon imported from England. Lady Luck was working with me, though, and the pilot decided that it was safe for take off because wind speeds were normal. Slowly but surely, the balloon lifted into the air with its ring-shaped gondola, where up to 30 passengers can stand and enjoy the flight. On the way up, the balloon rocked a little to the left and right, and it felt like we were on a boat floating upon an undulating ocean. As soon as we left the ground, my focus shifted from my fluttering stomach to the postcard view of Bali. Good news! We can walk freely in the gondola, so we can take in the view from any and every angle we wish: the curving, green peninsula surrounded by blue water; the western and southern coasts of Bali bordered by cliffs and stretches of golden sand; the vivid, lush forest of Uluwatu; and the hotels and houses in Nusa Dua and beyond that gives an added touch to the colors of nature. Even though we cannot see the full extent of the island, 12 minutes of floating in air still offers a spectacular view of one gorgeous part of Bali.

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Slippery slopes to happiness! This modern water world with myriad slides and many other attractions is located on 3,5 hectares land in the heart of Kuta just in front of Kartika Plaza Hotel. Here you can pump your adrenalin to the maximum or just be a lazy sun bather. Relaxing on the beach under the sun or doing some wave riding is a lot of fun, but sometimes it is not a hassle free environment, as the hawkers and the hawkers take their toll, Waterbom is the place where you can have a lot of fun away from hassle and harassment. There is nothing to worry about in this place, apart from your own fears of the rides! I stepped into the water world on a little bit of a cloudy day, thinking there wouldn’t be too many people. Guess what? My guess was totally wrong. Waterbom operates from 9am – 6pm, it was around 10 am when I arrived but a bunch of sliders were wet and filled with fun already. It prompted me to get my locker right away. But before that I had had to get my ‘Splash Band’. Waterbom has a cashless payment system which applies all over the park for the guest’s convenience, and I found it was very convenient indeed. I didn’t have to carry notes while enjoying the park facilities instead I wore a wristband called a ‘Splash Band’ where my credit information was recorded. So whenever I made any transactions the cashier would scan the credit information in the Splash Band. When you leave the park, it is redeemable, so there is no problem in topping up. Enjoying Waterbom means a whole day full of excitement. Experience a phenomenal ride on the only Boomerang in South East Asia. Afterward jump to the neighboring line and get spun in the Superbowl, the latest attraction in the park (just like the dice in the roulette). Need more challenge? Hit the highest and fastest ride, 25 m up and a ground speed up to 70km/h, it is called Smashdown will get you down like a flash! Boogie Ride is also another quick ride, best ridden with a friend since it has two lines side-by side, and is also pretty thrilling. With less speed but a fast drop and quick turns and a bit of twist here and there, Macaroni Tube is as curly as noodles. Raft River is there not to be forgotten as its gentle flow will leave a great memory. After you have finished all the fast rides, take a break by enjoying a relaxing ride in the surrounding tropical scenery at Jungle Ride. For lazy sunbathers, the park provides spacious open areas to get kissed by the sun or relaxing under the shade of trees. Lazy River is also a good choice to relax and have a glimpse of sun and get showered by the many waterfalls and fountains. In the pleasure pool, you can swim or play volley ball, there’s a pool bar to provide some cool drinks. As if that wasn’t enough, spa center offers a variety of treatments on their extensive menu. Waterbom also provides facilities for children who can not yet meet the minimum height standard which applies for several rides. There are slides, twisting rides, water canon, and a gigantic bucket which pours water every several minutes in a well-supervised area. When you begin to feel less energetic, turn your steps to the food court area where you can have a comprehensive culinary journey from Balinese traditional cuisine to American hot dogs. Very tempting and definitely will return your energy to set you up for the next attraction. Euro-Bungy gives you a slightly sling-shot experience as you bounce to great heights, but my favorite game is Water Blaster which best played with a friend. All you need to do is step into the battle station, fill the catapult with water balloons, pull it back with all your power, and fire! Try to hit the red target on the top of the energy lines and you’ll get your opponent drenched. This theme park is a one stop shop of leisure. It is a water paradise on paradise island. It is a tranquil place to relax yet at the same time a great place to scream out loud. Watch out when you are on the slippery slopes to happiness, it’s downhill all the way…!

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Dance In Bali Late every Sunday afternoon in my compound I hear the sound of girlish laughter as a group of young girls come for their weekly dance lesson. A creaky old cassette player wheezes out some very treble gamelan music and the class begins. Only eight or nine years old the girls are already professionals. Veterans of two years of tough study and hard practice they are able to follow the moves of their teacher, Wayan Sudi with practiced ease. While it may look easy, it takes a huge amount of discipline to perfect the moves. Wayan is not gentle with her students as she pushes their heads and hands into their correct position. Surpassingly it is the favored students who suffer the most. Talent needs to be nurtured and perfected, and she makes sure that the most talented get it right. They are learning to dance for their temple rather than commercial reasons but even so, they are available for less sacred purposes. The opening of a hotel or gallery, or even a villa is always enhanced with a display of Balinese dance. Teacher Wayan Sudi learn dance years ago when it was one of the subjects taught at her school in Sukawati. She is a recognized Legong and can be seen performing this special dance at ARMA each week. She teaches young girls as a part of her sacred duty rather than for monetary returns. Anything she receives is little more than a pittance. Bali’s dance, like the culture, is kept alive and dynamic. Generation after generation have learned the moves and gestures of their ancestors. From an early age children are exposed to dance. Even before they can walk, they are brought to temple ceremonies where dance and the pervading music of the gamelan enters their souls. By the time they are five or even four they are ready to learn more. Behind the scenes the banjars, the community organizations make sure that beliefs and traditions of dance and music are kept alive in their village something that happens all over Bali. On the village or traditional level, dance is taught by a kind of absorption method. The girls follow their teacher time after time until the moves are considered to have entered the body and they can perform them by themselves. Then the teacher will stand behind correcting, pulling and pushing their limbs into correct postures, with the right gestures and expressions. Balinese dance is all about control and balance, integral parts of the learning process. Every limb, every muscle and every motion are held in control. Watch if you can, Nigel Simmon’s beguiling movie on Bali . One segment features a dancer moving almost in slow motion. The camera is in close, inches away from her, almost touching her face, but her command of her movements and senses as she performs, seemingly unaware of the intrusion, is breathtaking. The variety of dance in Bali is dazzling. First there are social dances – like the welcome dances where girls throw flowers to the guests and Joget where pretty female dancers invite audience members to dance with them -wrth often hilarious results – especially when it is held in a village. Kecak is one of Bali’s most dramatic performances. Created by westerners in the 1930’s it is a blend of older dances and music forms made into a hugely dramatic portrayal of the fight of good against evil, taken from the great Hindu epic the Ramayana. It is visually spectacular, and seen in the dim light of oil lamps with three young costumed girls, and an army of men clad simply in sarungs as they chant the backing chorus of “cak, cak, cak’; it can really make you believe in magic. The elegant Legong is another favorite and those interested can explore ever more dances like the Rejang, the popular Gambuh and several compelling mask dances.The mountain to of Kintamani is home to the Bans Gede – a formalized warrior dance that is both stately and compelling. The sacred barong is one of the most loved of Balinese dances, which can be seen in various tourist sites in temples and around Galungan time, by teams of small boys roaming the streets with various forms of baby barong – a very heartwarming sight. Apart from this little class in my compound, dance is taught all over the island, often with a dozen of so students learning privately from a good teacher. Several hotels IikeTanjung Sari in Sanur and Amandari hold classes, as does the~well-established ARMA in Ubud. In Denpasar two government schools operate.The STSI on JI Nusa Indah just north of the Arts Centre runs the equivalent of University training in dance and music. KOKAR in Batubulan, close to the place where daily barong shows are held, offers the equivalent of a high school education specializing in dance and music. You can ask your guide to arrange a visit where you will be welcome to sit and watch the students. The culmination of Bali’s cultural calendar happens between mid June to late July when the Bali Festival of the Arts showcases dance and drama performances from across the island. It is a time not to be missed by any budding culture vulture. All the best and the newest, not to mention avant garde performances are highlighted. You can lose yourself in a world of dance performances. One year recently there was a kecak performance, which included classical Indian dancers from America and classical Indian singers from India. It was a cultural co-operation that really worked! While lucky visitors may get to see a performance at a temple, there are plenty of public performances for visitors who would like to experience a taste. Check your tourist guides and ask at your hotel for recent updates. In Ubud visitors may find themselves gently accosted on the streets, by men dressed in traditional clothes. Don’t ignore them, as they are selling tickets for the night’s performances and trying to make a little pocket money. But fear not. The shows are genuine. A weekly program will show you what is happening where.The Ubud place holds regular evening shows which is are always a pleasure to watch. In the end, the Balinese themselves love dance and their first responsibility is to please the gods. But if we get to experience a performance, whether sacred or public, we can consider ourselves blessed.

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