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Indonesia Best Humor Books Collection

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 16:30:00 +0700

I, Con: The Autobiography of Paul Conrad, Editorial Cartoonist Paperback – December 15, 2006
by Paul Conrad (Author)

To some, Paul Conrad can best be described as a "force of nature." I Con, The Autobiography of Paul Conrad explores the life of this three-time Pulitzer Prize Winner and one of the most distinguished political cartoonists in the world, who was chief editorial cartoonist of the Los Angeles Times from 1964 to 1993.

Product Details
    Paperback: 190 pages
    Publisher: Angel City Press; 1 edition (December 15, 2006)
    Language: English
    ISBN-10: 1883318726
    ISBN-13: 978-1883318727
    Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8 x 0.9 inches
    Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

A Very Entertaining and Interesting Biography
By Clifford on March 8, 2007
Format: Paperback
I saw the biography of Paul Conrad on PBS's "Independent Lens" and was spurred to read his new autobiography. It is very entertaining, interesting, and insightful. Paul Conrad is passionate about doing something about social wrongs and political wrongdoings. He expresses his passion by drawing very funny but in-your-face political cartoons. He considers the greatest irony in his life was, after years of lampooning President Nixon, he was put on Nixon's Enemies List in 1973. Four years later, Nixon's alma mater, Whittier College, named him to the Richard M. Nixon Chair. The book is a very enjoyable and a laugh-aloud read. The man is full of life and loves his country.

A Great Biography
By John Matlock on March 4, 2007
Format: Paperback
This is the hands down best way to do a biography that I have ever seen. It's at least 90% pictures, maybe 95%. The words tell us just a bit about his personal history, but the pictures - drawings really of his editorial cartoons -- tell us more about his beliefs, thoughts, the inner person he is than anything words could possibly say.

This is not to say that the words aren't well done. I particularily like the story of going for his Army physical. He was 4-F because of vision problems. So a Major took him for an eye test: 'Conrad, what's the top line on that eye chart? 'E' 'You're in.' In the Army he made it all the way up to PFC, several times. Anyone with the view of authority figures that he has was lucky to make it that far. But that's the view that made him such a great political cartoonist.

Do I agree with him on all points, of course not. What would be the fun in that? But even in the areas where we disagree, he's still funny.

More Humor Books Collections Here

Wayang is Like A Religion

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 23:55:00 +0700

The Dalang Ki Manteb Sudarsono in His Wayang Kulit Performance

Wayang is a Javanese word for particular kinds of theatre. When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang. Performances of shadow puppet theatre are accompanied by a gamelan orchestra in Java, and by gender wayang in Bali.
UNESCO designated wayang kulit, a shadow puppet theatre and the best known of the Indonesian wayang, as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003. In return for the acknowledgment, UNESCO required Indonesians to preserve their heritage.

Etymology
The term 'wayang' is the Javanese word for shadow, or bayang in standard Indonesian and Malay. In modern daily Javanese and Indonesian vocabulary, wayang is most often associated with the puppet itself or the whole puppet theatre performance.

History
Wayang shadow-puppet (Bali, early 20th century)
Wayang is a generic term denoting traditional theatre in Indonesia. There is no evidence that wayang existed before Hinduism was brought to Southeast Asia from India circa the first century CE. This leads to the hypothesis that the art was imported from India or China, both of which have a long tradition of shadow puppetry and theatre in general. However, there very well may have been indigenous storytelling traditions that had a profound impact on the development of the traditional puppet theatre.

The first record of a wayang performance is from an inscription dated 930 CE which says si Galigi mawayang, or "Sir Galigi played wayang". From that time till today it seems certain features of traditional puppet theatre have remained. Galigi was an itinerant performer who was requested to perform for a special royal occasion. At that event he performed a story about the hero Bhima from the Mahabharata.

Wayang kulit is a unique form of theatre employing light and shadow. The puppets are crafted from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. When held up behind a piece of white cloth, with an electric bulb or an oil lamp as the light source, shadows are cast on the screen. The plays are invariably based on romantic tales, especially adaptations of the classic Indian epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Some of the plays are also based on local happening or other local secular stories. It is up to the conductor or dalang or master puppeteer to decide his direction.

The dalang is the genius behind the entire performance. It is he who sits behind the screen and narrates the story. With a traditional orchestra in the background to provide a resonant melody and its conventional rhythm, the dalang modulates his voice to create suspense thus heightening the drama. Invariably, the play climaxes with the triumph of good over evil.

The figures of the wayang are also present in the paintings of that time, for example, the roof murals of the courtroom in Klungkung, Bali. They are still present in traditional Balinese painting today. The figures are painted, flat woodcarvings (a maximum of 5 to 15 mm thick—barely half an inch) with movable arms. The head is solidly attached to the body. Wayang klitik can be used to perform puppet plays either during the day or at night. This type of wayang is relatively rare.

Wayang today is both the most ancient and most popular form of puppet theatre in the world. Hundreds of people will stay up all night long to watch the superstar performers, dalang, who command extravagant fees and are international celebrities. Some of the most famous dalang in recent history are Ki Nartosabdho, Ki Anom Suroto, Ki Asep Sunandar Sunarya, Ki Sugino, and Ki Manteb Sudarsono.

Wayang Kulit
Wayang kulit, or shadow puppets, are without a doubt the best known of the Indonesian wayang. Kulit means skin, and refers to the leather construction of the puppets that are carefully chiselled with very fine tools and supported with carefully shaped buffalo horn handles and control rods. The stories are usually drawn from the Hindu epics the Ramayana, the Mahabharata or from the Serat Menak, (a story about the heroism of Amir Hamzah).

Five Pandawa in Wayang Purwa/Kulit

There is a family of characters in Javanese wayang called Punakawan; they are sometimes referred to as "clown-servants" because they normally are associated with the story's hero, and provide humorous and philosophical interludes. Semar is the father of Gareng (oldest son), Petruk, and Bagong (youngest son). These characters did not originate in the Hindu epics, but were added later, possibly to introduce mystical aspects of Islam into the Hindu-Javanese stories. They provide something akin to a political cabaret, dealing with gossip and contemporary affairs.

The puppet figures themselves vary from place to place. In Central Java the city of Surakarta (Solo) and city of Yogyakarta are most famous and the most commonly imitated style of puppets. Regional styles of shadow puppets can also be found in West Java, Banyumas, Cirebon, Semarang, and East Java. Bali produces more compact and naturalistic figures, and Lombok has figures representing real people. Often modern-world objects as bicycles, automobiles, airplanes and ships will be added for comic effect, but for the most part the traditional puppet designs have changed little in the last 300 years.

Historically, the performance consisted of shadows cast on a cotton screen and an oil lamp. Today, the source of light used in wayang performance in Java is most often a halogen electric light. Some modern forms of wayang such as Wayang Sandosa created in the Art Academy at Surakarta (STSI) has employed spotlights, colored lights and other innovations.

The handwork involved in making a wayang kulit figure that is suitable for a performance takes several weeks, with the artists working together in groups. They start from master models (typically on paper) which are traced out onto skin or parchment, providing the figures with an outline and with indications of any holes that will need to be cut (such as for the mouth or eyes). The figures are then smoothed, usually with a glass bottle, and primed. The structure is inspected and eventually the details are worked through. A further smoothing follows before individual painting, which is undertaken by yet another craftsman. Finally, the movable parts (upper arms, lower arms with hands and the associated sticks for manipulation) mounted on the body, which has a central staff by which it is held. A crew makes up to ten figures at a time, typically completing that number over the course of a week.

The painting of less expensive puppets is handled expediently with a spray technique, using templates, and with a different person handling each color. Less expensive puppets, often sold to children during performances, are sometimes made on cardboard instead of leather.

Wayang wong and wayang topeng
Wayang wong also known as Wayang orang (literally "human wayang") is a type of Javanese theatrical performance with themes taken from episode of Ramayana or Mahabharata.
While wayang gedog usually the theatrical performance that took the themes from the Panji cycles stories from the kingdom of Janggala, in which the players wear masks known as wayang topeng or wayang gedog. The word gedog comes from kedok, which, like topeng means "mask". The main theme is the story of Raden Panji and Candra. This is a love story about princess Candra Kirana of Kediri and Raden Panji Asmarabangun, the crown prince of Jenggala. Candra Kirana was the incarnation of Dewi Ratih (goddess of love) and Panji was an incarnation of Kamajaya (god of love). Kirana's story was given the title Smaradahana ("The fire of love"). At the end of the complicated story they finally can marry and bring forth a son, named Raja Putra. Panji Asmarabangun ruled Jenggala under the official names Sri Kameswara, Prabu Suryowiseso, and Hino Kertapati. Originally, wayang wong was performed only as an aristocratic entertainment in four palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta. In the course of time, it spread to become a popular and folk form as well.

A part of Wayang Golek from West Java

Wayang golek
Wayang golek are wooden doll puppets that are operated from below by rods connected to the hands and a central control rod that runs through the body to the head. The simple construction of the puppets belies their versatility, expressiveness and aptitude for imitating human dance. Today, wayang golek is mainly associated with Sundanese culture of West Java. However the wooden wayang also known in Central Java as Wayang Menak, originated from Kudus Central Java.

Little is known for certain about the history of wayang golek, but scholars have speculated that it most likely originated in China and arrived in Java sometime in the 17th century. Some of the oldest traditions of wayang golek are from the north coast of Java in what is called the pasisir region. This is home to some of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Java and it is likely the wayang golek grew in popularity through telling the wayang menak stories of Amir Hamza, the uncle of Muhammad. These stories are still widely performed in Kabumen, Tegal, and Jepara as wayang golek menak, and in Cirebon, wayang golek cepak. Legendary origins of wayang golek attribute their invention to the Muslim saint Wali Sunan Kudus, who used the medium to proselytize Muslim values.

In the 18th century the tradition moved into the mountainous region of Priangan West Java where it eventually was used to tell stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata in a tradition now called Wayang Golek Purwa, which can be found in Bandung, Bogor and Jakarta. The adoption of Javanese Mataram kejawen culture by Sundanese aristocrats was probably the remnant of Mataram influence over the Priangan region during the reign of expansive Sultan Agung. While main characters from Ramayana and Mahabharata are similar with wayang kulit purwa version of Central Java, some of punakawan (servant also jester) were rendered in Sundanese names and characteristics, such as Cepot or Astrajingga as Bagong, Dawala or Udel as Petruk. Wayang golek purwa has become the most popular form of wayang golek today and the most famous puppeteer family is the Sunarya family which has produced several generations of stellar performers.

Wayang karucil or wayang klitik
Wayang klitik figures occupy a middle ground between the figures of wayang golek and wayang kulit. They are constructed similarly to wayang kulit figures, but from thin pieces of wood instead of leather, and, like wayang kulit figures, are used as shadow puppets. A further similarity is that they are the same smaller size as wayang kulit figures. However, wood is more subject to breakage than leather. During battle scenes, wayang klitik figures often sustain considerable damage, much to the amusement of the public, but in a country in which before 1970 there were no adequate glues available, breakage generally meant an expensive, newly made figure. On this basis the wayang klitik figures, which are to appear in plays where they have to endure battle scenes, have leather arms. The name of these figures is onomotopaeic, from the sound klitik-klitik, that these figures make when worked by the dalang.

Wayang klitik figures come originally from eastern Java, where one still finds workshops turning them out. They are less costly to produce than wayang kulit figures.

The origin of the stories involved in these puppet plays comes from the kingdoms of eastern Java: Jenggala, Kediri and Majapahit. From Jenggala and Kediri come the stories of Raden Panji and Cindelaras, which tells of the adventures of a pair of village youngsters with their fighting cocks. The Damarwulan presents the stories of a hero from Majapahit. Damarwulan is a clever chap, who with courage, aptitude, intelligence and the assistance of his young lover Anjasmara, makes a surprise attack on the neighboring kingdom and brings down Minakjinggo, an Adipati (viceroy) of Blambangan and mighty enemy of Majapahit's beautiful queen Sri Ratu Kencanawungu. As a reward, Damarwulan is married to Kencanawungu and becomes king of Majapahit; he also takes Lady Anjasmara as a second wife. This story is full of love affairs and battles and is very popular with the public. The dalang is liable to incorporate the latest local gossip and quarrels and work them into the play as comedy.

Wayang Beber it sounds like the beginning of "cubisme"

Wayang beber
The wayang beber has strong similarities to narratives in the form of illustrated ballads that were common at annual fairs in medieval and early modern Europe. They have also been subject to the same fate—they have nearly vanished although there are still some groups of artists who support wayang beber in places such as Surakarta (Solo) in Central Java. Chinese visitors to Java during the 15th century described a storyteller or unrolled scrolls and told stories that made the audience laugh or cry. A few scrolls of images remain from those times, found today in museums. There are two sets, hand-painted on hand-made bark cloth, that are still owned by families who have inherited them from many generations ago, in Pacitan and Wonogiri, both villages in Central Java. Performances, mostly in small open-sided pavilions or auditoriums, take place according to the following pattern:

The dhalang gives a sign, the small gamelan orchestra with drummer and a few knobbed gongs and a musician with a rebab (violin-like instrument held vertically) begins to play and the dhalang unrolls the first scroll of the story. Then, speaking and singing, he narrates the episode in more detail. In this manner, in the course of the evening he unrolls several scrolls one at a time. Each scene in the scrolls represents a story or part of a story. The content of the story typically stems from the Panji romances which are semi-historical legends set in the 12th-13th century East Javanese kingdoms of Jenggala, Daha and Kediri, and also in Bali.

Wayang Sadat
This newly developed form is used by teachers of Islam to show the principles of Muslim ethics and religion to the natives of Java and Bali. The term sadat derived from shahada (Arabic: الشهادة aš-šahādah).

Wayang Wahyu
Wayang wahyu or "revelation wayang" is a modern form created in the 1960s by the Javanese Jesuit Brother Timotheus L. Wignyosubroto who sought to show the Javanese and other Indonesians the teachings of the Catholic Church in a manner accessible to the audience. In the beginning, the puppets were often made of paper because it was less expensive than the traditional water buffalo hide. It became popular as an alternative method of telling Bible stories. (W)

Note:
These days Indonesian people know the new kind of wayang, likes: Wayang Kartun, Wayang Suket, Wayang Kontemporer, etc.

Best Known Painter from Indonesia

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 22:26:00 +0700

Raden Saleh in 1872

Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman (1807 or 1811 - April 23, 1880) is one of the best known painters from Indonesia and a pioneer of modern Indonesian art.
He was considered to be the first modern artist from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), and his paintings corresponded with nineteenth-century romanticism which was popular in Europe at the time. He also expressed his cultural roots and inventiveness in his work.

Early life and career
Raden Saleh, was born into a noble Javanese family. He was grandson of Sayyid Abdullah Bustaman from his mother's side. His father was Sayyid Husen bin Alwi bin Awal bin Yahya, an Indonesian of Arab descent.

European sojourn
Young Raden Saleh was first taught in Bogor by the Belgian artist A.J. Payen. Payen acknowledged the youth's talent, and persuaded the colonial government of the Netherlands to send Raden Saleh to the Netherlands to study art. He arrived in Europe in 1829 and began to study under Cornelius Kruseman and Andries Schelfhout.

It was from Kruseman that Raden Saleh studied his skills in portraiture, and later was accepted in various European courts where he was assigned to do portraits. From 1839, he spent five years in the Ernst I court, Grand Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who became an important patron.
From Schelfhout, Raden Saleh furthered his skills as a landscape painter. Raden Saleh visited several European cities, as well as Algiers. In The Hague, a lion tamer allowed Raden Saleh to study his lion, and from that his most famous painting of animal fights were created, and subsequently brought fame to the artist.
Many of his paintings were exhibited in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Several of his paintings were destroyed in when the Colonial Dutch pavilion in Paris was burnt in 1931.

Return
The artist returned to Indonesia in 1851 after living in Europe for 20 years. Here, he worked as conservator for the colonial collection of government art. He continued painting portraits of the Javanese aristocracy, and many more landscape paintings. He died in 1880, after coming back from a second stay in Europe.

Diponegoro
One of the creations Raden Saleh which gained popularity for its historical value was the 'Capture of Prince Diponegoro', which depicted a famous betrayal by the colonial government to the famous Javanese prince. It was returned to Indonesia from the Dutch royal Palace in 1978. Now it is displayed in the President's Palace Museum in Jakarta.
In the painting, Raden Saleh is said to show his views of the colonialist governments from deliberately making the Dutch look pompous and proud, but somehow imbalanced. The Javanese, on the other hand, were depicted as somehow more balanced in composition. It is also believed that one of the Javanese figures in the painting was a self-portrait.(W)

Capture of prince Diponegoro (1857)

"Hunt"

The Force of Dance - Bali

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Thu, 8 Mar 2012 08:52:00 +0700

Unique and Beautiful Places to Imagine

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Top 10 Cities Of The World

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World's Best Travel Destinations; TransGlobe Travelers; Amazing Travel D...

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supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Tue, 3 May 2011 10:13:00 +0700

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Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2011

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 22:12:00 +0700

Japan has an ill-deserved reputation as an expensive destination.
Photo: Brent Winebrenner/Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet has drawn on the knowledge, passion and kilometres travelled by its staff, authors and online community to present the Top 10 Countries to visit in 2011.
From the new book, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011: the best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the upcoming year.

1. ALBANIA
Not so long ago, when the Balkans were considered an 'only for the brave' travel destination, only the bravest of the brave trickled into Albania. Since backpackers started coming to elusive Albania in the 1990s, tales have been told in 'keep it to yourself' whispers of azure beaches, confrontingly good cuisine, heritage sites, nightlife, affordable adventures and the possibility of old-style unplanned journeys complete with open-armed locals for whom travellers are still a novelty. Sick to death of being dismissed with blinged-up crime-boss clichés, Albania has announced 'A New Mediterranean Love' via its tourist board. The jig is almost up – Albania won't be off the beaten track for much longer.

2. BRAZIL
Famous for samba, football and cinematic scenery, Brazil has always been known for celebration (Carnaval being the most obvious manifestation of this national joie de vivre). Yet, Brazil rings in 2011 with even more cause for jubilation. Winning the bids to host both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is undertaking a flurry of new projects, with billions of dollars earmarked for infrastructure (there's even discussion of building a high-speed rail line between Rio and São Paulo). Despite the strong Brazilian real, travellers should benefit from the addition of thousands of new hotel rooms, while increased competition from low-cost airline carriers (including Azul, established by the Brazilian-born founder of JetBlue) should make travel across this vast country more affordable.

3. CAPE VERDE
Cape Verdeans might have known about the wider world forever, but it seems that the wider world is only just opening its eyes to Cape Verde. On the surface this is hardly a surprise; the country appears to be nothing but a blink-and-you'll-miss-it dot of dust floating off the coast of Africa, but the islands have recently started catching sideways-glances from European winter-sun tourists. This growing international interest is bringing enormous changes to an archipelago that looks and feels as if it were born from a Caribbean mother and an African father.

4. PANAMA
The belly button of the Americas, Panama has rhythms that hip-hop between modern and primitive, such as the line of skyscrapers and container ships set against clear seas and dense, dark rainforest not so far away. For many, the culture of commerce has defined this tiny tropical nation, best known as the world's most famous shortcut. Yet its treasures – from millennial indigenous cultures to a biodiversity that astounds – run far deeper. Panama was always there, but who knew? On the world map and in the ether of sentiment, Panama occupies a continental crossroads where the 21st century meets the dawn of the ages.

5. BULGARIA
For those who looked, Bulgaria has always had its moments – in its biggest cities, on its snow-capped peaks and great-value ski fields, on its golden-sand beaches and in ancient Black Sea port towns. Yet, over the years, with history's contribution, Bulgaria has got lost amid its more famous neighbours. But things are changing. Now proudly part of the 21st-century EU, Bulgaria has enjoyed more attention – and self confidence. Its ski slopes are de facto destinations for Europeans looking for cheaper alternatives, empty patches of lovely Black Sea beaches can still be found, and its quietly brilliant wine industry is flourishing.

6. VANUATU
For those in search of authentic experiences, Vanuatu is hard to beat. From mighty mountains and thunderous waterfalls to remote villages, from huge lagoons to tropical islets, there's so much on offer, far from the crowds. Don't expect ritzy resorts and Cancun-style nightlife; with a good choice of family-run guesthouses in traditional villages and a smattering of comfortable, romantic hideaways, it's tailor-made for eco-tourists. With 83 islands, you're spoilt for choice. Vanuatu has recently seen an increased number of direct flights from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji and the Solomon Islands – go now, before the secret's out.

7. ITALY
Italy is a beguiling, beautiful, charismatic mess. The press might be largely owned by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, stories of corruption, bribery and sex scandals might be everyday news, and the economy might be in the doldrums, but this is still one of the world's most magnificent places to be. The food is delicious, sunshine is plentiful, scenery and towns are sublime, and there is millennia-worth of art to look at. There are 44 Unesco World Heritage Sites here, more than in any other country.

8. TANZANIA
It's true, Tanzania is a place of great marvels – Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar… But that's not all. It also has great herds of elephants in Ruaha, tree-climbing lions around Lake Manyara, chimpanzee sanctuaries in Gombe and Mahale and packs of wild dogs in Selous. There are also sunsets on the Rufiji River, when the water boils with hippos and crocodiles. In fact, the country has the whole panoply of east Africa's wildlife – including such rarities as the red colobus monkey, black rhino, hawksbill and leatherback turtles and Pemba flying foxes – concentrated in an unrivalled collection of parks and reserves. So you think you've seen it all? We're betting Tanzania still has a surprise or two for you.

9. SYRIA
Heard the one about Bashar al-Assad and the US Ambassador? Well it's no joke. After five years of cold-shoulder treatment relations have thawed and Syria is officially off the naughty step. There's a definite upwardly-mobile attitude taking over the streets, thanks in part to the state-controlled economy slowly being overhauled and the noose of the 'Axis of Evil' tag no longer hanging around the nation's neck. Savvy tourists can lord it up like a pasha, staying in lovingly restored Ottoman palaces and sipping cappuccino after shopping it up in the souq. But with all this modernisation it's good to see some things are still the same. Out east the Bedouin still herd their scraggly sheep and welcome strangers into goat-hair tents for tea.

10. JAPAN
Japan has an ill-deserved reputation as an expensive destination where the English language is in short supply. But US$100 cuts of Kobe beef and the occasional Lost in Translation moment aside, Japan is surprisingly affordable and user-friendly. Before you go, stop by your local travel agency and purchase a Japan Rail Pass, which grants you unlimited access to the country's sophisticated transport network. While Tokyo was ultimately unsuccessful in its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the campaign resulted in increased English signage across the country. So, if Japan has been on your travel wishlist for a while, make this the year that you finally see the birthplace of sushi, sake and sumo.

This is an edited extract from Best in Travel 2011 © Lonely Planet. 2010. RRP: $24.99. lonelyplanet.com

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/traveller-tips/top-10-countries-to-visit-in-2011-20101101-17a0y.html

The Top 10 Countries for 2010

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 21:49:00 +0700

Fans of El Salvador prepare for their World Cup 2010
qualifying match...guardian.co.uk

Want a sneak peek into the future?
We’ve just released our newest edition of Best in Travel. We’re delighted at the attention it’s getting, so we’ll share some of the hot lists inside - and get your thoughts.
To start with a bang, here’s our list of the ten hottest countries for 2010 - and why.

El Salvador
El Salvador sneaks up on you: in lefty lounge bars in San Salvador, at sobering war memorials and museums, and along lush cloud-forest trails; it’s a place of remarkable warmth and intelligence, made all the more appealing for being so unexpected. Travellers tend to skip El Salvador, wooed by marquee destinations such as Guatemala and Costa Rica, and unnerved by stories of civil war and gang violence. But the war ended almost 20 years ago, and crime, while serious, is almost exclusively played out between rival gangs; tourists are virtually never involved. And though El Salvador has fewer protected areas than its neighbours, you get them practically to yourself – including pristine forests, active volcanoes and alpine lakes.

Germany
Some countries are simply allowed to be, but Germany has had to reinvent itself more times than Madonna. And it has done so again since 1990, when reunification brought an end to more than four decades of division (thanks for the correction, conetop!). In year 20 after its latest rebirth, Germany is still a country where you can witness history in the making. Head to Hamburg, where an entire new quarter is being wrested from the detritus of a 19th-century harbour. Or to Dresden, where the domed Frauenkirche church is once again the diamond in the shining tiara that is the city’s famous skyline. And, of course, to Berlin, whose climate of openness spawns more creative experimentation than a Petri dish on Viagra.

Greece
Seldom does a travel destination satisfy the blurbs that shout ‘has something for everyone’ - but Greece truly does. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clamouring for more. It’s guilt-free travel – a slice of history served alongside a healthy slice of hedonism – and everyone seems happy. You get to marvel at the dazzling clarity of the light and the waters, the floral aromas that permeate the air, the pervading sense of spirit – and then sit down to contemplate it all while consuming that great Greek combination of ouzo and octopus!

Malaysia
Malaysia often gets criticised as being mild in comparison with its grittier neighbours, Thailand and Indonesia. It’s true, natural disasters and coups only seem to happen across its borders, the roads don’t have too many potholes, buses and trains have air-con and plush seats, and hotels are of international standard. While troubles are few, visiting Malaysia lets you leap into the jaws of one of the most interesting parts of Southeast Asia’s roaring cultural smorgasbord – and not be too worried about it. Cheap connections to Europe and great exchange rates mean that you won’t get eaten up by your wallet either.

Morocco
‘Hello, bonjour, salaam alaykum, labes?’ Street greetings sum up everything you need to know about Morocco in a word: it’s Berber and Arab, Muslim and secular, Mediterranean and African, worldly wise and welcoming. Morocco sees how the Middle East is portrayed via satellite news and the internet, and is as concerned with violent threats and abuses of power as anyone else in the modern world. But as you’ll see, most Moroccans are plenty busy working to get by, get their kids through school and greet the king’s planned 10 million visitors by 2010 with the utmost hospitality. Every visitor helps Moroccans realise these goals by creating new economic opportunities, and can make a Moroccan’s day by returning the greeting: ‘Hello, good day, may peace be upon you, are you happy?’

Nepal
But for the Himalaya, Nepal would probably be stuck in the shadow of India – but it’s hard to cast a shadow on a country that includes the highest point on earth, the summit of Mt Everest. Over the last decade, Nepal has seen its share of troubles, but 2008 was a watershed year – the rebels became the government, the kingdom became a republic and the king became a civilian. With the fall of the monarchy, the sound of temple bells has replaced the stomp of army boots and peace has returned to Shangri-La.

New Zealand
Recommending New Zealand’s too obvious, right? You’re looking for something a bit edgier, under the radar or further off the beaten track. But there’s wisdom in the old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fi x it’, and last time we checked the land of Maori and hobbits certainly didn’t need repairing. NZ’s checklist of essential experiences remains as strong as ever. Spectacular landscapes abound, from sea-level rainforests to plunging glaciers, geothermal springs and barren volcanic plains. Add a hearty pinch of lens-friendly wildlife, proud Maori culture, and fine food and drink, and it’s easy to see why the natives are so chilled.

Portugal
Skirting along the southwestern edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the once-great seafaring nation of Portugal today straddles two very different worlds. For purists, this is a land of great tradition, of saints-day festivals where ox-drawn carts still lumber through flower-strewn streets, and ancient vineyards bring sleepy medieval villages to life during the annual harvest. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, something decidedly more modern is transpiring. Old city centres, long ago abandoned by the young and upwardly mobile in favour of the suburbs, are slowly being revitalised. A new wave of boutiques, art galleries and cafes are finding new homes in once crumbling old buildings, and locals are beginning to rediscover the allure of vibrant downtown areas.

Suriname
South America’s smallest country, both in area and population, is easily one of its most diverse. Some three quarters of Suriname’s people are descended from Chinese, Javanese and Indian labourers that arrived in the 18th century, and West African slaves in the 17th. Add indigenous Amerindians and Lebanese, Jewish and Dutch settlers, and you have the makings for a lot of ethnic tension, right? Fortunately, wrong. Suriname is known for its peacefully coexisting cultures, most emblematically represented by the country’s biggest mosque and synagogue situated side by side in the capital Paramaribo. With everyone speaking different languages, celebrating different holidays and worshipping in different temples, visiting Suriname is really like hitting several countries at once.

USA
Suddenly the USA is cool again! Be it from Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday last year, or just tightened budgets during the recession, but more Americans (even hipsters) are looking backwards – and foreigners too – and taking in traditional American historical sites, beginning with Washington DC’s freebie zone of museums and heroic monuments.

What do you think? Let us know what your hot destinations are. And pick up a copy of Best in Travel 2010 for much more - such as the world’s best value destinations.

Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/el-salvador/travel-tips-and-articles/15809

Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations In-demand These Days

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 21:32:00 +0700

Bora Bora island Tahiti. Bora Bora is an ideal place for honeymoon couples
travellingboard.net

The honeymoon is a very important part of a newlywed married couple’s life. Both of them want to make the event memorable so it requires careful planning and considerable time to plan it.
There are many honeymoon themes available for couples like romantic honeymoon, dream, exotic, island, luxury, beach, mountain, tropical, adventure, winter, safari, and exclusive honeymoons. If you want to decide on the theme of your honeymoon, and to help you with that task, you can find the top ten list of honeymoon destinations here.
Before checking out the list, there are certain things to consider before choosing your honeymoon destination like -
- in planning for your honeymoon, make a listing of different places that both of you would want to visit, and the activities that you want to be involved in
- the honeymoon budget
- how long do you plan to spend on your honeymoon
- get as much information of your chosen destination
- shock each other with surprise plans

Every couple is excited for their upcoming honeymoon. And so they should choose a honeymoon destination that will suit their tastes and preference. Here is the list of top ten honeymoon destinations:
1. Bora Bora
If you want to add a captivating aura for your honeymoon, a Bora Bora vacation is the top-most choice.
You can enjoy the crystalline seas and powdery beaches of this beautiful place. Spend quiet evenings together along the beach coast as you watch the moon and stars above. A couple nice places to visit would be the Bora Bora Le Meridien or the Bora Bora Bora Pearl Resort.
2. Mauritius
This magical place with the Mauritius weather,landed on the second place as a top honeymoon destination. Holiday Mauritius, in case you are going during the holidays, is also very popular. This place will truly enchant you and you’re sure to get personal attention. Set on a turquoise sea, the island is considered an oasis of tranquility and peace.
3. Barbados
This is an island in the Caribbean that allures many honeymooners with their white beaches, quixotic atmosphere, and turquoise seas. The island boasts of its sophisticated and charming sandy shores that are alive with so many possibilities, so You will find much to do, such as a, Barbados shore excursion. You can enjoy the Barbados activity and picture taking. You’re sure to wake up in a paradise, together with the tropic’s rhythm.
4. Maldives
If you want to visit an impressive place that is secluded and calm, and is most ideal for honeymooners, this is the perfect love spot for you. Enjoy a Maldives honeymoon with the island sun and Other places like, some of the island Maldives royal, island Maldives Sun, where The Little Mermaid Dive Center is located, for instance, on Sun Island, Maldives. This is located 100 km from Male International Airport, on the uninhabited island Nalaguraidhoo.
5. Aruba
This place is also called the lover’s paradise. The couple can enjoy their stay in this romantic place and receive champagne upon arrival. They will also receive a gift, as a souvenir that they’ve been to Aruba. These days, they also offer a promotional ‘free night’ on a return visit. If you are looking into an Aruba vacation package, they offer cruises to Aruba, there are beautiful locations such places as Palm Beach, and Aruba fishing, Aruba deepsea fishing, even an, Aruba wedding, if you like.
6. France
You can also find mountain slopes, beaches, cathedrals, monuments, and museums in France that caters to honeymooners. There are some great vacation packages for those seeking honeymoons in France, especially as it is considered a ‘short break’ to France. Another cool idea would be to go camping France, or make it a camping holiday in France, as it is your honeymoon.
7. Thailand
In this country, you can find sun-kissed waters and seas. Become one of the Thailand woman, or a Thailand man, or Thailand nude if only for a few days with your loved one. They also boast of their exquisite Thai cuisine and attracts many newly weds. Be Thailand sexy with a full moon party. Just watch out for tsunamis in this gorgeous country of Thailand, in the event that you fall into a deep, delicious sleep with your partner after all that fun and sex on the beach! Just playing.
8. Singapore
You can find a lot of botanic gardens and natural environment in this country, and you’re sure to have an unforgettable honeymoon. For a great Singapore singapore vacation, Tiger Airway Singapore offers some affordable packages and airfare to those wishing to enbark on Singapore travell.
9. Seychelles
If you want a tropical honeymoon, this place could best suit you as a couple. They offer powdery, Seychelles beaches, and islands meant for lovers; it’s a great place to experience romance like the waves that caress the shores at midnight. A seychelles honeymoon may be just the thing for you.
10. Italy
Many honeymoon couples are attracted to this beautiful country. You can find painters, paramours, poets, and potentates in this boot-shaped country. Its light, sumptuous, and dreamy landscapes are meant for romance. You can visit, como Italy lake, hotel in Italy venice, Italy Sorento,italy little maggianos, a fine restaurant known for their incredible cuisine, plus much more.

So there you have it, the top ten (10) honeymoon destination(s) top, preferred by many couples.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/top-10-honeymoon-destinations-indemand-these-days-115435.html

By Esther M
About the Author:
Esther is a wife, mother and small business owner who lives in WA state with her family. She enjoys family life, writing, and Internet marketing, among other things. For more helpful Tips & Books on: Romantic travels, Weddings, and Honeymoon destinations, please visit: http://rivierabooks.2ya.com

Top 10 Exotic Destinations in Indonesia

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 21:17:00 +0700

KELIMUTU LAKE or THREE COLOUR LAKE (at NUSA TENGGARA ISLAND)
majim16.blogspot.com

Adventure looms large in this vast and steamy archipelago, where the best of Southeast Asia’s spicy melange simmers tantalisingly. Heady scents, vivid colours, dramatic vistas and diverse cultures spin and multiply to the point of exhaustion, their potent brew leaving your senses reeling.
Rippling across the equator for nearly 5000km, Indonesia encompasses more than 17,000 islands, two-thirds of which are inhabited and richly layered with character. On Sulawesi, the elaborate funeral ceremonies and timeless traditions of Tana Toraja are light years from the surfing culture of Lombok. But so too are the mighty saddle-backed Batak mansions of Danua Toba and the volcanic lakes of Sumatra from the mummies and deeply etched gorges of Papua’s Baliem Valley. The resorts and restaurants of Bali pamper precocious style cats, while at the same moment threadbare backpackers are adopted by homestays in Kalimantan.

Indonesia’s cities are in a constant state of urban evolution, where dense populations, technology and construction live in hectic symbiosis. But most of the archipelago’s territory remains unexplored, concealing a wealth of cultures and a myriad of landscapes. Oceanic rice fields and ancient sultanates in Java are humbled by haunting volcanic cones. Maluku’s alabaster beaches and desert islands remain pristine while the tourist trail heads elsewhere. The jungles of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua are zoological wonders, revealing impish monkeys, stoic sun bears, leopards, orang-utans and remarkable marsupials.

Indonesia Travel Guide
Discover a kaleidoscope of cultures, find surfing nirvana on a palm-fringed island or get up close to orang-utans in Borneo's jungle - plan the Indonesian adventure of a lifetime with this comprehensive guide.

Lonely Planet lists the top15 natural, adventurous and exotic destinations in Indonesia and we are proud to see Lake Toba / Danau Toba of North Sumatra is listed as No.4 out of 15 of the destinations.
1.    Kelimutu -Multihued crater lakes set atop an ancient volcano
2.    Sumba – Fascinating and isolated island with unique tribal traditions and a rich weaving heritage
3.    Pulau Weh – Undisturbed beaches, visiting whale sharks and sublime diving
4.    Danau Toba – Gracious Batak hospitality and Southeast Asia’s largest volcanic lake
5.    Banda Islands – Sublime snorkelling and pristine coral gardens in history’s fabled Spice Islands
6.    Pulau Ternate & Pulau Tidore – Volcanic vistas overlooking ancient sultanates
7.    Borobudur – Swaying palms, luminescent-green rice fields and Indonesia’s most breathtaking monument to Buddha
8.    Gunung Bromo – Bubbling volcano resting in the desolate wastes of the Sea Of Sands
9.    Bali -Heady fun, night-time pleasure, palaces, temples, shopping and Indonesia’s tourist heart
10.    Bunaken Marine National Park – Underwater odysseys, staggering marine life and dazzling reefs
11.    Tana Toraja – Elaborate funeral rites and a mystical mountain kingdom
12.    The Baliem Valley – Trekking Papua’s stunning highlands and encountering diverse cultures
13.    Pulau Biak – Birds of paradise, white-sand beaches and WWII wreck diving
14.    Tanjung Puting National Park – River adventures, jungle treks and endearing rust-red orang-utans
15.    Loksado – Hiking, bamboo, rafting and losing yourself in the enigmatic Meratus Mountains

By Medan Indonesia
Source: Top 10 Exotic Destinations Indonesia | Medan Indonesia Pride http://www.medanku.com/top-10-destinations-indonesia/#ixzz190E2jXls
Copyright: www.MedanKu.com

How to Get to Lake Toba

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 21:05:00 +0700

Since it is located in North Sumatra, the only way there is through the city of Medan – North Sumatra Indonesia. Lake Toba is about 4 hours drive by car from Medan City. You can travel by public bus which may take longer to about 6 hours. The usual stop is the town of ” Pematang Siantar ” halfway to Lake Toba for a toilet break.

Local town is known as Prapat / Parapat.
Local transportation around the lake takes the form of boats. You can also hire a motorcycle for a day or two and get out and about ( Rp.50,0000 per day inclusive of 4 litres of petrol ). There are no police checking licenses and there is not much traffic – just watch out for the big trucks, buses and diabolical bridge.

Source: Lake Toba Largest Volcanic Lake in the World | Medan Indonesia Pride http://www.medanku.com/lake-toba-north-sumatra/#ixzz190FcCWnO
Copyright: www.MedanKu.com

Lake Toba North Sumatra Indonesia

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 21:00:00 +0700

The Pride of Medan Indonesia

Lake Toba also known as Danau Toba in Indonesia is the largest volcanic lake ( crater lake ) in the world.
At 100 km long and 30 km wide, measuring 505 m at its deepest point, it is situated in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Surrounded by tall mountains, it cradles the large island of Samosir in its middle.

Uniqueness of Lake Toba:
Unlike any other lake, if you think about the location — close to the equator — and look at the picture, you will realize that there is something strange about the lake. Most large lakes were formed by glaciers; large lakes close to the equator are sometimes formed by the damming of a large river. But there is no large river flowing into Lake Toba. The lake has a different and more dramatic origin.

Lake Toba marks the site of the largest volcanic eruption in the last 2 million years. It is, like Yellowstone, a “resurgent caldera”, or as geologists David Alt and Daniel Hyndman call this type of volcano, a “perfect horror”. Alt and Hyndman call resurgent calderas “perfect horrors” because they are both violent and enormous.
The size of Lake Toba may be a little difficult to grasp from the picture, so to give you some comparisons.
In Washington state, if the lake were aligned north to south in the Puget Sound area, it would stretch from Everett to Tacoma. In the Chicago area, it would stretch from Waukegan to Gary. In New York, it would stretch from West Point to the Statue of Liberty. This is one enormous volcano.
And its most recent eruption, about 75,000 years ago, was in Volcanic Explosivity Index of 8
The Young Toba Tuff has an estimated volume of 2,800 cubic kilometers (km) and was erupted about 74,000 years ago. The Huckleberry Ridge Tuff, erupted at Yellowstone 2.2 million years ago, has a volume of 2,500 cubic km. The Lava Creek Tuff, erupted at Yellowstone 600,000 years ago, has a volume of 1,000 cubic km. The May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens produced 1 cubic km of ash. Not shown in the diagram, is the Fish Canyon Tuff of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The Fish Canyon Tuff was erupted 27.8 million years ago and has an estimated volume of 3,000 cubic km.
The volume of the youngest eruption is estimated at 2,800 cubic km, making the eruption the largest in the Quaternary. Pyroclastic flows covered an area of at least 20,000 square km. Up to 1200 feet (400 m) of Young Toba Tuff is exposed in the walls of the caldera. On Samosir Island the tuff is more than 1800 feet (600 m) thick. Ash fall from the eruption covers an area of at least 4 million square km (about half the size on the continental United States).
That eruption would not have been pleasant for our ancestors. In fact, some scientists believe that the eruption, and the volcanic winter that followed, almost wiped out homo sapiens, cutting our population down to as few as 3,000, or even as few as 1,000. (That population bottleneck, as geneticists call it, would explain why humans vary less genetically that one would expect from the age of our species.)

Source: Lake Toba Largest Volcanic Lake in the World | Medan Indonesia Pride http://www.medanku.com/lake-toba-north-sumatra/#ixzz190FIGngX
Copyright: www.MedanKu.com

Travel Destination Hawaii - Lava Tour

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sun, 7 Nov 2010 02:12:00 +0700

Sunrise Lava Tour - Hawaii Volcano Kilauea

Sunset Lava Tour

Indonesian Masks Festival 2010 in Cirebon

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Mon, 9 Aug 2010 19:43:00 +0700

A big celebration called "Festival Topeng Nusantara 2010" or the Indonesian Masks Festival 2010 will be held in Cirebon - West Java, Indonesia, October 2010. Festival participants come from various regions in Indonesia. Centers of mask arts and crafts in Indonesia, such as Bali, Malang, Indramayu, Cirebon, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, West Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan (Borneo), North Sumatra and other cities will not miss this rare opportunity.
For spectators from outside Indonesia who are interested in the event can stop journey through Jakarta. From Jakarta to Cirebon can be reached via car or train with a long journey of
approximately two and a half to three hours travel time. Welcome to Indonesia Masks Festival 2010 in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia, October 2010! (Eyn)

Balinese Art, From Majapahit Kingdom to Recent History

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Mon, 9 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0700

Image via Wikipedia

Balinese art is art of Hindu-Javanese origin that grew from the work of artisans of the Majapahit Kingdom, with their expansion to Bali in the late 13th century. From the sixteenth until the twentieth centuries, the village of Kamasan, Klungkung (East Bali), was the centre of classical Balinese art. During the first part of the twentieth century, new varieties of Balinese art developed. Since the late twentieth century, Ubud and its neighboring villages established a reputation as the center of Balinese art. Ubud and Batuan are known for their paintings, Mas for their woodcarvings, Celuk for gold and silver smiths, and Batubulan for their stone carvings. Covarrubias describes Balinese art as, "... a highly developed, although informal Baroque folk art that combines the peasant liveliness with the refinement of classicism of Hinduistic Java, but free of the conservative prejudice and with a new vitality fired by the exuberance of the demonic spirit of the tropical primitive." Eiseman correctly pointed out that Balinese art is actually carved, painted, woven, and prepared into objects intended for everyday use rather than as object d 'art.

Hindu-Javanese: Majapahit Kingdom

Recent history
Prior to 1920s, Balinese traditional paintings were restricted to what is now known as the Kamasan or Wayang style. It is a visual narrative of Hindu-Javanese epics: the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as a number of indigenous stories, such as the Panji narrative. These two-dimensional drawings are traditionally drawn on cloth or bark paper (Ulantaga paper) with natural dyes. The coloring is limited to available natural dyes: red, ochre, black, etc. In addition, the rendering of the figures and ornamentations must follow strictly prescribed rules, since they are mostly produced for religious articles and temple hangings. These paintings are produced collaboratively, and therefore mostly anonymously.

There were many experiments with new types of art by Balinese from the late nineteenth century onwards. These experiments were stimulated by access to new materials (western paper and imported inks and paint), and by the 1930s, new tourist markets stimulated many young Balinese to be involved in new types of art.

In the 1920s, with the arrival of many western artists, Bali became an artist enclave (as Tahiti was for Paul Gauguin) for avant-garde artists such as Walter Spies (German), Rudolf Bonnet (Dutch), Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur (Belgian), Arie Smit (Dutch) and Donald Friend (Australian) in more recent years. Most of these western artists had very little influence on the Balinese until the post-World War Two period, although some accounts over-emphasise the western presence at the expense of recognising Balinese creativity.

On his first visit to Bali in 1930, the Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias noted that local paintings served primarily religious or ceremonial functions. They were used as decorative cloths to be hung in temples and important houses, or as calendars to determine children's horoscopes. Yet within a few years, he found the art form had undergone a "liberating revolution." Where they had once been severely restricted by subject (mainly episodes from Hindu mythology) and style, Balinese artists began to produce scenes from rural life. These painters had developed increasing individuality.
This groundbreaking period of creativity reached a peak in the late 1930s. A stream of famous visitors, including Charlie Chaplin and the anthropologists Gregory Bateson and Margaret Mead, encouraged the talented locals to create highly original works. During their stay in Bali in mid 1930s, Bateson and Mead collected over 2000 paintings, predominantly from the village of Batuan, but also from the coastal village of Sanur. Among western artists, Spies and Bonnet are often credited for the modernization of traditional Balinese paintings. From the 1950s onwards Baliese artists incorporated aspects of perspective and anatomy from these artists. More importantly, they acted as agents of change by encouraging experimentation, and promoted departures from tradition. The result was an explosion of individual expression that increased the rate of change in Balinese art. The 1930s styles were consolidated in the 1950s, and in more recent years have been given the confusing title of "modern traditional Balinese painting". The Ubud painters, although a minority amongst the artists working in the 1930s, became the representatives of the new style thanks to the presence of the great artist Gusti Nyoman Lempad in that village, and to the patronage of the traditional rulers of Ubud. The key points of the Ubud Style included a concentration on the depiction of daily Bali life and drama; the change of the patron of these artists from the religious temples and royal houses to western tourists/collectors; shifting the picture composition from multiple to single focus.Despite the adoption of modern western painting traditions by many Balinese and Indonesian painters, "modern traditional Balinese painting" is still thriving and continues by descendants/students of the artists of the pre-war modernist era (1928-1942). The schools of modern traditional Balinese painting include: Ubud, Batuan, Sanur, Young Artist and Keliki schools of painting.

Modern traditional painting
The pre-War modernisation of Bainese art emanated from three villages: Ubud, where Spies settled, Sanur on the southern coast, and Batuan, a traditional hub of musicians, dancers, carvers and painters. The artists painted mostly on paper, though canvas and board were also used. Often, the works featured repetitive clusters of stylized foliage or waves that conveyed a sense of texture, even perspective. Each village evolved a style of its own. Ubud artists made more use of open spaces and emphasized human figures. Sanur paintings often featured erotic scenes and animals, and work from Batuan was less colorful but tended to be busier.

Ubud painting
Ubud has been the center of art for centuries, with the surrounding royal houses and temples as the main patrons. Prior to the 1920s, traditional wayang style paintings dominated the subject matters, although Jean Couteau[4] believes that both secular and religious theme paintings have long been co-existing in the form of the expression of the unity of opposites (Rwabhinneda in Balinese belief system).

Under the patronage of the Ubud royal family, esepcially Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati, and with Rudolf Bonnet as a chief consultant, the Pitamaha Art Guild was founded in 1936 as a way to professionalise Balinese painting. Its mission was to preserve the quality of Balinese Art in the rush of tourism to Bali. The board members of Pitamaha met regularly to select paintings submitted by its members, and to conduct exhibitions throughout Indonesia and abroad. Pitamaha was active until the beginning of the second world war in 1942.The subject matters shifted from religious narration to Balinese daily life. Ubud artists who were members to Pitamaha came from Ubud and its surrounding villages; Pengosekan, Peliatan and Tebasaya. Among them were: Ida Bagus Made Kembeng of the village of Tebesaya and his three sons Ida Bagus Wiri, Ida Bagus Made and Ida Bagus Belawa; Tjokorda Oka of the royal house of Peliatan; Anak Agung Gde Sobrat, Anak Agung Gde Meregeg, I Dewa Putu Bedil, I Dewa Nyoman Leper, Anak Agung Dana of Padangtegal; I Gusti Ketut Kobot, I Gusti Made Baret, I Wayan Gedot, Dewa Putu Mokoh of Pengosekan; and I Gusti Nyoman Lempad. Artists from other areas also participated, including Pan Seken from Kamasan, I Gusti Made Deblog from Denpasar, and some of the Sanur artists.

Pitamaha has been by the descendents of the Ubud artists, and has now come to be identified with the period of the 1930s. Noted Ubudian artists include I Ketut Budiana, I Nyoman Meja, I Nyoman Kayun, A.A. Gde Anom Sukawati, I Gusti Agung Wiranata, and Ida Bagus Sena

Batuan painting
The Batuan school of painting is practiced by artists in the village of Batuan, which is situated ten kilometers to the South of Ubud. The Batuan artisans are gifted dancers, sculptors and painters. Leading artists of the 1930s included I Nyoman Ngendon, and a number of members of leading brahman families, including Ida Bagus Made Togog. Other major Batuan artists from the pre-modernist era include I Dewa Nyoman Mura (1877-1950) and I Dewa Putu Kebes (1874-1962), who were known as sanging; traditional Wayang-style painters for temples' ceremonial textiles.
The western influence in Batuan did not reach the intensity it had in Ubud. According to Claire Holt, the Batuan paintings were often dark, crowded representations of either legendary scenes or themes from daily life, but they portrayed above all fearsome nocturnal moments when grotesque spooks, freakish animal monsters, and witches accosted people. This is particularly true for paintings collected by Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson during their field studies in Bali in 1936 to 1939.[3] Gradations of black to white ink washes laid over most of the surface, so as to create an atmosphere of darkness and gloom. In the later years, the designs covered the entire space, which often contributed to the crowded nature of these paintings.

Among the early Batuan artists, I Ngendon (1903-1946) was considered the most innovative Batuan School painter. Ngendon was not only a good painter, but a shrewd business man and political activist. He encouraged and mobilized his neighbours and friends to paint for tourist consumption. His ability in portraiture played an important role in teaching his fellow villagers in Batuan more than Spies and Bonnet. The major Batuan artists from this period were: I Patera (1900-1935), I Tombos (b. 1917), Ida Bagus Togog (1913-1989), Ida Bagus Made Jatasura (1917-1946), Ida Bagus Ketut Diding (1914-1990), I Made Djata (1920-2001), and Ida Bagus Widja (1912-1992). The spirit of the Pitamaha period is still strong and continues by contemporary Batuan Artists such as I Made Budi , I Wayan Bendi (b. 1950), I Ketut Murtika (b. 1952), I Made Sujendra (b. 1964), and many others. I Made Budi and I Wayan Bendi paintings capture the influence of tourism in modern life in Bali. They place tourists with their camera, riding a motorbike or surfing in the midst of Balinese traditional village activities. The dichotomy of modern and traditional Balinese life are contrasted starkly in harmony. I Ketut Murtika ( still paints the traditional story of Mahabharata and Ramayana in a painstaking details with subdued colors. His painting of the Wheel of Life viewed from the Balinese beliefs system shows his mastery of local legends and painstaking attention to details. I Made Sujendra, an art teacher at a local art school, depicts old Balinese folklore with a modern eye and a high degree of individuality. Rejecting excessive decoration and relying on the composition itself, I Made Sujendra is successful in depicting tensions in his work and the old Batuan style of 1930s.

Sanur painting
Unlike Ubud and Batuan which are located in the inland of Bali, Sanur is a beach resort. Sanur was the home of the well known Belgian artist Le Mayeur de Mepres, who lived with a Balinese wife (Ni Polok) and had a beach house in Sanur beach.

Tourists in 1930s came to Bali on cruise ships docked in Sanur and made side trips to Ubud and neighboring tourist sites. Its prime location provided the Sanur artist with ready-access to Western tourists who frequented the shop of the Neuhaus Brothers who sold balinese souvenirs and tropical fishes. Neuhaus brothers became the major art dealer of Sanur paintings.

The beach around Sanur, full of outriggers and open horizon, provided local artists with a visual environment different from the Ubud and Batuan, which are located in the hinterland.The playful atmosphere pervades the Sanur paintings, and are not dictated by the religious iconography[5]. It is lighter and airy than those of Batuan and Ubud with sea creatures, erotic scenery and wild animals drawn in rhythmic patterns; often in an Escher-like manner. Most early works were black and white ink wash on paper, but at the request of Neuhaus, latter works were adorned with light pastel colors often added by other artists specializing in coloring a black and white drawings. Their name code is often found at the margin.

The Sanur school of painting is the most stylized and decorative among all modern Balinese Art. Major artists from Sanur are I Rundu, Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai, I Soekaria, I Poegoeg, I Rudin, and many others. I Rudin, who started to paint in mid 1930s, draws simple balinese dancers in the manner of the drawings of Miguel Covarrubias.

Young Artist painting
The development of the Young Artist School of painting is attributed to the Dutch artist Arie Smit, a Dutch soldier who served during the 2nd world war and decided to stay in Bali. In the early 1960s, he came across children in the village of Penestanan near Tjampuhan drawing on the sand. He encouraged these children to paint by providing them with paper and paints.
Their paintings are characterized by "child-like" drawings that lacks details and bright colors drawn with oil paint on canvas. By 1970s, it attracted around three hundred peasant painters to produce paintings for tourists. In 1983, the National Gallery of Malaysia held a major exhibition on the Young Artist paintings from the collection of Datuk Lim Chong Kit.

Two early examples of the Young Artist School are shown here. The painting by I Wayan Pugur (b. 1945), was executed when he was 13 years old and was exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1964, as part of a traveling exhibition in the United States in 1964-1965. This early drawing, executed on paper, exhibits the use of bright colors and a balanced composition. The drawing space is divided into three solid-color areas: dark blue, bright yellow and magenta in between showing the influence of the Wayang painting tradition. The leaves of the large tree with the snakes show the juxtaposition of complementary colors. The faces of the figures were drawn with no details, yet the snakes have eyes and long tongues.
Major artists from the Young Artist School are I Wayan Pugur, I Ketut Soki, I Ngurah KK, I Nyoman Londo, I Ketut Tagen, I Nyoman Cakra, Ni Ketut Gampil, I Nyoman Mundik, I Wayan Regog and many others.

Keliki miniature painting
In the 1970s, miniature paintings emerged from Keliki, a small village north of Ubud, led by a local farmer I Ketut Sana.[6] The sizes range from as small as 2 x 3 inch to as large as 10 x 15 in. I Ketut Sana learnt to paint from I Gusti Nyoman Sudara Lempad from Ubud and from I Wayan Rajin from Batuan. He combined the line drawing of Lempad and the details of the Batuan school. Every inch of the space is covered with minute details of Balinese village life and legends drawn in ink and colored with watercolor. The outcome is a marriage between the youthfulness of the Ubud school and the details of the Batuan School. The Keliki artists proud with their patience to paint minute details of every objects meticulously that occupy the drawing space.
Illustrated on the left is a drawing by I Lunga (c. 1995) depicting the story of Rajapala. Rajapala is often referred to as the first Balinese voyeur or “peeping Tom.” According to the story, Rajapala catches sight of a group of celestial nymphs bathing in a pool. He approaches stealthily, and without their knowledge, steals the skirt (kamben) of the prettiest, Sulaish. As her clothing contains magical powers enabling her to fly, the nymph cannot return home. Rajapala offers to marry her. She accepts on the condition that she will return to heaven after the birth of a child. With time, she and Rajapala have a healthy young son. Years pass, and one day, Sulaish accidentally discovers her clothing hidden in the kitchen. Understanding that she has been tricked, she takes leave of her husband and son and goes back to her heavenly abode.
Major artists from the Keliki Artist School are Sang Ketut Mandera (Dolit), I Ketut Sana, I Wayan Surana, I Lunga, I Wayan Nengah, I Made Ocen, I Made Widi, I Wayan Lanus, Ida Bagus Putra, Sang Nyoman Kardiana (Sabuh) and many others.

Bali - Paradise Isle 1946

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:17:00 +0700

A tour of Bali and its religious traditions in 1946.

Cowboys in Paradise Bali

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Tue, 6 Jul 2010 13:16:00 +0700

Pros And Cons About This Film!

Bali on The Brink of Destroying The Dream

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:16:00 +0700

If the threatened re-introduction of fingerprinting for visitors to Bali goes ahead, it may be the final straw for many who have kept faith with a destination that has tested our loyalty.

Australian visitors have returned to Bali in record numbers following the Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005 despite warnings from the Australian government that it continues to “receive credible information that terrorists could be planning attacks in Indonesia and that Bali remains an attractive target for terrorists”.

We have suffered the long immigration queues at Ngurah Rai airport - which Travel and Leisure magazine has named as one of the “12 Ugliest Airports in the World” - waiting to fork out US$25 for a visa, our patience sustained by the thought that beyond immigration lie fabulous hotels and resorts, and an unmatched value-for-money destination.
Our patience has been further tested by the knowledge that the move by Indonesian authorities to scrap the US$10 7-day visa-on-arrival fee, and charge all visitors for a 30-day US$25 visa, is being linked to efforts to stamp out corruption among Bali’s immigration officers.
In 2009, immigration officials at Denpasar Airport immigration office were caught embezzling US$300,000 in visa fees through the misreporting of 7-day and 30-day fees.

We have grudgingly slipped a $20 note to a Customs official who has “fined” us for a second bottle of wine in our hand baggage, but then pocketed the cash and allowed us to proceed.

We have coped with extraordinary high taxes on alcohol, which has created shortages of alcoholic beverages, and unrealistically high prices for very average wine.

We have put it down to experience when we have been rorted by unofficial money changers.

We have tried to ignore the over-development of villas and resorts that is stripping the cultural heart out of Bali.

And we have tried to ignore that once-tranquil Ubud is now chocked with traffic.

All this and we might yet have to stand in queues for hours waiting to be fingerprinted and photographed.

If this happens a lot of people will be saying Bye, Bye Bali - it’s been good to know you. (By Ian Jarrett/TravelMole).

What Is Going On Bali?

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:08:00 +0700

Lombok is Actually Busy

Global economic crisis may have held back massive investment plan to build Lombok into a world class holiday destination on its own and cut away any dependencies to its more popular sister island of Bali. But its charm remains an attractive magnet to holiday makers seeking for sea, sand, and sun and get a bit bored with what Bali has to offer.
In our last business trip to Lombok a few days back we found that flights between Bali and Lombok are almost full. The small airport of Mataram is quite busy. During the night we spent in Senggigi, the most popular beach resort town in Lombok, we saw a lot of tourists around. We even rejected by a restaurant because whilst there was still a few tables empty, they thought they would not be able to serve as in reasonable speed.

Our trip to the Gilis strengthen our impression. The public boat taking people for a short 30 minutes trip to the islands were easily filled up. When we got to the island we saw it rather busy with a lot of tourists - mostly white - scattering around. Hotel operators and restaurant owners told us that their days are normally even busier.
As we inspected a number of Lombok villas, the main purpose of our trip, we also seeing the same pictures. We even have to reschedule our inspection until guests went away to the beach or something, just because they are fully occupied. Similar situation also applies in domestic market. We went to downtown Mataram and found out that traditional restaurants, motels, malls, even street side stalls were busy.
With all those frames portrayed the current situation, when the investment postponed, I can imagine how Lombok will grow when the investment plan resumed. I am not an economist myself, but everybody knows that the global economic crisis has gone away, and massive investments will flood in in just a matter of days. Will Bali loose or benefit from this? (Bali Care)

Stay In A Private Villa
For people who enjoy privacy and comfort during their vacations, renting an apartment or a home or villa is a great idea. Unlike a hotel, the space will be completely yours and you will have every room you have at home, like a kitchen. You will not have to worry about noise and being disturbed.
Spending a holiday in a villa is very popular. If you look hard enough, you can even find some that are more affordable than hotels with extra amenities. Many, if not all, villas will have a swimming pool and hot tub. They also have massage therapists and spa treatments available on site. Certain places will also provide you with your own butler, so you will never have to lift a finger.
After a long year of working, there is nothing better than going on a vacation. The most popular spots to visit are places where there the landscapes are beautiful and the weather is warm. That is why so many people love going on holidays to Bali. If you are going to Bali soon, you should consider bali private villas.
The island of Bali is located slightly below the equator and is an Indonesian island. This island has a very diverse culture that includes a mix of Chinese and Indian cultures. Denpasar is the capital city of this island.
The flowers, plants, and wildlife of Bali are incredibly beautiful and diverse. The island is home to many birds that cannot be spotted elsewhere and the surrounding water is full of coral reefs. However, the island does currently house an active volcano.
Staying in a bali private villa may be able to make your Bali vacation even better. Most private villas are centralized in Seminyak area, then spread wide to Umalas, Canggu to Tanah Lot; then some in Ubud, Sanur East Coast, and Jimbaran - Uluwatu South Tip of Bali Island. Try to find a place that has all of the amenities and activities you wish to partake in, while also suiting your budget. (dwibali).

Is Global Financial Crisis Real?
Economists will definitely confirm that it is real. There are a lot of evidences to look around, from the downfall of financial and automotive giants in the US to the urge of Indonesian government to flow fiscal stimulus. Fortunately in Bali where I life and make a living, I do not see it impacts both in my daily life as well as in the business I am in.
I may be wrong. This is a rough conclusion from what I have seen through my own eyes. And my eyes could be wrong. I fact I am very dependant to a cylindrical glass. Well, I do not want to mislead people. Quite contrary, I want to encourage people to look into things from the positive sides, at at least if it is at all negative, to find a way to turn it around.
I guess my lifestyle helps has saved me from the impact of global financial crisis. With almost everything I consume, from meals to clothing and even vehicle, is locally produced, I can afford anything I need the same way as two years ago. Few things like gadgets and computers did not bite quite an attention as I do not buying these stuffs everyday.
Running a holiday rental business I found that closing to peak holiday season coming between July and September, my salespersons are crying for supplies. Inquiries are flowing in whilst supplies are no longer exist. All villas in Bali are booked out during the period. Supply for Christmas - New Year period which is still a half year ahead starts to run out as well.
It is definitely not a picture of myself alone, I believe. My fellows in the same business confirmed similar situation. Bali tours are foreseeing similar picture. I believe the whole tourism industry in Bali is not really affected by global economic crisis. Officials announced that number of tourist visits recorded a slight increase in the first four months of 2009 compared to the same period of previous year.
Thank God that I life in Bali. It is a real paradise, I think. More than beautiful beach and sunshine along the year, it protects from the harm, even the one flow from the most powerful country. (Adi)

Foreign Tourist Trips Shorter in Bali
Foreign tourists stayed in Bali for an average of 8.75 days each last year, down from 13.6 days each the previous year, an official says. As a consequence of the shorter stay, each foreign tourist spent only US$136 per day on average, or nearly $12 less than individual average spending the previous year.
Spokesman for the Bali administration I Ketut Teneng told Antara state news agency on Friday the decline in the foreign holidaymakers’ spending and length of stay had resulted in a lower quality of tourism on the island, despite the fact the number of tourists went up. The provincial government data revealed that 2.38 million foreigners visited Bali in 2009, up from 2.08 million the previous year. ( Wed, 03/24/2010)

Comments:
Bali is getting too expensive. Thailand is now 50 percent cheaper. Prices of hotels and dinner, and especially going out, are crazy. Drinks have gone up by 50 percent in 2/3 years.
Taxi drivers ask Rp 100,000 (US$11) for a ride of two minutes and refuse to put fares on the meter.
Fred Johnson
Ubud, Bali

I believe that Bali has an extraordinary image that is envied by the tourism business community across the globe.
Unfortunately it can no longer live up to that image.
Dirty beaches, a second-rate airport, dog slaughter, litter, corruption, environmental degradation and a lack of investment are just a few of the problems that have a negative impact on Bali.
Of course, the administration just sits on their hands pretending that all is OK, and make feeble excuses for their many and consistent failures, or simply tell lies by painting a false picture.
It is just another example amongst many of Indonesia’s inability to manage anything well. Our stupid arrogance and false pride also prevent us from admitting our shortcomings and enlisting professional managers.
Didi Karjadi
Bandung, West Java (Indonesia)

Bali Tourists Still Stranded at Ngurah Rai

The four-day closure of airports across Europe has left many Bali holidaymakers stranded at airports across Asia.
Dimyati, the assistant manager for legal and public relations at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, said Monday that most passengers were heading to Asian airports with direct flights to Europe.
He said this meant the backlog of passengers at Ngurah Rai would be manageable when European airspace reopened.
Air space across much of Europe has been closed following the ongoing eruptions from a volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland.
Airplanes traveling through volcanic ash plumes are at severe risk of damage.
“We do not know when the airspace will re-open. We have not received advice from NOTAM [Notice to Airmen], nor do we know exactly how many passengers are stranded in Bali,” Dimyati said.
“Cathay Pacific has asked passengers to remain in Bali as Singapore is full. We are currently compiling data on how many other tourists have opted to stay in Bali rather than travel to airports where they catch their European flights.”
Tour groups have been badly hit by the eruption, according to Dutch tour leader Net Smit, who is traveling with 17 visitors.
“We have opted to stay on in Bali until we can fly directly to Europe,” Smit said.
“We met another group who are being flown on to Hong Kong tonight, but they will be stuck there when they arrive. “Certainly, all the hotels across much of Asia will be full because of the backlog of people wanting to get out. We are lucky to be here in Bali instead.”
Despite being “lucky” Smit says his group must “hotel hop” daily as most hotels are full with other rooms booked, waiting for travelers from Europe to begin arriving.
“We have no idea when we can fly. The airlines have given us no information at all, nor have the airport, or our travel agent. We don’t expect to be able to leave until maybe Thursday or Friday this week, and we don’t know how long we can stay in this hotel. We are hotel hopping. We are a big group so accommodation is difficult,” said Smit.
He said that the airline was not paying for the hotel accommodation.
Other airlines, he added, were providing accommodation for travelers.
“But Malaysia Airlines, who we are flying with, is not doing that.
The airline wanted my tour group to fly on to Kuala Lumpur and wait there, but these people are in a tour group and would not have a guide. The airport is 70 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur and the airline was not willing to help these people find accommodation, so they are better here in Bali,” Smit said.
He added that some members of his tour group were distressed at being unable to return home.
However they recognized there was no alternative, he added.
“We also have two tour groups stuck in Holland trying to get here.
“My groups travel to Sumatra, Java and then Bali, so everything now needs to be rescheduled,” Smit said.
Despite being “lucky” Smit says his group must “hotel hop” daily as most hotels are full, with other rooms booked off, waiting for travelers from Europe to arrive. (Trisha Sertori, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Wed, 04/21/2010)

Japanese Tourists Top Bali Tourist List

Japanese people topped the list of foreign tourists visiting Bali in 2008, with a total of 359,827 people from Japan, or approximately 18.06 percent of the total number of foreign tourists, visiting the resort island last year.

The number of Japanese tourists visiting Bali in 2008 represented a 2.21 percent increase from 2007, Ida Komang Wisnu, head of the local statistics office, told the Antara news agency on Tuesday.

Bali`s unique arts and culture as well as serene scenery were considered the chief attractions for Japanese tourists visiting the world-renowned island, he said.

Trailing behind Japan with he second highest number of visitors was Australia, with 313,313 tourists, a jump of 52.68 percent from 2007's figure of 205,205.

South Korea had the third highest number of visitors, with 134,909 tourists (6.77 percent), followed by China 131,909 (6.59 percent), Taiwan 130,449 (6.55 percent), Malaysia 129,727 (6.51 percent), the United Kingdom 82,827 (4.16 percent), Germany 82,686 (4.15 percent), France 77,379 (3.88 percent) and the United States 68,619 (3.44 percent).

The data also shows that the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali in 2008 increased by 24.16 percent. (The Jakarta Post | Tue, 02/10/2009).

Bali Culture

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:54:00 +0700

Bali is truly a unique isle; from its timeless traditions, colourful pageantry to rites of passage. The people possess a genuine sense inner happiness that is perhaps attributed to the strong Hindu faith. There is a fundamental belief in the spiritual world which should always be in balance and harmonize with the physical world to attain peace and prosperity.

History
Although there are no artifacts or records dating back to the Stone Age, it is believed that the first settlers on Bali migrated from China around 2500 BC. By the Bronze era, around 300 B.C. quite an evolved culture existed in Bali. The complex system of irrigation and rice production, still in use today, was established around this time.

History is vague for the first few centuries. A number of Hindu artifacts have been found dating back to the 1st century, yet it appears that the main religion, around 500 AD was predominantly Buddhist in influence. A Chinese scholar, Yi-Tsing, in 670 AD reported on a trip to India, that he had visited a Buddhist country called Bali.

It wasn’t until the 11th century that Bali received the first strong influx of Hindu and Javanese cultures. With the death of his father around AD 1011, the Balinese Prince, Airlanggha, moved to East Java and set about uniting it under one principality. Having succeeded, he then appointed his brother, Anak Wungsu, as ruler of Bali. During the ensuing period there was a reciprocation of political and artistic ideas. The old Javanese language, Kawi, became the language used by the aristocracy, one of the many Javanese traits and customs adopted by the cause.

With the death of Airlanggha, in the middle of the 11th century, Bali enjoyed a period of autonomy. However, this proved to be short-lived as in 1284, the East Javanese king Kertanegara, conquered Bali and ruled over it from Java. In 1292, Kertanegara was murdered and Bali took the opportunity to liberate itself once again. However, in 1343, Bali was brought back under Javanese control by its defeat at the hands of Gajah Mada, a general in the last of the great Hindu-Javanese empires, the Majapahit. With the spread of Islam throughout Sumatra and Java during the 16th century, the Majapahit Empire began to collapse and a large exodus of aristocracy, priests, artists and artisans to Bali ensued. For a while Bali flourished and the following centuries were considered the Golden Age of Bali’s cultural history. The principality of Gelgel, near Klungkung, became a major centre for the Arts, and Bali became the major power of the region, taking control of neighboring Lombok and parts of East Java.

The European Influence
The first Dutch seamen set foot on Bali in 1597, yet it wasn’t until the 1800’s that the Dutch showed an interest in colonizing the island. In 1846, having had large areas of Indonesia under their control since the 1700’s, the Dutch government sent the troops into northern Bali. In 1894, Dutch forces sided with the Sasak people of Lombok to defeat their Balinese rulers. By 1911, all the Balinese principalities had either been defeated in battle, or had capitulated, leaving the whole island under Dutch control. After World War I, Indonesian Nationalist sentiment was rising and in 1928, Bahasa Indonesia was declared the official national language. During World War II, the Dutch were expelled by the Japanese, who occupied Indonesia from 1942 to 1945.

After the Japanese defeat, the Dutch tried to regain control of their former colonies, but on August 17, 1945, Indonesia was declared independent by its first President, Sukarno. After four years of fighting and strong criticism from the international community, the Dutch government finally ceded and, in 1949, Indonesia was recognized as an independent country.

The People
Life in Bali is very communal with the organization of villages, farming and even the creative arts being decided by the community. The local government is responsible for schools, clinics, hospitals and roads, but all other aspects of life are placed in the hands of two traditional committees, whose roots in Balinese culture stretch back centuries. The first, Subak, concerns the production of rice and organizes the complex irrigation system. Everyone who owns a sawah, or padi field, must join their local Subak, which then ensures that every member gets his fair distribution of irrigation water. Traditionally, the head of the Subak has his sawah at the very bottom of the hill, so that the water has to pass through every other sawah before reaching his own. The other community organization is the Banjar, which arranges all village festivals, marriage ceremonies and cremations, as well as a form of community service known as Gotong Royong. Most villages have at least one Banjar and all males have to join one when they marry. Banjars, on average, have a membership of between 50 to 100 families and each Banjar has its own meeting place called the Bale Banjar. As well as being used for regular meetings, the Bale (pavilion) is where the local gamelan orchestras and drama groups practice.

Each stage of Balinese life is marked by a series of ceremonies and rituals known as Manusa Yadnya. They contribute to the rich, varied and active life the average Balinese leads.

Birth
The first ceremony of Balinese life takes place even before birth. Another ceremony takes place soon after the birth, during which the afterbirth is buried with appropriate offerings. The first major ceremony takes place halfway through the baby’s first Balinese year of 210 days.

Names
Basically the Balinese only have four first names. The first child is Wayan or Putu, the second child is Made or Kadek, the third is Nyoman or Komang and the fourth is Ketut. The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth will be another Wayan, Made, Nyoman, Ketut and Wayan again.

Childhood
The Balinese certainly love children and they have plenty of them to prove it. Coping with a large family is made much easier by the policy of putting younger children in the care of older ones. After the ceremonies of babyhood come ceremonies marking the stages of childhood and puberty, including the important tooth-filing ceremony.

Marriage
Every Balinese expects to marry and raise a family, and marriage takes places at a comparatively young age. Marriages are not, in general, arranged as they are in many other Asian communities although strict rules apply to marriages between the castes. There are two basic forms of marriage in Bali – mapadik and ngorod. The respectable form, in which the family of the man visit the family of the woman and politely propose that the marriage take place, is mapadik. The Balinese, however, like their fun and often prefer marriage by elopement (ngorod) as the most exciting option. Of course, the Balinese are also a practical people so nobody is too surprised when the young man spirits away his bride-to-be, even if she loudly protests about being kidnapped. The couple go into hiding and somehow the girl’s parents, no matter how assiduously they search, never manage to find her. Eventually the couple re-emerge, announce that it is too late to stop them now, the marriage is officially recognized and everybody has had a lot of fun and games. Marriage by elopement has another advantage apart from being exciting and mildly heroic it’s cheaper.

The Household
There are many modern Balinese houses, but there are still a great number of traditional Balinese homes. The streets of Ubud; nearly every house will follow the same traditional walled design.

Men & Women
There are certain tasks clearly to be handled by women, and others reserved for men. Social life in Bali is relatively free and easy. In Balinese leisure activities the roles are also sex differentiated. Both men and women dance but only men play the gamelan. Today you do see some women painters, sculptors, and woodcarvers.

Community Life
Balinese have an amazingly active and organized village life. You simply cannot be a faceless nonentity in Bali. You can’t help but get to know your neighbors as your life is so entwined and interrelated with theirs.

Death & Cremation
There are ceremonies for every stage of Balinese life but often the last ceremony-cremation-is the biggest. A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular, colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long to organize a cremation that years have passed since the death. During that time the body is temporarily buried. Of course an auspicious day must be chosen for the cremation and since a big cremation can be very expensive business many less wealthy people may take the opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation and sending their own dead on their way at the same time. Brahmans, however, must be cremated immediately. Apart from being yet another occasion for Balinese noise and confusion it’s a fine opportunity to observe the incredible energy the Balinese put into creating real works of art which are totally ephemeral. A lot more than a body gets burnt at the cremation. The body is carried from the burial ground (or from the deceased’s home if it’s an ‘immediate’ cremation) to the cremation ground in a high, multi-tiered tower made of bamboo, paper, string, tinsel, silk, cloth, mirrors, flowers and anything else bright and colorful you can think of. The tower is carried on the shoulders of a group of men, the size of the group depending on the importance of the deceased and hence the size of the tower. The funeral of a former rajah high priest may require hundreds of men to tote the tower.
A long the way to the cremation ground certain precautions must be taken to ensure that the deceased’s spirit does not find its way back home. Loose spirits around the house can be a real nuisance. To ensure this doesn’t happen requires getting the spirits confused as to their whereabouts, which you do by shaking the tower, running it around in circles, spinning it around, throwing water at it, generally making the trip to the cremation ground anything but a stately funeral crawl. Meanwhile, there’s likely to be a priest halfway up to tower, hanging on grimly as it sways back and forth, and doing his best to soak bystanders with holy water. A gamelan sprints along behind, providing a suitably exciting musical accompaniment. Camera-toting tourists get all but run down and once again the Balinese prove that ceremonies and religion are there to be enjoyed. At the cremation ground the body is transferred to a funeral sarcophagus, this should be in the shape of a bull for a Brahmana, a winged lion for a Satria and a sort of elephant-fish for a Sudra. These days, however, almost anybody from the higher castes will use a bull. Finally up it all goes in flames funeral tower, sarcophagus, body, the lot. The eldest son does his duty by poking through the ashes to ensure that there are no bits of body left unburned. And where does your soul go after your cremation? Why, to a heaven which is just like Bali!

Religion
The Balinese are Hindu yet their religion is very different from that of the Indian variety. They do have a caste system, but there are no untouchables and occupation is not governed by caste. In fact, the only thing that reflects the caste system is the language which has three tiers; 95% of all the Balinese are Hindu Dharma, and speak Low or Everyday Balinese with each other; Middle Balinese is used for talking to strangers, at formal occasions or to people of the higher Ksatriya caste; High Balinese is used when talking to the highest class, the Brahmana, or to a pedanda (priest). It may sound complicated, but most of the words at the low and medium levels are the same, whereas High Balinese is a mixture of Middle Balinese and Kawi, the ancient Javanese language.

The Balinese worship the Hindu trinity Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, who are seen as manifestations of the Supreme God Sanghyang Widhi. Other Indian gods like Ganesha (the elephant-headed god) also often appear, but more commonly, one will see shrines to the many gods and spirits that are uniquely Balinese. Balinese believe strongly in magic and the power of spirits and much of their religion is based upon this. They believe that good spirits dwell in the mountains and that the seas are home to demons and ogres. Most villages have at least three main temples; one, the Pura Puseh or ‘temple of origin’, faces the mountains and is dedicated to the village founders, another, the Pura Desa or village temple, is normally found in the centre and is dedicated to the welfare of the village, the last, the Pura Dalem, is aligned with the sea and is dedicated to the spirits of the dead. Aside from these ‘village’ temples, almost every house has its own shrine and you can also find monuments dedicated to the spirits of agriculture, art and all other aspects of life. Some temples, Pura Besakih for example, on the slopes of Mount Agung, are considered especially important and people from all over Bali travel to worship there.
Offerings play a significant role in Balinese life as they appease the spirits and thus bring prosperity and good health to the family. Every day small offering trays (canang sari) containing symbolic food, flowers, cigarettes and money, are placed on shrines, in temples, outside houses and shops, and even at dangerous crossroads.

Festivals are another great occasion for appeasing the gods. The women bear huge, beautifully arranged, pyramids of food, fruit and flowers on their heads while the men might conduct a blood sacrifice through a cockfight. There are traditional dances and music and the gods are invited to come down to join in the festivities. The festivals are usually very exciting occasions and well worth observing, if you are in the area. A crucial thing to remember, if you wish to join in celebrations or enter a temple, is that there are a number of rules that have to be respected. Please see back page “A Word of Advice” for Rules. (baliblog, 28 May 2009).

Why People Do Not be Bored Go to Bali?

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:44:00 +0700

Neka Art Museum Collection

Thousands of people from all over the world, come and take vacation in Bali. What exactly are they looking for? Are they looking for the beautiful scenery? The wide and clean beaches -- which became the target of the surfers of the world? Or the all corners of the city, villages and mountains sprinkled with artistic atmosphere? Or the other reason such as: the friendly attitude of local residents? No one knows exactly. Several of them said that they like to go to Bali because they like to do that. It's possible that each one must have reasons that are not always the same with another. But, as you know, the beautiful scenery and others became part of the very impressive for the tourists.

Once you arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, you directly inhaling the fresh air and there is no pollution. For lodging, you may choose from home stay until five-star hotel class. Food and drinks, available in various flavors. From inn to a destination you can use a rental vehicle. From motorcycles to cars and boats if necessary.
Shopping centers such as art shop, gallery, until the traditional markets, spread almost at any angle towns and villages. Cultural centers of the museum, paintings and other art objects are also scattered in several corners of the village (especially in Ubud).
Centers of performing arts, from dance to traditional music, spread from Garuda Wisnu Kencana complex to several existing dance studio along your journey from Kuta to Ubud. From temple to one another.
Balinese people also has several painting artists internationally. They have come from local residents, but some are coming from outside Bali. Even outside of Indonesia. Many tourists often buy their works and brought them home after their holiday complete. Buy souvenirs such as handicrafts from statues to other unique items as souvenirs also been done by many tourists.
These days in Ubud, many carried out an international event. From the discussion of literature to philosophy and mysticism. From the testimony of the tourists, most of them felt when they went to Bali only once, that's just the beginning of their tour; they are still willing to go to Bali again for the second time, third time or even fourth time. So, you believe that Bali is indeed impossible to be able to make viewers bored? (Atin Supriatin).

"Odalan" Ceremony

"Barong Attractions" at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Area

"Garuda Wisnu Kencana" Statue

One of The Beautiful Kintamani View

Kuta Beach

Dream Land Beach

Souvenir at Bali Bird Park

One of The Balinese Dancing

"Ngurah Rai" Bali Air Port

One of Arie Smith Works

(Neka Art Museum Collection)

Experience An Excellent Holiday In The Cradle of Liberty by Will Schoonhoven

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:41:00 +0700

Have A Great Romantic Vacation In Boston - Follow Our Guide
If you were one of those that shared the feeling of Boston being all about historical charms and sports stadiums, then you’re in for a treat!The Hub is a wonderful place for a romantic tryst with your partner; there’s the history and Bostonian charm to make it special. So book two Boston cheap flights and let us take you on a wonderful romantic tour for two. How about walking under a starry sky in Boston Common while you hold the hands of your loved one or some seriously fun ice-skating experience at the Frog Pond?Is there any better way to ignite the romantic sparks than by going on a yummy chocolate tour?
Treat each other to the delectable desserts while you learn about chocolates. A romantic dinner cruise on Boston Harbor aboard the Odyssey Cruise Ship is all you need to end a hectic day, jam-packed with Bostonian activities to turn up the warmth. If you have a proposal in mind, then the very chic Oak Bar in the Fairmont Copley Place, is the perfect place to pop the question and also stay the night in the luxe suites there after you get an exciting ‘yes’. If you enjoy holding hands and long walks, then don’t miss the experience of watching the sunset at Harborwalk near Rowes Wharf as you walk by. A rejuvenating day at the Newbury day spa may just be what you lovebirds need to unwind. Have an evening meal from the very top of the city for an amazing romantic experience. Take a yummy cannoli from Mike's Pastry to the waterfront and seal the deal with a ‘sweet’ kiss as the tiramisu is lapped up between the both of you.

Boston - A ‘Different’ Tour
Unconventional is your thing – that’s why you’re scouring out this write up for off-the-track places to visit after you land your cheap Boston flight – here’s our advice. Magic tricks and witch stuff beckons at Salem – the centre stage for witch trials eons ago. There are thrilling witch tours and many witch museums with things that will fascinate you for hours and hours, especially at Halloween. Harpoon Brewery, people?A little like the Sam Adams tour, this one allows for a fun trip in an actual brewery with lots of beer tasting (including unfiltered ones) and always a friendly group. How does a Pirate Museum sound to you for an off beat adventure?A true blue pirate ship, robbed treasures, a gigantic cave and sunken ships are some of the promising attractions of this tour – excited?Then visit Salem for this one-of-a-kind museum. The American Revolution will come alive as you stand where history stands too – at the cemeteries of the Hub. For about thirty years King Chapel’s Burying Ground was Boston’s only burial place; and do make a trip to Granary Burial Grounds for a glimpse of the Paul Revere grave. JFK’s first speech was made at Omni Parker House – you have to eat here for history's sake, if nothing else!Also the Boston Cream pie was invented here. For a truly Medieval experience complete with wenches and a King and oafs – dine at the Medieval Manor with an elegant six-course dinner. Last but certainly not the least – visit the beautiful Al-Noor Mosque in the Hub where Bostonian Muslims converge for festivals and weekly Friday prayers. Let spirituality & tranquility envelope you here.

Festivals Galore: Check Out The Fun & Frolic When In Boston
This guide has to be taken into account before any sort of festivities in Boston are to be planned. If you’re in the Athens of America in March then take part in the colorful St. Patrick Day’s Parade and celebrations when Bostonians run happily amok as they rejoice doubly. The second reason why the Bostonians are on a celebration-high is the Evacuation Day that pushed out the British in 1776. Also catch the Waltham’s Annual Food & Wine festival where there is the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra for entertainment, a chance to win spa treatments & weekend getaways at the silent auction, get tutored in cooking by celebrity chefs & more. The battle of Charleston, the Bunker Hill excitement and the Parade can all be thoroughly enjoyed in the breezy heat of June. If you saved on your Boston cheap flight ticket then you have to binge on this one – the Berklee BeanTown Jazz festival, for an awesome, unforgettable musical evening. It is an outdoor arrangement focused on jazz and blues and entertains up to a thousand folks on any given day, providing local and international musical talents. No list of festivals and celebrations in the Hub can be ever complete without the Annual Chowderfest in it. No way; so get a dose of delicious clam chowder and live music at the chowderfest where top New England restaurateurs toughen it out to claim victory over the title.
Shopping Enthusiasts in the Hub? Head Over To The 3 Most Awesome Choices To Shop At
So you have finally reached the Puritan city and being an ardent shopaholic you must get to the shops at once!Well think no more and just jump into the first passing vehicle for a memorable shopping experience at Newbury Street. The prominent street features some of the upscale, high-end designers and boutiques that will leave you in utter delight and in a shopper’s paradise. Chanel, La Perla, Kate Spade – you name it, it’s there!Whether it’s a cool mall you’re hanging around at or simply getting your eye-fill of some gorgeous art at chic galleries or maybe toying around with the idea of getting that pretty, netted designer tank top as a vacation souvenir for yourself - your platinum card will cover all that and more – including second-hand shopping sprees!Head over to the Copley Place & Prudential Centre for more designer duds at Neiman Marcus and Barneys and Saks. If you landed in the Hub by a cheap Boston flight, then using up all your dough on designer wear isn’t probably a great idea. Then simply head over to Filene's Basement for the most stunning discounts on designer wear. But do make sure it's open before trekking all the way over. Fresh fruits and veggies and more fresh produce can be found and gorged at the Haymarket – our next stop. A walk among the ripe and fresh, tempting fruits will have you drooling in no time. Serious ‘bookaholics’ can venture down to Peter L. Stern for some really antique books and classics from the 19th century even!

Wanting to Take A Perfect Trip? By Locadio Broome

supriatin.blp@gmail.com (Everythings You Need) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:27:00 +0700

Travel Packages
Millions of tourists each year take advantage of the many travel deals available. Once you find a destination, you will have other important considerations to make. Airfare is one of the important things to secure. Using the internet is a crucial way to find travel deals. These deals provide wonderful savings to areas like New York City and Los Angeles. Destinations such as these offer travelers many options for exploring the city. There is much to do and to see in either of these options. You will also want to consider the fine lodgings in your location of choice.
Most cities have budget friendly offerings like those in the Comfort Inn chain. You may also use your savings to splurge on luxury accommodations. The famous Hilton chain is an excellent offering when you wish for a luxury hotel. The more that you save here, the more you will enjoy your trip.

Great Accommodations
Most tourists enjoy experiencing the fine hotels a particular location has to offer. When you are planning a vacation, this is one of the first considerations you must make. This is why travel deals are so important, as it relates to vacation planning. Cities like Atlanta present travelers with luxurious accommodations. The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead is one of the fine offerings in this category. The interior decor is absolutely amazing, and the amenities here more than accommodate guests. Atlanta also offers visitors budget friendly lodgings. Chain hotels like Comfort Inn serve to accommodate any budget. Travel deals can combine other portions of your trip. These may include tickets to local attractions, which provide a sense of the area. The Georgia Aquarium is one of these exquisite locations. This happens to be the world’s largest aquarium, and it offers visitors hours of great fun.

Fine Restaurants
Travel deals are taken advantage of in many different ways. You can use them to find some of the best airline tickets available. You can also find wonderful lodgings. Most travel deals are found by booking your trips with packages. These offer visitors a way to find more than one trip component to their vacation. Those, who are planning, a romantic trip love what packages provide. You can book your airline tickets along with your accommodations. Traveling this way presents you with valuable savings. With these savings, you can splurge on many other things. Fine dining restaurants are things to splurge on. Sampling the dishes of a particular location is one great way to truly experience the city. Cities like Honolulu provide visitors with outstanding dishes that display local fare. Nashville is another city that has authentic food that defines its locale.

Fun in the Sun
Most trips each year revolve around sunny locations. Some of the most popular destinations in the world include fun in the sun. These trips include places like Hawaii and California, which offer visitors the luxury of stunning beaches. Anyone, who enjoys the water and all the activities it offers, will love warm vacation spots. Travel deals provide travelers with some of the best opportunities available. Packages often present great savings through the travel deals they offer. You can find affordable airfares to your destination of choice. Many people come to Hawaii, to explore cities like Honolulu. Los Angeles is one of the state’s famous cities. Both of these locations are known for their sensational climates and scenic beauty. They also provide tourists with terrific attractions and activities to choose from. You can take advantage of travel deals by booking flights and hotels. These are extremely sensational trip opportunities.