Ketut Cenik was born in 1920 in the Batuan village of Gianyar. She learned to dance when she was 15 years old. She had no master to teach her, but she often sensed something improper, for example when her teacher showed a slow or less enthusiastic movement. But to find the best teacher was impossible for her as she was very poor, though she still had a strong desire to one day make her dreams come true. So just by observing a dance taking place, she was able to follow the movements. She could feel the vibrations from the gamelan so when she heard it, her body just moved along with the gamelan sounds. This gave her the ability to perform any Balinese dance, including the difficult Joged Pingitan.

Joged is a social dance which is very popular in Bali. The movement patterns are active and dynamic. Joged is a unification of Legong, a classic Balinese dance that has complex movements, and the Kekebyaran, a dance that is of a merry and dynamic character. Among the characteristics of the Joged is that it may be improvised. Joged is for couples. The dancer who is a woman invites men in the audience to join in on the dance.

Meanwhile, Joged Pingitan has a different role that other Joged general dances. It is called Pingitan because there are some parts of the dance that are ’secluded’ or ‘hidden’ (pingit). The so called hidden part is when the pengibing or invited men dancers are only allowed to dance equal the female dancer’s movements, but he is not allowed to touch her. The dance is usually based on Prabu Lasem’s story or some part of the Calonarang epic. History has it that the Joged appeared around the year 1884. In the beginning, this dance was only performed before the king and the dancers were his mistresses. Nowadays, it is hard to find a dancer who can dance the Joged Pingitan because of the highly complex movements.

When I visited her at her house, Ketut Cenik was busy preparing offerings for a ceremony the next day. She was so friendly, welcoming us with a large smile. She has not many daily activities except dancing, as the daily household activities are done by her grandson’s family. Once a week she teaches children at the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA). She often dances in temple ceremonies. Dancing, as it is, can also be considered another form of offering.

Her grandson’s wife told us her grandmother will suffer a headache if one day were to pass without her dancing. Ketut Cenik opened her eyes widely pretending to be angry at the comment, but then she smiled and said, “Nak saja mula keto (that’s true).” She loves dancing. She married I Nyoman Reneh who is also a dancer, and has passed on her talents to the next generations.

Text by Ni Luh Dian Purniawati, courtesy photos
Article Source : baliandbeyond

There is no shortage of beaches on the island of the gods. Here are top picks beach from Bali’s Southern Coast – their name might be a bit unfamiliar compared to other beach in bali, but you’ll find each beach alluring in its own way.

BALANGAN BEACH

Rocky cliffs flank this beautiful beach, and surfers and sun worshippers alike come here for the clear blue water. The beach is quite popular with avid surfers for its waves, and as for those who are there just to catch the sun, the gorgeous stretch of light beige sand is lined with quaint and rustic huts offering fresh food and ice-cold drinks. The sand is perfect for building elaborate sandcastles and the water is great for swimming, especially when the tide is at medium height. You can also laze about on the sun loungers that can be rented (for as long as you like) for about Rp. 25,000 each. Some tips: If you decide to venture into the water, we recommend reef shoes because of the sharp rocks that are often covered with slippery green moss. Also, if you’re still a surfing newbie, you might want to hold off on surfing here.

How to get there:
Make your way up to the Bukit area via Jalan Uluwatu. Follow the road until the Nirmala Supermarket intersection then turn right onto Jalan Pantai Balangan. Follow the road until you see a surfboard-shaped sign that says “Balangan Beach.” Follow the winding road until you see an open space where cars are parked. You’ll need to pay about Rp. 4,000/car to park there.

TEGALWANGI BEACH

Located along the coast from Ayana’s Rock Bar, this well-hidden beach would be the best spot for that uber-laidback sunset session. Going to this beach, head towards Ayana Resorts but turn right to the small and winding road just before the entrance to the resort. You won’t be able to miss the turning, as it is the only turning there. Tegalwangi is the smallest of the four and the rockiest one as well. However it has such a stunning view that it has become a popular spot for to-be-married couple to do their wedding photo shoot. With soft beige sand and the bluest water your eyes will ever laid on and big rocks lining the shore whilst the golden sun is setting on the horizon, this beach will cast a spell on you that will make  you want to come back here really soon!

How to get there:
Head towards the AYANA Resort & Spa and turn right onto the winding road just before the entrance to the resort. Don’t worry about missing theturn – it’s highly unlikely, as it’s the only turn there.
Some tips:
You will have to make your way down a steep and rocky path to get to the beach and the rocks are pretty sharp, so make sure you go down the path slowly. Visit during low tide so you can enjoy the beach without fear of getting dragged into the sea by the waves.

PANDAWA BEACH

Once a well-hidden beach behind a limestone hill in the Kutuh area, Pandawa Beach is becoming increasingly popular. This is due in part to a development that has cut through the limestone, but mostly because visitors can’t get enough of the long stretch of soft white sand and the calm water that can be found there.The beach still manages to retain its charm despite the growing crowd, and it will blow your mind with the grand view of its sparkling azure waters from the very moment you travel down the hill towards it. If you want to enjoy the beach with next to no crowd, we recommend visiting during weekdays. If you are there during the low tide, you’ll get to see the local seaweed farmers at work harvesting. You might even consider renting a kayak to enjoy Pandawa’s calm water.

How to get there:
Make your way as if you’re going to Pandawa Beach except go straight at the second yellow sign instead of turning right to Pandawa. Follow the “Pura Gunung Payung” sign and travel up the road until the fork in the road, and then go right. Keep on that road until you find the gate to the temple, then turn right. You’ll see a small dirt road leading up to a shady area where cars and scooters are parked. Park your vehicle and at the edge of the parking area you’ll see steps going down to the beach.

GUNUNG PAYUNG BEACH

This gorgeous and secluded beach is actually a close neighbor of Pandawa Beach. Located right below the Gunung Payung Temple, you’ll need to go down exactly 292 steps to access the super soft white sand. Making your way down the steep cliff covered with greenery is totally worth the pain, as it will give you one of the most beautiful sights you’ll see on this paradise island (as well as one heck of a cardio workout!). Gunung Payung Beach is actually small compared to first two beaches we mentioned, but you’ll probably agree that it is the best one. The secluded location is perfect for total relaxation, and unlike most beaches in Bali, this place has only one hut selling cold drinks. Their stock is fairly limited so we definitely recommend bringing your own beverages and snacks. Do remember to collect your rubbish and throw it in a bin (and not in some dark corner in the parking lot!).Some tips: The water here is really good for surfing and calm enough to swim in as well, but there are no lifeguards so make sure you keep a close eye on your little ones. Also, when you are walking up the steps to exit the beach, try climbing the steps in a zig-zag fashion to reduce exhaustion

How to get there:
Make your way up to the Bukit area via Jalan Uluwatu. Follow the road until the Nirmala Supermarket intersection, then turn left towards Jalan Pura Batu Pageh. Go straight until you see the yellow “Pandawa Beach” sign. Turn left and follow the road until you see another sign. Turn right and go down the small and winding road until you see the Nusa Dua Retreat Boutique Villa Resort & Spa on your left. Keep going until you reach a big intersection, then soon you will see a huge banner that says “Pandawa Beach.” Have some money ready to pay the parking attendant who charges per vehicle and per person to enter the beach

Balinese life is really amazing. it won’t say that it is an easy life per se, what with the countless ceremonies that Balinese have, and it would take a lifetime to tell you all about what the people do here in Bali. But to give you a glimpse into Balinese lives and the meaning behind some of our beliefs and traditions, here are some interesting facts for you!

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Balinese believe that every child born into this world is accompanied by four guardian angels called catur sanak. These four angels are said to stay beside the child until he or she turns four  years old.
• The Balinese celebrate their Balinese birthday twice a year based on astrological calculations repeated every six months. So basically, there are three celebrations for a Balinese each year: their birthday (based on their birth date) and two Balinese birthdays (otonan).
• Every Balinese must undertake a tooth filling ceremony to welcome adulthood. It is believed that the ceremony helps one to become stronger both physically and mentally, and it is crucial for mitigating one’s “evil side” – desire (kama), greed (lobha), anger (krodha), intoxication or being under the influence of strong emotion (mada), confusion (moha) and jealousy (matsarya)

• The Balinese have their own version of feng shui called asta kosala kosali. The minimum area of land necessary to apply the asta kosala kosali  architectural rules to a house is 200 square meters
• In the past it was taboo for a Balinese to have a door at the entrance gate of their house. The idea of having a “bare entrance gate” stemmed from the culture of welcoming everyone into their home.
• The Balinese are known for their advanced irrigation system called subak, which is a reflection of the tri hita karana philosophy of maintaining a harmonious relationship with God, other people and nature. On June 29, 2012, the subak system was awarded World Heritage Cultural Landscape status by UNESCO

• The “Legong Dance of the Virgins” was one of the first international movies that captured the beauty of the island of Bali The film opened in New York on October 1, 1935
• In general there are three types of traditional Balinese dances.Wali dances are sacred dances that can only be performed during a Balinese traditional ceremony because the dance is part of the ceremony itself (one example is the Sanghyang Dedari dance). Babali dances are also performed during a ceremony, but the purpose is more to entertain the people involved in the ceremony (one example is Gambuh, or traditional Balinese opera). Balih- balihan dances can be performed anytime and anywhere, because the purpose is purely to entertain (an example of this is the Joged dance).
• The Sanghyang Dedari dance can only be performed by young virgins. It is believed that the girls who perform it are in a trance throughout the dance

• Nyepi, or Silent Day, is a Balinese New Year celebration. The day is spent praying and meditating at home with four rules to obey: no light or fire ( amati geni ), no working ( amati karya ), no traveling (amati lelunganan) and no food for 24 hours (amati lelanguan)
• In the past, the Balinese celebrated Nyepi with a total blackout throughout the island, but nowadays due to safety reasons and other considerations, certain public places such as hospitals, police stations and hotels are allowed to use electricity and light as long as it can’t be seen from outside the building.
• The Balinese believe that the colors red, white and black symbolize the holy spirit of God and also represent the idea of our presence in this world. Red represents creation, black represents preservation, and white represents balance. The combination of these colors is called tri datu

• There are nine temples that guard the island based on the points of a compass. Those temples are: Batur Temple (North), Besakih Temple (Northeast), Lempuyang Temple (East), Andakasa Temple (Southeast), Gua Lawah Temple (South), Uluwatu Temple (Southwest), Batukaru Temple (West) and Pucak Mangu Temple (Northwest). Representing the center is the Pusering Jagat Temple.

There are many other interesting things that you can only find in Bali, and the way for you to learn more is by spending time exploring the island. Don’t hesitate to ask the locals about their lives. Have a wonderful holiday!

source: bali and beyond

In addition to the funeral ceremony (ngaben), one of the interesting religious and customary activities of Hindu-Balinese to know is pawiwahan or wedding ceremony. The same like others customary, in Balinese society pawiwahan ceremony is a form of sacred and noble commitment because in essence it is a testament to the ceremony before the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa and the gods (gods Witness), the abstract creatures that live in the “underworld” (Bhuta Witness), and to fellow human beings (Manusa Witness). These testimony referred to as the “three Witness” (Tri Upasaksi). Like the other religious ceremonies in public-Hindu-Balinese, implementation pawiwahan ceremony was also aided by a large family of both the bride and the surrounding community

Hindus have a purpose in life is called Catur Purusa Artha, those are Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. These cannot be performed at once but gradually.

Stages to achieve the four goals of life are called Catur Asrama. Those are Brahmacari, Grhasta, Wanaprasta and Sanyasa. At Brahmacari level is priority to get the Dharma and knowledge. Grhasta is prioritizing to realize artha (wealth) and kama (lust or passion). At this level, Balinese are doing marriage. While in Wanaprasta is a level for preparing Sanyasa level. Finally at Sanyasa level is prioritized to achieve moksha. Moksha is purpose of Hinduism that is a state of unity spirit with God. Base on this reference for Balinese, besides for continuing descent, marriage is a part of Balinese believe to achieve goals of life.

In Bali Customary Law, there are four marriage systems. The first is Mapadik. Mapadik means proposed. In mapadik, the groom family comes to bride family to propose to hold a marriage. The Mapadik is done when family, bride and groom give consent for the marriage or there is good relationship between family, bride and groom. This is a honorable way of marriage and expected by all parents in Bali. The Second is Ngerorod, where the bridal couple love each other but they elope and without parental consent of the woman. Being no consent, the groom or his relatives will “kidnap” the bride. Some “the ngerorod” happened when the groom comes from lower caste or there is different social status between the bride and grooms. It is also a cheaper way for people to get married.

Nyentana / Nyeburin (selarian): Form of marriage is based on the change of status as “purusa” (man) of the bride and as “pradana” (woman) of the groom. In this system, the bride will purpose the groom and take him to her home. Simply, the woman is to be as if a man. It happened when the woman is only child or has no brothers, so she need a man to be “purusa” as heir. The fourth is Melegandang / forcibly without love. This system of forced marriage is not based in love with love. Nowadays it was rarely. Melegandang can be found at past in kingdom era. When the King wants to marry any woman he likes, he will force (melegandang) to marry the bride without love each other and purposed.

Nyepi Day is the feast for Hindus who have always celebrated annually ( Saka New Year ) . Nyepi Day in 2015 falls on 21 March , it fell on the count day Tilem Kesanga ( IX ) which is believed to be the day of purification gods central Amrita ocean water that carries the essence of life . For the Hindus to worship sacred to them .

Nyepi is actually a celebration of the Hindu New Year calendars or calendar Çaka , which began in 78 AD . Unlike the new year celebration AD , Saka New Year in Bali begins with solitude . No activity as usual . All activities are eliminated , including public services , such as the International Airport was closed , but not to the hospital . The main purpose ” Nyepi ” is pleading before God Almighty , to purify Bhuana Alit ( human nature or Microcosmos ) and Bhuana General or macrocosmos ( the universe ) . Before Nyepi , there are a series of ceremonies that do Hindus , particularly in the area of Bali .

Melasti , Tawur ( Pecaruan )

Three or two days before Nyepi , Hindus perform purification by Melasti ceremony also called Melis / Mekiyis . On that day , all means of worship in the temple ( sacred place ) marched to the beach or lake , because the sea or lake is the source of holy water ( Tirta Amrita ) and can purify all leteh ( gross ) in man and nature .

Pengerupukan Day

One day before Nyepi, Pengerupukan Day, there will be a nearest Ogoh-Ogoh parade performed by our neighboring Nagi villagers in the evening. Ogoh-Ogoh is the manifestation of a person, an object or anything that disturbs human lives. This parade is an exorcism ceremony at the main village crossroad, the meeting place of the demons. Beforehand, there will be a Perang Api (fire war) to start the parade with.

Nyepi Day

On this day the atmosphere as dead . No flurry of activity as usual . On this day Hindus perform ” Catur Brata ” Penyepian comprising observe geni ( no flaming or not using and or turn on the fire ) , observe the work ( not working ) , observe lelungan ( not traveling ) , and observe lelanguan ( not listening entertainment ) . As well as those who were also able to perform penance , asceticism, yoga , and semadhi .

Tirta Gangga is a Royal Water Palace belonging to the royal family of Karangasem kingdom . Located in Ababi village , about 83 km from Denpasar or 6 miles north of Amlapura , Karangasem regency capital .  The scenery of the area is fantastic with great views and the climate is relatively cool.

The water park was built in 1948 on the initiative of the King of Karangasem , Anak Agung Ketut Karangasem Anglurah . This water park architecture is a combination of Balinese and Chinese architectural styles . Before it is built into a water park , water sources have been there before , which is used by the community to meet their basic needs for water but also as holy water is believed to purify any bad energy around the area.

Tirta means that water is blessed and named after the river Gangga in India . Water from the spring water Tirta Gangga regarded as sacred by Hindus in Bali . This water is used for religious ceremonies in temples in the area to date . These springs are required for the ceremony organized by temples around Tirta Gangga which can be reached on foot .

Entering the park can be seen that there is a pond on the right side is decorated by decorative rocks placed around the pool , while the other serves as a bridge . Gods and goddesses standing majestically in the middle of the cold water pool . Goldfish swimming in the water , their scales shine like the sun light reflected in the water . This section is Swah level . At this level , where in addition to two ornamental ponds , there is also a swimming pool where locals and visitors can enjoy a swim in the cool spring .

Extensive water park is 1.2 ha , consisting of three levels of land stretching from east to west . At the secondary level , the level Bwah , there is a fountain next to the fruit stand Nawa Sanga elegant . And at the level Bhur , on the left side of the road , straight from the entrance on the west there is a large pond with an island in the middle .

Shakespeare has said, what is the name? It is not happened for Balinese. In Bali, name is everything. Balinese tradition believes that name can determine the destiny. Therefore, in Bali there is a proverb “gajah mati meninggalkan gading, manusia mati meninggalkan nama” (elepant dies leaving tusk, human passed away remaining name).  A meaningful sentence that explained the name is very important. Being it is so important, in Bali giving name to be sacred and special.

As the main religion, Hindu has influence Balinese name strongly. In Bali, there are two things, which determine the Balinese names, those are color and birth order.

Name based on color

Color is society classification based on their profession or function. In Veda this classification is called Catur warna. Unfortunately this classification goes on hereditary although it is not match with their profession.

1. Brahmana is person who master about religion and has profession as Saint or ritual ceremony leader. Commonly their title is Ida Bagus for man and Ida Ayu for woman.
2. Ksatrya is person who has profession as public servant, soldier or statesman. In general their title is I Dewa, I Gusti or Anak Agung.
3. Wasya is person who has profession as economist or trader. Their name will begins with “I” for man and “Ni” for woman
4. Sudra is the last, classified the person who has profession as labor. Mostly their name is same with wasya.

Birth Order

Naming based on birth order is used by all color. There are four names of birth order,

1. The first will be given name: Putu or Gede, or Wayan (only for Wasya and Sudra)
2. The second order is made or kadek
3. The third order is Nyoman or Komang
4. The last is Ketut.

If a family has more than four children, the naming will back start from the first order. In conclusions in Bali, the naming actually consists of three parts. The first is the color, the second is the birth order and the last is extra name or real name. Habitually the last or real name is hope or what will the child become in future. For example:

• Ida Bagus Gede Wacika : color is Brahmana, birth order is first and real name is Wacika, derived from Sanskrit or taken from Veda means good speech or remark.
• Dewa Nyoman Wisnu : color is Ksatrya, birth order is third and real name is Wisnu means God of custodian
• I Ketut widya : color is Sudra or Wasya, a man, and real name is Widya derived from Sanskrit means knowledge

The Bali Spirit Festival is an festival held every year in city of Bali, Indonesia. Live Dance and Music performances by some of the leading artists from different countries. The 5 day mega event will start from 31 March and finish on 5 April, 2015. So if you are looking for Classical Hatha Yoga, traditional Javanese dance and more, then Bali Spirit Festival is perfect place for you. The Bali Spirit festival is a major international yoga, dance and music celebration. This year, the event will be held in beautiful grounds of Purnati Center for arts located in Batuan near Ubud, Bali.

Isn’t This Just A Yoga Festival?

You’re likely to find yoga teachers from more than a dozen countries and, yes, yoga is a foundational part of the BaliSpirit experience with a variety of classes offered throughout the day and evening. Meghan Pappenheim, a Manhattan transplant well-known in Ubud for running a few different restaurants and creating the Yoga Barn, created the festival in 2008 as a means of connecting people to each other, to themselves, and to the vibrant and life-sustaining Balinese bliss. There are music and art classes, tours of local temples and spiritual sites, nutrition and health workshops, and even a collection of family activities like Balinese dance for kids, circus tricks, and storytelling. The daytime activities occur in the Purnati Center for the Arts. At night, you’ll move to ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art) and be serenaded with everything from local gamelan orchestras to well-known world music stars to Balinese puppet shows. Expect everything from electronica to indigenous to Bhakti/Kirtan but all with a soft edge as the whole flavor of the festival has a yin energy.

Making Friends

Given how Elizabeth Gilbert put Ubud on the map with her bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, Bali Spirit is particularly popular as a “girl’s getaway” festival. Both the porous, laid back nature of the event and the area make it a perfect place to meander and to explore. Quite often, you’ll meet someone at the festival and they’ll invite you over to their nearby villa for an after concert glass of wine or tea while admiring the Balinese moon. For this reason, it’s also a great festival for people traveling alone, and it’s a good time of year to visit Bali as typically it’s not too crowded in March.

Are You Curious?

At the daytime Dharma Fair and the Night Market there are a variety of vendors who will teach you about how to live a healthier life. There are healing huts where you can get a cranial sacral treatment, Reiki, Chakra balancing, an Esalen-style massage, Balinese traditional healing, and Tama-Do Sound medicine. And, for the more traditionalists, there are even some tarot card readers and astrologists. Just know that the overall quality of the practitioners is quite high so this is a great place to taste test a few treatments.

BaliSpirit’s Mission

Meghan’s vision is based upon the Balinese Hindu concept of “Tri Hita Karana” or harmony with God, Community and Nature. The festival provides support to HIV and AIDS awareness, multicultural education, and environmental conservation in Bali. BaliSpirit is a poster child for a new generation of festivals for the rapidly growing holistic travel marketplace. It’s a festival that both makes you feel good physically and emotionally, while also doing good socially and spiritually.

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Start Date: March 31, 2015

End Date:  April 05, 2015

Venue:     Bali Purnati Center For The Arts, Bali.

For Events detail:     http://www.balispiritfestival.com

Location:     Batuan, south of Ubud in Bali, Indonesia. 10 minutes south of Ubud.

Situated in Ubud bali, Locavore restaurant is a small and cozy restaurant operated by a team of highly dedicated food enthusiasts whose primary goal is to ensure our guests savor their experience at Locavore while dining on artistically prepared, fresh and highly enjoyable dishes. Part of that process is to source 95% of our products locally and not to keep large stocks but rather to source as much of our products fresh on a daily basis. This, together with the fact that all of our dishes are prepared a la minute with only fresh produce, certainly leads to more strain on our team but absolutely allows us to achieve our stated goal of providing our guests with locally produced, fresh and delicious dishes.

Locavore takes its name from the eco-conscious food movement  ‘locavorism’, which aims to reduce food miles by relying on produce grown within 100-250km radius of the consumer’s kitchen. Locavore has a unique selling point: it’ll feature European dishes prepared only with local ingredients. Locavore restaurant are and aim to continue being a fine dining establishment that focuses equal parts on the cuisine and on the experience.

To ensure that experience consists of the highest quality, Locavore focuses on a series of set tasting menus; 5-courses or 7 courses in either Locavore or Herbivore style. We are more than happy to modify our set tasting menus for those with dietary preferences, as long as those preferences are mentioned to us during your booking process, since we cater to our guests needs and especially since our chefs certainly love to be challenged to meet new heights. Some may call those preferences a ‘dietary restriction’ but we simply view your preferences as part of our obligation to ensure you enjoy the experience at our restaurant.

Although a meal at Locavore may last several hours, the reason for that is not lack of care or attention but rather the exact opposite … every dish is prepared with meticulous attention so as to ensure that every one of our guests will walk away from Locavore remembering the cuisine they experienced with us. Come to Locavore not for a rushed meal based on an endless menu but for a meticulously planned culinary journey prepared by our team that will leave you satisfied, fulfilled and eager for your next visit.

While we understand that this philosophy may not be applicable for everyone, as food enthusiasts we welcome everyone and anyone to join us at Locavore to take part in this culinary approach which we believe in, standby and advocate for within the sphere of fine dining.

As a final note, generally we can advise guests that Locavore restaurant menus can take the following service time:
– 5 course : 1.5 to 2 hours
– 7 course : 2 to 2.5 hours

Locavore Restaurant – Ubud Bali Contact

Jalan Dewi Sita, Ubud 80571
(0361) 977733