North Bali Tour (Singaraja Tour)
Drive the scenic road via Pupuan through the mountains to Bali’s North coast. You’ll enjoy beautiful views of picturesque rice terraces and large plantations growing vanilla, chocolate, coffee, cloves and even grapes for Bali’s own wineries. Near the village of Banjar is a popular hot spring where you can take a bath in the natural pond. After a lunch on the black beach in Lovina you pass the old capital of Singaraja on the way to Git Git, famous for its multi-tier water fall. Return over back roads to see the unspoiled Bali. (This tour can be combined with the visit to Bedugul.)
Kintamani Tours
The first stop is often in the village of Batubulan to watch a performance of the Barong and Kris Dance. Afterwards you visit the villages of Celuk (silver jewelry) and Mas (wood carving) to see Balinese artisans at work. Ubud, Bali’s cultural center, has grown to a busy town with numerous Balinese art galleries and shops. A scenic drive over small roads overlooking beautiful rice terraces brings you to the mountain village of Kintamani (about 5,000 feet above the sea) which offers stunning views of Lake Batur and the volcano. You can then cross the crater-lake below the still active Mount Batur and visit the ‘Bali Aga’ village of Trunyan then return through traditional villages with stops in Tampaksiring to visit the temple of Tirta Empul and to visit the Elephant Cave “Goa Gajah”, a hermitage from the 11th. century used by both Buddhists and Hindus.
Balinese Painting History
The place synonymous with the traditional form of Balinese painting is the village of Kamasan, near Klungkung. Up until the beginning of this century, and in the service of the kings of Gelgel and Klungkung, it was only natural that the painters and illustrators, called ‘Sangging’, should settle in this one area. As it was not uncommon for ruling families from other parts of Bali to acquire the use of a Sangging to decorate their own palaces or temples, the Kamasan style of painting quickly spread throughout the whole of Bali.
Until the start of this century, the dominant form of painting was the portrayal of Hindu epics, on ‘Langse’ - large narratives painted either on broad, rectangular cloths or on ‘Ider-ider’, which were much narrower cloths about 30cm wide and several meters long. Langse were placed in temples as wall hangings, or used as curtains in the palaces. Ider-Ider were hung around the roofs of temples and shrines, and were used decoratively in the royal courts on festive occasions. The artists also painted on wooden boards which were placed between rafters as ceiling friezes. Aside from large representational paintings, the ‘Sangging’ were also expected to decorate everything from gourds, wooden altars, bamboo vessels, headboards for princely bed chambers and in particular to illustrate astrological wall hangings on bark paper or cloth. The style for which the artists of Kamasan are famous is based on the East Javanese ‘Wayang’ art. These were basically two-dimensional, iconographic representations following strict rules and guidelines as to how the characters should be portrayed. For example, a person’s character and status can be seen from the colors used to portray them, his head dress, or even the direction in which he is facing. Noblemen always have had very refined faces, while coarse characters have large, bulging eyes and fangs. Today in Kamasan you can still find people who are dedicated to painting in the traditional ‘Wayang’ style. One of the most famous Kamasan artists is I Nyoman Mandra, who, aside from producing his own paintings and doing restoration work, started a school to try and keep the Wayang tradition alive.
It wasn’t until the early 1900’s, that Western influence reached Bali. The use of Asian symbols in the works of Paul Gauguin, Toulouse Lautrec and Camille Pissaro created a new trend for Asian-influenced art and European painters began to move to Bali. Ubud’s fame for art can be traced to the arrival of German painter Walter Spies, and Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet. Together with Indonesian artist Gede Agung Sukawati, they established the Pitamaha Group which encouraged Balinese artists to be more expressive and less tradition bound. Aside from the Kamasan school there is now a wider range of different styles.
BATUAN STYLE Strongly Wayang based, this style involves hundreds of intricately painted representations of Balinese life, filling every available nook and cranny of the canvas. Batuan artists like I Wayan Bendi, Ni Wayan Warti and I Made Budi make much more of a statement about life in Bali with subject matter that includes everything from traditional village activities to camera-toting tourists and even surfers. Earlier Batuan artists, Ida Bagus Made Togog and Ida Bagus Made Wija, dealt much more with the darker, supernatural side of life in Bali with people depicted as extremely vulnerable to the spirits and powers of nature.
KELIKI STYLE Keliki art is very similar to the Old Batuan Style with the one exception being size; Keliki paintings measure 20 cm by 15 cm. They contain scenes of mythical and Ramayanic characters engaged in battle, good versus evil, on sinister backgrounds. Keliki artists also follow the tradition of the old Wayang artists in that they seldom sign their work.
UBUD STYLE Influenced by the Western use of perspective and everyday-life subject matter, the Ubud style is one of the most Expressionists of all the Balinese schools. Despite this, Ubud art still retains many traditional features, including attention to detail and very stylized characters.
PENGOSEKAN STYLE From this village, on the outskirts of Ubud, a new style sprang up during the 60’s. These paintings tend to be more realistic and less expressive than the Ubud style concentrating on just a few natural components like birds, insects, butterflies and plants.
Tanjung Benoa
Tanjung Benoa is located at the southest part of Bali island, which have their unique attractions and neighbouring with Nusa Dua. Tanjung benoa is a home of star hotels such as : Novotel, Grand Mirage, Bali tropic, Melia benoa, Conrad and other names.
It is also a centre of marine tourism e.g. parasailing, banana boat, Jet Ski, Rolling Donut, Glassbottom Boat and Turtle Island etc. Tanjung Benoa has a small friendly waves, so it is very good for family vacation.
Uluwatu
Uluwatu, which is located at the southest part of Bali island and toward Hindia Ocean, also a great place to visit. There is temple which is built on rocks toward the sea, with 50 metres height. The extraordinary sunset can be seen at every evening while you are watching the world famous dance,Kecak Dance. Because of its big waves, many tourists are challenged to surf here. Thus, no wonder, an international surfing event is held at Uluwatu every year.
Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot is one of favorite tourism destination in Bali. It is well-known for its Tanah Lot Pura (Temple) located separated from the land, yet it still can be reached without a boat if the tide is not high.
This Pura is one of major Pura in Bali known as Sad kahyangan. Tanah Lot temple is located at Beraban village, Tabanan about 1 hour trip from Kuta. According to the history, this temple was built on 8th century by Danghyang Nirartha who managed to teach Hinduism in Bali. This temple also offers tremendous view like when sunset which is crowded by tourists. This is similar to the view of Uluwatu temple, and of course this place is always a reference for tourists visiting Bali.
Kuta Beach
Kuta beach is the most popular beach in Bali. Almost all tourists who visit Bali considering Bali as Kuta. The beauty of its white and gentle sand which is disseminated along 4 kilometres makes Kuta seems like heaven for the visitor to have sun bathing, enjoy the sunset, and swim.
Kuta has also been used as a place for playing and learning surfing, since it has a good big waves. Kuta is located 2 kilometres at the north of Ngurah rai International Airport or just a five minute drive form the only airport. Near Kuta beach, there is Legian beach. It is a same line with Kuta, but with a more peaceful atmosphere.
Terazo Ubud
Located in Ubud on quiet Suweta Street, just a stone’s throw from the center of town, TeraZo restaurant and bar is a must-visit while in town. Designed in a colonial modern style by international design firm Hananto Lloyd, Terazo features banquette dining, a stylish lounge and mahogany bar downstairs. Casual glam awaits you in the dining room upstairs!
Open for lunch and dinner, Terazo offers exquisite food and wine from across the globe. Enjoy the open-air ambience while we prepare pan-Asian and international dishes from the freshest local and imported ingredients. Our aquarium on premises, and fish of the day specials, ensure your seafood is the freshest in town.
Reach us at:
Ubud
Email : info@baligoodfood.com
Website: www.baligoodfood.com/terazo.asp
Mozaic Restaurant
When you enter through its Balinese doorway, Mozaic Restaurant offers you an evening of repose and pure enjoyment. A walkway leads you to a tropical garden with its widely spaced tables and simple elegance, where, once seated, you are immediately charmed by the unique setting. The chef’s degustation or testing menus offer you the occasion to savor what is truly a parade of ever-changing culinary creations. Whether à la carte or the surprise Chef’s menu, Mozaic Restaurant transports you to a gastronomic paradise. Mozaic Restaurant and Chef Salans have been honored with praise around the world for the excellence of their cuisine and the beauty of the setting. Mozaic is the only restaurant in Southeast Asia selected by Traditions & Qualité as one of Les Grandes Tables du Monde (Great Tables of the World) and to have it’s wine list awarded year after year by Wine Spectator.
Reach us at:
Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Ubud, Gianyar - Bali 80571 Indonesia
Phone / Fax. +62 361 975768
Email: info@mozaic-bali.com
Website: www.mozaic-bali.com
Cascades Restaurant
The setting is luxurious Balinese Style of open pavilions with high alang alang (thatched) roofs, surrounded by lush tropical valley views, water features and beautiful timber finishes. It has been said that CasCades is one of the world’s most beautiful romantic restaurants combining an atmosphere unparallel to most fine dinning restaurants in the world.
CasCades Restaurant’s vision is to bring it to the next level of a perfect dining experience, developing the uniqueness of the food, service and ambience. The menu has a French base but with a small Asian twist involving influences from Japanese, Thai, Balinese cooking.
Also CasCades guests can feel comfortable with the knowledge that a very high standard of hygiene is adhered to at all times. To add some more excitement to the experience of CasCades several adventurous guests have flown in by helicopter, (helipad on site) for that special occasion lunch or dinner.
Reach us at:
Jln. Lanyahan, Br Nagi, Ubud, Bali 80571.
Phone: (+62 361) 972 111
Fax : (+62 361) 970 777
Email : enquires@cascadesbali.com
Website: www.cascadesbali.com
