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The Unity of Hindu and Buddha at Lake Beratan - 10 April 2006

Lake Beratan - 10 April 2006

Journey to Bedugul Botanical Garden - 10 April 2006 (Part 2)

One Journey to Bedugul Botanical Garden - 10 April 2006 (Part 1)

Gunung Agung, the Sacred Mountain of Bali - 23 July 2006

One Journey to Tulamben, Bali - 23 July 2006

By the Beach - Candi Dasa, East Bali

(Pictures taken from the backyard of Alila-Manggis, Candi Dasa - July 23, 2006)

One Day in Candi Dasa, East Bali

(Pictures taken from the backyard of Alila-Manggis, Candi Dasa - July 23, 2006)

Ogoh-Ogoh Transformation

Ogoh-Ogoh Festival in Nusa Dua - 29 March 2006 (2)

Ogoh-Ogoh Festival in Nusa Dua - 29 March 2006 (1)

What are Ogoh-ogoh and what are they for?

Several months before Balinese New Year (Nyepi), the banjar youth group get together and plan the construction of ogoh-ogoh. Ogoh-ogoh are giant dolls made from bamboo frames which are intricately weaved and tied and then covered with papier mache. They are made in the form of creatures of the underworld known in Balinese as buta-kala. The creatures are based on characters taken from traditional myths and legends, however in modern times many also take the form of modern characters, including even people in the media or in the government.

For young Balinese, making ogoh-ogoh is a challenging but exciting art form and one month before Nyepi, most banjars are bubbling with “ogoh-ogoh fever”. It’s no mean feat to make a papier mache doll many metres high. Just getting it to stand up is a task, let alone making it lifelike.

Ogoh-ogoh are paraded around the streets on the eve of Nyepi, known as Hari Pengerupukan. Most main roads are closed off and thousands of people gather to watch the parade. It may take up to 30 people to carry a large ogoh-ogoh and each banjar includes a team of musicians playing gamelan and sometimes male and female dancers. Traditionally, however, it was just the ogoh-ogoh which were paraded in the streets on the eve of Nyepi. These days, however, this night has become an excuse for an ogoh-ogoh festival which is judged and the winning team rewarded with a large prize.

The gamelan ensemble used to accompany the ogoh-ogoh is called baleganjur which is made up of up to 15 musicians playing gongs, cymbals and drums. The louder the music the better, as their function is to scare off any demons before Nyepi, the day of silence. After being paraded till midnight, the giant dolls are ceremoniously burnt to represent the destruction of the demons on Earth.

(The above article is taken from: www.baliadvertizer.biz)

Melasti Ceremony and Sunset at Kuta Beach

Nyepi Day, The Day of Absolute Silence

On Thursday, 30 March 2006, Hindu people in Bali commemorate the Nyepi Day (Saka New Year 1928), the day of absolute silence for Hindu people.

Nyepi is derived from the word 'sepi' which means silent. Since the world is considered clean in the beginning of the year, the Balinese people celebrate the coming of the New Year with meditation instead of partying. On Nyepi Day, all Hindu people must do four customs of implementation the Nyepi Day (Catur Brata Penyepian).

There should not be fire (amati geni) nor works or activities to do (amati karya). People won't be allowed to have fun (amati lelanguan) nor to travel (amati lelungan). These prohibitions are intended to control themselves and surrender to God.

During Nyepi Day, which begins at sunrise and continues for the next twenty-four hours, people have to stay in their own houses. There will be no lights in the house, no sounds of radio or television, and no works. It is absolutely silence. The entire Bali is just like a deserted island during the day.Visitors to Bali definitely need to be aware of Nyepi Day, as they will not be able to go anywhere on this day. All the flights at the International Ngurah Rai Airport, harbor and other kinds of transportation are closed all day long. Lights in public areas, corridors and balconies will be switched off. All recreational places will be temporarily closed. Before and after Nyepi Day, there are a few ceremonies need to be done by Balinese people, as follows:

Melasti
Three days before Nyepi is called Melasti, a purification ceremony, when the villagers purify the statues (pratima) with water. The ceremony is meant to clean all nature and its content, and also to take the Amerta (the source for eternal life) from the ocean or other water resources.These are days when the villagers, dressed in their finest, walk in lines towards a holy spring, river, or the sea. In this procession, the women carry offerings of fruits, sweet cakes, and flowers, and the men carry long-poled umbrellas and carry the sacred family statues on bamboo litters. Water is used to wash the statues, and holy men sacrifice pigs, to be used as offerings to the Gods.

Tawur Kesanga
One day before Nyepi is called Tawur Kesanga which means to purify Buana Agung (macro cosmos) and Bhuana Alit (micro cosmos) as well as neutralize negative power from evil spirits.Tawur Kesanga ceremony usually begins with Ogoh-Ogoh parade. Ogoh-Ogoh is a giant bamboo statue with fangs, bulging eyes and scary hair to symbolize evil spirits (Bhuta Kalla). The Ogoh-Ogoh parades are held all over Bali after sunset, accompanied by Bleganjur, a Balinese gamelan music.In the evening, the Balinese people celebrate Ngerupuk, when they start making noises and light burning torches and set fire to the Ogoh-Ogoh in order to get the evil spirits out of people’s lives.

Nyepi
On Nyepi Day, there is no transportation, no fires may be lit, no work is done and no one should be seen on the roads. Silence is important so that the evil spirits, which were aroused the night before, will think that Bali is empty and will, therefore, leave the island.During Nyepi Day, only Pecalang (traditional Balinese security men) are allowed to be on the street. They wear a black uniform and Balinese traditional hat (destar). Their tasks are to control and check for street security as well as to stop any activities that disturb Nyepi.

Ngembak Geni
The day after Nyepi is called Ngembak Geni, the day when Catur Berata Penyepian (Nyepi) is over. Success of controlling themselves, people share happiness by visiting their relatives and friend. The New Year is started by forgiving each other and forget the hate in the past year and work together to face the challenge of the New Year.

Morning Visit to Mangrove Information Centre, Bali - Part 2

Do you know where mangrove can grow up?

The warmer does the water in its region become, the more various species of mangrove can be found.

A larger number of mangrove appear in tropical zone (between 30 degrees NL, 30 degrees SL) with temperature around 24 degrees Celcius and annual rainfall over 1,250mm.

The good place for growing up of mangrove is inter-tidal zone with enough sedimentation of mud (as river mouth) and in which well protected from wave and wind.

Each of mangrove species has different condition of life depending on the salinity, oxygen in the soil, and the tidal condition.

Indonesia is the largest country in term of mangrove area (more and less 8.6 million ha) with various mangrove species, i.e. 45 mangrove species from 51 species in the world (World Mangrove Atlas 1997 - Mangrove Information Centre, 31/1/2006)

Morning Visit to Mangrove Information Centre, Bali - Part 1

I was so curious about this place since the first time I saw the wooden signage written "Mangrove Information Centre". What was the inside like?

My curiousity fulfilled, a bit, when a friend drove me inside to get a glance of the place. The first time I saw the direction signage "Kingfisher Trail", wow!, I said this place must have many interesting "things" inside. And the bird-watching tower was so tempting to visit.

Eventualy just some days ago, twice, I came for a visit dan walking through the forest, it was just magnificent! I really love this place.

The Transactions - Badung Market, Denpasar

Rejoice - Legian Beach (10/1/2006)

An Afternoon at the Regional House of Representative Building, Bali

The Regional House of Representative (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah)
Province of Bali
Jl. Dr. Kusumaatmaja No. 3, Denpasar
Tel. (0361) 234619, 234662, 234945