Tabanan: Best place to enjoy your vacations.

Tabanan is in southwest Bali where you get the perfect environment far removed from the hectic life of the cities. After coming here you will get to know what the purity of nature is. Here you will find indigenous stones, tropical structures and much more to see and praise. You will feel as if you are free from all the tensions and have nothing to do with worries of any kind. Here in Bali you will find everything, green areas, beautiful monuments and much more. In addition to these you will also get a chance to have a full view of the ocean.

There are places of interest in Tabanan. One is the Subak museum located close to the main bypass road. The documents here go back to 600AD recording social/economic and cultural life.  Here one can see the uniquely Balinese way of cultivating rice. Then there are the busy markets and the central streets all with a typical oriental flavour. Try a stroll through here to get a first hand experience. Tabanan is also known as the green belt of Indonesia and a photographer’s delight when he is looking for vast stretches of green rice fields.

Accommodations offered to you in Tabanan come with lots of varieties. Unlike hotels where facilities are quite limited, that is not the case with villas that are available in Bali. If you want to live a modern life and that too with the traditional effect, you have the best option available and that is Bali villa. All facilities are there in the Bali villas to make your holidays memorable.

Villas in Bali are constructed in such a manner that you will feel like you are living in the full comforts of your home only. Also if you want to do some work while sitting in Bali Villa, then that is also possible.

Internet is available in all the villas because it is the most important thing that everyone needs. So you can carry out some work while staying in these villas.

In the Bali villas of Tabanan you will see the awesome blend of modern amenities and the local tradition. Though the modernity is approaching the area but still there is no effect on the natural beauty of Tabanan.

If you want to make your dream come true then you can make it possible by staying in Bali villas. It is sure you will find everything here that is must in making your visit the most memorable visit of your life. So why are waiting? Just go and book a Bali Villa for you! After all you also need to spend some great time at great place with your family members and friends.

While in Tabanan do not forget the sunsets, it is what people visit Tabanan for. It is worth watching the temple against the golden and copper hued sky and people watch this from a cliff overlooking the temple.

From Tabanan go on to Kerambitan and see the old world charm and elegance still in place, intact and protected from modernization.

Then there is the pristine Bedugul mountain area to explore and if you stay at a Tabanan villa you will get plenty of time to get to know the beauties of this region. There is lake Bratan, mount Batukaru and the famous Pura Luhu temple to visit.

Nyepi

Ogoh-ogoh being paraded in Ngrupuk or The Bhuta Yajna Ritual.

Nyepi is a Balinese “Day of Silence” that commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to Bali’s calendar (in 2011, it will be on March 5th). It is a day of silence, fasting, and meditation. The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New year Gudi Padva in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh andKarnataka in India.

Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.

On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.

Rituals

• First, The Melasti Ritual is performed at the 3-4 previous day. It is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa and is performed at the beach to respect them as the owner of The Land and Sea. The ritual performed in Pura (Balinese temple) near the sea (Pura Segara) and meant to purify Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga (sacred objects) belongs to several temples, also to acquire sacred water from the sea.
• Second, The Bhuta Yajna Ritual is performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and create balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. The ritual also meant to appease Batara Kala byPecaruan offering. Devout Hindu Balinese villages usually make ogoh-ogoh, demonic statues made of bamboo and paper symbolizing negative elements or malevolent spirits. After the ogoh-ogoh have been paraded around the village, the Ngrupuk ritual takes place, which involves burning the ogoh-ogoh.
• Third, The Nyepi Rituals is performed with the following conditions:
  • Amati Geni: No fire/light, including no electricity
  • Amati Karya: No working
  • Amati Lelunganan: No travelling
  • Amati Lelanguan: Fasting and no revelry/self-entertainment
• Fourth, The Yoga/Brata Ritual starts at 6:00 AM (e.g. March 26, 2009) and continues to 6:00 AM the next day.
• Fifth, The Ngebak Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual is performed for all Hindus to forgive each other and to welcome the new days to come.
• Sixth and finally, The Dharma Shanti Rituals is performed as the Nyepi Day or “Day of Silence.”

Don’t Forget Ubud Bali villas during Your Bali Vacations

Bali is one of the most sought after destination by tourists all across the globe. A stay, however brief, in Ubud Bali villas can be a vastly enriching and enjoyable experience of a lifetime. You have to stay there to know why people like it so much. There are neither any beaches, mountains or lakes around nor any grand resorts to boast of. But one thing which attracts the tourists is the tranquil and serene surroundings where it seems that time has stood still and the outside world is far, far away.

The best thing about an Ubud village is you can just rent a bicycle and roam about all around the village holding a local map which would guide you through the grassy hilltops, terraced rice fields, forests, gorges and tiny hamlets. If you like shopping you have a great market of local artisans. You will notice the same old Balinese culture still prevalent in this village. While you stay in Ubud Bali villas, you will be in self contained suites which would fulfill all your regular needs. These villas are built keeping all the needs of tourists and travelers in mind. The villagers you will come across are really helpful and friendly. There are Ubud Bali villas with gardens where you can rest for whole day, chat with your friends or conduct some group activities. Even the soil of Ubud village has its own feel and aroma. Spend some time in the rain forests and experience calm and quiet in a green world.

The Ubud Bali villas come with all the accommodation facilities guests expect in addition to the natural ambience of Ayung river panoramas. People who wish for solitude for soul searching or need a change from their daily fast paced city lives would love this place. Ubud is an island inside an island. You will get accommodation facilities ranging from simple Ubud Bali villas to villas with five star luxuries and lavish interiors along with food facilities and personal attendants. Though there are a number of Ubud Bali villas available no villa is too adjacent to the other which ensures privacy and peace. with seclusion. You can also avail a spa facilities either provided in your Ubud Bali villa or in the village. If you are a self explorer you can roam about on your own. But in case you don’t have much time to explore you can hire a guide to take you to the best spots.

You will find all the space, privacy or seclusion you could probably be longing for in picturesque Ubud Bali villas. Every individual may have his own reason for staying in Ubud Bali villas. So you can choose the right villa for yourself. Just take care to book well in advance to get the best choice. The place is in demand all the time. Especially book a villa well in advance if you need more than one room. The accommodations may range from a single room to five rooms also. Simply visit www.pambali.com and let them take care of all your arrangements and do what you set out to do in Bali: relax and enjoy your holidays.

At the time of evening when the sun is setting down, you will see that the magenta and the orange colors of the sky get mixed up and make the view awesome. At that time Tanah lot, the temple of the Bali looks very beautiful and makes the sight spectacular.

This temple is one of the most famous seven sea temples in Bali. It is said that these temples were build in such a way that the next temple can be seen from the first temple. These temples were made to give the level of protection to the island. It was built by Dang Hyang Nirartha, who was a priest from Java, during his travels to the south west coast of the island in the 19^th century. It is said he had a dream that the place where he was sleeping was a holy one and when he woke up the next morning he asked a fisherman to build a shrine for him. Tanah lot means middle of the sea.

Tanah temple is the part of the Tabanan residency which is in the western part of the island. This temple is situated at a distance of 33 km from the place called Denpasar. There are two routes from where you can come to the temple. One can reach here from Canggu and also from Ubung bus terminal. The Canggu route is preferred by tourists since there are green rice fields one passes by on the route to the temple.

Earlier there was not much development to be seen in the land of Bali. But today the scenario is different. Today many hotels, restaurants and villas have been constructed so that the tourists can get the accommodation where they can stay and enjoy their vacations. But then also the natural beauty of the temple remains intact without any change. Arrangement is made for the visitors and no one has any problem in viewing the Tanah lot temple. Visit to Bali is incomplete without a visit to the Tanah lot temple.

If you are interested in staying near to the temple you have the best alternate which is Bali villa. Bali villas offer you everything which is needed to live the life in luxury. There are many such examples which prove that the Bali villas are the most famous among all accommodations. Going inside the sanctum of the temple may not be possible since this might be reserved for pilgrims only. However the external view is just as enchanting and there is so much to see here. You can see the superb views of the temple from the Bali villa that you have selected for staying.  Bali villas are well known for their best locations in the island from where you can see almost all the beautiful sights of the island. Bali villas are centrally located and it takes only a short while to get to any shopping center or the beach or a mountain from the villas. While here you can also plan a trip to Ubud, Seminyak and Kuta, places that are a must on the tourist itinerary.

It is not just the villas, it is the ambience, the service provided by the charming attendants which contribute to your getting the royal experience that you will cherish for a lifetime. Just once, it is worth visiting Bali, if not for the natural paradise then for this specific experience of a wonderful royal stay which leaves you feeling like a maharaja.

So visit Bali and enjoy living in Bali Villa to make your stay memorable!

For you jetsetters around the globe, it’s time to discover a new tropical paradise in beautiful Indonesia. There are about 18,000 thousand islands in the Indonesian archipelago and Bali is one of the most special islands in the country. It is full of culture and is known to be called, “The Island of the Gods”. The islanders dominantly engage in the Hindu religion. It’s a very spiritual place where every aspect of Hinduism is practiced in everyday life of the Balinese people. Ceremonies are done daily and are carried out throughout the whole day to please the Gods. Worshiping and praying is a very important feature for the Balinese because all good and even evil are controlled by the Gods. By constantly giving praises to the them, they are ensured vitality, wealth, and goodness in their lives.

Another reason to choose Bali as a next destination for your holiday is its amazing beaches. The water primarily remains warm throughout the year and the climate allows for ultimate beach relaxation and leisure. It’s one of the best places on the planet to bask in the sunrays and at the same time enjoy the amazing surfing beaches on the island. Many travelers who come to Bali become so absorbed in the culture that they take a little bit of the island back to where they came from. It truly is a magical place.

The island also offers astonishing accommodations such as your very own Bali villa, Boutique hotels, and 5 star resorts. Bali villas are the most popular choice of accommodations on the island. People chose to book a Bali villa because it’s very private, luxurious, and offers a homey feel to your stay on the island. You can get pampered and practically get any service you want in your luxury Bali villa such as your very own private chef, massage therapist, driver, babysitter, and many more. It is also a great idea to book a Bali villa for weddings, large parties, and special events because it offers a more personal and relaxing environment for everybody.

If you are deciding on a place to go on your next trip, choose Bali. Our company, Pambali, specializes in finding our clients the most superb Bali villa on the island. We will throw down all your options until you find the perfect Bali villa of your dreams. Contact us today at info@pambali.com and we will be more than happy to help you.

Blessed with an ancient society of beautiful, lighthearted people, Bali has a cultural style like no other in the world. Bali style is a mosaic, a varied heritage of many cultures.

For more than ten centuries, the Balinese have welcomed intrepid voyagers and carefree globetrotters to their shores who brought with them their own ideas and beliefs. An elegant people who wear an innate nobility and possess an artistic temperament, the Balinese have tenaciously observed their beliefs while incorporating new ideas from the outside world. Throughout their history they have creatively adapted and adjusted these outside influences to fit their needs and nourish their spirit. Theirs is a culture intrinsically endowed with an essence that has created an authentic Bali style.

On Bali, a saturation of the style permeates sights, sounds, and feelings as surely as the exotic array of birds and butterflies, fruits and flowers. An effervescent spirit of creativity is felt in everything, everywhere. Balinese style is ever present, a moment to moment experience. The style is vividly expressed in Bali villa architecture, in the visual and performing arts, and through observance of religious ideals.

Throughout the island is a plethora of fascinating Bali villa structures that are each designed to show elements of traditional Balinese architecture. Organic materials such as bamboo and alang-alang grass are used for roof structures. Practical, functional thatched roof designs in Bali have handsome exterior proportions with appealing organic textures.

Bali’s distinctive style is a multiplicity of concepts intricately woven for dramatic effect; a layering of vivid colors, textures and rhythmic patterns boldly revealed in elegant forms. Forms speak a visual language of the people that astonish the intellect and bewilder the imagination. Startling imagery and highly sophisticated design motifs are unexpectedly interlaced with pure whimsy. Incredibly beautiful art forms contrast with a sense of humor to create a smile and provide a reminder that life is not so serious.

The lifescape of Bali is filled with an artistic palette of color as well as spectacle of visual interest. Stone or wood statues are adorned with fresh flowers, dressed with a sarong and gaily hold painted umbrellas. Peasants stylishly wear colorful patterned batik fabrics as they go about their daily work. Temple ceremonies are staged so often that somewhere on Bali there is always one happening. The drama of Balinese life is more clearly represented in these frequent ceremonies. Ceremonies that are pageants to the gods but provide occasion for performances by flamboyantly costumed dancers and the presentation of artfully constructed offerings.

The Bali villa of a famous home designer named Alessandro Landi is a unique pad amongst other villas in Bali, due to the fact that it was built without Indonesian design influences. It is a very modern home with a stylish, international, and contemporary touch. From the type of intricate artwork to the type of furniture used in this villa, you will notice that there is little reference incorporated to the culture of Bali, other than it being built to mediate the forces between nature and man.

This Bali villa is situated in the Bukit where the land is very dry and no rice field paddies are in clear sight. The theme that Landi was going for was something simple that embraces the feeling of abiding in nature, so an open plan living with beautiful plants and the natural scrublands of the Bukit were incorporated in the construction of this villa in Bali.

The style of this Bali villa has definitely a cosmopolitan habitat with the use of unfinished textures and materials that have a rough feel to it. They also integrated stone masonry, granite, slate, sandblasted glass, and bamboo flooring. It’s a home that uses contemporary colors such as red, blue, green, and many different shades of grey that are all intertwine with each other. The odd eye catching things in the house is the bright red day bed on the deck, crimson rug in the living room floor, and the red bar stools.

This four bedroom Bali villa offers spectacular views of the Indian Ocean and incredible sunsets. The location of Landi’s home is also a catch, being that it is so close to world famed surfing spots such as Uluwatu, Balangan, Bingin, Padang Padang, Dreamland, Green Balls and the famed Uluwatu Temple. At the same time this villa is private and is located in a quiet area. It also has a large lap pool made with green sukabumi stone, which is surrounded by a wooden sun deck and a lawn that has rows of Stipa gigantean grass.

If you are interested in renting Alessandro Landi’s Bali villa in the Bukit or something similar to it, our company, Pambali, can assist you in doing so. We have the ability in finding you the perfect villa in Bali that you are looking for. You can contact us through info@pambali.com if you have any questions or need further information in booking a Bali villa.

This year Nyepi Day fell on March 16^th. It is a day in the Balinese Hindu culture where the island is silent and the people fast and meditate. It’s a day of self reflection. From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day the whole island of Bali comes to a sudden halt. Nobody is allowed to be on the streets as special officials monitor and enforce people to stay in their homes and keep silent. Everyone is restricted from work, lighting fires, using electricity, traveling, talking, any kind of self entertainment, and for some, not eating anything at all.

Nyepi is predominately a Hindu holiday, but other people who live in Bali or visit the island observe this day of silent too. They may not believe in what the day is all about, but they participate out of respect for the Hindus on the island.

For people who spent their holidays in Bali during Nyepi and did not wish to participate in keeping the day for self reflection, they were taken in consideration. They were allowed to watch television and enjoy all the amenities of their hotel or Bali villa, but they were not permitted to be out on the streets or on the beach. They had to stay in their hotels or villa in Bali. Even all the busy touristic areas that are usually jam packed with people such as Seminyak, Kuta, and Ubud became total ghost towns.

During this day of silence, no airplanes were allowed to land or take off at the Denpasar International Airport, as it was completely shut down for 24 hours. Although no one was allowed on the streets, they made special exceptions for people to be transported to the hospital for any type of serious emergencies such as women who were in labor and life threatening causes. Planes were only granted special permission to leave Bali for people who had serious traumatic injuries, which needed special attention to be flown out of the island. The only people that were allowed on the streets were what they call in Bali the Pecalang, which are security guards and police who enforce the prohibition rules.

The day after Nyepi is called Ngembak Geni. Slowly everything came back to normal, as the streets were busy again. There were many ceremonies that were performed around the island and people celebrated for accomplishing a day of total self reflection and meditation. The Balinese Hindus repented and forgave each other for all the wrong they have committed. It surely was a very festive day in Bali, Indonesia.

Have you ever been to Bali, Indonesia on the eve of Nyepi, and wondered what those scary, demonic, and monster statues were on the side of the roads? Those effigies are what the Balinese people pertain to as the Ogoh Ogoh’s. These large figures are primarily built for the Hindu Ngrupuk parade held the night before Nyepi day. This festive day is called the Balinese New Year’s Eve. Every Balinese Hindu participates in this sacred event.

The Ogoh Ogoh is usually constructed by an appointed group of talented artists in each village around Bali. They collaborate all their ideas into designing and building very intricate pieces of art. Before, they were made out of a wooden frame, woven bamboo, and paper mache. Now, they are constructing larger and stronger structures, which require the use of a metal frame, wire mesh, and sponge.

There are also Ogoh Ogoh competitions that are held for this festival in Denpasar. The youth challenge each other in constructing the best and most unique Ogoh Ogoh. This competition allows the youth of Bali to shine and show off their talents. It also gives them the opportunity to express their artsy and creativity side.

These statues are made to symbolize all the evil things that are put upon this island, such as spiritual impurities and any outside forces that cause harm or malice. They also represent Bhuta-Kala in the Hindu religion, which means eternal energy and eternal time. They are later destroyed to release all negative energy.

An Ogoh Ogoah is usually placed on a board made of wooden planks and bamboo. It stands upright on this board while it is lifted and carried by ten or more men on their shoulders. The Ogoh Ogoh is then paraded around the villages and burnt to a crisp at a near by cemetery to symbolize self purification, and also the exorcising of evil. It is an amazing sight to see and hear as the youth of the villages accompany the parade by setting off colorful flares and playing loud music.

During this celebration, the Ogoh Ogoah is turned counter clockwise about three times. They do this on the T- junction and crossroads in every village. It represents the contact of the bodies with the spirits. The Balinese people believe that if this act is done it will bamboozle the demonic spirits so that they flee and stop harming innocent human beings.

Amed is situated on the South Eastern side of Bali, Indonesia. It’s a scenic and coastal area that covers the villages of Aas, Selang, Bunutan, Lipah, Jemeluk, and Banyuning. It is famous for it’s incredible diving spots, snorkeling beaches, and spectacular bays filled with colorful fishing boats.

Amed is an area that lacks hydration from rivers and streams and is full of rocky land, so farming rice is practically impossible. The way people make a living in this area is mainly through fishing, farming cattle, and cultivating corn.

Amed offers dive sites for all levels of diving experience. Jemeluk Bay can be explored from waters close to shore or far off shore by boat. As you go deeper, there will be a sudden deep drop off of more than a 100 feet, where you will see abundant and lively sea life. Diving areas off of Selang and Bunutan offer amazing sites but are more suitable for a professional level of diving. Aside from the Amed area, if you drive 20-30 minutes north to the town of Tulamben, you will hit a dive zone about 100 feet offshore where the USS Liberty wreck is located. This is a world-renowned attraction, where you will encounter beautiful soft corals, large array of fish, and many other fascinating sea creatures.

Tourists and expats come to Amed to getaway from the hustle and bustle of touristic towns such as Kuta and Seminyak. It definitely is a place that offers a more laid-back atmosphere and perfect for people who want to experience extreme relaxation. The beautiful black sandy beaches fascinate people as well as near by temples, and palaces such as the Purah Besakih and the Tirta Gangga. Our company, Pambali, can also organize sailing trips on traditional Indonesian sailboats for whale/dolphin watching. We can also arrange a fishing trip with local Balinese fishermen guides who are experts at trolling for fish. The nightlife scene in Amed is very limited but there are a few joints where you can have a good time such as The Pavilion and the Wava Weve Bar.

There are countless accommodations in the Amed area. Whether you want to stay in a luxury Bali villa, a beachfront hotel, or something more affordable, Pambali can assist you in finding the right place. You can contact us through info@pambali.com and we will be more than happy to help you organize your Bali holiday.