Life’s threads are drawn from tales of the past; its rituals and religions woven into the fabric of culture and lands. Across Indonesia, this weaving of life’s threads is a link to history, and the stories of lives embedded in textiles. For centuries, women across the archipelago have been the storytellers of their cultures, daily writing across the warp and weft of their backstrap looms the cloth of bridal dowries, infant swaddling garments and shrouds for the dead. Before the advent of tourism, these textile heirlooms were handed down from mother to daughter — their motifs, colors and weaving forms, different in each region, copied and learned by osmosis over generations. However a late 20th Century shift from a bartering to monetary economy threatened to break this tradition.
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Guns and I just don’t mix. Besides disliking violence of any kind, I will never understand why anyone could even hunt animals or simply collect guns for pleasure. I’m not talking about killing people or animals here but rather the craze of Paintball. This game has captured the imagination of the world and people of all ages take part in these games where two opposing teams compete using CO2 Paintball makers and go around trying to eliminate the opposing team members. Basically, Paintball is an exciting version of “capture the flag”. The game is won by successfully returning the centre flag to your team’s flag station. And the paintball, well, it’s a gelatine shelled capsule, will simply splatter on impact. Seems like fun to me but it’s the idea of carrying a weapon that I don’t like. However, each to his own.
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Located in the small village of Tembok, situated on the north-east coast of Bali is the truly magnificent Poinciana Resort. Far from the madding crowd of the tourist mecca in the south-west of the island, the resort offers a unique place to chill out and relax. I say that because there are no televisions, radios or the ilk to annoy you in the room you reside in whilst you are there – just pure peace. Delightful!. Having never been there before, I was indeed curious as to what kind of resort it was going to be as we drove down the narrow leading off the main north-east road. The first thing that struck me was the seclusion and the beauty of its natural location right on the beach. Instantly, any reservations I possessed about the place dissipated immediately.
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Recently when I visited Bali we had a few weeks of intensely thunderous weather. Quite out of context for that time of the year. Sure, there is the usual rainstorms at the end of the wet season, but none like the lashing Bali [and a lot of Java received] at the time. Of course the surfers loved it because great swells were generated. And, as always, Australia was blamed for having cyclones off the north-west coast of Western Australia. It happens every year. Now, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) in Indonesia is to commission a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC).
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I can walk out into my garden right now and gaze upon extremely large aloe vera plants, and although I was aware to a certain extent of the healing power of the plants, I didn’t realise just how beneficial they were. Candika is always going out there, slicing a piece off, and then rubbing the sap into her hair after washing it. I never questioned her as to why she did this. However, my curiosity got the better of me and I did a quick Google search and was amazed to find tomes of information about this plant. Apparently cosmetic companies add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, shampoos and lotions, though the effectiveness of Aloe vera in these products remains unknown. Even more was to surprise me. Aloe vera gel is also alleged to be useful for dry skin conditions such as eczema and sensitive facial skin. Apparently, there is one type of aloe vera that has made those in the medical profession stand up and listen, and farmers in Bali rub their hands with glee.
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I have never been one for fashion and much prefer to buy what feels comfortable and durable. It always amazes me how certain people in society just have to have the latest fashions even if the style only lasts a couple of months!. But, that’s a matter of lifestyle choice. I have better things to spend my money on, like travelling. Last year, Bali played host to the first Bali International Fashion Week at the Sheraton Nusa Dua Convention Center in the Nusa Dua Holiday Resort. Good news for all you fashionistas, Bali will be …
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In June of 2007, Bali hosted its first triathlon – an epic race combining 1.5 km of ocean swimming, 40 km of cycling and 10 kms of running - all undertaken either individually or in teams of three. Drawing over 200 athletes to an event that began and finished on Bali’s picturesque Jimbaran Bay, the inaugural event was a success by any standard, a fact further emphasized by Bali’s selection as “Best Triathlon Destination” by the prestigious Competitors Magazine (U.S.A.). In keeping with the organizer’s concept, the Bali race presented a distinctively Balinese event combining races along the Island’s picturesque southern peninsula passing traditional villages, where sarong-clad race marshals stood guard, and included a traditional blessing of the bikes and their riders by a Balinese priest.
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Great news for tourists wishing to visit the island of Bali. Now there is no more trudging down to your local travel agent to obtain a copy of the Garuda Holidays Book or copping the usual hype from these folk telling you the best place to stay on the island and things to do. All you have to do now is get on the computer!. Australia-based Garuda Orient Holidays (GOH) has released the latest electronic version of its comprehensive guide to holidays in Bali and Indonesia. The downloadable e-version of Garuda Indonesia’s widely acclaimed “Bali on any Budget” (Boab) brochure has been launched as Australian interest in Bali has surged by more than 50 percent, with the total number of Australians arriving in Bali during the first half of the year rising to 85,860 from 52,574 in the same period last year.
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Mention the word ‘snake’, and generally 95% of people run for the hills!. This is probably the worst thing you could do as you will arouse the snake’s attention. As most bushwalkers will tell you, it’s better to stand still and let the reptile get on with his business and go past you. Of course there are those times when you unavoidably step on one and then shit hits the fan, so to speak. It happened to me in Australia one particular year, and although I was lucky not to be bitten, the partner of the snake underfoot was not impressed. The snake in mention was a King Brown, one of the deadliest snakes in the world, and promptly chased me down a dry gully. In Indonesia on my travels I have come across snakes numerous times and just applied common sense in our meetings. Chances are that you will never come across a snake unless you travel in the jungles or open grasslands. A majority of tourists will never see a snake as they never venture off the beaten track.
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Across Indonesia today it is a public holiday in celebration of Muhammad’s birthday. Also called Maulid Nabi, government offices and numerous shops are closed, and, no newspapers are printed for this day.
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