Travel Singapore Guide

This is a great time for visiting Indonesia with a huge plethora of events happening around the archipelago to commemorate Visit Indonesia Year 2008 and as it so happens, the first Asian Beach Games will happen on Bali in the month of October. Combine this with what will be occurring in Beijing and you have […]

Original post by Barrie

After a 10 year absence from Bali having had these years in Yogyakarta, Central Java, I returned in 2003 to see many changes had occurred on the island of Bali. One place that particularly took my attention was the near completion of the Discovery Mall on Jalan Kartika Plaza. At that time I can recall […]

Original post by Barrie

Seems like a stupid title to an article but, that’s what it’s about. Okay, let’s start at the beginning. Over the decades tourism has increased on the island to the point now of what is referred to a ‘mass tourism’ where the island is literally saturated. Although this is great for the Balinese as far […]

Original post by Barrie

It’s back again for its third year after two very successful previous years. This fun and cultural events festival highlighting Balinese art and cultural performances will be this year around the area of the Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel on Jl Pantai Segara. But, it’s not only art and culture performances that will be the […]

Original post by Barrie

A University colleague of mine rang me on Friday quite dismayed at the fact he could not obtain a flight to Bali and wondered if I could do anything. As if I am a travel agent!. Anyway, I rang my friend at Garuda Indonesia and was told that even though flight bookings had been heavy […]

Original post by Barrie

There is one thing that I encourage all visitors to Bali to do is witness a cremation. Culturally and spiritually inspirational, Balinese cremations are a colourful and, depending on the caste level, an extravaganza to rival any funeral in the world. Naturally, over the decades I have seen many but I was fortunate in the […]

Original post by Barrie

The Indonesian archipelago occupies an esteemed place in the world of textiles. Peoples of this vast chain of islands use a wide variety of woven, embroidered and resist-dyed techniques to prepare fabrics of great ingenuity and beauty. – Indonesian Textiles: Michael Hitchcock .
More and more traditional textiles and their ritual use are disappearing, becoming endangered […]

Original post by Barrie

The 30th Bali Arts Festival was officially opened yesterday by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and it apparently was quite a colourful affair with dignitaries present like the Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik. As I mentioned in a previous article, the month long event will feature traditional dance and drama, discussions and exhibitions as […]

Original post by Barrie

Dust off your running shoes, grease-up the bicycle and find your swimming gear. It’s on again – the Bali International Triathlon to be held from June 27 to 29. In its second year, the triathlon looks to attract even more competitors than the previous year. According to sources there are 250 athletes from a variety […]

Original post by Barrie

Without a doubt my favourite festival is the Bali Arts Festival and it will be held from June 14 to July 12, and will feature a plethora of local and international performers. This is a wonderful spectacle and a great introduction to Balinese artistic traditions and culture for those who are first-timers to the island. […]

Original post by Barrie