Planet Mole
Indonesia in Focus
Bali Scores Low for Green Tourism
By Barrie | 
No Comments » Although voted best island in the world by New York-based Travel and Leisure magazine, when it comes to sustainable tourism, Bali is not doing very well, according to a recent survey.Bali received “world’s best island” in five of the Time and Leisure categories — nature, tourism activities, restaurants, and society. The ranking was based on visitor experiences.
Saraswati: Bali
By Barrie | No Comments » Today is Saraswati in Bali. This is the special day of thanks for the gift of knowledge. The festive day is a time for making offerings to books and especially the sacred lontar palm leaf books. All books are subjects on this day. One is not supposed to read books, however schools have special ceremonies. Notedly, Pura Jagatnatha in Denpasar is jam packed with students praying for success in their studies in the early morning ceremony.
Indonesians in Focus: Ni Made Darmi
By Barrie | No Comments » 
That afternoon the Wijaya Kusuma Dance Studio was alive with the sound of gending, a composition played by a gamelan orchestra. Dozens of elementary school-aged girls were practicing the Cenderawasih (bird of paradise) dance. They moved rhythmically, following the gending from a tape recorder in a corner of the studio. Their scarves were tied at the hip with one corner held by the hand to form a wing. The children kept moving, swaying together as they danced the Cenderawasih, giving an appearance of flying. The studio was only a simple eight-by-eight meter building with concrete walls on the east and south sides. The west and north sides had no walls, only a waist-high loosely woven bamboo fence. The floor was concrete and the ceiling had been made from sheet iron.
Desa Dusun Restaurant: Denpasar, Bali
By Barrie | No Comments » In the middle of Denpasar, a recently opened restaurant is offering diners tasty food and a rural atmosphere. Located in East Denpasar, facing the Ayung River, Desa Dusun serves homemade food that tastes delicious and is reasonably priced too.
Mangrove Park: Bali
By Barrie | No Comments » 
As a small island, Bali is prone to erosion, but protection of its vast beaches and mangrove forests, have helped save much land. The mangrove forests along Jalan Bypass Ngurai Rai to Benoa Peninsula in Nusa Dua, for example, are known as a greater forest park, said Sudrajat Wirapraja, head of the program section of the Denpasar Mangrove Forest Management Agency. The park initially had a coverage of about 1,700 hectares, but the road works and other public facilities have reduced this to 1,100 hectares.
Guardians of the Sacred Legong Dance: Bali
By Barrie | No Comments » 
A dozen beautiful girls danced together in the courtyard of Payogan Agung Temple in Ketewel village, Sukawati, near Ubud in Gianyar in early October. The dancers were dressed in gold with crown-like headdresses adorned with fresh flowers. Other girls wearing similar costumes sat patiently in a corner of the temple waiting for their turn to perform. Ni Kadek Dewi Puspayanti and the other girls are members of a legong troupe that was not formed to entertain tourists or dance enthusiasts but to serve in life cycle rites, ceremonies and celebrations. The troupe was rehearsing for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Payogan Agung Temple celebration.
Warung Mak Beng: Sanur, Bali
By Barrie | No Comments » The 86-year-old Mak Beng, or Ketut Tjuki, is a living legend in the Balinese culinary world. She has inherited rare recipes for authentic Balinese dishes from her mother and mother-in-law. Since opening its doors in l941, the modest Warung Mak Beng has been one of the most popular places to eat in Sanur. Located near the Grand Bali Beach hotel, the eatery attracts a mixed crowd of foreigners and locals.
Indigenous Languages in Danger of Disappearing
By Barrie | No Comments » Indonesia is known not only for its multiethnic richness, but also for its linguistically diversified provinces and regions. Recent documented records by the National Education Ministry indicate there are 746 indigenous languages in the country, 10 of which have died out.
Image of the Day: Tanah Lot, Bali
By Barrie | No Comments » Two of the most photographed temples on the island of Bali are Pura Ulu Danau Bertan in the north of the island on the shores of Lake Beratan, and the other being Pura Tanah Lot. Both places are tourism magnets and if you are planning a trip to visit either of these then I suggest you get there early in the morning or late afternoon.
Getting Plastic Out of the Rivers
By Barrie | No Comments » The rainy season is back! Even though we’ve only had pre-dawn showers down here at the coast, there are telltale signs on the beach of the deluge in the hills: Plastic wrappers, bottles and rubber sandals are blending in with seaweed, bits of trees and blobs of bitumen. Water is the only reliable cleaning service around here, but she’s got to deliver the junk somewhere.
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