New Year in Bali

As the New Year approaches, Bali gets ready for its New Year celebration. For many years, Bali has been the most desirable place to celebrate the New Year’s Eve, not only for Indonesian people but also for all the foreigners from all around the world.

Most of the places in Bali are the great places to celebrate the coming of the New Year but the most well-known spot to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Bali is Kuta Beach where there is a parade or carnival in the afternoon.

For the youngsters and tourists in Bali, New Year’s Eve is a time to party all night long. They will start out the evening with a nice dinner in a restaurants, cafes, or pubs around Kuta, Legian or Seminyak area. Then, they will be off to Kuta Beach where thousands people gather to celebrate the New Year’s Eve.

Precisely one second after final countdown, the fireworks will be ignited and drinking will go on till pass midnight. Then, the party goers will continue the New Year celebration at numerous nightclubs or pubs around Kuta area such as Musro, Kama Sutra, Hard Rock Café, The Wave; Legian area such as DeJaVu, Bounty; or Seminyak area such as KuDeTa, Double Six Club, Paparazzi, F Lounge, Bahiana. The most popular nightclubs are around Double Six Street and Dhyana Pura Street.

Jimbaran Bay is also well-known as the best place to have New Year’s Eve dinner with family and friends. Its romantic setting is perfect for couples who want to have dinner in a quiet romantic place with good meals, accompanied with the sound of the waves and night breeze.

For people who want to commemorate New Year’s Eve at the hotels, each hotel in Bali has its own unique program to attract the guests. Each hotel provides competitive rates or New Year’s package for guests.

Bali’s annual New Year celebration will also be held at Puputan Badung Square where hundreds people will gather at the square to see the parade or carnival and fireworks after the final countdown. Hundreds of people will also gather at Puputan Margarana Renon to commemorate the coming of the New Year.

For some people who are not willing to spend the New Year’s Eve in the crowded places like Kuta Beach and other places, they will hold their own private New Year’s Eve party by having fish grilled on the beach or in the garden of their homes.

The next day, on January 1, Sanur Beach is the ideal place to see the sunrise on the first day of the New Year, hoping that the upcoming days will be as bright as the sun.

Sanur Beach

For people who would like to spend their New Year Day away from hustle and bustle of the city, Bedugul Botanical Garden is the perfect place to spend their holiday with family and friends in its beautiful landscape and cool refreshing air.

source: http://www.bali-directory.com/article/NewYearCelebration.asp

Travel During Ramadan

Travel during Ramadan in Asia is actually enjoyable, interesting, and different. No, you probably won't go hungry! Read on to learn how Ramadan travel may affect your trip in Asia.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the Islamic holy month when all capable Muslims are expected to refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking until sundown. Ramadan lasts for 29 to 30 days, depending on the sighting of the new moon.

Although energy levels during the day may be low, Ramadan is actually a festive time with night bizarres, family gatherings, and special foods. Rather than avoiding travel during Ramadan, take advantage of being on the road during a special time.

What to Expect During Ramadan Travel

Depending on where you are traveling, you may not even notice that Ramadan is in progress! Travelers in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and other countries home to large Muslim populations will be affected the most. Bali in Indonesia is predominantly Hindu and is barely affected by Ramadan.

Many Muslims travel home to be with their families during Ramadan; some shops and restaurants may be closed until sundown. Long-haul transportation may run on an erratic or modified schedule. Accommodation is rarely affected, and Chinese eateries are always open for a daytime meal.

As the sun lowers, large groups of Muslims meet to break the day's fast with a festive meal known as iftar. Special desserts, performances, and public gatherings can be enjoyed by both travelers and locals. Discounted prices on gifts and souvenirs can be found in Ramadan bizarre.

Will I Go Hungry During Ramadan?

Non-Muslims are not expected to fast, however, many shops, street carts, and restaurants may be closed throughout the day. In places such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang where a large Chinese population exists, food is never hard to find.

Finding breakfast or lunch in remote villages may be a different story; fruit and instant noodles can go a long way when in a pinch.

How to Behave During Ramadan Travel

Ramadan is more than just fasting. Muslims are expected to purify their thoughts, and focus more on their religion. Travelers who do not cover up after leaving the beach or wear slinky outfits will not make life any easier on locals.

Make an extra effort to be considerate of others while traveling during Ramadan.

• Avoid eating, drinking, and smoking on the street in public during the daytime.
• Cover your shoulders and legs whenever possible.
• Never photograph people during prayers or performing their ablutions before prayer.
• Mosques -- normally open to visitors -- may be closed to the public during Ramadan.
• Be patient; you wouldn't move too quickly either without food or water in Southeast Asia's heat.

When is Ramadan?

The dates for Ramadan are based on the Islamic lunar calendar and depend on the traditional sighting of the crescent moon by eye. Predicting the dates for Ramadan is impossible in advance; sometimes the dates even vary between Islamic countries.

Ramadan in 2013 is expected to begin on or around July 8th, and will continue until August 7th.

Source: http://goasia.about.com/od/Events-and-Holidays/a/Travel-During-Ramadan.htm

Balinese Traditional Food

Lawar

Lawar is Balinese traditional food, well-known in all over Bali and available in many Balinese restaurants. Lawar is mixed vegetable with chopped meat, vegetable, spices, and coconut which tastes is sharpened with natural flavors.

There are various Lawar based on the materials for composing the cooking. Such as Red Lawar and White Lawar which is a large part made of coconut meat and other is vegetable and meat. The vegetables which can be cooked into lawar normally are young bean fruit and jackfruit. Pork lawar is made of pork meat while jackfruit lawar is made of jackfruit. There is also padamare lawar made of many kinds of lawar.

Lawar is usuallu served with rice and other dishes. Lawar is the most favorite cooking during religious ceremony, family rituals or any family occasion. Id there is a ceremony or any event of bali tradition, Lawar is the first plan in cooking activity.

Babi Guling

Babi guling is the more well known as be guling in bali. Actually, be guling can be made of other meats such as duck or chicken. Babi guling is a kind of dish made of a whole suckling pig. It is cooked by taking out its whole bowel and stuffed the inside with spice paste and vegetables such as cassava leaf, then grilled and rolled over a charcoal made from dried coconut shells until its well done.

Babi guling was originally made as ritual offering in Balinese traditional ceremonies as well as religious ceremonies. But nowadays, it can be found in many restaurants and certain hotels in bali area.

Urutan babi

Urutan is Balinese sausage. It is made of pig’s intestines, stuffed with pork meat and spice meats and spice paste inside, and fried until it is brownish. Urutan is usually served with Balinese rice wine.

Balinese satay (sate)

Sate is made of sea fish or turtle meat, green coconut, spices and brown sugar. Sate is usually cooked over charcoal made from dried coconut shells on a small ceramic grille, which gives them a delicious smoky and slightly charred flavor. It is beter served right after grilled or while it is still hot and usually served with lawar.

Ayam betutu

 Ayam betutu is made of chicken with spices inside. The spices consist of turmeric, ginger, kencur, galangal, onion, garlic, salam leaf and chilies. All these spices are mixed and put inside the chicken.

Source: http://www.bali-directory.com/all-about-bali/BalineseFood.asp

Tanjung Benoa

Bali is not only a romantic sunset and the beach alone. In Tanjung Benoa, you will be challenged with a water sport. There are various games such as Jet Ski, flying fish, parasailing and much more.

Tanjung Benoa is located on the southeast side of the neighboring island of Bali and Nusa Dua area. A strategic place, because only 40 minutes from Kuta and 30 minutes from Ngurah Rai Airport. Once there, prepare your guts to try every game.

Things to Do in Tanjung Benoa Beach Bali:

There are several different types of games like Jet Ski, banana boat, para sailing, flying fish, snorkeling, and diving. Each game is always supervised by an instructor who will lead you. So, do not worry.

One of the favorite games in Tanjung Benoa is the Flying Fish, which is 3 pieces of banana boat rolled into one with the addition of a rubber boat across the front and there is a left wing on the right side. The game is done by three people, including an instructor. Flying Fish will be pulled by a speed boat with a line of high-speed downwind. You will fly over the water about 2 feet or more depending on wind speeds.

Prices charged to visitors to enjoy various water sports range from Rp. 150.000 – 200.000. Watersport activities at Tanjung Benoa are open from 08:00 to 12:00 pm.

Not far from Tanjung Benoa, there is Turtle Island. You can interact with the baby turtles or giant turtles, iguanas, eagles, snakes, etc.

Prove your guts and courage to play a variety of water sport in Tanjung Benoa.

source: http://thetouristattractions.blogspot.com/2012/04/things-to-do-in-tanjung-benoa-beach.html