Wednesday, 22nd March 2023, marks Nyepi Day in Bali. This is the most important day of the Balinese Hindu calendar, and many consider it a privilege to be on the island during this holy day. Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence, is a day of retreat and reflection. Balinese Hindus across the island …
Culture
Do you think you’re a good tourist? Do you always read up on local customs before you travel? Do you try to learn a little of the language of the place you’re visiting? Do you support local businesses and explore off-the-beaten paths? Of course, you do! We all like to think we’re excellent tourists, and …
Bali Governor Wayan Koster recently won the National Cultural Preservation award for his efforts to conserve Balinese traditions, wisdom, and physical landscape. However, this week, he has increased his commitment to Balinese cultural preservation by highlighting the issues created by families with fewer children. For decades, the Indonesian government has been on a mission to …
Bali’s most famous tourism village is launching a new kind of visitor experience. Following the pilot project’s success, Penglipuran Tourism Village will launch the Penglipuran Authentic Dinner. The program will formally launch in March in the village famed for being ranked the third cleanest village in the world. The Manager of the Penglipuran Tourism Village, …
Bali’s famous Gateway to Heaven Temple will be closed to the public from the evening of 4th January until 8th January. The temple is closed to both domestic and international tourists while the community participates in Galunguan festivities. The Sad Kahyangan Luhur Lempuyang Temple, known in English as the Gateway to Heaven, is located in …
In October 2022, environmental leaders and academics in Bali released new findings that demonstrated a connection between the rapid development of tourism infrastructure on the island and the rise in natural disasters. Further research has highlighted how water scarcity impacts some of Bali’s most important cultural landmarks. This, is turn, is affecting Balinese heritage preservation, …
Bali Governor Wayan Koster has called on the medical industry to integrate the use of traditional medicine into hospital services. The original leaders held a conference with Gotra Pangusada, the Balinese Traditional Healers Association, on Sunday, 25th of September. The request comes as part of a bigger move to further develop the medical facilities in …
Cockfighting, also known locally as Tajen, has been granted permission to become a cultural attraction in the Gianyar Regency in Bali. The development comes with a strict condition; however, events can only go ahead provided there is no gambling or ‘transactions’. Indonesia has a strict zero-tolerance stance on gambling of any kind, however, there have …
Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies is exploring the scope of heritage tourism across the country. During a recent visit to Siak in Riau Province in Sumatra, Minister Uno shared his insights on the potential history and heritage tourism has to offer both communities and the economy. One of the most prominent lures of …
Bali’s world-famous Ubud Writers and Readers Festival returns from 27-30th October 2022 for the first in-person event in two years. The festival organizers released a statement this week to confirm the first speakers who will be headlining the three-day event. The festival sees artists, activists, performers, and writers all head to Bali’s cultural capital to …
Temples in Bali are the latest organizations to begin the transition to removing single-use plastics. On Tuesday 28th June. The Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple in Pecatu Traditional Village in South Kuta handed out over 1,000 reusable woven pamedek baskets to worshippers. The woven bamboo baskets, known locally as pamedek, were given to Balinese Hindus attending …
Bali is famous for its pristine white sandy beaches, and while the majority of holidaymakers to Bali stick to the coastlines, the island has so much more to offer. From cultural villages to stunning natural landscapes to adventurous hikes, ATVs, and zip lines, Bali caters to every kind of traveler. Although Bali has welcomed over …