Bengawan solo is never die

Bengawan Solo is a famous Indonesian song about the Solo River, which flows through central and eastern Java, Indonesia and is that island's longest river.

The song describes the legendary river in a poetic and nostalgic way, that it is surrounded by mountains, its sources are near the city of Surakarta, that it ends in the sea, and that the merchants make use of it.

Written in 1940 by Gesang Martohartono, it is in the local kroncong style, a popular folk style with influences from Portuguese. The Japanese, who occupied the country during World War II, brought the song with them to Japan after returning from the war. There, and also in the rest of Asia and later worldwide, the song became very famous.

The song's widespread popularity began soon after its composition, and locally it is strongly associated with the period of war occupation and the society of the times. In 1940 Gesang, then a young, destitute and untrained musician, composed the song on a bamboo flute and began to sing it at local functions and gatherings in his hometown of Surakarta. It soon became well-known and liked among the local Javanese community; the song then achieved national acclaim after it was broadcast to a wider audience by various radio stations.

The melodies of the song also appealed to both the occupying Japanese soldiers, and the non-Indonesian prisoners (mainly Dutch civilians) in the internment camps. The song was taken back to Japan by the returning soldiers, where it (with the lyrics translated to Japanese) gained great popularity after various singers such as Toshi Matsuda released recorded versions of it which became best-sellers. The song has become almost synonymous with the perception of Indonesian music in Japan.

In 1991, a group of appreciative Japanese war veterans arranged for a statue of Martohartono to be erected in a park in Surakarta. Gesang himself was still resident in the city, now a nationally renowned figure[1].

Various artistes have recorded the song, among whom are Waldjinah, Toshi Matsuda, Anneke Grönloh, Rebecca Pan and Frances Yip.

"Bengawan Solo" is a popular name given to restaurants and businesses, in reminiscence of the song[citation needed].


Trivia
Bengawan Solo is the name of a popular chain of cake and pastry shops in Singapore.
The tune became a big hit among Chinese communities after Malaysian singer Ms Poon Sow Keng sang to the tune with Mandarin Chinese lyrics for Hongkong Pathe in 1957. The popularity of the tune was further boosted by Ms Koo Mei, who made her rendition for Philips Records shortly thereafter. Incidentally, Pathe and Philips were major competitors at that time. Since then, many Chinese language singers have written their own lyrics for the tune, making the tune a well-known tune in Chinese oldies music.
"By the River of Love", dating from early 1960s Hong Kong, is a song in English lyrics written to the tune. The lyrics of that song describe a romantic evening beneath twinkling stars and swaying palms. The period recording by Rebecca Pan can be heard on the soundtrack to the 2000 movie "In the Mood for Love" by director Wong Kar Wai. Ms. Pan also has a role in the movie, playing Mrs. Suen.

LyricsIndonesian lyrics English translation
Bengawan Solo
Solo River
Riwayatmu ini Thus your chronicles
Sedari dulu jadi Have been since earliest times
Perhatian insani Of sentient attention

Musim kemarau In the dry season
Tak seb'rapa airmu Your water is not much
Di musim hujan, air In the rainy season, water
Meluap sampai jauh Spills reaching far distances

Chorus:
Mata airmu dari Solo Your water springs forth from Solo
Terkurung Gunung Seribu Surrounded by a thousand mountains
Air mengalir sampai jauh Water flows to reach far distances
Akhirnya ke laut Eventually to the sea

Itu perahu That boat
Riwayatmu dulu In your past chronicles
Kaum pedagang s'lalu The merchant folks had always
Naik itu perahu Sailed in such boats





From : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengawan_Solo_(song)

mystery - jenglot ( human dwarf )

A jenglot is a type of mysterious creature or vampire in Indonesian culture and mythology. It is described as looking much like a tiny, living human doll. It is usually depicted as a mythical creature, sometimes seen in cryptozoology, and occasionally purported to have actually been a human body.

Whereabouts

Jenglot is believed to be found in Indonesia, especially in Java. They are mostly found by native psychics after they have performed a supernatural ceremony. Jenglots are said to be found anywhere, from under the ground, on a wrecked house roof, and even in the trunk of a huge tree.

Feeding Jenglot

Jenglot 'keepers' feed their creature with blood, either animal blood (goat) or human blood. Those who feed the creature with human blood buy it legally from the Indonesian Red Cross. The jenglot is said to not drink the blood directly. The person places the jenglot near the blood, but the jenglot doesn't even move or touch the blood. It is said that the jenglot will get the nutrients of the blood in their own way. Some say it comes alive and consumes the blood when it is alone.
Exhibition

In Indonesia there has been several "exhibitions" of jenglot specimens found and showcased. Most being found on the islands of Java and Sumatra, and are held as private collections of supernatural researchers and fans. Many were found to be hoaxes, being masterful taxidermist fixings of monkeys and fish, however, not all specimens were examined, and the jenglot is an actively believed myth that many natives believe to be real. People who have caught the jenglot usually bring their creature all over Indonesia to exhibit them in order to gain some money.
Becoming a Jenglot

According to an Indonesian legend, Jenglot was a ascetic who wanted to learn the "Ilmu Bethara Karang" or the way to eternal life. It also said to be a hermit whose worship demons and gain a certain power and ability. They say if a person with great supernatural power meditates in a certain cave, they'll become jenglot.


From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenglot

JAMU (TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINE) and TRADITIONAL COSMETICS

JAMU

'Back to nature' is not merely a slogan in Java and Indonesia. The visible proof is the use of traditional herbal medicine of various type of 'medical plants', either from the leaves, the fruits, the roots, the flowers or the barks, etc.

These herbal medicine had been used since the ancient time up to now, it is largely consumed by people of different level; lower, middle and upper, in the villages and in the big cities.

The study of jamu had been conducted by Rumphius, a botanist as early as the year 1775 AD by publishing a book 'Herbaria Amboinesis'. A scientific research for jamu by the research center of herbal medicine in Bogor Botanical Garden, resulting a publication of a book 'Medical Book for Children and Adults', composed by E. Van Bent.

The first seminar about jamu has been held in Solo in 1940, followed by a Formation of Indonesia's Jamu Committee in 1944. In the 1966, a seminar on jamu was held again. In 1981, a book by title of 'The use of Medical Plants' was established to support the jamu industry in the country.

The method of using the jamu remains the same as the ancestors did. Some are consumed by drinking it and some are for outside application.

At present one could buy easily ready made jamu packed modernly in the form of powder, pills, capsules, drinking liquid and ointments. Of course there are still jamu shops, which sell only ingredients or prepare the jamu on spot as required by buyers. Some women are roaming the street to sell jamu, is a common view across the country.



The traditional methods of making jamu such as by boiling the prepared herbal ingredients (jamu godok) still prevail in Javanese society. The popular traditional tools of making jamu are still available in many Javanese houses such as; Lumpang (small iron Mortar), pipisan, parut (grater), kuali (clay pot), etc.

What kind of disease could jamu cure?
The reply is almost every disease, jamu could cure. There are various kinds of jamu to combat different kind of illness. In Principle there are two types of jamu; the first is jamu to maintain physical fitness and health, the locally popular are Galian Singset (to keep women body fit and slim) and Sehat Lelaki (to keep men body healthy). The second is jamu to cure various kinds of illness. Except the above, there are special jamu created with the purpose to maintain a loving family harmony. The popular products among other are Sari Rapet, which makes a women sexual organ in a good condition, as for the man the matched product is jamu Kuat Lekaki (strong man). The Javanese are also taking a great care to pregnant women during pre and postnatal period by producing the related jamu. There are also jamu for the babies.

The Herbs for Jamu
There are hundreds of herbs for jamu prescriptions, among other are:

Spices
Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)
Lempuyang (Zingiber Oronaticum)
Temu Lawak/ Wild Ginger (Curcuma Cautkeridza)
Kunyit/ Tumeric (Curcuma Domestica)
Kencur/ Greater Galingale (Kaemferi Galanga)
Lengkuas/ Ginger Plant (Elpina Galanga)
Bengle (Zingiber Bevifalium)

Leaves
Secang (Caesalpinia Sappan Hinn)
Sambang Dara (Rexco Ecaria Bicolar Hassk)
Brotowali (Tiospora Rumpii Boerl)
Adas (Foeniculum Vulgare Mill)

Fruits
Jeruk Nipis/ Calamondin (Citrae Aurantifalia Sivingle)
Ceplukan (Physalic Angulata Him)
Nyamplung (Calophylum Inaphyllu)

Barks
Kayu Manis/ Cinamon (Gijeyzahyza Glabra)

Flowers
Melati/ Yasmin (Jataninum Sunbac Ait)
Rumput Alang-alang (Gramineae)

It is worth to note that some jamu factories in Java are exporting its products. Besides the export of ready made jamu, 25 kinds of herbal plants and ingredients are also in the list of export to Europe, Australia, USA, Japan, etc.

No Side Effects
The people like to consume jamu due to :
Availability in many places
Comparatively cheap price
No side effects



TRADITIONAL COSMETICS

The Natural Beauty of Woman
A Javanese woman is very much concern for her physical appearance to be always slim, beautiful with an alluring bright smiling face.

As a Javanese idiom says "Ngadi Sarira" to maintain the body to be always in perfect condition is of prime important. The way of life of a Javanese is greatly influenced by the royal culture. Not surprisingly that the art of "Keeping Beauty' is originated from the court palaces.

The Secret of a Princess Beauty
The Ladies of the Royal Families have a reputation to inherit the beauty of goddesses from paradise.

As told in the story of wayang (leather puppet) by the dalang (puppet master) , all parts of a princess body is always perfect and alluring: the beautiful black thick hair, a smooth skin, bright eyes, charming eye brows, eye lids and nose, bright reddish lips, white nicely teeth, wonderful built neck and shoulder, beautiful hands and arms, a waist like the one of a bee meanings slim and perfectly built.

The dalang with a clear deep voice, like in the poem reading adores the beauty of a princess with a thousands of words. It seems that all words of a complete dictionary are not enough to express of what a wonderful beauty a princess has.

The use of Traditional Jamu and Cosmetics
Nowadays, some secrets of this Karaton (Palaces) culture of "Ngadi Sarira" are known by many women from outside the Karaton walls. The Jamu is widely used to give an inner beauty, due to a good physical health.

Some of the products are consumed directly by eating it, for instance Kepel Fruit (a brown fruit of a chicken egg size), it's a natural deodorant. By eating it that would fragrant the odor of the body even the urine smells the fragrance of that fruit.

Jambu Mawar ( a kind of rose apple, mawar means a flower of rose) gives a fresh smell of breath. Some cosmetics are for outside application such as bedak dingin (cool powder) and lulur (scrubbing powder).

Beauty Care
Every woman is always proud of her hair – thick and shining, color and style. For natural shampooing, the ash of rice stalks work as a shampoo to clean the hair. After being washed by water, ingredients consist of
coconut milk, jeruk purut (a kind of citrus fruit smells like a lime ) and pandanus leaves are to be applied. It functions as a conditioner to clean the dandruff. The hair then washed by water again, to be dried while vaporizing with ratus fragrance.

Finally, a hair oil by the name of cemceman, made of coconut oil with pandanus , kenanga flower, jeruk purut etc. is applied.

Skin Care
For face caring, bedak dingin (cool powder) is applied. It's made from tendered rice with special ingredients, such as pandanus, kenanga flower etc.

For other parts of the body, lulur is applied, popularly known as mandi lulur (lulur bathing).

Lulur is also made from tendered rice, pandanus, some leaves of kemuning (with yellow color) and some medicinal roots. The lulur should stimulate the body to throw out the dead cells, replace it with new ones, stimulate blood circulation under the skin, smooth the skin and at the same time scents it.

Steaming the body
Steams of several boiled herbs are applied to ensure body freshness, including the woman organ. The steaming took about a ½ hour.

Producers
Besides the traditional cosmetics made by hand, in the country there are some big and well known manufactures of cosmetics, using modern machinery. These products are used widely across the country, even this cosmetics have been exported to many countries of the world.

http://www.joglosemar.co.id/jamu.html

Lukisan Seharga Rp 1 Triliun Dicuri di Paris

Pencurian besar telah terjadi di museum Paris. Pencuri yang diketahui menggunakan topeng berhasil menjebol kunci gembok yang dipasang. Dia menyisakan jendela yang sudah dirusak.

Seperti diberitakan Associated Press edisi Kamis 20 Mei 2010, pencuri itu 'sukses' membawa kabur lima lukisan termasuk mahakarya Picasso.

Pencurian lima lukisan seharga sekitar US$125 juta atau sekitar Rp 1,23 triliun itu merupakan salah satu yang terbesar di dunia. Pembobolan dan pencurian karya seni merupakan pekerjaan yang tidak mudah. Tapi tidak untuk kasus ini.

Entah pencuri ini beruntung atau memang sudah mengetahui sebelumnya. Menurut keterangan Walikota Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, alarm di Museum of Modern Art Paris, sedang mengalami perbaikan sejak Maret lalu.

Museum ini terletak di dekat Sunga Seini tak jauh dari Menara Eiffel yang terkenal. Museum dibuka kembali pada 2006 setelah menghabiskan dana sekitar US$18 juta. Dan membutuhkan waktu dua tahun untuk menerapkan dan meningkatkan sistem keamanan.

"Peralatan alarm sudah dipesan tapi belum juga datang," kata Bertrand. Jadi, si pencuri tidak perlu khawatir dengan alarm. Ia masuk sendirian sekitar pukul 03.50 pagi waktu setempat.

Menurut Sekretaris Deputi Kebudayaan Kota Paris, Christophe Girard, si pencuri berhasil memotong gembok pada gerbang, merusak jendela dan memanjat ke dalam. "Aksinya tertangkap salah satu kamera museum," ujarnya.

Lima lukisan yang sukses dibawa kabur yakni, Le pigeon aux petits pois oleh Pablo Picasso, La pastorale oleh Henri Matisse, L'olivier pres de l'Estaque oleh Georges Braque, La femme a l'eventail oleh Amedeo Modigliani dan Nature morte aux chandeliers oleh Fernand Leger.

Kejadian berlangsung hanya sekitar 15 menit. Penyusup itu merusak pagar, memanjat jendela, meninggalkan bingkai kosong, dan melenggang keluar. (umi)

from : http://dunia.vivanews.com/news/read/152533-5_lukisan_rp_1_triliun_dicuri_di_paris

Rhinoceros sondaicus ( Badak Bercula Satu )

 

The Javan Rhinoceros (Sunda Rhinoceros to be more precise) or Lesser One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is a member of the family Rhinocerotidae and one of five extant rhinoceroses. It belongs to the same genus as the Indian Rhinoceros, and has similar mosaicked skin which resembles armor, but at 3.1–3.2 m (10–10.5 feet) in length and 1.4–1.7 m (4.6–5.8 ft) in height, it is smaller than the Indian Rhinoceros, and is closer in size to the Black Rhinoceros. Its horn is usually less than 25 cm (10 inches), smaller than those of the other rhino species.

Once the most widespread of Asian rhinoceroses, the Javan Rhinoceros ranged from the islands of Indonesia, throughout Southeast Asia, and into India and China. The species is now critically endangered, with only two known populations in the wild, and none in zoos. It is possibly the rarest large mammal on earth.[5] A population of at least 40–50 live in Ujung Kulon National Park on the island of Java in Indonesia and a small population, estimated in 2007 to be no more than eight, survives in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam. The decline of the Javan Rhinoceros is attributed to poaching, primarily for their horns, which are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine, fetching as much as $30,000 per kilogram on the black market.[5] Loss of habitat, especially as the result of wars, such as the Vietnam War, in Southeast Asia, has also contributed to the species's decline and hindered recovery.[6] The remaining range is only within two nationally protected areas, but the rhinos are still at risk from poachers, disease and loss of genetic diversity leading to inbreeding depression.

The Javan Rhino can live approximately 30–45 years in the wild. It historically inhabited lowland rain forest, wet grasslands and large floodplains. The Javan Rhino is mostly solitary, except for courtship and child-rearing, though groups may occasionally congregate near wallows and salt licks. Aside from humans, adults have no predators in their range. The Javan Rhino usually avoids humans, but will attack when it feels threatened. Scientists and conservationists rarely study the animals directly due to their extreme rarity and the danger of interfering with such an endangered species. Researchers rely on camera traps and fecal samples to gauge health and behavior. Consequently, the Javan Rhino is the least studied of all rhino species.

 

from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javan_Rhinoceros

Bird of Paradise ( Burung Cendrawasih )

 

Saving Papua’s Birds of Paradise

Located at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago, far from tourist hot spots like Bali and Lombok, the traveler's spotlight often misses Papua. But one woman is trying to change that, running bird-watching tours in the hopes of promoting the natural beauty around her and convincing local residents that its wildlife needs to be protected.

Before her first bird-watching adventure in Papua’s dense jungles, Valentina Shita Prativi was a city girl active in several nongovernmental organizations in Jakarta devoted to helping women and children. In 2004, on assignment in a remote area of Central Sulawesi, she fell in love with the variety of birds she saw every day. Then she met her future husband, Kris Tinige from Sangihe, North Sulawesi, who owned Papua Bird Club, a bird-watching guide company. Kris introduced Shita to the tropical forests in Papua’s Arfak Mountains.

“I wasn’t used to hiking, but I fell in love with Papua right away,” Shita said. “Papua has everything, from beautiful corals in their deep sea, to the birds in the jungles, to the snow at the top of the mountain.”

In 2004 they were married, and Shita moved to Manokwari, Papua, to live with Kris. Together, they ran the Papua Bird Club with another partner. But their marriage lasted less than two years — Kris died from cancer in 2006. After recovering from her loss, Shita decided to stay to promote eco-tourism through the bird club. She said she believes eco-tourism will do good for Papua, the land she loves so much.

“We bring tourists to a certain area, and we try to ask as many locals as possible to get involved with our activity, which will make them realize that they should take care of their nature,” Shita said.

Birds are a common hunting target for Papuans, she said, and much of her work involves raising awareness among locals that the birds bring tourist money.

“They can’t afford meat, so they shoot birds and eat them,” Shita said. “I introduce them to the tourists and tell them that people come from far away to see the birds, and that means an income for them.”

The most popular exotic birds in Papua are the cendrawasih , or birds of paradise. There are 37 species of the magnificient birds, most with flowing, brightly-colored plumage, spread throughout the mountains and islands of Papua.

The usual starting point for Shita’s tours is Batanta Island, near the coastal city of Sorong, to see the Wilson’s bird-of-paradise and the red bird-of-paradise. The island of Salawati is where tourists can see the mambruk, a crowned pigeon sporting blue feathers with white tips on the crest of its head. Another usual destination is the Arfak Mountains, where they can see seven species of birds-of-paradise.

“The highlight of the Arfak visit is the Western Parotia, popularly known as the dancing bird,” Shita said.

The male Parotia employs a unique dance to attract females. Tottering back and forth on its spindly legs, it spreads its dark plumage like a dress while fluttering its iridescent neck feathers. Shita said she starts the itinerary before the sun rises to witness the sights and sounds of these rare birds.

Arfak is often a favorite location among bird watchers due to the residents’ careful stewardship of the exotic animals.

“You can see birds even at three meters from the pathways, very easy and good for beginners,” Shita said.

She is also happy to give information and tips to anyone who wants to learn more about the province.

“They don’t always have to be our clients, but that’s fine,” Shita said. She simply feels happy to know more and more people are interested in coming to Papua.

For her clients, Shita always makes a point of bringing them to the small villages near the bird-watching sites. Many of the villages in Papua are quite friendly towards tourists, Shita said, and she usually rents a house or campsite from the villagers and tries to hire them as porters and cooks.

“We also buy food from them, to try to give income to the locals,” Shita said.

Papuans are generally kind and have good hearts, Shita said, but they can be hostile to people who offend them.

She said that she was worried about the fact that its forests were in decline.

“This is bad because Papua is the world’s second largest lung after Brazil,” Shita said. “I encourage my potential clients to come to Papua as soon as possible, before the forests are gone.”

The root of Papua’s problems, according to Shita, is the lack of education.

“A lot of people don’t want Papuans to be clever and progressive, so they can keep exploiting the environment,” Shita said. At some remote schools deep in the mountains, a teacher only comes once every three or four weeks. She said it was common for high school students to have trouble solving simple math problems. And the tribal leaders in Papua lack a clear understanding of environmental issues.

“They give away their land for money, drinks, women and other kinds of amusements offered by the big companies without considering the younger generations,” Shita said.

Determined to make a difference, Shita started an education program last year. The Papua Bird Club now teaches children in isolated areas to read and write. They also take the children bird watching. The results, Shita said, are often both amusing and heartbreaking.

“One of my students just discovered that a cockatoo can fly when he went for a field trip with us,” Shita said.

“Before, he thought cockatoos can’t fly because his family keep one in a cage.”

 

from : http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lifeandtimes/saving-papuas-birds-of-paradise/368814

Pekanbaru City

Pekanbaru is the capital of Riau, a province in Indonesia on the island of Sumatra. It has an area of 632.26 km² and population of over 793,000. Located on the Siak River, which drains to the Strait of Malacca, Pekanbaru has direct access to the busy strait and was long known as a trading port (the city name is derived from the Indonesian words of 'new market' or 'new town', "pekan" meaning 'market' or 'town', and "baru" meaning 'new').
The city is divided into 12 subdistricts (kecamatan). The Sultan Syarif Qasim II International Airport serves Pekanbaru with direct flights to Batam, Jakarta, Malaysia (Malacca and Kuala Lumpur), Singapore (now defunct) and other destinations in Indonesia.
A settlement has existed on the city site since the 17th century. In the late 19th century, the city developed to serve the coffee and coal industries, and the Dutch built roads to help ship goods to Singapore and Malacca. After oil was discovered in the region in the 1930s, Pekanbaru's economy has depended heavily on oil revenues and made the city with the highest per capita income in Indonesia. Most of Indonesia's petroleum is produced in Riau, and much of Pekanbaru's economy is based on the petroleum industry. International oil companies, such as Chevron from US, as well as other Indonesian companies, have established their offices in the region. This location for oil has proven to be one of the best money providers in the world. The city is connected by road to an oil refining and exporting port at Dumai. Many facilities, including an airport, three stadiums (building a fourth), swimming pool, one of the two bridges that cross the Siak River near the city, the roads in Rumbai area, and also the road to Dumai, were partially or fully financed by oil companies working in the area.
Pekanbaru is one of the cleanest big cities in Indonesia and in 2006 received the "Adipura" award ('clean city') in the category of large city, again, for the second consecutive time in 2007. The city is also notable for its wide streets, which are in the city's main. Pekanbaru regularly suffers, however, from smoke or smog due to forest fires, particularly in the dry season, since there is no rain to put the fires out. The fires also can be traced from people simply burning their trash or freshly cut grass. Most of the fires are intentionally started, but unintentionally grow into dangers.
Because Pekanbaru is a major gateway into Indonesia from Singapore, the city is becoming a favorite stop before travelers go further inland Indonesia. The Pasar Pusat market is a food-trip destination and a household-goods trove as well. Pasar Bawah and Pasar Tengeh in the port area have Chinese goods, including ceramics and carpets.
Some tourist attractions in Pekanbaru are the Great Mosque of An-Nur, Alam Mayang Fishing Garden, Sang Nila Utama Museum, Riau Cultural Park, Princess Kaca Mayang Garden, Soeman HS Main Library and Sari Valley Artificial Lake. Pekanbaru is becoming known as a center of Malay culture; a Malay culture festival was held there in 2004.This city has the only still existing 10 foot and 300 pound dragon. They also have a very unpopular flower that is the biggest flower in the world.
From : wikipedia.com

Bali Island

Bali Island is a small beautiful island and a part of Indonesia archipelago. It own the panorama and unique culture that make this island is exclusively than others. It is located in the tropical situation that has stated this island as Dream Island for a vacation. Bali Island has many kinds of places to visit like rice paddies, beautiful panorama, volcanoes soaring up through the clouds, tourism activities and attractions, dense tropical jungle, long sandy beaches, warm blue water, crashing surf and friendly people who don't just have a culture but actually live here, daily community ritual and a lot of things make your holiday unforgettable. In Bali, the spirits is coming out to play in the moonlight, every night is a festival and even a funeral is an opportunity to have a good time and the day you will get the enjoy of the sea breeze from the blue sea water which completing your dream holiday. Bali is an Island of God in Paradise that is perfect destination for your holiday, enjoy the paradise with your family and collages and meet Bali will offer something for everyone. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping and a rich past and heritage. The Balinese people are proud of having preserved their unique Hindu culture against the advance of Islam, the dominant religion throughout Indonesia. This is still reflected in day-to-day life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies, Balinese festivals and magnificent temples and palaces. Some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island whilst conversely the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.

Bali in Stories

Bali Island it self according to the ancient inscription of Blanjong written 835 Saka or 913 century which is released by Sri Kesari Warmadewa Kingdom that Bali Island is called 'Bali Dwipa' where the meaning is Bali means come back, offering, sure and other words related to this meaning, meanwhile Dwipa mean island. The Bali Dwipa might be given by traditional merchants from India where the first time they arrive in Bali they met the local people full with the religious activities by using the offering (banten). Base on the event they called Bali is Bali Dwipa.



From: http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Information/About-Bali.htm