Bali Tour Guide

Gede Prama is the most inspirational teacher in Bali. He teaches about wisdom about how to build family, how to meditate, and how to live base on philosophy acceptance. I had a chance to meet him at Budha monastery in Banjar north Bali. I was taking some clients to the monestery and he was there for an event called Compassion Day. It was a coincidence for us to meet him. I did not know he was there until I was there myself in the monastery. Knowing from the local that he was there, I talked to the comittee of the Compassion Day  about the possibility of bringing my clients meeting him. "Please, say to him, we would like to meet him. These travelers are interested to learn more about meditation." I refered to my clients. But he was busy with preparation and some other people that meeting him at the moment. He could not meet us. So, then we continued walking around the temple, admiring the architecture, talking to the people there, and taking some photos. We were ab...

Here is the photo of Mount  Batur on a bright day with clear blue sky.  I took it on my recent visit with my clients. I was amazed by how beautiful it was with no clouds around the mount. We went to restaurant to have lunch overlooking the view of the mount Batur. There were many restaurants around the volcano.  You also can stop here and have lunch while looking at the view.  Most of the Restaurant serves buffet for lunch.  But you can order ala carte as well. Mount Batur, in Kintamani, is a must see place when you visit Bali.  It's located in Bangli regency, 2 hours drive from Denpasar.

Ceking Village in area of Tegalalang has become a must stop for rice teraces view. The village is located north of Ubud. Driving for about 15 minutes, you will arrive at the border of of Ceking Village. The people who is in charge in the village will stop your vehicle and ask you if you would like to stop and take photos of the rice terraces. If you plan to stop, you then need to pay 5000 per person donation to the village. If you just want to pass by, without stopping and taking photo, then you don't need to pay anything. Why pay for view?? You may ask and think that the village has become to commercialized. In the past, let say 5 years ago, people did not need to pay. But since there were so many people stopping in this place, the street became so congested. Soon, there was traffic jam.  Now, with the local helping to direct the traffic and helping to park the vehicles, the traffic does not turn bad. People can enjoy the view and not bothered by traffic. So, that's wha...

So, I put funny story on the title to tease you to read this post. Ok, it is really funny. Well, some of you may think is quite scary. But anyhow, read on. Winnie (changed the name a little bit) has exchanged emails with me a couple of times and really looked forward to go to Bali. The first tour would be half day tour to Uluwatu temple to watch Kecak Dance and go to Jimbaran bay. On the day of the tour, I was ready at the hotel lobby waiting for her. It was 3.30 PM, and I walked around the hotel lobby to look for her. There was hardly anybody there except the receptionist. There was no sign of her. It was already passed 15 minutes from the time we agreed to meet up. I began to scratch my hair and decided to talk to the receptionist. The receptionist smiled as he looked on the names on a computer. "Would you like to call to your clients room?" he asked. I nodded and said thanks. I put the phone on my ear and only hear the beep sounds and then somebody saying"...

Ulun Danu temple by lake Bratan is a great place to spend time during the day. You will see the blue lake, and the hills and forest at the end of the lake. Try take a long breath, you can feel the fresh air going into your lungs. Somehow, you will feel warm and peaceful here. (disclaimer: different person may feel different thing, and may not work when it is raining). Back to our discussion, that is, where to go to lunch. First, there is a restaurant in Candi Kuning market. It is called Top Deck restaurant. I have once bring one group of clients from Pacific Mutual Fund for a buffet lunch, and tried the food my self. The food is okay. It belongs to Mr. David (hi Mr. Dave..!!), an Australian who promote his restaurant by having the cleanest toilet in the island. If you'd like to use the restaurant, and admire how clean it is, you need to pay Rp 2000. But if you order your food there, the toilet use if free of charge. You need to be patient though, service is rather slow. Maybe you c...

Ms Lau (from Singapore, with Mr. Pei and Eaton) sent me a list of itinerary that she wanted to cover during their tour. I look down at the itineray she sent and it read as follow: From Harris Kuta resort - Visit Besakih Temple - Visit Kintamani with Batur Volcano and Lake - Visit Tampak Siring/Tirta Empul Temple - Stop at Beratan Lake - Visit Tamblingan Lake - Visit Gitgit Water Fall - Lovina Beach - Visit Hot Water Banjar - Visit Tanah Lot Temple - Enjoy the sunset at Tanah Lot. Wow, that was going to be a heck of loong journey..! On the tour date at 10 AM, I was ready at hotel lobby waiting for them. Mr. Pei was a very kind and pleasant person who loves engaging in conversation. On the other hand, I don't remember what she does, but Ms. Lau seems to know much about internet business. So, I told them that the itinerary for their full day tour was usually done in a 3 day tour. I told them that it was not possible to cover all places. In Bali, due to the road condition, traffic, hil...

Karl Priston, a coffee supplier, sent me an email and said that he needed a Bali tour guide who can assist him while travelling around Bali in search for Bali coffee. In particular, it was called Arabica coffee. He was not interested in any other type ofcoffee (Robusta coffee or any other coffee). First we went to Seribatu village and met my acquintance, Oka, to ask him about where can we get the Arabica coffee. Based on Oka's info, we headed to Mengani Village (S8°17'17.25", E115°14'58.78") , north of Kintamani Village. It was a remote village, far from any where. While observing the village, Karl asked if the people who lived around the village would enjoy spending in a place like Kuta which was totally different from this mountainous area. Maybe not. We arrived at the coffee processing place. I walked to the main building and saw a stack of wet coffee beans waiting to be peeled off. The beans go to a kind of chanel where it will then squeezed by certain kind of...

Would you like to cleanse your body and soul in Bali? There is a place in Bali where people go for a sacred bath. It’s a temple located in Tampaksiring village called Tirtha Empul temple. Tirta Empul is a temple which has spring where water flows constantly through the years from as early as the 10th century or year 960. The temple is divided into several court yards. Walking from outside, you will arrive at outside area where there is a big tree with a shrine under it. Next area is the temple hall, an open pavilion usually served as an area where people work to prepare for festival. Area of waterfalls (Madianing Mandala) Located further to the inner area of the temple are two ponds with many small waterfalls from which the water flow form. The Balinese, wearing sarong, and other religious uniform, and holding offering will walk in the pond to the small waterfalls. Then, they cleanse themselves in a certain manner. They do it not just in one waterfall, but they cleanse themselves in e...

If you go to tourists place such as Tanah Lot you will notice that there are many little cafes adn restaurant which offer coconut milk or water or milk?? Far from it , it is not the milk, it is just the water of coconut. Fresh coconut, usually the green coconut, are available almost in every corner at Tanah Lot Temple. why green? I think it is the taste is better than the yellow or orange coconut or red coconut, but it is also bigger in size. The coconuts are placed out side the cafe or restaurant where you can see. It is still fresh. Go order one coconut, and the seller will take a machete and make a hole in the coconut shell. Once yhey finish, they put a straw in the holes. There you can suck the coconut water from Here is another variation. Put some ice and so it taste better and cooler. Some people, especially the Balinese, put sugar on it. (Wonder why? well, to taste sweeter). But people can have something else on it, they can put some arak (palm wine) and it become very alcoholic...

Rare may it seem, but you can get the luwak coffee here in Bali. Okay, now what is luwak coffee? Luwak is a kind of nocturnal animal which resembles a cat and consumes fruits like papaya, or banana. But wait, it also eats coffee beans. This coffee beans travel to the animal eschopagus, and passing through intestines, bowels, and finally comes out as droppings. Here is the strange thing. The coffee beans is still in perfect condition (intact) when it comes out as dropping. The coffee farmer eagerly wake up at down to hunt for this droppings in the forest or gardens. Feeling ecstatic, they will dry the droppings, and extract the coffee beans. They know this is the most wonderful coffee in the world, and most expensive too. What? No, you are kidding. That's the respond I got from Charlene ( an Australian tourists). So, I took her and two other tourists Mike (from California) and Joan (from England) to Seribatu village where they can see the animal called the civet. When we arrived the...

The problem of goodness versus evil is never really finish in this world. Many stories, legends, even the Hollywood movies set this theme as their focus in their stories. In Bali there are also many stories about good and bad. Barong story which is presented in the Barong Dance performed daily in Batu Bulan village is no different. It tells the story is about fight between good and bad, only this time the good does not win... Barong is a an animal which looks like a lion. Since no one has seen it in reality, it is safe to assume that Barong is a mythical character just like the leprechaun. Where do you see the original Barong? If you tour around with your tour guide or driver, you might have a chance to see a religious procession. You will probably the local Balinese who dances Barong dance on the prossesion. The function of Barong is believed to expel the evil spirit away, or neutralize negative energy (if this make more sense to you) so it will not interfere the temple festival. Ther...

Before traveling to Bali, you might want to know what to do or where to go. Here is most popular tours list that you can consider going in Bali. These tour can be conducted privately by hiring a driver or through your travel agent with professional Bali tour guide. In Land (Kintamani Tour) : You will visit Batubulan Village to watch cultural dance "Barong Dance" in the morning. Next, is Celuk village and Mas village to witness Bali silver artisans and wood carvers at work. Elephant cave temple , the ancient temple, and Kintamani village is your next stop. Kintamani is where you can view Mount Batur . On the way back, you will visit Tegalalang village (the rice terace village) and Seribatu Holy spring temple. Western Coast (Mengwi Monkey Forest Tanah Lot Tour) . Admire the royal temple of Taman Ayun. Stop at Kedaton Monkey Forest to visit my relatives. And finally, wait for the so-called spectacular sun set at Tanah Lot, temple by the sea. East Coast (Besakih Mother Temple Kar...

Going on a tour to North Bali can be exciting if you enjoy watching the lush area of Bali with the view of hills and lakes. There are many places to visit to enjoy the scenery and breath fresh air along the road. Your first stop is at Pacung village where you can see beautiful scenery of rice field and vegetables plantation. The farmers of this village plant many kind of vegetables like cabbages, potatoes, carrots, and radish. Along the way you will also find various kind of flowers grown in the farmers field like marigold, or roses. There is also special flowers they grow for making religious offerings. They sell their crops in markets in Denpasar and in Bedugul which is your next stop. Bedugul is a local market where you can find spices, flowers, and vegetables. Well, I don't think you will be doing any cooking on your vacation in Bali, so there is no need to haggle for vegetables. But, it is a very colourful pasar (pasar is the word for market in Indonesian or Balinese). As ...

This is a special treat for you. Now, I am going to take you to Ubud. Ubud is located in land, about 20 kilo metres from Denpasar (the capital of Bali ). It is in the height of 300 metre above sea level that the temperature is cooler here compared to other tourist place like Kuta and Nusa Dua. There are some interesting places you can visit here in Ubud, like: Puri Saren Ubud Local Market Painting Museum: Puri Lukisan Monkey Forest Puri Saren Or Ubud Palace Puri Saren is located at the centre of Ubud at the main cross road. You can visit this palace during the day because it is open for public. At the evening this palace become a centre of art and dance performance by local people. You can see dances such as Legong dances, or Ramayana dances. There is thre building in the outer yard of the palace. One building in the west is a place for storing gamelan (balinese musical instrument), there is smaller building on the northern section that function like an reception of information centre,...