Winter Vacation Information

The night before Nyepi when Candika and I walked down to Jalan Melasti to see the Ogoh-ogoh was indeed a strange night. Close to 6pm most of the shops had closed as did several of the restorans we passed. In fact, there were a lot of people wandering around to find a place for an

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The day following Nyepi is a Balinese holiday known as Ngembak Geni. On this day all shops that are Balinese owned are closed with the only shops being open are those owned by traders from other islands. The majority of warungs and restorans are open and so are the Malls of Matahari and Centro Discovery. What

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Yesterday was absolutely serene with no sounds of honking horns or mad motor-bike riders screaming down Jalan Legian; just sheer peace and quiet. The day was spent mostly relaxing around the pool, having drinks and talking with friends. Wherever you went inside the Prawita Cottages it was eerily quiet. Everybody was whispering! I managed to get

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Candika and I decided to head over to Lombok for a few days after the three day Nyepi holiday in Bali. It has been several years since I was there last and for Candika, her first time. First things first, I had to renew my visa. As always, I go to Bali Mode on Jalan

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The day following Nyepi is called Ngembak Geni Day and on this day there is a special ritual performed known as omed-omedan or med-medan. An age-old tradition, it is believed to date back to the Oka Sesetan royal family. Omed-omedan is a kind of public display of affection expressed by the youth of Bali but

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Tomorrow in Bali it is Nyepi. This is the day of absolute silence for Hindu followers. No activity is done on this day, or amusements of any kind. No fire is lit on this day and night and no travelling is allowed to anywhere. Nyepi is the day of fasting and self introspection for the

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As a traveller I am constantly on the lookout for the unusual to photograph. This could be in the shape of buildings, objects or in some cases, animals and humans. I particularly like the fusion of different shapes that tend to feed-off each other and produce unique compositions. Recently, whilst in Yogakarta, I was sitting in

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Taking place on the Saturday of Landep in the second week of the Pakuwon, Tumpek Landep is a day of offerings to the weapons of war in Bali. These include guns or other weapons and in particular, the sacred kris. Family members who own such a weapon take it to the family temple where it is

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Ubud, located in the cool hilly area of Central Bali, has so much to offer the tourist and traveller. Primarily considered the cultural heart of Bali, Ubud is a collective of villages that have seemingly merged to become one large art colony. Ubud is home to some of the most creative artists on the

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It had taken two years for Carl and I to at last go deep sea fishing in Bali mainly because events interceded our plans in the past. Yesterday we achieved our goal. The trip was organised with Mawar Kuning Wisata in Tanjung Benoa located almost at the very tip of the peninsula. A lunch and

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