Balifornian Tours Photo of the Day ~ Meditation ~ Kuta Beach, Lombok

Hello Fellow Travelers and Photographers,

Today's Balifornian Photo of the Day comes from Kuta Beach on Bali's neighboring island of Lombok. While Lombok's Kuta Beach is much quieter than Bali's beach that shares the same name, you will encouter some hawkers selling bracelets and nicknacks. However, nowhere near the intensity and crowds on Bali's Kuta.

Kuta Beach for yoga and meditation?

There are some secret and secluded beaches on Bali but most of the southern beaches are packed with partiers and sellers of all maner of goods. This is both a blessing and a curse to Bali, but the island offers many things to many styles of traveler. You can read more about Kuta, Bali here.

But back to Lombok's Kuta.  Here you can find solitude, a place to meditate, do yoga and remain relatively uninterupted.  Sure, upon arrival you may be surrounded by young girls wanting to sell you thier wares, but once you make it clear you are not interested (just tell them, "Mbak, tidak tertarik"). They will retort, "It is for my school and we need the money".  It's certainly up to you and supporting education is always high on my list, but if you want your peaceful beach stroll, just make your intentions clear and you are off to find your solitude.

Kuta Beach offers many hills and peaceful spots to sit in meditation, clear your mind and relax just as this woman was able to do.

Meditation, yoga and other peaceful pursuits await you on Kuta Beach if you know where to find them

Our Bali Photography Tours 

Balifornian offers fully custom small group photo safaris for all levels of photographers.  We can lead documentary film makers deep into little known areas and we can take enthusiasts new to the art of photography and provide education and direction on all aspects of photography from getting to know your camera to post processing and blogging.  Contact us today to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Feel free to have a look at the photos in our gallery as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers, pro photographers, local artists and more.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Do you have photos from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Please submit your photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day.  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files should be under 500 kb.

Happy and swift travels!

Michael and Maryam ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ The award winning Bali travel website.  Your best choice for Bali and Indonesia Tours and Travel information.

Why Sumbawa should be on your Eco-Travel Itinerary

The rugged beauty of Sumbawa

Sumbawa is an ultra rugged large landmass with Lombok to the West and Flores to the East.  It’s not to be confused with the island of Sumba, which lies to its South East.  Sumbawa is indeed large. It’s bigger than Bali and Lombok combined (and then some).  The scenic island is hard to get to and does not offer a robust infrastructure, but the adventure loving traveler is rewarded with unspoiled beaches of turquoise waters, world class surf and welcoming and gracious locals.

Watching hundreds of uninhabited islands go by on the ferry ride from Lombok to Sumbawa

Indonesia's Volcanos and The Ring of Fire

It is an island of angular and twisting peninsulas, deep protected bays, forested mountains, and of course Mount Tambora, the infamous volcano that is responsible for killing over 72,000 in one eruption.  Sumbawa, as the rest of the 14,000 Indonesian islands, sits directly upon The Ring of Fire. The infamous explosion took place in April, 1815 and is considered the most destructive volcanic eruption in modern history. It spewed 100 cubic kilometers (24 cu mi) of ash into the atmosphere, causing the “year without summer”.  Very few crops could be produced following the eruption as the ash blocked out the sun causing the deaths of thousands more worldwide.

The beautiful and plentiful islands off Sumbawa's coast provide endless adventure for the eco-tourist

Sumbawa is a Surfer's Paradise

Historically, Sumbawa was invaded by Western marauders for its honey, wild horses and sandalwood. Today, Sumbawa is known for surfing boasting several world-class surf breaks. The most well known surf spots include Lakey Peak, Cobblestones and Onnie’s Right, but there are many more exceptional breaks like Benete, Nungas, Periscopes, Yo-Yo’s and the ominously and perhaps unfortunately aptly named Scar Reef and Super Suck. Most breaks are for good to experienced surfers but Benete, Lakey, Periscopes and Scar Reef are best left for the more expert level surfers. Sumbawa receives great surf year round but the best swells are generally from April to September. If you are interested, please contact us or research the surf camps at Dompu (Lakey), Sekongkang and Hu’u. One last surf note, tides really determine the conditions here, so it is important to have a tide table handy.

Ripping Surf Breaks Await the Traveling Surfer in Sumbawa

What if you don't surf?

Despite the fact that not many travelers explore this scenic island, it is a wonderful place to visit even if you don't surf.  In fact, Sumbawa’s slogan is B E S A R which means 'big' in Bahasa Indonesia and the letters of the slogan stand for Bersih, Elok, Sehat, Aman damai, Rapi. Roughly translated, that means Clean, Beautiful, Healthy, Peaceful and Neat.

Sadly, the island is not without its challenges. Sumbawa is poor, and health and education are very much at the development stage. The infrastructure is in its nascent stages and there are a couple good roads, but for the most part, travel is difficult across the sprawling island. In just a matter of minutes we almost collided with other cars, dozens of motor bikes, huge pot holes, cows, dogs, cats, chickens, goats, some unidentifiable animals, people just hanging out in the roads and other obstacles.

Children play along the coast overlooking clear turquoise water

To compound the struggles the good people of Sumbawa are faced with, the mega-corporation Newmont and its partners have invested almost $2 billion USD in an enormous copper mine, making Batu Hijau one of the largest mines in the world. Little if anything is done to protect the island and the company is straight raping the land and leaving muddy, polluted messes for the poor native peoples. Newmont has been involved in many scandals including mercury and arsenic poisoning here in Sulawesi not to mention the ongoing pollution cases on four continents.  It is appallingly sad that this continues and permits have already been issued by corrupt politicians to allow further pillaging until 2034.

This blog post continues below

Rugged volcanic rock dot the perfect white sandy beaches of Sumbawa recalling deadly eruptions of Mount Tambora

Sumbawa is a must for the eco-adventure traveler

The pace of life in Sumbawa is chill and slow. People sit together and eat delicious fresh food and enjoy the rustic natural beauty of the island. That is not to say that they are not dedicated and hard working folk. Local people are predominantly Muslim but traditional beliefs and practices also continue to influence daily life. There are two main cultural groups in Sumbawa. Generally, the Tau Samawa live in the west and the Dou Mbojo inhabit the east.

The generous and friendly people of Sumbawa enjoy a slow paced lifestyle and appreciate the bounty of beauty that surround them

Traditional living and ancient rituals await the eco-adventure traveler

In parts of Sumbawa, traditional ways of living continue today and I urge you to get out into the villages to observe this interesting way of life. While you are there, see what you can do to help like donate time, clothing, gear or just play with the children and share with them. Many of the ancient rituals are still performed such as water buffalo racing and berempuk, which is an exciting ritual boxing match.  Try to find a guide who can take you into these villages as entering them by yourself may be perceived as unwelcomed.  We can certainly assist you and have some wonderful contacts that would be delighted to help you, as it is difficult to find accommodations and your way around on your own.  Please contact us and we would be happy to help.

Great Surf, White Sand Beaches and Pristine Water make Sumbawa a perfect adventure for the eco-traveler

Sustainable living and caring for the land

The people have learned to live of the land and have deep respect for the natural resources.  We were lucky to spend time with our extended family and my wife’s uncle, despite his advancing age, is still a ‘super forest man’. I consider myself a capable outdoorsman but I could barely keep up with his pace through the jungle. Treading through dense brush barefoot, finding paths I could never see, with machete in hand showing me all kinds of plants used for shelter, first aid, food, water and more. He has build beautiful, strong and sustainable buildings from bamboo for his family and his coveted bonsai trees are a true work of art.

Only two islands over, Sumbawa is a world away from Bali and its luxurious accommodations but the adventure traveler can learn and experience a great deal on this storied island.  For more information and help planning your adventure to Sumbawa, please contact us today.

Heading back to Bali after an amazing adventure to rugged but beautiful Sumbawa

A huge thank you to the lovely people of Sumbawa and now Back to Bali

The Best ‘New’ Surf Spot in Bali, Indonesia

The Best ‘New’ Surf Spot in Bali, Indonesia

Let me preface by stating that the surf break is not actually new at all but it is just beginning to read on the radar of surf travelers across the globe.

Keramas Surf Breaka s it all- except for accomodations

Where is this great surf spot?

The location is called Keramas Surf Break and it is located near Ketewel, Bali.  It’s about a 10-minute drive from Sanur on the way to Amed.  One reason this surf spot had been overlooked by most surfers and many pros was that it was difficult to get to.  The area consists mainly of peaceful rice fields and fishing villages.  It is known for its fertile volcanic soil.  Keramas maintains the highly sought after and rarely found “Old Bali” feel.

How do I get to this amazing surf spot?

About 8 years ago The World Bank funded The Sunrise Road that would connect Keramas with the rest of Bali via a wide and well-maintained roadway.  Previous to the construction the only way to Keramas and points East in Bali was through a small, congested road.  While the new bypass is not quite complete, it has opened up access to the little known surf haven.

What is in the area?

Even with the new bypass, the surf break at Keramas remains uncrowded.  There are very few accommodations, restaurants and services available in the area.  This means that most surfers stay in Kuta or even Uluwatu.  They must wake up very early, battle the traffic and congestion of Kuta just to enjoy the wonderful surf at Ketewal.

Beautiful Keramas Surf Break- Bali's best kept surfing secretSurfline’s Jon Huberman summed it up well saying, “Once an ultra-secret hideaway of tightlipped surfing expats, in the past few years, no other spot has received more media attention than Keramas. Whether it's Andy Irons dropping in out of a Helicopter, or any of dozens of international professional surfers adding a section to the latest surf movie, Keramas is no secret anymore. The good news is that Keramas does live up to its' hype. It's an excellent reef break in a classic black sand beach and rice field setting, and, in a land of perfect lefts, it's one of a few perfect rights. 

Keramas is a fun right-hander for hot dog surfing when it is smaller. In the past few years, surfers have been pushing the limits of what is considered too big to surf at Keramas. Even on the biggest days of the year, some local and international chargers have been paddling out there, returning with stories, film, and photos of glory.”

How can I stay in a great place near the surf break?

We have owned land in Ketewel for many years and have worked with the local banjar to allow farmers to continue to grow rice and tobacco on the land.  We have been approached numerous times by people wanting to develop the land into big hotels and the like but we have turned down these offers as we wanted to do what we could to help protect the peaceful area.  We have meticulously planned for years to create an eco-friendly surf villa and wellness retreat on the land.  We have worked with local architects, eco-tourism professionals and many others to develop the smallest footprint and most eco-friendly resort we could.  We want to provide surfers with affordable luxury accommodations with easy access to one of the best surf breaks in all of Bali.  For more on our villas please click here.

We have a deep love for the area and concern for its future. This is why we have put so much time and research into developing a resort that supports the local people and provides a much needed service to travelers at the lowest environmental impact.

Please email us or post your comments below.

Happy Surfing & Happy Travels,

The Balifornians

Great Insider’s Travel Tips to Amed, Bali

Great Insider’s Tips to Travel in Amed, Bali

Whoever said Amed was a small sleepy fishing town much smaller and less to do than its neighbor Candi Dasa was giving you a handful of bull honkey.  In actuality it is now a fun town sprawling approx 15 km chock full of restaurants, hotels, beach bungalos and even a nightlife.  Actually I think there is more to do and see in Amed than Candi Dasa.  Candi Dasa does have access to the Bali Aga, which, while incredibly interesting, and a look into early Bali, can be dangerous for outsiders and is not recommended without an experienced guide.  Don’t get us wrong, Candi Dasa is worth a visit and is quite charming with some great hotels and some right on the beach.  We recommend The Nirwana Resort http://thenirwana.com in Candi Dasa.  It’s a bit pricey (maybe $100 per night), but it offers a great pool and it’s right on the water.  This brings us to one of the big downfalls of Candi Dasa.  While I say its right on the water, this does not mean on the beach.  In fact, there is very little beach in Candi Dasa at all, and much of it is a breakwater with very little swimmable area.  This is another reason to prefer Amed, as there is a good beach with entertaining snorkeling right in front of many of the hotels and bungalows.  The coral is not plentiful and much of it has been destroyed, but you can find some coral gardens if you know where to go.  There are however, many colorful fish that make the snorkeling worthwhile.  The waves are generally small but can reach almost a meter kicking up the sand and decreasing visibility but the beauty of it is, you can watch the conditions from the hotel pool, and walk a few steps into the ocean whenever you feel the time is right.

Three Brother's Hotel's infinity pool overlooking the ocean and Mount Agung Volcano

The guidebooks and travel sites will tell you ‘Life in Amed’ Restaurant is the best in town but that is highly inaccurate.  Our meal there was fairly tasteless but the presentation and alang-alang roof covered dining area is quite nice.

For some confusing reason, several businesses in Amed share the same name but are different entities. For example there are 3 different ‘3 Brother’s Hotel’ and a couple Wa Wa We We’s, so you need to know which one is better.  Wa Wa We We 1 is the bar and WWWW2 is the hotel and restaurant.  #1 is fun on most nights and currently has live music on Wednesday and Saturday nights.  You will find many local expats here, mainly from the diving community along with some true locals as well as tourists.  It’s a good mix and for a town that is supposed to be small and sleepy, it can really be a good time.  As for the 3 ‘3 Brothers’ locations, they are right next to each other and choose the one with the pool (the northern most location).  It hosts a small but quite nice infinity pool over looking the ocean.  It can’t quite accommodate all the guests of the hotel at once but that’s rarely a problem as some are sure to be out snorkeling, diving or elsewhere in town.  While the staff is not overly welcoming, we found the hotel to be a good value.  It’s inexpensive at about $30 per night (including AC and hot shower) with a small breakfast (the egg jaffels are tasty).  The best room is most likely the 2^nd closest to the pool/ocean as it’s a bit more private than the one overlooking the pool and ocean. The 3 rooms in the back offer a second floor with 2 additional beds for families or those traveling with a driver. While we like 3 Brothers, we think Kembali Bungalos right next door is an even better place to stay. Its still inexpensve but just a bit nicer, the staff is much friendlier and the snorkeling right out front is even better. Head straight out and then to your left for wonderful coral gardens and lots of big colorful fish.

3 Brothers- a good choice for accommodation in Amed, Bali

As an aside, don't try to translate 3 brothers into Bahasa Indonesia (tiga suadara) as surprisingly; none of the local Balinese seemed to know what this referred to.  There is no Wi-Fi at 3 Brothers but we would simply walk 2 doors down to the Amed Café, order a Bintang, overlook the ocean and use theirs.  The Amed Café also offers more beach chairs by the ocean if the pool at 3 Brother’s is at capacity (which it never was while we were there ever during full occupancy.

The main reason for the change from sleepy fishing town to Amed’s current state is the diving industry.  There are several good dive spots in the area including two shipwrecks.  The Japanese sunk the SS Liberty about 7 km north of town in Tulamben, and the US returned the favor about a half hour catamaran ride south of town.  Both are quite shallow and can be enjoyed snorkeling,.  You can see the cannons, the deck and the splayed open hull.  But to get the full feel a good scuba company can get you inside the wrecks.  We recommend Diving Concepts and if you are lucky enough to get Miki as your guide, you will be stoked. But all the instructors and guides are highly trained and speak several languages well.

 Amed's black sand beach provides spectacular views of Mt Agung Volcano and BOTH sunrise AND sunset!

For a real local traditional experience head to Culik Market in Amed. The food is excellent and crazy cheap.  We got a truckload of nasi bungkus, fish satay, lawar, and other super tasty treats for about $4 USD.  It’s quite a deal and a great experience too considering we spent over $30 USD at Life in Amed and the food was nowhere near as tasty as the market.

One last note that makes Amed a really special place is that you can view both the sunrise and the sunset from the same beach!  Both illuminate massive Gunung Agung volcano, the anchor of Balinese tradition and houses Bali’s Gods.

Amed has earned its place into our regular tour itineraries and we look forward to visiting again.  For more information on Amed, Candi Dasa, accommodations and other tips and tricks, just contact us at m@Balifornian.com.

We hope these tips help and make your holiday in Bali even more rewarding.  We share the very best secrets with our tour participants and Balifornian members, but we are happy to share these.  Want more?  That’s easy.  Read our blog regularly, Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and if you want the very best tips, email us at members@Balifornian.com to become a Balifornian. Get the best travel deals, time saving tips and much more. We will never, ever give, sell or transmit your information in anyway, to anyone.  Email us today and benefit right away.

Thanks and happy travels from all of us at Balifornian Villas, Tours and Travel Blog

Bali and Indo Surf Film- Balifornian Villas and Tours

Hello Balifornians!

Today we bring you a great little surf video from various breaks in Indonesia.  The surfing is top notch, matched only by the epic surf spots where it was filmed.  This short video by Ricardo Borghi was shot in Indo locations from North Sumatra to Bali and contains some secret spots, big barrels, clean water and beautiful scenery.  Enjoy!