Bali Photos of the Day ~ Bali Cremation Ceremony ~ Balifornian Villas and Tours

Today we have more images from a Ngaben or Balinese Cremation Ceremony that took place near Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

Pendanda blesses women during ceremonyThe Pendanda (High Hindu Priest) blesses the women during the cremation ceremony.  While it is a sad and serious ceremony, you will often see people smiling and enjoying themselves. 

Beautiful Balinese woman laughs with friendsPrayers for the deceased at a cremation ceremonyVillagers give offerings and pray for the deceased during the ceremony

The body is burned during a cremation ceremony in Bali, IndonesiaThe body is burned .the ashes and fragments will be collected and ceremoniously placed in a nearby river.

Bali Photo of the Day ~ Kopeng at Cremation Ceremony ~ Balifornian Villas and Tours

The Balinese will hang Kepeng (also spelled kopeng), or traditional coins, during many ceremonies.  I thought a shallow depth of field would provide a nice composition for this shot.  The cremation ceremony, or Ngaben, took place outside of Ubud, Bali.

Uang Kepengh ang on a line during a cremation ceremony near Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Uang Kepeng (traditional coins used in ceremony) hang from a line during a traditional Balinese ngaben (cremation ceremony).

Throughout Bali's long history, Uang Kepeng were crucially important to the Balinese people, touchingon all aspects of their lives; cultural, religious, social, political and economic. Today, the valuation of Uang Kepeng is only related to cultural uses in the arts and religion, while the social, political and economic aspects have withered away. Meanwhile, the memory of the currency as an ancient medium of local exchange remains very much alive.  On a visit to Bali, the traveller will see these coins used in offerings and ceremonies.  Some are highly praised and quite valuable, while others are remakes having only ceremonial value.  For my wedding, I had to pay a huge amount of Kepeng to my brides family.

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

The Adventure Travel Show in San Francisco

We had a great time and made some wonderful connections at The Adventure Travel Show in San Francisco.  We wanted to thank The Consulate General of Indonesia for all of their kind support.  Ibu Vita, Ibu Nur and the rest of the wonderful people from The Consulate deserve a huge thank you and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.  We also wanted to extend a big thank you to Paula from Wakatobi and we look forward to a long and rewarding relationship.

Come visit paradise with us!

Do I Need Travel Insurance?

I have been traveling most of my life and never thought I would need travel insurance.  I guess thats the young and dumb part of me that felt the risk was worth it. But times have changed.  In the course of my travels, and I am sure yours as well, I have seen some tragic and extremely sad and unfortunate events take place. In fact almost everytrip I see something happen. I don't want to scare anyone as its not always an injury but a simple change of plans can cause you to miss a flight, cut your trip short or any number of things.  Many time no fault of your own. Now, with the price of travel insurance so low and the coverages increasing, I find it to be a sound investment with low risk.

Over the past couple years I have researched many companies and tried several of them.  I have also talked to many fellow travelers to find out thier experiences. I found Travel Guard and Allianz to be the best.   If you have any questions, please email us here.