Fun Bike with fun with Brata 1 Homestay's staffs

loyal guest

On Sunday, 18th of December 2011, there was Fun Bike in Padang Tegal village, which is proudly presented by Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Ubud. There were a lot of presents in this events but we mostly were not looking for the presents at that time we also look for fun, relax and hangout time with our friends, colleagues and also our lovely family.

For that day, in our accommodation stayed our loyal tourist from Jakarta, one of really limited of our domestic tourist, his named is Teguh, a young successfully business man who works for coal industry factory. At that time he came to Bali because he had a meeting with his factory for end year report and on Sunday, the meeting was break and he had time to go to Ubud to join us for this Fun Bike event, He said although I stayed in very good and famous hotel in one of tourist destination in southern of Bali but he stressed that stayed with us was all he needed, joined the fun bike, had a lot of time to talk, treat us Bu Oka sucling pig, or even sit in our grass floor in front of our accommodation while talking and seing the traffics. He said money doesn't matter if he can have the Ubud hospitality enjoy.

We had a fun bike, relax for a while before go to have work on Monday, although we didn't get the main prize a new suzuki karimun estilo but we were really happy to join this Sacred Monkey Forest Sactuary Ubud Fun Bike, thank you for the committees for all their hard works, then after this he treated us (hope all our guests like him (just kidding)) to have sucling pig of Bu Oka one of the most famous sucling pig in Bali, afterwards we ate while had a lot of conversation and finally he must back to have some meeting again but he had mention that Mr Teguh will back on March 2012.

Fun Bike was so fun and we had very nice guest but we believe mostly of our guests are nice one and right now we prepare for new year eve and we hope we have a nice memory when farewell 2011 and welcome 2012 with our guests who at that time stay in our accommodation, Brata 1 Homestay.

fun bike time

loyal guest vs loyal staff

numbers of participants

after fun bike is fun lunch

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Mini guide to Bali, Indonesia

Photo by (Anders Blomqvist/LPI)

Bali’s small size doesn’t make for uniformity. The popular Indonesian island combines green rice terraces with long tropical beaches and volcanoes.

• Related photo gallery: Magical Bali

Likewise, traditional Hindu temples and artistic towns such as Ubud provide a counterpoint to party capital, Kuta.

See
Bali's best-known dive area, Pulau Menjangan, is good for divers and snorkellers, and is located in the Taman Nasional Bali Barat park. Expect tropical fish, corals, clear water and underwater cliffs (Labuhan Lalang visitors' centre, on the north coast, where boats leave for Pulau; 7.30am-5pm).

Perched in Bali's central mountains, Ubud's focus remains on Balinese culture in all its forms. The Agung Rai Museum of Art is a gallery and cultural centre where you can take courses in batik (wax-resist dyeing) and Balinese history (armamuseum.com; Jalan Raya Pengosekan; 9am-6pm; £2).

At Jatiluwih, which means 'Truly Marvellous', you will be rewarded with vistas of centuries-old rice terraces that have been nominated for Unesco status. You'll understand why when you see the panorama from the twisting 12-mile road. Get out for a walk along the water channels.

For out-of-the-way beaches, head to Bingin. The scenery here is superb, with cliffs dropping down to a row of houses and the foaming edge of the sea. The surf can be savage, but the white sands are calm and the roaring breakers mesmerising.

The village of Munduk is one of Bali's most appealing mountain retreats, and is set among hillsides covered with rice, coffee and fruit plantations. Waterfalls tumble off precipices and there are great trekking opportunities around the lakes of Danau Tamblingan and Danau Buyan.

Eat & drink
Few locals making the trek up the hill pass the open-air Nasi Ayam Kedewatan without stopping. The star is the superlative sate lilit (minced chicken satay with lemongrass). (00 62 361 974795; Jalan Raya Kedewatan, Sanggingan, Ubud; lunch; mains from 70p).

It's all about pork at muchloved open-front stall, Warung Dobiel in the south's Nusa Dua. Pork satay, pork soup and beans with shredded pork are favourites. The sautéed jackfruit will make you a convert; the green sambal (chilli-based sauce) is redolent with spices. Seating is at long tables (Jalan Srikandi, Nusa Dua; lunch; mains from £1).

Join the lunchtime lines outside Warung Ibu Oka , opposite Ubud Palace. They're waiting for the eponymous Balinese-style roast suckling pig. Locals and expats in the know travel far for meat they say is the most tender and tasty on the island (Jalan Suweta, Ubud; lunch; mains £1-£1.50).

At night, hundreds of candles twinkle around outdoor tables at The Living Room. The décor combines Balinese thatching and colonial posh, and the menu fuses French classics with Asian flair (livingroombali.com; Jalan Petitenget, Seminyak; lunch and dinner; mains £6-£8).

Arguably Bali's finest restaurant, Blossom has high-end décor and a creatively global menu. Try the lobster mango-shiro miso with mandarin salt (balisentosa. com; Sentosa Private Villas & Spa, Jalan Pura Telaga Waja, Seminyak; mains £10-£18).

Sleep
Matahari Cottages has six flamboyantly themed rooms, including the 'Batavia Dacha' and the 'Indian Pasha', stuffed with Balinese furniture and colourful soft furnishings. There's an Elizabethan-themed library and an elaborate high tea is served on silver (00 62 361 975459; matahariubud.com; Jalan Jembawan, Ubud; from £22).

Turn left after the toll gate for Mu, the most stylish option in Bingin. Thatched bungalows are scattered about a landscaped compound dominated by a cliffside infinity pool. All have hot tubs with sea views (00 62 361 8470976; mu-bali.com; Jalan Pantai, Bingin, Pecatu; bungalows from £38).

At Taman Sari bungalows are set on a long stretch of quiet beach, and feature intricate carvings and other traditional artwork. The open-air bathrooms are delightful places for that wake-up shower (00 62 361 288096; balitamansari.com; Pemuteran; cottages from £45).

Founded in order to help develop sustainable tourism, the Puri Lumbung Cottages are set among rice fields with views down to the coast. Dozens of trekking options and courses are offered, including dance and cooking. The hotel's restaurant, Warung Kopi Bali, is excellent (00 62 362 70128871; purilumbung. com; Munduk; cottages from £54).

On a ridge near Sayan stands the unique Bambu Indah, a compound of 100-year-old royal Javanese houses. Several outbuildings create a timeless, yet luxurious village. Rooms are works of art, with tasteful batik bedspreads and simple, authentic decoration (00 62 361 977922; bambuindah.com; Banjar Baung, Ubud; from £100).

Getting Around
Public transport is provided by minibuses called bemo. You can hire a car at the airport (from £14 per day; balicarhire.com), but as roads can be busy, taxis are the safest option and tend to have meters. Bali Taxi is the most reliable (00 62 361 701111).

Getting There
Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific fly to Bali's Denpasar airport from the UK (from £617; singaporeair.com; cathaypacific.com). Pre-paid taxis at the airport, to Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud, cost around £3.50, £6 and £15.

The article ‘Mini guide to Bali, Indonesia’ was published in partnership with Lonley Planet Magazine.

Source from: http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110208-mini-guide-to-bali-indonesia

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Royal Cremation Ceremony 2nd of November 2010 at Peliatan

20 metres more Bade

Again Royal Cremation Ceremony will be held in Peliatan village, eastern side of Ubud and to go there you only need 10 minutes by walk from Ubud. The Cremation Ceremony in Balinese is  called Plebon and it will be held 2nd of November 2010.

Before Bali island consists of a lot of Kingdoms, the Kingdoms was constitutional with Federal Monarchy, which the head of Federal Monarchy was King of Klungkung. 

In Peliatan, there is Kingdom that sub Kingdom of Gianyar Kingdom (Gianyar is subkingdom of Klungkung) and we all know that after 1945, Indonesia had our independend and our constitutional is Republic although, we still have King but we are Republic. Like in Peliatan, when Jing of Peliatan died so there is a big procession to the lastest honour for him. Come to Peliatan Village on Tuesday 2nd of November 2010 and you will see one awesome moment, when procession is started. Guests will see people make team workto carry tower that bring the King dead body to cementery. The tower high is more than 20 metres so the tower is very heavy and to carry it, at lease need much people. For carry this tower, committee of Plebon use step by step procedural/estaffette, first group takes about 20 metres and change to second group continue until the tower arrive in cementry and for this procession it need more than 1000 people because there is three things to carry here, first is coffin cow (in Balinese called Lembu), second is dragon (Naga Banda) and the last is tower (in Balinese Bade).

stair to go to top of Bade

coffin buffalo

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Cremation Ceremony on 3 October 2010 in Padang Tegal Kelod, Ubud.

   Cremation ceremony is one of the biggest, the sacredest and the most complicate also the most popular ceremony in Hindu Bali. In Bali, there is much ceremony, so it is why Bali, sometime it is said, everyday without ceremony. Cremation ceremony is dedicated for someone who already passed away and his family want to honour him, same in this cremation ceremony, we want to honour our lovely grand father. Guests of Brata 1 Homestay must be knowing him with his hospitality and a lot of Brata 1 Ubud guests said he was a wise man with big heart .Our Grand Father cremation ceremony was helded in Padang Tegal kelod in Padang Tegal Village on 3rd of October 2010.

    The cremation procession is started since a month ago, on the middle of September 2010 and finished on 6th of October 2010 after 3 days of its H day and the ceremony name's is 'nelunan' (3rd days).

    Procession of ceremony was started with our Balinese traditional custums that we made committee first. After the committee was made then we requested to our local community  (called Banjar in Balinese) that our family had a plan to make cremation ceremony to our grand father. After the banjar permited after words our family looked good day in Balinese celender to start working ( in Balinese is called nuasen karya). Next the committee was started to make tower to carry death body (in Balinese is called Bade) and coffin for burning  and  it used bull  symbol (called lembu), lembu means bull in English.

    Next procession is preparing for offering and for this procession we woke up in very early morning 4 AM to prepare food for offering, for ou priest and for committee. it takes more than 3 days. Another important procession was one day before H day, which was in that time our family invited our friends and colleagues to come in our home and as witness to our ceremony. In night we must not sleep until tomorow and what made this day is special because in midnight, the inheritor person must take holy water (calle dtirta penembak) alone to sacred place and after he got it, he must suddenly send to Priest home to process and prepare for thr H day tomorow.

    In the H day, there is very busy time, the day was started with Made offering and prepares for everything for ceremony. Next in noon, the 

Ngaben

 ceremony was started with carry Lembu and Bade to cementery and after death body take in Lembu, then we burned it. After the death body finished to burn only residue bond and ash. we offered it and then went to beach to spread i ( in Balinese called nganyut).

    Last in 3rd days procession (ngetelunin), we made foods and beverages for all the committees, like lawar, comoh, jugut ares, sate, siap betutu etc to celebrate our success work because the cremation success without obstacle and dont forget we send the foods to Priest home and after then in afternoon we went to Priest home again (the home called Griya) to said thank you to priest and his families and to who already helped cremation ceremony also. For more pictures, please clicking here

Balinese brotherhood

Praying for ceremony successfully

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Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud

We are invited too

3rd Bali Spirit Festival will open a few hours later in ARMA Museum in its address at Pengosekan Street Ubud, just asking people around Ubud as if hard to find this place, they will give you information with their smile. Yeah this is Balinese hospitality, we will help anyone with free and  smile too.
This festival, an annual celebration of yoga dance music started on 5.00 pm until 9.30 pm in ARMA museum, today, wednesday 31st March 2010 with Bali Soul Mantra Opening Night Celebration. This festival has 5 nights of inspiring world music concerts at ARMA with over 20 performance with world class musicians and DJs and its festival will be closed on 4th april 2010. Come and buy tickets at ARMA museum now. For futher informations, send your questions at, info@balispiritfestival.com. So don't miss it.

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Balinese Ceremony in Brata 1 Homestay

"pemangku" says mantra

Ceremony in Brata 1 Homestay

On 24th March 2010 in Brata 1 homestay held a ceremony, ceremony in our family temple. This ceremony was very interesting because in this time is a very good time during Balinese celender, as should you know for ceremony, Balinese is using Balinese System Celender, which is using lunar system and 1 month is 35 days.

In this special day, most of our family was going home to pray, request for The Suprime God to save us and other thing, this ceremony is for purifiying our place (Brata 1 Homestay) to clean in spiritual side besides in real world.
In that time, situation was very happy and lot of lough because all our family came home so we can share our experience and talking much each other. This was not just a ceremony but the time to meet each other in our home (Brata 1 Homestay). A guest of us, her name Sandra from Switzerland and other guests looked very enjoy about this atmosphere, she said when I was 6 years my parents came to Ubud with me and after 16 years I am back again to Ubud. This atmosphere make she has something different in Ubud, how people interect with each other, how their have a strong relationship between each family and how they still pray with God, although they are already success. to see, people pray together with their Big and Happy family is very awesome and memorable time. One of this place is "Its only in Brata 1 Homestay".

Sandra in Balinese uniform

Sunset

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Barrack Obama schedule comes to Bali on June

Statue in main cross road Ubud

U.S President Barrack Obama reschedule his bilateral visiting to Indonesia. Before his schedule on March but right now decline up to June 2010. Although he changed his schedule quiet long but don't worry a lot of Indonesia people still waiting his visiting here.

Same like Bali, as one place that will visit by Mr Obama during his visit to Indonesia, we are still waiting for him. Balinese is very appreciate for his schedule to visit Bali. Hopely he will come with his family, his family can be inspiration because he is a awesome and great father and also love his family much.

Please do not forget to visit Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud because it is very great place to visit, from Monkey Forest in Ubud, with its local genius  to still save forest in that place to be a green zone to safe oxigen for our live in Ubud,we can learn about how important to stop global warning. Stop global warning it is not just for us but for our son, our grand son too. From green of Monkey Forest hopely there is inspiration for seriously to go green, go go go.....

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Nyepi at Brata 1 Homestay in Ubud

"Nyepi" in front of Brata 1 Homestay

Firstly All staffs, manager and owner of Brata 1 Homestay say Happy "Nyepi". Nyepi means quiet, hopely from quiet of Nyepi we can thing what we did in past year and what we are going to do in next year, it is very good tone because in another new year we are always celebrate it with party and loud but special for Hindu New Year, we are celebrate in with " Catur Brata Nyepi, catur means 4, Brata, exactly Brata has a lot of meaning but in this case the meaning is fast or no doing that, the 4 fast is no go anywhere(stay at home,) no job, no angry and dont make any activity. Yeah just quite. Quite, relax and let is your soul free, from quite of Nyepi you have time to thing your mistakes and dont make the same mistake in next year, if you celebrate with party how you have time to thing what you have already done. In the first picture is situation during Nyepi in Ubud and picture took in front of Brata 1 Homestay in Hanoman street. For you who already came to Ubud, Hanoman street is always busy but it is not when Nyepi, Quite, all is quite, quite is good for rest your body and soul because we are not a machine.

Before Nyepi, in Nyepi ave, there is, okay let say parade, there is giant doll or in Balinese we called "ogoh-ogoh" parade. Here is some of Ogoh-ogoh photos in Brata 1 Homestay village, Padang Tegal in Ubud Bali.

Padang Tegal Kelod Youth Organization

Padang Tegal Tengah Youth Organization

Padang Tegal Kaja Youth Organization

children ogoh-ogoh

Children ogoh-ogoh

Padang Tegal Mekarsari Youth Organization

                                              

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Nyepi in Ubud

Padang Tegal Village goes Melasti

Still procession for prepare Nyepi, The biggest Balinese Hindu holiday. Every village in Bali would be taking holy water from sea and Padang Tegal Village where Brata 1 Home location. After the water is giving mantra from Priest, everyone will take the Holy water to their home for spread it to request for the Suprime God that their home has his blessing for puring and cleaning their home from something bad. It same with in Brata 1 Homestay, we were melasti to beach and after all the procession, the holy water already spread in Brata 1 Homestay, hopely next Caka year, 1932 everything walk in good way.

Next Balinese will prepare for "Pengerupukan" day. Pengerupukan is one day before Nyepi. In that time, there is a ceremony for offering the invisible creature especially bad spirit to make they do not disturb us. The ceremony is usually take place in cross road in every village because crossroad is center of direction. Afterwords, there is a ceremony who is people waiting for. Ogoh-ogoh (Giant doll) Carnival that you can see we carry a big giant doll as symbol of bad thing. Before it procession there is a ceremony to request the bad spirit who stay in their village to come on giant doll ceremony then we carry it around our village after then, we allow for bad spirit to out from giant doll/ogoh-ogoh because we will burn the giant doll as the symbol Balinese fight with bad spirit. Please waiting the full story about Nyepi holiday only in this site.

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Barack Obama will visit Uluwatu but he should to lunch in Ubud before

One of the Best Sunset view

US President, Barack Obama will visit Uluwatu Bali during his Bilateral visit to Bali. Its news we know by many activities to welcome one of the important person in this world around that area. Perhaps US president want to see one of the best sunset view in world, Yeah as we know Uluwatu has very memorable and beautiful sunset view. Em if he want to relax while see the best sunset view how about the best Balinese food, of course he comes to Bali to try Balinese food. George Bush, US former President during his visited to Bali try our special chicken and spicy spice called in Balinese "siap panggang" and "sambal matah" eamm very yummy one. 

Barack Obama, in the news said that he comes with his lovely wife Michael hopely with their both beautiful daugthers, firstly it is very special ocassion and holiday time to lunch in a lot of Traditional Balinese Restaurant with their special taste in Ubud. Why Ubud because we have Restaurant you should try likes Ibu Oka restaurant with its pork roasted, Bebek Bengil Restaurant with his duck roasted and "siap panggang" and "sambal matah", Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Restauran with its special chicken variation or if they want to try our Balinese cake, the best place is in Cafe Wayan Restaurant. Em there are many places to eat there and we as Ubud citizen very proud and honor as if Barack Obama comes to Ubud, it will completment our predicate as the Best City in Asia, Finally hopely your Bilateral Visiting is success and after then your family trip to Bali is memorable and awesome. 

Warm greeting and welcome to Bali, Mr President with US first Lady and do not forget for them lovely daughters too.

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Bali Spirit Festival 31st March - 4th April, 2010

Spiritual Bodyguard called Ganesh

Brata 1 Homestay is place in the heart of Ubud so it is very easy to come everywhere around Ubud. It same when there is an even in Ubud. This place will be an easy place to come in event place. It same again when Bali Spirit Festival returns to hillside community of Ubud for its third year on March 31st, 2010 to April 4th, 2010. Its takes only 3 minutes by walk from Brata 1 Homestay. 

This even, it is a spiritually charged event that celebrates "yoga", colaborate with its dances and musics and the synergy of global cultural collaboration through the arts.
 
Held over 4 days and 5 nights, this annual celebration brings to Bali a wealth of talented and respected creative masters from around the world, merging the indigenous and rich cultures of Indonesia in the spirit of learning, collaboration and the celebration of our creative and spiritual diversity.
 
The Bali Spirit Festival combines over 95 inspiring yoga, dance, and music workshops with nightly world music concerts to an enthusiastic audience of over 4,500 people.  
 
The majestic outdoor festival grounds are located just outside of Ubud, Bali on sprawling green lawns with a blessed river flowing through.

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Ubud as the best city in Asia Polling

Peace

Brata 1 homestay is making a small polling to know, readers opinion about the result of Condé Nast Traveler: 2009 Readers' Choice Awards,   in this good accasion there are only 9 readers to give their opinions with chosed the polling. Hopely next polling will be much much better than now.

A polling is very significant especial to know readers mind. They are agree or disagree about something. For example, Ubud is chosen as the best city in Asia polling, it is very great to know the opinion about the people who are not Conde' Nast Traveler Magazine readers. 

Anyway all audiences gave a same result that They agree for Ubud as the best City in Asia better than other city. If we talk about Ubud, a lot of tourists right now say Ubud  in "one word", LOVE, perhaph they had inspiration of Julia Roberts film, Eat, Pray, Love. So If you want to have a nice date, you will absolutely choose Ubud, willn.t you. It was why Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stone Vocalist chosed Ubud for held his wedding in 1996. Already long time but its still make people remembering that weding.

Besides love, there is another 'one word' to image Ubud, "peace". Yeah place of peace. It is same with our greeting, when Balinese end something, they would like to say Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om, Om has meaning for God and Shanti is peace so its means God give us peace in our mind, our world, and whole world. We believe there is another word to Ubud, UBUD is AWESOME, right. warm greeting from Ubud.

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From Ubud with love

Do you know in Ubud and around there are so much place for disable people. One of them is "Sjaki-Tari-Us" Foundation. It is very good time and place to come and enjoy while fund to this place for better future to that People. Sjaki-Tari-Us location is in the right Ubud soccer field, really very easy to came there although you must use your feet to come there because the street to go to this place is very small just entrance by foor or motorcycle. 

So, the 2nd Invitation of love is free entry with buffet dinner available and this occasion is presented "A Gift For The Children" by Gria Faria Reggae Band with Sjaki-Tari-Us Foundation and with Starfish Language Center. Its occasion is held on Valentine's Day, 14th February 2010 at 15.00 until 19.30 PM in Sjaki-Tari-Us Foundation Building east side of soccer field, Monkey Forest Street Ubud.  "A Gift For The Children really" present really great featuring:

1.   Blind Children Band

2.   Deaf Children Dance

3.   Ubud Jeembe Session 

4.   Painting and Jawerly Auction

and many more, so please dont miss it.

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