Bali Buzz #18

Vol. 1/december 18-december 24, 2014

“Happy Saving Mother Earth Pod Chocolate Sunday Brunch in Bali

GalunGan!”

2 december 18, 2014

PT BINA MEDIA TENGGARA PT BINA MEDIA TENGGARA PT BINA MEDIA TENGGARA I EDIToRIAl AND GENERAl DEPARTMENTJl. Tukad musi VI/17 Kav.1 renon denpasar bali (0361) 265 436, 265 437 Fax (0361) 223 698 [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Sunday brunch in bali Pura alas Jagasari

mercure bali legian

overcoming disability

The botanical garden’s bamboo forest

Saving mother earth

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from THE EdiTor

Board of Directors Jusuf Wanandi, Cherly P. Santoso, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Riyadi Suparno I Editor in Chief/Guarantor Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

Editor I Wayan Juniarta I Contributing Editor Rita A. Widiadana I Editorial Staff Desy Nurhayati, Fikri Zaki Muhammadi, Bram Setiawan, Anton Muhajir, Alit Kertaraharja, Ni Komang Erviani, Luh De Suriyani, Wasti Atmodjo I

I Wayan Juniarta I Kertaraharja, Ni Komang Erviani, Luh De Suriyani, Wasti Atmodjo I

I Wayan Juniarta I Contributing Editor Kertaraharja, Ni Komang Erviani, Luh De Suriyani, Wasti Atmodjo I

Contributing Editor Photographers

Desy Nurhayati, Fikri Zaki Muhammadi, Bram Setiawan, Anton Muhajir, Alit Photographers

Desy Nurhayati, Fikri Zaki Muhammadi, Bram Setiawan, Anton Muhajir, Alit Agung Parameswara, Lukman SB, Zul Trio Anggono, Anggara Mahendra

Desy Nurhayati, Fikri Zaki Muhammadi, Bram Setiawan, Anton Muhajir, Alit Agung Parameswara, Lukman SB, Zul Trio Anggono, Anggara Mahendra

Desy Nurhayati, Fikri Zaki Muhammadi, Bram Setiawan, Anton Muhajir, Alit

Graphic Designer Budhi Hartono, Sunaryo, Mohamad Soleh

General Manager Wiradiatma Wijoga I Advertising Intan Indahsari, Kadek Ita Noviyanti, Ngurah Agung I Circulation Slamet Sunarno I Promotions Mirah Adi

ConTEnTsUrban farming

Pod chocolate

cover Photo: agung Parameswara

Galungan brings family together

Balinese Hindus all over the island celebrate Galungan this week and Kuningan in the following week. both are the most joyous of the balinese Hindu religious festivals. The former celebrates the victory of dharma (virtue) over adharma (vice), while the latter marks the devotees’ determination to live by and protect the truth.

Next week will also see the global-wide celebration of christmas, in which christians will remember the birth of the savior and redeemer.

Needless to say the island will be a lot more colorful place to explore during this period of religious celebration as the locals will go a long way to decorate their respective temples and don their best traditional attire for the rituals. elaborately decorated bamboo poles, known as penjor, will line the streets throughout the island.

For visitors, it means ample opportunity to observe, or even to participate in, the series of temple rituals, mass prayers and street processions related to Galungan and Kuningan. They also will have a rare chance to watch how balinese christians, especially in Tuka, North Kuta, Palasari and Jembrana, observe christmas in a mass heavily influenced by the local culture.

Happy Galungan and Kuningan, and Merry Christmas!

–The Editor

Happy Holiday

3december 18, 2014

The christmas holiday period this year coincides with the balinese Galungan festival, which is one of the most important religious events within the 210-day balinese calendar, making this an extra special time to

be on the island for visitors and residents alike.While christmas day remembers the birth of Jesus christ

and is celebrated around the world, Galungan is a uniquely balinese event celebrating the creation of the world and revering the creator Sanghyang Widi Wasa. It marks the point in time when the balinese gods and the spirits of the island’s ancestors return to the island and rejoin their families to celebrate the triumph of good over evil through eating, merriment and entertainment, ending 10 days later with the festival of Kuningan when they return to their spiritual homes.

For many in bali there is no better time to enjoy the sharing of gifts, company or food, and it is perhaps fitting that countless of the island’s leading hotels and restaurants showcase their culinary credentials with a range of fabulous

“SUNdayS are meaNT For SHarING Good TImeS

WITH FamIly aNd FrIeNdS”

family orientated Sunday brunches, currently highlighting a festive theme. It would be great to list them all, but instead here are three quite different places to provide a flavor of the options available: Prego at The Westin resort Nusa dua bali; Feast at The Sheraton bali Kuta resort; and The big easy at mozaic beachclub.

In no particular order then, first up is the big easy at mozaic beachclub, where live music is brought to you by the island’s best jazz musicians with their own blends of funky contemporary jazz highlighting a fabulously relaxed dining experience. Served between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the upstairs dining space, with fabulous views over the pool, bar and ocean, all the dishes are made fresh to order and include traditional breakfast classics, asian options and the very popular and impressive Sunday roast. The additional draw for families is, of course, the kid’s menu, swimming pool and beach club facilities that are available to guests.

Next up comes the impressive Feast restaurant found on the ground floor of The Sheraton bali Kuta resort adjoining beachwalk mall. Ideally located, its relaxed atmosphere and bright ambience are perfect for chilling out on any Sunday. With pink highlights currently complemented by matching baubles and christmas trees to add to the festive spirit, it’s a cool place to kick back and enjoy a huge variety of excellent food and drinks. dim sum, sushi, cold cuts, fish grill, roasts, pasta and a plethora of desserts make this a very popular dining experience. live music and a dedicated, supervised kids’ area with games, painting and other activities add to its attraction for families.

last, but by no means least, comes Prego at The Westin resort Nusa dua bali which serves up a blend of traditional Italian-focused dishes, Sunday roasts, bbQ and asian delights with breads, pastas, cold meats, salads and a huge range of

delicious desserts. Here, the entertainment is focused toward younger children and, as well as the indoor kids’ area, it features a pool and supervised lawn activities.

There can be few better ways of enjoying a Sunday through the christmas and Galungan period than eating great food surrounded by family and friends. all the Sunday brunch options are great value and in many cases younger kids eat free or at significantly reduced prices; so why not take in a family Sunday brunch this festive season? but be warned, these terrific family brunches are very popular, making booking essential.

Sunday Brunch in Bali

Savor

WordS aNd PHoToS CHris O’COnnOr

4 december 18, 2014

Sight

Nestled amid the lush tropical forest in manukaya village, near Tampak Siring presidential palace in Gianyar, Pura alas Jagasari is one of bali’s

important, unique temples.The temple is famed for its architectural style,

derived from east Java’s Kediri kingdom, with an elaborate and grand split gate and elegant wall decoration.

Its history goes back to the 10th and 11th centuries, the golden age of the Kediri kingdom, with influences ranging from literature to architecture and balinese local culture.

It is believed that the temple’s structures, as well as layout, are in the authentic style of the east Javanese Kediri kingdom.

Its high location, some 700 meters above sea level, and stunning scenery make the temple a perfect place for worship. It is an ideal combination of bale agung grand hall and pura puseh ancestral temple.

Gede arya danu Palguna, a caretaker at the temple, explained that the local people strongly believe the temple has existed since the eight century, although the architectural style is that of east Java in the 10th and 11th centuries, long before the majapahit kingdom influenced the island.

“This is our ancestral temple, where we worship our ancestors and gods,” Palguna said, adding that, based on old manuscripts, the temple was built during the Warmadewa dynasty.

There are three old statues, around 30 centimeters high, one featuring Sri Kesari

Warmadewa, the first king of bali and the founder of the Warmadewa dynasty.

The second statue represents King Udayana, a descendant of Warmadewa and the most glorious king of the dynasty, while the third statue is Queen mahendradatta, also known as Gunapriya dharmapatni, the queen consort of King Udayana.

There are also three stepped lingga statues. The first represents ancestral deities; the second manifests the Hindu god Shiva and the third one represents buddha, showing the influences of both Hinduism and buddhism.

based on the ancient inscription known as Prasasti Blanjong, or the Sanur pillar, dated as being made in 954 ad, the Warmadewa dynasty had close ties with Javanese kingdoms, east Javanese Kediri kingdom in particular. The inscription notes that King Sri Kesari Warmadewa was a buddhist king from Java’s Sailendra dynasty who led a military expedition to establish a mahayana buddhist kingdom in bali.

The marriage of the balinese King Udayana to the east Javanese Princess mahendradatta established a closer link between Java and bali.

The Kediri kingdom’s artistic roots were vividly expressed in the form of royal buildings, places of worship, temples, sculptures and artistic decorations, all of which resemble those in east Java.

“Pura alas Jagasari literarily means forest temple. The temple is situated in the middle of Jagasari forest. but the philosophical meaning of Jagasari is to guide the core of life,” Palguna said.

“THe arcHITecTUral leGacy oF THe KedIrI KINGdom”WordS & PHoToS BraM setiawan

pura alaSJaGaSari

5december 18, 2014

Soul

childbirth is a quintessentially natural human experience that affects each and every one of us. Still, to this day, when it comes to giving birth and

being born, both women and children around the world are vulnerable to pain, sickness, even death.

To get some sense of the gravity of the problem, you might want to consider the fact that every two minutes, somewhere, a woman dies during childbirth or pregnancy. Indonesia is no exception to this frightening reality.

“Today, Indonesia’s official maternal mortality

ratio is 359 dead mothers for every 100,000 live births,” robin lim, executive director of bumi Sehat Foundation points out. Though this is a dire rise in numbers, as well as a far cry from the country’s self-set target of 102 women, Indonesia does not stand alone. maternal health care is a human right — and one that is constantly being neglected on a global scale. Shockingly enough, the United States is one of the countries with a rising maternal death rate.

The bumi Sehat Foundation is working hard to change these grim statistics. Since being founded in 1995, bumi Sehat, or Healthy earth

SavinG MotHer eartH“a FoUNdaTIoN brINGS SaFer cHIldbIrTH To dISadVaNTaGed moTHerS” WordS Pia VuOlteenaHO PHoToS COurtesy Of BuMi seHat fOundatiOn

mother, has been focusing on maternal, infant and family health care. Today, bumi Sehat operates in bali, aceh and the Philippines. In bali, the foundation operates a 24-hour family health and childbirth clinic in the village of Nyuh Kuning. In a country with privatized health care, the value of these free services provided by bumi Sehat is immeasurable.

The vital services provided by the clinic are not, however, by any means the full extent of the foundation’s work. bumi Sehat also provides education for midwives throughout Indonesia, as well as free, confidential HIV counseling and testing services. Then there is the village-based recycling and environmental support, as well as the organic farming education that bumi Sehat provides for local youths. The list seems to go on and on. all in all, it is a very holistic

way of working for the wellbeing of the whole community.

“my goal is for each baby to grow up to be a steward of our earth, land, water and all sentient beings. This requires each person to have an intact capacity to love and trust, for these qualities are the foundation of healing change for our ailing planet. by healing birth, I believe we are healing mother earth and building peace, one mother, one baby, one family at a time,” lim says.

besides working to reduce the harsh statistics regarding childbirth today, bumi Sehat is also committed to reshaping the very attitudes related to giving birth. lim emphasizes the importance of critically reexamining unnecessarily invasive and even brutal practices that are still routinely used in hospitals around the world. bumi Sehat also prioritizes culturally appropriate sustainability in healthcare and works closely with local, traditional birth attendants.

“Gentle childbirth is a human right, for both mother and baby. However the issue goes deeper, for research proves that trauma at birth impairs a human’s capacity to love and trust. This is of course repairable, via love, kind upbringing, breast-feeding and believing in each person as a ‘Piece of Peace’,” lim says.

like all NGos, bumi Sehat relies on donations to carry on with its valuable work. “although health care is a human right, it is not free. We at bumi Sehat help people for free, but we need help to do that,” lim says. To help, you can donate to the bumi Sehat Foundation through its account at PT bank Negara Indonesia (bNI), denpasar KlN Ubud branch, account number 117765425 in the name yayasan bumi Sehat, ds. PKr Nyuh Kuning. you can also donate via bumisehatfoundation.org.

6 december 18, 2014

Sight

The holiday season is approaching and families will be looking for wonderful places to spend time with

their beloved ones.The eka Karya botanical garden in

bedugul, Tabanan regency, is one of bali’s favorite holiday destinations.

Situated in a cool, hilly resort area, the botanical garden stands on a 154.5-hectare plot of land overlooking the picturesque beratan lake and Ulun danu water temple.

established in 1959, the botanical garden is home to a vast array of flora.

managed by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (lIPI), eka Karya preserves more than 1,187 plants.

orchid lovers will be thrilled to see the collection of more than 320 orchid types from bali, Java, Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

The colorful rose and begonia garden gives you stunning views rarely found in cities. meanwhile, the spacious Usadha garden is dedicated to medicinal plants and ceremonial flowers.

one of the highlights of eka Karya is its vast bamboo collection, second to none in Indonesia.

Visitors can hear the soft whispering of bamboo leaves as they sway in the cool breezes found in the bamboo forest within the garden complex. The bamboo plants are from all across Indonesia and provide for a fascinating, peaceful natural beauty.

being an educational center, each bamboo plant has a wooden sign by it providing information and the plant’s latin name.

one sign states that bamboo played a crucial part in the industrial revolution as Thomas edison, who invented the electric light

The botanical garden’s

“a memorable HolIday”

WordS aNd PHoToS luH de suriyani

bamboo forest

bulb, used bamboo fibers in his experiments.according to data from the environment

and Forestry ministry, bamboo has no knots or rays like are found in wood. This means its fibers are incomparably strong, durable and flexible.

The bamboo forest in the botanical garden has just undergone a massive make over. Now, there is a beautiful bamboo gateway and several wooden chairs for visitors to sit and enjoy the serenity of the forest.

a 10-minute drive from the bamboo forest is the two-hectare forest fern garden.

The garden contains about 80 types of ferns from bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Sumatera and Papua. There are several endangered and protected ferns, including cyathea contaminans, cyathea latebrosa and Dicksonia Blumei cyathea, which is native to bali.

The cyathea contaminans is native to Indonesia, India, malaysia and the Philippines. The so-called mountain tree fern is mostly found growing at altitudes of up to 1,677 meters.

a conservation site, the botanical garden is also equipped with outbound facilities, guesthouses, restaurants and a playground.

entry to the botanical garden is rp 3,000 (23 US cents) for children and rp 5,000 for adults.

even with such a low entry fee, visitors are guaranteed an adventurous, educative and entertaining holiday trip. Happy holidays!

7december 18, 2014

Sight

Mercure Bali leGian“NeW accommodaTIoN IN THe HearT oF leGIaN”

WordS aNd PHoToS wasti atMOdjO

Kuta, legian and Seminyak have established themselves as the main destination for domestic and foreign visitors, not just for leisure but also for

business meetings. as the icons of bali’s tourism, these

areas feature a haven of restaurants, bars, shopping outlets, night clubs and beach attractions — all of which serve as selling points for the hotel industry, in addition to the easy access to the airport and many tourist spots, as well as the excellent facilities and services provided by the hotels.

Therefore, despite the ubiquitous accommodations, ranging from budget inns to five-star hotels, these areas remain attractive for investors building new places for visitors to stay.

The soft opening of mercure bali legian earlier this month is one such opportunity and provides tourists with an even greater choice of places perfect for business and leisure.

located right at the heart of legian — at a strategic intersection between Kuta, legian and Seminyak, the brand new mercure bali legian is suitable for all — families, honeymooners and corporate clients.

Guests have easy access to the surrounding places of interest, including legian beach, Seminyak and Kuta.

as a new hotel, mercure bali legian is ready to compete. With a total of 321 rooms, the hotel — the fifth mercure property, provides complete facilities, such as Wi-Fi, pools, conference room, spa and fitness center, kids club and business center.

“Its strategic location allows guests to easily reach various places of interest, all within walking distance,” said general manager Shamila rolfe.

Sales manager Pauline lahai added that the popular tourist spots were very easy to access from the hotel, especially for visitors with limited time.

For a half day tour, tourists can visit the increasingly popular Pandawa beach in the afternoon, go to Uluwatu Temple to watch the kecak dance at sunset and continue the trip to Jimbaran beach for dinner.

“Thanks to easy access to and from our hotel, guests can have more time to explore a lot of interesting places in Kuta and the surrounding areas, even when they only have limited time for sightseeing,” Pauline said.

Upon arriving at the hotel, guests will be welcomed with the beautiful sounds of balinese gamelan and an arrangement of marigold flowers around their neck.

last week, Bali Buzz was invited to join a media familiarization trip, when the general manager warmly welcomed the participants and served as the guide during the dinner and morning exercise.

The hotel’s employees were also given the opportunity to demonstrate their special talents for the guests.

8 december 18, 2014

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9december 18, 2014

For a large number of balinese Hindus, the major religious festival of Galungan, which fell on Wednesday, was not only an occasion to

celebrate the victory of dharma (virtue) over adharma (vice), but also a much-awaited time for catching up with relatives, including the dead.

Family in the rapidly disappearing agrarian bali, where a large numbers of relatives was a valuable asset to farm acres of rice fields, used to refer to an extended family of several households living in the same compound. Family gatherings, therefore, took place almost on a daily basis.

However, in the increasingly modern bali, where a growing number of balinese leave their hometown to seek their fortune in the larger towns, family presently refers to a nuclear one, a small entity separate from its roots. Family gatherings have become rare occasions and religious holidays have growingly become the only opportunity for an extended family to have a meaningful conversation.

“We haven’t had a lengthy conversation for five years, have we? I mean, we bumped into each other several times but we didn’t have the opportunity to sit together and talk to each other in the way we used to,” Kadek Soma said to his cousin as they sat on the front porch of their extended family’s compound in Tulikup, a village in Gianyar known for producing top quality bricks.

The two grew up together and went to the same kindergarten, junior and senior high schools, before pursuing careers in different fields. both reside in denpasar but found that the demanding hours of their work prevented them from chatting and bantering like they used to, or discussing the family’s problems and traditional duties.

Several meters to the north, under the scorching sun, the female members of the family were busy preparing offerings at the sanggah (family temple).

In the following hour, both men shared more than just a hot coffee and a pack of cigarettes, also sharing fond memories, the joys of having kids of their own and scores of important issues related to their family, from a troubled member who refused to do his part in the family’s duty to the banjar (traditional neighborhood association), to an accusation that a family member was practicing black magic and a planned renovation of the family temple.

There was no definite conclusion at the end of the conversation, only a shared understanding that distance had not affected their closeness. They were still family.

“I miss my late mother so much. She has appeared several times in my dreams. I will pray for her now, a really serious prayer. For my late father, your favorite uncle, I have bought that special klobot he liked so much. Hope he still likes it,” Soma said, with a big grin on his face, referring to traditional hand-rolled

cigarette wrapped with dried corn husk.a few minutes later, both men sat side-

by-side on the ground of the family temple, offering their prayers for their loved ones who had already entered the afterlife, as well as to all their ancestral spirits. It is believed that during Galungan, these spirits are given an opportunity to visit their living relatives.

In the village cemetery one kilometer away, a women with a bright red umbrella knelt before a grave as she presented an offering of food, drink and a cigarette to her deceased husband. This offering, known as soda, is provided regularly to the deceased who have yet to be cremated.

a similar scene could be observed throughout the island on Wednesday. balinese Hindus presented offerings and prayed at the cemetery and family temples before heading to their village’s respective Kahyangan Tiga, temples dedicated to the Tri murti, the trinity of brahma the creator, Wisnu the Sustainer and Siwa the destroyer. They then spent most of the afternoon in their family compounds easting prasadam (the food and fruit from the offerings), while chatting and joking with each other.

“religious holidays have increasingly become a medium for balinese families to strengthen their cohesion and unity. during this time, the family get ample time to discuss problems, negotiate solutions, forge

consensus and iron out differences,” poetess and cultural observer mas ruscitadewi said.

“Galungan has expanded from a religious celebration stemmed in the myth of the victory of lord Indra over the allegedly atheistic demon king, mayadanawa, to a modern celebration of the victory of family, and its associated social and traditional norms, against contemporary challenges.”

Galungan is celebrated once every 210 days, a six-month period in the balinese calendar, in which each month comprises 35 days. Penjor, the bamboo pole decorated with flowers, leaves, fruit and cakes, is a unique feature of Galungan. It serves as both the standard of victory and the expression of gratitude for the bountiful harvest bestowed by the deities upon the islanders. It is erected on Penampahan, which falls one day before Galungan, during which the Hindu families slaughtered pigs and chickens for offerings and the family feast. lawar, minced meat and vegetables, as well as scores of traditional foods are the main menu on Penampahan.

denpasar was free of the usually frustrating traffic congestion on Wednesday, as most of its residents had left the city for their respective hometowns across the island. most government offices, schools and commercial establishments were closed during the holiday.

10 december 18, 2014

Sight

T y of Persons sabilities was observed

with a range of activities to promote the full and effective

participation of persons with disabilities in society.

The annual observance, which falls on dec. 3, also highlighted campaigns empowering the disabled to be self-reliant and creative.

In bali, a group of disabled people have proven they are able to overcome their physical challenges by creating art projects.

The group organized an art exhibition and auction, held at the annika linden centre from dec. 3 to 5, displaying paintings in various genre with strong messages about their hopes and dreams to live well with disability.

reta resita, who has a clubfoot, painted a legless legong dancer. Using oil on canvas, she described the dream of a disabled person to become a balinese dancer, despite the physical constraints.

reta, a client of yayay yasan Peduli Kemanusiaan (yPK) — a center that provides therapy for the disabled, also created another painting depicting a smiling Japanese girl with a ribbon in her hair.

Her strokes make the painting look simple, yet express meaningful attention to the little things that bring

happiness in life.There were also water paintings by

disabled children, including one from IGa anasti that depicted four children engaged in a conversation. With the title Sahabat Tuna Rungu (deaf Friends), the painting shows deaf children able to communicate and build friendships with others.

In the exhibition, a number of art works by adult participants explored various forms of creativity, from caricatures to murals, water paintings and oil paintings.

Some of the participants had been involved in previous painting exhibitions, including mantra from lombok, who created the abstract paintings Memories and Under The Rain.

other painters exhibiting at the event included Ida ayu Wiadnyana (dayu Wid), Sudibia and Putu Suriati.

Wid from Tampaksiring was inspired by her father, also a painter, to create paintings of balinese traditions.

meanwhile, other participants created watercolor paintings that resembled street art.

communities that focus on empowering people living with physical challenges, including Puspadi bali and yPK, exhibited tools for the disabled.

among the tools were crutches, knee and ankle orthotics and orthopedic shoes for people with

polio. There was also a trans-femoral prosthetic, which is an artificial limb to replace a knee joint where the thighbone remains intact.

The observance of the International day for Persons with disabilities also saw a campaign to promote access for the disabled to work in companies, supported by bali export development organization (bedo) and dnetwork.net — a website that promotes job net — a website that promotes job netopportunities for the disabled.

bedo has introduced buddy, a counseling program for the disabled, the icon for which is a finger doll named Sasa, an acronym from sahabat saya (my buddy), represented by a female figure with a friendly expression and clad in colorful clothes.

Jeff Iskandarsyah from bedo said this program was necessary because the disabled needed assistance when they started work.

“We identify any obstacles being faced during the first three months of employment, discuss ways to overcome these and let others learn from them.”

more than 20 disabled people have been involved in this campaign and discussed the obstacles they faced and solutions that resolved them.

on dnetwork.net, a number of dnetwork.net, a number of dnetwork.netcompanies have opened their doors for people living with disabilities to be part of inclusive development.

overcoMinG diSaBility“oPeNING UP oPPorTUNITIeS, ImProVING THe lIVeS oF THe dISabled”

WordS aNd PHoToS luH de suriyani

The International day of Persons with Twith T disabilities was observed with a range of activities to Twith a range of activities to Tpromote the full and effective Tpromote the full and effective T

11december 18, 2014

IN croWded and polluted denpasar, enpasar, enpasar bali’s capital, only a very few farms remain to grow the agricultural produce that sustains the city’s population.

The rapid rate of population growth and the robust economy have seen productive land make way for housing and business facilities. There is very little space left for agricultural activities in this densely populated city.

around 1.2 million of bali’s 4.1 million population live in denpasar, excluding the thousands of commuters living in neighboring Tabanan, badung and other areas who work in denpasar in the daytime.

denpasar depends strongly on outside sources for its supplies of meat, fruit, vegetables and other commodities.

In the face of this reality, denpasar mayoralty has been working hard to encourage the city’s residents to start developing urban farms to reduce the city’s

urBan farMinG WordS aNd PHoToS wawaw sti atata MOdjO

initiative

“eNHaNcING PeoPle’S lIVeS aNd THe cITyeNVIroNmeNT”

reliance on outside supplies and help build food safety and security.

as part of its annual denpasar Festival, the mayoralty held the side event denpasar Horticulture Festival at lumintang Park last weekend.

Gede ambara Putra, head of denpasar agriculture and Horticulture agency, told Bali Buzz that the festival was mainly aimed at encouraging all the city’s residents to actively take part in developing urban farming.

“There are so many socio-economic and environmental benefits from developing urban agriculture,” Putra said.

a complicated food distribution system has seen food prices rocket in urban areas, increasing urban poverty in cities.

“Urban farming will allow low-income families to grow their own vegetables, fruit and herbs. They can also raise poultry or cultivate fish to provide them with nutritious and affordable food,” he said.

The four-day festival was a showcase of success stories from young farmers and entrepreneurs, who have taken the lead in innovative and productive urban farming.

Julias anrianto, a resident of Peguyangan village, has developed a hydroponic farm. “I grow a large variety of popular vegetables usually used for salads,” anrianto said. His farm produces butterhead lettuce, red oakleaf, kale nero, lolorosa and many other green leafy vegetables.

Visitors were eager to learn more about his farming system.

“Hydroponic farming is highly suited to conditions in denpasar, which has limited land. We can grow plants in a small space but we have to be selective in choosing profitable plants,” he explained.

a technical school graduate, anrianto is comfortable working as a farmer and has become a successful entrepreneur.

The mayoralty office has asked this

young man to collaborate in urban farming development through the creation of a program called Belajar Bareng Hidroponik (learning about Hydroponic Farming) to attract young people to work in agriculture.

during the festival, the mayoralty also organized several training sessions and workshops for those interested in urban farming.

“Urban farming provides employment, income and easier access to food for the urban population, and more importantly, it creates green, open spaces in the city, which, in the end, will improve its environmental state,” Putra noted.

For individuals, urban farming can have a significant impact on their social and mental well-being.

“The opportunity to work in an open space and to interact with nature through gardening and farming is believed to have a positive impact on people’s overall mental and physical health,” he said.

12 december 18, 2014

their chocolate is being taken into europe and across the world. It no longer just vanishes; it is in a chocolate bar stating it is from bali, it is mentioned in magazines, on blogs, on the Internet. It has put the role of the famer and the story of the farmer back into the story of chocolate.

Garritt’s mission of creating an iconic chocolate and an iconic chocolate company has come true.

For more information visit podchocolate.com

close to Sangeh monkey forest and Ubud, tucked away in the bali elephant camp, is the home of Pod chocolate, a boutique chocolate factory with a chocolate tour; the brainchild of Toby Garritt.

With a background in hospitality and tourism, Garritt saw the local cacao plantations and wondered whether he could make high-quality single-origin balinese chocolate. making his first batch of chocolate in late 2010, it took a full year of trials to confirm to himself that it was in fact a feasible dream.

“Getting the roasts right was very important, there are so many variables to creating the perfect roast which depend very much on the origin on the bean,” said Garritt.

another challenge was getting a consistent

quality of cacao, which of course has a huge impact on the finished product.

It was then that Garritt discovered that the cacao farmers didn’t have the knowledge of how to judge the quality of their beans as they had never tasted the finished product. almost everything that they produced, mostly unfermented beans, was being bought by brokers for very low prices to go to large factories in Java, where they were used in bulk and lower quality chocolate with lower percentages of cacao in them, with the flavor often balanced by artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives.

on top of that, their plants were infested with pod borer, which was destroying the crops.

Garritt is a self-confessed perfectionist, so

WordS aManda O’COnnOr PHoToS COurtesy POd CHOCOlate

Pod Chocolate“delIGHTING cHocoHolIcS aNd HelPING SUSTaUSTaUST IN balI’S cacao FarmerS”

he started working with the local farmers to help them grow healthy plants and produce consistently good quality fermented cacao, so he could buy it at a premium price and make a world-class chocolate. over 200 individual farmers and cooperatives are working with Pod and improving their quality of life.

Now, toward the end of 2014, Pod chocolate bars, specialty pralines and many other kinds of chocolate delights can be found in high-end hotels across the island and Pod’s newly opened café and store on Jl. Sunset road and in Ngurah rdomestic terminal departure area, where you can buy Pod chocolate, as well as enjoy drinks and desserts using Pod’s own bali chocolate.

W retreat & Spa bali Seminyak has been a loyal partner of Pod chocolate in its restaurants and mini-bars, and co-developed chocolate-based signature deserts, since early 2013. many other high-end hotels and restaurants in bali also use Pod chocolate.

For chocolate lovers of all ages, you can also go on the Pod chocolate Fun Factory Tour, which begins with the cacao tree and lets you experience the journey from the pod through to the chocolate bar, with a trip through the boutique factory and hands-on experience of making your own chocolate elephants — with plenty of tasting along the way.

Pod chocolate is truly a success story. chocoholics in bali can finally indulge to their hearts’ content in high quality organic chocolate, and the farmers are proud that

and Pod’s newly opened café and store rai’s

domestic terminal departure area, ocolate,

ali Seminyak has hocolate in its

restaurants and mini-bars, and co-developed chocolate-based signature deserts, since

y other high-end hotels and hocolate.

Savor

For hundreds of years before bali became renowned for tourism, agriculture was the island’s mainstay. In the early days of tourism, it was

predominantly the unique colorful rituals, large and small, of bali Hinduism, the great surfing and the beauty of bali’s countryside and its lush carpets of terraced rice fields that drew tourists in.

Nowadays, agriculture has been left far behind and many of bali’s farmers are living in poverty, forced to sell their ancestral land to pay the day-to-day costs of life, education and health care.

However, with the rising demand for high quality, local produce, farming is beginning to receive some attention.

While organic farms are being cultivated in the cooler areas of bali, there are still many orange, clove and cacao plantations to be found on the island. In fact, Indonesia is the third largest producer of cacao worldwide.

despite this, Indonesia has never been synonymous with high-quality chocolate - until now.

13December 18, 2014

UHA recently held a 3-day event at Royal Pitamaha to welcome 30 representative retail agents from Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and other Asian countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, to meet with fifty-six Ubud Hotels Association members who could help these retail agents fully understand the tourism magnetism of Ubud and its surrounding areas. By holding this table-top event, the retail agents are expected to be able to better sell tourism packages to domestic and Asian tourists looking to vacation in the region. Each of the UHA members was able to present its product to the participating agents.UHA also aimed to increase the awareness of its brand properties in Ubud, exposing the art town with an exclusive tour of these resort properties located in one of the best travel destinations in the world.The event wrapped up with a Balinese Farewell Dinner showcasing Balinese dances Ubud was awarded Best City in Asia 2009 by Conde Nast Traveller magazine. Through awards and events such as these, an increased awareness of business opportunities and properties in Ubud is expected to drive business and tourism.

CLADSAdvertise with us! Call : 0361 265 436/7 or email to [email protected]

SERVICES

Accountant, tax consultant, QuickBooks expert. Call 0878 600 22239 [email protected]

Aqua Fitness Courses and Aqua Bike Courses, Seminyak. Call: 0818 054 19300

Baby sitter services. Contact me 0852 3810 0025

British photographer services available. Specialist in product & culinary photography. Fully equipped modern studio facilities. Call 08123 883532

CV Yazna Villa Management. Professional service for all needs. Located at Jl. Majapahit No.76 Kuta. Office 0361 767 108. Mobile 0812 382 3731

Do you need a consultant for your F&B outlet? Contact Fokus Hospitality for one-stop solution. 0361 274 0619

Driver, speaks English, freelance, honest and good deal. Call : 081 7477 9129

English private tutor offers English/Math tuition for chil-dren 5-12yrs. 7 years experience as a classroom teacher in UK & Australia. Call 0817 470 3070

Freelance driver, speaks English, is honest and reliable. Contact: 0819 9996 1750

Freelance pool cleaner and garden services. Please call 0878 6017 0659

Get your website on Google’s first page for more cus-tomers. Call/SMS 0811 380 151

Home made jewelry. Silver and gold. Good price with high quality product. Call 081 7477 9129

Indonesian freelance cook. Text Elok 0813 902 36628

Indonesian lessons for foreigners provided at your foreigners provided at your foreignershome / office, native teacher. Sms/call: Ms. Asima 0821 468 50175 / email [email protected], www.balipages.biz.learn.speak.indonesian.

Indonesian lessons, free trial class. Contact: 0878 616 37555, [email protected]

Jonsen Pet House. Dog boarding and playground. 0361 2727 645 / 0812 6304 5125. jonsenpethouse.comjonsenpethouse.comjonsenpethouse.c

Made to order: bags, wallets, jackets, leather. Pls call 0819 3621 9030

Need a building contractor? Call 0881 460 2907 / 0812 360 9639

Painting courses, professional artist. Call 0361 837 2501

Private courses in the Chinese language. Simple system. Call: 0818 055 60595 / 0813 382 17788

ISLAND BUZZWorld AIDS Day campaign by Hotel ibis in Bali

The ibis hotel family in Bali held a World Aids Day Campaign on Monday, Dec. 1. Taking place at Bali Galeria mall, hotel employees handed out red ribbons to mall visitors and distributed information on HIV and AIDS. Joan Mamahit, general manager of ibis Style Bali Kuta Circle said, “We are holding this event on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day to improve public awareness and caution with regard to the HIV/AIDS virus. We intend this to be an annual event.” The group’s hotel employees also wore red ribbons to commemorate World AIDS Day, as did many of the guests at Hotel ibis Styles Bali Kuta Circle.The ibis family of hotels in Bali includes ibis Styles Bali Kuta Circle, ibis Bali Kuta, ibis Styles Bali Kuta Legian, ibis Styles Bali Benoa and all seasons Bali Denpasar.ibis hotels offer simplicity, comfort, quality and friendliness. Positioned in or close to city centers, each property offers all-inclusive packages comprising room, all-you-can-eat buffet, high speed internet access.

Ubud Agents Table Top II 2014 enhances domestic and international exposure

14 December 18, 2014

Promote your event with us! Call : 0361 265 436/7 or email to [email protected]

Events

Calendar of EventsBali Organic MarketEvery Monday, Wednesday and Friday From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.Sunrise Organic Market offers you fresh veggies, dried goods (fruit, beans, etc.), local milk, natural remedies and nice people.Jl. Merta Sari, Kerobokan: Dewi (0361) 735824

Bridging Table Every SaturdayStarts 6:45 p.m.Meet new people, enjoy welcome drink & canapés.bridges BaliJl. Campuhan, Ubud : (0361) 970095www.bridgesbali.com

Circus in Town Dec. 20Starts 1 p.m.Clowns, circus acts and extravagant entertainment fit the bill on this fun filled day of revelry.Nikki Beach Club, Nusa Dua

CUCA Chef’s Festive Menu Dec. 15 to Jan. 2Special festive menu available at Rp 480,000++, plus full a la carte menu.Jl. Yoga Perkanthi, Jimbaran: (0361) 708066www.cucaflavor.com

Indosole Holiday PartyDec. 19Starts 7 p.m.Workshop, dinner, get together and party.Indosole HouseCanggu

Jazz and Blues SessionEvery Thursday, Friday and SaturdayFrom 9 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.Mannekepis Jazz and Blues BistroJl. Raya Seminyak, Kuta: (0361) 8475784

Christmas at Jazz Café UbudDec. 24Feat. Dee Dice supreme soulstressDec. 25Feat. the legendary Jim Larkin, blues & soulTraditional roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings, veg. option available, at Rp 595,000.Jl. Sukma 2, Ubud: (0361) 976594 www.jazzcafebali.com

Jenja presentsDamian Lazarus (Crosstown Rebels UK) Dec. 19Starts 11 p.m.Townsquare Suites, Seminyak

The Lights of Faith - Theater show From Monday to SaturdayStarts 8 p.m.A cultural theater show to feel the magic of Bali in every story!Kuta TheaterJl. Kartika Plaza, Kuta: (0361) 762750 or Robert 0878 617997

Limbo Hip – Where The Night StartsEvery SaturdayStarts 8 p.m.Get together with friends, mingle and get down to our DJ’s music.La FincaJl. Subak Sari No. 77, Batu Belig, Kerobokan

Made’s Warung Live PerformancesBalinese Dances Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, SundayLive MusicEvery Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, SaturdaySalsa DanceEvery SundayMade’s WarungJl. Raya Seminyak, Kuta: (0361) 755297

Metis Friday AperochicEvery FridayNothing beats the true indulgence at the new Metis Lounge with its delicate tapas and cocktails!Jl. Petitenget No. 6, Kerobokan

Christmas meals at the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort Dec. 24 Feast - Feast Market Brunch by Night - Christmas EditionBene - Sicilian ChristmasDec. 25 Feast - Feast Market Brunch by Night - Christmas EditionBene - Tuscany ChristmasDec. 28 Feast - Feast Market Brunch - Festive EditionSheraton Bali Kuta ResortJl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta: (0361) 755297

Sunset Beach Bar & GrillEvery SaturdayChill-out music, snack-style menu, true Balinese hospitality.Intercontinental Bali ResortJl. Uluwatu 45, Jimbaran: (0361) 701888

Watch Worldwide Sports EventsLive sports coverage at Meads, watch live AFL, NRL, Super Rugby, cricket, tennis, F1. Meads Boutique Villas HotelJl. Pratama No. 99, Tanjung Benoa: (0361) 776604

Food & Drinks

CANGGU Berawa Beach TavernGreat tavern to enjoy sunset with cold beer, barbeque, hot dogs, and sport shows.Jl. Perancak, Berawa, Canggu

Echo Beach House RestaurantEvery sunset, legendary barbecue with fresh seafood, prawns and lobsters, imported steaks, mouthwatering ribs and fresh, organic salads.Jl. Pura Batu Mejan, Canggu : (0361) 7474604

DENPASARKopi BaliA tiny, old school coffee shop selling Bali’s original coffee, Butterfly Globe Brand that was founded in 1935.Jl. Gajah Mada No. 80, Denpasar

Sushi KaweSmall Japanese food stall with very affordable prices. Jl. Pulau Kawe, Denpasar

JIMBARANChiringuito El KabronSpanish Restaurant & Cliff ClubJl. Pantai Cemongkak, Pecatu : (0361) 7803416www.chiringuitoelkabron.com

Furama CaféGood seafood at an affordable price and just the right sized portion.Jl. Pantai Kedonganan, Jimbaran: (0361) 7470805

KEROBOKANKobeteiA simple Japanese stall that serves good food, cheap for lunch and dinner.Jl. Petitenget No. 17E, Kerobokan: (0361) 8025320

Café Del MarDelicious food and good value for money! Jl. Sahadewa, Kerobokan: (0361) 7896700

KUTABali Colada More up to date and with a fresh face, the ex Rajas Restaurant is now Bali Colada and offers a menu of customers’ favorites.Kuta Square C 15, Kuta : (0361) 753130

Gloria Jean’sAnother must visit coffee shop in BaliJl. Tegal Wangi, Kuta: (0361) 766356

WOWCOWThis Australian brand frozen yogurt adds more choices for yogurt lovers.Beachwalk, 2nd FloorJl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta

SANURCasablancaA popular bar with food in Sanur. Enjoy dinner in a romantic and colorful setting.Jl. Danau Tamblingan No. 120, Sanur: 0813 863 080

Warung Mak BengTraditional Balinese fish dishes. Jl. Hang tuah No. 45, Sanur

SEMINYAKLolaA delightful urban chic restaurant with beautiful presentation of many classic Indonesian foods.L Boutique HotelJl. Petitenget No. 8, Seminyak

Sambal Shrimp Offers you seafood and international selection.Jl. Kayu Aya No. 6, 2nd Floor, Seminyak: (0361) 738389

UBUDAbe DoFood prepared after you order it. The owner uses 100% organic products from local farmers. Jl. Tirta Tawar No. 43, Kutuh, Ubud: 0813 380 21855

KagemushaLight and simple Japanese food reminds you of real Japanese home cooking.Jl. Raya Pengosekan, Ubud: (0361) 973134

Courses

Adjani BaliLearn to prepare a variety of dishes, presentation and garnishing.Kaliasem, Lovina, Singaraja: 081236232019www.adjanibali.com

Centrestage Music & DramaMusic lessons, music studio, drama and musical theater, musical productions and DJ workshops, hip hop and V street dance.CentrestageJl. Dukuh Indah, Umalas, Kerobokan : 082144815165

Dance LessonsDance for life. Jl. Tangkuban Perahu No. 100x: (0361) 7452045

Gamelan Course – Mekar BhuanaLearn more about Balinese culture and music.Jl. Gandapura III No. 501X, Denpasar: (0361) 464 201

Gaya Ceramic Arts CenterPrivate tutelage for individuals and small groups — potter’s wheel throwing techniques to hand-crafted sculptures.Jl. Raya Sayan, Ubud: (0361) 7451413 or 976220

Nirvana Batik CourseLearn the traditional art of batik makingJl. Gautama No. 10, Padangtegal, Ubud: (0361) 975415

Silversmithing Classes – Studio PerakRecommended by Lonely Planet. A relaxing place to explore your creativity and make that piece of silver jewelry you’ve been dreaming about! Jl. Hanoman, Ubud: (0361) [email protected]

The Mozaic Culinary WorkshopJl. Raya Sanggingan, Ubud : (0361) 975768 Email: [email protected]

Cycling

Bali Star CyclingYoung, dynamic, experienced friendly guides, great cycling tours. Routes off the beaten track for a totally different view on Bali then the average tourist has. Jl. Imam Bonjol, Perum Cipta Selaras No. 30, Denpasar: (0361) 3172020 or 9228274

Diving

Absolute ScubaDive paradise in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago and at the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands.Jl. Pantai Silayukti, Padang Bai: +62 (0363) 42088Email: [email protected]

Paragliding

Bali ParaglidersJl. Bypass Ngurah Rai No. 12 A / 99 Blok A5, Kuta: (0361) 704 769Email: [email protected]

Timbis Aero ClubParagliding operations, flight instructors and tandem pilots.Timbis Beach, Ungasan: 0812 391 6918 (Ketut Manda)

Rafting Rafting

Bali Payung Rafting AdventureFor more than a dozen years, Ayung River rafting has been hugely popular. Jl. Raya Payangan, Gianyar: 0819 994 [email protected]

Mega Rafting Bali Journey through winding gorges, luscious jungles, magnificent terraced rice fields and breathtaking waterfalls for unparalleled fun on the river.Jl. Hayam Wuruk No. 114 Tanjung Bungkak, Denpasar: (0361) 246724

Shopping

Perum Dalung Permai Pertokoan A.11 – A15, Kerobokan Kaja Jl. Raya Seminyak No. 17, KutaJl. Raya Campuhan No. 45, Ubud

Nirmala Supermarket Jl. Uluwatu II no. 10 Jimbaran - Phone (0361) 81470919Jl. Uluwatu Ungasan - : (0361) 705454Jl. Uluwatu Pecatu - : (0361) 7472303Jl. Uluwatu II no. 10 Jimbaran: (0361) 81470919Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai 81 Jimbaran: (0361) 4729081

Spa

Eastern Garden Martha Tilaar SpaLuxurious, holistic, and culture blending.Jl. Camplung Tanduk No. 5A, Seminyak: (0361) 731648

Study Bahasa Indonesia in BaliCourse dates: Jan. 5 – 6

IALF BaliJl. Raya Sesetan No. 190, Denpasar

: (0361) 225243Email: [email protected]

www.ialf.edu

15December 18, 2014

Gilimanuk

Tanah LotKerobokan

CangguSeminyak

LegianKuta

Jimbaran

Nusa Dua

Benoa

Sanur

Ngurah Rai Int’ Airport

Penida Island

LOVINA

SINGARAJA

BANGLIAMLAPURA

KLUNGKUNG

GIANYAR

DENPASAR

TABANAN

NEGARA

Menjangan Island

Besakih

Mt. Sangiang

Pulaki

West BaliNational Park

Sangeh

Pura LuhurUluwatu

Pura Rambut Siwi

Mt. Batur

Pura Batu Madan

Mt. Agung

3

2

6

1

4

UbudUbudUbudUbudUbud

Where TO GO

1

2Christmas Festivities at IntercontinentalThe festivities will begin on Christmas Eve at 10 a.m. with Santa Claus arriving in his horse-drawn carriage to spread his message of peace and goodwill. Jl. Uluwatu, Jimbaran

: (0361) 701 888New Year’s Countdown with Earth, Wind & Fire Experience and Color Me BaddDec. 31Ring in the New Year with an exclusive performance by the Earth, Wind & Fire Experience with Al McKay at the Grand Ballroom, and at ZJ’s Bar & Lounge with the award-winning band Color Me Badd.The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas Nusa Dua

: (0361) 301 7777 ext. 6899 Email: [email protected]

Shine On!NYE with Rae (Defected/UK)

Dec. 31From 4 p.m. – 4 a.m.W Retreat & Spa Bali

Jl. Petitenget, Seminyak: (0361) 4738106

3

4

3Ryoshi House of Jazz presents:Live MusicEvery Monday, Wednesday, and FridayStarts 9 p.m.Jl. Raya Seminyak No. 17www.facebook.com/page/ryoshi-bali/

16 December 18, 2014