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Rangda

The image of the Queen of the Witches, Rangda, is everywhere in Bali. You'll see her in dance dramas and on masks, temple carvings, paintings and batiks. Although there's some variation in the way she's portrayed, several features are standard and all contribute to her grotesque appearance. She has a long mane of hair, with flames protruding from her head. Her face is fierce and hideous with bulging eyes, a gapping mouth, huge teeth or tusks and a long tongue often reaching to her knees. Her fingernails are long and curled and she has enormous, pendulous breast. She wears a striped shirt and pants with a white cloth around her waist, an important instrument of her evil magic.

Several versions of the Rangda story are enacted across the island, the most common being the barong and calonarang, but she always speaks in the ancient Javanese Kawi language and alternates between high whining tones, loud grunts and cackles. To the balinese, Rangda represents the force of evil, death and destruction and she's often associated with the Hindu goddess Durga.

Rangda may have been based on a real woman, Mahendradatta, a princess from Java who married the Balinese Prince Udayana and bore him a son, Erlangga/Airlangga, in 1001 AD. According to legend, the king later banished Mahendradatta to the forest for practising witchcraft. When Udayana died, Mahendradatta, now a rangda (widow), continued to build up grudges against her powerful and unrelenting son. Eventually, she used her powers to call down a plague upon Erlangga's kingdom, nearly destroying it. Erlangga, learning the source of the pestilence, dispatched a troop of soldiers who stabbed Rangda in the heart, she survived, however, and killed the soldiers. In desperation, the king sent a holy man, Empu Bharadah, whose assistant stole Rangda's book of magic with which he was able to restore Rangda's victims to life and eventually destroy the witch by turning her own magic on herself.

Even in performance of the story, the figure of Rangda is believed to have remarkable powers, and offerings are made and prayers said before each show to protect the actors from evil forces they are invoking. Village performances of the drama often means of pacifying Rangda's anger so that she will not turn her destructive forces against them.

Babi Guling

Babi Guling, or pig roasted on a spit is a favourite and you will often find roadside restaurants that specialize in this dish, particularly on the road to Gianyar. The roasted meat is usually served with rice and boiled jackfruit and the locals will also enjoy cooked pig blood and sausage made from pig intestines.
Spices are essential to the Balinese cooking and eating experience and there is a standard spice paste used in many dishes known as 'Basa Genep'. It commonly includes chili, garlic, small red onions, ginger, lime, turmeric, coriander, lesser galangal, laos, tamarind, candlenuts, coarse sea salt, pepper and sugar. On the sweet side, dessert snacks such as brightly colored sticky rice cakes, coconut milk mixes and pancakes all have more than their fair share of sugar thrown in.

Babi Guling recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 suckling pig, weighing about 6-8kg 
- 1½ tbsp salt 
- 200 shallots, peeled and sliced 
- 100 gr cloves garlic, peeled and sliced 
- 50 gr ginger, peeled & chopped 
- 300 gr candlenuts, chopped 
- 350 gr fresh turmeric, peeled &chopped 
- 3 tbsp coriander seeds, crushed 
- 80 gr laos, finely chopped 
- 120 gr bird's-eye chilies, sliced 
- 10 stalks lemon grass, finely sliced 
- 1 tbsp black peppercorns, crushed 
- 1 tsp dried shrimp paste, roasted 
- 5 fragrant lime leaves, finely shredded 
- 2 salam leaves 
- 2½ tbsp oil 
- 4 tbsp turmeric water

Directions:
PREPARATION: 
Ensure inside of suckling pig is completely cleaned out. Season inside and outside with salt. Combine all other ingredients, except turmeric water, and mix thoroughly. Fill inside of suckling with mixture, close belly with string or thin satay skewer. Rub the outside of the pig with turmeric water until the skin is shiny yellow.

Place suckling pig on roasting rack and roast in hot oven (220°C / 425°F) for approximately 1 hour. Rest for 10 minutes in warm place before serving. When serving, first remove the crisp skin with a strong carving knife, then loosen meat from the bones and cut into even dice or slices. Place a heaped tablespoon of stuffing on each serving plate, and then top with meat and skin. Traditionally this dish is eaten with Jukut Nangka Mekuah and steamed rice.

Helpful hint: If you have a large barbeque with rotisserie or constantly turning spit, you can cook the pig over charcoal for an authentic Balinese flavor.

The story of Banyan Tree

The Banyan tree is one of the important trees in Bali. Mostly Pura Dalem and Pura Mrajapati (the temples which are located next to the cemetary) have a Banyan tree. For Balinese people, the Banyan tree is a sacred tree which is used for religious rituals. That's why they are wearing a sarong, usually yelow or black and white fabrics tied to their trunk.

According to 'lontar' (which are dried, pressed and blessed palm leaves, tied together to make a small vertical book which the ancient Hindu teaching are written on), there is a story about a banyan tree. It say that the goddess Parwati made a mistake so God Shiva, her husband, punishes her by making cleansing for 8 years in the cemetary area. So goddess Parwati transform herself into a female giant called Dewi Durga.
After the punishment time is over, God Shiva comes to earth to meet his wife and God Shiva transform himself into a male giant called Kala Engket. Even though they've been separated for a long time they still have kama (sexual desire). Well after that, what happens was Shiva's sperm spilled and scattered on the ground and grew up as three kind of trees, they are: the Kepuh tree, the banyan tree and the Pule tree. So these trees then became special to Bali. The Pule tree is used to make sacred masks such as the Barong mask and the Rangda mask. The leaves of the Banyan tree are used in cremation ceremonies.

The Banyan tree grows from the seeds inside its fruit. The seed of the fruits of the Banyan tree are small as sand on the beach and the trees can life for hundreds of years.

Topeng Pajegan

The mask or 'topeng' in Indonesian , is one of the things used in performance such as dance or dance drama. The mask is also part of religious ceremonies as arts are an integral part of Bali's religion.

According to one of the mask artist from Peliatan, the Balinese mask is an art form developed from ancient people who had reached point in Bali's Hindu cultural period. In the meantime, masks have also developed a new function as an accessory of performances which portray folklore stories, history etc.

There are many kinds of masks. They have names such as: Topeng pajegan and Sidakarya, topeng panca, topeng sapta, wayang wong, barong, rangda etc. The masks of topeng pajegan by symbolized of human character based on their shapes and forms. When used in dance drama, every mask then has its representation of a person such as king, chief minister to a king, king's wife and servent and so on.

According to Prof. Made Bandem, the topeng is an important part of culture. Culture and Balinese spiritual tradition are connected and tied to each other. The sacred mask in Bali functions as a bond within the social life (in Bali).

Although the function of the mask as religious element of ceremonies such as: topeng pajegan and topeng sidakarya still exist, the other function of the mask, such as performances to inform, entertain and educate the young generation now, is not as popular a medium as before. Why? because there are so many sources to get information and modern forms of entertainment.

Chicken / Duck Betutu

A part from exotic sights and sounds, Bali offers the pleasure of taste with a medley of food that is simply astonishing in variety.
The influence of different cultures has resulted in different cooking techniques, ingredients and spices.
Characterized by strong flavor, the cuisine is usually very spicy, quite salty and/or sweet with creative preparations and multifarious cooking style.
The staple food in Bali is white, polished rice, which provides the perfect base for many Balinese dishes. Large pots of rice are cooked first thing in the morning and gradually consumed by all members of the extended family for each of the three meals throughout the day.
Meats used in Balinese cooking are pork, chicken, duck and fish. Babi Guling, or pig roasted on a spit is a favourite and you will often find roadside resturants which specialize in the dish.
Chicken is commonly fried or served with a spicy sauce, but duck is more of a Balinese specialty. “Betutu bebek” is particularly popular, a dish made from stuffed duck cooked in hot ashes or steamed in banana leaves. Fish is also often wrapped in banana leaves with spice mix and char grilled over smoky coconut husks a la Jimbaran beach cafe style.
Spice are integral to the Balinese cooking and eating experience, and there is a standard spice used in many dishes known as “Basa Genep”. It commonly includes chillis, garlic, small red onions, ginger, lime, turmeric, coriander, lesser galangal, laos, tamarind, candlenuts, coarse sea salt, pepper and sugar. On the sweet side, desert snacks, such as brightly colored sticky rice cakes, coconut milk mixes, and pancakes all have more than their fair share of sugar thrown in.
Here’s Chicken / Duck Betutu Recipe:
Ingredients :
- 5 tablespoons Oil
- 100 g Young cassava leaves, boiled until tender, cut into serving pieces
- 1.5 kg Chicken / Duck
- Banana leaves or aluminum foil for wrapping Spices (ground)
- 7 Red chilies
- 5 Bird’s eye chilies
- 5 Candlenuts, roasted
- 10 Shallots
- 1 teaspoon Dried shrimp paste
- 5 cloves Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Coriander, roasted
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Sliced lemon grass
- 2 teaspoons Peppercorns
- tablespoon Chopped galangal
- 1/2 teaspoon Powdered nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons Chopped turmeric
- 4 Kaffir lime leaves
- 2 teaspoons Chopped ginger
- 2 teaspoons Chopped lesser galangal
- Salt and sugar

Instructions :

Heat oil and sauté the ground spices until fragrant and dry.Set aside and allow to cool.
Divide into 2 parts.Combine 1 part with cassava leaves.Stuff the mixture into the chicken and secure with toothpicks.
Rub the chicken with the remaining ground spices.Wrap the chicken with banana leaves and tie with a string.
Grill in the oven at medium heat (180oC) for 2-3 hours or until cooked.Remove from heat and cut before serving.
Note : Another way to cook the chicken is to steam it for about 45 minutes before grilling in the oven for 1 hour.
Betutu is a special dish from Bali. Usually the Balinese use duck wrapped in banana leaves, and wrapped again with stalks of palm leaves.
The duck is then buried in the ground and covered with hot charcoal for 6-7 hours until cooked.

Traditional Balinese Concepts

TRI HITA KARANA
This Hindu concept, Tri Hita Karana, means to keep the harmonic balance of peace and happiness within three key relationships: between human to God, human to human, and human to environment. Palemahan, is a word that refers to the land environment. Based on this concept the Balinese treat the relationship between human and the environment with must respect as they believe that a healthy well maintained environment will give provision for a better life.
TRI ANGGA
Tri Angga essentially means “three parts”; high, middle, and low, and can be represented in the human body, building structures, town planning and the environment in which the Balinese live amongst. The Tri Angga of Bali as a whole place are divided as follows: the high - sacred mountains which form ridge from East to West through the centre of the island, the middle - is where most of the Balinese live, the low - is the sea.
TRI KAYA PARISUDA
This concept articulates the simple ways to execute your actions in pursuit of Tri Hita Karana by conducting three actions: to think positive, to speak positive, and to conduct yourself in a positive manner.

A great example of the Balinese intimate connection with the natural environment is the Tumpek Bubuh ceremonial rituals for the plants and trees every 210 days. The Balinese give offerings to the trees with the purpose that trees have given them prosperity and have played a crucial role in continuing the harmony and balance with the environment.
The Balinese believe that they live in a paradise on earth, and they honour and respect the land they live on. Every dwelling has its own shrine, and offerings (Canangsari) of flowers, incense and holy water are made to the Gods three times every day, at dawn, at midday, and at dusk (Tri Angga, three parts of the day). They truly live in perfect harmony with their environment.
The Balinese live very close to the land. They like to smell the earth, hear the sounds of nature, be woken by the sound of cocks crowing and lulled to sleep by the sound crickets or frogs. Even in urban areas, they utilize every element of earth, air, fire and water to create a deep sense of connection to the place in which they live.
Life in Bali is constantly moving, they simply live in the Now. The people have an innate creativity and do not resist change in the way that western people do. This is one reason why their traditional way of life has survived, because they easily adapt and incorporate new influences arriving from the West into their own culture.
It will be interesting in the future to see if environmental issues will be adapted to with such acceptance.
According to these traditional beliefs the philosophy of conservation of natural resources as well as the environment are compatible with both traditional and modern Balinese lifestyles and modern concepts of sustainable development.
While these guiding social principles are firmly embedded in traditional culture and were succesful in maintaining the necessary ecological balances within the traditional realm of human activity in Bali, some say they have largely been lost as guiding principles in the modern Balinese/Indonesian context. More and more people are calling for the return of such principles and wisdom as mega-projects with their mega-impacts continue to change the human and physical shape of the island.

Bali Beach

Bali offers some of the most pristine beaches in South East Asia. Sunsets at the beaches are truly spectacular. A myriad of water sports await you, such as canoeing, parasailing, jet skiing, banana boat riding, the extreme sport of Kite surfing and lots more. Bali has beach to suit your every mood and activity. There are beaches untouched by human foot prints, beaches buzzing with activity, beaches backed by untamed jungles, beaches of white and black sands and beaches dotted with isolated fishing villages.
On Bali’s beaches sunbathing is popular with many visitors from temperate countries. However, please keep in mind that the sun in Bali can be very hot and you need to use sun cream. To avoid dehydration, it is advisable to drink plenty of water.

Kuta Beach
Lying on the western shore of the isthmus leading to Badung Peninsula is the famous Kuta beach, which has earned a reputation as a beach of paradise and attracts surfers, swimmers and sunbathers of all ages and nationalities.

Tanjung Benoa
Tanjung Benoa, a promontory stretching from Nusa Dua into the sea, boasts of a beautiful beach. Water sports of all kinds can be enjoyed here. Accomodation is available in several four-star hotels and there are plenty of seafood restaurants.

Sunset Legian
Aptly called the United Nations of beaches, Sunset Legian sees all kinds of people from all parts of the world indulging in both passive and active pursuits such as reading, meditating, playing beach volleyball, foot massaging and sun bathing. When the sun sets across the horizon the beach bars come alive, the football field is at its busiest and the locals wade into the waves.

Tuban Beach
Located between Kuta and the airport, this beach is excellent for those seeking sedentary activities like sunbathing or reading. Enveloped in tranquility, Tuban beach has the services of hotel lifeguards who make the sea a safe place to swim.

Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin and Dreamland
These places used to be the exclusive playgrounds of surfers as access was along rough dirt tracks. Also, the hike down to some of the beaches deterred many people, but this is no longer true, as asphalt roads have been built, along with access paths down to the most popular beaches.

Nusa Dua
Ensconced in a lagoon, Nusa Dua is dotted with many five-star hotels, some of which have private beaches. This area is a swimmer’s haven as the waters are tranquil and clean.

Sanur Beach
In the 1930’s Sanur was the Beverly Hills of Bali, with many rich and famous people having their residence here. Today it is a center for windsurfing, parasailing and other water sports. Families enjoy Sanur Beach as it is in a calm, quiet lagoon area. Colorful outrigger can be hired from the villagers for island hopping. There is a red brick path from the Grand Bali Beach Hotel stretching beyond the Sanur Beach Hotel, making it possible to reach many hotels and restaurants along the strip.

Jimbaran
Jimbaran is a sleepy cove where fleets of fishing boats colour the scene. Since the opening of the Four Season Resort and Inter Continental, this once quiet area has now become a popular resort. Local families and tourists are drawn by its beauty and also come here to enjoy the seafood from the superb restaurants along the beach. It is a very popular spot for windsurfing and small sailing craft, which are available for rent.

Nusa Lembongan
This island is one of the most popular destinations for day trips from Bali. The journey takes between one and two hours, depending on whether you take a boat or motorboat. The pristine sandy beaches with calm bays are abundant with colorful sea life, so diving and snorkeling are very popular. For the less adventurous, glass-bottomed boats are available.

Padang Bai
Padang Bai is the main harbour for boats to and from Lombok. It is a quaint, laid-back fishermen’s village with a few inexpensive losmens for accommodation. A short walk over the rugged headland to the north will lead you to an intimate white sand beach, great for snorkeling.

Candi Dasa
This is the gateway to eastern Bali and is developing as a popular tourist destination. The beach had once been washed away due to coral picking but this has now stopped and the coral is returning.

Amed and Tulamben
Amed and Tulamben are alternative destination in east Bali. Amed is a quiet resort town that offers simple losmens, a couple of small hotels and good snorkeling.
Tulamben is even quieter and popular with local divers. A shipwreck bombed by the Japanese in World War Two and a drop-off accessible from the beach offer easy access to a colorful underwater world. The diving here is spectacular and many companies offer courses for all levels of experience.

Lovina, Kalibukbuk, Pemuteran, Pulau Menjangan
Between Singaraja and Seririt on Bali’s wild north coast is a busy stretch of losmens and hotels and the low sea makes this area by far the most inspiring beach in Bali.
The coastline has a number of tranquil coves, Lovina being one of them. Dolphins are often seen playing in the waters off Lovina at sunrise.
The diving off Pulau Menjangan, part of West Bali National Park, is generally regarded as the best in Bali. Boats are available to take divers over to the inhabited island.
Pemuteran is the perfect choice for those who would like to visit The Menjangan Island

The West Coast
This stretch of Bali is very beautiful and wild. Experienced surfers head out to this area but it is not recommended for beginners as the roaring sea is filled with treacherous rips. The beach around Tanah Lot is fantastic for horse riding and the nearby temple is an awe-inspiring location for watching dramatic sunsets.