My first BALI LOVER guest is Jeff Kristianto.  Originally from Bogor, West Java. Between his busy times managing his business, and play a big role in BEDO (Bali Export Development Organisation)  and Bali Creative Community, he spares his free time to share his love and care God gifted to him, to take care of some projects for disabled people in Bali, giving them sufficient trainings and courses to enable them entering into the real working world. Our online interview took place in the middle of a windy and rainy Jimbaran.

Hi Jeff, can you tell us about what you do in Bali : I manage my own business ASIALINE, designing & manufacturing home décor & crafts for export & cooperate gift. ASIALINE supplies good quality crafts from Indonesia, with Batik wood as our main products. Beside managing this company, I also design our products. It’s an exciting experience to make something from idea to reality, and to bring a piece of Indonesia handcraft to the world.

photo courtesy of www.asialinebali.com

How long have you been living & working in Bali? 18 years

What’s your favorite place/spot in to hang out in Bali ? Actually, I own restaurant, partnering with my friends, and it’s my favorite place…J  Warung Warung at Bali Galeria Mall and Onde Onde Indonesian Restauran at Kartika Plaza street, in Kuta.

Name one place/area in Bali you are picturing your dream house/villa built on: UBUD !

What do you like most about Bali? Tolerance & multi-culture, Bali is a international melting pot. You can easily meet people from other side of the world.

What do you dislike the most about Bali? Too many villas destroyed rice fields, it will destroys Bali in the future.

What’s your favorite activity to do in Bali? Have fun with friends on the beach.

And how about food in Bali, do you like Balinese food : Lovvve Nasi Campur. And Warung Warung is my favorite place.. to get this fav menu of mine! hehe..

How do you want to see Bali in the future? I don’t mind any development, but it should also be considering environment, local culture & great green concept. Can you imagine that  I have to see ‘Tart Cake’ style house beside rice field !

What does BALI mean to you? Home. (BeeAmazing : agree!)

What would you like to say to www.beeamazing.com readers who love Bali as much as you do? Bali is one place that you have to visit before you die. Come to Bali, and bring a piece of happiness home !

Where to find Jeff :

ASIALINE : www.asialinebali.com
BEDO : www.be-do.org
Bali Creative Community : http://www.balicreativecommunity.org
Twitter : www.twitter.com/JeffKristianto

New update on Jeff life adventure : Jeff is in a voluntary project at Tajikistan with a non-profit organization called VSO. Looks like he’s enjoying his time there, and hopefully he’ll be back soon to this sun,sea,sand island of Bali!

The beach provided basic accommodation and cafes for surfers and day trippers. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island, it is also renowned for its dangerous shorebreak.

It is the site of the failed Pecatu Graha development, planned by Tommy Suharto, the youngest son of the former President Suharto.As of 2008 this is an active building site with all the previous Warungs having been levelled for a hotel complex (source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamland_Beach). Here are some photos that thankfully I had a chance to document them before the hotel and the new leisure spot contractor did their abracadabra to my magical Dreamland.

Yes, it used to be some good looking tanned skin italiano girls and surfers who came to this place. To get to the beach, again, no pain no gain in finding beautiful hidden beach in Bali, you have to hike down a narrow stairs, and on the last couple of stairs, usually Ibu Wayan from Surya Cafe would greet me and she’s the only parasol hire and warung owner I love to chat with.

And as usual, hiking upstairs back to my motorbike is an art of thigh muscles strenght and a right way of breathing technique (I always wonder why Bart never lost his breath to climb those crazy stairs of Dreamland, it is probably because of his Mount Rinjani well experiences!).

And today, the new investor has ‘darely’ changed Dreamland into NEW KUTA BEACH with a golf course, a condotel operated by Best Western, and this what made me upset the most! To get to the beach you have to access it through KLAPA, an event venue (more like a failed KU DE TA wannabe to me!) and pay Rp 15,000 for car parking!!!..It used to be free to enter this beach when you are in a motorbike, or the local people will only charge about Rp 5,000 if you come by car, and that’s for village community. Oh boy…

Now those glowing topless skin of italian girls and gorgeous surfers have gone, they’ve probably moved to another deserted beach I know where , Dreamland oups ..I mean, New Kuta Beach is now a hang out place of Jakartans, big student tour buses from Java and other part of the country, and a commercial place to do a video clip shooting of Indonesia’s singers or movies.

It is no longer a dream. It is a game-changing reality, at least that’s what the KLAPA owner is proud of. The place is also designated for some tourists who are willing to pay overly priced food and beverage (Jemma & Chris, thank you for the drinks, the bitter lemon soda was a thirst quenching, and spending time with you is priceless!).

Here are my Top 5 Favorite Beaches I frequented quite often as my day dream spots :

1. Padang Padang
Having enough of visiting Dreamland that is now changed into New Kuta Beach (I’ll tell you more about this on my next post) and became so touristy (thanks to local tourists and the new investor of a so called ‘the largest and most comprehensive leisure spot in Bali’), Bart & me spotted this white sand beach with crystal clear water, not so big wave, tranquil, from the bridge of Labuan Sait. Our favorite activity here is eating Rujak Mangga (Manggo Fruit Salad with sweet palm sugar sauce) and watching fishermen drop fresh barracudas to the warung owners to make a mouth watering grilled fish!! and off course, the big rock is perfect as a hiding place for a nap in the afternoon while having your skin tanned..

More bungalows and private villas are built in the surrounding area, my only concern is that Padang Padang will soon
turn to be the next Dreamland Beach or even worse : Kuta Beach! The promotion of this beach where RIP CURL CUP is usually held is done from mouth to ear, and that’s how I see more local tourists from Jakarta or Surabaya come to this place specially during holiday season. .

2. Bingin
First time I came here was to watch OAKLEY ProSurf competition, it’s definitely one of Bali best surfing destination as the wave form a pristine tube. I was watching one of my favorite Indonesia Top surfer, Rizal Tanjung on this competition back then. You can also see they are building new bungalows on the cliff, but at least they still have local warung style with funky wooden signage of ‘cyber cafe’ or ‘ding repair’ and the accommodation there are built in a more tropical style than a modern one. You can bring your snorkeling gear as the waves break on a reef about fifty to one hundred meters from the shoreline. Just be prepared to hike down the narrow dirt path and on high tide, be careful with the unseen reef on the shore.

3. Impossible
Dreamland – Bingin – Impossible – Padang Padang that’s how the southern coast of Bukit area form these 4 beautiful beaches. Access from C151 Villa driveway. Bart and I are always keen for a new adventure finding new spots in Bali, including hidden & beautiful beaches where we can just relax, favorite sarong & ice cold beer, take a nana nap, and do his hobby in photography. Once spotted the wooden sign board, I found the hardest small road to get to the beach down hill!! A bit scary, but when I got there, it’s so worth it!! And leave me a big question afterward, OMG, how do I climb that hill road again to get back to my motor bike…..! It’s an impossible beach trip ever..

Impossible Beach is actually a surf camp, so there was literally only me & Bart on the beach ! and several surfers paddling on the background.

4. Seminyak Beach
There is nothing special about this too touristy beach located across several Bali’s most happening night clubs and bars such as : Double Six (some people called this beach as a 66 Beach), Deja Vu, Bacio, and Outrigger O-CE-N resort and I’m not recommending this place to be your heaven escape, but simply I go to Double Six/Seminyak Beach to go jogging,given the flat landscape beach situation.

Start from the beach volley ball spot across Deja Vu Bar, passing by AJ Hackett Bungy Jumping-if you’re lucky you can watch people screaming doing that silly adrenaline pumping activity that could kill me in just one second-, Sofitel and Anantara Resort, Oberoi and The Legian, and …KU DE TA!! (make sure you’re wearing your best and trendy jogging outfit when passing by this ‘to be seen place on sunset’, girls! ), and if you can still catch your breath, continue until La Lucciola Restaurant, this is where you better stop and back, otherwise you will need to take a taxi to get back to your motorbike or car parked at Double Six parking lot!

5. Pristine Blue Water and Far Far away Beach
Will not tell much about the location of this recently become a favorite place of mine to have a fresh grilled fish in a local warung, surrounded by coconut trees that could suddenly become a no. 1 crusher of your car if you dare park between the treesI chose to park my car/bike in the special area next to each warung).

The white sandy beach and pristine blue water, a non touristy one, is totally heaven to me! And it’s simply because I’m desperate to have the beach for myself., and I mean it :p I just don’t want the Dreamland tragedy happens to this place.

But if you come to Bali next time, and I’m in the mood to be your local guide, I’ll be happy to show you this postcard landscape, deserted, tranquil haven…

(update 28/04/10 : So thankful that this blog post is the most view on beeamazing.com, and to date I’ve been receiving about 40 emails + comments from people around the world wanting to know where this “blue pristine water and far far away beach is located. I really mean it when I said this place is not to be revealed. Imagine I have to answer all the incoming emails telling me the same thing “ohhh I will not tell anyone but myself, my fiance, my family, my best friends”, etc..etc… Only for the sake of “secret beach of mine”. But if you can find it, you’ll find it. Cheers)

Related posts :
- A ME time at Geger Beach, Nusa Dua
- Reasons why I dislike Dreamland Beach in Bali
- Impossible Beach Ever
- 5 Tips to enjoy Bali not as a tourist

More visitors or even local residents like me prefer avoiding touristy areas such as Kuta Beach (and Kuta Square), Dreamland Beach-who is now known as New Kuta Beach full of Jakarta and Surabaya local tourists! (how on earth those investors from Jakarta dare to change a beach name found once by a surfer in 70′s!), and would rather explore West,North,and East part of Bali.

Here are 5 Tips to enjoy Bali and its nature beauty not as a tourist :

1. Avoid South of Bali such as : Kuta,Nusa Dua,Jimbaran,Sanur – specially Kuta that is already packed with tourists from all over the world specially those shopping mania local tourists from Java. Explore more : West of Bali (Menjangan Island,Pemuteran,Bali National Parc,Medewi Beach), North (Singaraja, Gitgit Waterfall, Munduk Village), and the East where I went to recently (Taman Ujung/Water Palace, Amed, Candi Dasa)

2. Hire motorbike instead of car, as you would find yourself in a small narrow road when you are exploring a beautiful village, don’t forget to waive and smile to the school kids who are happy to see you visiting their place (pic below).

3. Go on a non public holiday/weekend/christmas and new year/Idul Fitri period. Because even some tranquil and peaceful beach could be packed with local tourist in their big buses (with a tour guide accompanied them!) and rented cars as they also try to avoid “fellow” tourists and with balinese friend or tour guide they have, some non-touristy spots could be revealed! Oh how I hate when it happened to Dreamland/New Kuta Beach!

4. Although supporting local vendors around beach areas usually called ‘Warung’ is great to have them recognize your face on the next visit and make friends, buying small beer ‘Bintang’ at 25K when you could get it half price for the big bottle is only making the food & beverage ‘market price’ there unaffordable for us,local residents who also want to enjoy Bali in a non expensive way. Bring your own small cooler box contains water bottles,orange juice,beers,and if you still want make friends with the beach street vendors you could ask one  of the ‘Ibu’ gives you a nice massage at 20K for 30 minutes or so. Hhmmm..

5. Do not tell anyone about the tranquil non touristy spot you just found. Less tourists know this place, the better for enjoying the beauty of that Bali nature. Take some great shots of it and share it on your blog or Facebook, make  a title :”Hidden Beach I won’t tell you where“….(see pic below)

Enjoy the Sea,Sun,Surf,Sand of Bali!…..

Related posts :
- A day trip to northen part of Bali – MUNDUK WATERFALL
- Taman Ujung Soekasada Water Palace, Karangasem, Bali

Last Nyepi Day on Thurs,26 March 2009, I spent a very busy and productive day with Bart clean up the house, did some laundry, ironing, cooking, no napping in the afternoon (although I was so sleepy) to be able to go to bed early at 8pm so I wouldn’t have to spend the dark silent evening.

But it was a very hot, actually too hot night, no wind blew, I tried to sleep with windows open and saw nothing but total darkness. Yes, on this day, people cease from doing ANYTHING, to contemplate, meditate,only Pecalang (local securities) controlling the street and urgent hospital evacuation were allowed to circulate.

21.35, 23.25, 03.15, 05.22 – 4 times I was awake,with dust allergy I had, couldn’t breath, constant sneezing (I think my neighbors at the Pecalang could hear it clearly), and the fact that I could not switch on the air con added to the longest night in 2009

I’m aware of the Earth Hour 2009 where you should switch off all lights for one hour only, and probably more save energy campaigns and programs have been made and implemented, and I totally support the thoughts, idea, and effect for our beloved earth, and I love Nyepi Day even more in terms of the same purpose, it’s very effective for Bali who still needs big electricity supply from Java, and we often have a monthly schedule power outage. But try it for 24 hours, including the fear that the Pecalang might come to your house and turn off the electricity meter as they noticed you dare to switch on your TV or light even for only 1 minute-it happened to me couple years ago-then I will make sure next year Nyepi Day, I’ll be out of Bali or book one of those Nyepi Package in any nice hotels in the island…..

See also interesting blog on Earth Hour on my friend,Gita’s blog here and some pics of Earth Hour from my twitter buddy,@Macarne

I still think the world urgently needs to adopt NYEPI/Silence Day like in Bali, I wish they knew the 24 hours total darkness happened here once a year.

Related post :

- Bali lost its big project for Nyepi

]]> http://www.beeamazing.com/nyepi-day-like-dislike/feed/ 4 http://www.beeamazing.com/bali-lost-its-big-project-for-nyepi/ http://www.beeamazing.com/bali-lost-its-big-project-for-nyepi/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:15:21 +0000 Bee http://www.beeamazing.com/?p=214 Every year in Bali we have a ‘NYEPI DAY‘ as a Silence day, which officially starts from 6am and ends on 6am the next day. As a resident of Bali for almost 9 years now, I have experienced this ‘black out’ day for 8 times now. The Hindus/Balinese stay at home, no light, no work, some even do fasting – totally silence (and save energy too!!). Back then in the 80′s I remember only tourists buses from airport were allowed to do the guests transfer, but the policy and rule have changed. It is now a total silence & dark day for both locals and visitors.

But tourism industry seems taking benefit from this religious event, by offering so many packages of Nyepi Break, staying 2 nights,3 days in a hotel with all inclusive package. I ‘ve tried that too, playing cards with friends, watching movies, the next year, stayed at home, have all windows covered with thick papers, still those ‘pecalang‘ managed to switch off my electricity meter as they must’ve heard the TV noise from my room. Argrrhh… can’t I just live normal for 5 minutes.

Even the ATM needs a once a year break..

But one cool thing from Nyepi day, is the Ogoh Ogoh parade, one night before, the Nyepi Day, called Pengrupukan Day, where they made all these beasts, giant creatures in all classics, traditional, even cartoon characters such as spongebob, dora emon, even punk rocker shapes! – all displayed first at their respective ‘Banjar‘, and parade them after along the street with gongs and flame of torches. There’s always a good moment to capture some great shots of young people carrying their Ogoh Ogoh. They even made a festival, judge them, with a winner for the best Ogoh Ogoh.

In 2009 Denpasar Municipal government has announced a prohibition to have an Ogoh Ogoh Parade as an Legislative Election is being held, any big crowd gathering would have a chaos potential, and the government wants to secure this big politic event at any cost. I see that Bali now might lost and probably has lost many big projects for community that usually generate business for local people. Making Ogoh ogoh costs lost of money, and for Ogoh ogoh makers this means big business! One beast price varies between 1 – 5 millions, even more for an over the top model!

But I heard this recommendation is only valid for Denpasar area, I noticed some area in Badung Regency, for example in Seminyak and Kuta, those kids already started to build their giant green beast. I wish I could escape the island for this year, but the flight tickets to Java or Lombok cost so much as the airline industry also knows this is the time for them to make more business…

]]> http://www.beeamazing.com/bali-lost-its-big-project-for-nyepi/feed/ 4 http://www.beeamazing.com/mangrove-photoshoot/ http://www.beeamazing.com/mangrove-photoshoot/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:52:27 +0000 Bee http://www.beeamazing.com/?p=195 Saturday morning, 28 Feb’09, 9.15am. As a ‘photomodel wannabe’ and a passionate photographer, Bart and I went to Mangrove Information Centre in By Pass Ngurah Rai St Km 21, Suwung Kawuh, Bali, after jogging at Renon Park, in Denpasar.

I’ve always wanted to go to this place, people occasionally do a pre-wedding photoshoot here thanks to its beautiful nature settings, but this time I was really hoping to get  some stunning shots from this beautiful eco-tourism spot!

Greeted by a smiley front gate officer, I knew we are about to enter to a real breathtaking nature in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Kuta!!And for the next 1,5 hours, as we walked on the wooden pathway,  many poses Bart took  of me showed how crazy stunning this swamp kingdom is! A funny and strange voice from the swamp, like someone whistling which I think it’s a water splash reflection gave me a bit of creepy feeling…Pond Heron Hut, Floating Deck, Little Egret Tower, Tern Hut are some interesting stop over along the walk. All the huts, trails and bridges in the Mangrove Trail are named after those of birds or plants.

I really felt like I’m in a different planet and atmosphere being here! Creating a small gathering at their biggest tower would be perfect! You MUST check out these amazing photos at http://bartcatapult.multiply.com/photos/album/32/Mangrove_Bali, and for more technical information on this Mangrove Centre,visit their official website at http://www.mangrovecentre.or.id, also a complete travel stories on Mangrove Visit as well as other great area of Bali, just log on to the most resourceful site of Bali Blog. At the end of the walkway, a rewarding view of Benoa Harbor just right in front of me! A relaxing foot dipping at The Tern Hut made my day. I wouldn’t mind repeating this ‘sport’ every weekend..:)

One thing I could never understand : those plastic garbage…how did they get here? Can I not visit just one tourism spot in Indonesia without these mineral water bottles, candy and snacks wrapping paper, sandals!…

Until our next photoshoot adventures!!…Dagh!

On this Labuan Sait-Ungasan area, along the cost line, you’ll find several surf beaches (I won’t tell you all, then you guys from Java will get here by big buses and ruin my siesta!). But one beach I’d love sharing with you and hopefully you won’t be able to find it is the Impossible Beach

Bart and I are always keen for a new adventure finding new spots in Bali, including hidden & beautiful beaches where we can just relax, favorite sarong & ice cold beer, take a nana nap, and do his hobby in photography. Once spotted the wooden sign board, I found the hardest small road to get to the beach down hill!! A bit scary, but when I got there, it’s so worth it!! And leave me a big question afterward, OMG, how do I climb that hill road again to get back to my motor bike…..! Ca grimpe!!mon petit ami Bart said. It’s an impossible beach trip ever..

It’s actually a surf camp, so there was literally only me & Bart on the beach ! and several surfers paddling on the background. Enjoy the photos….

Photos by an independent, talented,bali based photographer www.risanto.com

December 2007. So we do this tour trial. Safety briefing is a must. I used to work at SOBEK Bali-another adventure tour operator in the island that has rafting, cycling, trekking, and 4WD adventure, and I feel like going rafting without the raft boat and paddle. It’s a fantastic mix of trekking, swimming, physical challenge !

It’s extremely fun, and the hardest part is to walk against the water current. Several stops at waterfalls, cave,clear mountain spring water make all these fatigue, muscle ache, and slips worthwhile!!

This tour ended after 2 hours of exhausting water adventure, by arriving at this breathtaking view from Natura Resort lobby, up hill.  A Balinese Nasi Campur lunch concluded my day.

If  you want to try this outdoor adventure sport, make sure your are on your top fitness level on the day of the trip. What to bring & wear : river sandal is the best, t-shirt, short, swim or wet suit,change of clothes, sunscreen, hat,camera.

COME ON, COME TO BALI!!!

I knew as a woman when you are at this kind of place where most people there are men, they will try to make nice conversation with you, ask personal questions typically Indonesians, ie. where you are from, what our parents do, whether if you’re married or not (this police officer was surprised-half shock- to hear that I’m single and asked me why, I said : why not!), bla bla …then they will ask for your mobile number as a closure! When this officer found out that my dad is a retired military doctor of Indonesian Air Force with one star on his shoulder (yes! I’m a general’s daughter), he suddenly ended this unnecessary and boring conversation and instructed right away his staff to bring my documents and help me to get my driving licenses renewed.

Not more than 30 minutes, everything was done, and left me amazed of how fast the process was, I noticed some people submitted their docs before me was still waiting for their name to be called to the photo booth. So my Bart assumed that this must be because the police officer was ‘horrified’ to know that the client belong to the big family of indo military a.k.a ‘general’s daughter, and that I should thank my father for this

The same thing happen to me back in Bandung where my car was stopped by the police as he noticed I did not switch on the lamp in the evening. After a long annoying bla bla with him where he gave me this lecture of traffic lights rules, etc, he said I could just ‘pay my fine on site’, and we all know what this means! I refused it – not because I did not have the money- but simply because I did not feel like being Santa Claus for him. When I told him that my father’s staffs will take care of my fine tickets, he carefully asked where my dad works, and I told him the same story – it’s just that at that moment my dad’s rank was not with one star yet! And there he returned my driving license he confiscated earlier and bended his back kind of saluting me! And said : “Why didn’t you tell us before your father is in military too, we have what we call here : ESPRIT DE CORPS, corps spirit among them !”

I guess next time I need something to get done at police office, I should wear “I’M A GENERAL’S DAUGHTER t-shirt, and give the police office an ESPRIT DE CORPS salutation! :p