The Women Surfers  Wearing BalineseTraditional Outfits 

(Kebaya) to surf at Kuta Beach  

“Bali for me, is not so much about seeing and doing, there’s plenty to see and do, but feeling the place.” Traveler

More info about Bali: Bali Travel Info

Photo by The Jakarta Post

Every April 21 Indonesian people celebrate Kartini Day, which celebrates women’ empowerment, the name Kartini came from a brave woman name Raden Ajeng Kartini who known as her important leaders in  the Indonesian emancipation movement. 

Unlike any other island in Indonesia, Bali held an event in Kuta beach with a group of Bali women surfers wearing traditional outfit called Kebaya. 

Photo by Tempo

According to Jakarta Post, the event will be held on Thursday in Kuta Beach Bali.  “Through the surfing activities, the event aims to spread emancipation messages as well as promote surfing as a sport for women.”

According to the News paper, in previous years the participants are not only local women,but  foreign women surfers also invited.

Photo by Komang Mertana

Watch Out for Venomous Snakes While Trekking, Hiking,camping, Snorkeling, and Diving on the Bali island

Hi Travelers!

According to The Jakarta Post, Bali is the global winner of its 2017 Travelers' Choice Awards for destinations.  The island has so much to offer and has it all. Bali is not only about beaches, luxury hotels, spas, and shopping. Bali offers more than just the luxurious. The island has spectacular natural: mountain, lake, rice field, river, waterfall, rain forest, cave, and so much more.  Bali is a magical island and the only one in this world. It is worth to experience Bali at least once in your lifetime.

“Bali for me, is not so much about seeing and doing, there’s plenty to see and do, but feeling the place.” Traveler

If you travel to Bali to enjoy nature, This advice will help you to avoid from bitten by venomous snakes. By saying this, please don’t be scared of being in the nature. The tips below will guide you how doing Bali safe.  According to a snake expert in Bali, Putu Indra Muliawan said there are 32-35 species of snakes on Bali island.    Six species of those snakes are venomous. Such as, Cobra, Green Snake, Weling snake, Sea snake, and Picung snake.

Author, Ekarini

More info about Bali island: Bali Travel Info.

Courtesy photos: Tribun Bali and Tom Charlton

Green snake

According to The Jakarta Post, Bali is the global winner of its 2017 Travelers' Choice Awards for destinations.  The island has so much to offer and it has it all. Bali is not only about beaches, luxury hotels, spas, and shopping. Bali offers more than just the luxurious. The island has spectacular natural: mountain, lake, rice field, river, waterfall, rainforest, beach, and so much more.  Bali is a magical island and the only one in this world. It is worth to experience Bali at least once in your lifetime.

Weling snake

Indra characterizes land snakes and sea snakes are both spread their venom before swallow the prey.  Please pay attention when you are trekking around the rice field or nature area, the green snakes are camouflage their green color with the green leaves surround them.

When you are snorkeling or diving, please not to stay close with the corals reef and rocks. “The sea snake’s venom stronger than Cobra’s venom,” said Indra on Tribun Bali.

You should watch out the sea snake with patterned striped black and gray. This snake lived almost across the beach in Bali, where there are corals and rocks (the Nusa Dua beach, Sanur Beach, and other beaches across Bali island).

Cobra 

Picung snake

Sea snake

How to Avoid a Snake Bite (advice from the expert)

Avoid tall grass. Many of the snakes like to hang out in grassy areas and heavy underbrush. If you can, stick to the trails so you can clearly see what you’re stepping on. If you have to go off trail, be attentive lest you inadvertently step on a sleeping snake. If you must get through tall grass, carry a stick and use it to probe the ground in front of you. And remember, there are always exceptions to the rule; a snake could very well be curled up in the middle of a well groomed trail. Always be aware of your surroundings.

Remember that snakes can climb. While they’re not squirrels, snakes can slither up trees and bushes. Most people never imagine they’ll see a snake at eye level, and are thus quite vulnerable to an aerial attack. The last thing you want is to feel that forked tongue on your face, so keep your wits about you.

Check before you stick your hand into a crevasse. Because snakes are pure evil, they like to hang out in the dark. Holes, a hollow log, or a crevasse in a rock are perfect places for a snake to hide. So before you go sticking your hand in any dark hole, check to make sure there isn’t a snake (or other critter) in there.

Zombie snake attack. Say you find a dead snake that you want to take and turn into a pair of snakeskin boots. Right on. But be careful when picking it up. Freshly dead snakes still have reflexes and can still bite you if you’re not careful. Plus, many snakes are pretty sloth-like during the daytime. And they’re quite skillful at keeping completely still; it’s how they catch their prey. So a snake sunning himself may look good and dead, but may very well be sleeping with one beady eye open, its little reptilian brain thinking, “Just try it buddy.”

When camping, Don’t sleep next to snake’s nest . Most snakes are nocturnal, so you don’t want to let down your guard come sunset. Don’t make your camp in snake territory. Avoid sleeping near a log or large branch, in tall grass, or next to rocky areas. And of course zip up your tent tight. Snakes may have those fierce fangs, but alas, they lack an opposable thumb. Keep your boots inside the tent (most tents come with shoe pockets) and make sure to zip the tent up again in the morning, lest a snake invite himself in while you’re on a hike.

Wear heavy boots and pants. If you’re going to be out exploring in the uncivilized wilderness, make sure your lower extremities are protected. Heavy boots and pants not only protect against fierce snakes, but also your ankle’s other nemesis-ticks.

What to do if you get snake bites (Do and Don’t)

Do:

1. Wash the bite with soap and water as soon as possible. You want to remove as much of the snake spit as you can.

2. Keep the bitten area below the heart. This is done to slow the flow of the venom.

3. Take off any rings or watches. The venom is going to make you swollen, and jewelry might cut off your circulation.

4. Tightly wrap a bandage two to four inches above the bite. If you can’t reach medical care within 30 minutes, wrap a bandage around the bitten appendage. This is to assist in reducing the flow of venom. You want to make it tight, but not too tight as to completely cut off the appendage’s circulation. That will only cause tissue damage.

5. If you have a snake bite kit, place the suction device over the bite to help draw the venom out of the wound. Leave on for a maximum of ten minutes. If used properly, a suction device can remove up to 30% of the venom.

Don’t:

1. Cut the wound. While watching an old Western, you might have seen a cowboy making an incision above the snakebite in order to “drain” the venom. This isn’t a smart move because you increase the chances of causing an infection in the area.

2. Suck the venom. Another remedy we all have seen in the movies is people sucking the venom out with their mouth. You don’t want the venom in your mouth where it can get back into your bloodstream.

3. Apply ice to the wound. Ice can cause tissue and skin damage and inhibits the removal of venom when using a suction device.

4. Panic. If you’ve been bitten, try to avoid freaking out. If you’re with someone who has been bitten, try to keep them calm. The more you move and the faster your heart beats, the quicker the venom is going to be circulated throughout your body. So do your best to stay calm and remain as still as humanly possible.

More info about snake:  http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/07/15/complete-guide-to-snakes-part-2/

How To Avoid ATM Fraud While Traveling in the Bali Island.

Author, Ekarini

For more info about Bali: Bali Travel Info

I was born in Bali, and I always think Bali is a safe place!  ( At least 10 years ago).  After several years, Bali is not inhabited only by Balinese people. Bali has now become a hot destination for tourists from all over the world. At the same time Bali has also become a hot destination for those criminals from outside Bali. ATM is a hot spot beside pickpocket.

My family and I use an ATM machine regularly… We never have any problem until the incident on February 2017.  Normally, we only used the visa ATM machine installed by BCA bank, which is we never have problems. On this February, we used an ATM machine anywhere, including tourist hot spot and grocery stores all over Bali island.

So, We lost our money by using the card in front of one of the grocery stores in Sanur.  We lost about $200 total.  There is no one can solve the problem.  This incident does intrigue me share with others, and I hope this incident has never happened to others.  

 We thought getting money out of the ATM is a better deal than going to a money changer.  The rate exchange money changer to another is always different. 

Photos were taken In Bali island

What’s the “bad guys” want when it comes to ATM fraud.  They want  two things:

1.     They want your card number

2.     They want your PIN number

How does the bad guy steal your card information:

Please read here a link to a story on trustfoundry.net about ATM skimmers. These are basically devices which record your card information by installing an external device on the ATM machine. In order for someone to take advantage of your ATM card in a useful way, they need both the card number, as well as the PIN.

According to the article I read, this is often done using two devices:

• A skimmer in the card slot, which records your card information

But they also need your PIN, so there’s typically either a hidden camera (which records you type-in the code) or a PIN pad overlay (basically a pad which is placed on top of the normal PIN pad, so that both pads can record

So, how to protect yourself while traveling to the island?

·         Give the card reader, the keypad, and the privacy shield which covers the keypad a good yank — skimmers typically snap into place or are attached with adhesive, so you should be able to easily tell if something isn’t right

·         Make sure the card goes on smooth — if you enter the card into the slot and it doesn’t go on smoothly, something isn’t right, and an external device may be installed

·         Cover your PIN with your hand — this is in case there are any cameras installed, though it’s not a sure bet, since there could be a PIN pad overlay, or the camera could be installed just inches from the keypad

·         It is best recommended to use only ATM machine inside of the bank building (BCA, Bank Mandiri, Citibank, BNI, BRI,.. Etc..) when the business hour.

“An ATM in Bali, where the PIN cover snaps right off. As it turned out, it had a camera installed, so that they could watch you enter your PIN closely, in addition to the card skimmer. He then reverses engineered the skimmer.”

The conclusion:

The ATM machine fraud could happen anywhere, so I am not scared to travel.  The only thing I need to learn more and be cautious for the future transactions.

Watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghqbXhxFGp8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83ZgzuFBSE

Read this: 

https://trustfoundry.net/reverse-engineering-a-discovered-atm-skimmer/

The most Strange Beautiful places to visit on the island of Bali

More info about Bali:

Bali Travel Info

Photo by Ekarini

Discover Bali’s strangely beautiful places on Earth.  Bali is a mystical place to visit.  I will share some unique places that you, you will unlikely to see anywhere else in this world.   Some places to pronounce bizarre, others eerie and mysterious- spread out across Bali, from the Bali big island  to the small islands of Lembongan and Nusa Penida.  These places are not well-known to tourists, But they are familiar to some locals.   If you would like to experience something unusual and out of your comfort zone, you should come and visit these strange beautiful places.

1.      Desa Bali Aga Trunyan Necropolis Kintamani 

The mountain village of Trunyan can be found at the foot of Mt. Abang, at a remote and isolated location on the eastern shore of Lake Batur. The Trunyanese are often referred to as Bali Aga (mountain Balinese), which refers to a conservative, pre-Hindu way of life with ancient, neolithic customs and a very definite avoidance of outside influences. Instead of the term “Bali Aga, the term Bali Mula (‘original Balinese’) is often used instead. In this respect it should be noted that the Bali Aga are in no sense ‘original’. Therefore the term ‘Mountain Balinese’ is, from a historical perspective, more correct. The Bali Aga namely have always occupied their ancestral villages from choice and performed their traditional crafts and trades appropriate to the nature of the land. According to copper plate inscriptions found in one of the shrines in the main temple of Trunyan, the temple must be dated back to at least the 10th century AD (833 Çaka). The village itself, however, is believed to be much older than the temple. 

Contrary to elsewhere in Hindu Bali the Trunyanese do not cremate their dead. Instead, after a ritual cleansing with rainwater, the body of the deceased is placed in a bamboo cage under the taru menyan tree ( special fragrant tree) is known to only grow here. Until the forces of nature, in particular the wind, has dissolved the body tissues until only the skeleton remains. Then the skull is placed on a stairs-shaped stone altar which is located some 500 meters north of the Banjar Kuban, a special place which can only be reached by boat.  It is mesmerizing to many is no odor from the decomposing bodies are present, which the locals believe is neutralized by the tree’s myrrh-like fragrance.   Skulls and bones on moss-covered stairs are quite the scene here, definitely not for the nervous type.

Location: Trunyan Village Kintamani

2.      The 'Bat Cave' Temple of Goa Lawah Klungkung

The Goa Lawah temple is one of the six most important temples in Bali.  The Goa  (cave) and Lawah (bats). So you can say that this is a temple with the form of a cave where you can see thousand of bats inside the cave.  It is said that this temple was built to honor the sea gods and beside the bats, it is also said that 2 giant snakes live in the cave that considered as the guardian of the cave. The snakes are a couple, where one of the giant snake is a male and another one is a smaller  female.   I was  lucky to meet one of the snakes when I spent my night meditation with the priest, during full moon ceremony.  

Location: In the Pesinggahan Village, Dawan district, Klungkung Regency, Bali, which is about 10 km to the east of Klungkung city or around 50 km from Denpasar city. 

3.       The 'Ghost Town' of Taman Festival Bali Sanur 

I remember when I was high school this place was I hung out with my friends.  A beautiful water park.  Located at North in Sanur, now a spooky ‘ghost town’ on Padanggalak Beach, a remote coast far away from the main Sanur tourist area. It is the vast ruins of the derelict theme park Taman Festival, Bali, which closed down shortly after its establishment in 1997.   Because of no plans are underway for its resurrection, so we believe it will still be around for a while. The deserted main entrance gates, ticket booths, empty cafeterias and deteriorated main buildings with partly collapsed roofs all give it a creepy sensation even in broad daylight. Dense foliage and creeper vines have grown over broken windows, and ornamental stone figures loom over in the open spaces, making it a great spooky site. The locals believe long-abandoned sites like this are ‘borrowed’ by lost spirits. Recently, I visited this site on the way to Ubud, and the ambience give me goosebumps.  If you like horror movies, you will enjoy this place.

Location: Jalan Padanggalak, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

4.      The Balinese “Deaf Village” Bengkala, Singaraja

In the remote Balinese village of Bengkala Singaraja every one of the 3,000-odd residents can fluently communicate in kata kolok, a century-old sign language, and people with speech and hearing deficiencies are always treated with respect.

That so many people would bother to learn sign language might seem strange, but there’s a good reason behind the unique tradition – the number of hearing and speech impaired in Bengkala is about 15 times higher than the world average and it’s believed to have been even higher in the past. So it’s only natural that, in time, body language took precedence over the words, and villagers developed their own unique sign language which has been passed on for centuries.  The high incidence of deafness is apparently caused by the geographically-centric recessive gene DFNB3, present in the village for over seven generations. 

5.      The Underground House (Goa Gala-Gala) Nusa Lembongan

The Underground House or Goa Gala-Gala in Nusa Lembongan was built by Mangku Vyasa.  He is a farmer, dancer and Mangku Dalang (puppet shadow performer). Due to his profession as a Dalang, he was inspired by one of Mahabharata episodes, “Wana Parwa”; the twelve years in exile in the forest. In the story Pandawas decided to build a cave, Gala-gala, to protect his family from Korawas who wanted to find and kill all of Pandawas’s family.

The top of Goa Gala-Gala looks like the house in general, in the yard is overgrown trees. However, in some corner of a hole as deep as 3 meters, as access to the entrance to the Gala-Gala. Once down the stairs, which looks first are the pillars of the land and the hall in different directions. The House Gala-gala is complete because he had a sleeping room, dining room, living room, to the kitchen.  The Cave’s ceiling is just as high as 1.5 meters make oxygen is thinner than on the surface. 

Location: Desa Lembongan, Kecamatan Nusa Penida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali.

6.      The Goa Gong temple Jimbaran (The Stalactite Cave Temple )

The Goa Gong temple is a unique cave temple hidden away not so far from Kuta beach, the Jimbaran resort area.  Up the hill from the Kedonganan, the namesake Jalan Goa Gong leads you through the small Batu Ngongkong community and a sharp left turn puts you face to face with a pair of big cat statues.  The Erie statues under a banyan and tamarind tree guard a flight of stairs to the cave opening. The temple’s keeper and  priest Mangku Gurun Simpen is normally you see on the site.   Inside, a large, dim-lit cavity reveals dedicated stone shrines with soothing sounds of dripping water from the rocky cave stalactites. A  huge stalactite hangs behind the shrines, which is in fact a functioning stone gong. It is struck during rituals, particularly during the temple festival ceremony.

The existence of the site is quite old and described as "Pura Bukit Gong" in the ancient manuscript of Dwijendra Tatwa.

The community said, when Dang Hyang Nirartha (the holy priest from East Java) arrived in the area of Uluwatu, he first meditated and invoked the guidance to build the shrine Uluwatu near  Jimbaran.  It is one of the important temples in Bali.

7.      The Goa Peteng (The 'Dark Cave) of Jimbaran

This cave is not far away from the Goa Gong.   It is the opposite entrance to Pura Goa Gong, with the entrance (on the right and left side) guard by two dragon statues. 

Actually, the soft and delicate sound of the Gong comes  from the big rock that blown by the wind gusts and the reflection in the cave. This place is full of mystique vibes, spiritual  energy, healing energy,  and this place recommended to those who seeking   spiritual development or healing for body, mind and spirit.

At  this location appeared holy water source (where the priest starts the meditation). Furthermore, this water source is used as Tirta. The holy water is also believed to have the positive and powerful energy to cure diseases.

8.      The Goa Giri Putri Nusa Penida

This cave is one of my favorite places for my group meditation. 

The Giri Putri cave is located near the Karangsari village.  Before arriving at the mouth of the cave, we need to climb up about 100 stairs.   The entrance of the cave is so narrow that must kneel to enter. Inside, we are surprised by its volume. It is very dark inside, but a big opening space and temple in the cave.  It’s beautiful inside and close to the exit, you will discover a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple, and Confucian followers, evidenced by the presence of a statue of Dewi Kwan Im here.