Bali Travel Info

The Upcoming Interesting Bali’s  Attractions You Don’t Want to Miss

Time flies so fast, now we are in the late June.  If you are planning to be in Bali this June-July, Bali offers many attractions from the biggest Bali Arts Festival, The Makepung Buffalo Races 2016, Kites Festival, and many others.  Bali Travel Info will update you each month about Bali attractions and culture.

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1.    The 38^th Bali Arts Festival is still an ongoing event until July 9, 2016.  Pack up your snacks and fresh drinks and visit the Werdhi Budaya Arts Center Denpasar Bali.  Don’t forget to bring your kids and family member (the attractions are available for all family).  You can find the complete program here:       http://www.disbud.baliprov.go.id/files/subdomain/disbud/image/Berita/Program%20Acara%20PKB%202016.pdf

Next to Werdhi Budaya Arts Center, just walk to the west through  small walking gate to Banjar Kedaton that you will find yourself with a bunch of booths and vendors are also selling their cheap products: food, toys, clothings, shoes, and kids activities and attractions are very reasonable prices.

2.    Makepung, Buffalo Races 2016

Makepung (Balinese), literally means ‘chasing around’  or Kejar-kejaran in Indonesian language. It is a tradition of buffalo racing which has been passed through generations in Bali’s society, specifically in Jembrana regency, west Bali.  It began of as a race between farmers during their spare time when they were plowing the field in the harvest season. At that time, they competed to reach goals for using a cat tied up to the bull which controlled by a jockey.

Today, the Makepung has become one of the most interesting and viewed attraction for local tourist as well as foreign. It has also become an annual agenda in Bali, thus professionally managed.

Since this event is held professionally, Makepung is the name of a major grand prix in Jembrana, West Bali, which features racing buffalo races. Hundreds of pairs of buffaloes are teamed up together with their jockeys riding the traditional wooden plows that are slightly modified for the competition. 

The racer buffaloes, called kerbau mepadu, compete in various open race circuits in assorted heats around the district of Melaya, leading up to the finals, or what has come to be known as the Jembrana Regent’s Cup, and the Governor’s Cup, held annually.

There are approximately seven different circuits spread out in various locations throughout the district. The Sangyang Cerik circuit in the village of Tuwed, Melaya district is one of the main circuits. The other dedicated fields-turned-circuits include Delod Berawah, Kaliakah, Pangkung Dalem, Merta Sari, Tuwed and Awen. 

On race days, international visitors will also be equally amused by the ‘buffalo fashion shows’ that feature the bovines beautifully and carefully dressed up with ornaments from hoof to horn, in another segment of the ‘best-dressed’ competitions.

Locations and Schedule of the races:

Early mornings at 07:30 with dozens of pairs of pepadu participating. Another hundred or so take part in the 'fashion' parade. The races last for five hours, with the buffaloes divided into three racing divisions. 

The 2016 Makepung buffalo races, (the Jembrana government tourism office's previous year's dates) are bellow:

1. 12 July: Delod Berawah Circuit

2. 26 July: Tuwed Circuit

3. 9 August: Mertasari Circuit (Bupati Cup)

4. 23 August: Pangkung Dalem Circuit

5. 6 September: Delod Berawah Circuit

6. 20 September: Awen Circuit

7. 4 October: Mertasari Circuit

8. 18 October: Kaliakah Circuit

9. 1 November: Delod Berawah Circuit 

10. 15 November: Tuwed Circuit (Jembrana Cup - FINALS)

The Makepung tradition of Jembrana inspired the creation of a Balinese dance of the “Makepung Dance” in 1984. This dance is performed by seven to nine male and female participants, and depicts riders and the buffaloes themselves. One of the unique features of the dance is that it is accompanied by the Jegog bamboo orchestra, which is also typical of the regency.   I am so grateful that I have performed this dance for  many many times.

3.    The Bali Kites Festival 2016

The Bali Kites Festival is a series of kiting events that take place annually between July and August (sometimes through October), notably at the start of the windy season. 

As a seasonal agrarian festival thanking the heavens for abundant crops and harvests, has become a competitive ground for communal ‘banjar’ youth groups who send their ‘sekaa layangan’ kite teams to participate and win prize money from sponsors.

 A competition is also usually held for ‘new creation’ kites, which may include detailed three-dimensional figures and unusual designs, from Hindu gods, cars and motorbikes, to mascots and brand sponsors.

 A gamelan orchestra accompanies each troupe, adding to the joyous spirit of the Bali Kites Festival and the drama of take-off and landing sequences.

The Kites Festival Schedule and locations, the dates may shift following favorable weather conditions:

1. Bali Kite Festival: 22-24 July, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

2. Belega Kite Festival: 30-31 July, Masceti Beach, Gianyar

3. Pelangi Denpasar Kite Festival:  5-7 August, Mertasari Beach, Sanur

4. Dangin Peken Dhananjaya Cup Kite Festival: 13-14 August, Mertasari Beach, Sanur

5. Banjar Banjaran Kite Festival: 17 August, Abiansemal, Badung

6. Tanjung Kite Festival: 19-21 August, Mertasari Beach, Sanur

7. Sanur Kite Festival (Sanur Village Festival): 26-28 August, Mertasari Beach, Sanur

8. Pelangi Badung Kite Festival: 2-4 September, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

9. Ungasan Kite Festival: 10-11 September, Ungasan

10. Pelangi Gianyar Kite Festival: 23-25 September, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

11. Tabanan Kite Festival: 1-2 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

12. Bekul Kite Festival: 1-2 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

13. Namaste Kite Festival: 8-9 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

14. Biaung Kite Festival: 15-16 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

15. Rockiller Kite Festival: 21-23 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur

16. Bali Kite Festival 2016 (closing ceremony): 29-30 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur