HAPPY NYEPI DAY

HAPPY NYEPI

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This week, exactly March 22, Bali will commemorate its Saka new year according to the Balinese calendar. It is a very strong period in Balinese life, marked by unique festivities in the world. The day before, it is the parades of gigantic models made of wood and paper called Ogoh-Ogoh which have requested months of careful preparation in every village. The more hideous they are, the better, because their vocation is to get rid of evil spirits. The next day, it’s Nyepi, the day of silence intended for reflection on oneself. It impresses tourists so much because everything stops in the island, including the airport. The Balinese remain cloistered at home, many activities are prohibited such as lighting fires, no work, no entertainment or pleasure, no trip; and, for some, no conversation or eating at all. A fascinating tradition that makes our guests think a lot! Enjoy it!

WHEN RIO MEETS LUNA

WHEN RIO MEETS LUNA

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Dajuma recently had a charming show in the garden. Two happy  toddlers Rio and Luna respectively aged 9 and 6 months, on stay with their parents in Dajuma, got to know eachother in the garden, a few steps from Rama restaurant. Since then, they do not quit each other any more!

PROTECT BALI CULTURAL HERITAGE

PROTECT BALI CULTURAL HERITAGE

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On the photo, Stiven (Kindergarten pupil), the son of our Front Desk supervisor Agus, participated in his village in a Balinese story telling competition. Since five years In February, all the villages in Bali are used to hold a special event called Bulan Bahasa Bali, initiated by the government of Bali in order to preserve the Balinese culture as well as its dialect. In every village, all the elementary schools as well as the kindergarten have to choose their representative to participate in this event. The competition consists in Balinese story telling, writing or reading Balinese letters, singing traditional & sacred Balinese songs (Geguritan), poems and dances. Well done Stiven and congratulations for having been chosen!

RETREAT GROUP FROM LATVIA

RETREAT GROUP FROM LATVIA

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Last week, we welcomed a very nice retreat group from Latvia for 6 nights, made up of 16 participants guided by Ilona. Among many activities, the particularly appreciated respiratory therapy. They gave good feedback, everyone loved their stay, one of the ladies even said that they were treated like queens. Such touching words are the best reward for our staff!

MAGNIFICENT DRAGON FRUIT

MAGNIFICENT DRAGON FRUIT

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With such a name, our attention is instantly attracted. So what is this fruit, completely unknown in Europe? Also called “Pitahaya”, it is the fruit of a cactus that grows everywhere in the tropical areas of our planet. Its name probably comes from its skin looking like leather with prominent scaly tips. Anyway, it is delicious in many ways, either as a fruit or as a juice. Ours in Dajuma grow in the garden with this unique Indian pink color inside as shown on the photo.

APPRENTICE FISHERMEN

APPRENTICE FISHERMEN

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It is very moving to see the children of our fishing neighbors playing in the giant pots of our cape. With the means at hand, they build magnificent models which sail perfectly identically to the prahos of their fathers. They proceed in two stages: in the giant pots they test the new models and when they come out victorious in the tests, they are then put in the sea. Well played guys!

GILIMANUK MANGROVE

GILIMANUK MANGROVE

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Last week we were happy to introduce in our Tours’ Catalog a new interesting excursion which is definitively “off the beaten tracks”. Take a look: you leave Dajuma around 9 a.m. in the direction of Gilimanuk, the extreme western tip of the Bali national park which is also the port of embarkation for Java. After an hour’s drive, you discover a small cove bordering the Gilimanuk mangroves where a traditional fishing boat awaits you for a trip of about 2 hours. You learn how mangrove trees can survive in salt water, and how the mangrove is also a paradise for birds. Then you are invited to snorkel above untouched corals. It will bent be time to return to the starting point where a seafood lunch prepared by the local waurung awaits you. On the way back to Dajuma you will be offered several stops: visit the famous starling bird endemic to Bali, very rare, and another in Negara at the weaving museum.

METATAH FOR LELY

METATAH FOR LELY

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Last Sunday in the village, two families celebrated the Metatah ceremony which takes place when a teenager, boy or girl, reaches puberty or before his/her marriage. It is a passage to adulthood by which a holy priest smoothes six upper teeth symbolizing the six evils inside a human being: lust, greed, wrath, pride, jealousy and addiction. After the ceremony, a teenager is considered to be a mature adult freed from the six devils. Pictured, our nice restaurant waiter Lely was part of the ceremony together with her sisters and brother.

SIWA RATRI CELEBRATION

SIWA RATRI CELEBRATION

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This beginning of the year was like no other for the Balinese, as they celebrated their biggest Hindu festival (Galungan & Kuningan) almost at the same time as the new year. Last Friday they also celebrated Siwa by going to the village temple (Dalem) in the evening to pray and often spend the whole night in meditation. It is also known as a night of introspection which is celebrated once a year. Pictured is the Siwa Statue at Gilimanuk Bay-West Bali National Park.

LET'S PLAY BILLIARDS

LET’S PLAY BILLIARDS

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Last week, after celebrating Kuningan, which marks the end of the Galungan festivities and the departure of the ancestors from the family temples, we installed a magnificent billiard table in the large lobby room. We discovered on this occasion that in a small village 10 km from Dajuma, surrounded by nature, there was a billiard manufacturer known throughout Bali and even exporting to other islands and abroad. A great novelty that should delight our guests!