At this year's twilight, we would like to say THANK YOU to our guests! Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

At this year’s twilight, we would like to say THANK YOU to our guests!

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2014 has been rich for Dajuma from many points of view: completion of the renovation program of our cottages, 4 stars ranking from the Indonesian Association of Hoteliers, nomination to the Green Tec Awards and the World Luxury Hotels Awards and most importantly, a lot of positive feed-backs from our guests.
We selected one  which is for all Dajuma staff very meaningful insofar as it  translates perfectly the spirit of our hotel: authenticity, serenity and harmony.
…only here a true, simple and at the same time rich spirit of Bali can be found !
« We couldn’t have chosen better place for our honeymoon !
Everything was perfect and made our moods great every single day.
FOR SURE, we are  going to come back here, as only here a true, simple and at the same time rich spirit of Bali can be found !
Thank you all Balinese People for sharing this true paradise with us ! »
Jacek & Magdalena (Poland) Nov 2014

Traditional weaving looms… Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Traditional weaving looms…

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There is a kind of fascination to observe the patient work of skilled villagers working on traditional weawing looms in Negara,  not far from Dajuma.
The bobbin is loaded with a wire already tinted by segments, according to the pattern chosen by the artist. Operated by the weaver, the bobbin, by a continuous coming and going, will feed the frame. Ultimately, the so called “ikat” fabric slowly born with blur of the best effect, which is related to the vagueness of the craft machine.
A very interesting curiosity, part of our tour “Discover West Bali”!
On the picture, the ikat under weaving featuring the famous buffalo races (Mekepung) typical from West Bali.

Rambut Siwi Temple Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Rambut Siwi Temple

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The  Rambut Siwi Temple is one of the biggest Hindu Temples in Bali, located a few kilometers from Dajuma.
When the sixteenth-century Hindu priest Nirartha sailed across from Java, he paused at this spot and claimed it as holy.  On leaving, he donated a lock of his hair to the villagers, who erected a temple and named it Pura Rambut Siwi, “the temple for worshipping the hair”.  The gift is kept in a sandlewood box inside the central 3-tiered meru.

Perched among frangipani on a promontory overlooking the sea, Pura Rambut Siwi occupies a truly beautiful site, set in the cliff bank with wide Indian Ocean just in front. Inside are shrines to Dewi Saraswati, the Goddes of learning and Dewi Sri, the rice Goddes.
A beautiful and authentic place to discover, especially at sunset!

A new free map to discover the surroundings of Dajuma Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

A new free map to discover the surroundings of Dajuma

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Dajuma is located nearby the village of Pekutatan, at the edge of West Bali National Park. The whole area  counts something like 15’000 inhabitants, in a harmonious mix of farmers and fishermen as well as Hindu and Islam religions. A lot of authentic wonders to discover for our guests, by foot, bicycle or motorbike, from the virgin sandy seashore where colorful prahos are operated by athletic fishermen to the rice paddies carefully cultivated by skilled and sympathetic farmers. To facilitate the discovery of the surroundings of Dajuma, we decided to create a detailed map where the roads and paths are clearly indicated as well as the the main points of interest.
You can download it here. Hope you will like it!

Good harvest this year for clove and cacao in Pekutatan Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Good harvest this year for clove and cacao in Pekutatan

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Clove and Cacao’s harvests have been particularly good this year in Pekutatan. Together with rice, vegetable, coffee and  fruit,  the clove and cacao plantations are well developped in this part of the island. The farmers proceed with the harvest of the clove once a year and twice for the cacao. They extract the clove and the cacao beans and make them drying in the sun before sending them to Java where the cacao beans are roasted and exported.
On the picture some clove and cacao beans drying in Pekutatan village, nearby Dajuma. The farmer also collects waste from the village for recycling.

Chocolate factory in Jembrana Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Chocolate factory in Jembrana

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The regency of Jembrana in Bali is renowned for its Jeggog music, buffalo races rice fields overlooking the ocean and for its plantations of cacao.
In 2007, the authorities decided to encourage the local production of chocolate. A special  building was dedicated to the project headed by Nobertha, with all the necessary equipment.
Today the chocolate factory produces all sorts of fine chocolates, tablets, powder and plans to,extend its activities.
Good luck Nobertha ! We support you.

Presidential elections seen from Pekutatan Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Presidential elections seen from Pekutatan

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Following legislative elections earlier this year on April 9th, all Indonesia went to the polls on July 9th to elect its new President. A major event which took place for the seventh time since 1945.
The former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono being constitutionally barred from seeking a third mandate, two new candidates were competing: Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo.
According to the Lowy Institute (www.lowyinstitute.org), the two candidates are a study in contrasts. Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, is a middle class furniture entrepreneur who served as Mayor of the mid-sized city of Surakarta in Central Java, where he built a consensus for a series good government reforms that attracted nationwide attention. Enthusiasm for his approach in Surakarta propelled him to an upset victory in the capital Jakarta, 500km away, in an election there in 2012.
His competitor is the retired Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto who leads the Greater Indonesia Movement, or Gerindra, a well-funded party backed by his tycoon brother. Prabowo is a Suharto Era figure who has staged a remarkable political comeback after he left the army in 1998.
The Indonesian elections commission on Tuesday night officially proclaimed Joko Widodo the winner of the  presidential election.
On the picture below, the poll office in Pekutatan the candidates and… the proof of the vote with the auricular finger marked with black ink!

Where does the chocolate come from? Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Where does the chocolate come from?

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Dajuma is located next door the Pulukan State Plantation of 1180 ha where a lot of flora species such as coconut, rubber and clove trees, cocoa and vanilla plants, banana flowers are grown up by local and skilled farmers.
For western kids, the way these species are grown is just mysterious. For example who knows that peanuts grow underground ? Or that vanilla is a variety of orchid ?
And what about chocolate ? Where does it come from ?
One of our guests, Rev Martin Bieler, was shown on one of our tours a fresh open cocoa pod and decided to bring back two pods to Switzerland, to a local school where the children had been learning for some time about the origin and the production of chocolate. Now they finally got hold of two real  cocoa pods! From the original fruit brought back by Martin, it was explained step by step  to the children how to extract cocoa beans from the fruit, how to dry and roast before grinding and mixing them with a little fat to finally get the delicious chocolate which delights our palates.
What’s an experience for them!

Subak in Bali: a unique rice-field irrigation system exciting to visit Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Subak in Bali: a unique rice-field irrigation system exciting to visit

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A very interesting curiosity to visit in West Bali is the rice field irrigation system. It is called Subak and was developed more than 1,000 years ago. For Balinese people, irrigation is not simply providing water for the plant’s roots, but a holy activity which must be blessed by a priest. Water is also used to construct a complex artificial ecosystem where many species such as frogs and eels can develop.
From Dajuma, you will be invited to visit such a Subak, on the occasion of a bicycle tour around the nearby villages. A unique experience!

Pekutatan beach in the « Jakarta Post » newspaper Puri Dajuma, Beach Eco-Resort & Spa, West Bali

Pekutatan beach in the « Jakarta Post » newspaper

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Last Monday our beach was enhanced with half a page including five pictures in the « Bali daily »pages. We are happy to share some sentences:
…« Walking along the beach is a liberating experience. The sounds of the incoming waves, the clean air and that expanse of green moss that faithfully hug the rocks will surely convince any visitor they are in a different world.
The beach is a gem not only because of its natural beauty but also due to his position in the island’s history. A boat made of concrete… was constructed to commemorate the landing of Lt. Col. I Gusti Ngurah Raï and his men from East Java… leading the resistance in Bali… It is still the centerpiece of the beach. »…
And a good landmark for sunset pictures?
Read the article