Bali Buzz #18

Vol. 1/december 18-december 24, 2014

“Happy

GalunGan!�

Sunday Brunch in Bali

Saving Mother Earth

Pod Chocolate

from THE EdiTor

Happy Holiday Balinese Hindus all over the island celebrate Galungan this week and Kuningan in the following week. both are the most joyous of the balinese Hindu religious festivals. The former celebrates the victory of dharma (virtue) over adharma (vice), while the latter marks the devotees’ determination to live by and protect the truth.

Next week will also see the global-wide celebration of christmas, in which christians will remember the birth of the savior and redeemer.

Needless to say the island will be a lot more colorful place to explore during this period of religious celebration as the locals will go a long way to decorate their respective temples and don their best traditional attire for the rituals. elaborately decorated bamboo poles, known as penjor, will line the streets throughout the island.

For visitors, it means ample opportunity to observe, or even to participate in, the series of temple rituals, mass prayers and street processions related to Galungan and Kuningan. They also will have a rare chance to watch how balinese christians, especially in Tuka, North Kuta, Palasari and Jembrana, observe christmas in a mass heavily influenced by the local culture.

Happy Galungan and Kuningan, and Merry Christmas!

–The Editor

ConTEnTs

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Sunday brunch in bali

Pura alas Jagasari

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Saving mother earth

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The botanical garden’s bamboo forest

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mercure bali legian Galungan brings family together overcoming disability Urban farming Pod chocolate

cover Photo: agung Parameswara

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Jpbali@indosat.net.id, advertisingbali@thejakartapost.com, promotionbali@thejakartapost.com

Board of Directors Jusuf Wanandi, Cherly P. Santoso, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Riyadi Suparno I Editor in Chief/Guarantor Meidyatama Suryodiningrat Editor I Wayan Juniarta I Contributing Editor Rita A. Widiadana I Editorial Staff Desy Nurhayati, Fikri Zaki Muhammadi, Bram Setiawan, Anton Muhajir, Alit Kertaraharja, Ni Komang Erviani, Luh De Suriyani, Wasti Atmodjo I Photographers Agung Parameswara, Lukman SB, Zul Trio Anggono, Anggara Mahendra Graphic Designer Budhi Hartono, Sunaryo, Mohamad Soleh General Manager Wiradiatma Wijoga I Advertising Intan Indahsari, Kadek Ita Noviyanti, Ngurah Agung I Circulation Slamet Sunarno I Promotions Mirah Adi

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Sunday Brunch “Sundays are meant for sharing good times with family and friends” Words and photos Chris O’Connor

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he Christmas holiday period this year coincides with the Balinese Galungan festival, which is one of the most important religious events within the 210-day Balinese calendar, making this an extra special time to be on the island for visitors and residents alike.

While Christmas Day remembers the birth of Jesus Christ and is celebrated around the world, Galungan is a uniquely Balinese event celebrating the creation of the world and revering the creator Sanghyang Widi Wasa. It marks the point in time when the Balinese gods and the spirits of the island’s ancestors return to the island and rejoin their families to celebrate the triumph of good over evil through eating, merriment and entertainment, ending 10 days later with the festival of Kuningan when they return to their spiritual homes.

For many in Bali there is no better time to enjoy the sharing of gifts, company or food, and it is perhaps fitting that countless of the island’s leading hotels and restaurants showcase their culinary credentials with a range of fabulous

in Bali family orientated Sunday Brunches, currently highlighting a festive theme. It would be great to list them all, but instead here are three quite different places to provide a flavor of the options available: Prego at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua Bali; Feast at The Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort; and The Big Easy at Mozaic Beachclub.

In no particular order then, first up is the Big Easy at Mozaic Beachclub, where live music is brought to you by the island’s best jazz musicians with their own blends of funky contemporary jazz highlighting a fabulously relaxed dining experience. Served between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the upstairs dining space, with fabulous views over the pool, bar and ocean, all the dishes are made fresh to order and include traditional breakfast classics, Asian options and the very popular and impressive Sunday Roast. The additional draw for families is, of course, the kid’s menu, swimming pool and beach club facilities that are available to guests.

Next up comes the impressive Feast restaurant found on the ground floor of The Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort adjoining Beachwalk mall. Ideally located, its relaxed atmosphere and bright ambience are perfect for chilling out on any Sunday.

With pink highlights currently complemented by matching baubles and Christmas trees to add to the festive spirit, it’s a cool place to kick back and enjoy a huge variety of excellent food and drinks. Dim sum, sushi, cold cuts, fish grill, roasts, pasta and a plethora of desserts make this a very popular dining experience. Live music and a dedicated, supervised kids’ area with games, painting and other activities add to its attraction for families.

Last, but by no means least, comes Prego at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua Bali which serves up a blend of traditional Italian-focused dishes, Sunday roasts, BBQ and Asian delights with breads, pastas, cold meats, salads and a huge range of

delicious desserts. Here, the entertainment is focused toward younger children and, as well as the indoor kids’ area, it features a pool and supervised lawn activities.

There can be few better ways of enjoying a Sunday through the Christmas and Galungan period than eating great food surrounded by family and friends. All the Sunday Brunch options are great value and in many cases younger kids eat free or at significantly reduced prices; so why not take in a family Sunday Brunch this festive season? But be warned, these terrific family brunches are very popular, making booking essential.

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Pura Alas Jagasari “The architectural legacy of the Kediri kingdom” Words & Photos Bram Setiawan

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estled amid the lush tropical forest in Manukaya village, near Tampak Siring presidential palace in Gianyar, Pura Alas Jagasari is one of Bali’s important, unique temples.

The temple is famed for its architectural style, derived from East Java’s Kediri kingdom, with an elaborate and grand split gate and elegant wall decoration.

Its history goes back to the 10th and 11th centuries, the golden age of the Kediri kingdom, with influences ranging from literature to architecture and Balinese local culture.

It is believed that the temple’s structures, as well as layout, are in the authentic style of the East Javanese Kediri kingdom.

Its high location, some 700 meters above sea level, and stunning scenery make the temple a perfect place for worship. It is an ideal combination of bale agung grand hall and pura puseh ancestral temple.

Gede Arya Danu Palguna, a caretaker at the temple, explained that the local people strongly believe the temple has existed since the eight century, although the architectural style is that of East Java in the 10th and 11th centuries, long before the Majapahit kingdom influenced the island.

“This is our ancestral temple, where we worship our ancestors and gods,” Palguna said, adding that, based on old manuscripts, the temple was built during the Warmadewa dynasty.

There are three old statues, around 30 centimeters high, one featuring Sri Kesari

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Warmadewa, the first king of Bali and the founder of the Warmadewa dynasty.

The second statue represents King Udayana, a descendant of Warmadewa and the most glorious king of the dynasty, while the third statue is Queen Mahendradatta, also known as Gunapriya Dharmapatni, the queen consort of King Udayana.

There are also three stepped lingga statues.

The first represents ancestral deities; the second manifests the Hindu god Shiva and the third one represents Buddha, showing the influences of both Hinduism and Buddhism.

Based on the ancient inscription known as Prasasti Blanjong, or the Sanur pillar, dated as being made in 954 AD, the Warmadewa dynasty had close ties with Javanese kingdoms, East Javanese Kediri kingdom in particular. The inscription notes that King Sri Kesari Warmadewa was a Buddhist king from Java’s Sailendra dynasty who led a military expedition to establish a Mahayana Buddhist kingdom in Bali.

The marriage of the Balinese King Udayana to the East Javanese Princess Mahendradatta established a closer link between Java and Bali.

The Kediri kingdom’s artistic roots were vividly expressed in the form of royal buildings, places of worship, temples, sculptures and artistic decorations, all of which resemble those in East Java.

“Pura Alas Jagasari literarily means forest temple. The temple is situated in the middle of Jagasari forest. But the philosophical meaning of Jagasari is to guide the core of life,” Palguna said.

Soul

Saving Mother Earth “A foundation brings safer childbirth to disadvantaged mothers” Words Pia Vuolteenaho Photos Courtesy of Bumi Sehat Foundation

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hildbirth is a quintessentially natural human experience that affects each and every one of us. Still, to this day, when it comes to giving birth and being born, both women and children around the world are vulnerable to pain, sickness, even death.

To get some sense of the gravity of the problem, you might want to consider the fact that every two minutes, somewhere, a woman dies during childbirth or pregnancy. Indonesia is no exception to this frightening reality.

“Today, Indonesia’s official maternal mortality

ratio is 359 dead mothers for every 100,000 live births,” Robin Lim, executive director of Bumi Sehat Foundation points out. Though this is a dire rise in numbers, as well as a far cry from the country’s self-set target of 102 women, Indonesia does not stand alone. Maternal health care is a human right — and one that is constantly being neglected on a global scale. Shockingly enough, the United States is one of the countries with a rising maternal death rate.

The Bumi Sehat Foundation is working hard to change these grim statistics. Since being founded in 1995, Bumi Sehat, or Healthy Earth Mother, has been focusing on maternal, infant and family health care. Today, Bumi Sehat operates in Bali, Aceh and the Philippines. In Bali, the foundation operates a 24-hour family health and childbirth clinic in the village of Nyuh Kuning. In a country with privatized health care, the value of these free services provided by Bumi Sehat is immeasurable.

The vital services provided by the clinic are not, however, by any means the full extent of the foundation’s work. Bumi Sehat also provides education for midwives throughout Indonesia, as well as free, confidential HIV counseling and testing services. Then there is the village-based recycling and environmental support, as well as the organic farming education that Bumi Sehat provides for local youths. The list seems to go on and on. All in all, it is a very holistic

way of working for the wellbeing of the whole community.

“My goal is for each baby to grow up to be a steward of our earth, land, water and all sentient beings. This requires each person to have an intact capacity to love and trust, for these qualities are the foundation of healing change for our ailing planet. By healing birth, I believe we are healing Mother Earth and building peace, one mother, one baby, one family at a time,” Lim says.

Besides working to reduce the harsh statistics regarding childbirth today, Bumi Sehat is also committed to reshaping the very attitudes related to giving birth. Lim emphasizes the importance of critically reexamining unnecessarily invasive and even brutal practices that are still routinely used in hospitals around the world. Bumi Sehat also prioritizes culturally appropriate sustainability in healthcare and works closely with local, traditional birth attendants.

“Gentle childbirth is a human right, for both mother and baby. However the issue goes deeper, for research proves that trauma at birth impairs a human’s capacity to love and trust. This is of course repairable, via love, kind upbringing, breast-feeding and believing in each person as a ‘Piece of Peace’,” Lim says.

Like all NGOs, Bumi Sehat relies on donations to carry on with its valuable work. “Although health care is a human right, it is not free. We at Bumi Sehat help people for free, but we need help to do that,” Lim says. To help, you can donate to the Bumi Sehat Foundation through its account at PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Denpasar KLN Ubud branch, account number 117765425 in the name Yayasan Bumi Sehat, Ds. PKR Nyuh Kuning. You can also donate via bumisehatfoundation.org.

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The botanical garden’s

bamboo forest “A memorable holiday” Words and Photos Luh De Suriyani

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he holiday season is approaching and families will be looking for wonderful places to spend time with their beloved ones.

The Eka Karya botanical garden in Bedugul, Tabanan regency, is one of Bali’s favorite holiday destinations.

Situated in a cool, hilly resort area, the botanical garden stands on a 154.5-hectare plot of land overlooking the picturesque Beratan Lake and Ulun Danu water temple.

Established in 1959, the botanical garden is home to a vast array of flora.

Managed by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Eka Karya preserves more than 1,187 plants.

Orchid lovers will be thrilled to see the collection of more than 320 orchid types from Bali, Java, Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

The colorful rose and begonia garden gives you stunning views rarely found in cities.

Meanwhile, the spacious Usadha garden is dedicated to medicinal plants and ceremonial flowers.

One of the highlights of Eka Karya is its vast bamboo collection, second to none in Indonesia.

Visitors can hear the soft whispering of bamboo leaves as they sway in the cool breezes found in the bamboo forest within the garden complex. The bamboo plants are from all across Indonesia and provide for a fascinating, peaceful natural beauty.

Being an educational center, each bamboo plant has a wooden sign by it providing information and the plant’s Latin name.

One sign states that bamboo played a crucial part in the industrial revolution as Thomas Edison, who invented the electric light

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bulb, used bamboo fibers in his experiments.

According to data from the Environment and Forestry Ministry, bamboo has no knots or rays like are found in wood. This means its fibers are incomparably strong, durable and flexible.

The bamboo forest in the botanical garden has just undergone a massive make over. Now, there is a beautiful bamboo gateway and several wooden chairs for visitors to sit and enjoy the serenity of the forest.

A 10-minute drive from the bamboo forest is the two-hectare forest fern garden.

The garden contains about 80 types of ferns from Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Sumatera and Papua. There are several endangered and protected ferns, including cyathea contaminans, cyathea latebrosa and Dicksonia Blumei cyathea, which is native to Bali.

The cyathea contaminans is native to Indonesia, India, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The so-called mountain tree fern is mostly found growing at altitudes of up to 1,677 meters.

A conservation site, the botanical garden is also equipped with outbound facilities, guesthouses, restaurants and a playground.

Entry to the botanical garden is Rp 3,000 (23 US cents) for children and Rp 5,000 for adults.

Even with such a low entry fee, visitors are guaranteed an adventurous, educative and entertaining holiday trip. Happy holidays!

Sight

Mercure Bali Legian “New accommodation in the heart of Legian” Words and Photos Wasti Atmodjo

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uta, Legian and Seminyak have established themselves as the main destination for domestic and foreign visitors, not just for leisure but also for business meetings.

As the icons of Bali’s tourism, these areas feature a haven of restaurants, bars, shopping outlets, night clubs and beach attractions — all of which serve as selling points for the hotel industry, in addition to the easy access to the airport and many tourist spots, as well as the excellent facilities and services provided by the hotels.

Therefore, despite the ubiquitous accommodations, ranging from budget inns to five-star hotels, these areas remain attractive for investors building new places for visitors to stay.

The soft opening of Mercure Bali Legian earlier this month is one such opportunity and provides tourists with an even greater choice of places perfect for business and leisure.

Located right at the heart of Legian — at a strategic intersection between Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, the brand new Mercure Bali Legian is suitable for all — families, honeymooners and corporate clients.

Guests have easy access to the surrounding places of interest, including Legian Beach, Seminyak and Kuta.

As a new hotel, Mercure Bali Legian is ready to compete. With a total of 321 rooms, the hotel — the fifth Mercure property, provides complete facilities, such as Wi-Fi, pools, conference room, spa and fitness center, kids club and business center.

“Its strategic location allows guests to easily reach various places of interest, all within walking distance,” said general manager Shamila Rolfe.

Sales manager Pauline Lahai added that the popular tourist spots were very easy to access from the hotel, especially for visitors with limited time.

For a half day tour, tourists can visit the increasingly popular Pandawa Beach in the afternoon, go to Uluwatu Temple to watch the kecak dance at sunset and continue the trip to Jimbaran beach for dinner.

“Thanks to easy access to and from our hotel, guests can have more time to explore a lot of interesting places in Kuta and the surrounding areas, even when they only have limited time for sightseeing,” Pauline said.

Upon arriving at the hotel, guests will be welcomed with the beautiful sounds of Balinese gamelan and an arrangement of marigold flowers around their neck.

Last week, Bali Buzz was invited to join a media familiarization trip, when the general manager warmly welcomed the participants and served as the guide during the dinner and morning exercise.

The hotel’s employees were also given the opportunity to demonstrate their special talents for the guests.

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Words I Wayan Juniarta Photos Agung Parameswara

“A joyous religious festival is a chance for Balinese families to reconnect�

brings family together

Galungan Cover Story

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or a large number of Balinese Hindus, the major religious festival of Galungan, which fell on Wednesday, was not only an occasion to celebrate the victory of dharma (virtue) over adharma (vice), but also a much-awaited time for catching up with relatives, including the dead.

Family in the rapidly disappearing agrarian Bali, where a large numbers of relatives was a valuable asset to farm acres of rice fields, used to refer to an extended family of several households living in the same compound. Family gatherings, therefore, took place almost on a daily basis.

However, in the increasingly modern Bali, where a growing number of Balinese leave their hometown to seek their fortune in the larger towns, family presently refers to a nuclear one, a small entity separate from its roots. Family gatherings have become rare occasions and religious holidays have growingly become the only opportunity for an extended family to have a meaningful conversation.

“We haven’t had a lengthy conversation for five years, have we? I mean, we bumped into each other several times but we didn’t have the opportunity to sit together and talk to each other in the way we used to,” Kadek Soma said to his cousin as they sat on the front porch of their extended family’s compound in Tulikup, a village in Gianyar known for producing top quality bricks.

The two grew up together and went to the same kindergarten, junior and senior high schools, before pursuing careers in different fields. Both reside in Denpasar but found that the demanding hours of their work prevented them from chatting and bantering like they used to, or discussing the family’s problems and traditional duties.

Several meters to the north, under the scorching sun, the female members of the family were busy preparing offerings at the sanggah (family temple).

In the following hour, both men shared more than just a hot coffee and a pack of cigarettes, also sharing fond memories, the joys of having kids of their own and scores of important issues related to their family, from a troubled member who refused to do his part in the family’s duty to the banjar (traditional neighborhood association), to an accusation that a family member was practicing black magic and a planned renovation of the family temple.

There was no definite conclusion at the end of the conversation, only a shared understanding that distance had not affected their closeness. They were still family.

“I miss my late mother so much. She has appeared several times in my dreams. I will pray for her now, a really serious prayer. For my late father, your favorite uncle, I have bought that special klobot he liked so much.

Hope he still likes it,” Soma said, with a big grin on his face, referring to traditional hand-rolled

cigarette wrapped with dried corn husk.

A few minutes later, both men sat sideby-side on the ground of the family temple, offering their prayers for their loved ones who had already entered the afterlife, as well as to all their ancestral spirits. It is believed that during Galungan, these spirits are given an opportunity to visit their living relatives.

In the village cemetery one kilometer away, a women with a bright red umbrella knelt before a grave as she presented an offering of food, drink and a cigarette to her deceased husband. This offering, known as soda, is provided regularly to the deceased who have yet to be cremated.

A similar scene could be observed throughout the island on Wednesday.

Balinese Hindus presented offerings and prayed at the cemetery and family temples before heading to their village’s respective Kahyangan Tiga, temples dedicated to the Tri Murti, the trinity of Brahma the Creator, Wisnu the Sustainer and Siwa the Destroyer.

They then spent most of the afternoon in their family compounds easting prasadam (the food and fruit from the offerings), while chatting and joking with each other.

“Religious holidays have increasingly become a medium for Balinese families to strengthen their cohesion and unity. During this time, the family get ample time to discuss problems, negotiate solutions, forge

consensus and iron out differences,” poetess and cultural observer Mas Ruscitadewi said.

“Galungan has expanded from a religious celebration stemmed in the myth of the victory of Lord Indra over the allegedly atheistic demon king, Mayadanawa, to a modern celebration of the victory of family, and its associated social and traditional norms, against contemporary challenges.”

Galungan is celebrated once every 210 days, a six-month period in the Balinese calendar, in which each month comprises 35 days. Penjor, the bamboo pole decorated with flowers, leaves, fruit and cakes, is a unique feature of Galungan. It serves as both the standard of victory and the expression of gratitude for the bountiful harvest bestowed by the deities upon the islanders. It is erected on Penampahan, which falls one day before Galungan, during which the Hindu families slaughtered pigs and chickens for offerings and the family feast. Lawar, minced meat and vegetables, as well as scores of traditional foods are the main menu on Penampahan.

Denpasar was free of the usually frustrating traffic congestion on Wednesday, as most of its residents had left the city for their respective hometowns across the island. Most government offices, schools and commercial establishments were closed during the holiday.

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overcoMinG diSaBility “oPeNING UP oPPorTUNITIeS, ImProVING THe lIVeS oF THe dISabled” WordS aNd PHoToS luH de suriyani

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he International dayy of Persons with disabilities sabilities was observed with a range of activities to promote the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society.

The annual observance, which falls on dec. 3, also highlighted campaigns empowering the disabled to be selfreliant and creative.

In bali, a group of disabled people have proven they are able to overcome their physical challenges by creating art projects.

The group organized an art exhibition and auction, held at the annika linden centre from dec. 3 to 5, displaying paintings in various genre with strong messages about their hopes and dreams to live well with disability. reta resita, who has a clubfoot, painted a legless legong dancer. Using oil on canvas, she described the dream of a disabled person to become a balinese dancer, despite the physical constraints. reta, a client of ya y yasan Peduli Kemanusiaan (yPK) — a center that provides therapy for the disabled, also created another painting depicting a smiling Japanese girl with a ribbon in her hair.

Her strokes make the painting look simple, yet express meaningful attention to the little things that bring

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happiness in life.

There were also water paintings by disabled children, including one from IGa anasti that depicted four children engaged in a conversation. With the title Sahabat Tuna Rungu (deaf Friends), the painting shows deaf children able to communicate and build friendships with others.

In the exhibition, a number of art works by adult participants explored various forms of creativity, from caricatures to murals, water paintings and oil paintings.

Some of the participants had been involved in previous painting exhibitions, including mantra from lombok, who created the abstract paintings Memories and Under The Rain. other painters exhibiting at the event included Ida ayu Wiadnyana (dayu Wid), Sudibia and Putu Suriati.

Wid from Tampaksiring was inspired by her father, also a painter, to create paintings of balinese traditions. meanwhile, other participants created watercolor paintings that resembled street art. communities that focus on empowering people living with physical challenges, including Puspadi bali and yPK, exhibited tools for the disabled. among the tools were crutches, knee and ankle orthotics and orthopedic shoes for people with

polio. There was also a trans-femoral prosthetic, which is an artificial limb to replace a knee joint where the thighbone remains intact.

The observance of the International day for Persons with disabilities also saw a campaign to promote access for the disabled to work in companies, supported by bali export development organization (bedo) and dnetwork. net — a website that promotes job opportunities for the disabled. bedo has introduced buddy, a counseling program for the disabled, the icon for which is a finger doll named Sasa, an acronym from sahabat saya (my buddy), represented by a female figure with a friendly expression and clad in colorful clothes.

Jeff Iskandarsyah from bedo said this program was necessary because the disabled needed assistance when they started work.

“We identify any obstacles being faced during the first three months of employment, discuss ways to overcome these and let others learn from them.” more than 20 disabled people have been involved in this campaign and discussed the obstacles they faced and solutions that resolved them. on dnetwork.net dnetwork.net, a number of companies have opened their doors for people living with disabilities to be part of inclusive development.

initiative

urBan farMinG “eNHaNcING PeoPle’S lIVeS aNd THe cITy eNVIroNmeNT” WordS aNd PHoToS wa w sti at a MOdjO

IN croWded and polluted denpasar, enpasar bali’s enpasar, capital, only a very few farms remain to grow the agricultural produce that sustains the city’s population.

The rapid rate of population growth and the robust economy have seen productive land make way for housing and business facilities. There is very little space left for agricultural activities in this densely populated city. around 1.2 million of bali’s 4.1 million population live in denpasar, excluding the thousands of commuters living in neighboring Tabanan, badung and other areas who work in denpasar in the daytime. denpasar depends strongly on outside sources for its supplies of meat, fruit, vegetables and other commodities.

In the face of this reality, denpasar mayoralty has been working hard to encourage the city’s residents to start developing urban farms to reduce the city’s

reliance on outside supplies and help build food safety and security. as part of its annual denpasar Festival, the mayoralty held the side event denpasar Horticulture Festival at lumintang Park last weekend.

Gede ambara Putra, head of denpasar agriculture and Horticulture agency, told Bali Buzz that the festival was mainly aimed at encouraging all the city’s residents to actively take part in developing urban farming.

“There are so many socio-economic and environmental benefits from developing urban agriculture,” Putra said. a complicated food distribution system has seen food prices rocket in urban areas, increasing urban poverty in cities.

“Urban farming will allow low-income families to grow their own vegetables, fruit and herbs. They can also raise poultry or cultivate fish to provide them with nutritious and affordable food,” he said.

The four-day festival was a showcase of success stories from young farmers and entrepreneurs, who have taken the lead in innovative and productive urban farming.

Julias anrianto, a resident of Peguyangan village, has developed a hydroponic farm. “I grow a large variety of popular vegetables usually used for salads,” anrianto said. His farm produces butterhead lettuce, red oakleaf, kale nero, lolorosa and many other green leafy vegetables.

Visitors were eager to learn more about his farming system.

“Hydroponic farming is highly suited to conditions in denpasar, which has limited land. We can grow plants in a small space but we have to be selective in choosing profitable plants,” he explained. a technical school graduate, anrianto is comfortable working as a farmer and has become a successful entrepreneur.

The mayoralty office has asked this

young man to collaborate in urban farming development through the creation of a program called Belajar Bareng Hidroponik (learning about Hydroponic Farming) to attract young people to work in agriculture. during the festival, the mayoralty also organized several training sessions and workshops for those interested in urban farming.

“Urban farming provides employment, income and easier access to food for the urban population, and more importantly, it creates green, open spaces in the city, which, in the end, will improve its environmental state,” Putra noted.

For individuals, urban farming can have a significant impact on their social and mental well-being.

“The opportunity to work in an open space and to interact with nature through gardening and farming is believed to have a positive impact on people’s overall mental and physical health,” he said.

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or hundreds of years before bali became renowned for tourism, agriculture was the island’s mainstay.

In the early days of tourism, it was predominantly the unique colorful rituals, large and small, of bali Hinduism, the great surfing and the beauty of bali’s countryside and its lush carpets of terraced rice fields that drew tourists in.

Nowadays, agriculture has been left far behind and many of bali’s farmers are living in poverty, forced to sell their ancestral land to pay the day-to-day costs of life, education and health care.

However, with the rising demand for high quality, local produce, farming is beginning to receive some attention.

While organic farms are being cultivated in the cooler areas of bali, there are still many orange, clove and cacao plantations to be found on the island. In fact, Indonesia is the third largest producer of cacao worldwide. despite this, Indonesia has never been synonymous with high-quality chocolate until now.

Pod Chocolate “delIGHTING cHocoHolIcS aNd HelPING SUSTa UST IN balI’S cacao FarmerS” USTa WordS aManda O’COnnOr PHoToS COurtesy POd CHOCOlate

close to Sangeh monkey forest and Ubud, tucked away in the bali elephant camp, is the home of Pod chocolate, a boutique chocolate factory with a chocolate tour; the brainchild of Toby Garritt.

With a background in hospitality and tourism, Garritt saw the local cacao plantations and wondered whether he could make high-quality single-origin balinese chocolate. making his first batch of chocolate in late 2010, it took a full year of trials to confirm to himself that it was in fact a feasible dream.

“Getting the roasts right was very important, there are so many variables to creating the perfect roast which depend very much on the origin on the bean,” said Garritt. another challenge was getting a consistent

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quality of cacao, which of course has a huge impact on the finished product.

It was then that Garritt discovered that the cacao farmers didn’t have the knowledge of how to judge the quality of their beans as they had never tasted the finished product. almost everything that they produced, mostly unfermented beans, was being bought by brokers for very low prices to go to large factories in Java, where they were used in bulk and lower quality chocolate with lower percentages of cacao in them, with the flavor often balanced by artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives. on top of that, their plants were infested with pod borer, which was destroying the crops.

Garritt is a self-confessed perfectionist, so

he started working with the local farmers to help them grow healthy plants and produce consistently good quality fermented cacao, so he could buy it at a premium price and make a world-class chocolate. over 200 individual farmers and cooperatives are working with Pod and improving their quality of life.

Now, toward the end of 2014, Pod chocolate bars, specialty pralines and many other kinds of chocolate delights can be found in high-end hotels across the island and Pod’s newly opened café and store r on Jl. Sunset road and in Ngurah rai’s domestic terminal departure area, ocolate, where you can buy Pod chocolate, as well as enjoy drinks and desserts using Pod’s own bali chocolate. ali Seminyak has W retreat & Spa bali been a loyal partner of Pod chocolate hocolate in its restaurants and mini-bars, and co-developed chocolate-based signature deserts, since early 2013. manyy other high-end hotels and restaurants in bali also use Pod chocolate. hocolate.

For chocolate lovers of all ages, you can also go on the Pod chocolate Fun Factory Tour, which begins with the cacao tree and lets you experience the journey from the pod through to the chocolate bar, with a trip through the boutique factory and hands-on experience of making your own chocolate elephants — with plenty of tasting along the way.

Pod chocolate is truly a success story. chocoholics in bali can finally indulge to their hearts’ content in high quality organic chocolate, and the farmers are proud that

their chocolate is being taken into europe and across the world. It no longer just vanishes; it is in a chocolate bar stating it is from bali, it is mentioned in magazines, on blogs, on the Internet. It has put the role of the famer and the story of the farmer back into the story of chocolate.

Garritt’s mission of creating an iconic chocolate and an iconic chocolate company has come true.

For more information visit podchocolate.com

CLADS

Advertise with us! Call : 0361 265 436/7 or email to advertisingbali@thejakartapost.com

SERVICES Accountant, tax consultant, QuickBooks expert. Call 0878 600 22239 anggra1@yahoo.com Aqua Fitness Courses and Aqua Bike Courses, Seminyak.

Call: 0818 054 19300 Baby sitter services. Contact me 0852 3810 0025 British photographer services available. Specialist in product & culinary photography. Fully equipped modern studio facilities. Call 08123 883532 CV Yazna Villa Management. Professional service for all needs. Located at Jl. Majapahit No.76 Kuta. Office 0361 767 108. Mobile 0812 382 3731 Do you need a consultant for your F&B outlet? Contact Fokus Hospitality for one-stop solution. 0361 274 0619

Get your website on Google’s first page for more customers. Call/SMS 0811 380 151 Home made jewelry. Silver and gold. Good price with high quality product. Call 081 7477 9129 Indonesian freelance cook. Text Elok 0813 902 36628 Indonesian lessons for foreigners provided at your home / office, native teacher. Sms/call: Ms. Asima 0821 468 50175 / email gemilangcourse@gmail.co, www.balipages.biz.learn.speak.indonesian.

Indonesian lessons, free trial class. Contact: 0878 616 37555, nika.wirawan@gmail.com Jonsen Pet House. Dog boarding and playground. 0361 2727 645 / 0812 6304 5125. jonsenpethouse.com jonsenpethouse.c

Driver, speaks English, freelance, honest and good deal.

Call : 081 7477 9129

Made to order: bags, wallets, jackets, leather. Pls call 0819 3621 9030

English private tutor offers English/Math tuition for children 5-12yrs. 7 years experience as a classroom teacher in UK & Australia. Call 0817 470 3070

Need a building contractor? Call 0881 460 2907 / 0812 360 9639

Freelance driver, speaks English, is honest and reliable.

Contact: 0819 9996 1750 Freelance pool cleaner and garden services. Please call 0878 6017 0659

Painting courses, professional artist. Call 0361 837 2501 Private courses in the Chinese language. Simple system.

Call: 0818 055 60595 / 0813 382 17788

ISLAND BUZZ Ubud Agents Table Top II 2014 enhances domestic and international exposure UHA recently held a 3-day event at Royal Pitamaha to welcome 30 representative retail agents from Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and other Asian countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, to meet with fifty-six Ubud Hotels Association members who could help these retail agents fully understand the tourism magnetism of Ubud and its surrounding areas.

By holding this table-top event, the retail agents are expected to be able to better sell tourism packages to domestic and Asian tourists looking to vacation in the region. Each of the UHA members was able to present its product to the participating agents.

UHA also aimed to increase the awareness of its brand properties in Ubud, exposing the art town with an exclusive tour of these resort properties located in one of the best travel destinations in the world.

The event wrapped up with a Balinese Farewell Dinner showcasing Balinese dances Ubud was awarded Best City in Asia 2009 by Conde Nast Traveller magazine. Through awards and events such as these, an increased awareness of business opportunities and properties in Ubud is expected to drive business and tourism.

World AIDS Day campaign by Hotel ibis in Bali The ibis hotel family in Bali held a World Aids Day Campaign on Monday, Dec. 1.

Taking place at Bali Galeria mall, hotel employees handed out red ribbons to mall visitors and distributed information on HIV and AIDS. Joan Mamahit, general manager of ibis Style Bali Kuta Circle said, “We are holding this event on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day to improve public awareness and caution with regard to the HIV/AIDS virus. We intend this to be an annual event.”

The group’s hotel employees also wore red ribbons to commemorate World AIDS Day, as did many of the guests at Hotel ibis Styles Bali Kuta Circle.

The ibis family of hotels in Bali includes ibis Styles Bali Kuta Circle, ibis Bali Kuta, ibis Styles Bali Kuta Legian, ibis Styles Bali Benoa and all seasons Bali Denpasar. ibis hotels offer simplicity, comfort, quality and friendliness. Positioned in or close to city centers, each property offers all-inclusive packages comprising room, all-you-can-eat buffet, high speed internet access.

December 18, 2014

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Promote your event with us! Call : 0361 265 436/7 or email to promotionbali@thejakartapost.com Jenja presents Damian Lazarus (Crosstown Rebels UK) Dec. 19 Starts 11 p.m.

Townsquare Suites, Seminyak The Lights of Faith - Theater show From Monday to Saturday Starts 8 p.m.

A cultural theater show to feel the magic of Bali in every story!

Kuta Theater Jl. Kartika Plaza, Kuta : (0361) 762750 or Robert 0878 617997

Study Bahasa Indonesia in Bali Course dates: Jan. 5 – 6 IALF Bali Jl. Raya Sesetan No. 190, Denpasar : (0361) 225243 Email: ils@ialf.edu www.ialf.edu

Events Calendar of Events

Bali Organic Market Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunrise Organic Market offers you fresh veggies, dried goods (fruit, beans, etc.), local milk, natural remedies and nice people.

Jl. Merta Sari, Kerobokan : Dewi (0361) 735824 Bridging Table Every Saturday Starts 6:45 p.m.

Meet new people, enjoy welcome drink & canapés. bridges Bali Jl. Campuhan, Ubud : (0361) 970095 www.bridgesbali.com Circus in Town Dec. 20 Starts 1 p.m.

Clowns, circus acts and extravagant entertainment fit the bill on this fun filled day of revelry.

Nikki Beach Club, Nusa Dua CUCA Chef’s Festive Menu Dec. 15 to Jan. 2 Special festive menu available at Rp 480,000++, plus full a la carte menu.

Jl. Yoga Perkanthi, Jimbaran : (0361) 708066 www.cucaflavor.com Indosole Holiday Party Dec. 19 Starts 7 p.m.

Workshop, dinner, get together and party.

Indosole House Canggu Jazz and Blues Session Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday From 9 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.

Mannekepis Jazz and Blues Bistro Jl. Raya Seminyak, Kuta : (0361) 8475784 Christmas at Jazz Café Ubud Dec. 24 Feat. Dee Dice supreme soulstress Dec. 25 Feat. the legendary Jim Larkin, blues & soul Traditional roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings, veg. option available, at Rp 595,000.

Jl. Sukma 2, Ubud : (0361) 976594 www.jazzcafebali.com

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December 18, 2014

Limbo Hip – Where The Night Starts Every Saturday Starts 8 p.m.

Get together with friends, mingle and get down to our DJ’s music.

La Finca Jl. Subak Sari No. 77, Batu Belig, Kerobokan Made’s Warung Live Performances Balinese Dances Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday Live Music Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday Salsa Dance Every Sunday Made’s Warung Jl. Raya Seminyak, Kuta : (0361) 755297 Metis Friday Aperochic Every Friday Nothing beats the true indulgence at the new Metis Lounge with its delicate tapas and cocktails!

Jl. Petitenget No. 6, Kerobokan Christmas meals at the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort Dec. 24 Feast - Feast Market Brunch by Night Christmas Edition Bene - Sicilian Christmas Dec. 25 Feast - Feast Market Brunch by Night Christmas Edition Bene - Tuscany Christmas Dec. 28 Feast - Feast Market Brunch - Festive Edition Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort Jl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta : (0361) 755297 Sunset Beach Bar & Grill Every Saturday Chill-out music, snack-style menu, true Balinese hospitality.

Intercontinental Bali Resort Jl. Uluwatu 45, Jimbaran : (0361) 701888 Watch Worldwide Sports Events Live sports coverage at Meads, watch live AFL, NRL, Super Rugby, cricket, tennis, F1.

Meads Boutique Villas Hotel Jl. Pratama No. 99, Tanjung Benoa : (0361) 776604

Food & Drinks CANGGU

Berawa Beach Tavern Great tavern to enjoy sunset with cold beer, barbeque, hot dogs, and sport shows.

Jl. Perancak, Berawa, Canggu Echo Beach House Restaurant Every sunset, legendary barbecue with fresh seafood, prawns and lobsters, imported steaks, mouthwatering ribs and fresh, organic salads.

Jl. Pura Batu Mejan, Canggu : (0361) 7474604

DENPASAR

Kopi Bali A tiny, old school coffee shop selling Bali’s original coffee, Butterfly Globe Brand that was founded in 1935.

Jl. Gajah Mada No. 80, Denpasar Sushi Kawe Small Japanese food stall with very affordable prices.

Jl. Pulau Kawe, Denpasar

JIMBARAN

Chiringuito El Kabron Spanish Restaurant & Cliff Club Jl. Pantai Cemongkak, Pecatu : (0361) 7803416 www.chiringuitoelkabron.com Furama Café Good seafood at an affordable price and just the right sized portion.

Jl. Pantai Kedonganan, Jimbaran : (0361) 7470805

KEROBOKAN

Courses Adjani Bali Learn to prepare a variety of dishes, presentation and garnishing.

Kaliasem, Lovina, Singaraja : 081236232019 www.adjanibali.com Centrestage Music & Drama Music lessons, music studio, drama and musical theater, musical productions and DJ workshops, hip hop and V street dance.

Centrestage Jl. Dukuh Indah, Umalas, Kerobokan : 082144815165 Dance Lessons Dance for life.

Jl. Tangkuban Perahu No. 100x : (0361) 7452045

Kobetei A simple Japanese stall that serves good food, cheap for lunch and dinner.

Jl. Petitenget No. 17E, Kerobokan : (0361) 8025320

Gamelan Course – Mekar Bhuana Learn more about Balinese culture and music.

Jl. Gandapura III No. 501X, Denpasar : (0361) 464 201

Café Del Mar Delicious food and good value for money!

Jl. Sahadewa, Kerobokan : (0361) 7896700

Gaya Ceramic Arts Center Private tutelage for individuals and small groups — potter’s wheel throwing techniques to hand-crafted sculptures.

Jl. Raya Sayan, Ubud : (0361) 7451413 or 976220

KUTA

Bali Colada More up to date and with a fresh face, the ex Rajas Restaurant is now Bali Colada and offers a menu of customers’ favorites.

Kuta Square C 15, Kuta : (0361) 753130 Gloria Jean’s Another must visit coffee shop in Bali Jl. Tegal Wangi, Kuta : (0361) 766356 WOWCOW This Australian brand frozen yogurt adds more choices for yogurt lovers.

Beachwalk, 2nd Floor Jl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta

SANUR

Casablanca A popular bar with food in Sanur. Enjoy dinner in a romantic and colorful setting.

Jl. Danau Tamblingan No. 120, Sanur : 0813 863 080 Warung Mak Beng Traditional Balinese fish dishes.

Jl. Hang tuah No. 45, Sanur

Nirvana Batik Course Learn the traditional art of batik making Jl. Gautama No. 10, Padangtegal, Ubud : (0361) 975415 Silversmithing Classes – Studio Perak Recommended by Lonely Planet. A relaxing place to explore your creativity and make that piece of silver jewelry you’ve been dreaming about!

Jl. Hanoman, Ubud : (0361) 974244 info@studioperak.com The Mozaic Culinary Workshop Jl. Raya Sanggingan, Ubud : (0361) 975768 Email: info@mozaic-bali.com www.mozaic-bali.com

Paragliding

Bali Paragliders Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai No. 12 A / 99 Blok A5, Kuta : (0361) 704 769 Email: info@baliparagliders.com www.baliparagliders.com Timbis Aero Club Paragliding operations, flight instructors and tandem pilots.

Timbis Beach, Ungasan : 0812 391 6918 (Ketut Manda)

Rafting

Bali Payung Rafting Adventure For more than a dozen years, Ayung River rafting has been hugely popular.

Jl. Raya Payangan, Gianyar : 0819 994 4188 payung_rafting@yahoo.com Mega Rafting Bali Journey through winding gorges, luscious jungles, magnificent terraced rice fields and breathtaking waterfalls for unparalleled fun on the river.

Jl. Hayam Wuruk No. 114 Tanjung Bungkak, Denpasar : (0361) 246724

Shopping

Perum Dalung Permai Pertokoan A.11 – A15, Kerobokan Kaja Jl. Raya Seminyak No. 17, Kuta Jl. Raya Campuhan No. 45, Ubud

Cycling

SEMINYAK

Lola A delightful urban chic restaurant with beautiful presentation of many classic Indonesian foods.

L Boutique Hotel Jl. Petitenget No. 8, Seminyak Sambal Shrimp Offers you seafood and international selection.

Jl. Kayu Aya No. 6, 2nd Floor, Seminyak : (0361) 738389

UBUD

Abe Do Food prepared after you order it. The owner uses 100% organic products from local farmers.

Jl. Tirta Tawar No. 43, Kutuh, Ubud : 0813 380 21855 Kagemusha Light and simple Japanese food reminds you of real Japanese home cooking.

Jl. Raya Pengosekan, Ubud : (0361) 973134

Bali Star Cycling Young, dynamic, experienced friendly guides, great cycling tours. Routes off the beaten track for a totally different view on Bali then the average tourist has.

Jl. Imam Bonjol, Perum Cipta Selaras No. 30, Denpasar : (0361) 3172020 or 9228274

Diving Absolute Scuba Dive paradise in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago and at the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Jl. Pantai Silayukti, Padang Bai : +62 (0363) 42088 Email: info@absolutescubabali.com absolutescubabali.com

Nirmala Supermarket Jl. Uluwatu II no. 10 Jimbaran - Phone (0361) 81470919 Jl. Uluwatu Ungasan - : (0361) 705454 Jl. Uluwatu Pecatu - : (0361) 7472303 Jl. Uluwatu II no. 10 Jimbaran : (0361) 81470919 Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai 81 Jimbaran : (0361) 4729081

Spa

Eastern Garden Martha Tilaar Spa Luxurious, holistic, and culture blending.

Jl. Camplung Tanduk No. 5A, Seminyak : (0361) 731648

Where TO GO 2 Christmas Festivities at Intercontinental

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The festivities will begin on Christmas Eve at 10 a.m. with Santa Claus arriving in his horse-drawn carriage to spread his message of peace and goodwill.

Jl. Uluwatu, Jimbaran : (0361) 701 888

New Year’s Countdown with Earth, Wind & Fire Experience and Color Me Badd Dec. 31 Ring in the New Year with an exclusive performance by the Earth, Wind & Fire Experience with Al McKay at the Grand Ballroom, and at ZJ’s Bar & Lounge with the award-winning band Color Me Badd.

The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas Nusa Dua : (0361) 301 7777 ext. 6899 Email: festive.desk@themulia.com

Menjangan Island SINGARAJA Pulaki

LOVINA

Gilimanuk

Mt. Batur

Mt. Sangiang

West Bali National Park

Besakih Mt. Agung

NEGARA Pura Rambut Siwi

Ubud

Sangeh

AMLAPURA BANGLI KLUNGKUNG

TABANAN

GIANYAR Tanah Lot Kerobokan

DENPASAR Canggu Sanur Seminyak 3 4 Legian Kuta

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Ngurah Rai Int’ Airport

Jimbaran Pura Luhur Uluwatu

Ryoshi House of Jazz presents: Live Music Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Starts 9 p.m.

Jl. Raya Seminyak No. 17 www.facebook.com/page/ryoshi-bali/

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Benoa

1 Nusa Dua

Pura Batu Madan

Penida Island

3 4

Shine On!

NYE with Rae (Defected/UK) Dec. 31 From 4 p.m. – 4 a.m.

W Retreat & Spa Bali Jl. Petitenget, Seminyak : (0361) 4738106

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December 18, 2014