About a week ago I was visiting a very nice village in east Bali (Karangasem). This village is located along a beautiful beach where you can do diving or snorkeling. What I really like being here is that almost free of polution, fresh air, green environments, hills and mount Agung decorate the landscape.

Do not worry about accommodation here, there are many hotels and bungalows (cottages) along the beach from luxury to something that fit your budget. One of the bungalows here, a beachfront bungalow is Temple Cafe and Seaside Cottages run by a nice lady name Ibu Rangda. They run not just Cafe and Cottages but also souvenir shop and salon for spa and massage.

Please visit their website www.balibeachfront-cottages.com, it is completed with picture gallery of the cottages and the panorama around it.

Bali will celebrate the first day of Saka Year 1930 in the Year 2008 on March 7th. Just like every Nyepi Day in the past, every gate including airport will be closed to celebrate the only perhaps in the world “Day of Silence”.

The Balinese Hindu believes that before entering the new year we should in the state of meditation for self introspections and to achieve this should be supported by a silence environment. Not only meditation but it should also devout through fasting all day and no movement outside the house compound, and to switch off fire or light for 24 hours (00.01am - 00.01am next day). A group of local security force (in every village) or “pecalang” will make sure no one out to the road and patrol all day and only permit vehicle for emergency situation.

This silence condition also will have to be supported by everyone who lives and stay in the island including tourist.

A special celebration a day before the Nyepi Day is the Ogoh-Ogoh parade. The Ogoh-Ogoh is a big puppet in the form of moster, the symbol of evil. This ceremony is to purify the villages from the evil spirit for the starting year of Saka. There are, however some people use this ceremony with alcohol drink all night which will be either a hard day for the Police to give maximum security for the community.

My recent visit to Tabanan was visiting the Hot Spring, one of the three hotsprings in the area. Located only 45 minutes from Denpasar, the area is easy to access with the car and is managed to become tourist destination.

Although not very popular among the foreign tourist, this place has been famous among domestic visitors to enjoy to pool with nice scenery of the River and rice terrace. They provide three pools; hot spring, hot spring with jacuzzi, and pool with cold water.

I also notice that they also rent several bungalows that directly look through the scenery.