Bali - The Maccaroni Club

Jln Legian's resident temple of cool features oh-so-trendy lounge music, exotic flowers, hip decor and scrumptious Italian eats. There's wi-fi internet access for the media savvy,
live music every night and a valet to park the motorbikes you have just hired.

Maccaroni -- Feel the Groove at Maccaroni - all Day - all Night.

Maccaroni was established in 1996. Using a blend of urban Milan and contemporary Bali,
the architecture creates a vibrant and uplifting atmosphere to be restaurant/lounge.
This exciting venue is both casual and upbeat, making a great place for families,
surfers and businessman alike.

The Executive Chef will tempt you with his extensive menu of Italian cuisine, Asian fusion
as well as his signature dishes, easily affordable and genuinely delicious food,
all prepared with the finest important ingredients.

Oxygen Therapy Bar open everyday. Experience the selection of soul, jazz Latin, house and deep house with special DJ's and resident DJ's every night. The Soul Flip band plays an exotic blend of traditional music and electronic beats, together with a cultural dance performance. Maccaroni Club's radiates chic Italian style in every form - from its awesome architecture and innovative menu to its cool ambience and sophisticated music.

For more info:

The Maccaroni Club
Jln. Legian No. 52
Kuat Bali - Indonesia
Tel: 0361-754662
Fax: 0361-750437

Bali - Libur-libur di Indonesia

Gue mohon ampun yang entry kali ini bisa dikarang dalam Bahasa Bali … oops Bahasa Indonesia. Ini kali ke-2 gue bersama teman-teman berlibur di Bali. Cuma kali ini liburannya lebih panjang sedikit.

Bali enggak semeriah tahun yang sudah. Yang pasti lawatan kali ini bisa bersamaan dengan acara World Cup. Juga Festival Budaya Bali diadakan di Denpasar dei. Kami ber-3 menginap di daerah Legian, enggak jauh dari daerah Kuta dan Seminyak. Bamboo Bed and Breakfast kepunyaan Villa de daun, tempat tinggal mewah pilihan kami kali ini. Mahal loe!

Seperti tahun sudah juga kami memilih tour persendirian, pengusaha yang sama Om Harry dan Om Harris. Ternyata peningkatan ongkos minyak bisa membuat pembayaran tour juga meningkat. Kali ini kami lewat tempat-tempat berbeda yang bolum dilewat tahun sudah.

Pada keesokan harinya (hari ke-2) kami berangkat ke utara Bali – Singaraja yang juga ibukota lama Bali. Disini enggak banyak tempat menarik, yang ada cuma Lovina sebuah kota kecil 10 km dari Singaraja. Kami makan tengahari di sebuah hotel di tepian pantai. Mahal loe Rupiah50,000 sekepala. Seterusnya kami ke kawasan gunung tinggi di Bedugul.

Ternyata dingin keadaannya. Pasti ada tourist cuma kurang aja. Kraftangan banyak disini terutama kalung-kalung manik dan pendant-pendant yang diperbuat dari kerang-kerangan, siput-siput, kelapa dan bahan hutan. Banyak yang gue beli dan setiap kali membeli siap meminta gratis mahupun diskon. Ada yang lumayan juga ongkosnya. Yang penting bisa beramah mesra bila membeli dan pandai berbahasa Indonesia. Ayat ini sering keluar dari mulut gue .. Bu, yang ini berapa sih?

Tempat-tempat lain yang dilewat langsung sepanjang perjalanan ialah Airterjun Gitgit. Airterjunnya cuma besa-besa aja, enggak ada yang spesel bangat. Cuma arah jalan ke airterjun mempunyai lingkungan tajam dan perlu berhati-hati.

Hari ke-3 dengan mobil kami ke Denpasar aja, putar-putar si sekitar kota, melawat museum, gedung gedung dan ke Kal Mal Bali gedung pakaian mahal dimana Planet Hollywood Bali terletak disini. Waduh uda banyak selebriti intranasional bisa uda ke sini loe, semuanya santik dan gantang-gantang dong. Sore sekitar 30 minit ke jam 6 kami balik ke Legian. Malamnya gue mengikut haluan sendirian, gue ke daerah Seminyak dengan mobil, teman lain santai di pantai, yang seorang tidur di kamar aja. Kepenatan katanya. Di daerah Seminyak ini banyak ya discotheque dan pub atau barnya. Ada yang mengenakan fee untuk masuk umpamanya ke Double Six.

Hari ke-4 kami menuju ke barat Bali ke Besakih – temple-temple Hindu yang dianuti penduduk Bali popular disini. Gunung Berapi Agung yang tertinggi di bali yang masih aktif lagi juga bisa disini. Pengunjung dikenakan memakai sarung agar aurat tertutup bila bisa melawat temple. Disepanjang jalan, ternyata adat tradisi Bali masih diamalkan dengan upacara-upacara agama, papan tanda dengan notis seperti ini kerap kelihatan – Hati-hati, ada upacara keagamaan.

Seterusnya kami melawat tarian Barong, tapi agak lambat ke tempat pertunjukkan. Selepas itu kami melawat cara-cara babi guling disediakan untuk dibuat sate babi, bubur, dan sebagainya. Di daerah Legian dan juga Kuta, Ubud, Seminyak, Besakih, Tabanaan, ternyata warung-warung menyediakan masakan tradisi babi guling banyak sekali.

Sekitar 30 minit lepas jam 5 sore, kami ke Uluwatu di selatan Bali untuk pertunjukkan tarian kecak. Tikit masuk ke pertunjukkan lumayan ongkosnya – Rupiah50,000. Balik ke hotel gue kepenatan bangat. Namun makan malam di restoran mewah enggak terlepas. The Maccaroni Club menghidangkan masakan barat terutama masakan Itali. Sebelum balik ke kamar kami berkunjung ke discotheque terbesar di Legian – Bounty Club.

Hari ke-5 dibiarkan kosong untuk acara membeli-belah di Kuta. Cuma kali ini gue kurang berminat membeli ole-ole karana ini lawatan kali ke-2 uda. Tapi gelang-gelang tangan logam silver tetap dibeli dan kalung-kalung manik yang unik untuk koleksi pribadi yang bisa digunakan dalam acara modeling dan fashion show di Sabah. Sebanyak Rupiah600,000 ribu dilabur untuk tujuan ini. Makan sorenya di warung terkenal – Made Warung di Jln Kuta Pantai, dan kembali ke hotel untuk beristi rihat.

Keseluruhannya gue dan teman-teman menjangka ini lawatan penghujung ke Bali. Cukup uda berlipur 2 tahun berturut-turut ke sini. Bali yang pernah suatu tika dahulu diagung-agungkan pulauan impian untuk bersantai dan berbulan madu nyata sekali benar. Kota ini memang unik dari segi budaya adat resam, dan upacara keagamaannya.

Bila seseorang itu bisa melawat Bali pasti terasa perbedaannya yang enggak ada di negara sendiri. Inilah yang dikatakan jauh perjalanan lebih banyak pengetahuan. Yang pasti ini cuma tinggalan kenangan manis gue dan teman-teman semasa di Bali. Bisa ke temu lagi pak, mas, bu. Sekian buat kali ini.

Bali – Her Common Features

Being a traveler it doesn’t take me long to notice the common features found in Bali. Here are some of the commonest stuff the moment you step your foot in beautiful Bali.

Motorcycles – oh yes! they are more of them than cars, there are for hire, used by both tourists and Balinese, and the most convenient vehicle to go around Bali.




Massage – thousand of these services are available ranging from foot reflexology, authentic Balinese aromatherapy to full body massage, pretty cheap dude.








Tattoo – something to remember from your trip in Bali, permanent or semi-permanent by excellent tattooists.









Fun T – various fun tees are popular among tourist, make sure you to get one for yourselves wear them back home if you dare.




Surfing – Bali is a paradise for surfers, there are lots of surf shops and surfing lesson is available for the novice.









$$ Exchange – double check/count and ask for receipt every time you exchange your currency, be cautious if you are a first timer to Bali.

Offerings – it would be nice if you don’t step on these small offerings placed in front of the shops along the road.

Babi Guling – a toasted piglet, a traditional Balinese delicacies found in many parts of Bali, I pity those Babe.





Cigarettes – a policy that us still practiced in Indonesia – public advertisement of various cigarettes brands. Gudang Garam – Pria Punya Selera it says.







Bintang – an Indonesian version of Heineken simply because it owns by Heineken, a Dutch company. Anchor is know an Ankor here.








Wood carving – the Balinese are skillful artisans especially wood carving the Ramanyana epic, animals and plants found in Bali.








Paintings – reprinted paintings are abundant while authentic ones are sold in US$.

Trip to Bali, Indonesia – The Asian Tour

Since most of my previous trips were mainly in UK and continental Europe I will be visiting more and more of the Asian countries in my next few years on holidays. I visited Bali Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei Darusalam last year and this year (2006) I have just returned from my repeat trip to Bali. I will be heading to Bangkok, Thailand in August and Manila, Philippines in October.

Just a rough guide to those visiting Bali, here are excerpts taken from Lonely Planet – Southeast Asia: On a Shoestring (2006) a company that is always in my baggage. This is just a guide, for more info you may need to purchase the book.

Dangers and Annoyances

Persistent hawkers are the bane of most visitors in Bali. The best way to deal with them is to ignore them from the first instance. You may be offered drugs on the street, particularly in Kuta, but you’re unlikely to get a good deal. The government takes the smuggling, use and sale of drugs very seriously, and entrapment by police us a real possibility. Bali’s famed oong (magic mushrooms) contain psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen that can have unpredictable effects. A different danger exists at the beaches at Kuta and Legian, which are subject to heavy surf and strong currents – swim between the flags.

Scams

Travelers have been stung badly by card game cons and dodgy holiday ‘timeshare’ deals. Some have been tricked into paying large amounts for unnecessary repairs to rental cars and motorcycles. Gigolos, ‘guides’ and friendly locals have persuaded visitors to handover money to help pay for education expenses and life-saving operations and moneychangers are adept at switching notes at the last minutes – a healthy skepticism is your best defense.

Hinduism

Although the Balinese are nominal Hindus, there are dozens of differences between the way the religion is practiced in Bali and India. While the Balinese worship the same trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, they also have their own supreme deity, Sanghyang Widi. Additionally, the Balinese never put their trinity on show, employing vacant shrines and empty thrones where Indian Hindu use layers of Technicolor iconography. One element of Balinese Hinduism that is impossible to avoid – try not to step on them – are the small offerings placed on the pavement every morning to placate bad spirits and pay homage to the good ones.

Denpasar

At first glance, Denpasar is the Jekyll to Kuta’s Hyde, straight-faced city of government and bureaucracy, where tourists are anathema and life plods along at a distinctly workday pace. Although little more than a skip and a jump from Kuta’s seafront strip, Denpasar feels a million miles from the razzmatazz of its most boistrous suburb, offering little more than a handful of hotels and nothing in the way of night life.

Kuta

Bali’s backpackers and package tourists meet on the promenade of Kuta Beach, a boisterous, fun-filled moment to holiday hedonism. Tourists sizzlw in the sunshine by day, gyrate through the happy hours of Jln Legian and Jln Seminyak at night and then stay in bed with their hangovers and who ever else they might have met over their cocktails – the following morning. A bustling menageric of surf shops, bars, touts and travelers, Kuta is the place where Indonesia slips on its boldest Bermudas and really lets its hair down.

Central Kuta

Many cheap places are along the tiny alleys and lanes between Jln Legian and Jln Pantai Kuta, only a short walk from the beach, shops, bars, and restaurants.