Balinese scholar Pak Made Surya will offer a seven-day intensive workshop for five students only, studying different aspects of traditional Balinese Healing. Each day from August 4-10 comprises a seminar at Oka Wati’s Bungalows in Ubud, followed by a visit to a different Healer in various regions of Bali.
Many visitors to Bali seek out a traditional healer, and no doubt more will do so after the August release of the Julia Roberts film “Eat Pray Love,” where the heroine returns to Bali after her first visit in order to further study with a Balinese Healer.
Pak Surya has studied for eleven years with renowned Balinese Healer Cokorda Rai, and has organized and led Healing Arts tours in Bali since 1986. He lives part of the year in the US, is fluent in English and an excellent translator. For info and itinerary, go to www.danutours.com or danu#earthlink.net.
WILLING THE RAIN AWAY
Do you think if we talk loudly about the lovely sunny weather we are having, we might be able to convince the weather gods to move on? I’m having a go. Too much wind and rain for my lovely Ubud. Not to mention I have a mud bath where my front lawn used to be! So I suggest we speak loudly and with great enthusiasm about the blue sky and lovely warm days, whenever they appear.
SUNNY LUNCHES
Now the rain’s easing off, The Grotto’s lovely back garden will be the perfect spot for a lazy lunch watching the native birds and butterflies. The Grotto, on Jl Pengosekan, down the hill from the gas station, is a great spot for live music in the evening, with excellent spaces available for business and clubs to meet. Ph 081339 857377. grottoubud#hotmail.com
CHEEKY MONKEYS EVERYWHERE
One of Ubud’s best known artists, Joe Mintardja, has almost completed a series of hilarious paintings of monkeys, including a very irreverent “The Last Supper”, where the 12 apostles have become hairy indeed! Java Joe has created the marvelous series for Cinta Grill on – appropriately - Jl Monkey Forest.
Joe also strums the occasional tune as a guest musician next door to Cinta at Laughing Buddha, and is – when he fits us into his busy schedule – one of the highlights of Flava lounge’s Wednesday open Mike night! Come to think of it, Joe’s one of Ubud’s nicest cheeky monkeys himself.
NEW LOVE NESTS IN UBUD’S HEART
Meanwhile the entrepreneurial team behind culturally sensitive Cinta Grill, Siam Sally and other great Bali Good Food (BFG) establishments are almost ready to open Cinta Inn (Love Inn, in English?). Actually, each of the seven private, stylish, air-conditioned rooms would make a great love nest. They are tucked behind Cinta Grill, with verandas overlooking a very tempting looking pool, which can be seen through the restaurant’s rear doors. Guests have the advantage of a la carte breakfast from Cinta’s delicious menu, discounts at all BFG restaurants, wifi, flat screens, DVDs, and iPod docks. All right in the middle of Jl Monkey Forest, but quiet as a pin dropping, tucked behind the café. $US100 ++ high season, $US80++ low season. Opening end of this week.
SACRED ARTS YOGA TRAINING – SCHOLARSHIP
Ubud’s next School of Sacred Arts Yoga Teacher Training, beginning November 21, 2010, will support SOSA’s scholarship program for Balinese students who want to teach yoga at an international level.
With so many people coming to Bali to learn and connect with our growing yoga community, it’s good to know some of the money is going to international accreditation for Balinese teachers.
School of Sacred Arts have run several successful yoga teacher trainings in Ubud and other countries over the last few years, certifying students from more than a dozen countries in Europe, North America, Japan and of course Indonesia. More info & bookings: www.schoolofsacredarts.net
HELL IN THE HALLWAY
“Whenever God closes one door He always opens another, even though sometimes it’s hell in the hallway.” I had to find that out via an email from a friend recently, but it’s true isn’t it? Just have to trust that there’s another door on the other side of the flames.
OUTRAGEOUS, SPLENDID BIKINIS
On Jl Raya Ubud, up near Casa Luna and right next to the Commonwealth Bank ATM, is the most sensational collection of bathing suits, especially bikinis. More colours, glitter, feathers and baubles than you’ve ever seen in one place. Fabulous.
UBUD SILVERSMITH ENJOYS JAIL
Sounds like the stuff of a TV doco. A group of seven inmates at Bali’s Kerobokan jail are learning the jewellery trade via a rehabilitative program run by Joanna Witt of Studio Perak, who also runs classes for tourists from her Ubud store. They include one of the less known members of the so-called Bali Nine, Si Yi Chen, and a group of six Indonesian prisoners. To Joanna, they are just students and she says it’s the most personally rewarding thing she has ever done.
A group of special silver pendants based on Taoism are on sale at her Ubud shops. The pendants were co-designed by Joanna and Si Yi Chen and $2 from each sale goes into the cost of continuing these classes. Please visit Studio Perak on Jl Hanoman for more information, but don’t expect her to reveal any the private stories that she’s heard from the prisoners.
IN SEARCH OF A QUIET CUPPA
Where’s the best spot for a cappuccino or cafe latte in Ubud? I’d love some reader assistance with this. For you, is the “best” place on a corner of a busy street, where you can see the tourist bustle happening all around, or at the market perhaps, or sitting quietly with scenery, no traffic, not a sound to be heard except the ducks? For that matter, what is the flavour of that favourite cuppa? Email: baubudnews#gmail.com
NO MORE KISSES OR CUTTING
Alas my laptop keyboard no longer wants to type an x. Each time I want to type a word with this letter, I have to cut and paste it from another document (well, copy, delete, paste actually, since cutting also involves this little letter). Sorry to disappoint all my close friends, but no more letters ending with kisses.
