Bali Local Travel Agency “PT. HIRO-CHAN” is for Your Bali Trip!
“More useful information for our guests!”
We updated all the information including sightseeing and public security. Check them out to have a safe and enjoyable trip in Bali!!! Also, advices by our Japanese residents of Bali are available!
◆ Early Dong Son Culture ◆
Bali Island had people moved to live around 2000 B.C. and started being influenced by India and China from 1 B.C. Dong Son culture (early Bronze Age of Southeast Asia) in Northern Vietnam also has influenced their culture. Penataran Sasih Temple in Ubud has Dong Son drums which are a symbol of the culture.
● Tour to Penataran Sasih Temple, Master 6 Mejor Temples
◆ The Kingdom of Gelgel ◆
Around 9th Century, trades between Bali Island and Java and Sumatera Islands was full active. The king of Bali in 11th century, Udayana Warmadewa married a princess of Java in East Java palace. Later on, the emperor of East Java changed and was attacked by the Java Warmadewa Dynasty in 13th century to end the dynasty. In the end, the Kepakisan nobles from the Majapahit Empire founded the kingdom of Gelgel under the Majapahit Empire.
● Tour to visit East Bali including Gelgel Temple “The Touch”
◆ Java / Hindu Coulture ◆
The Majapahit Empire fell by Muslim and monks and craftsmen escaped to Bali Island. Balinese culture influenced by Java and Hindu such as wooden carvings, picture books and shadow plays bloomed. Dang Hyang Nirartha from Java built temples including Uluwatu Temple and Tanahlot Temple and a Hindu reformation movement started prevailing.
● Detail of the Shadow Play
◆ Rules by 7 Kingdoms ◆
The kingdom of Gelgel did not continue for a long time. Once the capital moved to the Semarapura palace (Klungkung) in 1651by a rebellion, each nobleman started owning the right. There were 7 kingdoms in Bali Island such as Tabanan, Badung, Ginyar, Karangasem, Bangli and Mengwi from 17th to 18th century. They fought against each other for the supremacy.
◆ Innervations by Dutch ◆
The colonial wars extreme in 19th century, and the Dutch ruined main kingdoms from 1849 to 1908. They finally destroyed the Klungkung kingdom in 1908, but after the “Puputan” by the noblemen of the Klungkung blamed internationally. In the end, they issued the governmental policy to protect traditional Balinese culture.
Due to the policy, Bali Island was introduced as “last Paradise” to Europe and many artists including Walter Spies visited Bali. A style of the Traditional Balinese dance, Gamelan music and Bali paintings which is today’s popular sightseeing was founded in 1930s.
● Detail of the Puputan Monument
● Detail of the Traditional Balinese Dance
◆ Occupation by Japanese ◆
Bali Island has been under Japan. During the Pacific War in 1942, Japan attacked it and occupied instead of doing Holland themselves, but it ended after 3 years and. Bali became a party of Republics as the small state of Sunda” after Sukarno declared the independence of India.
A year after that, Holland attacked Bali again and the fight became powerful that led death of Lieutenant Colonel, Gusti Ngurah Rai who is still a hero of them and whose name became a name of the airport. In 1950, Bali Island officially became a part of the Republic of Indonesia.
◆ Becoming One of the
World’s Leading Resorts ◆
Since 1970, Bali has been growing as the best resort in Indonesia. Tourists all over the world visit and fall in love with their “original Balinese performing arts and culture”. The mixture of Hindu and Balinese faiths creates the originalities of Bali as a resort and a religious aspect.
◆ Kecak Dance ◆
It is based on Sanghyand Dance which is known as a ceremonial dance for a long time and used to be very mysterious because outsiders and foreigners were not allowed to see it. Its content took in the Hindu epic Ramayana that is the familiar love story about Prince Rama and his Princess Sita due to the suggestions of a German artist, Walter Spies and the today’s tourist version of Keack was created.
【Dance Troupes of Keack Dance】
Sambahan｜Trene Jeggala｜Cak Rina
【Kecak Dance Tour】
● Kecak Dance in Uluwatu Temple
● Kecak Dance in Tanah Lot Temple
◆ Legong Dance ◆
Their fancy costumes and delicate dance movements are very unique. It developed as the royal dance called “Legong = the Palace Legong” and their female dancers performed the most beautiful dance in Bali. There are 15 types that are based on poems of the dynasty and Hindu epics poems in the middle ages and such as Legon Lasem, Legon Jobog and Legon Kuntir. It might be fun to compare and find differences of the each dance.
【Dance Troupes of Legong Dance】
Tirta Sari ｜Sada Budaya｜Yamasari
【Legong Dance Tour】
● Dance in Ubud + Spa
● Bali Night Market (Pasar Kereneng)
◆ Barong Dance ◆
It is based on a ceremonial dance, “Calonarang” in Puladalam Temple and one of the most important things for Balinese religious life. Each troupe and area has small differences. It is about the fight between a symbol of good, Barong and a symbol of evil, Rangda. Balinese believes both good and evil exist in the world based on the unfinished ending of the story.
【Dance Troupes of Barong Dance】
Sada Budaya｜Saha Dewa｜Cator Eka Bedih
【Barong Dance Tour】
● Master Bali A (Bali island all day tour )
● Bali Morning Market（Pasar Badung）
◆ Wayang Kulit ◆
It is a shadow play which began in Java around 11th century and people from the Majapahit kingdom brought into Bali in 15th century. They use a puppet made from leather of buffalo (kulit), so named “Wayang Kulit = Puppets of the Leather”. It developed as a story telling of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata after it coming into Bali. A stolly teller, Dalang takes a part of Wayang does all the parts by himself at the same time including controlling puppets, leading gamelan and all the voices of the story telling and speeches.
【Dance Troupes of Wayang Kulit】
Wayang Kulit Kerta｜Oka Kartini｜Pondok Bamboo
【Wayang Kulit Tour】
● Dance in Ubud + Spa
【Optional Way to watch Wayang Kulit】
● Driver Service
◆ Jegog ◆
“Bamboo Gamelan” called Jegog is passed along only Negara area in Bali. A group performs with14 instruments of Jegog. The length, diameter and thickness of the largest one are 3m, 18 m and 3cm. The sound of the bamboo is the lowest tone we can hear. After the period under Holland, it came to an end once, but returned by Mr. Suwentra , a leader of Suar Aguns.
【Dance Troupes of Jegog】
Yowana Swara｜Suar Aguns (Negara)
【Jegog Tour】
● Bali Jegog Tour at Negara
● Dance in Ubud + Spa
◆ Style of Kamasan ◆
This flat painting without perspective sensation is traditional Balinese painting technique passed along since 16th century. It is mainly about stories of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
◆ Style of Ubud ◆
It is a new style of painting influenced by a Dutch painter, Rudolf Bone in 1930th and developed mainly in Ubud. The theme is life of villages and they use techniques of perspective drawing a stereoscopic effect.
◆ Style of Batuan ◆
The painting of the mixture of Kamasan and modern western styles about Hindu myths and agricultural life in Bali uses darker tones with a perspective drawing technique without a stereoscopic effect
◆ Style of Pengosekan ◆
The Pengosekan style being inherited in a village, Pengosekan in Ubud, uses vivid colors and has a simple structure to paint the beauties of the nature.
◆ Young Artists ◆
A technique by young artists influenced by a Dutch painter, Arie Smit, uses vivid colors without shadows and has brightness generally. The view of natures and agricultural life in Bali are common themes of the painting.
◆ Batik of Tohapati Village ◆
There are many small villages that have original handicrafts on the way to Ubud from Sothern resort of Bali. Tohapati Village is located outside of Denpasar is popular for Balinese Batik. Javanese Batik is more popular compared with Tohpati ones, but you can see various types of their original designs, shapes and materials such as cotton and silk. The Batik made from silk is the highest quality among the Batiks. Shops in Tohapati Village have many selections of the Batik with different prices such as coasters, pouches, handkerchiefs, dresses, shirts and scarves.
【Batik Shops in Tohpati】
Bidadari Batik
【Tohpati Village Tour】
● Arts Village and Workshop Tour
【Optional Way to Go to Tohpati Village】
● Driver Service
◆ Pieces of Silver of Celuk Village ◆
Celuk Village is famous for a minute piece of silver work. There are many studios with own galleries with a sign of “Silver & Gold”. They use a lot of thin lines to decorate which is their beautiful delicate originality. Don’t forget to check out the accessories and gamelan balls with turquoise and natural stones!
【Silver Work Gallery of Celuk Village】
Sari Dewi ｜DEWI’s｜Bara
【Celuk Village Tour】
● Bali Master 3 Major Rice Terraces
【Optional Way to Go to Celuk Village】
● Driver Service
A price negotiation is available at most of the silver stores in Celuk Village. It all depends on your shopping skills that how much you can get discounts! If you buy more than 2 items, the discount rates will be higher, but you need to know values of the items you want to buy first. It is not necessary to buy, if you are not happy about the price.
◆Stone Carving of Batuburan Village◆
Batuburan village, batu means stone and buran means moon, is famous for Stone Carving and Barong Dance. You will be deeply moved by stone statues of Hindu gods and Ganesha along both sides of the street. They use volcanic ashstones often used for delicate carvings. You can also enjoy Barong Dance which is performed ay 4 or 5 theaters every morning in the village.
【Baraong Dance of Batuburan Village】
Saha Dewa｜Bukmasang Barong Dengjalan
【Batuburan Village Tour】
● Arts Village and Workshop Tour and Sightseeing
【Optional Way to go to Batuburan Village】
● Driver Service
I’m a big fan of the stone carvings. Anyone who love taking pictures of them or is interested in Hindu gods, I recommend visiting places of the stone carvings. People there usually speak only Indonesian, if you are with a guide, it is possible ask for you to show you some works and the prices. I bought 2 statues for ￥2,000 and brought them back to Japan.
◆ Wood Carving of Mas Village ◆
The most popular area for Balinese wood carving is Mas Village. In 15th century, Dangyang Dwijendra known as Nirartha from the Majapahit Kingdom who moved to there and provided the villagers ability of wood carving through divine relation there was the beginning of their wood carving. In 1930s, it became artistic instead of decollating palaces and temples by Walter Spies. They use many types of woods such as Mahogany and Sandalwood. You can see works of humans, animals and Hindu gods at galleries.
【Mas Village Tour】
● Arts Village and Workshop Tour
【Optional Way to go to Mas Village】
● Driver Service
Sorm piece of the work takes 2 or 3 month. I’ve never been to the galleries, but am sure I must check them out! Carvings using sandalwoods and fragrant woods which have the high scarcity value will last a life time!