The image of Bali is that of terraced rice-paddies, great food, a hippy and arty element in Ubud and swimming and surfing on Bali’s many beaches. In other words, a kind of laid-back lotus-land.All to sadly in a place like Ubud, the 21 century has arrived with a bang. Clogged roads and bumper-to-bumper traffic, bus-loads of day-visitors tramping the streets and now even a Starbucks cafe in the main street. Of course all the usual US influences such as KFC and McDonalds have been evident for years in places like Kuta or Denpasar. The innocence which was Bali, especially in Ubud, is evaporating. The local people are as charming, gentle and smiling as ever. The prospects of things becoming ‘better’ are not evident. With the release of the movie Eat, Sleep, Pray, starring Julie Roberts, there are already signs of tourists, principally American women, headed for Ubud in droves, to try and ‘capture’ whatever the Julia Roberts character did in Ubud.

All rather sad………

source : news.ubud.com

On Monday August 20th 2007, Tjokorda Istri Putra Asmari died in hospital of Denpasar at the age of 76 years, after suffering from a sharp decline in health over the past few months. She leaves behind her younger brother, Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa, a half – brother, Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa, two half sisters, Tjokorda Istri Oka & Tjokorda Istri Rai, two children, Tjokorda Gde Budi Suryawan & Tjokorda Istri Sri Candrawati, their spouse and five grandsons.

Born in 1931, Tjokorda Istri Putra Asmari was oldest child of Tjokorda Gde Ngurah & Tjokorda Istri Muter of Puri Saren Kauh, the western wing of the central Ubud Palace. In the early ’50s she married Tjokorda Gde Putu Sudharsana from Puri Saren Kangin, the eastern wing of the palace. So this is the base for all the preparations leading up to the Pelebon (Royal Cremation).

After graduating from high school, Tjok Istri Putra Asmari continued her education by enrolling in a teacher’s college in Gianyar. In 1949 she began her long teaching career at the No. 1 Ubud Primary School until her retirement in 1990. Being a working mother became even more necessary when in 1975 she lost her husband. As she wanted her two children to have the opportunity of a tertiary education she continued to work hard for them to be able to graduate, while attending to family & village commitments without the support of a spouse to share the load. With the success of her offspring in their later lives, she knew that all of her struggles at this time in her life were worthwhile.

Upon Tjok. Istri Putra Asmari’s death, word was spread amongst the extended family of Puri Ubud. Because of a number of temple ceremonies being held in the Ubud area at the time a decision was made that her body should remain in the ceremonial bedroom at Puri Saren Kangin, where she would be considered to still be “sleeping” until such time as a formal announcement of her death could be made. Once this announcement is made, the extended Puri family becomes sebel (unclean), so that they should attend no other ceremonies until after the cremation ceremony is over.

It was determined from Balinese calendar that an auspicious date for the cremation would fall on 7th September. By 23rd August preparations for the cremation began in earnest with the formal announcement of Tjok Istri Putra Asmari’s death. The heads of the various families of Puri Ubud gathered to work out a schedule for all of the intricate preparations that precede the royal cremation. To be able to prepare for a cremation ceremony even on the simple of scale, a huge amount of labor is required. One of the first things that needed to be done was to call together all the heads of the different banjar (local councils) of the Ubud area to discuss a schedule for them assisting in all of the preparations. Five banjar are involved with the preparations of this cremation – Ubud Kelod (Southern Ubud), Ubud Tengah (Central Ubud), Ubud Kaja (Northern Ubud), Sambahan & Taman Kelod (Southern Taman). Each day since then people from the extended Puri family and banjar have come to Puri Saren Kanginto help with the preparations for the royal cremation. While the women have been helping with the preparations of the mountain of offering required for the ceremonies, the men construct the temporary platform needed, as well as cooking some of the food that makes up a part of the offerings.

Another member of the Puri family, also from Puri Saren Kangin, to be cremated with Tjok Istri Putra Asmari is Tjokorda Bagus Sudharsana, the fifth child of the late Tjokorda Gde Oka Sudharsana, older brother of Tjok Putra Sudharsana, Tjok Istri Putra Asmari’s husband. Tjok Bagus died in May 2005 at the young age of 45 years, and an effigy of his body will be used in the cremation ceremony.

One of the interesting parts for visitors to Bali to view is the construction of the tall bade (tower) that will be used to transport the body from the Puri to the cremation grounds and the two lembu (bulls) that hold the body of Tjokorda Putra Asmari and the effigy of Tjok Bagus as they are cremated. While the lembu are being built just outside of Ubud & will be brought to Puri close to the date of cremation, the bade is being constructed in the outer courtyard of Puri Ubud & on the street outside the Puri.

Because of the height of the bade, a lot of the work is done in the few days leading up to the cremation on the roadway leading to the north from the central intersection of Ubud, where the procession for the royal cremation ceremony will start, heading approximately 1 km east to the cremation grounds of the Puri.

Before the actual cremations, various other ceremonies are held to prepare the soul for its departure from the world. On 27th August a procession will head towards the beji (holy spring) at Campuhan to retrieve holy water. Later that afternoon a Mesiram (bathing ceremony) will be held, where the body is bathed with water perfumed with fragrant flowers, then anointed with offerings and fine clothes, to be blessed by the pedanda(high priest) who officiates at this ceremony. People from other Puri in Bali, as well as other friends of the family are invited to witness this very important ceremony held in the privacy of the Puri. In the days leading up to the cremation many people will come to call at Puri Saren Kangin, as they will also do on the actual day of the cremation.

At around 13.00 hrs on the 7th the body of Tjok Istri Putra Asmari & the effigy of Tjok Bagus will depart to the cremation grounds in the bade specially built for the occasion. The procession to the cremation ground will also include the lembu and many offerings that are used in the cremation.

Four days following the cremation, on 11th September, there will be another very important ceremony for the journey of the soul of Tjok Istri Putra Asmari, called a Ngasti, held at Puri Saren Kangin, followed the next day by Nyegara Gunung ceremony, where pilgrimage is made to the sea (Goa Lawah) & the mountains (Besakih). These ceremonies are to lift the soul to a more purified state so that she may then find a home prepared for her within her merajan (family temple).

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Please observe the dress requirements expected of people who wish to join in with a cremation ceremony:

• Wear sarong tied at the waist with a selendang (sash)
• Wear a top covering your shoulders

Ask one of the staff at your hotel if you do not have the required dress or need help in learning how to wear it properly.

Do not get in the way of anyone in the procession. As it takes off the crowd carrying bade & lembu will get very boisterous, so do not stand too near or you may get trampled.

Do not ever put yourself in a position higher than the pedanda and do not get to near the fires as the burning gets underway.

Please remember that the cremation ceremony is not put on for the benefit of tourists. It is the most important ceremony for the Balinese to provide a safe departure from the physical world for the souls of their deceased.

MP2BMA7DUJ3U

Time and space continues to change and the whirl of information grows bigger as it draws us in.Our perception are always leveled through our environment and information, and are symbolizedas communication tools. Globalization became convenient and fast by standardizing our senses in this system of the city. Will there ever be a moment where we will stop thinking, if we continue to parasite in this city?

Originally, perception meant “seeing” and “listening”, and to recognize what something is. Seeing “red” is a sense. Seeing “a red apple” is a perception. Seeing a red color is a primitive sense. After seeing a red apple, if one feels “it looks good” or “it looks sour”, it will only come because of our personal perception. Perception can change depending on the individual, but sense is something we all have.

If we see a crimson twilight sky that we rarely see in the city and we feel “beautiful”, isn’t it a primitive sense that we all humans possess? That moment, you can feel yourself freed from “thinking” and only “feeling”.

We think that it is time to lose that border you have had with your perception, and just “feel”. We hope to recall your primitive senses by making you realize your five senses. We aim to express the primitive senses that we all humans possess, no matter of boundaries, reces, cultures, or religions, through “Bali Deep”.

Time and space continues to change and the whirl of information grows bigger as it draws us in.Our perception are always leveled through our environment and information, and are symbolizedas communication tools. Globalization became convenient and fast by standardizing our senses in this system of the city. Will there ever be a moment where we will stop thinking, if we continue to parasite in this city?

Originally, perception meant “seeing” and “listening”, and to recognize what something is. Seeing “red” is a sense. Seeing “a red apple” is a perception. Seeing a red color is a primitive sense. After seeing a red apple, if one feels “it looks good” or “it looks sour”, it will only come because of our personal perception. Perception can change depending on the individual, but sense is something we all have.

If we see a crimson twilight sky that we rarely see in the city and we feel “beautiful”, isn’t it a primitive sense that we all humans possess? That moment, you can feel yourself freed from “thinking” and only “feeling”.

We think that it is time to lose that border you have had with your perception, and just “feel”. We hope to recall your primitive senses by making you realize your five senses. We aim to express the primitive senses that we all humans possess, no matter of boundaries, reces, cultures, or religions, through “Bali Deep”.

On Thursday, the 18th of August 2011, will be held the Pelebon ceremony of Anak Agung Niang Rai of Puri Agung Ubud. She is the wife of Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati (1910-1978), penglingsir (head of royal family) of Puri Agung Ubud since 1931 until 1978 and widely known as “the King of Ubud”.

Anak Agung Niang Rai is also the mother of Tjokorda Gde Putra Sukawati (Tjok Putra), Tjokorda Gde Oka AA Sukawati (Tjok Ace) and Tjokorda Gde Raka Sukawati (Tjok De). She also has five grandsons from these three sons.

Anak Agung Niang Rai was born in Bungbungan village, a village located in Klungkung regency of Bali around 1930. She married Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati of Puri Agung Ubud in January 1955.

Anak Agung Niang Rai then lived in Puri Agung Ubud and always accompanied her husband in serving the community. Tjokorda Agung was one of the most important figures in the history of Ubud. During his throne at Puri Agung Ubud, he pioneered the development of Ubud and it has made Ubud eventually became widely known as one of the art-cultural centers and a leading tourist area in Bali.

Anak Agung Niang Rai passed away at her age of 80s on Saturday the 14th of May 2011 (based on the Balinese calendar, the days was Saniscara Paing Wuku Ukir) at 8:15am. Her body then being lied down at Puri Agung Ubud. The Pelebon ceremony will be held on Thursday the 18th of August 2011 (Wraspati Pon Wuku Krulut). Thursday the 18th of August 2011 (Wraspati Pon Wuku Krulut).

The Pelebon ceremony or also known as a Ngaben (cremation) ceremony is one of the most famous Hindu-Balinese traditional-religious ceremonies. This ceremony is a form of respect from the families and local communities to Anak Agung Niang Rai.

Even though the ceremony is a cremation for the dead, but the atmosphere is always alive. Besides being a religious ceremony, the Pelebon ceremony also has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bali.

Pelebon ceremony is a ceremony to purify and return the elements of Panca Maha Butha (five elements of the universe that form the life) in human body (Bhuana Alit, the micro-cosmos) to the universe (Bhuana Agung, the macro-cosmos). The elements of Panca Maha Butha in the human body are:

- Pertiwi (the earth, solid matters): like the flesh, bones and teeth.
- Apah (the water): like the blood, tears, saliva and mucus.
- Teja (the light): like the aura and the light of eyes.
- Bayu (the air, the wind): like breathe and energy.
- Akasa (the space): the abstract elements (the ether) in human body

Pelebon ceremony is a Hindu-Balinese traditional-religious ceremony which had been held since centuries ago and still survived until now in the midst of changing times. In this ceremony we also can see the togetherness among the Puri Agung Ubud and the community, and among community members.

The body will depart the Puri Agung Ubud at around 12:30 pm. The body will be taken by a Bade (a cremation tower) with nine storeys and it is as high as 25 meters, accompanied by a 7.5 meters-high Lembu (a giant sarcophagus bull) and others Pelebon ceremony paraphernalia into the cremation location at the Dalem Puri Temple in Peliatan which is about 900 meters to the east of Puri Agung Ubud. The procession of this cremation ceremony is expected to finish at around 5 pm.

TJAMPUHAN HONEYMOON PACKAGE
4 days / 3 nights
US$ 455 ++

Package Includes:

• 3 nights/ 4 days accommodation in a Raja Room ~ overlooking the sacred Tjampuhan river valley and surrounding tropical greenery.
• Daily Buffet breakfast for two at the Terrace Restaurant.
• A romantic candlelight dinner for two includes a bottle of ‘Hatten Wine’ at our Terrace Restaurant. Our Chef will prepare a special menu for the occasion.
• Spa Harmony Package (enjoy all facilities at Tjampuhan Spa, in addition to a one-hour traditional full body massage, plus delicious Luncheon at the Spa Café).
• Daily use of all spa facilities such as; sauna, steam, hot and cold Jacuzzi.
• Deluxe seasonal fruit basket in the room upon arrival.
• Welcome drink and fresh towel at Lobby upon arrival.
• Special honeymoon gift upon departure.
• Shuttle service to Ubud center (based on schedule).

Term & Conditions:

• The package price is subject to 21 % Government tax and service charge.
• The package is valid from 01 April – 30 June 2009.
• The package is valid for double occupancy (two persons).
• Extension night at US$ 95++/night include breakfast, subject to 21% Government tax and 10% service charge.
• Any cancellation made by 14 days prior to arrival is subject to 50% of the package rate. Cancellation within 24 hours prior to arrival and No Show are subject to 100% of total amount of the package.