Black sand that has healing power, why you should not whistle while strolling down a beach at night, Bali's most beautiful and least-visited rice terraces, a very special gift to take home from Bali, a workshop where Batiks are created with unique natural dyes, a place to petition the spirits for a baby, the flute-playing pigeons of Ubud, an enchanting village of traditionally styled bamboo roofs, a haunting reunion of some of Bali's most outrageous demons, one of the world's best unofficial streetart exhibitions, a tree it is impossible to plant, an ancient fertility statue with "more than the usual quota of penises", a mysterious breed of cattle, a village of the deaf, a miniature version of Java's Unesco-listed Borobudur, fantastic tranced bull races, the world's most spectacular traditional fishing craft, an architectural wonder of Bali's Christian heartland, Bali's only colonial-era rubber plantation ... Bali offers countless opportunities to step off the beaten path and is home to any number of well-hidden treasures that are revealed only to residents and travelers who are ready to explore. Secret Bali - An unusual guide is an indispensable resource for those who think they already know Bali or would like to discover its hidden places, taking you far from the crowds and the usual clichés.

Whether you're seeking serenity on a sandy beach, learning to freedive, or trekking to the top of a volcano, a spiritual adventure awaits with Moon Bali & Lombok. Inside you'll find: Flexible itineraries including a week in Bali or Lombok and a two-week island-hopping itinerary covering Bali, Lombok, and the Gili Islands Strategic advice for surfers, spiritual and wellness travelers, culture mavens, and more Must-see highlights and unique experiences: Rent a scooter and cruise past stunning rice terraces, breathe in the smell of incense and witness the Balinese Hindu rituals at Lempuyang Temple, or marvel at the cliff-top temple of Uluwatu. Crack open a fresh coconut, order authentic mie goreng from a food stand, and swap stories with local Sasak people over a thick cup of coffee. Dance until dawn at a beachfront bar or escape the crowds and find solitude on a black sand beach Outdoor adventures: Trek through rainforests to the summit of Mount Rinjani and watch the sunrise peek over the caldera rim. Swim with manta rays and sea turtles, scuba dive among shipwrecks and coral reefs, or surf the legendary waves How to experience Bali and Lombok like an insider, support local and sustainable businesses, avoid over-tourism, and respectfully engage with the culture Expert insight from Chantae Reden, a writer with deep ties to both islands, on where to eat, how to get around, and where to stay, from guest cottages and beach bungalows to luxurious resorts Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Reliable background information on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and history, as well as common customs and etiquette Handy tools including Balinese, Sasak, and Indonesian phrasebooks, packing suggestions, and travel tips for families with kids, seniors, travelers with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ travelers With Moon Bali & Lombok's practical tips and local know-how, you can plan your trip your way. Exploring more of Asia? Check out Moon Vietnam or Moon Japan.

Covering the history of Bali from before the Bronze Age to the presidency of Megawati Sukarnoputri, this examination highlights the ethnic dynamics of the island and its place in modern Indonesia. Included is an analysis of the arrival of Indian culture, early European contact, and the complex legacies of Dutch control. Also explored are the island's contemporary economic progress and the environmental problems generated by population growth and massive tourist development.

Along rivers in Bali, small groups of farmers meet regularly in water temples to manage their irrigation systems. They have done so for a thousand years. Over the centuries, water temple networks have expanded to manage the ecology of rice terraces at the scale of whole watersheds. Although each group focuses on its own problems, a global solution nonetheless emerges that optimizes irrigation flows for everyone. Did someone have to design Bali's water temple networks, or could they have emerged from a self-organizing process? Perfect Order--a groundbreaking work at the nexus of conservation, complexity theory, and anthropology--describes a series of fieldwork projects triggered by this question, ranging from the archaeology of the water temples to their ecological functions and their place in Balinese cosmology. Stephen Lansing shows that the temple networks are fragile, vulnerable to the cross-currents produced by competition among male descent groups. But the feminine rites of water temples mirror the farmers' awareness that when they act in unison, small miracles of order occur regularly, as the jewel-like perfection of the rice terraces produces general prosperity. Much of this is barely visible from within the horizons of Western social theory. The fruit of a decade of multidisciplinary research, this absorbing book shows that even as researchers probe the foundations of cooperation in the water temple networks, the very existence of the traditional farming techniques they represent is threatened by large-scale development projects.

There are some things that are unique to Bali and so memorable that they stay with you for years to come. One of these is the marvellous Bali dancing which has become a truly beautiful art form. Kartika Suardana, affectionately known as Dewi, is a young writer/photographer who was asked to create the introduction section to NOW! Bali Magazine from the first issue. She toured the island, finding, documenting and photographing the many dance forms one by one, and created a memorable opening section to the magazine .“We Balinese always welcome people with a dance” she said charmingly. Now here is her work, collected over three years, designed beautifully into a book to be treasured by visitors, for years to come..

A 16th-century chateau hides Claudia Spencer's teenage hell. Living a modern-gothic nightmare as the ward of 'ancient people' and the 'evil Gatekeeper', her imagination bleeds into reality as she suffers loneliness, abuse and confusion. A caravan of gypsies arrive on the property and secrets of her past unravel with lessons of magic, gypsy lore, spirituality and first love. Shedding her fears, Claudia struggles internally as she discovers the power of her own magic and launches on a quest for freedom, belonging and love. From the Czech countryside, to the astral plane and the gritty streets of London, escape means daring adventure on a blazing trail of loss, heartache and betrayal.