Bali Tourism Island Map

Bali Unveiled 2

The photographs displayed in these two exhibitions are from the collection of Maurizio Rosenberg Colorni, who has been searching for old Balinese photographs since 2003.

They are mostly from anonymous sources with a few exceptions. These are the first of many exhibitions of early Bali photographs to be shown on Bali by Rosenberg Colorni.

The art of photography has undergone incredible transformations over the past century. What began as a replacement of sorts for painting, with the subjects sitting for several seconds in a contrived setting has turned into the photo-shopped images of today.

Photography was important for Bali as it was the early photographs of the German Gregor Krause (Bali 1912, published in 1920) that titillated the foreign populace prompting the droves of tourists to Bali’s shores in the 1930s. Not only tourists, but anthropologists and historians were also influenced by these early photographs wanting to know more about this exotic isle. It helped that many of his photographs showed Balinese maidens and lads bathing and in the nude, giving the (false) impression that Bali was a sexual paradise. This was in accord with the prevailing mood of the time in Europe, where a “back-to-nature” movement was happening, with people longing for the natural, the innocent, as well as the exotic. Bali became a symbol of all of this for the foreigners who came to visit.

THE GAZE OF THE OTHER

Bali was brought to the attention of the Western world through photography. Krause’s provocative black and white shots of maidens and lads bathing, topless women going about their daily business and posed half naked women amid coconut palms evoked an island paradise where women easily gave out favors, the fruit and juices flowed and the cares of the world could be forgotten.

This perpetuation of an island paradise continued throughout the early twentieth century with the publication of Miguel Covarrubias’s encyclopedic (and romanticized vision) Island of Bali, Gotthard Schuh’s Insel der Gotter, Beryl de Zoete and Walter Spies’ Dance and Drama in Bali, Hickman Powell’s The Last Paradise and many more. Many of these early writers and photographers extolled the beauty of Balinese women and their breasts.

What is interesting to note is that when Balinese look at these images from 80 years ago, they see the malnutrition and weariness in the faces and bodies of their ancestors. Where the European saw harmony and peace and of course, the “lost paradise” they had been seeking after their countries had been torn apart by World War I, the Balinese saw the ordinary—an island filled with hard-working and poor inhabitants.

The Tourist Gaze

Photography, by its very existence, puts up a wall between the object being photographed and the person taking the picture. Usually the tourist photographer is taking pictures of the “other” to show to his/her cohorts back home. The tourist gaze tends to focus on difference, the exotic. The Bali of the 1930s – 1950s was one of (male) fantasy: golden maidens and lads in various stages of undress conjured up a dream island of unlimited sexuality, when in fact the Balinese culture was nothing like the image represented. In the early photographs, we see little of daily life if there is not a (often posed) topless young woman involved.

Bali had been virtually ignored by its Dutch colonialists until 1908 when it became fully annexed. Yet the Dutch wanted to keep it as a “living museum”. Most of the Westerners who had been in Bali up to that time were government officials, with a sprinkling of naturalists and social scientists. The publication of Krause’s book started a new movement of people coming to Bali. Now it was voyeurs, travelers and tourists – all burdened with their cameras and their world weary bodies.

At that time, uncovered bodies were seen as heathen and primitive, but also exotic and a fulfillment of a (primarily male) fantasy. To the Balinese, the breast was and still is an object that nurtures and gives life and is not branded as sexual as it is in the West. Europeans in the early part of the 20^th century looked on nakedness either as representing “primitive savagery” and “wanton sexuality” or the epitome of the paradise of Eden, with all the innocence that such nakedness can imply.

HERE THEY COME

Tourism began in earnest in 1924 with weekly cruises on Dutch ships from major ports in Indonesia to Bali. In 1928, the Dutch opened the still extant Bali Hotel (now called the Inna Bali Hotel on Jalan Veteran, Denpasar). In 1938, as many as three flights a week began to land near Denpasar (and of course, with the opening of the international airport in 1974, a whole new brand of mass tourism began).

And the tourists came in part because of the lure of the breast.

Balinese breasts gained such fame worldwide that in 1927 a couple made famous the Bali bra brand (the bra was actually only invented at the turn of the 20^th century and was seen as a “liberating” garment compared to the earlier corsets). “As a 1937 ad noted, ‘“A beautiful bust line is the heritage of the women of Bali… the modern woman achieves the same lovely countour—youthfully rounded, definitely separated—in perfect comfort.” (As if anything could be more comfortable than no bra at all!).’ (Margaret Weiner, “Breast, (Un)Dress, and Modernist Desires in the Balinese-Tourst Encounter” in Dirt, Undress, and Difference: Critical Perspectives on the Bodys Surface, ed Adeline Masquelier, Indiana University Press, 2005). Many Balinese women today sleep fully clothed, including wearing a bra!

BEYOND THE BREAST

Women began covering up even before the onslaught of tourism in an attempt to look “modern”. Some of them wanted to identify with their colonizers (the Dutch) and bared breasts were considered “savage” and “undressed”. Yet at the same time, in the 1920s there was a growing nationalist movement happening throughout what is now Indonesia and part of that movement was to retain what was traditional and reject the foreign. Therefore, wearing a kebaya (now the national traditional dress of Indonesian women even though in all of the Indonesian indigenous cultures the kebaya is not a part of traditional dress) was an anti-colonial statement, at the same time aligning oneself with the Dutch custom of covering one’s breasts!

There is a myth that the Dutch military imposed a rule that Balinese women must cover up their breasts so as not to arouse the Dutch soldiers’ sexual energies, but there is no written evidence that this is the case. The women (and the men) impersonated those in power by wearing European dress styles.

Educated Balinese started to protest the obsession with photographing and gawking at Balinese women’s breasts. In 1938 the Bali Dharma Laksana group urged the Dutch colonialists (still in power at that time) to ban the sale of such photographs and to prohibit tourists from photographing bare breasted women. The covering up of Balinese breasts was therefore not the Dutch imploring the women to cover up, but more from the Balinese themselves who were tired of being featured as “exotic primitives”.

The kebaya comes to town

The kebaya is a sewn garment that covers not only breasts, but also the shoulders and arms. It was originally tailored by Eurasians in Batavia (Jakarta) in the early 19^th century. By the end of the l9^th century, European women were wearing the kebaya with a sarong in the comfort of their homes in Batavia. When the kebaya came to Bali in the early 20^th century, it was more associated with the Javanese than with the Europeans and was worn more by the upper classes. “Educated in colonial schools, this class internalized notions of dress and undress forged originally through Christian piety, bourgeois respectability, and historicist narratives of progress and translated these for local consumption” (Margaret Weiner “Breast, (Un)Dress, and Modernist Desires in the Balinese-Tourst Encounter” in Dirt, Undress, and Difference: Critical Perspectives on the Bodys Surface, ed Adeline Masquelier, Indiana University Press, 2005, page 63).

The photographs that we find from the 1950s on do not feature the breast as had their predecessors. The times had changed, another World War had occurred and photography had also developed into a form that was accessible to more amateurs.

Tourists of the 1970s romped around in singlets and bikinis. Today modern Indonesians look upon the scantily dressed (or undressed!) as a symbol of Western loose morals and values. Yet to a Westerner, the more of the body that shows, the more the wearer is at leisure (and thus the wearer is in a more powerful position as s/he can afford to be at leisure). So we have come full circle from the undressed breast symbolizing primitivism to the nearly undressed Western body symbolizing wealth and leisure.

It is interesting to note that for the last 50 years the Balinese women have been covering themselves up whereas the European women who flock on Bali’s beaches are topless and have the “tourist gaze” of Indonesian men upon them!

Today the modern Balinese woman prefers to wear a see through lace kebaya that shows everything underneath—her arms, shoulders and whatever she is wearing to cover her breasts, whether a bra, a long corset or a colored tube top that complements her kebaya. In this sense, she is returning back to the earlier times when women covered their breasts (but not their shoulders or arms) to enter a temple.

Concepts of dress and undress, and the power that inherently goes along with body images, will continue to be something that we all must deal with on a daily basis—it happens every day when we have to decide what to wear. The Balinese now use their traditional clothing (pakaian adat) as a statement of identity—it is not only worn now for rituals but also at state functions and to perpetuate their idea of difference, to both Europeans and other Indonesians. Whether used to perpetuate the idea of power or to maintain an identity of “the other”, clothes or the lack therein, as they say “make the man” (or woman).

EARLY PHOTOGRAPHERS IN BALI

Prior to Gregor Krause, most of the photographs the outside world saw of Bali were posed, many of these were of nobility or people in power who could afford to have their pictures taken or had connections. Early photography was in fact about power—only those who had it were able to have their images immortalized in black and white. One had to sit still for a long period of time while the photographer was hidden under the black cloak of the large format camera. Some of the photographs here had to have the eyes retouched as the model blinked too many times.

The subjects in the earliest photographs are all photographed outdoors and not in a studio setting. The negatives are made out of glass and the photograph was contact printed, i.e. not using an enlarger, and was the same size as the glass negative.

As we move into the 20^th century, the cameras become smaller and lighter and negatives were no longer made of glass, but of celluloid providing the photographer with the ability to “catch the moment” and giving the photographers (and their subjects) much more freedom. The photographers were often social scientists and had more of a “documentary” eye, therefore the subjects were from all classes and in all kinds of settings, as opposed to the royal portrait settings of the late 1800s.

A. Thienneman, a German geologist came to Bali in 1935 and was given the “Tropical’’ version of Leica camera to try out. Even though he was not a professional photographer, he was able to capture many images – most of them had to do with volcanoes (he was a geologist, after all!) but he also took many pictures of daily life in a more casual context.

A few years later, the now well-known Swiss photographer Gotthard Schuh came to Bali and lived in the villages, where he took innumerable photographs. The contrast between his style and Thienneman cannot even be compared, but each has contributed to the history of photography in Bali in his own way.

In 1938-1939, another artist, Arthur Fleischmann, came to Bali. He sculpted and took superb photographs as well. These are some of the earliest images we have of the daily life of the Balinese—many unposed and quite candid (he is not represented in this show).

And the tourist’s gaze also brought us many anonymous, yet equally important, images.

We hope that this small collection of photographs will show you the early development of photography in Bali as seen through predominantly amateur and unknown eyes. This is the first in a series of this kind of exhibition.

Thank you.

-Rucina Ballinger
rucina at indo.net.id
742 7977

Bali's Foto

Denpasar Airport in Bali

One of the most picturesque and lovely cities in Indonesia, Bali is a popular seaport. This Indonesian island draws a major part of the foreign tourists in the country. Bali is directly connected to the rest of the world by air. The Denpasar Airport in Bali
connects the city with the other cities of Indonesia and all the major cities of Asia and Australia. Denpasar Airport in Bali ensures that people can access Bali from any corner in the world by air.

Apart from the international flights, there are a number of domestic flights available for the major cities in the country. The tourist can take a flight to the Ngurah Rai international airport or the Denpasar Airport which is located in Denpasar. Denpasar Airport in Bali in Indonesia is the only airport in Bali and one of the busiest airports in the country. The airport has two terminals for Domestic and International flights.

Denpasar Airport in Bali is situated in Kuta. It is at a distance of 8 miles from Denpasar. Prepaid taxis can be availed of outside of the airport. Porter service is available in the airport. Access to and from the Denpasar Airport in Bali in Indonesia is quite convenient, as it is not situated very far from the center of the town. Nowadays, Getting to Bali by Air is not at all inconvenient as unlike the earlier times, the province of Bali is today serviced by almost all international airlines which operate regular flights to and from Bali.

How to Get There

Bali, one of the provinces of Indonesia, is located between Java and Lombok. Bali is one of the islands known as Lesser Sunda Islands. Bali is perfect for a coastal hangout. The province is spotted with number of lovely sea beaches. Whether you are planning a pleasure trip after a long and hectic urban life to revitalize yourself, this is an ideal place to rest in the serene lap of nature. With its unspoiled nature, tradition, culture and inhabitants the, Bali is an ideal seaport and holiday resort. Information about Bali How to Get There is one of the most important elements a tourist needs to collect before starting his journey in this lovely haven. Getting to Bali or Travel to Bali is not at all inconvenient for tourist.

Bali How to Get There or Bali travel by Air, Sea and Road:

By Plane: Bali is well connected with rest of the part of the world by air. The tourist can take a flight to the Ngurah Rai international airport or the Denpasar Airport which is located in Denpasar, the capital of Bali. You will get flight from this airport for all the major cities of Indonesia, Asia and Australia.

By Bus: Getting to Bali by bus is a convenient and cheap way of reaching the city. All the areas of the city are easily accessible by bus service. There is Bali Bus Service from Java and Lombok. Bus service is available for airport also.

By Taxi: Travel in Bali in Indonesia is very convenient. One can get around the city by taxi at a slightly higher rate than what the buses charge. Bali Taxi Service are available for transfer from airport.

By Sea: Getting to Bali by Ferry is a convenient and efficient and a fast way of transport. Bali Ferry Service is available from Gilimanuk to Ketapang.

Bali Travel Guide gives you detailed online information on Transportation in Bali or Bali How to Get There.

Foreign Consulates in Bali

A Large number of foreign nationals from different parts of the world visit Bali for tourism, business, jobs, education and many other purposes. 'Consulates' are the State's main representation in a foreign country where their nationals are taken care of and provided assistance in the procurement and grant of visas and various other information about the State. Tourists or foreign residents keep visiting the foreign consulates in Bali which are based in the Denpasar or Sanur area.
Tourists can visit the respective consulate office for any type of assistance relating to transfer, health services, protection from local law of the land. They can also report thefts and cases of snatching or duping by the locals or any allegations. Theycan also approach their respective consulate office seeking protection at times of emergency. It is advised to the tourists that they carry all the relevant papers while visiting the consulate office.
Foreign Consulates in Bali are actually the product of the bilateral relations that exist between the countries. This site offers useful information on Foreign Consulates in Bali in Indonesia, their address and their office timings. Mentioned below are the Foreign Consulates in Bali according to their alphabetical order.

Australian Consulate in Bali

It is situated in the Denpasar region and remains open from Monday to Friday. The consulate office provides Useful information on Bali to the Australian tourists and expatriates and assists them with visa formalities, renewal of passports and extension of visas. It also serves and keeps a track of the Canadian citizens, the nationals of New Zealand in Bali

Australian Consulate
Jalan Hayam Wuruk No. 88B
Tanjung Bungkak, Denpasar 80324
Office hours: Monday to Friday
08.00-12.00 hours and 12.30-16.00 hours

British Consulate in Bali

The British consulate serves the British nationals in Bali and keeps a record and track of the British tourists visiting Bali and if required help them know. The british as well as Irish national can contact the office for any type of assistance. They need to make an appointment in order to speak to the consular officer. Bali foreign consulates function

British Consulate
Honorary Consul: Mr. Mark A. Wilson OBE
Jalan Tirta Nadi No. 20 Sanur, Bali
Office hours: Monday to Friday
08.30-12.30 hours

Czech Consulate
Honorary Consul: Mr. Graham James
Jalan Pengembak No. 17, Sanur
Office hours: Monday to Friday
08.30-16.00 hours

French Consulate
Honorary Consul: Mr. Raphael Devianne
Jalan Mertasari Gang II No. 8 Sanur, Bali
Office hours Monday to Friday
14.00-17.00 hours

German Consulate
Honorary Consul: Mr. Reinhold Jantzen
Jalan Pantai Karang No. 17, Sanur
Office hours: Monday to Friday
08.00-12.00 hours

Hungarian Consulate
Honorary Consul: Ms. Gabriella Cristofoli
C/O. Marintur, Jalan Raya Kuta No. 88
Office hours: Monday to Friday
08.30-16.30 hours

Italian Consulate
Honorary Consul of Italy: Mr. Giuseppe Pino Confessa
C/O. Lotus Enterprise Building
Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, Jimbaran
Office hours: Monday to Friday
10.00-13.00 hours

Japanese Consulate
Consul: Mr. Noboru Nomura
Jalan Raya Puputan No. 170, Denpasar
Office hours: Monday to Friday
08.30-12.30 and 13.30-16.00 hours

Mexican Consulate
Honorary Consul: Mr. I Gusti Bagus Yudhara, MBA
Puri Astina Building, Jalan Prof. Moh. Yamin No. 1A, Denpasar
Office hours: Monday to Friday
08.30-16.30 hours

Netherlands Consulate
Honorary Consul: Mr. Al Purwa, MBA
Jalan Raya Kuta No. 127, Kuta 80361 Bali
Office hours Monday to Friday
08.30-12.30 hours and 13.30-16.00 hours
Saturday: 08.30-12.30 hours

Norwegian & Danish Consulate
Consul of Norway & Vice Consul of Denmark: Ms. Mira Chandra
Mimpi Resort Hotel, Kawasan Bukit Permai, Jimbaran, Bali
Office hours: Monday to Friday 09.00-14.00 hours

Spanish Consulate
Honorary consul: Mr. Amir Rabik
Jalan Raya Sanggingan, Kedewatan
Ubud, Bali
Office hours: Monday to Friday
09.00-16.00 hours

Swedish & Finnish Consulate
Honorary Consul: Mr. Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya
Segara Village Hotel, Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur
Office hours: Monday to Friday 09.00-13.00 hours

Swiss & Austrian Consulate
Honorary Consul: Mr. Jon Zurcher
Kompleks Istana Kuta Galeria
Blok Valet 2 No. 12
Jalan Patih Jelantik, Kuta, Bali
Office hours: Monday to Friday
08.00-12.00 hours and 13.00-16.00 hours

US Consulate
Consular Agent: Mr. Joshua Finch
Jalan Hayam Wuruk 188 Denpasar
Office hours: Monday to Friday 08.00-16.30 hours

Useful Information in Bali

The picturesque island of Bali is introduced as the 'Last paradise on Earth'. Bali is the most popular tourist destination of the world. The exotic beaches of the island take a tourist for a tour to tranquility. A holiday in Bali is a real retreat for the vacation lovers. The culture, behavior, etiquette and other features of the island fall under the Bali Useful information. Apart from all these a tourist should also include information on the weather, time to visit and health information of the place in his Bali Travel Guide. There are a host of Bali informations for the tourists.

One should definitely know when to go to Bali before visiting the actual place. The climate of Bali is excellent throughout the year. Though the months of April to September a bit humid and dry still the people love to visit the place. Bali hosts a number of festivals throughout the year so; tourists can enjoy Bali throughout the year. The Galungan festival is an auspicious occasion for the local people and a number of tourists visit the place during this time. This is a major point in the list of Useful information of Bali in Indonesia.

The Etiquette and Behavior in Bali is a major information which one should know before visiting the place. Social behavior is something which defines a person's culture and upbringing. A way you behave in another country defines your own social strata. Animal slaughter is a popular culture in Bali and major parts of the animals are offered to you as gift if you visit the place. Refusing the same would be disrespect. Knowing the right etiquette of the place is a major part in the list of Bali Useful information.

The Bali Useful information also include the Health Information in Bali. There are 4 major Bali Hospitals.

- Kasih Ibu Hospital
- Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada
- Rumah Sakit Wongaya
- RSUP Sanglah

There are several consulates in Bali which help the people to visit the several foreign countries easily. The Foreign Consulates in Bali serve a major purpose to the people. To know all the right facilities there and to complete the basic chart of Useful Information of Bali one should properly take down the Bali Emergency Phone Numbers.

Bali Tourism

Bali tourism offers an interesting saga to the people who love to travel and explore new places. The Bali travel guide provides you detailed information on these important aspects of tourism in Bali. If you have decided to explore Bali this time, then the upcoming information would certainly help you to know about the place and the colorful people.

Tourism in Bali is an important factor behind the country's economy. The ministry of Culture in Bali looks after the tourism at present. Meeting the vibrant and pleasant people of Bali is a fascinating experience for the international tourists. The tourists always prefer to visit this colorful city, in order to indulge in complete luxury and opulence.

How to Get To Bali

A reputed airway would be the best medium to reach Bali. Once you are at the Indonesian International airport, reaching Bali would not be a problem for you. There is another important factor regarding Bali tourism and that is transportation in Bali. The government buses and the private cars are the predominant modes of transportation here. So, it is quite easily discernable that commuting from one part of the island to another would not be a problem for you.

Among the Bali tourist attractions, the Borobudur Temples, Yogyakarta and Minangkabau are the predominant spots. There are many other major tourist spots for Sightseeing in Bali.It would be needless to say that exploration of the places of interest nearby constitutes a major driving force behind Bali Tourism.

Bali Museums

Bali is an alluring island which is also known to possess rich cultural wealth along with heavenly beauty and friendly people. Exotic is the word that defines Bali and the splendid tourist attractions in Bali lends a true meaning to this paradise. Besides the sunny beaches, water sports, appealing elegance, art and culture in Bali is also spectacular. Speaking of art, the superlative beauty of Bali is an inspiring force that never seems to stop inspiring its artists. A reflection of the ancient art forms, artifacts and antique items are found in some of the Bali Museums.

The island has a notable history which has also recorded the collection of various artifacts from time to time. For preserving the relics of the past and the various items of the bygone era, the island has quite a few prominent museums. The Bali Travel Guide is not complete without the mention of the Bali museums. Some of the museums are dedicated to Balinese art and painting like the Museum Puri Lukisan in Bali which has a fabulous collection of paintings and pieces of sculpture. It is a one of the finest museums in Bali and also the first fine arts museum in Bali. Agung Rai Museum of Art in Bali displays paintings and art forms of Bali.

Do take a visit to the Museum Semarajaya in Bali also which is one of the finest Bali museums. The museums are great spots for Sightseeing in Bali. The Museum Negeri Propinsi in Bali preserves the archaeological items of the past and has a collection of ethnographical history. If you are interested in the art and painting of the 16th and the 20th century Bali then do visit the Neka Museum in Bali. With such a superb array of Bali museums and tourist attractions, the travelers can have an insight into the development of the Balinese art form and the rich cultural heritage.

Agung Rai Museum of Art

Bali has all what it takes to offer you a splendid vacation in an exotic location. Besides the natural beauty, the visitors will be surprised to know of the superior art form of Bali which is displayed in the Bali Museums. The magical island is also the melting pot of the different cultures and traditions and it is mainly owing to the numerous influences that the island also has a vast repository of the myriad art forms. One notable museum which finds its significant mention in the Bali Travel Guide also features fantastic array of paintings of Balinese art form is Agung Rai Museum of Art in Bali.

The artistes and the painters in Bali took inspiration from the natural beauty and the diverse life forms and developed important art forms. Some of the highly developed art forms can be found in the Agung Rai Museum of Art in Bali. Besides being one of the great places for Sightseeing in Bali, it is also home to the remarkable collected works by the different set of people who visited and ruled Bali from time to time like the Balinese, Javanese and foreign artists.

Agung Rai Museum of Art in Bali is also famously called ARMA museum in Bali and is one of the great tourist attractions in Bali. The museum spreads over a beautiful stretch of six hectares. It was built on the basis of the concept of a "living museum". It exhibits fabulous paintings and organizes stage presentations for a variety of superior art forms to infuse in the future generation the significant elements of the art and culture of Bali. The museum comes inclusive with an arts library and book gallery and make it an ideal base for the art lovers to spend days on end here. It also features a hotel, restaurant, cafe, and coffee shop. One of the museums' specialties is its marvelous vistas of Ubud which is the center of art and painting. The view from the museum is splendid with rice fields and trenches integrated into part of the museum.

Hotels in Bali

Bali is an internationally renowned tourist destination, known for its picturesque mountain scenery, exotic beaches, rugged scenic coastline, exciting waves, as well as for its temples, and colorful and spiritual culture. The most popular tourist destination in Indonesia, Bali also offers its visitors a wonderful nightlife and shopping experience. Thousands of vacationers, honeymooners, surfers, and spiritualists from all over the world visit Bali every year. There is ample choice of accommodation in Bali, ranging from luxury hotels and resorts to affordable budget hotels and lodges. Bali Hotels offer world-class accommodation, along with traditional Indonesian hospitality, promising a comfortable stay for guests. AsiaRooms brings to you a good choice of Bali hotels to suit every taste and budget. We offer special discounted rates on a wide range of hotels in Bali, hotels in Jakarta, hotels in Lombok, and other big and small cities of Indonesia. Look no further! Avail great discount on your hotel reservation with AsiaRooms, and enjoy a memorable vacation in Bali.