my travel blog

In between paid works and life enjoyment, I've covered some events, festivals, and dives. Have a look at my last adventures through these blog posts.
March 22, 2020

Diving in Tulamben II – Black Water

Tulamben has great potential for blackwater diving, though it hasn’t yet been conveniently explored. Ocean floor drops deep very quickly and there is the Lombok straight current bringing many critters into these waters, which surface at night.
March 22, 2020

Diving in Tulamben – I Macro

Tulamben as a dive destination Tulamben is a small village, located in the Northeast coast of Bali (Indonesia), 95 km away from Ngurah Rai airport. Your […]
February 16, 2020

Sumba Island – general views and thoughts

Having said so, most of the Sumbanese I knew (despite on most cases, verbal communication not being so great), were good-hearted, loyal, reliable people. It was far easier to get invited to a party or a family celebration than in Bali – not to say the Balinese, aren’t hospitable! Indeed, they are, but I found Sumbanese society to be far more open.
November 25, 2019

Trance and possession in Bali

On the opposite side, the gambelan orchestra played in a different way than I was used to listen: it was, somehow, hypnotic. Sometimes, slow and quiet, and then speeding up to a frantic loud rhythm. Soon I realised there was, at least, a man and a woman in trance, dancing, and I found myself a shooting position.
July 21, 2019

Jatiluwih rice terraces

They are becoming quite touristic, with a fee that must be payed on the main access road and increasing prices on accommodation and food. On the other hand, the trails are clean (and clearly identified) and there are options for different levels of stamina. With a little research you can even avoid most hiking (if, like me, you are carrying heavy equipment, or are just lazy) and access the most interesting points by motorbike.
June 9, 2019

Cockfighting in Bali

In fact, cock fighting is a “multi-million dollar business”, with events happening periodically in every small villages, daily in the major cities, and yearly on Balinese Hindu ceremonies. Business man bet hundreds of dollars in each fight and roosters are bread in every corner, sometimes illegally imported from Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.
March 19, 2019

Besakih temple (Karangasem, Bali)

There is incense and flower, and often food, smell; there are the colourful parasols, flags and penjors; the ladies’ kebayas and sarongs; the gambelan music sound, the bells and mantras, the crowd and the children chatting, the women dancing, the numerous offerings… There will be people eating outside (some temples inside, as well), smoking… It not just part of life – it is life!
February 25, 2019

Sumba Boxing

 It is performed on a full-moon night, prior to the collection of Nyale and the Passola festival. It is not a staged show, there are no tickets
January 8, 2019

Praying day in Karangasem

People go up the stairs and wait for their turn on the external yard. Once the previous prayer is finished, people leave and give room for the new comers. There is not much to see apart from each others, and three giant offerings: two elaborate sculptures made from pork skin, fat, meat, and internal organs, and one made of different fruits.
October 25, 2018

Odalan ceremony in Muntig

Odalan is a temple anniversary, according to the lunar Balinese calendar (210 days). On this occasion, there are 3 day festivities, including praying ceremonies, processions, when deities are paraded from one temple to another, and dancing on the temple’s courtyards.
August 27, 2018

Ijen – active volcano in Java, Indonesia

If you want to enjoy the full experience and avoid the crowds (as much as possible, not entirely), arrive at your homestay early afternoon. Sleep until dinner, which would be around 7:00 pm. Try to rest or sleep until midnight. Bring warm clothing even if you believe it’s gonna be warm – it won’t! It’s always cold and windy, as you’re waiting for sunrise at the rim. You will be lucky if it doesn’t rain.  Also bring mountain boots (specially if you intend to go down to the crater).
July 8, 2018

Lembeh – Sulawesi, Indonesia

Lembeh is famous for the Bobbit worms (though there is a slightly smaller version of those in Amed, Bali), Lembeh sea dragons, Galaxea pipefishes (I believe they exist also somewhere In Bali, but I have never seen those in there), Flamboyant Cuttlefishes (also in Anilao), and the biggest Mandarin fishes you’d ever find. (I’ve seen them in Pemuteran, Amed and Anilao, and all were considerably smaller and shyer). The overall list is almost endless – surely you won’t find them all, but still more than you can possibly shoot.
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