Balinese Villa

Ancient Indonesian legend has it that the Gods created the realm of the heavens-sky- for themselves, the earth for animals and the ocean for fishes. For men they chose an earthly paradise. Pulling a fish out of the bowels of the sea, they held it to the light, its tail forming a peninsula, gills- water of lakes and the backbone a string of mountains stretching across the length an the breadth of the island.

Shadow art

Thus created ~Bali- which also means offering was given to man.  The island has won an unearthly reputation as `heaven’ and `Eden’ ever since.

Bali resonates with stunning natural beauty that permeates the very fabric of life and aesthetic on the island. Reflecting variously in the islander’s expression of beauty in art architecture, dance music and even the everyday rituals of life.

The Villa

It has long captured the imaginations of travelers from all over the world.  Overcome by the fecund landscape and all pervasive expression of beauty, Playwright and composer Noel Coward in his witty style complained to friend Charlie Chaplin in verse:

As I was saying this morning to Charlie,

There's far too much music in Bali. 

And though as a place it is entrancing

There's also, I thought too much dancing.

It seems that each Balinese native

From the womb to tomb is creative.

And though the results are quite clever,

There's too much creative endeavor!

Private plunge pool facing the Indian Ocean in our villa

River facing  plunge pool of  a neighbouring villa.

The island's famous beauty has attracted hordes of settlers, designers, artists and people from all fabric of life further enriching the cultural tapestry .  Moreover it attracts tourist by the droves from all over the globe.

The room *

Dining Area of the Villa

Posting a few images of charming stone villas we stayed in during a recent trip to the island haven. 

Built in the local Balinese style, the thatched Villas are  open-sided pavilions, each with its  own stunning view.  The villas are furnished with traditional bamboo and colonial furniture. 

Cheerful Indonesian fabrics and artifacts are an important part of the decor.

Despite their  deceptively  simple indigenous  appearance  the villas come kitted with all conceivable creature comforts, offering visitors  an idealized experience in tropical living albeit in open pavilions and  under thatched  roofs.  The outdoor stone and bamboo shower areas and quaint private plunge pools only  complete the very pretty  picture.

Outdoor seating in the open pavilion.

In the 1960s vacation houses first started being built on the island. In the late 1980’s the Amandari hotel opened near Ubud, setting a new standard for boutique hotels. By now the island is transformed. While the Balinese struggle to retain their traditional values, the island is increasingly colonized by tourism.  

Dinner table

Staying in the pristine carefully beautified and structured environment of the island today it is hard not to ponder over the real impact tourism has had on the island.

As vehement critics of how tourism has invaded the local culture and ecology write Bali off as a paradise lost already, it will do well for us as tourists anywhere to be mindful of the footprints we leave in the process of visiting and enjoying new places.

Tips for green travel:

At your Hotel

•   Reuse bed linen and towels etc
  
•   Keep showers, short
  
•   Use reusable dishes and cutlery only
  
•   Pack wisely and reuse plastic bags if you’ve carried any
•   Do not litter. Carry a small bag for your garbage.
•  Find out about your hotel’s recycling program and dispose your waste accordingly. If the  Hotel does not have a recycling program, consider carrying all recyclable waste such as  empty plastic and glass bottles back home with you.
•  Minimize use of Air-conditioning and other electrical amenities in your room.

* The room picture courtesy, https://baliwww.com

Warp and weft : Indonesian Ikat

Posting first on a series on traditional weaves  from Asia.

Traditional textiles are among the most exciting and sought after categories of traditional art from around the region.

There is  much to offer- a profusion of techniques, fabrics,  raw materials, motifs, patterns and applications.

Most traditional weaves are durable, and lend themselves to excellent use around the modern home. Decorating with kaleidoscopic colours of  indigenous textiles rich in texture and imagery is rewarding not only for the visual appeal it generates, but for the fact that it helps sustain age old craft traditions and low-income rural economies.

Featured today are a few weaves from Indonesia. The archipelago's various people have age old weaving traditions. Most weaving is carried out by men and women at home using back-strap looms of varying complexity    

                                                                                                                                                                             

                                               
Among the noted weaves from different Indonesian islands are the Balinese Songket and Rangrang, West Timorese and Sumbanese Pahikung, West Timorese Buna and the exceptional Ikat. Ikat derives its name from the Malay word Meningkat which means to tie or bind. Originally introduced to the archipelago from India, by the British East India Company, the tradition dates back to 700 A.D.

It is a complex weave in which the warp and weft threads are dyed separately before each cloth is woven . The typical, blurry outlined patterns that distinguish the end product only begins to emerge when the individually dyed warp and weft threads are woven together. The skill behind the process lies in the ability to work out before hand where the dyed sections will intersect and what patterns they will create. In Tengenan, Bali, weavers  tie and dye the same pattern on both the warp and weft, a technique called double Ikat.

For the fact that they used very basic raw materials, like bark and fronds, Ikats from Indonesia         display ingenious creativity. 

Used traditionally to weave lengths of fabrics for a variety of uses-  royal and ceremonial regalia, sarongs and hinnggyi's and other items of clothing- Ikat has always been considered a powerful medium to tell stories, preserve memories, provide people with their indigenous identities and to work magic. In various parts of Indonesia, exceptionally woven pieces with intricate patterns were said to process magical powers and were used as talismans for luck and protection.

  

  

The weave is s replete with motifs like conch shells, birds, fishes, flowers, animal and human figures.  Expressive and very dramatic figures representing deamons and other mythological characters also abound.

           

Indonesian Ikat also comes in a veritable feast of colours, Sumbanese rusty reds and deep blues in bold patterns. In rainbow stripes from Timor and deep browns, oranges and navy blue from the islands of Alor, Flores and Savu.

            

Images top to bottom.

• Cotton sarongs from Jepara, Java, Sumba motif.
• Here, two sarongs have been opened up and joined in the middle to make a bedspread.
• Cotton throw from Bali.
• Silk sarong 
• Silk Sarong, detail.
• Cotton, sheet from Java, used as table cloth.
•  Tapestry and runner in cotton and hemp, Bali.

For more images and information on ikat and other Indonesian textiles refer to the site below.

www.nga.gov.au