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BALI
DESIGN
A
Tour to Singapore, Bali with extension to Java with Martha Gill
of Gill Interiors
October
2 - 17, 2010
This tour is designed to showcase the best design of Bali, including
Interiors, Architecture and Gardens. In addition to visiting current
structures, we’ll see the artisans at work creating their
works. Several well-known Bali design professionals will be showing
us their specialties, and we’ll have an insider’s look
at their work. However, Bali is not just design, and we’ll
take the opportunity while there to become immersed in this special
culture, from food to dancing, and with an extra special evening
in the Royal Palace of Krambitan, enjoying a private banquet and
the Prince’s own dancers. We take advantage of being in the
neighborhood by spending two nights in Singapore, where we observe
the city’s dedication to Feng Shui principles with a Feng
Shui master. The Tanglin Center has Singapore’s largest collection
of antique galleries, and we’ll have time to visit, shop,
and set up relationships with gallery owners. We also have an optional
tour to Java, and the 7 to 8th C temples of Borobudur and Prambanan,
and a visit to the Sultan’s Kraton (palace).
For
anyone with an interest in Southeast Asia, especially its design
and architectural influence, this is a tour not to be missed.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Saturday,
October 2: Home City/ Gateway City/ In Flight
We depart our home cities today to fly to our gateway city, which
will vary depending on airline used. Some airlines have flights
that leave the west coast a little after midnight, meaning that
those flights arrive in Singapore late on Day 2. Regardless of arrival
time participants will be transferred to the hotel. (*D)
Day
2 - Sunday, October 3: In flight
We lose today due to the International Date Line, but regain it
on our return journey.
Day
3 - Monday, October 4: In Flight/ Singapore
We arrive in Singapore early this morning, and check into our hotel,
where we have time to shower and relax until after lunch. This afternoon
we begin to explore Singapore, starting with a city tour to such
icons as Raffles, the area of Little India with its colorful temple
and the res taurant-rich riverfront. Closer to our hotel we visit
the Tanglin Center, home many antique dealers with a wide variety
of Asian wares. Some may wish to take advantage of this to talk
with potential trading partners. This evening we enjoy a welcome
dinner. (*B,D)
Day
4 - Tuesday, October 5: Singapore
This morning we visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the National
Orchid Garden; it is not uncommon to see locals welcoming the day
by practicing Tai Chi on the lawns here. The Orchid Garden contains
over 20,000 orchids of about 1000 species. The gardens are a surprisingly
restful and quiet place in the midst of this bustling city. This
afternoon we learn how Feng Shui was used to safeguard Singapore's
prosperity; despite its most modern aspect the ancient premises
of Feng Shui have been extensively used in many skyscrapers and
other buildings, and most companies emply a geomancer prior to design
and building anything. We visit the important Cosmic Centers in
Singapore's landscape; our guide explains to us the importance of
each site and its Feng Shui parameters, helping us to understand
the underlying cosmic pulse of the country. (B,L,D)
Day
5 – Wednesday, October 6: Singapore / Bali
We fly to Bali this morning, arriving a little after noon, where
we are met and transferred to our beachfront hotel in Sanur. The
hotel is built and decorated in traditional Balinese style, anda
walk in the gardens will reveal both the detail beloved of Balinese,
and the influence the particlular Balinese version of the Hindu
religion has on their everyday lives. The rest of the day is free
to relax and adjust to our new environment, and to enjoy the stunning
gardens and setting of the hotel. The hotel has a world class spa,
and this may be the time to get rid of any left-over affects of
the change of time zones over the last few days. This evening we
have a welcome dinner in nearby restaurant. (B,D)
Day 6 – Thursday, October 7: South Bali
Today is dedicated to visiting several of the leading resorts of
southern Bali and a renowned ceramic factory. In Jimbaran the Four
Seasons Hotel is famous for its gardens, designed by Bali landscaper
and architect Made Wijaya. Also in Jimbaran is Jenggala Keramik
Bali, home to the best of Balinese ceramic design. Following lunch
in Sanur, we visit the Bali Hyatt hotel, and some private residences
to continue our familiarization with Bali design and application.
Dinner tonight is with Balinese dancing at Puri Taman Sari, Umabian,
a small village in the middle of the rice fields. Puri Taman Sari,
a private home and now also a small, boutique hotel, was designed
by traditional architects following ancient laws of magical harmony,
the compound consists of a number of pavilions, the family temple
and a traditional kitchen around a well kept yard.
(B,L,D)
Day
7 – Friday, October 8: South Bali
We start today with a visit to the Warisan workshop and show room,
in Dalung. Although some may be unfamiliar with this furniture accessories
and lighting, anyone who has stayed at top class hotels around the
world has probably seen their work. Following lunch we visit homes
designed by several leading architects in Bali (Milo, Gianni, Popo,
Frank Morgan). Bali is a design and cultural wonderland of beauty,
and we’ll take advantage of serendipitous sightings during
our travels to share in the visual cornucopia all around us. This
evening is free for a little personal exploration of nearby restaurants
and cafes, and perhaps some moonlit beach time. (B,L)
Day
8 - Saturday, October 9: Bali / Pemuteran
We leave southern Bali this morning to make our way to the North
Coast, and the small village of Pemuteran. We traverse the length
of the island, making a stop at the royal temple Pura Taman Ayun
in Mengwi, with its impressive gate, spires and intricately painted
ceiling. On arrival at Pemuteran we will be inspired by our simple
Balinese hotel, with its low-key traditional Balinese lines and
careful consideration of placement and function. Once again we are
on the beachfront, and we dine here tonight, the better to take
advantage of the lights of the small fishing boats twinkling on
at sunset. (B,L,D)
Day
9 - Sunday, October 10: Pemuteran
Today is free day to take advantage of the many possibilities available
here, and to have a break for our organized touring of the last
week. Pemuteran is adjacent to Bali Barat National Park, the last
home of the critically endangered Bali Starling, and the site of
a captive breeding program for this beautiful bird. Walks can be
taken in the park to visit this project, and see some of the other
wildlife of the park. Menjangan Island, a short distance offshore,
is one of Bali’s prime diving and snorkeling locations; there
is additional snorkeling on an artificial reef project along the
beach from our hotel. This is one of the few areas where sea horses
and pipe fish can be found by walking out from the beach. The reef
can be enjoyed by snorkeling, and certified divings can hire all
their gear at a nearby dive shop and dive at Menjangan's prime sites.
There’s also a turtle hatchery here, raising and releasing
thousands of turtles each year. In addition to these outdoor activities,
you can take advantage of the spa, which uses traditional Balinese
techniques and materials, visit local temples, or get a taste of
the life of a fishing village. As this is Bali, around each corner
another surprise is likely. Our guide will assist us to make any
arrangements for our chosen activities. (B)
Day
10 - Monday, October 11: Pemuteran/Ubud
We continue our easy stay at Pemuteran this morning, with time for
more snorkeling, taking it easy, or a walk along the beach. After
lunch we head south, towards the mountains and the town of Ubud,
Bali’s cultural and artistic center. Although crafts are made
over much of Bali, artisans are more concentrated in the villages
near Ubud than elsewhere. During our journey we stop at Candi Kuning,
home to a flower, vegetable and spice market, and a good place to
see firsthand the wide variety of produce grown on Bali. Nearby
is Lake Bratan, with the often photographed Pura Ulun Danu on its
edge, surrounded by water. We arrive at our hotel, also built in
traditional Bali style, and overlooking rice paddies and a forested
valley, late afternoon. After resting up we are treated to a highlight
of our stay in Bali, the amazingly energetic and fiery Kecak Dance,
performed in a local temple, where we are usually accompanied by
some locals, especially children. Balinese have been watching this
dance all their lives, but seem never to grow tired of the spectacle,
and the story.. Like many of Bali's dances, puppet shows and other
stories, the Kecak is based on a section of the Ramayama, where
Rama's queen is kidnapped, and is eventually saved with the asistance
of Hanuman, the monkey warrior god; Hindus have revered monkeys
ever since. Our performance is followed by diner at Laka Leke.
(B,L,D)
Day
11 - Tuesday, October 12: Ubud
This morning we begin our exploration of the Ubud area by visiting
the ancient temple Pura Penataran Sasih, with what is considered
to be a 300BC Bronze Age gong, the Moon of Pejeng, in the tower.
We continue to Goa Gajah, a cave temple built into the side of a
hill that is mentioned in the 1365AD Javanese poem Desawamama. We
take lunch at the estate of well-known designer Linda Garland, followed
by a tour of the property. In addition to her well known furniture
and other design products Linda founded the Environmental Bamboo
Foundation, dedicated to promoting bamboo products as environmentally
sustainable, and to preserving the many species of bamboo.
(B,L,D)
Day
12 – Wednesday, October 13: Ubud
Most of our day today is spent with visits to various textile production
centers, including Gianyar for ikats, Sidemen for songkets, Tengannan
for the special double ikats produced since beyond memory at this
village, and often thought to have magical powers, and of course
the ubiquitous batik. Although most are familiar with the batik
process, the more subtle differences between songket, ikat and double
ikat will be part of our learning today. We’ll have lunch
in Candi Dasa, on the east coast. Dinner tonight is al fresco, at
Mozaic, the best restaurant in Bali. (B,L,D)
Day
13 - Thursday, October 14: Ubud
Today is an option day, to allow participants to pursue their own
interests while on Bali. In addition to arts and crafts Bali has
a superb culinary tradition, as we have discovered over the last
week or so. One of Bali’s oldest cooking school is run by
Janet de Neefe (amongst the world’s best cooking schools,
according to The Australian newspaper), proprietor of both Casa
Luna and Indus restaurants, and we can arrange for participants
to learn some Indonesian cooking. The day starts with a visit to
the market for ingredients, after which you spend a most informative
morning in a specially designed kitchen preparing and grinding for
the recipes. In addition to the cooking, you’ll learn many
secrets of a typical Balinese home. (Numbers are strictly limited
for the class, which is only operates three days per week, so we
will have to reserve your place well ahead of time.) Other opportunities
include white water rafting, learning to prepare the offerings seen
all over Bali, visiting the Bali Botanic Gardens, or continuing
to seek out the private homes and gardens for their design features.
Dinner tonight is on your own, allowing you a chance to eat at a
typical warung, the small restaurants favored by local Balinese,
or perhaps try the original fast food, the pre-prepared, and usually
spicy, food of Padang, Sumatra. The style here is that everything
available is brought to your table, and you select individual pieces
from the dishes. At the end of your meal the server tallies up what
is missing, gives you the tab, and you pay on the way out. As there
is no menu, and much of what is in front of you will be unfamiliar,
this is mystery dining at its best. (B)
Day
14 - Friday, October 15: Ubud
Following breakfast we visit stone carvers in Batubulan, silver
smiths in Celuk, wood carvers and a mask maker in Mas, and finally
Pak Jani’s Place, renowned for his collection of ikats, batiks
and other textiles from all over Indonesia. We also will visit a
high priest’s house in the village of Kemenu. Lunch is at
the spectacularly located Café Lotus. The afternoon is free.
Ubud offers a wide and surprisingly sophisticated range of shopping
opportunities: paintings, silver jewelry, antiques, clothes, wooden
sculptures, ikat weaving, batik, etc. You’ll negotiate for
the best prices, although by now you’ll have 
already
come to understand that in Bali, the “first price” is
just a starting point, and bargaining is a customary 
part
of any purchase or transaction. Tonight is extra special, for our
farewell night in Bali; a Night at the Royal Palace. At 5pm we are
driven to Puri Anyar, the Royal Palace of the twin Princes of Krambitan.
Upon arrival, we are welcomed by a tektekan group of musicians,
introduced to our hosts, offered cocktails, and further entertained
by Balinese dances. An opulent Balinese feast in the palace gardens,
with shimmering lamps, ceremonial umbrellas and festive decorations,
and to the accompaniment of a bumbung ensemble, follows. After dinner,
we are invited to join in a Joged Bumbung social dance. The evening
ends with a performance of a dramatic Calonarang trance dance, with
the famous kris dancers - in real trance - the fearsome magical
lion, Barong, and the hideous witch, Rangda, exerting their magic
powers. This enchanting evening ends around 10:00pm, and we return
to our hotel. (B,L,D)
Day
15 – Saturday, October 16: Bali / In flight
Our tour of Bali has finally come to an end, and we bid farewell
to our fellow travelers going to Java, or fly there ourselves. Today
we transfer to the airport for our flight home, taking many images,
both in our minds and cameras, of the amazing places we have seen
and come to understand, and the friendly and gentle people we have
come to know. Depending on flight times we may have part or much
of the day in Bali, and we will visit the Denpasar Market to pick
up local goods that are not found in the more tourist-oriented stores
we have visited. This is the place to pick up some of the materials
used in daily life, from textiles, sarongs and other clothing, to
the colorful umbrellas and hand-painted offerings baskets used in
temple rituals. (B,*M)
Day
16 – Sunday, October 17: In Flight/ Gateway City/Home City
We arrive back in the US today, and transfer to our flights to our
home cities. (*B)
Please note: this itinerary represents the overall activities
of the tour, but the order of days and specifics of each activity
may change as we get closer to the date. In Sanur and Ubud we can
arrange for professional drivers and guides for alternative personal
touring.
(B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner; M: Meal, S: Snack, * In Flight
meal)
You
can download an pdf version (83kb) of this itinerary, including
the extension, by clicking
here
Java
Extension
Add
the grand temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, and the Sultan of
Jogjakarta's Palace to your journey. See
our Java Extension for full details.
TOUR
DETAILS
Tour
Date
The tour departs October 2 using currently available air, and returns
October 17. The extension to Jave begins October 16 and returns
October 19. There is no set group air, but we do have recommended
flights from a number of gateway cities to fit in with the itinerary.
For those who wish to take other flights, add days pre or post tour
we will assist with arrangements and air if desired. Those with
frequent flyer miles or who prefer to make their own arrangements
should contact us first for suggested flights before finalizing
arrangements.
Cost
Tour cost with is $3350 per person based on double occupancy; a
single supplement is available for $1280. The Java extension is
$635 with a single supplement of $210.
Inclusions
This is an all-inclusive tour; no part is refundable or can be broken
out for individual costing. Cost of the tour includes transfers
to and from airports when traveling on our chosen flights or on
flights at similar times; all accommodation, meals as per itinerary,
English-speaking guides throughout, entries and local taxes. In
short, this is a very inclusive tour with just 4 lunches and 2 dinners
not included; beyond these no additional costs other than private
alterations to the tour (if any) and personal costs will be necessary.
Exclusions
International flights and internal flight if taking the Java extension,
laundry; visa costs, soft drinks and alcohol during land-based meals;
personal snacks; other items of a personal nature such as phone
calls; transfers required due to private flight arrangements and
cost of any private touring (no cost will be deducted from main
itinerary for alternative private touring, but the optional tours
Day 13 are included in the cost).
Flights
Numerous carriers fly to Singapore and Bali. Our preferred carrier
is Singapore Airlines as it has conveniently timed flights into
Singapore and out of Bali and Solo, close to Jogjakarta. Singapore
Airlines also has add-ons from a number of US cities spread around
the US. However, other airlines also offer suitable flights, and
each participant’s home city will help determine the most
suitable flight. Generally flying across the Pacific, even for many
cities in the eastern half of the country, is more convenient and
provides better connections and fares. As of February 2010 fares
for this tour, including taxes, were about $1150 - $1450 depending
on home city and routing.
Travel
Insurance
Travel Insurance is highly recommended, as deposits and final payments
are necessary well in advance of travel. While participants can
choose any insurance provider we strongly suggest contacting us
before you do so to ensure the correct type and level of coverage
is chose. Our insurance provider, Travelex, one of the world’s
largest, has very competitive and comprehensive insurance, and we
would be happy to give you a quote to compare if you have another
preferred provider. Please note that the insurance provided by many
credit cards is not as comprehensive as normal travel insurance.
Please note that due to the remoteness of parts of this tour medical/evacuation
insurance is mandatory for the tour. This is covered in all normal
travel insurance policies, and can be taken out separately for a
very modest sum ($45 including fees for a person 61-70 years old)
through our insurer.
Terms
and Conditions
Our full Terms and Conditions for this tour, including cancellation
policy and charges, are online at Bali with
Martha Gill Terms & Conditions.
General
information about Bali and Indonesia can be found here.
RESERVE YOUR SPACE
Space
is limited. To reserve or for more information please call 1 877
2851170
