The Best websites on Bali and Indonesia

I love surfing the web.
I love the feeling it gives me to find a great site that is giving me what I need.
I suppose this is relative for everyone.
We get online and let our fingertips lead us to where we want to go or sometimes we stumble upon suprises and we like what we see.
Maybe the internet is like life. We lead it or it takes us. Where am I going with this?

Well, I have found a gem of a website and I bookmarked it straight away. The site is called 'baliblog.com' .
The site related to my love of Bali and all the information that I need to live here. I use it as a selfish tool too. I have so many friends calling me, coming to Bali and asking me loads of questions about it. Instead of speaking long distance for hours, I just say.."hey guys, I could tell you alot about Bali but it's probably easier if you go to 'baliblog.com'. You get up to date information there' ". And we are both satisfied!
It's true...Baliblog.com will tell you everything you need to know about Bali, real estate, tours, things to do, things not to do, travel tips, accomodation, flights. It basically covers EVERYTHING ON BALI.
I suggest you join the forum. It is set up for those that are new to Bali and another section for those expats living in Bali. I get alot of good info here and I see what's the latest events and learn alot from the responses to peoples questions.

It seems too that Barrie, (writer and blog director for Baliblog.com) is genuinely interested in people's requests and will answer many questions in the forum which gives a more of a personal touch to the website and a homely feel.

So yes..that's the best website on Bali. http://www.baliblog.com/


Also, if you are travelling around Indonesia and need an online travel guide...this website is the one : http://www.indonesialogue.com/ . It has everything you need to know for your upcoming trip to Indonesia - where to go and how to get there and what to do while you're here.
It has really opened up my eyes to places I never knew existed in Indonesia and I feel safe in knowing that I am getting real data and experiences.

So those two for me are the best travel sites on Indonesia.
Happy surfing!!

Nirmala xoxox

PS. this week http://www.spiritofshanti.com/ is featured in Baliblog along with http://www.shankarisbaliretreat.com/ home of the Balian Yoga Center

Black Moon in Bali

Today is May's Black Moon. And here in Balian Beach Bali.. that means that I don't do yoga with the staff at Shankari's palace in the morning as per usual.

All the Balinese dress in their beautiful temple clothes at the palace at Shankari's..and the staff gather outside the local temple in the garden.

They make beautiful offerings from banana leaf, frangipani's, cempaka flowers, bouganvillea.
They burn incense and chant ancient Hindu mantras.. I was even able to join in on one or two of the verses as my Indian yoga master taught me some of the chants. We hold flowers and incense to our hearts and pray for peace and love.
We are given holy water to drink and a bit of uncooked rice to put on our third eye area, which represents abundance.

This is the morning ritual. Once a month.
Love from Balian Beach Bali
Nirmala