Wondeful Time in Bali

“Wonderful time in Bali with driver Komang” 5 of 5 starsReviewed October 14, 2015 Based on the very good appreciations on tripadvisor, we decided to get in touch with Gede to ask him to organize our roundtrip for 7 days around Bali. We were very pleased to realize that Gede was answering very quickly through WhatsApp and email, which is – compared to other guides we were in touch with – not a matter of course…for some it took days to answer. Gede responded to our wishes and helped us to work out our personalized round trip. Our driver was Komang. He has a good command of English. Komang is a very nice, sincere and friendly person and a reliable driver. He was always on agreed time. Always smiling! He was very responsive and also very flexible regarding spontaneous changes in our program. He showed us places not included in our itinerary and revealed to us a different taste of Bali. We still can feel the taste of sweet potatoes we were offered at his parents place. Simple, but so delicious. Komang made some useful and interesting suggestions that enriched our stay, give useful advices to avoid to be cheated at some popular touristic places and he always had cold fresh water for us in his car. We appreciate that very much! Komang really took a very good care of us!! One more thing that was very important for us – we had no forced shopping tours (we have heard that that is practiced by many guides…). Komang, thank you very much for a wonderful time in Bali! Visited October 2015

Good Day

“Good day” 5 of 5 starsReviewed October 31, 2015 NEW Gede was an excellent driver,his English was excellent and he told us all about the places we visited.We probably didn't do the normal trip,not all the touristy spots,but just a general ride around the countryside with a stop at a temple on our way up to Ubud.Then a drive around the rice paddies and then a short walk through the Ubud markets.on to lunch at a restaurant in the hills overlooking the fields with a great view and a cooling breeze.A great end to our day out. Visited October 2015

Great Driver,Definitely Recommend their service

“great driver, definitely recommend their services” 5 of 5 starsReviewed September 28, 2015 NEW we hired a driver through Gede for 12 hours and we had a lot of driving to do and a lot of stops to make so we were very pleased to get a professional and resilient driver for the day - he waited for us at every place and was ready to go when we were and got us to all the places we had on our itinerary in a timely manner despite the traffic. definitely the stress-free way to tour bali instead of trying to catch a taxi from one place to another and negotiate the rate and not being sure of what the rate should be, or hiring a bike and trying to figure out where you're going (which can be great if you're willing to get lost and just discover places but not when you're on a schedule and want to see a lot of places!). just message Gede on whatsapp, he was very quick to reply and give a quote based on how many hours and where you want to go. Visited September 2015 “Wonderful driver - Our holidays couldn´t be better” 5 of 5 starsReviewed September 25, 2015 NEW Gede was recommended by a great friend who uses Gede as his driver in Bali. They recommended Gede because of his really good tour, excelent price and, specially, great character. He was not our driver but he organized one of his team drivers, Dewa (Gede´s brother), as our driver. Few words to describe Dewa - kind, great driver, friendly, excellent and honest person. Dewa is a native Balinese who speaks very good English, attentive to our many requests and has many stories to tell us about Bali´s culture during the driving. He drove us around, he shown us the Balinese culture, good restaurants, and provide us interesting conversations. He was very helpful, flexible with the schedule and was a very good friend during our holiday. We arrived from Indonesia 3 weeks ago and was a big pleasure to receive this week a text message from Dewa to ask if everthing is great with us. Thank you very much for evertthing!! Our trip was wonderful. We do not hesitate to inform your service to our friends! Hugs, Susana and João Visited August 2015

Reliable & Awesome Driver

“Reliable & awesome driver!” 5 of 5 starsReviewed August 21, 2015 NEW Gede is very fast in responding to emails & whatsapp. As this is our 1st time visiting Bali, he has shared with us on the suggested itinerary before we booked the tour with him. His rate is also reasonable. He is always on time to pick us up from our hotel in the morning & is flexible in terms of the timing. Communications is easy as he speaks good english. He is very accommodating too. As my friends are staying in seminyak while we stay in kuta, he will pick up/ drop off my friends without additional charges. He will also wait patiently at the various tourist spots & we will be able to locate him once we are done with our sightseeing. He is good with his photo taking skills. Do ask him to help you take a few photos if you have the chance! We have enjoyed ourselves during our 3 days tour with Gede n hope we are not too noisy while we travelled in his clean n spacious Suzuki car. We will definitely recommend him to those who are looking for driver in Bali. Hope to see you again uncle Gede! Take care.. Visited August 2015

Beach Hunting

“Beach Hunting” 5 of 5 starsReviewed July 7, 2015 NEW So last week me and my husband decided to do an ad hoc trip to Bali. We are not the typical sight seeing couples, instead we love to hunt for secluded beaches. Texted Gede very last minute (1day before the trip) with out crazy beach hunting plan. He was game to provide his service although he has never drove any client those beaches before. He was very helpful. Whenever we can't find the access to the beach, he will get off the car and ask the locals for directions instead of turning us down. He is also very patient with all our destination requests, and waited for us at the location just in case he is needed or when we wish to leave early. He is highly recommended, please book early as he is very popular. We were lucky that he gave up his off day to drive us around. Visited July 2015

A great way to see Bali

“A great way to see Bali.” 5 of 5 starsReviewed June 14, 2015 NEW After numerous trips to South Bali, my programme this trip is for the family was to do white water rafting, biking and exploring the Bali country side. I found Mr Gede Suyasa on trip advisor and booked him over What's App. He speaks excellent English and was always responsive to my queries. I mailed him my intended itinerary a week before my arrival and he promptly replied with time saving suggestions. He picked us up at the airport in his well maintained, 1 year old Suzuki APV and drove us for the next 4 days. Having been a driver and guide for 20 odd years, he has the experience to advise on optimising any itinerary on the island, just make clear what you want out of your trip and he will be able to provide a range of options. Driving-wise, Gade is proficient, careful and mature enough not to take risk in the narrow winding roads of rural Bali. Gede, do keep up the professional service and wishing your son a speedy recovery. Thanks. Visited June 2015

Awesome Driver

“Awesome driver!” 4 of 5 starsReviewed May 18, 2015 NEW We booked a day tour with Gede about 1.5 months prior to arrival. Gede was fast in replying to our whatsapp messages. When we reconfirmed on the itinerary a few days prior to arriving, we checked on the price with him again and he gave us the same quote as before, despite the drastic fluctuactions in currency. He sent his brother for the day and the young chap drove with such dexterity and skill. He was swift and fast and got us on time to cover all the spots we wanted. Although he spoke little English and didn't provide much introduction to the sights, we could overlook that point easily since we had Google to fill us in. But the driving skills were superb and that helped us save a lot of time travelling across the island and making it in time for sunset at Jimbaran Bay. Visited May 2015 “Amazing guide! ” 5 of 5 starsReviewed May 12, 2015 NEW I emailed Gede 2 months before my trip and he is really fast in replying emails. As me and my friends got no idea where to go to, he also gave us an itinerary via email and gave us suggestion. I had also requested for him to help me book a place for dinner for a surprise birthday celebration, in which he really did and even suggested a more affordable place! We were greeted by Gede's team - by the name Komang Sudiawan - and we could not ask for a better guide! He was always punctual, and gave us great advices on how to deal with the locals (esp when it comes to bargaining) and also never hesitate to entertain our requests! And he even walked together around with us and explained the history and culture of the place. Not to mention that he always make sure we do not pay extra for our meals and never hesitate when we told him we wanted more local food instead of high price restaurants! He brought us to the local warung and we totally enjoyed the local food which was almost 70% more cheaper than the normal restaurants! And nonetheless, he was in charge of the birthday surprise at the restaurant and even helped us to purchase the cake (which he mentioned was on house by Gede). And how can we forget - he even helped us to get the live band for the birthday song and paid the tips on our behalf! On our last day, he even offered to send us around Seminyak and Kuta just for sightseeing eventhough it's way past the arranged time (we only pay for half day services). I will certainly recommend Gede and his team, and Komang for their hospitality! “Commendable Service” 5 of 5 starsReviewed May 7, 2015 My friend and I went on a 4d3n vacation in Bali having Gede (and his brother- Dewa on the last 2 days) as our driver/tour guide. Prior to the trip, Gede was very prompt in answering all our queries. He even helped rearrange our itinerary for us to better manage our time during our break. He and his brother were also open to sudden change of plans. They were able to deal with our fickle minds and took us to places which weren't part of the itinerary. :D They're both nice, welcoming, patient, and punctual. Their service is highly commendable.

Highly recommed Gede

“Highly recommend Gede” 5 of 5 starsReviewed April 21, 2015 NEW Gede met my daughter and I at the airport and we were very impressed by his welcoming ,friendly nature and he gave us a few tips on the way back to our hotel which proved to be very helpful!. He took us on a full day trip to Ubud and we felt very safe and secure,lots of information about the various places we visited and about Balinese culture in general.we didn't feel rushed at all and nothing was a problem . Thanks Gede for your professional service,we would recommend you to anyone that wants a hassle free service We will defineatly be back to Bali again and will be contacting Gede for when we need transport.

Trusted and Good Manner Driver

We hire him for 3days. 1st&2nd day Gede bring us around while on the 3rd day its Ketut. Gede will answer your queries or question .Both of them speak good English but most of the time we speak Malay or Indonesian(althought we are not so fluently as we only learn some form indon drama)LOL. They follow our day trip.Nothing much changes.Just for Ketut we really impress as we ask to go the restaurant (he indeed bring us there without disagreement). Actually we book this restaurant in Malaysia but turn out not good and too much advertise. Ketut also patiently wait for us during Sunday mass in Kuta catholic church.Gede also give us tips to speak in Indonesia language while you buy entrance fees. We manage to buy domestic entrance fees most of times. They did wait us patiently outside.Mostly we just go around by ourself and feel very secure as I'm in Bali with my mom (2 of us only).Overall we satisfy with the driver. If you have anything to ask, please ask they will answer you.Thank you so much for bringing us around Mr.Gede & Ketut.See you next time & I will recommend my friend in Sabah to you. :)

Will definitely recommed them

“Will definitely recommend them!” 4 of 5 starsReviewed April 6, 2015 NEW We booked a guide for one day quite spontanously for our Bali trip after reading all those wonderful reviews on Gede and his team. Contacting him via WhatsApp was very easy and his reply came very fast. Our guide was wonderful! He was on time and a very careful driver :) “My recommendation” 5 of 5 starsReviewed April 6, 2015 NEW Our friends recommended Gede and from the arrival to the departure we (2 adults und 2 children) used his service. I can say that we felt always in good hands and save. He was always on time, very reliable and a good driver. We didn't have any communication problems during the trips and also the communication by Whatsapp was quick and to the point. His car (a seven seater) looked like new - my recommendation... Visited April 2015

Very Accomodating...

“Very accommodating ” 4 of 5 starsReviewed March 16, 2015 NEW We booked last minute with this company and had to wait just an hour from our driver Suria. He was friendly & knowledgeable. Also a safe driver. He was happy to wait whilst we visited various places and spoke good English.

Very reliable and friendly...

“Very reliable and friendly.” 5 of 5 starsReviewed March 11, 2015 NEW via mobile We booked Gede ahead our vacation for a transport from Benoa to Munduk / Lesong and back. I contact him via whatsapp and he replied very quick. We made appointments and he was always on time. On the tour we stopped at some attractions and it was never a problem. Also our transport to the airport early in the morning ( 4:30 am ) was no problem. Thank you . Visited March 2015

Very Reliable...

“Very reliable, excellent service” 5 of 5 starsReviewed March 9, 2015 NEW I reserved Gede's day tours ahead of reaching Bali and he helped me a lot in planning my itinerary as per our inclination. He was always on time, his biggest UPS is he speaks good English so he was able to share information about the places. He took us to the good store for shopping, always accepted last minute changes in itinerary. He is really prompt and good driver. we felt really safe with him and enjoyed our trip. thank you Gede! Visited March 2015

Nice bali

“Nice Bali - 5D4N” 4 of 5 starsReviewed February 22, 2015 NEW This was the first time to Bali for me and my family of 7 with small kid, grandma and few teens. I came across Mr Gede's blog and some recommendation from other tourists with google search. I engaged him for the whole trip while in Bali. He is punctual and even help to plan our Itinerary. I just take his... More

Nyepi day...

The Day of Absolute Silence It's really you want to enjoy your slinet day,please visit Bali,this is year fall on March 21st. Nyepi is a very special day to the Balinese as this is the day that they have to fool all evil spirits that no one is actually on Bali - hence the need for silence. If this can be achieved, then it is believed that the evil spirits will go looking elsewhere for their prey and leave Bali island alone for another year. Balinese people are very religious and life is full of ritual - Nyepi is one of the most important days in their calendar. Police and security are on hand to make sure that everyone abides by this rule. Nyepi also serves to remind the Balinese of the need for tolerance and understanding in their everyday life. In fact, Hinduism on Bali is unique because it is woven into and around the original Balinese animistic religion. The two now have become one for the Balinese - a true sign of tolerance and acceptance. As a day reserved for self-reflection anything that may interfere with that purpose is strictly prohibited. Nyepi mandates a day of absolute quiet, based on the four precepts of Catur Brata: • Amati Geni: Prohibiting the lighting of fires, the use of lighting or satisfying pleasurable human appetites. • Amati Karya: Prohibiting all forms of physical work other than those dedicated to spiritual cleansing and renewal. • Amati Lelungan: Prohibiting movement or travel; requiring people to stay within their homes. • Amati Lelangunan: Prohibiting all forms of entertainment, recreations or general merrymaking.

Bali Island

Bali island

The island of Bali lies 3.2 km (2 mi) east of Java, and is approximately 8 degrees south of the equator. Bali and Java are separated by the Bali Strait. East to west, the island is approximately 153 km (95 mi) wide and spans approximately 112 km (69 mi) north to south; administratively it covers 5,780 km2, or 5,577 km2 without Nusa Penida District,[23] its population density is roughly 750 people/km2. Bali's central mountains include several peaks over 3,000 metres in elevation. The highest is Mount Agung (3,031 m), known as the "mother mountain" which is an active volcano. Mountains range from centre to the eastern side, with Mount Agung the easternmost peak. Bali's volcanic nature has contributed to its exceptional fertility and its tall mountain ranges provide the high rainfall that supports the highly productive agriculture sector. South of the mountains is a broad, steadily descending area where most of Bali's large rice crop is grown. The northern side of the mountains slopes more steeply to the sea and is the main coffee producing area of the island, along with rice, vegetables and cattle. The longest river, Ayung River, flows approximately 75 km. The island is surrounded by coral reefs. Beaches in the south tend to have white sand while those in the north and west have black sand. Bali has no major waterways, although the Ho River is navigable by small sampan boats. Black sand beaches between Pasut and Klatingdukuh are being developed for tourism, but apart from the seaside temple of Tanah Lot, they are not yet used for significant tourism. The largest city is the provincial capital, Denpasar, near the southern coast. Its population is around 491,500 (2002). Bali's second-largest city is the old colonial capital, Singaraja, which is located on the north coast and is home to around 100,000 people. Other important cities include the beach resort, Kuta, which is practically part of Denpasar's urban area, and Ubud, situated at the north of Denpasar, is the island's cultural centre. Three decades ago, the Balinese economy was largely agriculture-based in terms of both output and employment. Tourism is now the largest single industry in terms of income, and as a result, Bali is one of Indonesia's wealthiest regions. In 2003, around 80% of Bali's economy was tourism related. By end of June 2011, non-performing loan of all banks in Bali were 2.23%, lower than the average of Indonesian banking industry non-performing loan (about 5%). The economy, however, suffered significantly as a result of the terrorist bombings 2002 and 2005. The tourism industry has since recovered from these events.

Ubud

Ubud is a town on the Indonesian island of Bali in Ubud District, located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. One of Bali's major arts and culture centres, it has developed a large tourism industry. Ubud has a population of about 30,000 people. Recently, it has become difficult to distinguish the town itself from the villages that surround it. The area surrounding the town is made up of small farms, rice paddies, and dense forest. The main street is Jalan Raya Ubud (Jalan Raya means main road), which runs east-west through the center of town. Two long roads, Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman, extend south from Jalan Raya Ubud. Puri Saren Agung is a large palace located at the intersection of Monkey Forest and Raya Ubud roads. The home of Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati (1910–1978), the last "king" of Ubud, it is now occupied by his descendants and dance performances are held in its courtyard. It was also one of Ubud's first hotels, dating back to the 1930s. The Ubud Monkey Forest is a sacred nature reserve located near the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest. It houses a temple and approximately 340 Crab-eating Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys. Ubud tourism focuses on culture, yoga and nature. In contrast to the main tourist area in southern Bali, the Ubud area has forests, rivers, cooler temperatures and less congestion although traffic has increased dramatically in the 21st century. A number of smaller "boutique"-style hotels are located in and around Ubud

Tenganan Village

Tenganan Pegringsingan is a village in the regency of Karangasem in Bali, Indonesia. Before the 1970s was known by anthropologists to be one of the most secluded societies of the archipelago. Rapid changes have occurred in the village since the 70's, such as the development of local communications by the central government, the opening up to tourism, the breaking of the endogamic rules. [1] Tourists are attracted to Tenganan by its unique Bali Aga culture that still holds to the original traditions, ceremonies and rules of ancient Balinese, and its unique village layout and architecture. It is known for its Gamelan selunding music and geringsing double ikat textiles. Village layout Houses in Tenganan Pegringsingan village are built on either side of the north to the south concourse with their doors opening on to it. The entrances of the houses are narrow, only allowing one person to enter or leave at any one time. One enters the village through the gate on the southern end. On either side of the entrance are two small temples. Across from these is the long balé agung, where the administrative decisions for the village are made. Next to that is the drum tower (kul-kul). The kul-kul is beaten 21 times each morning to start the day.Up the center are a series of communal pavilions (balé banjar) for formal and informal meetings, ceremonial gatherings.[3] At the northern end is the village temple Pura Puseh, the temple of origin. The People of Tenganan PegringsinganThe people of Tenganan Pegringsingan are called Bali Aga—the original Balinese. They descend from the pre-Majapahit kingdom of Pegeng. There are strict rules as to who is allowed to live in the village. Only those born in the village can stay in the village and become full members of the community. There are rules regarding marriage and anyone who marries outside of the village has to leave. A strict protocol regarding marriages among the kin groups have steered the Tengananese through the genetic perils of intermarriage although with increasing contact with the outside world these rules have relaxed somewhat. Rites and Rituals Many of the life-cycle rituals of the Tengananes are similar to those of the Balinese in general, but have subtle differences. Some ceremonies are unique. One of the distinguishing features is the use of geringsing. By virtue of their magical qualities geringsing are not only capable of keeping impurities and danger out of the village, but also shield and protect humans from baleful influences during rites of passage as they transition from one phase of life to the next. The Tengananese receive their first geringsing at the hair cutting ritual. His hair is cut and placed in a basket which is placed on a folded geringsing on the balé tengah, on which the Tegananese both enters and leaves the world. In the ceremony that admits a boy or girl to the youth association of the village, they are carried in a geringsing