PROGRAM ITINERARY
2 weeks, July 2-15, or 21 Days, July 2-22, 2012
FIRST WEEK
Mon. July 2: Transit: Depart USA from NYC, San Francisco or LAX. Cross International dateline and lose one day, which is made up on return.
Tues. July 3: Ubud Arrive in Bali, where you are met by your guides and whisked away to Ubud, Bali's cultural center for a good night's sleep.
Wed. July 4: Ubud First language class and orientation session (on manners and customs). Then a walking tour of Ubud, cultural center of Bali, to familiarize you with the local amenities: money changers, postal pick-up, community organizations, clinic and market, followed by optional group lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. Afternoon and evening are free to relax or experience a traditional massage. At 7:30,bn your first experience of traditional classical dance and Gamelan music by the areas most acclaimed troupe.
Thur. July 5: Ubud Depart for a 1/2 day walk to Pengosekan village, home of basket makers, painters, and carvers. Lunch with a second orientation session (on social structure and caste system) & language class at our lunch-time restaurant. Late afternoon guided tour of the Neka museum to observe the evolution of Balinese visual art. Evening performance of the Kecak (Monkey Dance) by torch light, and the Fire Trance dance.
Fri. July 6: Ubud Meet for third language and orientation session (on history), followed by excursion to Mas and Singapadu, home of Bali's famed wood and mask carvers. Tour of the mask and puppet museum—perhaps the largest in the world. Lunch at a favorite Cafe , followed by a workshop in bamboo Gamelan music. Evening performance of Legong classical dance by the islands best dancers.
Sat. July 7: Ubud Free Day
Sun. July 8: Ubud Classes Begin. You have your choice of Gamelan music, batik painting, basket weaving, puppet or mask carving, women's dance or mask dance. All instructors are wonderful human beings, as well as respected, English speaking Balinese working artists. You get 9 classes with your trip package and can take more or less as you wish for a small supplement. Afternoon visit to the Gallery of Balinese Women Artists (Seni Wati for a guided tour of the gallery. Evening performance of Topeng Mask Dance.
SECOND WEEK
Mon. July 9: Ubud Classes continue. Late afternoon meet for a seminar on the difference between eastern and western dance.
Tues. July 10: Ubud First day of island tour. We leave at 9:00 am for the state temple of Mengwi, surrounded by a beautiful moat. Following this, we wind our way through the volcanoes to Bedugul where we visit the fruit and flower market and Ulu Danu, Bali's most beautiful temple dedicated to the Goddess of Lakes and Streams. Evening performance of Frog mask dance entertainment.
Wed. July 11: Ubud Classes cont. Optional 3 mile sunset hike through small villages and undulating rice fields from the heron preserve at Petulu village.
Thur. July 12: Ubud Classes cont. Afternoon excursion to the lush terraced rice fields of Tampaksiring and the ancient stone monuments at Gunung Kawi, as well as Goa Gadjah (the "Elephant Cave") an ancient Hindu/Buddhist temple at Bedulu.
Fri. July 13: Ubud Classes cont. Evening performance of the Frog Dance.
Sat. July 14: Ubud Classes cont.
Sun. July 15: Indonesian Independence Day Ubud/Candi Dasa Tour ends for two-week tour. Transfer to airport. For three week tour its the second day of island tour. We wind our way through Bali's eastern district, stopping to observe the double ikat weaving demonstration and the making of traditional palm-leaf books at the aboriginal village of Tenganan. After lunch in Candi Dasa, we travel on to Amlapura and visit the Dutch-colonial style Raja's palace. Back to Candi Dasa for dinner and spend the night in our beach bungalows.
THIRD WEEK
Mon. July 16: Ubud Morning free to enjoy Candi Dasa beach, or take an optional snorkeling excursion to the near-by Blue Lagoon. After lunch, we proceed on the third day of our island tour through the back roads and rice fields, finally stop in Klungkung at the old Hall of Justice to view the traditional ceiling paintings. Then we visit the home of an artist who paints in the "Old Style," pre-western influence.
Tues. July 17: Ubud Free day.
Wed. July 18: Ubud Classes cont. Afternoon visit to the home of your guides and Happy Hour.
Thur. July 19: Ubud Classes cont.
Fri. July 20: Ubud Last day of classes & dance recital. Show of batiks, puppets, and masks. Evening feast of Balinese food (ristaffel) and private performance of Wayang Kulit shadow puppet show.
Sat. July 21: Ubud Fourth day of island tour. Depart for the capitol city of Denpasar, stopping along the way to see the lively Barong Dance in Batubulan, village of stone carvers, followed by a demonstration of stone carving. Next a guided tour of the Art Center. A special visit to a traditional family home includes a lunch of traditional food, prepared by the family and a tour of the compound.
Sun. July 22: Transit/USA Your plane leaves mid-day and your open-ended return ticket allows you to stay in Bali, to travel around Asia, or enjoy one of our stopovers in Asia. Arrive back in USA the same calender day.
Other situations will arise that cannot be predicted until we are in Bali. It is likely that you will also visit a cremation, and a temple festival. There is a very slight possibility that flight schedules might change. You may attend whichever tour activities you wish, however there will be no refunds for missed tour activities. Anyone who leaves the tour for any reason is on their own. Visits to the studios and homes of artists and crafts people enable participants to observe and photograph the creative process as well as purchasing art directly from the creator, usually at considerable savings.
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