Bali: "Then" and "Now"
Dateline Campuhan, Penestanan, Ubud, Bali
January, 2017
New since my last visit November 2015:
Lots more hand-helds in everyone's hands, Balinese and tourists alike. Thumbs rule! Not sure if this is a
good or bad thing (not for me to say...); just "..is..."
Building, building, "Land For Sale" ("...di jual tanah!") Bali was overbuilt probably 10 years ago, and the
building just continues. Hotels; private residences. Everyone wants to "contract" you some land (usually
just enough for the footprint of a home in the middle of the sawah (ricefields) with a path to it.) 10, 20
year contracts... Pays more in the short run than farming, and for the first time ever in Bali, the island
where rice is king and whom has for years exported rice, now has to import rice from its less tourist-
impacted Indonesian neighbors. What happens to all these small homes, luxurious homes when their
absentee "owners" are in their home country? They go on Airbnb, HomeAway, Roomarama, Holiday
Lettings, etc. A plethora of lodging is now available, and no one is really filling their spaces.
What has NOT changed however is "Rumah Kartika Dharma!" Protected as it is by its location filling one
segment of the Campuhan River gorge with the implacable "Blanco Museum" its unseen neighbor to the
southwest, an equally unseen large Javanese estate to the northeast, and the river gorge to the north
with its (equally unseen) cremation grounds at its lip, it remains sublimely serene. Why are its neighbors
unseen? Both due to their distance and the jungle-like atmosphere of coconut palms, banana trees,
papaya trees, frangipani, hibiscus, vines, bamboo etc. that, in addition to the "space" fill the expanse.
Additionally, the proximity of the sacred cremation grounds on the other side at the lip of the gorge
prohibits any building in its environs, providing the house with an almost jungle movie set-like
environment. Yet, a 5-minute walk up the path to the Campuhan-Penestanan road (Jl. Raya Penestanan)
brings you to Kue, with the best bread, croissants, quiches, rolls, bon-bons, truffles in the area, Warung
Mendez and Alchemy, both superb inexpensive eating establishments. And- NEW!- right next door at
Blanco Museum is the new haute cuisine gastronomique, "Blanco par Mandip." (definitely new since my
last return 1 year ago...) What has not changed though, is WHEREVER I travel while in Bali, to shop, to
dine, to visit friends, to play tennis... I am always awed and quieted when I return to the serenity of
Rumah Kartika Dharma's sanctuary. It is stepping back in time, unchanged from its inception > 35 years
ago...
New at Rumah Kartika: Beautiful sandstone tiles for the pool deck & lounging areas; new pool divans;
brand-new alang-alang (field grass) roof with new bamboo superstructure for the "Bale Begong" (our
yoga/lounge pavilion halfway down vbetween the house & pool); new bedcovers; new stylish mosquito
nets for the beds (more of a "style" thing than need, as mosquitos are very rare in this area of Ubud, and
the bedrooms are svreened and A/C anyways...); new pad and superstructure for our family temple...
The painting of all the entry and bed & bathroom doors effected a year ago looks magnificent..!
For sure you can get less expensive digs (down to $50/day or so...), but nowhere in the area will you find
the serenity, the privacy, the jungle-like "old world Bali, and the "space;" with > 2 acres (~ 1/3 hectare)
of land and unlimited gorge/jungle views, just 150 meters from "civilization. Additionally, while the
Balinese are kind & welcoming in general, the fact that you are cared for by a Balinese couple who has
managed my home and cared for > 250 families over the > 35 years that "Rumah Kartika Dharma" has
been in existence speaks volumes...
This is, by my reckoning, the 42 nd time I have traveled back & forth to my home in Bali. It is truly
returning home; I am always in awe..!
Happy 2017!! [-- Pak Docter Michael...]
New at the house since last year: 1. All new creamy sandstone tiles totally around the pool deck and
lounge area; new pool lounges. The pool was always a refuge; now it is a stylish refuge! 2. Our "Family
Temple," built on that corner of the land nearest the Holy Mountain, Mt. Agung, has for years been
looking more and more like the leaning tower of Pisa as the ground has shifted underneath. At my last
visit a year ago I contracted for a move of the temple 10 feet to the East to more stable ground, re-
building the small temple courtyard and shifting hydraulically the at least 2-ton "family temple"
structure. With the blessings of our Banjar priest both prior to and upon completion of the task, we now
have a "new" and more stable structure from which to call the Gods attention to our humble abode.
Bonny and I joyously celebrated both our return to Bali and the "new" temple with a small ceremony on
an auspicious date, January's full moon ("purnama").
New for this year? Our "bale begong" (yoga/exercise/ "hang-out" gazebo on a level just above the
pool...) needs an entire new roof & superstructure. This will be done (alang-alang, or "grass" roof with
coconut wood beams and bamboo rafters) in the week after we leave, before our next guests (via
Airbnb) arrive January 21st ! Unchanged (year-after- year-after- year!) s the pleasing countenances of
Made and Ketut, providing upkeep, counsel, tasty and healthful cuisine, a sparkling pool and continually
exquisite gardens and environs. Bapak Parig continues to "tread water" after his stroke of 4 years ago,
but has lost no ground. Life goes on in Bali..!
- Michael, 14 January, 2017, Penestanan, Ubud, Bali, IDN
Bali, January 2016. Lots new at Kartika Dharma. Where to begin?? Bali is definitely becoming more “travelled,” and is on everyone’s destination map. No wonder, it remains a special place. One thing has not changed - still - and that is truly amazing! Our house/estate/whatever you wish to call my “refuge” above the Campuhan River Gorge somehow remains the same, suspended in time. I walk down the path and suddenly am in an old-time, village life world, my home looking the same as it has for > 35 years (well... it has a new roof, A/C, mew mattresses. Newly tiled pool & deck, etc., but its essence and ambiance and patina remains the same. What a treasure!
Newly done this visit:
Our Family Temple, on the corner of the land nearest Gunung Agung, has been in danger of falling off that edge of the land due to some shifts and erosion beneath it. Not good if one’s Temple falls over, so we engaged in a major project of shoring up the ground and relocating the Temple 2 meters away from shifting ground, building a new foundation and moving the 2 ton structure. And, of course, having 2 ceremonies replete with major offerings & services of 2 village priests: one to start the project, and the second to re-dedicate the “new” Temple...
Whole new tile decking for the swimming pool.
New mattresses for baby crib and upstairs Chinese Wedding Bed in the Lounge area
New large flat screen TV and DVD player upstairs in Lounge area.
The most fun and amazing project was hiring the services of the son of a long-time (35 year) Balinese acquaintance (father is a painter, and son recently graduated from Art School...) to paint light and flowing scroll work, bamboo, flowers, etc. on the insides of all the big antique doors; touch up the scroll work on the outside of the doors, and similar paintings on the doors to the bathrooms and entry-way. Delightful work and fits right into the ambiance of the house. I’ve posted a photo of the entryway door, both front \(entering) and back (leaving), as well as one with Andy (that’s his name) at work..
New bedcovers for the beds.
Everyone’s getting a bit older; Made & Ketut’s grandchildren getting bigger. Pak is still frail, recovering slowly from his stroke, walking now, but mostly staying at home. Kadek (who goes by “Tinny” still working at Kupu Kupu Barong, as a Front Desk manager; Wayan has his own driving service & tour business. Most of the guests use him if he’s available, and have RAVE reviews...
My old friend, the expat and some would say eccentric painter Symon (we both arrived in Bali ~ 1975-76...) has an amazing new “adult coloring book” out with 45 of his paintings, decolorized, in an art paper-quality, coffee-table book for both adults & kids to color & paint ‘til our hearts are content. I bought ten from him, giving one to all my kids, to Bonny, to Bonny’s kids, and to my sister (one for me also of course!) I gave the presents along with a large box of 50 Faber-Casteel watercolour pencils. How fun! When you’re in Bali, you MUST visit him and his “Art Zoo” compound where he lives, cavorts and paints. Made knows where, and you can actually have Andy, who painted the doors, drive you there: he has a car, and is actually Symon’s personal driver. (**Ask Made!)
And.... Ketut is still the best cook this side of Penestanan!!
...That’s all for now from Bali. My son, Lauren, along with Amy and my grandson Myles (now almost 2) will be in Bali most of February, and I expect that he and Amy will put their own “stylin’” touches here ‘n there... HAPPY 2016!
What's new at "Rumah Kartika Dharma" for Summer & Fall, 2014?
Actually, it's more "...what's old..." The slow, mindful pattern of Balinese life continues within the safe, still environs of "RKD," where, with the exceptions of occasional upgrades, life is as it was when the home was built in 1979/1980.
Occupancy continues to average ~ 75% annually, as it has for years. Guests so far this year are from USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, France, Belgium and New Zealand. The waterfalls are the same; still no building across the gorge. The only activity there is the rice farmers tending their paddies, and the occasional wafting smoke when there is a cremation at the cremation grounds, hidden by stands of palms and other indigenous foliage.
Family life in Made and Ketut's family continues its temporal flow. Everyone is aging. Pak, Made's delightful father, our gardener, longtime friend (> 35 years), canny gremlin, spiritual presence and coconut-palm climber, had a stroke ~ 1 year ago. He has been rehabbing, but will climb no more trees, and is pretty much unable to travel far from his home in the village on a regular basis. His place at RKD will never be replaced, but is partially filled by a couple of village women who take care of the sweeping and general upkeep; Made has taken over the gardening. Pak would always enjoy a visit from guests, so ask Made if you wish to say "Hi" and visit the home of Made's brother Wayan, where Pak now lives...
Made and Ketut's son, Wayan, who is now 31, has assumed the role of "...property driver ("Supir," in Bahasa Indonesian). He is gallant, smart, speaks English totally, and is the best driver/companion imaginable. Kadek (aka "Tinny"), Made and Ketut's daughter, is now ~ 24 (I think...); her daughter Kayla just has her first birthday (see her birthday photo with Grandpa Made reproduced here...) I've known both since they were "seeds" in Ketut's belly...
Dateline July 2014. Rumah Kartika Dharma continues mellow, secure, and peaceful. It continues to be that rarity in present-day Bali: quiet, serene, well-located and cared for by Made, Ketut, and their family who have now worked at the house for
> 33 continuous years!!!
Thanks Michael for a fabulous stay at your wonderful home. We had such a fantastic time. We loved Ubud! You have such a fabulous location. Some of our favorite things, in addition to your house: Ketud's cooking, family yoga class at Intuitive Flow, meals at Yellow Flower, hiking through rice fields and discovering Pomegranate Cafe, wandering around Ubud and enjoying all the art, watching World Cup games in the middle of the night at the open air bar down the street, trip to Batur Volcano & hot springs/Coffee Plantation/Water temple, afternoon at Elephant Sanctuary (WOW!), and massages at your house. Truly loved the Balinese people, the culture, and warm hospitality. Hope to return!
Heartfelt gratitude for sharing your special place with us,
Sally & the gang
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Dear Michael,
We are having a great time at your Bali home and thank you so much for this opportunity! Made, Kutut and Wayan have been wonderful. Made is pure entertainment, Kutut feeds us with her expertise and Wayan is our driver. My darling grand daughter is with us now and we are having a terrific time together. She loves it here! I would like you to tell me exactly how much to leave for Made and want to leave more than is expected. They are precious people.
Sincerely,
Melinda
July 2013
We just got back to Melbourne after two weeks at your wonderful home in Bali. I just wanted you to know how much we enjoyed our time there. The house is in a great location and close enough without being too close to everything in Ubud. Made and Ketut are such wonderful, kind and generous people. Ketut is such a good cook that I managed to put weight on, whereas most people go to Asia and lose weight. Ah well, the food was too good to resist.
One of the best experiences we had was going to Made and Ketuts' daughters wedding which was such a privilege for us.
I've written a review for trip-advisor which you'll see with a rating of "excellent".
Once again, thank you so much.
Best Wishes
Jane
March 5th, 2013
What a blessing ... We were able to return to Michael's house in Bali for a second time and spend a few weeks.
Actually the first time we visited was in 1982.
It is as beautiful, as peaceful, as quiet as it was in 1982 and 2001.
This time we were there without teenagers.
Made and Ketut made our visit a joy. We went on to Flores afterwards and I can definitely say the best food we had in Indonesia was made by Ketut and I cook for a living so I know food.
It was wonderful to reconnect with Made, Ketut, and Pak.
Pak, Made's father brought me campaka flowers as well as gardenia flowers everyday. I love him so much.
Bali is very busy these days so the joy of returning or never leaving Rumah Kartika made our stay in Bali perfect.
The beautiful rice paddies across from the house are still green and stunning. Walking distance to dance ... And other adventures await outside the gate.
A beautiful house, caretaken by kind and helpful people... Oh I wish I was still there. Oh and Made's language lessons.... Ketuts great cooking and many kindnesses finding a tailor, Made's help with Drivers.
Made's brother Wayan is a great driver and also an excellent language instructor. I keep them in my heart.
I hope that the level of stress from tourism spares them pain. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Sin Can Can..
Blog from Bali, January, 2013
My son, Lauren David, and his girlfriend Amy spent January 2013 at our home in Bali. Most all the photos in this link were taken at the house.
Amy is a fashion designer, marketer and consultant; Lauren a farmer, masseur and musician...
blog.freepeople.com/2013/02/travel-inspiration-amy-soderlind-bali
Dec. 5th, 2012
Dear Michael,
We are settled into your amazing place in Ubud and couldn't be happier! I
apologize for the delay. But unpacking for the first time in 5weeks put us into
relax mode. Then we rented bikes and have been exploring for two days.
What a great situation. We love the location, Penestanan is great and the house
is just perfect for us. Love the view and privacy, simply amazing. Food and meals
have worked out great. And there is no lack of things to do both culturally and
self indulgent as well.
I have paid Made for the remainder of 13 nights in total. We had planned on two
weeks (checking out on the 15th) but spent an extra night exploring the island as
you know. I plan to leave on the 15th as planned to visit Nusa Langbongan island
where we will do some more snorkeling etc. The beaches are just too fabulous
to pass up. Something we really cannot experience near home. My girls have
fully embraced the beauty of snorkeling. If we simply cannot leave on the 15th…I
will try my luck at contacting you to see if we may stay another couple of nights.
In the meantime, please accept my thanks for such a lovely place and to the
universe for keeping the developers away from the amazing hillside across from
you and making it all available to us at this time!
Best,
Robin
July, 2012
Hi Michael,
Everything went very well. We enjoyed our stay in Ubud a lot, especially with the good help from Made and Ketut : super nice people !
Best regards,
Patrick
May, 2012
Spring in Bali. Well... there really are no distinct "seasons" here, 6 degrees south of the Equator. It's rainier ~ November through February, a bit warmer March - May, but usually it gets light at 6 a.m. Most days in Ubud are ~ 75-90 degrees and humid, frequently clouding up and raining in the afternoon and evening, only to be bright, sunny, and crystal clear in the a.m.
The project for my most recent trip to Bali (late February/early March) was to contract a new roof on the small cottage where Made (the house manager) stays, and where occasionally "overflow" guests sojourn for a day or 2. Nice to have things dry again!
Sitting on the front veranda, the only sounds to hear are birds-birds-birds, with the periodic interruption of a large beetle buzzing, the crow of a rooster or howl of a dog, of the distant cords of a Gamelan somewhere. No traffic noises back here above the gorge.
So, what's changed since last year? Well, I finally made it (3 times!) to Jazz Café in Br. Tebesaya. What a treat! World class jazz 'n blues in Bali just 10 minutes from the house. The good restaurants are still good and new ones popping up all the time. Never a bad meal.
Shopping is still outta sight. I bought a Buddha for Gabriele, a new dumbek for Caleb and djembe for Sam, 2 more gold bracelets from one of the myriad of gold shops on Jl. Hasanuddin in Denpasar for Michele. Some clothes for Lauren. Had simple lapis bracelets strung in the shop just up the road for all of us, and leather/silver bracelets for all the boys. Soap and silk scarves for all the ladies and girlfriends. And of course my annual supply of bamboo "tik-kilks" (melodious wind chimes) from the "pasar" in Ubud.
Wayan (Made's eldest son, 11 months older than Lauren) is planning on building his own home on a tiny plot of family land given to him by Pak; we talked about plans, how to get the most from such a small plot. He'll be getting a loan from the Banjar; I told him I would help out, but first he must come up with 10% funding on his own. Typical 28-tear-old, figuring he could borrow it all & worry about paying it back later... Kadek ("Tinny") is doing great at her job at Kupu-Kupu Barong, and is my official communicator with Made via email or texting - fully into the 21st century (Made, although he has a cell phone, is definitely not Internet savvy... ).
Life goes on in Bali. Lot of changes, but at heart (and especially at Kartika Dharma), relatively unchanged...
January 4, 2012
...Pretty much status quo for 2012... No price changes but will give steeper discounts to guests "filling in" open times in-between other bookings... I will offer these to you when available. Occupancy is stable at ~ 75-80%. I've just began listing on "Roomorama", so occupancy percentage will rise... We have now fully changed out our roofs, which are now 100% Balinese tile. We do miss the old grass roof ("alang-alang grass"), but had to switch to tile as the quality of the available alang-alang has deteriorated to the point that our previous roof lasted only 3 years!
Made, Ketut and Bapak are still gems going strong. Made and Pak have now been with me for 31 years; Ketut for 29 years! Pak is now around 75, I think (he himself isn't sure exactly when he was born...) and isn't climbing as many trees as he used to - but still shinnies up a coconut palm every once in a while... Still active, and full-time bearer of good karma. "Rumah Kartika Dharma" wouldn't be the same without Made, Ketut, and Pak...
