Negara, Bali – Land of exiles and daughters

Negara, Bali – Land of exiles and daughters

An obscure village of 200,000 on the west coast of Bali, Negara is where my father was born. It is a country of fertile paddies that climb hills in elegant, terraced steps and spread out seemingly forever until they kiss the sea. I had only heard its name mentioned a handful of times. In idle … Continued

One Year Later: Cruising Around Asia

One year ago on July 1, 2012, George and I stepped on a plane to Bali to continue a journey from before we were married. In 2008-2009, we took a sabbatical in Asia. While we were away, I lost nearly sixty pounds; we got engaged underwater in Koh Lipe, Thailand and visited twelve countries in … Continued

Top Four Snorkel Sites in Northern Bali

Thank you to Andrea from Inspiring Travellers for posting my article about TOP SNORKEL SITES in Northern Bali!   The article begins: Snorkeling and scuba diving are two of my favorite adventures to experience while traveling. Having been to over 100 countries, I have had ample opportunity to see amazing sites underwater. When I say … Continued

Lisa in National Geographic!

Thank you to National Geographic for posting my article on the Royal Cremation in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia! The article begins: By Lisa Niver Rajna To kick off our year-long trek through Southeast Asia, my husband and I spent two months exploring the Indonesian island of Bali with no set itinerary. While in the town of Ubud, home of the Balinese … Continued

Bali to Thailand on Air Asia

Video: Bali to Thailand on Air Asia Our two months in Indonesia went almost as quickly as this video of the flight from Bali to Phuket, Thailand on Air Asia! The islands of both countries are so beautiful. We spent July-August 2012 in Bali and Lombok, Indonesia and September 2012 in Thailand. Our stories, photos … Continued

Tanalot Temple, Bali, Indonesia (video)

I really loved the ocean temple of Tanalot. We were there on August 30, 2012 with many locals who were enjoying the spirit and sea air. At times, you cannot walk up to the temple due to the sea conditions. It is the first temple I have even been to that had a lifebuoy nearby! … Continued

Galungan Festival Kuta Bali (video)

  We left Southern Bali and returned to Kuta for the Balinese festival of Galungan which celebrates the victory of dharma over adharma on August 29, 2012. There were penjor- bamboo poles or towers with ceremonial offerings at the ends and people worshiping on the streets and in the traffic circles. During this time, the … Continued

Uluwatu Temple, Bali (video)

During our stay in Southern Bali at Bingin Beach, we rented motorbikes to visit the famous cliff temple of Uluwatu. Some of the hills are steep but the road is basically good. The views are incredible and we were there the day before the start of the festival, Galungan. The surfers at Uluwatu Beach were … Continued

Backpacks of Love Delivered in Bali!

Every July, for the past 5 years, Retta Jitner and volunteers from America and Bali have been distributing uniforms and backpacks full of school supplies to children on the island of Bali. Loretta’s charity, Pencils for Kids, Inc. (www.pencilsforkidsinc.com) is based in Los Angeles and is dedicated to providing needy school-aged children with the basics … Continued

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