BALI ALWAYS SAFE

The story of the mass exodus from Java to Bali seems based on the assumption that Bali is always safe. This is however not just a rumour, since the Balinese people have the philosophy of emphasizing peace and harmony. The Balinese make ritual offerings to the Hindu Gods in a ceremony called "upakara" -"upa" means connecting with and "Kara" means hand.  So "upakara" basically means that hand made products from raw materials are the creations of God.
Balinese people assume that by doing something artistically they are offering artworks to God. Such a philosophical way of thinking creates a situation where by workers are so absorbed in their tasks that they concentrate and contemplate on only their job. Their concern for work does not allow them think negatively and the Balinese are generally not violent people. Therefore, Bali can be assumed to be a place of safety.
The idea of safety can also be seen in the ritual called Bhuta Bali. This ritual ceremony is performed to omit human's brutality. All people have a brutal character, which must be tamed in order to achieve humanity. The belief is that such a bad characteristic is like a tax, which must be paid for their God. 
Therefore, Balinese people are considered to be good taxpayers, materialistically to the Government and spiritually to God. There is reward for such good conduct, and that is peace and harmony. People in the village are extremely diligent to perform such ceremonies, they try to avoid and refuse disgraceful deeds and these include corruption and violence. In Hinduism, the need (karma) to gain wealth (artha) must be based on law (dharma) to achieve "mokhsa" which is a state of peace and harmony. Such a religious attitude enables people to live comfortably and safely in a holy atmosphere.

UBUD CREMATION STOPS DAILY ACTIVITIES

People daily routines In Ubud stopped recently during the cremation ceremony of Tjokorda Raka Dherana SH. He was the former regent of Gianyar during the period of 1983-1993. Thousands of people including tourists crowded the street to see the ceremony. Street activities totally stopped at 11.00 a.m and some roads were also closed especially for the procession. Overhead electricity and telephone lines had been disconnected since early morning to allow the tall cremation tower to pass. 
People gathered in the front yard of the palace and visitors looked on admiring the ceremonial materials and equipment. The "petulangan", which is used to burn the corpse, was a 3-meter effigy of a black bull and the "nagabanda", which is used to transport the body to the cemetary, was a 12-meter high tower with a story’s. An event such as this rarely happens on such a large cremation. It can only be used for prests, noblemen or people with a similar caste status called "brahmana". 
The incessant beating of wooden drums sounded the beginning of the ceremony with all the villagers dressed in white gathering around. The procession went mm the family palace to the cemetary with the effigy and cremation tower being carried by the local men. Village women and family members carried the hand-made offerings as part of the procession. The ceremony was complete at around 4.00 p.m with electricity, telephones and roads returning to normal. 

SPIRITUAL TOURISM IN BULELENG

The Buleleng regency in the north of Bali has spiritual potential, which can be packaged as an unusual tourism product. According to Agung Prana, the director of Hotel Taman Sari Buleleng, this spiritual concept as a tourist package would have to be closely linked with the Hindu religion. The best location for spiritual activity is Pemuteran as it is a special place full of charisma. 
The head of Bali's Tourism Department, N. Sugiri commented that it would he a good idea to develop this area in terms of a spiritual retreat. Tourists would then come on spiritual packages to pray, meditate and relax peacefully in a natural environment.