Bali Behind the Mask

Itinerary Aug. 18-31: 

Sun. Aug. 18 Day 1: Transit The journey begins. Depart USA around midnight, groggy but excited. Cross international dateline and lose an entire calendar day, which is made up on your return and which, if you’ve never experienced this phenomenon, is sort of cool.

Mon. Aug. 19 Day 2 : Candi Dasa Arrive at Bali’s Denpasar airport mid-afternoon, where you are met, and escorted to our amazing beachfront bungalows at Candi (pronounced Chaan-dee) Dasa in east Bali. Check in and unpack before gathering for opening circle, where we share who we are, and why we are here. Dinner together. Enjoy a swim in hotel’s glorious infinity pool.

Tues. Aug. 20 Day 3: Candi Dasa First meditation/yoga session with Lori, and breakfast (this duo is repeated every morning—Then venture off to our waiting boats and enjoy a snorkeling excursion in a nearby coral reef preserve with views of Bali’s stunning Mount Agung. Back to Lotus Bungalows for lunch, and our first orientation session focusing on basic Indonesian manners & customs, including a demonstration of how to wrap your traditional sarong, important for our temple visits. At 5:30 we gather for a seminar with Made Surya.Introduction to Bali-Hinduism, followed by dinner.

Wed. Aug. 21 Day 4: Candi Dasa Morning session with Lori in the yoga space. Breakfast, and our second orientation/ language session focusing on Bali’s unique religious composition and caste system. Excursion to east Bali for a visit to the royal palace of Amalapura and a glimpse into Bali’s colonial past, then on to Tirtagangga, a stunning “water palace” built by the region’s last Raja. Swim in the crystal clear, Olympic-sized freshwater pool, followed by lunch in the gourmet restaurant overlooking the grounds. Afternoon free. During Happy Hour, Made Surya will discuss the rites of passage in Bali-Hinduism.

Thur. Aug. 22 Day 5: Candi Dasa Morning session with Lori, then breakfast. Third orientation/ language session, on bargaining, then a visit to nearby Tenganan aboriginal village, where Bali’s finest basket making and textile weaving takes place, and where we enjoy a personal demonstrationof calligraphy and weaving. After lunch in Candi Dasa, the afternoon is free. Happy Hour learn the Kecak chant with Lori, and Surya, followed by final dinner in Candi Dasa.

Fri. Aug.23 Day 6: Ubud Morning session with Lori, then breakfast with final orientation/ language session. Depart Candi Dasa for Ubud, Bali’s “cultural center,” stopping along the way at Bakti Senang Hati, an NGO for disabled Balinese adults, to tour the compound, hear about their programs, have lunch and be entertained by the members, and perhaps share a song ourselves. On to Ubud, where we check into our hotel, unpack, and enjoy down-time. Amazing evening performance of Kecak (Ramayana) dance and fire trance dance.

Sat. Aug. 24 Day 7: Ubud Yoga as usual. followed by breakfast. 8AM Depart parking lot for purification ceremony in the healing waters, followed by a visit to the temple for meditation. Then transfer a short distanceand visit a beautiful 11th century temple, where Made lays the groundwork for your venture into inner Bali. Morning activities conclude at the home of a healer/priest where Made discuses Balinese Asta Kosala/Kosali, the traditional layout of a Balinese Temple and Household compound, and group members have an opportunity for a “check-up.” Beforethis evenings dinner together, Lori will lead a discussion on impressions of the days activities with Made Surya, and everyone sharing.

Sun. Aug. 25 Day 8: Ubud Morning yoga with Lori, followed by breakfast. Then we visit artists and craftsmen in their home studios, beginning with a factory in nearby Pejeng, where they create beautiful batik in the traditional way, then on to a compound of shadow puppet makers and performers where we enjoy a brief performance. Our final visit is to the home of one of the few carvers on the island who creates sacred masks. Optional evening performance of dance, or an evening shopping excursion in Ubud.

Mon. Aug. 26 Day 9: Ubud Morning session with Lori, followed by breakfast. Excursion to south Bali to the compound of a High Priest, for an interview, including questions, and a purification ceremony for each trip member. Lunch nearby at the home of your guide, Made Surya, meet the family, and tour the compound, including the family temple. In the afternoon visit a respected trance channeler in a nearby village, to watch her work with different clients, and with Made Surya translating. Each trip member will meet her, and experience a “reading.” This day’s events may prove one of the highlights of the trip.

TuesAug. 27 Day 10 Munduk Morning yoga with Lori and then breakfast and check-out. Depart for island tour of volcano country and north Bali. We wind our way through stunning landscapes and Bali’s fruit and vegetable basket, stopping at the fruit and flower market, and Pura Ulun Danu, Bali’s most beautiful temple, named for a goddess, floating on a small island in a volcanic lake.Arrive in Munduk mountain village early afternoon and check into hotel and enjoy lunch. Afternoon free to enjoy the area and perhaps try out an Ayurvedicmassage Late afternoon meet at the Sunset Bar for a talk with Made Surya on symbols Balinese use in the cremation ritual, and deification of the ancestors. Evening, we will have the first of our family-style group dinners.

Wed. Aug. 28 Day 11 Munduk Morning yoga with Lori, then breakfast, followed by a gorgeous, relatively easy trek through the neighboring countryside: small villages, rice fields, coffee and clove plantations, culminating at the magical Growing Stone. Late afternoon meet at the Yoga Bale for a music or kecak session with Lori and Surya. Group dinner

Thur.Aug. 29 Day 12 Munduk Morning session with Lori and breakfast. After identifying and discussing healing herbs growing in the hotel garden, depart the hotel for a trek through coffee and clove plantations to Bali’s highest waterfall. In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional cooking class, consuming your creations at evening dinner together.

Fri. Aug. 30 Day 13 Munduk Lori’s final session and breakfast. This morning there will bean optional walk around lake Tamblingan,

one of the volcanic lakes that fees Bali’s irrigation systems, stopping at several important small temples Free afternoon (for massages, resting, journal writing) until our final session with Surya and Lori, group sharing/discussion, at the sunset bar Final dinner together, followed by a performance of music and dance by the local village dance and gamelan group.

Sat. Aug. 31 Day 14 Transit After breakfast, depart for the airport and your flight home, or stay on and enjoy more of Bali and Indonesia.One of the days of our trip there will almost certainly be a cremation ceremony that we may attend, and the itinerary will be adjusted accordingly.

Other situations may arise that we can take advantage of--other rites of passage, temple festivals and purification ceremonies. In case any activity must be canceled, another similar activity will be substituted. There will be no refunds for any activities participants do not attend, and anyone who leaves the tour itinerary at any time FOR ANY REASON is on their own