Small fish—typically mackerel, tuna, or scad—are salted and packed tightly into woven bamboo baskets (besek) or cylindrical containers (crokok) before being boiled or steamed in large vats.The combination of heavy salting and boiling acts as a natural preservation method, extending the fish’s shelf life while giving it a distinct salty, savory flavor.In Indonesian culinary terminology, the process itself is called pemindangan, and the resulting product is known as Ikan Pindang
Wet-rice cultivation means growing rice in fields that are deliberately flooded or kept very wet during much of the growing period. In Bali, these are the familiar green terraced rice fields. Wet rice cultivation (paddy agriculture) is an agricultural system where rice is grown in flooded fields (paddies or sawah). Standing water suppresses weeds, regulates soil temperature, and supplies continuous nutrients, allowing the same land to remain fertile for centuries without degradation. The process of doing the wet rice cultivation are Seedling Nursery, Field Preparation, Transplanting, Water Management and Harvesting & Threshing. After need to dry before processing in rice mill.
The Barong dance is one of Bali’s most iconic and revered traditional performances. Representing the eternal struggle between good and evil, it is deeply rooted in Balinese mythology and spirituality.
Sport photography is the art of capturing the speed, skill, emotion, and excitement of athletic competition through photographs. The Balinese photographers who photograph people/runners around Bali and sell the photos through FotoYu, I would describe their work more specifically as event sports photography OR sports lifestyle photography, what do you think?
Mount Agung (Gunung Agung) is Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano, rising 3,031 meters above sea level. It is an active stratovolcano with a dramatic history of eruptions, most notably in 1963, which devastated villages and killed over 1,500 people. Today, it remains closely monitored, with exclusion zones enforced during unrest.
A Balinese house compound (pekarangan) is a walled family space made up of multiple pavilions, a temple, and communal areas, all arranged according to sacred directional principles (Asta Kosala Kosali) that reflect harmony between humans, nature, and the divine. It is not a single house but a carefully planned microcosm of Balinese cosmology. High walls enclose the compound, ensuring privacy and separating sacred family life from the outside world. The main gate often features carved designs symbolizing protection. It supports multi-generational living, with shared spaces for ceremonies and private pavilions for family members.
The Ubud Monkey Sanctuary (Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary) is a 12.5-hectare sacred temple forest in Ubud, home to around 1,260 Balinese long-tailed macaques. Visitors should treat it as both a cultural site and wildlife habitat, not just a tourist attraction. It has 12.5 hectares of dense forest with temples and stone paths. There are 1,260 Balinese long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
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Tirta Empul Temple is one of Bali’s most sacred water temples, famous for its holy spring where Balinese Hindus perform purification rituals. Located in Gianyar, it dates back to 962 during the Warmadewa dynasty. Natural springs feeding 30 purification spouts used for the melukat ritual (spiritual cleansing). Legend says the god Indra created the spring to heal his poisoned army, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Old Lady makes KETUPAT. Ketupat is a traditional Indonesian and Malay dish made of rice packed inside a woven palm leaf pouch, then boiled until firm. The weaving creates a diamond-shaped casing, and once cooked, the rice inside becomes compact and slightly chewy.
A casting net (also called a cast net or throw net) is a circular fishing net with weights around its edge, thrown by hand so it spreads out in the air and sinks to trap fish in shallow water. It’s one of the oldest and simplest fishing tools, still widely used in Bali and across the world for catching small bait fish or species near the surface.
Roosters hold deep cultural and spiritual importance in Bali, symbolizing bravery, masculinity, and protection, while also playing a central role in sacred rituals such as tajen (cockfighting) where their blood is believed to purify and appease spirits. Beyond ritual use, they are tied to social prestige, community bonding, and traditional identity, though modern debates about animal welfare have complicated their role.
The Legong Lasem dance is one of Bali’s most famous classical dances, known for its elegance, intricate movements, and storytelling. It is part of the Legong Keraton repertoire, traditionally performed by young girls trained from childhood.Dancers move with precise hand gestures, expressive eyes, and graceful body movements, accompanied by the lively rhythms of a gamelan orchestra. The dance reflects Balinese values of beauty, discipline, and harmony, while also serving as a cultural preservation of ancient court traditions.Dancers wear ornate costumes with golden headdresses, vibrant silk fabrics, and detailed makeup, creating a striking visual spectacle.
Puspa Mekar Dance (Tari Puspa Mekar) is one of Bali’s beautiful welcome dances (tari penyambutan). It expresses the Balinese spirit of hospitality, respect, and joy in receiving guests. The dance is commonly performed at cultural events, festivals, hotel ceremonies, and official receptions. Puspa Mekar was choreographed by Anak Agung Gde Mandera, one of Bali’s respected dance masters. The dance was inspired by the classical gamelan composition Kakang-Kakang, which was originally an instrumental piece. It was first created for the famous Tirta Sari gamelan ensemble from Peliatan, Ubud.
Bali has a really rich relationship with leaves and flowers — not just for decoration, but for religion, daily offerings, healing traditions, ceremonies, food, and even architecture. You’ll see them everywhere once you start noticing. Here are some of the most iconic leaves and flowers you’ll see in Bali: Frangipani (Jepun), Marigold (Gemitir), Lotus (Teratai).While important leaves re coconut, banana and pandanus leaves.
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The temple built in 1634 by the founder of Mengwi kingdom, its a clan temple used to worship to God for the ancestor of Mengwi kingdom. Taman means garden while Ayu means beautiful or suitable for every body. The temple is sorrounded by the moat and has three yard. First yard has cockfighting arena, the second yard has wooden bell tower function to convey message that the ceremony is still going on, and the third yard is where all important shrines located. In this temple you need a wide lense to cover all the important shrines.
