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Comments from former travelers:
“Thank you to you both for your careful handling of our little group, and I had a wonderful, and informative three weeks. Thank you also for the book list, which has provided lots of meaningful reading in the evening, and on the planes. I felt I received a beginning understanding of the complicated and interwoven religion, customs and constantly artful life of the Hindu Balinese. Judy and Suryas passion for the culture, food, beliefs, artforms and beauty of the island were always evident, and their discussions were fun and relevant. The trip provided what I was looking for in a trip to Bali for the first time. There was an overview of all parts of the island, a look into the very basics of the economics and tasty pleasures of their foods, and time to fit in modern culture, historic perspectives, traditions, and art. “
Alison Yerxa, LA CA. Tste of Bali
“Thank you for a wonderful tour. Loved that you started us off in Munduk. Perfect to drive right up there and wake up the first day looking out over the rice paddies. The hotels you chose were perfect. Understated elegance. The best kind. You really took us to many parts of the island, which we all commented on when we saw a map of bali on the hotel wall. And all our outings --trekking, coffee, tempeh, palm sugar, fish market, snack shop......where else could you try crispy fried dessicated chicken feet (I may not have eaten it but loved the idea of it).......all of those took us into new worlds, which is exactly what we delighted in. Seeing the trees and plants and stuff on the first trek gave us a lot of education on the first day that followed with us through the rest of the trip. Surya, your explanations were informed and thoughtfuland thorough and, in key ways, helped us untangle and decipher what we were encountering. I would definitely join one of your tours again.”
Pamela Kidron, Washington DC”
“My wife Shari had wanted a special trip for her special birthay and had always wanted to visit Bali. Fortunately, I had spotted your website and the Taste of Bali perfectly fit our idea of learning about Bali, the country, its people, and their cuisine. Judy and Surya far surpasssed our expectations and resulted in one of the most special visits we have had on this earth of ours. You truly enjoy what you are doing and are dedicated to your clients and to the countries with which you are involved. So, thank you so very much for a job well done. “
Mark Pfenninger, MD, Evergreen CO Taste of Bali
" Our trip to Bali was awesome from the moment we arrived with a warm greeting at the airport until we departed Bali.. Our guides Judy and Surya were the best - making sure we were well taken care of and made sure we saw and did everything we anticipated, wanted and more. The itinerary was interesting, fun and well varied - we never lacked for things to do in beautiful Bali. Danu Tours is great and we would definitely travel with them again. "
Sheri Pfenniger, Evergreen CO, Taste of Bali |
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Itinerary 2011
Sunday&Monday February 6 & 7: Transit. BLD Depart USA aboard regularly scheduled Singapore Airlines. Your flight includes several meals, drinks and films by Singapore's famed service staff. Cross international dateline and lose one day, which is made up on your return.
Tuesday,February 8 :Munduk. BLD Arrive in Bali where you are met by your guide and transported to Munduk mountain village, where you will spend the next 6 nights. At Puri Lumbung Cottages, www.purilumbung.com
Wednesday,February 9: Munduk. BD Morning orientation, with focus on basic Indonesian language, manners & customs. Then we take a walk to Bali's highest waterfall, through coffee and clove plantations. Chances along the way to sample cacao fruit and witness vanilla & nutmeg growing. Late afternoon the first of several cooking classes, beginning with an introduction to Bali ways with cooking implements, herbs and spices. Help locals making kelepon and other Balinese sweet production. After dinner, consume our earlier sweet creation.
Thursday,February 10: Munduk BD Morning orientation on Indonesian history and language revue, followed by a walk through rice fields to visit the “Rock That Grows”. Return to hotel, stopping at as coffee processing plant in town. Lunch and down time with an opportunity to observe a dance class by village children. Late afternoon we will cook choices of Balinese dishes for our dinner. A Family-style meal together. And we have a banana tasting--a chance to sample some of Bali's 17 varieties of bananas.
Friday,February 11: Munduk BL Very early departure for West Bali National Park for a world class snorkeling excursion at Menjangan island. After registering, we travel by boat with a park ranger to Terima Bay, where we dock at the island and snorkel along a fabulous coral reef, with myriad varieties of tropical fish, giant clams and corals. Lunch at local warung. Stop at important temple for briefing on etiquette and history. Tonight at dinner, sample Balinese rice wine and arak, “Bali's Fire Water”.
Saturday,February 12: Munduk BD Free day to enjoy massages and or Spa treatment, at Aramith Spa on the Hotel ground. Late afternoon observe demontration in fruit and flower arrangement; and cooking class
Sunday,February 13: Munduk BD Trek to a (somewhat) nearby aboriginal village to watch the process of making palm sugar. Box lunch provided. Sample tuak palm beer. Sample betel nut, the Balinese drug of choice and discuss variations in betel practice throughout Asia. From here we travel back to Munduk, stopping along the way at the stunning Hot Springs in Banjar village. Family style dinner at our hotel, followed by amazing music dance production by the local villagers.
Monday,February 14: Ubud BL Depart for Ubud, Bali's cultural center. Stop along the way at Pura Ulun Danu, Bali's most beautiful temple, and the fruit, spice and flower market. Arrive in Kedewatan Ubud in time for lunch of Nasi Campur, the Balinese favorite dish at a famous local Warung (food stall). Dinner on your own at one of the many good restaurants within walking distance of our hotel.
Tuesday,February 15 :Ubud. BL In the morning we will visit local smoked duck maker to see the beginning of a day long process. Then on to visit Sari Organik, a local purveyer to survey their organic farm and hear about their processes. Afterward a rice tasting, sampling some of the great varieties of Balinese rice. Then a delicious organic buffet lunch, prepared by their staff._ In the afternoon we visit the homes/ studios of Ubud's basket makers, wood carvers', mask makers, painters, and weavers', to photograph and watch them work, as well as make purchases at considerable savings.
Wednesday,February 16 :Ubud BD Begin todays 5 hour cooking class at Bumbu Restaurant with a trip to the Ubud market to purchase the items needed for our menu. Return to restaurant and begin an array of drinks and dishes,ie. Ayam Cerancam,Tempe manis,Opor ayam, Tuna sambel matah. Eating along the way before you waddle back to your hotel. Evening performance of Legong classical dance.
Thursday,February 17: Ubud BD. Full Moon, A chance to see aTemple Festival at Pura Penataran Sasih, Pejeng. Morning Visit to a master knife maker in Budulu village to watch him produce a wide variety of implements, ranging from agricultural tools to the ceremonial kris. Experience Ubud's known massages treatment. Ducks dinner followed by private performance of shadow puppet, a captivating display of teamwork and virtuosic skills.
Friday,February 18: Ubud B After breakfast, island tour to East Bali, stopping along the way to visit the aboriginal village of Tenganan, center of Bali's textile art, to watch the double ikat weaving process (created only two places in the world), and a demonstration of Balinese lontar (palm leaf books) being made, Venture on to Tirtagangga, the last Raja's Water Palace and an opportunity to swim in the olympic sized natural spring-fed pool. Lunch at spectacular view restaurant. Return to Ubud.
Saturday,February 19 : Sanur BL Depart Ubud for Sanur. Stopping along the way for a visit to a tempeh and tofu factory. Lunch at popular Babi Guling (Roast Pork) Warung. Visit to the Big Market in Denpasar where we will purchase our spices, condiments, and tools for your home kitchen. Hit the beach, downtime. Choose from a huge variety of restaurants of every type in south Bali.
Sunday,February 20: Sanur BL Early visit to the fish market in Jimbaran. See all types of fish being loaded from outriggers on the beach, and the complex commercial and social interactions. Visit your guide Surya's family compound, existing in the same location for 400 years. We take a tour and then join the family in preparations for our lunch, learning to make tum, banana leaf wrapped fish or meat and much more. Back to Sanur in time to enjoy the beach and the diverse restaurants.
Monday,February 21: Sanur BD Winding up things and taking it easy or experience more of the SPA treatment. Evening excursion to the Night Market to see what the locals eat for nights out.
Tuesday,February 22: Travel Day. BLD Rest and relax before beginning your journey back to the real world, or……….
Stay on for further adventures in Bali . We are happy to help you plan further travels in Bali or other islands in Indonesia.
| Trip Package Includes: |
- Round-trip airfare from San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New York on Singapore Airlines with an open return and optional stopovers.
- 5 nights in Ubud Cultural Center
- 4 night in Sanur Beach
- 6 nights in Munduk Mountain Resort
- Full breakfasts and one other meal almost every day.
- Seminars in Indonesian language, local customs, Bali Hinduism, caste and social systems, offerings and temples, Indonesian history and politics, farming and irrigation systems, local dining customs, and more.
- At least 8 cooking classes in making local traditional dishes
- 3 live theater performances.
- Treks through local villages, coffee & clove plantations, tropical rain forests.
- Services of professional Balinese English-speaking guide Made Surya
- Pre-trip information, and printed recipes from each class. Restaurant guide in Ubud.
- Visits to important temples, fruit and flower market, Tenganan
aboriginal village, royal palaces, family homes, artists, weavers, and carvers compounds.
- Food-related excursions to soy sauce factory, coffee production factory, palm sugar processing, and other food.
- Guided tour and visits to at least four different markets.
- Guidance to some of Bali's great shopping opportunities.
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Not Included: Extra drinks at meals (bottled water only provided), Some meals, laundry services, extra baggage and overweight charges, passport fees, single room supplement, tips and airport taxes.
Price: $4400.00 based on two people sharing a room with twin beds and a private bath. The price includes land arrangements and air, based on current prices. Excessive raises in air fare may affect tour price. Minimum 8, maximum 16 participants.
A $350.00 deposit is required to secure space. Registration/Release forms may be downloaded at www.danutours.com. Final payments due Dec. 15 2010.
Cancellations and Refunds:
After tickets are issued, refunds for air fares will be governed by regulations listed in flight contract. For the land portion, a cancellation fee of $75.00 is charged until time of departure. There will be no refunds after departure.
Single Supplement:
Those traveling as singles may choose roommates from among the group. If no roommate is available, the client will be advised before departure, and must pay a single supplement.
Airlines:
Singapore Air, the world's foremost airline, flies to Bali from San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Connecting flights from your home town are offered at a discount, return stopover in Singapore is offered for free.
Passport, Visa and Health: A passport, valid six months from date of entry with proof of onward transportation. An Indonesian visa will be issued on arrival, with payment of $25.00. No inoculations are suggested or required.
Early Registration:
As soon as you know you want to join us, send in your deposit. Early sign ups get the best flights and the best rooms. We expect that this trip will fill up early--don't be left out or have to pay extra fees for signing up late! We are traveling at the height of High Season, and everything fills up quickly.
Trip Organizer/Leader:
Madé Surya B.S. is a professional tour organizer who has been leading study tours in Bali for 25 years. Surya's was a research assistant for Eat Smart Indonesia and his recipes appear there as well as in several esteemed restaurants. He has catered meals for groups, in Italian, Mexican, Greek, and Continental cuisine. This is Surya's fifth Culinary tour in Bali.
Guest Chef /Lecturer - Nicole Aloni (Consciuousfeast.com)
Nicole is the author of Secrets From a Caterer's Kitchen, Cooking for Company and The Backyard Bartender. Enjoying an exciting, diverse career in the culinary arts, she completed the diploma course at La Varenne, Ecole de Cuisine in Paris and stayed on to work as a chef at chateaux in Burgundy. She has also studied cooking in Bali, Turkey, India and Italy.
As the Director of Catering at the Los Angeles Music Center for six years, she catered the Academy Awards four times, prepared a state luncheon for HRH Queen Elizabeth II and produced galas in honor of three American presidents, foreign dignitaries, divas and Julia Child who became her mentor. Nicole then opened her own company which specialized in elegant events for such clients as the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, the Tournament of Roses and the Kirov Ballet.
In California, Nicole owned a natural foods restaurant, owned and directed one of the country's most prestigious catering companies and produced a line of gourmet food products. She also manufactured packaged foods for fine grocers like Vons/Pavilions, Gelsons, Trader Joe's, Larry's and Neiman-Marcus.
Currently, Nicole has led culinary tours to France and Italy, teaches cooking, writes food and wine features for such national magazines as Bon Appétit and Better Homes and Gardens, in addition to making television and radio appearances about the art of food and wine.
Itinerary may change subject to unplanned opportunities. Although no one is required to attend any activities, there will be no refunds for missed activities. Anyone who leaves the tour at any time, for any reason, is on their own.
Call toll free 888-476-0543 or email for further information.
Contact Danu Enterprises today and escape the ordinary!
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