“Laura says she’s a writing teacher—and it’s true—she’s a damn good writing teacher. But Laura’s real gift, what she really teaches—is transformation.”

-Bonnie Harris, long-term student

Writing and traveling are transformative experiences that can open your heart, expand your world, and put you in touch with your own deep creativity. This in-depth excursion into the culture of Bali—through the eyes of the Balinese—will use writing practice as a daily touchstone.

Find your voice, rediscover yourself, and remember the joy and beauty of being alive.
If you are…

• In a state of transition or on the verge of a major life change
• Ready to break out of old habits and ways of thinking
• Looking for new direction and a renewed sense of purpose
• Ready for writing and traveling to transform your life
• Open to the adventure of a lifetime

  …then this trip can be the exact catalyst you need to create the life you want.

Bali is famous for its inner and outer beauty, and its gracious hospitality. This beautiful island features majestic volcanoes and terraced rice fields that gently spill into an azure sea. And Bali’s rich cultural heritage and deep reverence for life is legendary.

Our trip will bring you into three distinct regions of Bali. We will begin at Candi Dasa, with beachfront bungalows overlooking the azure-clear waters of the Indian Ocean. We then venture on to Ubud, the cultural and artistic heart of Bali, where you will have a taste of performances, shopping, and arts and crafts. Finally, we will head North to the cool volcanic mountains of Munduk, surrounded by clove and coffee plantations. You will experience first-hand the unspoiled agricultural and village life that Bali has to offer.

We will stay in small, locally owned hotels—away from the tourist scene—so we can fully immerse ourselves in this unique, evocative culture. The day will begin with optional yoga instruction. Morning excursions will include rice field hikes, treks in rain forests, volcano climbs, snorkeling expeditions among tropical coral gardens, walks through coffee and clove plantations, and lush waterfalls. Each day, our tour guides will give us an insider’s view of Balinese dance, music, art and sacred ceremonies.

In the late afternoon, we will come home and write about what we have experienced: digesting the beauty we have seen and exploring where we want to go with our lives.

Who Is This Trip For: This trip is open to beginning and experienced writers. No prior writing experience is required. Spouses and children over 12 are welcome to join us. Bali is an extremely family-friendly place where children are beloved. Additional yoga classes will be available at no extra charge for those who are not joining our writing circle.

"Laura is a compassionate, gentle, terrific teacher. She definitely delivered on her promise of, 'The Writing Retreat of Your Dreams."
- Marie Hanson, Reno, Nevada

"The retreat felt timeless. I got so much more than I ever imagined. I got rest, instruction, stimulation, and a deepened capacity to listen. I learned to listen more carefully to the voices around me, to the silence and to the voices within."
- Michael Dorenzo, Santa Cruz, CA

"I was excited to sign up for Laura's retreat, but as the time grew near, I got last minute jitters and almost didn't come. I'm so glad I didn't listen to my fears. During Laura's retreat, I found a part of me I haven't seen or felt in over a decade. I have never felt so free and alive!"
- Phyllis Jaco, O'Hallon, Illinois,
Retired Air Force Officer

"Writing with Laura is a dream come true....she's funny, smart, insightful, and willing to risk putting her own life experience down on the page. Writing practice has proven to be a form of meditation in action for me: it has revealed dark corners of my mind that were begging for illumination, and healed broken pieces of my heart. I have cried, laughed, marveled at the insights a simple thing like writing practice has given me. This is an experience not to be missed."
- Nancy London, Santa Fe, NM

About Danu Tours:

“My trip to Bali was one of the best experiences of my life. Judy and Surya are guides, friends, and teachers who lead you through a physical, spiritual, educational, culinary and cultural experience that is truly memorable! I have never been in a country so immersed in its own culture: the dance, crafts, rituals, the offerings, cremations, temple festivals, rights of passage, child rearing practices, natural healing practices are everywhere you turn. The most important comment I can make about this trip is that I did not feel I was visiting Bali; I felt i was LIVING there. Do not miss out on this experience!”
-Hal Wilner, San Mateo, CA

"What an incredible adventure--a beautiful, spiritual & physical journey. I liked the great itinerary, the wonderful mix of lodges, hikes, temples, snorkeling at Menjangan, the dances, rafting. I will remember the beautiful combination of spiritual and physical events. The enthusiasm of both of you. Loved the trip and highly recommend it."
-Alexanne Mills, Carmel CA

"An exceptional experience of Bali--the culture--the environment--the people."
-Don and Katherine Lutowsky, Kneeland CA

"Judy and Surya, you are beautiful people--your love of Bali and people shows in every way with your travelers. Thanks you both for a most enjoyable Bali visit."
-Flo Van Patten, Carmel CA

Itinerary

Mon. June 18: Depart USA aboard Cathay Pacific Air around midnight. Cross international dateline and lose one day, which is made up on your return.

Tues. June 19: Candi Dasa BL Arrive Bali mid-afternoon, and be transported by minibus to east Bali and our beachfront bungalows at Candi Dasa. Check into hotel and unpack before dinner together.  

Wed. June 20: Candi Dasa BD Optional early yoga with Karyn, followed by breakfast. Then we venture off by minibus to our waiting boat and a snorkeling excursion to a nearby coral reef preserve with dozens of tropical fish. Return to hotel for lunch and first orientation session focusing on basic Indonesian manners & customs, including a demonstration of how to wrap your traditional sarong. 2:00 PM Writing workshop with Laura begin. 5:30 walk to the center of the village to see the temple for which Candi Dasa is named and tour Bali's only Gandhian Ashram, followed by dinner prepared by the ashram members.

Thur. June 21: Candi Dasa B Early optional Yoga, breakfast, and second orientation/language session focusing on the Bali/Hindu religion and caste system. A visit to nearby Tenganan aboriginal village, where Bali’s finest basket making and textile weaving takes place. We see a demonstration of calligraphy and weaving. After lunch the writing workshop continues.

Fri. June 22: Candi Dasa B Morning free to take advantage of another snorkeling or scuba dive experience in East Bali. Afternoon excursion to Tirtagangga, a fabulous “water palace” created by the region's last Raja. You can swim in the crystal clear, Olympic-sized pool, and have lunch at the gourmet cafe overlooking the pools and statuary. We have our writing workshop overlooking the water palace. Happy Hour seminar on Bali’s history, followed by final dinner in Candi  Dasa.

Sat. June 23: Ubud B Early optional Yoga, followed by breakfast and final  language session. Depart Candi Dasa for Ubud, Bali's "Cultural Center," stopping  along the way to visit the ancient temple at Goa Gadjah, the “Elephant Cave.” Afternoon writing workshop, and dinner on your own.  

Sun. June 24: Ubud. B Early Yoga. Breafast and a walk to the Monkey Forest to meet the locals, and discover the iconography on the temple to Durga. Proceed to the model village of Nyu Kuning, to discover the layout of a traditional village. Afternoon, our writing workshop continues. Evening performance of the Kecak  (Ramayana) dance, and Fire trance dance, followed by dinner.  

Mon. June 25: Ubud BL Early Yoga class before breakfast. Then we proceed south, stopping first for a performance of the Barong dance at Batubulan village. Then we back-track slightly, to the home/studio of one of the few master carvers of sacred masks, to watch the process of creation and hear about their role in society. Venturing further south, we visit the traditional family compound of your guide, Made Surya, to meet the family and enjoy lunch. Travel back to Ubud for our afternoon writing workshop.

Tues. June 26: Ubud B Yoga and morning writing workshop. Possibilities for the afternoon inlcude: spa treatments, hikes through countryside, cooking class, offering-making class, white water rafting. Visits with artists and crafts people. Visit to beautiful temples. A service project, creating bios for members of an NGO for  disabled Balinese adults (can be combined with beautiful temple visit). Evening performance of Women’s gamelan orchestra with children dancing.  

Wed. June 27: Munduk BD 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 State temple of Mengwi, surrounded by two moats. Onward to Pura Ulun Danu, Bali's most beautiful temple floating on a small island in a volcanic lake and the fruit and flower market. Arrive in Munduk mountain village early afternoon and check into hotel. Afternoon writing workshop. Evening, we will have the first of our family-style group dinners  together, followed by optional ethnographic film: The Three Worlds of Bali.

Thur. June 28: Munduk BD Early morning optional yoga. Breakfast, followed by a trek through the neighboring countryside: small villages, rice fields, coffee and clove plantations, culminating at the magical Growing Stone. After lunch, our writing workshop continues. Evening meal together and optional ethnographic  film: National Geographic Special on Bali.

Fri. June 29: Munduk BD After breakfast, depart Munduk for West Bali National Park. After checking in at the ranger station, we board our boat for Menjangan Island, and a world-class snorkeling expedition to view the myriad numbers of tame tropical fish who dwell on the coral reef. On the way back to our hotel, we visit Bali’s oldest Buddhist Monastery and Holy Hot Spring. Afternoon writing session.

Sat. June 30: Munduk BD Final Yoga session. Final writing session and closure. Afternoon free to relax, take another trek or pamper yourself with body treatments. Evening farewell to Munuk and Bali dinner and performance of dance and music by the village.

Sun. July 1: Transit BLD Depart for airport for your return to the USA, or stay on for further adventures.

Other situations may arise that we can take advantage of--cremation festivities or other rites of passage, temple festival and purification ceremonies. In case any activity must be canceled, another similar activity will be substituted.  

Writing Workshop Instructor:  Laura Davis is the author of seven non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and I Thought We’d Never Speak Again. Laura’s groundbreaking books have sold more than 1.8 million copies around the world. Laura has also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker. Words have always been at the core of her work and her self-expression.

Currently, Laura leads weekly writing groups and memoir writing retreats in the Santa Cruz, CA region, as well as retreats internationally. She has been mentoring and supporting writers for the past 20 years. It is truly the work of her heart: “I love teaching. I love watching my students find their natural voice and their rhythm. I love it when they find their true stories and discover the courage to put them on the page. I feel like a midwife as my students birth their stories, and I feel honored to witness their bursts of creativity and pure life energy pouring out on the page. Our writing circles are safe places where skills are honed, tears and laughter are welcome, and each writer is seen, heard and deeply known.”

To learn more or to receive a free weekly inspirational quote and writing prompt, visit Laura’s website at www.lauradavis.net.

Yoga Instructor: When Karyn Bristol took her first Iyengar Yoga class 25 years ago, she never dreamed that she would one day become a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher. Like many of today’s yoga students, Karyn took her first yoga class in midlife. She loved yoga from the beginning—the way it increased her strength and endurance. She was also immediately drawn to Iyengar’s focus on alignment and posture.

In 2000, Karyn took part in the Advanced Studies and Teacher’s Training Program at the Iyengar Institute of San Francisco and became a yoga teacher. After six years of teaching all levels of yoga and becoming a back care specialist, Karyn became one of the few certified Iyengar teachers in Santa Cruz County. Becoming certified required years of practice, study and two rigorous examinations of skills. She has also studied extensively with the Iyengar family in Pune, India. 

You can learn more about Karyn at: www.yogawithkaryn.net

Trip Organizers/Leaders: Judy Slattum MFA and Made Surya B.S. are professional tour organizers who have been leading study tours in Bali since 1985.  

Made has translated and worked with scholars and educational film and video crews, including National Geographic, and lives in Bali half the year. He was senior research assistant for several scholarly books relating to the Balinese view of the After Death. He is on the advisory board for Sacred Sites International, and has been a contributor to Hinduism Today.  

Judy Slattum has been organizing and leading study tours to Bali continuously after first visiting the island on sabbatical to study mask dance in 1978. Six months later she returned with the first of many unique travel/learning experiences. Judy has published many articles on Balinese culture and her book, Masks of Bali; Spirits of an Ancient Drama was released by Chronicle Books in 1992, was featured in Time Magazine and sold over 17,000 copies, and was reprinted by Periplus Editions in Sept. 2003. Her museum exhibition on Balinese Masks toured the USA as part of the Festival of Indonesia for 5 years and has now relocated to Bali.

Not Included:
Meals except where noted in itinerary (expect  $6.-$10 per meal.), laundry, airport exit tax ($17.00), overweight baggage fees, additional sightseeing, and snorkeling equipment rental. “Optional “ activities such as another snorkeling excursion are not covered.

Price: $3814.00 includes airfare from USA. The trip price is based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded room with private bath (All hotels have hot water, western toilets, 2 have swimming pools). Full breakfast, excursions listed in the itinerary, classes, services of Balinese and USA guide, several orientation and language sessions. The price includes land arrangements and air, but a rise in fuel taxes may influence the final price. Ground only, deduct  $1750.00. Those doing their own air will be responsible for transfers from airport to hotel and  return. Minimum 10 participants, maximum 16.

Deposit:  A deposit of $350.00 per person is required at the time of booking. Final payment is due 45 days prior to departure. Limited to 16 participants.

Cancellations and Refunds:  For the flight portion, cancellation will be governed by the rules and regulations as listed in the flight contract by the participating airline. For the land portion, a cancellation fee of $350.00 will be assessed up to 45 days prior to departure, when half the final payment will be refunded. No refunds will be made from one week before departure. Trip cancellation and medical evacuation insurance is highly recommended.

Transportation:  Round trip air transportation will be regularly scheduled Cathay Pacific Airlines between San Francisco or LA to Bali. Possible optional return stopovers.

Bagage:  Two (2) pieces of luggage, not exceeding 62 inches. Each cannot exceed i50 lbs.

Accomodations:  All accommodations are based on two persons sharing a twin bedded room with private, western-style bath. Single supplement available for $295.00.

Roommates:  Single people may sign up for accommodations desired on a share basis and will be assigned a roommate as circumstances permit. If a roommate is unavailable, the participant will be notified of the adjusted price for a  SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $280.00.

Passports, Visa & Health:  A passport, valid six months from date of entry with proof of onward transportation. Indonesian visa for 30 days granted on arrival to US citizens for $25.00 fee.  

No inoculations are suggested or required.

Join 7-time author Laura Davis for a life-changing trip into the heart of Bali—a trip that will revitalize your creativity and jumpstart the next phase of your life.

Call toll free 888-476-0543 or email for further information.
Contact Danu Enterprises today and escape the ordinary!

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