Soloist and Bird of Paradise Balinese Dancers

There was a teenage soloist.

The final dancers at the Panorama party were the Birds of Paradise -

2 women who were exquisitely beautiful in their dance.

Anniversary at Panorama Hotel Bali

1 Year after Nyoman Suweta took over as Managing Director of Panorama Hotel in Ubud, Bali,

he threw a party for the staff to celebrate.

There were awards for "The Best of the Best" in 3 categories.

The Best of the Best Departments: Food & Beverage - Product - accepted by Chef Ketut

The Best of the Best HEAD of Department: Winner Kadek Suwalo

The Best of the Best Employees: Winner Wayan Suarjana Putra

And there were Balinese dancers in costume.

Young girls in the traditional Welcome dance,

with offerings and flower petals.

Slightly older dancers with folding Fans.

A truly bizarre game where female staff members picked up worms (or benign snakes?) and stuffed them into beer bottles.

The bottle with the most worms won.

Locally Crafted Pillows - with Built-in Aromatherapy

While shopping, we found these lovely throw pillows (just up the street from the Delta Dewata supermarket).


They come in several colors, as well as neutrals, with built-in aromatherapy in the fabric inserts. I'm not sure what it is - a bit like sandal wood.

They also have small bolsters - perfect for the sofa arms.


And matching magazine holders.


They have many other styles and sizes - silk covered poufs, for example - that would suit other decors. And they sell a few very original purses! Ever seen a leopard skin handbag



with an enormous zipper? The teeth were almost 1 inch wide - unfortunately, I didn't have my camera at the shop.

Guests and Everyday Ceremonies

While this group of guests were having breakfast at Bhanuswari Resort & Spa...

The wife of the resort's Balinese Hindu priest was making offerings and prayers in the lobby.

Unfortunately, the small temple rests at a height more appropriate for her husband. She is quite a bit shorter than he is, so she relies on a lobby chair to get up and down.

More Butterflies

Yes, I'm a sucker for butterflies. And I will continue to add new photos for your enjoyment.

You really need to come here and see for yourself - still photos don't capture the joy of 2 butterflies dancing together in the air. A couple of days ago (withOUT my camera handy), I even saw FOUR dancing together!

For this shot, I'm looking up at the pergola over the lobby entrance. I think the butterflies get confused and are "trapped" by the glass on top of it - much to my photographic advantage!

And a perfect profile.

A different location, a different butterfly, thanks to my telephoto lens! The Swift Peacock (irridescent blue-green) seems especially fond of this flowering tree.

Cooking Lesson

A guest who is currently living in Seoul, Korea decided to take his first-ever cooking class while staying at Bhanuswari Resort & Spa.

Here, he demonstrates how to roll and fold a banana leaf around a filling of spiced fish. The package is then steamed for about 20 minutes.

While eating the results, he said that it was all delicious, and that he plans to cook Balinese cuisine for his friends when he returns. Lucky friends!

Koi and Lotus Pond

The koi have already had babies!
I caught this shy baby a couple of days ago, after an early morning rain - those are rain drops on the lily pad.

Here's a more brightly colored one.
And the beautiful pink lotus flowers are blooming!

Friendly Neighbors Take Culture Classes at Bhanuswari Resort & Spa

Just up the hill from Bhanuswari Resort & Spa, a Dutch couple built a villa. (See it at http://balirelax.blogspot.com/2006/10/new-neighbors-near-bhanuswari-resort.html) A couple of weeks ago, a brother brought his 3 girls for their first trip to Bali.

Though they stayed at their own villa, they took advantage of nearby Bhanuswari Resort & Spa for many of their meals and activities. Since they were only staying for 6 days, they didn't want to hire a cook. And a short walk (less than 5 minutes) brought them to Bhanuswari's 3-4 star meals, at 2-3 star prices (May is still "low" season).




With no swimming pool at their villa, they were still able to swim - by joining the "Swim Club" at Bhanuswari. For a small daily fee, they could use the salt-water pool, a pool towel, and get a juice or soft drink.
And when they got tired of shopping in nearby Ubud (or maybe it was Peter who got tired, rather than his teenage daughters!), they took a wood-carving class in the resort's lobby.







A few simple tools...


Attention to details...





And completed dolphins!

Recycled Glass - art and gifts

Photos taken at Nyoman Glass shop on Jalan Raya Mas, just south of Ubud, Bali.
Many of the larger pieces are displayed right on the street.
In addition to glass, the shop offers wood carvings.
There are a few pieces of cobalt / Prussian blue – my personal favorite.
And some pieces have an opaque finish.
Whimsical birds and cat / angles fly overhead.
Yes, that is a fish bowl, complete with fish!
Smaller items include a variety of beverage glasses, candle holders, ashtrays, and perfume bottles with stoppers.

Indoor Plants added at Villa

The management at Bhanuswari Resort & Spa decided to bring the outside indoors.
The dining area in one of the villas offers a view of the front garden. And brings it inside, too.
Known as “lucky bamboo”, this group of bamboo plants is woven together, forming a hollow cylinder.