Practicalities

LOCATION

Bali map
Locality map

Nirarta is

  • about 90 minutes north-east from the airport
  • an hour from Denpasar, Sanur, and Ubud
  • about 45 minutes from the mother temple Besakih and the coastal resort of Candidasa.

Our nearest village, Sidemen, is in the eastern regency of Karangasem, about 12 kilometres north of Klungkung on the road to Selat.

TRAVEL

Reserve your travel to Bali well-ahead, as flights are often booked up long in advance and hard to get at the last minute, particularly during holiday periods.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PASSPORT IS VALID FOR 6 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF ENTRY INTO INDONESIA, OR YOU WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY!

ADDRESS

Nirarta Centre for Living Awareness,
Sidemen, Karangasem 80864, Bali, Indonesia.
Tel. +62 366 24122

CLOTHING

Generally, you will need light summer clothing. You may wish to travel light and buy a few things in Bali, which has a small textile industry. The range available in Sidemen, however, is limited, compared with the tourist centres of Ubud, Sanur, Kuta, or even the small market town of Klungkung.

If you wish to hike, you may like to bring some strong walking shoes. But these are not absolutely necessary. It is possible to walk about quite easily in sandals or even plastic flip-flops, which can be more convenient for negotiating wet rice paddies and irrigation streams.

If you are participating in a retreat at Nirarta some loose and light clothing for movement and meditation will be useful.

THINGS TO BRING

You will find the following items useful:

  • a small pocket torch (flashlight) (periodic power cuts!)
  • swimming costume (bathers)
  • a spare towel if you wish to bathe in the river, a nearby swimming pool, or the sea
  • an umbrella and light rain-proof anorak or fold-away macintosh
  • a sunhat
  • sun-cream (available in Bali, but not easily found in Sidemen)
  • camera
  • open sandals or flip-flops (as shoes often need slipping off, as they are not worn indoors)
  • 3-4 pairs of shorts
  • sleeveless or short sleeved T-shirts
  • a couple of light blouses (ladies) for temple ceremonies

FOOD AT NIRARTA

Food at Nirarta is semi-vegetarian (tofu and tempe are used; fish, chicken may be served). Very little dairy produce (milk, cheese, etc.) is used.

Our menu covers a range of Western and Asian cuisine. The food is generally served with rice and spiced mildly to suit the Western palate.

Lunch and dinner are normally served as a buffet and mostly earn lavish praise.

If you have particular dietary needs, please let us know.

HEALTH, INSECTS, ETC.

Malaria is not endemic in Bali. There are very few mosquitoes at Nirarta, but you may find some roll-on insect repellent useful for visits to other places, or if you tend to attract bugs!

There is a local health centre and hospital and specialists in Klungkung.

WALKING

If you wish to hike, you may like to use strong walking shoes. But these are not absolutely necessary.

It is possible to walk about quite easily in sandals or even plastic flip-flops, which can be more convenient for negotiating wet rice paddies and irrigation streams.

SHOPPING

The range of goods available in Sidemen is limited, compared with the tourist centres of Ubud, Sanur, Kuta, or even the small market town of Klungkung. But most basic necessities are available.

There is a local market, every day until about 8.30 a.m. in Sidemen, and a substantial market in Klungkung for local produce, by the bus-station.

Klungkung ‘art market’ for cloth and other items suitable as gifts, is in the centre of town, to the south of the main street and behind the Wartel telephone service on the corner of the main crossroads. A number of shops also supply finely crafted gold and silver jewelry.

MONEY

Indonesian currency is the Rupiah.
Here is a handy Currency Converter

Cash and traveller’s cheques (most widely used currencies) can be changed in Klungkung at the money changer opposite Kertagosa, near the ‘Art market’.

ATMs and banks are in Klungkung also.

COMMUNICATIONS

Calls can normally only be made by guests using their personal telephone charge cards or at the telephone centre in the village.

Local SIM cards for GSM and CDMA phones are also available. Currently GSM has better coverage at Nirarta.

 

 

 


delicious buffet meals