Are you planning a trip to Bali on 16 March 2010? If so you are in for a surprise! The airport will be closed, no flights will arrive or depart the island, no vehicles or people will be seen on the streets island-wide, and all lights will be switched off.
This is not a fairy tale, but the reality of one day in the Balinese calendar, called Nyepi, or the Hindu New Year.
This year Nyepi will fall on 16 March and silence will reign supreme throughout Bali, from 06:00 am on Tuesday 16 March until 06:00 am on Wednesday 17 March.
My very first visit to Bali was in 1978, when Bali was a much quieter island that it is in 2010. Nevertheless, my surprise was that the airport appeared very quiet and very few cars were picking up arriving visitors. A friendly Singaporean arriving on the same flight explained that today was Nyepi, and his hotel car required a special dispensation sticker to pick him up from the Bali airport.
My new Singaporean friend recommended his hotel in Kuta to me and I joined him in the car – otherwise I may have been left waiting hours at the deserted airport! No hot food was available at the hotel that evening but we enjoyed sandwiches and many cold beers.
32 years ago flights still arrived in Bali on Nyepi day; recent years have seen a more serious approach to the practical aspects of Nyepi and the island virtually closes down.
To experience what must surely be unique on the planet, be sure to arrive in Bali a couple of days before Nyepi and you will be rewarded with the spectacular Ogoh Ogoh parades of huge frightening monsters being carried to the beaches and burned. This will be accompanied by a cacophony of gongs and cymbals, on the eve of Nyepi, called Tawur Agung Kesanga. The noise, music and flames will chase away the demons for another year.
Nyepi in Bali is a day of quiet solitude, peace from cars, motorcycles, voices. Even the dogs do not bark. And darkness. The lights of humanity are dimmed, the skies at night are pitch black. Nyepi is a long day, an experience not to be missed.
1Bedroom Luxury Pool Villa: USD 414++/villa
2Bedroom Luxury Pool Villa: USD 688++/villa
Inclusive of:
• 2 nights stay in one of our Luxury Pool Villa
• Daily Breakfast for 2 persons per room at your private villa
• Kanishka Villas welcome drink and chilled towel
• Round trip private airport transfer (not available on Nyepi Day)
• Welcome fresh tropical fruits and flower arrangement in villa
• 1 time lunch at your private villa for 2 persons per room on Nyepi Day
• 1 time dinner at your private villa for 2 persons per room on Nyepi Day
• 1 time (1hr) Balinese Massage for 2 persons per room
• Daily turndown cake
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access at your private villa
• Daily complimentary shuttle service to Seminyak Beach (not available on Nyepi Day)
• Re-stocked dispenser mineral water in villa
• 24hrs butler assistance
• Complimentary tea & coffee making facilities
• 20% OFF for all spa treatment
Terms & Conditions:
• Rates are valid check-in 15 March 2010 and check-out 17 March 2010
• Rates are subject to 21% Government Tax and Service Charge
• Rates are applicable for double occupancy per bedroom
• Rates are subject to change without prior notice
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