Kite Festival
Kites are a cherished part of Balinese culture, symbolizing both playfulness and a deep connection to spirituality.
For the people of Bali, kites are not just toys but a form of artistic expression and a means of communication with the divine. During the Bali Kite Festival, held from July to October, the skies are filled with vibrant colors as enormous kites, some stretching up to 10 meters in length, soar above the island. These traditional kites, known as "Janggan" and "Bebean," are crafted to resemble birds, fish, and other creatures, each design carrying its own significance. Flying these kites is more than just a sport; it’s a ritual, a way to ask the gods for blessings, good harvests, and prosperity.
The festival is a highlight of the Balinese calendar, attracting both locals and visitors. It’s a time when communities come together, competing in a friendly yet intense atmosphere to see whose kite can fly the highest or stay aloft the longest. The festival showcases the creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural pride of Bali, as each kite is a work of art, reflecting the island's rich heritage.
Mule Malu is proud to be part of this vibrant tradition. We believe in preserving and celebrating the unique cultural practices that make Bali so special.
This year, we were especially honored to support the Sabda Kite Festival IV held here in the bukit on Nyang Nyang clifftop.
By supporting this event, we not only celebrate the joy and beauty these festivals bring to the island but also help keep these important traditions alive for future generations. The festival is a reminder of the power of community and the joy of shared cultural experiences, and we’re thrilled to play a role in it.
Thanks to @nomadett for the beautiful photos!
We'll meet again soon!
Almost a month has gone by since we've closed Mule Malu. The situation evolved quickly but in Bali it seems to remain under control. We are all doing good, our friends are doing good and we all stay home doing our part on flattening the curve. Nowadays for us and for everyone, it is a very sad moment, even hearing all the daily news from around the world.
Strength and Courage!
Despite this negative period, we must be united and trust health and scientific system. From this "strange situation" we could learn a new lifestyle, with more moments of tranquility.
Take time to regroup, reconnect.
This is an exceptional chance to catch up with your life and all those things left in the drawers waiting for some spare time. One of our family motto is: "Make time to smell the flowers". Well, we do have that time now.
Let's think about new possibilities!
We have to be positive and see the silver lining: this period can also teach us things that we may need after Coronavirus.
Nature, our ocean and all those wonderful places that you can enjoy have remained the same, or rather more pure. Even if it seems far away, the day when we'll meet again will certainly come. Look after your health and also your beloved ones. If we respect the rules, we shall all emerge as winners.
All of us will be glad to welcome you as soon as possible.
Even our reception team, Rasta, Eko, Indra and Dhea but also Pak Agung and all our staff will welcome you with new energy!
Daughters of the Earth
We proudly support Bali Wise event “ Daughters of the Earth” of Match 10th 2020.
Bali Wise aim to empower marginalized women through skills education, as a means to develop sustainable communities in Indonesia. Read more about their commitment here
You can participate by bidding online to buy two nights including breakfast at Mule Malu or purchasing a ticket for the event dinner on March 10th here.
Join us to help empowering Indonesian marginalized women!
Nyepi 2020
Balinese new year consist of two parts, a very noisy one – Nyepi Eve – and a very quiet one – Nyepi Day– .
Nyepi Eve is about creating a spectacle to attract the Evil spirits to Bali. When the spirits arrive, at around sunrise the next morning, everybody is hiding and being quiet (Nyepi Day) so the spirits finds nothing of interest and leave until next year.
Nyepi Eve
Nyepi Eve starts around sunset with Ngrupuk parades. The main attractions of the parades are the Ogoh Ogohs – huge colourful figures of demons – that will be carried or driven around every town and village in Bali. The center of the parade is the village’s main crossroad and the parade will usually be accompanied by music, fireworks and bamboo bombs.
The parade ends before midnight with the burning of the Ogog Ogohs as a symbol of getting rid of the evil spirits.
Pecatu is the closet village to see it and we warmly recommend to go!
(If you’d like to join us, we will be gathering at the Lobby at 6pm on 24 March 2020 otherwise our staff can easily show you the directions. Google map here.
Nyepi Day
Nyepi Eve comes Nyepi day – the day of silence – and the Balinese takes that very seriously.
On Nyepi Day, complete calm enshrouds the island. The Balinese Hindus follow a ritual called the Catur Brata Penyepian, roughly the ‘Four Nyepi Prohibitions’. These include amati geni or ‘no fire’, amati lelungan or ‘no travel’, amati karya ‘no activity’, and amati lelanguan ‘no entertainment’. Pecalangs – traditional security men – will be on the streets, making sure the streets are empty as no traffic is allowed, not even pedestrian. Even Denpasar airport will be closed down for the entire day!
“Some consider it a time for total relaxation and contemplation for us and a chance for Mother Nature to ‘reboot’ herself after 364 days of human pestering”
In the houses (where everybody is supposed to stay) activities, lights and volume should be kept to a minimum and TV broadcasting is usually shut down for the day. So far the Internet has been working on Nyepi day, but many speculate that this year will be shut off.
Nyepi Day starts at 6am on March 25th and runs until 6am of March 26th .
During this 24hours celebration you are confined to our premises, but free to continue to enjoy our facilities as usual even if we recommend to consider it a time for total relaxation.
On Nyepi Day, we are not be able to accept any check-in nor check-out throughout the day.
Check-ins are allowed before 11:30pm March 24th, check-outs from 11:30am March 26th
Our cafe will be open and running as usual but only until 6:00pm as lights are not allowed at night time.(You’re free to use the lights inside your room)
We'll have a special balinese dinner at 95.000IDR.
Corona Bali Pro 2019
Ready to see the best surfers in world competing in Bali?
Also this year the World Surf circus comes back for the Corona Bali Pro 2019 !
The event started a few days ago and on until May 25th in Keramas Beach (google map), it’s just an hour drive from Mule Malu.
Besides the competition, the magic atmosphere of Bali East cost, the rice fields, the black sands and powerful right handers definitely worth the drive!
p.s.: ask at the lobby for more info about the best conditions to go, we’ll be happy to share some insight ;)
Forest Smoothie
EVERY SIP SAVES A TREE #SIPANDSAVE
We’re very happy to join Forest Smoothie, the worlds first cafe conservation project!
For every drink sold at our cafe we plant a tree or protect an acre of rainforest.
We have created a special recipe for a delicious green smoothie with a base of coconut, banana, moringa leaves (fresh from our tree!), spinach and a vanilla touch. Buy one during your stay with us or come get one and help to save our planet and wildlife! More info at www.forestsmoothie.com or instagram @forestsmoothie
Vogue Japan
A few days ago Mule Malu has been featured in Vogue Japan as an “Ecological Stay” to visit while in Bali! Read the full article (in Japanese) here
Thanks to Mr. Tsukamoto for the kind words and for understanding Mule Malu philosophy.
Lush Palms
We’re very proud to be featured in Lush Palms, a beautiful guide to surf travel and lifestyle for the modern surfer. Founded by Tara and Eric Hilliard, this guide aim to inspire others through their adventures and make surf travel easier and more accessible. Check it out!
Gettin' closer
We're getting closer to the opening!
It's true that we're running a bit late (we got so much rain in Jan/Feb... we almost stopped the work) but our small accommodation is almost ready to guest you here, in the beautiful Bingin's farmland.
Gardening/landscaping has been as demanding as satisfying!
There feeling of working with the land and planting trees is amazing.
Sometimes our society make us forget were we belong, keeping us distant from the earth. It's beautiful to reconnect.
Has my father use to say, to be a man you got to have a baby, write a book and plant a tree
Well, check the photos and let us know what you think!
...and don't forget to check our Instagram page for daily updates.
See you soon!
Brick after brick (2)
We are so excited as we have done a lot of progress since the last post!
Bungalows are ready and just waiting for doors and furniture.
The pool features an amazing pattern of green tiles hand cut from a special green stone from Java. Soon we will start the decking and then will be time to swim!
The Cafe is taking shape too, we can't wait to have the first coffee in the shadow of the big conic along alan roof!
A special note goes to the entrance: after some months of thinking, rethinking and research we finally found our lobby in a nearby village: made with 30+ years old teak, it used to be a horses trough. How does it look like?
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Brick after brick
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We thought to share few shots of the work in progress! It's more likely a personal memory rather than something interesting but... somewhere we should start, shouldn't we?
