3 weeks in Bali, Indonesia- 5/28- 6/15/2024

Day 7- Balinese Traditional house -6/2/2024

Our tour guide took us to a Balinese traditional compound with multiple buildings, a family temple, and open courtyards. Some families allow tourists to visit either for cultural and educational purposes or as a source of supplemental income through entrance fees or guided tours. Visitors are usually guided respectfully through certain areas of the compound, while private spaces are off-limits. Allowing tourists provides a way for Balinese families to share their heritage, architecture, layout, carvings, and daily life while preserving the culture and generating income to maintain the property. It’s a balance of hospitality, tradition, and practicality.

Walking around felt like stepping back into a quieter, older Bali, where life still follows ancient rhythms and traditions.

When we arrived, the first thing you see are the small houses with roofs made from dried branches or woven palm leaves. These roofs aren’t just decorative, they’re part of Balinese architecture meant to keep the interior cool and blend naturally with the environment. Each structure has a purpose, and everything is arranged according to traditional rules of harmony and spirituality.

We walked around to see all the houses.

People are invited to take a peek inside the houses and have a look of how simple live is here.

On the right you can see a family’s traditional well, which was likely used for daily water needs in the past. Today, it’s covered with a piece of wood for safety, both to protect visitors and to preserve the structure. Wells like this are common in traditional Balinese compounds, often located in central courtyards, and are an important part of daily life and household design, reflecting the practical and spiritual integration of water in Balinese culture. Even covered, it gives a glimpse into how the family historically managed water for cooking, cleaning, and ritual purposes.

Nearby, there’s a bale, a traditional Balinese pavilion with a thatched roof. These open-sided structures are used for a variety of purposes, resting, family gatherings, or even small ceremonies. The elevated platform keeps it cool and dry, while the airy design allows breezes to flow through. With its natural materials and simple elegance, the bale fits seamlessly into the courtyard, reflecting the balance of functionality and aesthetics that is central to Balinese architecture.

We walked through the compound and see the community kitchen.

 The kitchen is simple, open space with old-style stoves, clay pots, and tools used for daily cooking. It’s the heart of family life, where meals are prepared together and offerings for the temple are made.

 Entrance to a family shrine.

In many traditional Balinese homes, there is a family shrine dedicated to ancestors, and some compounds have spaces related to rituals around death and remembrance. It’s a sacred corner, calm and respected, where offerings are placed to honor those who came before.

A family shrine is the sacred space where the family honors their ancestors and protective spirits. The small wall with statues set into it is typical of Batuan and other Balinese villages.

These statues are often carved from stone, represent deities, ancestral spirits, or guardians of the household. They’re placed at the most spiritual corner of the compound, usually the “kaja–kangin” direction (toward the mountain and sunrise), which is considered the holiest. The flowers placed behind or on top of the statues’ ears are actually a very common offering in Balinese Hindu practice. After praying or leaving offerings, people often tuck a flower behind the statue’s ear as a gesture of respect and devotion. It symbolizes: Purity. Connection to the divine, and gratitude and blessings.

Sitting on the porch of a bale, an open sided pavilion used for relaxing, gathering, and social activities.

They’re usually elevated slightly from the ground, with sturdy wooden posts supporting a simple roof made of leaves or thatch. The front is always open, no walls so air can flow through and people can easily come and go. It’s designed to be a cool, shaded place during Bali’s hot days

Scattered around the courtyard are chicken coops, small raised structures where chickens are kept for ceremonies, food, and daily life.

A rooster in a cage.

Finding a Syzygium tree in the traditional Balinese compound felt like stepping straight back into our childhood.  In Laos, these fruits grow everywhere in village yards and along quiet roads, and kids often pick them fresh off the tree or gather the ones that fall. They’re crisp, refreshing, a little watery, sometimes lightly sweet, and for many people in the region, they’re tied to playtime, family gardens, and childhood afternoons.

Syzygium fruit, whether it’s wax apple, water apple, or the rose apple variety falling on the ground is such a familiar Southeast Asian sight. The fruit’s shape, the shiny skin, and the sweet, lightly floral smell really bring back memories.

Walking through a traditional house in Batuan gives you such a real glimpse into daily Balinese life, simple structures, family-centered spaces, spiritual elements, and traditions that have been kept alive for generations.

Lunch at Bebek Tebasan Resto

For Lunch, our tour guide highly recommended that we ate at Bebek Tebasan resto.

 The entrance to Bebek Tebasan Resto is striking and full of character. On either side, a statue of a man sitting serenely in a sarong, giving the entryway a warm, welcoming, and distinctly Balinese touch. A set of steps leads upward, guiding you toward the main dining area,

At the top, the entrance is crowned by grand, colorful rings and a vibrant sign reading “Eba Sari Resto.” The combination of the statue, floral accents, and bold, festive colors makes the approach feel ceremonial, almost like stepping into a special space where culture, artistry, and hospitality meet.

As we walked in, we saw that diners were seated next to a tranquil body of water, shaded beneath a row of traditional Balinese huts. The huts, with their thatched roofs and open sides, created a cozy, intimate feel while still letting in light and air.  

The water reflected the structures and surrounding greenery, adding a sense of calm and serenity. It’s a space that blends natural beauty with thoughtful design, where guests can enjoy their meal while soaking in the soothing ambiance of water, greenery, and traditional architecture.

We were led to main dining room and our table is on the left.  You can see Hoa is sitting there.

For your starters, we were served a colorful and inviting appetizer plate. There were thin, crisp chips, some deep red, likely made from beets, and sweet potato chips served with a tasty dipping sauce that balanced earthy sweetness with a hint of tang.

For the main course, I went with the roasted ribs served alongside fluffy white rice, a hearty, comforting choice with tender meat and rich, savory flavors.

Hoa had the roasted duck, which is indeed one of the restaurant’s specialties and well-known for its perfectly cooked, flavorful meat with a slightly crispy skin. The duck came with a fragrant, traditional Balinese seasoning that highlights the island’s aromatic spices. Both dishes feel deeply rooted in local cuisine, offering a satisfying and authentic taste of Bali while you enjoyed the serene views of the rice fields and water around you.

Fresh fruits with coconut ice cream for dessert.

I was a delightful meal

We sat at a table right next to the rice field, which had already been harvested. The golden stubble stretched out in neat rows, giving a sense of openness and calm.  Even after the harvest, the field held a quiet beauty. It was a peaceful view, connecting the meal to the rhythm of the land and the cycle of Bali’s rice cultivation.

On our table, there was a charming ceramic vase holding a small rice plant, its slender green shoots reaching upward. The vibrant green of the branches added a fresh, lively touch to the table, echoing the nearby rice fields and bringing a bit of the Balinese landscape right into our dining space. It felt like a miniature celebration of the island’s staple crop, delicate yet full of life.

We are now leaving the restaurant.

NEXT...Tegenungan Waterfall, (coming soon)