Bali Art Retreats in Penestanan, Ubud
June Sunday 3rd to Saturday 9th 2012

August Sunday 19th to Saturday 25th 2012

This is a time for you to really get into your creativity, play, unwind, relax, get spoilt and eat wonderfully nurturing food. There is a gentleness and beauty in Bali that cannot help but seep into your being, especially when you witness it through your art.

The retreat will be held at I Wayun Karja's studio and Guesthouse in Penestanan which is also known as the centre of the Young Artist Painter Movement. It is about 15 minutes walk from Ubud and lies in the paddy fields. His studio and accommodation is very tranquil and has gorgeous local restaurants minutes away at the edge of the rice fields.

We start off our days with one hour of yoga. It doesn't matter if you can't bend very far. Ashlea Wilken, our yoga teacher has been teaching for many years and will really look after you. Unfortunately Ashlea can't join us in August so we will be doing yoga at beautiful Intuitive Flow around the corner as seen in the U tube above.

After yoga we are served a huge delicious Balinese breakfast on Karja's garden terrace before diving into our art.

The first day we will be doing a communal intuitive piece in the studio. It is often based on the Mandala and invites harmony and balance into your life. You can see the last retreat's first day in the U tube here. I find it really helps you unwind and get into your creativity with ease.

For three of the days you will be creating in or around the studio with afternoons free and for the other days you will be out on trips.

Our main trip this year is to Lovina on the north coast to immerse ourselves in the sea. A boat journey at sunrise to see the dolphins, colourful fishing boats and burnt sunsets will all feed our senses and fill us with colour.

We will start our journey on Thursday travelling up through the mountains to draw the Water Temple at Lake Bratuan before heading up to Munduk for lunch at Puri Lumbung where you can see sweeping views over northern Bali.

We then descend to the small fishing town of Lovina. We will be staying the night at Aditya Beach Resort (www.adityalovina.com) right on the beach so that you can easily paint the boats, tropical fringed coastline ,sunset and relax.
In the morning we head out on the boats as the sun rises to see the dolphins and reef fish. After breakfast we spend the morning drawing and painting on the beach before heading back to Ubud after lunch via the beautiful Git Git waterfalls.

After class around Ubud  

There are many places to explore. You can visit the Green School, go for a healing, walk the Agung River, shop, have more massages, eat endlessly at delicious restauarants, see traditional Balinese performances or go to the Jazz café. You are graciously invited to a ceremony too.

Body massage with Cantika

Your retreat includes a full body massage with a herbal scrub at Cantika’s. Cantika is a Sanskrit word which means “feeling safe in your heart” All the essential oils and body scrubs are handmade on the premises. After your massage you bathe in a rose petal bath and drink ginger tea. It is divine and is situated right in the rice fields in a garden setting. It is very peaceful and relaxing.

Accommodation

Karja’s lovely guesthouse is called Santra Putra. He and his wife Made are wonderful hosts and always make you feel like one of the family. It is a real glimpse into traditional Balinese life. The rooms occupy the whole upstairs or downstairs of a house and have their own bathroom, kitchen and large balcony overlooking a beautiful garden or rice paddy fields.

You pay for your accommodation yourself when you check out. Prices are in Indonesian rupiah. Please check the current exchange rate. At this time (Nov 2011) it is 9200 per Aus dollar.

Traditional room Single 250,000 (AUD $27) Double 280,000 (AUD$31)
New room Single 300,000 (AUD $33) Double 360,000 (AUD $39)
Contact me to book. All the rooms have been reserved for us for the week. You will keep your room when you go to Lovina. We need to leave by the Sunday after the retreat but can usually come a few days earlier.

Your Costs

AUD $950. This includes your art classes, yoga classes, full body massage, some art supplies and your trip to Lovina. Your Lovina trip includes, Thursday morning tea, lunch, dinner and accommodation. Friday boat trip, breakfast and lunch.
This $950 is paid to me before the trip. You need to pay a $300 deposit to reserve your place.

Your accommodation with breakfast for seven nights depending on which room you book at current exchange rates will be from $189 to $231, or less if you share. You pay this to Karja when you check out.

Airfare: I find the best deals are through www.zuji.com.au. Tick the flexible box. Or Air Asia. Total costs excluding airfare AUD $1139 to $1181

Refunds and Cancellation policy

$300 non refundable deposit.

31 -75 days prior to workshop refunded 50% of package.

0 -30 days prior to workshop refunded 0% of package