BALI ISLAND

GITGIT WATERFALL

2009-11-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

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This Waterfall located in the Village District Gitgit Sukasada. From the Singaraja city located 11 km to the south toward the Village Pancasari and Bedugul. Berketinggian waterfall ± 35 meters is very beautiful and has a beautiful panorama and are in an environment with berhawa sejuk.Turun after walking past the parking Gitgit, some local youths organized by the local custom village to offer services to transport the tourists attractions of water This beautiful waterfall. Besides the sound of water splashing waterfall and birds singing, paddy field, clove and coffee plantations / and so did the bamboo plants along the road to the waterfall presents a peaceful and natural atmosphere.

Down by foot after passing the parking Gitgit, some local youths organized by the local custom village to offer services to transport the tourists tour the beautiful waterfall is. Besides the sound of water splashing waterfall and birds singing, paddy field, clove and coffee plantations / and so did the bamboo plants along the road to the waterfall presents a peaceful and natural atmosphere.

Waterfall How have you visited during your tour to make Gitgit daera Village. What we know in the village there are three locations Gitgit Waterfall tour (Git-git waterfall, multilevel waterfall, Waterfall Campuhan) And please be aware that recently in August / September 2008 have been reopened for tourism locations Waterfall named Gitgit Waterfalls "dab Pamor", this waterfall is located not far from the waterfall is already often we visit. Precisely this waterfall is located south of Waterfall Gitgit location. The entrance road to this location about 100 meters from the car park Git-git waterfall, just on the right path first corner there is a simple sign signpost that reads Waterfall "dab Pamor".

Venue location Waterfall distance approximately 500 meters from the highway agency, the atmosphere that was so natural to be very challenging for those of you who travel trecking hooked. Will feel comfortable here because it would be much howling noise, the atmosphere here is still maintained kealamianya intentionally. Along the road you will find plantations of cloves, coffee, nutmeg, cocoa, and so on.

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"KUNINGAN DAY IN BALI"

2009-11-29T17:43:00.001-08:00

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Get-togethers on the side of the road to just "watch the people pass by" or "manawat", ie watching people pass by, still colored celebration of Hari Raya Kuningan in some areas of the Island of the Gods. The fact that seen in some streets Karangasem, Klungkung, Bangli, Gianyar, Badung and Denpasar which indicates that the activity "manawat" still carried some of the citizens in these areas.

Activity "manawat" which seems to have become a tradition for some of the Balinese, the people generally performed in front of the porch or built houses on the side of a highway or connecting road between villages. "Manawat" do citizens in the afternoon and evening, ie after a whole series of ceremonies and prayers regarding the Hari Raya Kuningan implemented over Hindus in temples or other places of worship.

While chatting and joking, the participants' manawat "is not rare between five to ten people in one place, in essence doing these activities to fill the holidays.

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Pande Gede Widana, community leaders in Nongan village, Karangasem District, said that after prayers at Hari Raya Kuningan, the citizens in general to fill the remaining time to entertain themselves. One tradition is consoled myself, is to "manawat" on the side of the road.

"Somehow, the Balinese are so like doubt the people who passed around," said Widana. "Understandably on holidays like this, it is also a lot of people walking back and forth or through the streets. So the people who watch over that," he continued.

"Manawat" become more interesting, after the participants are also involved in the chat "Kangin-Kauh" (west-east), or even often jeered at each other for just antarmereka invite laughter. In short, continued Widana, tradition "manawat" done in the community to fill the remaining time before nightfall, after the morning until the afternoon before busy carrying out religious rituals or ceremonies related to the Kuningan Day.

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"NYEPI" in Bali

2009-11-29T17:22:00.000-08:00

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If you live in Bali, will surely feel the atmosphere of Nyepi is rarely found in other cities in Indonesia. In Bali, Hindus celebrate Nyepi simultaneously. Nyepi is identical to the quiet and darkness it has its own history. Following Nyepi History:

We all know that the Hindu religion came from India with the Vedic scriptures. In the early centuries BC and even earlier, Indian Affairs and the surrounding area are always portrayed in crisis and protracted social conflict. Disputes between tribes, al. (Ethnic Saka, Pahiava, Yueh Chi, Yavana and Malaya) winning and losing turns. A wave of inter-ethnic power struggles, wandered ambingnya cause religious life was. Pattern of development into a variety of religious life, either because of the kepengikutan race-ethnic groups, and because there are different penafsiranyang believed to teaching.

And the long conflict eventually became the winner of the Saka tribes under the leadership of King Kaniskha I which is crowned King and derivatives Saka
1 (one day after Tilem) 1 month (caitramasa) in 01 Saka, in March 78 BC. From this it can be seen that the turn warning Saka era is the day the success of the leadership of King Kaniskha I was fighting bangsayang together with mutual understanding of different religious. Since the year 78 AD that determined the chronicle or calculation Saka year, one year also had the same 12 months and the first month called Caitramasa, along with the month of March and Sasih CE era in the chronicle Kesanga danBali Java in Indonesia. Since the same state of life, society and religion in India were reorganized.

Therefore the Saka New Year warning meaningful as the day of resurrection, day of renewal, the day together (the unity), the day of tolerance, peace day and day of national harmony. This success was widely disseminated throughout daratanIndia and other Asian sampal even to Indonesia. The presence of the reverend title of Aji Saka Saka arrived in Java in the village of Waru Rembang in Central Java in 456 AD, where the influence of Hinduism in the archipelago at the time the century-old 4.5. The Aji Saka expressed successfully in addition to disseminating saka warning this turn of the year, too, and events that happened two clown-servants! accompanist or emissary, he narrated the birth onocoroko Javanese sowolo mogobongo padojoyonyo Doto. Because AjiSaka clown servants accompanied by two men who are equally faithful, samasama magic, equally strong and both died in defending the truth for his devotion to the Pandita Aji Saka.

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Pura Penataran Sasih Temple in Gianyar

2009-10-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

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This temple is located in the Village Pejeng on the road towards Tampaksiring attractions. This temple is famous for a huge nekara, 186.5 cm tall and 160 cm in diameter. Nekara bronze from the prehistoric (pre hindu) known by the name of the month which means moon Pejeng who fell to earth.

Therefore, this temple is called Penataran Sasih, "Sasih" means moon. What's interesting here is the decoration "in Pejeng" who shaped the face mask pair arranged with a pair of big eyes wide, with long ears and the earrings are made of money kepeng Pejeng sagitiga'Bulan nose is also considered as earrings Kebo Iwo . A number of important statues in the temple there are also

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BALI HISTORY

2009-10-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

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Bali, which correctly called Bali Anka, meaning place of birth of people strong, in a Balinese inscription referred to in China as a draft-li P'o. It is said that the ruling P'o-li was a king of the family Kaundinya, and stated that he sent a diplomatic mission-the mission to China in the third quarter sixth century AD

Sanjaya, author inscription Cangala in Central Java (732 AD), recognized in the work of ancient Javanese-final as the leader who seized Bali, together with the territories of the other overseas. Since the eighth or ninth century AD, Buddhism traces found in that place that might come from Sumatra or Java, because maybe with a direct relationship with India.

The first inscription is dated called a king named Ugrasena (915-942), a contemporary of King Sindhok in East Java. (An earlier inscription (914 AD), refers to Adhipati Sri Kesariwarma). As stated by Prof.. Dr. George Cedes, we ketemukan of records they will be a Hindu-Bali community, is not the same as in Java, which adopted Hinduism and Buddhism together, and speak a unique dialect Bali.

In the second half of the tenth century, we have some names Warmadewa titled nobles. We get the name of a queen named Subhadrikawarmadewi. Inscription 989-1022 years mentioned the names of Udayana King and Queen Mahendradatta. This queen is a great-grandson of Sindok. This marriage, causing even more profound penetration of Javanese culture, especially Tantrism, the island of Bali. Airlangga is the cause of marriage.

Prof. Dr. F.D.K. Bosch. of the Kern Institute, has a strange story of this royal couple. When talking about a very similar equation between the development of Javanese culture and Kambudia at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the foundation Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient in 1952, he said: "There is good reason to believe that I of Udayana Kambudia Warman, who reigned a relatively brief , is the same prince by the name of Udayana (Bali and Java) and has played an important role as the father of the famous Airlangga.

Around the year 970, a daughter Kambudia, together with Udayana, fled from the palace Kambudia, time periods of distress replacement king war. Tsb daughter fled to the Land of Java where a king Kambuja very famous, Jayawarman II, also has lived in exile before returning to his home Kambuja.

Java is the time that the prince Kambudia, Udayadityawarman become adults and at age 15 he married a Javanese princess. Khmer-Java fellowship is to strengthen the position of ruling in Java, Bali and now seize. Then he lifted Prince Udayana (or Udayaditya) and his bride became the governor of Bali. Around the year 1009, with the help of Udayaditya Javanese Kambudia seize the throne.

Ttapi he will not be fixed in Java for only one year alone, and he was forced to return to Bali, where he reigned as governor until the year 1022. Is in Bali that about 991 years Airlangga was born and at the crossing to Java mdua to marry a daughter of the king who reigned in East Java. Perhaps Airlangga name comes from his life story. "Airlangga" means "he who crossed the water - the strait memisahkaan Bali from Java. Airlangga, he seems, represents the government of Bali, where he was born, to a representative of the king, Dharmawamsa Marakatapankaja, whose names appear in inscriptions Bali during the year - years 1020-1025.

During the years 1049-1077, Balinese inscriptions refer to the 'wungsu child,' for example balaputra (youngest child) - probably close relatives of Airlangga. Suradhipa and Jayasakti are the names of kings who appeared in the 1115-1150 AD One hundred years later, the king Kertaanagara Singasari, after consolidating his position in Sumatra moved to Bali. In 1284 he was imprisoned king Bali. Balinese people who dare to immediately release the power of Java

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"Galungan" one of the Holiday in Bali

2009-10-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

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Galungan is a Balinese holiday that occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days. Kuningan is the last day of the holiday. Galungan means "When the Dharma is winning." During this holiday the Balinese gods visit the Earth and leave on Kuningan.

Occurring once in every 210 days in the pawukon (Balinese cycle of days), Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremony that is celebrated by all Balinese. During the Galungan period the deified ancestors of the family descend to their former homes. They must be suitably entertained and welcomed, and prayers and offerings must be made for them. Those families who have ancestors that have not yet been cremated, but are still buried in the village cemetery, must make offerings at the graves.

Although Galungan falls on a Wednesday, most Balinese will begin their Galungan 'holiday' the day before, where the family is seen to be busily preparing offerings and cooking for the next day. While the women of the household have been busy for days before creating beautifully woven 'banten' (offerings made from young coconut fronds), the men of our village usually wake up well before dawn to join with their neighbours to slaughter a pig unlucky enough to be chosen to help celebrate this occasion. Then the finely diced pork is mashed to a pulp with a grinding stone, and moulded onto sate sticks that have been already prepared by whittling small sticks of bamboo. Chickens may also be chosen from the collection of free-range chickens that roam around the house compound. Delicate combinations of various vegetables, herbs and spices are also prepared by the men to make up a selection of 'lawar' dishes. While much of this cooking is for use in the offerings to be made at the family temple, by mid-morning, once all the cooking is done, it is time for the first of a series of satisfying feasts from what has been prepared. While the women continue to be kept busy with the preparations of the many offerings to be made at the family temple on the day of Galungan, the men also have another job to do this day, once the cooking is finished. A long bamboo pole, or 'penjor', is made to decorate the entrance to the family compound. By late Tuesday afternoon all over Bali the visitor can see these decorative poles creating a very festive atmosphere in the street.

On Wednesday, the day of Galungan, one will find that most Balinese will try to return to their own ancestral home at some stage during the day, even if they work in another part of the island. This is a very special day for families, where offerings are made to God and to the family ancestors who have come back to rest at this time in their family temple. As well as the family temple, visits are made to the village temple with offerings as well, and to the homes of other families who may have helped the family in some way over the past six months.

The day after Galungan is a time for a holiday, visiting friends, maybe taking the opportunity to head for the mountains for a picnic. Everyone is still seen to be in their 'Sunday best' as they take to the streets to enjoy the festive spirit that Galungan brings to Bali.

The date for Galungan and other special Balinese days is shown on the Balinese Calendar.

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Pura Luhur Lempuyang Temple

2009-09-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

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Pura Luhur Lempuyang temple is sacred for Hindus in Bali located in Bali, exactly in the eastern part of Karangasem regency.
Against the backdrop of Mount Agung panoramic views, as well as a sanctuary, Pura Luhur Lempuyang Sad Jade has its own uniqueness with the purity of nature, especially forests into the lungs Island of the Gods.
To reach the main temple of heaven Sad Pura series Luhur Lempuyang this, we have to travel far distances less than 7.5 Km from parking locations. To shorten the way to the main temple is situated at an altitude of these hills Karangasem, available transport motorcycles that provides delivery services to the foot of the stairs. But most people and tourists who travel to the temple tour this relegi more to walk to reach the foot of the stairs. By foot from the beginning to the peak, the ritual was more perfect. It also can enjoy the scenery more closely.
To reach the main temple heaven Sad Lempuyang Luhur on top, we have climbed more than 1,500 (one thousand five hundred) steps. And as he crossed the street cement (plaster PC) and each child steps to the top of that, we were treated to the cool air of the forest is still beautiful, the voices of animals and landscapes are fascinating Karangasem regency, which is more unique, we almost do not feel the clothes to be wet when we enter or cross a passing cloud around us and this is a very rare opportunity to enjoy the panorama of Mount Agung from Zingiber zerumbet.
In addition to panoramic beauty of the mountains at this Bali summit, Pura Lempuyang Luhur also still presents the uniqueness and mystery of the other. A Pelinggih (Stana god) named Tirta Pingit, located between rerumpunan bamboo growing on top of the Pura Lempuyang Luhur location. There are only 3 (three) of bamboo that grow in place. From the bamboo that's rerumpunan The Stakeholder (Holy Man) Temple Lempuyang Luhur get Tirta (holy water) and then given to Pemedek (people who perform ritual prayers) as well as tourists who pray on the spot. To get these Tirta, Stakeholder would cut a piece of bamboo, from the cut stems will be out of water for Tirta. And oddly enough, the bamboo grove is never finished, although often cut.
For Hindus and tourists who want to Tangkil (coming prayer) into the heaven Sad Lempuyang Pura Luhur, one thing is to prepare a proper physical endurance, and of course the pure sincere heart.
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Temple - Pura In Bali

2008-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

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Pura In International Is Named Temple Is Place Hindu Ceremony In Bali. In Bali Have More Than Thousand Temple. Temple Is Famous In Bali Is Pura Besakih Temple, Pura Batur Temple, Pura Uluwatu Temple, Pura Goa Lawah Temple, Pura Lempuyang Temple, Pura Pulaki Temple, Pura Rambut Siwi Temple, Pura Tanah Lot Temple,Pura Batukaru Temple, And Etc. Pura Besakih Temple Is Location In Karangasem, Near Agung Mountain. Pura Batur Is Location In Kintamani, Bangli Regency, Near Batur Mountain. Pura Uluwatu Temple Is Location In Jimbaran. Pura Lempuyang Temple Is Location In Karangasem Regency Near Abang Mountain. Pura Pulaki Temple Is Location In Buleleng. Pura Rambut Siwi Is Location In Jembrana Regency. Pura Tanah Lot Is Location In Tabanan Regency. Pura Batukaru Is Location In Penebel, Tabanan Regency. The All Pura ( Temple ) Is Very Interesting And You Must Visit There. A Village In Bali Have Minimum 3 (Thee) Pura (Temple). A Distrik Have Several Village. And A Regency Have Several Distrik. Bali Have 9 (Nine) Regency. So You Can Count, How Much Pura (Temple) In Bali!!!

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Other Temple Picture
Picture Batur Temple

Picture Taman Ayun Temple
Picture Taman Ayun Temple
Picture Taman Ayun Temple
Picture Taman Ayun Temple
Picture Taman Ayun Temple
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Dreamland Beach Is Beautiful

2008-10-14T03:20:00.000-07:00

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Dramland Beach Located In Pecatu Indah Resort, Jalan Uluwatu Street Jimbaran, Bali. More Than 15 Minutes From International Airport I Gusti Ngurah Rai In Our Journey Can See The Beautiful View And In Beautiful Area Pecatu Indah Resort The Viem In Area Dreamland Beach We Can See Green Grass To Play At The Golf. At Arrival Coastal Area Dreamland Beach, We Can See The Reef Boosting High And Smooth White Sand. Dreamland Beach Is One Of The Beautiful Coast With The Wave Which Is Suited For Surfing, Swimming, Water Sport And Etc. Besides Kuta. In Dreamland We Can Also See Sunset The Sun Is Very Beautiful Than In Place Other. Facility Of Exist In There Among Others Restorant, Villa, Bar, Etc. I Will Wait Your Arrival In Bali, For To A Pay Visit In Dreamland Beach.

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Other Picture
Picture1 Dreamland stone
Picture 2 Sunset In Dreamland
Picture 3 Sunset In Dreamland
Picture 4 Dreamland Beach
Picture 5 Dreamland Beach

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Bali Fauna

2008-10-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

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Bali is home to 32 species of mammals, including a wildcat, two species each of civet (the ‘musang’ or palm civet, which resembles a mongoose), two species of monkey, ’sambar’, barking deer, mouse deer, wild ox (banteng), and a miniature squirrel.

In the early 1900s, a writer reported that his camp in west Bali was trampled by a herd of feral elephants, but by the 1920s it was difficult to meet anyone who’d ever seen an elephant on the island. By that time the Balinese tiger, the smallest of eight subspecies of tiger, was very rarely sighted, and the last known animal was shot in 1937. Today only five sad stuffed specimens are left behind.

A visit to the 76,000-hectare Bali Barat National Park (BBNP), covering most of the heavily forested interior of western Bali, is obligatory for animal and bird lovers. The park is effectively protected against exploitation and development and is well-patrolled by rangers based at the park headquarters of Cekik and Labuhan Lalang. Here you can see ‘rusa’ deer, wild boar, and fairly tame long-tailed macaques and leaf monkeys sitting high in the trees chewing on leaves. The 165-hectare offshore island of Menjangan has a population of around 50 barking deer.

The Wallace Line
Bali is the physical end of what was once mainland Asia. Observing that a great contrast exists between the animal life of Bali and that of the islands to the east, the great 19th century English naturalist Sir Alfred Russel Wallace suggested that the treacherous, 24-km-wide strait separating Bali from the neighboring island of Lombok is an important divide, a biologically impassable line cleaving Asia from Australia. “In just two hours,” he suggested, “you can pass from one great division of the earth to the other, differing as essentially in their animal life as Europe does from America.”

During the last ice age, Wallace theorized, the sea level around the Greater Sundas fell enough to enable animals to travel overland from the Asian mainland, fanning out through the archipelago until they reached the deep trench of the Lombok Strait and could go no farther. While the Selat Bali (”Bali Strait”) separating Bali from Java has a maximum depth of 60 meters, the ocean depths between Bali and Lombok exceed 1,300 meters.

Wallace’s book, The Malay Archipelago, published in 1869 contemporary and parallel with Charles Darwin’s work, advanced a theory of evolution based on Wallace’s examination of the flora and fauna of the region. His imagined line dividing the Asian and Australian regions on either side of the Lombok Strait has since become known as the Wallace Line.

The differences between Bali and Lombok are obvious. Bali is lush, equatorial, smothered in the luxuriant vegetation of tropical Asia, while Lombok is wind-blown and dry like the Australian plains. Bali, Java, and islands west are characterized by the monkeys, squirrels, rabbits, tigers, elephants, bears, sheep, oxen, horses, orangutans, and pythons found in the dense tropical forests and jungles of Asia. On the islands east of Bali begin the parrots and other peculiar bird species, marsupials like wombats and kangaroos, the platypus, and giant lizards of the Australian region. Some “leakage” occurs, i.e., monkeys are found in Sumba.

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Flower

2008-10-08T07:10:00.001-07:00

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Many plants we assiduously and lovingly cultivate as pot plants in the West-poinsettia, dracaena, coleus, begonias-grow in riotous profusion along the roadsides of Bali and have to be hacked back with machetes. Due to difference in altitude, rainfall, temperatures, and humidity, there’s a wide variation in the types of plants in bloom from month to month on Bali.

Along Bali’s roads and crowding its markets are stands selling all manner of fruits of strange colors, shapes, and sizes. All the usual varieties known in tropical Asia are grown on Bali, plus about 20 or so grown nowhere else, such as the enormous grapefruit-like ‘pomelo’ (jeruk Bali). For a description of Bali’s fruits, instructions on how to eat them, their Balinese names, and when they come into season, see “Fruits” under “Food and Entertainment” in the On the Road chapter.

Flower fragrances are especially adored by the Balinese and their gods. Fresh flowers are required offerings in almost all temple rituals and ceremonies, a way of providing a pleasing environment for spirits and ancestors during their frequent visits to Earth. The Balinese also use flowers to decorate themselves; statues of gods and goddesses are adorned with flowers; legong dancers wear crowns of blossoms; each time a Balinese prays s/he holds a flower between the fingers. Before a ‘bemo’ driver sets out for the day his wife or daughter prepares for him a floral offering, or ‘canang’. Indeed, flowers are so much in demand here that it’s rare to see flowering trees in full bloom.

The majority of the delightful flowers you see are not native to Bali but have been introduced from around the world, either imported in recent years or centuries ago by Indian or Arab traders. With the Chinese grafting everything and people bringing plants back and forth from Hawaii, it’s difficult to tell anymore what’s native to Bali and what’s not.

The variety is astounding: the hardy, colorful bougainvillea (bunga kertas), climbing over walls and balconies; the common gardenia (jempiring) and hydrangea (pacah seribu); poinsettias; the rose (maya); the spiked ‘tumbak raja’; the star-shaped, lavender ‘manori’; the jasmine (menuh), a symbol of holiness; the common marigold (mitir). The ‘malu-malu’, a sort of creeping mimosa, is known as the “sensitive plant” because its leaves fold compactly at the slightest touch-thus its Balinese name, meaning “shy.”

The trumpet-shaped red or orange hibiscus (pucuk), which adorns the ears of temple statues, comes in all shapes and sizes. The large-leafed, floating water lily or lotus (Nelubium nelumbo) can be detected from a distance because of its fragrant smell and beautiful colors. The Balinese believe it to be the flower of the goddesses in heaven; this aqueous plant has a high religious value on Bali and is also used as a traditional medicine.

There’s a great variety of flowering trees and shrubs: the acacia; ornamental ‘kenyeri’ (oleanders); the bright orange African tulip trees; the spectacular flame tree ‘merak’; the pure white ‘cempaka’, a large type of magnolia, with a strong long-lasting delicious fragrance; clusters of sweet-smelling white, pink, and red frangipani (bangan jepun) blossoms; the stunning flamboyant (flamboyan); the Singapore rhododendron; the bright orange ‘didap’, used in cremation processions; the ‘datura’ or “Handkerchief Tree” with its drooping white or pink flowers; the firecracker hibiscus; the ‘kecubung’, ‘kedukduk’, ’sabita’ - the list goes on.

The best place to see flowers is in the front yards and living fences of private homes; ask the proprietor or concierge to take you on a botanical tour of your hotel or homestay garden. The Nusa Dua hotels and Hotel Tanjung Sari and the Bali Hyatt in Sanur are famous for their brilliant year-round floral displays. Village markets all have flower stalls that sell flowers for offerings. Also visit the big nurseries of Niti Mandala, near Renon, in East Denpasar.

The Lila Graha Botanical Gardens in Candikuning offers a well-presented collection of orchids and exotics. Behind the Candikuning market are dozens of stalls selling such dazzling flowers as gardenias, roses, canna lilies, heliconia, marigolds, and cock’s combs at very good prices. The grounds of the Bali Handara Country Club, also in the Bedugul area, are definitely worth visiting. By the side of the road from Mengwi up to Candikuning flowers grow everywhere. Also visit the orchid nursery near Blahbatuh in Gianyar Regency; commercial orchid nurseries are also found on the road from Denpasar to Sanur.

If you can find it in a hotel or supermarket bookstore, get a copy of Fred and Margaret Eiseman’s well-researched Flowers of Bali containing 35 color photos of Bali’s native flowers. In 1995, Thames and Hudson published Balinese Gardens, written by William Warren, Adrian Vickers, and Anthony Whitten, with photographs by Luca Invernezzi Tettoni, which beautifully illustrates numerous examples of contemporary and traditional Bali gardens.

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Sanur Beach

2008-10-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

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A. Brief Information

Sanur Beach, one of the beautiful beaches in Bali Island, offers a panoramic view since a long time ago. Historically, on an inscription written at the tenure of King Kasari Warmadewa (917 A.D.) in Singhadwala Palace, it is stated that the beauty of Sanur Beach has been discovered at the time. Now you can still find the inscription in the southern direction of Sanur Beach in Blanjong Village.

During the colonial government of Dutch occupied Indonesia, Sanur Beach was functioned as the Dutch‘s harbor where they sent the Dutch fleet admiral to attack Badung Kingdom, which was regarded as mutinous kingdom. A war on November 18^th 1906 A.D. which was commonly called Puputan Badung was a war to defend motherland Indonesia from the Dutch without fear, though the death was a choice. The war was historically led by Badung King who was helped by local people at the time.

Based on tourism view, Sanur Beach started to be known by international world by a Belgium painter named A.J. Le Mayeur, who later on resided and built painting workshop there, in 1932 A.D. He got married with a famous legong dancer namely Ni Nyoman Pollok, who was also known as his painting model. By his paintings, Le Mayeur started to introduce Sanur Beach to international world and also built a museum nearby the beach named the Museum of Le Mayeur.

B. Distinctive Features

While Kuta Beach offers you with magnificent view of sunset, Sanur Beach gives you a panoramic view of sunrise along the tortuous sandy beach of Sanur. At morning, while delighting in wonderful scenery of sunrise along the coast, seems Nusa Penida Island in the southeastern direction of the beach.

Moreover, the scenery of Sanur Beach at evening is just the same as at morning. Since the water is going to ebb, you can brightly see Serangan Island and a group of coral reef in the south. When the wave is not too high, you will be offered with a splendid view of colorful coral reef on the transmarine.

C. Location

Sanur Beach is situated in Sanur Village, Denpasar Sub-district, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia.

D. Access

For you who want to access the location, you can take any accessible public transports from Denpasar City to Sanur for about six km away. Indian taxi can also be your alternatives for you to reach Sanur Beach.

E. Ticket Price

In the confirmation process

F. Accommodation and other Facilities

Sanur Beach and surrounding areas are on the first priority of tourism development programs of Bali local government. That is why, you can easily find star hotels and restaurants as well. Souvenirs peddlers offering traditional work arts of Bali Island can be alternatives for you who want to eternalize your beautiful moments during the visit to Sanur Beach.

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The Museum of Le Mayeur

2008-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

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A. Brief Information
Born in Brussels, Belgium on February 9th 1880 in a high-class family, Adrian-Jean Le Mayeur got his painting talent from his parents. His latest education in architecture was achieved at Libre University. Forbidden by his father when attempted to develop his talent, he decided to leave his family by hanging around the world to seek for a right place for his talent improvement.
Le Mayeur arrived at Bali in 1932 in Singaraja City then continued a journey to Denpasar City before decided to stay in Sanur Beach. In the beginning, he just wanted to set an eight-month visit to Bali, after knowing the charm of Sanur Beach and beautiful girls of surrounding location, splashed in his mind to build a home and painting workshop in the location. A famous legong dancer named Ni Nyoman Pollok drew his heart to marry her when she became his painting model.
Unfortunately, this couple did not have any son until the end of their life. In fact, Ni Pollok was eager to have son but Le Mayeur denied it considering that she was his painting model. Le Mayeur was afraid of Ni Pollok‘s pregnancy would make her body was not beautiful anymore.
Their home and painting workshop were later on dedicated to government to be functioned as museum by his testament written in 1957. Finally, their home and painting workshop are given a name Le Mayeur Museum.
B. Distinctive Features
Le Mayeur is famous as impressionist and naturalist painter. Moreover, he also had tendency to paint the beauty of Balinese girls. Inside the museum, you can watch his works and historical properties such as chair, carved table, bed, wardrobe, ceramic vase, silver alliances, earthenware, and some sculptures.
At least there are 88 work arts of Le Mayeur from 1921 to 1957 showing his impressionist style. Besides using canvas, he also used other mediums for painting such as hardboard, three-ply, paper, and gunnysack. The last one was used by him remembering the difficulty of getting canvas from Belgium, so he decided to use it on the era of Japanese colonialism.
C. Location
Le Mayeur Museum is situated in Sanur Village, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia.
D. Access
From the centre of Denpasar City, you can access the location by any public transportation like Indian taxi. Those Indian taxi will take you to the end of Hang Tuah Street then continue to the destination around 70 km away.
The museum is opened for public at 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. for Saturday to Thursday. On Friday, open from 8 to 12.30 a.m. On holidays, the museum is closed.
E. Ticket Price
IDR 2.000 for adult and IDR 1.000 for children. For group, more than 10 people, adult visitors only pay IDR 1.000 and IDR 500 for children.
F. Accommodation and other Facilities
Typical foods of Bali Island can be easily found along the coast of Sanur Beach for you who are eager to taste it. Completing your visit, you can buy souvenirs around the location with reasonable price.

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Taman Ayun Hindu Temple

2008-10-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

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A. Brief Information

Taman Ayun Hindu Temple in Badung District was built in 1634 A.D. by the king of Mengwi Kingdom, I Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung titled Ida Cokorda Sakti Belambangan. The Mengwi Kingdom was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Bali at the time until 1891 A.D. Built as worship place for royal family and their relatives, the building uses Gunung Batukau architecture rather than Gunung Agung architecture that was commonly applied at most of Indonesian Hindu temples.

“Taman Ayun” means beautiful garden. It is on a tableland of four ha wide surrounded by ponds. Viewing from afar, it seems floating above the water. Surrounded by leafy trees and colourful flower garden, the complex of Taman Ayun Hindu Temple offers a magnificent view.

Comprising three buildings, it is usually visited by more and less 300 – 600 tourists, either domestic or foreign tourists, in a year. The first building is an opened space for any kinds of religious event and art performances. Here, you can watch a sumptuous meru (pagoda which has multi-roofed structure, typical of Balinese Hindu Temple). The second building is the main building named Bale Pelik which is fully decorated with artistic carving, relief and a wonderful statue of Deity Nawa Sanga. The innermost buildings in the complex are the sacred buildings of Hindu people that are dedicated to god and goddess of Hindu.

B. Distinctive Features

Taman Ayun Hindu Temple had ever been recommended as a valuable world heritage. On March 12^th 2008, the Director of UNESCO, Kokhiro Masura visited the location to check directly, whether it is proper to achieve the status as above. He argued that this Hindu temple is proper to get such status. Now, this 400 years old Hindu temple is still used as worship place by Hindu people.

The properties of the Mengwi Kingdom can still be found nearby the location, about 300 meters from the location. The Museum of Manusa Yadnya is also located nearby Taman Ayun Hindu Temple. The museum displays some ceremonies relating to human‘s life circle starting from birth to death.

C. Location

Taman Ayun Hindu Temple Mengwi Village, Mengwi Sub-district, in the district of Badung, Bali Province, Indonesia.

D. Access

It is about 18 km away from Denpasar City to Mengwi Village. You can reach the location by public transports passing by route Denpasar - Singaraja or Denpasar - Bedugul for approximately 25 minutes. After being on the crossroad of Mengwi Village, you must continue the trip by walk to the location around 250 meters. It is opened for public at 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

E. Ticket Price

IDR 4.100 for adult and IDR 2.100 for children (per March 2008).

F. Accommodation and other Facilities

In Badung District, you can easily find hotels and restaurants for more comfortable visit to Taman Ayun Hindu Temple.

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BALI AT FIRST GLANCE!

2008-10-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

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A friendly and remarkably artistic people, living amid breathtaking panoramas, have created dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies and ceremonies, making Bali an island almost unreal in today’s hectic and changing world. Terrace rice fields dominate the landscape, with rivers and small irrigation streams dissecting a luscious green landscape, filling the air with enchanting sounds of running water.

Bali is divided by a string of impressive and authoritative volcanoes running almost through the center of the island. Mountains and particularly volcanoes are believed to be the home of the gods. Shrouded in mystery and magic, they stretch skyward in majestic splendor. Bali’s main volcano is the still active and sometimes explosive. Gunung Agung, which is considered, sacred among local people as it is believed to be the center of the universe. Not just a few visitors leave with the same believe.

The ancient kingdoms of the “Rajas” and princes of Bali were dismantled by colonial governments in the early part of this century, but many of the royal descendants still own traditional palaces and are very much respected as patrons of the arts. Art and culture are strongly bonded to Bali’s unique form of Hinduism called “Hindu Darma”. Classical dance dramas for example, are based on the old Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata, but contain an element of local folklore, peculiar to the island.

The very soul of Bali is rooted in religion and is expressed in art forms that have been passionately preserved over the centuries. It seems that almost every person is an artist, spending free time applying skills and images which have been passed down from generation to generation and grasped from a very young age. Whether expressed through beautiful and intricate paintings and dances, extraordinary carvings, superb weaving or even in decorations made for myriad shrines which can be found in public area, on roads, in paddy field or in homes, the island is alive with art.

The Balinese have been more exposed to international tourists and generally speak more English than people in other parts of the Indonesian archipelago. They have managed to preserve their culture despite overwhelming foreign influences brought to the region by an ever increasing number of tourists. Bali’s international airport, Ngurah Rai, is in the south of the island and is served by numerous international airlines and charters.

In order to keep up with the growing number of visitors and the need for their comfort, more hotel have been built, ranging from small bungalows types for budget travelers to the luxurious Nusa Dua tourist resort area, near the air port, on the southern tip of the island. Water sports have naturally gained in popularity and Bali offers superb surfing, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving and white water rafting.

Bali is the land of a thousand gods, temples and arts. Some other views are the island as the last frontier area that waiting to be discovered from its beauty. Ask around and you are almost sure to get reply, “come to Bali for its culture, its beauty”. Inside our heart, Bali is really proud of their Island splendor. Once goes to Bali for an experience, a journey of a lifetime, learning traditional customs and faith, their hopes and their eternal search for peace.

A tourist heaven with splendid beaches, friendly people, a warm climate, cool mountain air, a slow pace. You get old stories, find new meaning of life. You can hike up trails, watch the birds, visit temples, and buy natural & unique souvenir, etc. You can fill your own treasure trove with memories, enlightenment recollections when you stood and faced the mountains and gazed at the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside.

Besides known as tourism area, it’s also agronomy area, nowadays called ‘agro-tourism’. As networking system that Bali is surrounded by river, water as the main needs of life. Whether rice is the staple food, derived from paddy which needed a plenty of water.

Balinese need to devise an ingenious system of aqueducts that can be considered a miracle of engineering. Bali perhaps the last place on this earth that still conjures images of beauty mystique,Â peace, good will and a way of life that is unique in this modern age. Here you get a deep sense of satisfaction. The environment possibly to be the hospitality that envelops you. Moreover the amazing hues of color, sound and natural beauty.

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Bali Hilton International

2008-10-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

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The Bali Hilton International is located in its own idyllic, 11.5 hectares of exquisitely landscaped gardens, bordering a 300-meter stretch of white sand beach front in the beautiful island resort area of Nusa Dua. Ornate Balinese-themed courtyards are interspersed throughout the gardens, which also contain a giant, yet tranquil lagoon.

The hotel is only a 15-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport and is 30 kilometers from the city center. Transportation Options It’s only 20 minutes drive from airport to the bali hilton international. out from the airport, take the main road to the east until Ngurah Rai big statue, turn to the right(south) and follow the main road. Hilton is before golf course.

Rooms Luxuriously furnished, well appointed guest rooms and spacious bathrooms, each with its own private balcony with spectacular views over the grounds and ocean.

Facilities

Cable TV
Electrical Service 220 AC
Executive Level features include: Separate Registration, Executive Lounge
Car Rental Desk
Languages Spoken: ENGLISH, GERMAN, JAPANESE, FRENCH, MANDARIN, SPAINISH
Parking Options: Self-park, Valet
Parking Facility: Secured, with in/out privileges
Room Service available 24 hours, Kosher food available
Recreation
Fitness Center
Pool
Golf Course
Tennis Court

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Shopping for Painting

2008-10-03T02:23:00.000-07:00

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Paintings are sold in souvenir stalls, art markets, cooperative galleries, and pushed by hawkers on foot everywhere you turn. Finding good paintings, however, is hard work. It helps to understand that artists are now working mostly for a European market and the tourists’ demand for paintings “suitable for framing” has changed the technique and content of their painting style.

Balinese artists only started to sign their paintings when Westerners started to ask them to about 50 years ago. Now almost all paintings are signed with the artist’s name and the village where he or she lives.

Producing copies is one of the main occupations of the artist or his or her assistants. If a particular painting sells well, umpteen copies are spawned. This explains why all over the island you’ll find similar paintings portraying hackneyed tourist cliches of a tropical paradise-glowing sunset, smoking volcanoes, sloe-eyed nymphs bathing. The worst, sold by peddlers on Kuta Beach, possess all the banality of velvet paintings in cocktail lounges.

The competition between all the small galleries and painters’ studios has become so intense now that shop owners are contracting with travel agents and tour operators, paying Rp3-4 million up front for the delivery of busloads of tourists. This drives the price of the paintings up, since so many people have to be taken care of-the agent, the bus owner, the guide, the driver. But a tourist who only has a week in Bali and has the money to burn will buy expensive paintings, even for US$3000-4000, no problem. This is how such high-class galleries like Agung Rai, Rudana, and Agung Raka in Gianyar Regency have grown so fast.

To avoid getting fleeced, do your homework. Visit a number of galleries to learn about the different painting styles. Some have whole rooms dedicated to a distinct style so you can get a good sense of each. Don’t be put off by the schlock quality of the majority of the art on display. It’s strictly for mass tourist consumption. Finding the best art takes persistence, and when you do find good art it costs a bundle.

If you see something you like in one of the big commercial galleries, you may be able to look up the artist in his or her home/studio, probably nearby. Many of Bali’s finest painters live around the villages of Ubud, Batuan, Penestanan, Blahbatuh, and Sukawati-all major centers of Balinese painting in south central Bali. Go to the village indicated on the painting and ask around in your primitive Indonesian. Many painters are even listed in the phone book. It could be 1000% cheaper if you buy directly from the artist, avoiding business with Ubud’s countless galleries. Art shops customarily pay only 20-30% of the sale price to the artist. You also won’t have to pay a commission (10-50%) to a guide or driver, which is tacked on to the price of a painting.

However, be aware that high quality paintings by well-known artists may be sold for the same price in the painter’s home as they sell for in the galleries. This is because the painters do not want to undercut the galleries where their work is displayed and thus make a bad reputation for themselves. They want the galleries to continue to buy from them. They will sell a good painting to a gallery for Rp500,000, and the gallery in turn charges a million for it.

Some Buying Tips

Buy only something you really like. Ask yourself: “Do I want to look at this painting for the next 10 years?” Taste obviously plays an immense role in your purchasing decision. By no means should you take advice solely from a gallerist. Ask the locals and ask other tourists. Look at a lot of paintings.

Decide how much you have to spend. This will narrow your scope. With practice, you can tell the difference between a great artist and a mediocre one. Before you buy, decide where the painting is going to go in your house so it doesn’t get stuffed in an attic forever.

If you’ve decided to invest in a fine piece of art, then start reading reference books (see “News, Travel, and Entertainment Media” under the Information and Services section in the On the Road chapter) and visit art galleries. Go to a gallery where paintings are clearly priced. Fixed prices are fairer to the purchaser; the artist also knows what price his work is being sold for. (You can still bargain a little, by the way.)

Galleries

Hundreds of large and small galleries are found all over Bali. Smaller galleries are more apt to bargain than big galleries. Walk up and down the roads of Ubud, Pengosekan, and Peliatan, an area smothered in art shops and galleries. With few exceptions, their interminable labyrinths are filled with a bewildering, conflicting, super-kitsch, haphazard collection of paintings from virtually every school encompassing widely differing styles and big gulfs in quality. In many cases, there are so many paintings that they’re stacked up in piles on the floor. In addition to these commercial galleries, many painters have small galleries attached to their studios.

For an overview of the full range of Balinese painting, visit the Neka Museum (one km west of Ubud in Campuan), which displays the whole gamut of styles, prices, and sizes. This private museum, the first of its kind on Bali, is distinct from the Neka Gallery in Padangtegal (near Ubud). The owner/proprietor of both, Suteja Neka, is an important force in Balinese painting and has published several books on the subject (see Booklist). The first gallery owner to actively collect the art of expatriate painters, Neka is an excellent source of information and always has time to talk to visitors.

The museum, which should more aptly be called a gallery, is made up of Balinese-style buildings set in an exquisite garden. One room contains just the Balinese masters and early modernists such as Lempad and Togog; another contains just foreign artists who’ve worked in Bali like Smit, Spies, and Bonnet; another holds Indonesian academic artists who’ve painted in Bali; and yet another is filled with Western masters such as Blanco, Meier, Snel, and Friend. At the entrance, buy Perceptions of Paradise (Rp65,000) by Neka Gallery, as well as postcards of the famous works inside.

The superb, spacious, and expensive Agung Rai Gallery is in Peliatan (two km east of Ubud). Assembled by a self-made visionary collector of every school of Balinese art and an expert in the evolution of Balinese painting, Agung Rai’s collection is accommodated in six separate display halls. Ask to visit the permanent collection and his private museum in Peliatan. The gallery sponsors well-attended painting classes on a regular basis. In 1995, the Agung Rai Museum complex opened in Peliatan. The three-hectare site consists of a spacious building for the permanent collection, another large structure for visiting exhibitions, an art school for children, a library, and an international artist’s colony.

Also don’t miss the Rudana Gallery north of Mas and about one km south of Teges (south of Peliatan). The gallery displays a large collection of traditional, naive, and modern paintings in a sprawling complex of rooms. Also pay a visit to the Sanggraha Kriya Astra Arts Center in Tohpati outside of Denpasar on the road to Ubud, where a wide range of good quality paintings are for sale at fair prices.

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Tourism in Bali

2008-10-03T02:15:00.000-07:00

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The Balinese have been more exposed to international tourists and generally speak more english than people in other parts of the Indonesian archipelago. They have managed to preserve their culture despite overwhelming foreign influences brought to the region by an ever increasing number of tourists.

Bali is the Hawaii of the East. Of the four million tourists who came to Indonesia in 1994, more than 750,000 flew straight to Bali. The number of foreign and domestic tourists arriving in Bali is now approaching 1.5 million a year. The growth in visitors, which stands at about 10% per year, is expected to continue through the late 1990s. Bali already has a full half of all the hotels in Indonesia.

Bali makes a valuable study in the effects of mass tourism on the social and cultural patterns of an indigenous population. Every generation of visitors arrives to “discover” Bali, pronounce it a paradise, and then once home mourns that it’s lost forever. Visitors are so enthralled with the legend surrounding Bali; many arrive thinking that Indonesia is a part of Bali rather than the other way round.

Able to survive Islam, war, coups, and occupations, Bali has been less successful in withstanding the tidal waves of tourists. Commercialism has crept into every aspect of Balinese life. You now have to go deep into the interior, up to the mountain villages, to find people still adhering to the old traditions.

Who Are Those Guys?
Two types of foreign visitors arrive on Bali: those who come to relax on holiday, and those who come to experience the culture, to “discover” Bali. Demographically, the highest percentage is in the 25-35 range with an average length of stay of about 12 days. Singapore sends the greatest number of visitors, followed by Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan, the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

The “international class” stays in culture-neuter luxury resorts concentrated in an unseen, unfelt quarantine zone along the southern coastline. With snapshots of volcanoes and rice terraces in their cameras and souvenirs in their hands, they shuttle in air-conditioned buses with tinted windows to talky, fake trance dances, truncated ‘wayang’ performances and staged cremations. They return south at dusk to Nusa Dua and Sanur to watch yet more dances by torchlight while eating continental dinners. These tourists have almost no impact on the values of Bali, leaving the Balinese culture more or less intact.

Then there are the yuppies, the travelers, and the college students. These so-called “cultural tourists” have come to Bali to experience the gentle climate, relatively low prices, good surfing beaches and general ambience that have made this island a popular hangout for young people for more than 15 years. They stay in inexpensive homestays or beach inns in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Candidasa, romp in the surf off Uluwatu, roar around the island on rented motorcycles or Suzuki and trip out on magic mushroom omelets while listening to rock tapes.

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Mount and Lake Batur

2008-10-02T01:16:00.000-07:00

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After Agung, Batur is the most sacred mountain on Bali. Most often the mountain’s only sign of life is an occasional wisp of smoke that drifts across its lava-blackened slopes. However, when this 1,717-meter volcano erupts, it glows red, bellows and throws out rocks and showers of volcanic debris.

History
Batur was initially formed in the shape of a sharply pointed cone over 3,500 meters above sea level. A terrific explosion blew the point off the cone, atomized a large portion of the volcano and collapsed the bulk of the mountain into the magma chamber, which was emptied by the initial cataclysm.

Before the present caldera was born, Penelokan and Kintamani lay on the western slope of the “first” Gunung Batur. Now Penelokan and Kintamani are spread out along the top of the caldera’s outer crater rim. The present younger, smaller volcano-of the effusive rather than explosive type-gradually grew out of the crater floor over a period of hundreds of thousands of years.

Lake Batur Region
The crescent-shaped crater lake of Batur, 1,031 meters above sea level, is seven and a half km long, with a maximum width of two and a half km, and a depth of between 65 and 70 meters. The western side is barren lava rock while the eastern side is lined with trees. The average height of the huge outer rim is around 1,300 meters. Though there are no surface river outlets, the waters of the lake feed underground rivers, which emerge as holy springs in the southern part of the island.

Guides
Guides will approach you everywhere, offering their services. Guides you meet in your ‘losmen’ tend to charge too much. You can easily find a guide if you arrive at the trailhead at 0330. They’ll come out of the dark and offer to lead you.

The guides in Toya Bungkah offer three different climbs. The short one, up and back for the sunrise, is four hours. The medium one involves a walk around Batur’s three caters, a visit to the bat cave, and a breakfast of eggs boiled by volcanic steam for five hours. The third option is the more interesting tour.

Approaches
You can attempt the climb from many different directions. As a rule, always take the widest, most obvious and worn path, not necessarily the most direct.

The easiest approach is from the northwest, beginning at Toya Mampeh. This climb, by way of the volcano’s back door, can also begin from the west at Kintamani.

You can also start from the northeast. Drive or walk seven-km on the good road west from Toya Bungkah to Toya Mampeh. If you start at 0400, you’ll make it to the peak of Gunung Batur in time for the sunrise. The climbs from Toya Bungkah and Pura Jati end in exactly the same spot, so ascend one way and descend the other. Half the climb is through a man-made eucalyptus forest.

Climbing It
Gunung Batur is the easiest Bali volcano to climb-you can drive to the base and you don’t have to struggle through vegetation. Regardless of your approach, tackle the mountain only in good weather. It’s coolest when overcast, but the climb is not recommended in the rainy season (Nov-March). As you start your ascent locals try to sell you drinks. So bring your own food and water (two liters) or be prepared to pay for the most expensive drinks on Bali.

As you climb, the towering mountain is frequently hidden by dense fog and mist, revealing the summit momentarily, then surrounding it again. The way is well trodden, well marked and well maintained, but if you get lost don’t expect anyone to show you the way without exacting payment. In addition, unless you’re a very experienced mountaineer, be sure to hire a guide if you intend to tackle Batur in the dark.

The Summit
There could be 100 people on the summit, but this is likely to occur only in the tourist season. Most tourists are guided to the sandy top of the middle crater. The topmost crater to the north is another hour’s climb, along a narrow rim only one meter wide, and the view isn’t as fine. At the top there’s a small shrine to Vishnu.

From the southern rim take the trail down inside the crater to the bat cave. If you intend to stay in the Batur region for just a day, get down in Toya Bungkah by 1300 or you may have to spend a lot of money chartering a ‘bemo’ up to Penelokan.

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Bali Island - The Nusa Dua

2008-10-01T01:14:00.000-07:00

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In 1974 the government concocted the Nusa Dua Experiment, calling for the construction of luxury hotels along the East Coast of the arid, thinly populated Bukit Peninsula. By offering foreign investors 50-year leases with maximum incentives and tax holidays, it was hoped the Nusa Dua resort would accommodate and contain the surge in visitors. Nusa Dua constituted a major shift to elite tourism, planned as an isolated, self-contained ghetto that would allow visitors the experience of Bali but keep their interactions with the natives to a minimum.

Because relatively few of the island’s 2.7 million people live near the sea and few tourists want to stay anywhere else, the plan looked really good on paper. But the resort was very slow to develop. It was only in the 1980s that Nusa Dua finally came into its own; it wasn’t until late in the decade those tourist projections were met.

In this Mediterranean-style, self-contained hotel resorts tourists can sun their near-naked bodies on white sandy beaches without scandalizing anyone and watch abbreviated pseudo-events performed in expensive hotel foyers. Those with a spirit of adventure may day-trip around the island in air-conditioned buses to pre-selected villages and tourist sites, leaving untainted the rest of Eden.

The early 1990s brought a more formal experiment in “village tourism,” wherein groups of tourists move discreetly in small numbers with a minimum of intrusion, making direct, low-impact contact with the Balinese. The idea is being tried in three Balinese villages, Jatiluwih (rice-planting and fabulous views), Penglipuran (a nearly Bali Aga village in Bangli), and Sebatu (woodcarving and other art forms).

Guests from the southern hotels experience something “real” by joining day or weekend excursions to these villages. This cultural tourism is really just an extension of enclave-style tourist development, consistent with the policy of limiting and canalizing tourist development to minimize its impact on Balinese society.

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Bali Island - Sibetan

2008-09-30T01:19:00.001-07:00

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The attractive drive to Sibetan winds through palm-leaf fenced rice fields, flowering teak, fragrant clove trees, and plenty of snakeskin-like ’salak’. Since 1950 Sibetan has been the ’salak’ center of Bali, hundreds of hectares planted of this low, thorny palm. The area ’salaks’ are known for their crisp, sweet taste, somewhere between apples and strawberries. Price depends on grade.

It requires three to four years of intensive tending for the three-meter-high trees to bear fruit. Pruning plants that have grown too tall and heaping soil around the stalk improves productivity. Planted among coconuts to provide shade, each plant yields from 40 to 50 fruit annually. Since the trees are planted close together, harvesters must crouch between the thorny branches to reach the fruit. The main season for ’salak’ is December through February. From October through November, trees bear smaller fruits, called ‘gadon’, which are more expensive because they’re available so early in the season.

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Bali Island - Putung

2008-09-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

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Located 11 km west of Bebandem, 20 km west of Amlapura, and 68 from Denpasar. This miniature tourist resort is famous for ’salak’ grown on area plantations. The accommodations lie at the terminus of a dead-end road. Enjoy the cool fresh air; it doesn’t warm up until noon. An ideal place for meditation. Very quiet, these grandiose surroundings will nourish your soul.

From Amlapura, take a ‘bemo’ to Bebandem, another ‘bemo’ to the turnoff in Duda village, then walk or hitch 2.5 km to the Putung Country Club. Here are five ‘lumbung’-style rooms. Each bungalow comes with a good foam mattress, closets, veranda, downstairs ‘mandi’ and sitting room, loft bedroom with large picture windows. Rooms 4 and 5, with adjoining doors, are perfect for a family.

Although plain and basic, what you’re paying for is the knockout view. The bungalows sit on the edge of a high cliff over a deep chasm-no ‘padi’, just jungle falling sharply away to the sea 700 meters below. This area, it is said, is a favorite haunt of ‘leyak’ who hover over the nearby hills and cliffs. The restaurant serves Balinese/Indonesian meals. In the off-season you’ll probably have the whole place to yourself.Several nice walks in the area.

From Putung, take the seven-km-long path via Bakung through gardens and forests down to the coast to Manggis, six km west of Candidasa. Or head west along the road to Rendang, then spectacular terraced rice fields follow the land’s dramatic contours to the coast. If you turn south at Duda, you can reach Klungkung via Sidemen.

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Bali Island - Selat

2008-09-30T00:39:00.000-07:00

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A village surrounded by lovely rice terraces rising to Gunung Agung. During festivals, Selat builds a huge ‘barong’, requiring up to 20 men to lift it, made entirely of fruits, vegetables, and rice. From Selat, take the country road southwest via Sideman, which comes out just east of Klungkung. Just beyond Selat is the village of Padangaji, known for its ‘gambuh’ troupe; this classical dance-drama is now rarely performed on Bali.

Four km west of Selat, in the peaceful village of Muncan, a special ceremony called Makanplengan is held the day after Nyepi-large costumed figures simulate copulation. Feast on Balinese specialties or European and Chinese cuisine, meanwhile enjoying the scenery from Bukit Jambul Garden Restaurant in Pesaban, south of Rendang to the west.

The 900-meter-high village of Sebudi, five km north of Selat, is the favored starting point for the five-km southern assault on Gunung Agung. Sebudi is also the location of the very imposing Pura Pasar Agung (”Temple of the Agung Market”). The road to the pura climbs precipitously up through stands of bamboo and ’salak’ plantations to the parking lot where you take the 500 steps up to the 1,200-meter-high terraced temple with Gunung Agung towering above. An ethereal and dramatic spot.

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Balina Beach

2008-09-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

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About five-km beyond the turnoff to Padangbai, and after the village of Manggis, is a small steel bridge. About 500 meters beyond, turn right down a small lane to Buitan village. This is the heart of Balina, a simple, quiet resort with scant sellers, few tourists, a nice wide black sandy beach, tame waves, no treacherous currents, and seldom the sputter of a motorbike. Though similar to Beach Inn-style complexes found all over Candidasa, Sanur, and Kuta, this simple, quiet resort is in the middle of a fishing village. All the amenities of Candidasa are accessible by ‘bemo’ four km to the northeast, while the urban center of Amlapura lies 18 km to the northeast, and the metropolis Denpasar is a 1.5 hour’s drive.

Water Sports
Balina is known for its diving excursions in a marine reserve offshore. If you reach the beach by late afternoon, you can go night fishing with local fishermen using lanterns. The Balina Diving Center has an impressive team of five instructors supervised by a PADI Open Water dive master; he can also arrange fishing and outrigger sailing trips. Dive trips, instruction, and snorkeling are offered every day starting at 0900. Minimum two people, except for the three-person minimum to Nusa Penida and Menjangan.

Snorkeling and scuba diving rates, including transport, instruction, equipment, lunch, and tax, depend on the destination. Some places of water sports: diving at Blue Lagoon, diving at Nusa Penida, diving at Pulau Menjangan, snorkeling and diving at Tulamben, a stunning shipwreck 40 km northwest of Balina and at Cemeluk, near Amed to the northwest and diving at Pulau Kambing, off Balina. Strong and dangerous undercurrents at the south end of the island can carry you up to 500 meters out of your way. Sharks frequent the area; a few foreigners have gone down here and never come up.

Accommodations and Food
The best midmarket place to stay is 34-room Puri Buitan, east of the Balina Beach Bungalows on one of east Bali’s most beautiful, safe beaches. Definitely worth the price if you’re looking for easy living-nicely furnished rooms with hot water, swimming pool, great snorkeling, shuttle service to Ubud, plus the personal attention of proprietor I Made Patera. Puri Buitan’s motel-style units are clean and tidy. Add 15.5% tax and service to the price.

The restaurant overlooking the pool has a full menu of so-so food reflecting heavy Italian patronage. Also snacks and toiletries. Remain connected to the real world via the international telecommunications office in front of Puri Buitan. Guests can easily walk up the road and grab a ‘bemo’ to Candidasa to get something to eat. Contact Box 444, Denpasar 80001

More upmarket is the 58-room Serai Hotel (tel. 62363-41.011, fax 41.015) on a secluded beach amidst a beautiful coconut grove. Although designed by the same architect, who designed the Amankila, this hotel appeals to a younger, upwardly mobile set. The low-rise Western architecture blends well with natural surroundings and typical Balinese pavilion-style public areas. What sets the Serai apart from other Balinese establishments is that it’s under Australian management who understand better what guests require.

The Nelayan Villages (or Balina Beach Bungalows, Box 301, Denpasar, tel. 62361-41.002/005, fax 41.001) offers accommodations with private verandas and baths set amidst palms and rice fields. Forty-one Balinese-style bungalows range from small two-bed units and family units (best views). Extra 15.5% for tax and service are added to the price. Prices include continental breakfast; credit cards honored, postal service, moneychanger, safe deposit boxes, good parking, pool, gazebo bar, luncheon service, “Bali Night Dinner” with barbecue. Ideal for the sports-minded, as the Balina Diving Center maintains its office here. Drawbacks: expensive, terrible restaurant meals, and they don’t smile much.

At the nearby Java Restaurant the food is somewhat better and certainly more reasonably priced; also runs a small homestay. Fishing families will offer you drab rooms in the ‘kampung’. At the opposite end of the scale, Balina’s most conspicuously upmarket hotel is the Mandra Alila, with 80 rooms. The luxurious beachside Serai Hotel, tel. 62366-41.011, fax 41.015, built in the imposing Pacific Rim architectural style, is in the same class. Although the rooms are motel-style, they are spacious and well appointed. The swimming pool is near the beach under coconut palms.

Nearby accommodations include Sunrise Bungalows, tel. 62366-41.008, in Buitan, consisting of 10 bungalows. The nicest rooms are on the second floor in the back, with lots of windows overlooking palms and garden foliage, with the bay in the distance. Beach between two concrete jetties with good snorkeling. Full-time security; small restaurant. Ketut has a car, speaks good English, possesses a wealth of information, and caters to a regular and devoted clientele. Mailing address Box 287, Denpasar 80001, Bali.

To the west is the even more isolated Ampel Bungalows in Manggis village-beautiful seascapes, nice gardens, restaurant. You’ll get a simple, clean room (no hot water or electricity) and an exceptional view. The verandas are lit, with oil lamps provided in the evenings. There are no nearby restaurants, but proprietor Wayan Pastika Adijaya willingly arranges transport to the closest in Candidasa or Balina Beach. To get here go past Manggis and the turnoff to Amankila, where the road winds down to the coastal flats heading to Candidasa; the turn to Ampel is 300 meters before the bridge (see sign on right, if coming from Manggis), about one km before Balina Beach. Any ‘bemo’ driver can find the place.

Hotelier Adrian Zecha’s Amankila is another world. Only about two-km from Padangbai, heading north past the stone mangosteen monument, is this spectacular resort palace, set on a high cliff facing the Bali Strait. The 400-meter-long “restricted access” salt and pepper beach lies below an old temple spotlighted at night. Built in a luxuriant grove of frangipani, palms, and other local mature trees, some 35 spacious suites, linked by walkways to the restaurants, pools, and beach.

All are exceptionally well designed, with extreme attention to detail. The structures may look heavy and blocky (someone wrote that they were looking for the graffiti!) but are actually ecologically correct, built to preserve and encourage drainage via natural waterways and streams. No TVs, as guests are expected to relax in an atmosphere combining unobtrusive luxury with informality.

Enormous areas are dedicated to public space, including a “staircase” of three pools at different levels; seven suites come with their own pools. Visit the decadently elegant Library Museum, the sumptuous Beach Club with its thin 45-meter-long pool in the midst of a coconut plantation. Nonguests may frequent the Beach Club and the beach. Nice little restaurant (superb fish and chips) and the best lap pool on Bali. Barbecue is every Tuesday and Friday night; ‘kecak’ dances are held Wednesday, ‘baris’ on Saturday. Reservations c/o Amanusa, Nusa Dua, Bali, tel. 62363-41.333, fax 41.555.

Getting Away
The man at Kios Melati, just up from the Puri Buitan, rents vehicles for guests. You may also charter vehicles for the airport, Kuta, or Nusa Dua. In the high season, a shuttle service may be in operation with shared rides to Ubud, Sanur, Kuta and the airport. For much cheaper public transport, go up to the main road and flag down a ‘bemo’. Kios Melati also develops film in one day.

The area west of Balina around Manggis is really picturesque, with the sea on one side and mountains on the other. Walk 1.5 hours through woods and gardens to Ngis via Manggis; Tenganan is a two-hour walk from Ngis.

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Bali Island - Sidemen

2008-09-30T00:34:00.000-07:00

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The Swiss ethnomusicologist Ernst Schlager (1900-64) and ethnologist Dr. Urs. Ramseyer lived and worked for many years in the Sideman area, southwest of Iseh. Presently, a Swiss charitable foundation has established a special school here devoted to propagating and strengthening traditional Balinese culture. With 120 students, the school’s curriculum includes the study of ‘adat’, crafts, music, dance, painting, water divination, calendrical traditions, the Balinese language, traditional penmanship, literature, and the Bali-Hindu religion.

Visit also the weaving factory Pertenunan Pelangi opposite Sideman Homestay. There are several workshops and outlets where you can purchase expensive silk ‘kain songket’ interwoven with designs of gold and silver thread, as well as distinctive Sideman-style ‘endek’ garments. This beautiful area is also known for its scholarly healers, ‘balian usaba’. Here also is enacted the ‘barong ketek’, a dance drama concerning a highly esteemed mythical lion. This magical creature also serves a curative function-’tirta’ from his beard is prescribed by area ‘balian’ to clients ill or enduring ill fortune.

Sidemen Homestay (tel. 62366-21.811) has one of the nicest locations on Bali: 14 comfortable bungalows with fans, fine food (four-course dinners), good service, and superb views. Climb the many steps to enjoy a drink at the bar, with Gunung Agung rearing up behind you. See also Sanur Beach; at night lights sparkle all along the coast. In the vast expanse of ’sawah’ in front is a wonderful collection of ragged, multicolored scarecrows.

Still, the charge is an astonishing sum (though guests seem willing to pay it). No air conditioning, ‘kelambu’, hot water, nor Visa, but the rooms are nicely furnished, the beds decent, and the ambience peaceful. Good library of Balinesian books in all languages. Ibu Putu also runs Subak Tabola Inn (tel. 62366-23.015) that lies in the middle of ‘padi bali’, three km from the main road at the end of a walking track; nice gardens, pool, and basic meals served.

Alternatives? Two km from Sideman Homestay in Desa Tabola is Homestay Patal, a better deal: with six spacious, quiet, set in a well-tended garden high on a hillside, half a km from the road. Also check out the American Emerald Star’s Tirta Sari; luxury accommodations, meditation center, many sacred rocks in the area. Reach Sidemen by traveling west on the scenic road from Amlapura through Bebandem, Putung, and Iseh, or by waiting for a ‘bemo’ at the turn at Satria (or Sampalan Tenah) northeast of Klungkung, then traveling 12 km through the hills. Stand in front of Sidemen’s market for a lift out of town in either direction.

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Bali Island - Bangli

2008-09-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

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Bangli is an hour’s drive (40 km) northeast of Denpasar. An offshoot of the early Gelgel dynasty, the ancient kingdom of Bangli became Bali’s most powerful upland court in the second half of the 19th century.

Bangli today is perhaps the quietest and most easygoing of all the regency capitals. Travelers use for lying on the slopes of Gunung Batur, Bangli has one of the most temperate climates on Bali. The town is still the subject of fierce barbs, and the Balinese look at you askance when you say you’re going to Bangli.

Pura Kehen
Eight royal ‘puri’ were once situated around the main crossroads of town, but now only Puri Denpasar (the present Artha Sastra Inn) is open to the publicAs the original palace of Bangli’s last rajaÂ note the sculptures of lions and bodhisattvas inspired by early photographs of Borobudur, and the remarkable painted mural and frieze in the ‘bale loji’ depicting Chinese life in Bangli. The mural is in bad shape but you can still make out detail. Also worth seeing is the 100-year-old ‘bale kulkul’, about a five-minute walk.

Pura Kehen, thousands visit this lovely old terraced temple, 1.5 km northeast of the town center-the largest and most sacred temple in the regency. It has the appearance of a full-scale ‘wayang’ performance in the middle of a breathtaking rice paddy. Brave the usual crush of vendors, some very aggressive (children accost tourists with flowers, asking for money). In the early 11th century by Sri Brahma Kemuti Ketu as a state temple. Kehen is derived from the word kuren, meaning “household” or “hearth”; the temple is under the protection of Brahma, the Lord of Fire.

Like Besakih, Pura Kehen was built on eight terraces on the southern slope of the hill. Each of the three main terraces is connected to the one above by a flight of stairs. Jabaan,Â jaba tengah, jeroan.

Events
At night, this temple anniversary is also celebrated with the sacred Rejang dance. Even bigger than the state temple’s ‘odalan’ is Bangli’s ‘ngusaba’ ceremony. Unusual dance forms practiced in the Bangli area include Baris Presi (eight men with leather shields), Baris Dadap (men with shields made of dadap wood), and Baris Jojor (eight men in line with spears).

The main event is market day, when you’ll see products like sweet potatoes, peanuts, and spices not found in the south. Dances and ‘wayang kulit’ are sometimes staged in the town’s ‘bale banjar’ every ‘hari raya’, but not with the lavishness or regularity of Gianyar. A resident ‘dalang’, Dewa Made Rai Mesi, lives just 700 meters from the Artha Sastra Inn.

Accommodations
The Artha Sastra Inn, an original raja’s palace, has seen better days. Still, the potted plants and palace court architecture gives this place a unique feel. You can sleep in the bed of the last king of Bangli and participate in the ritual life of a triwangsa family. The Inn is ideally located in the center of Bangli near the bus station-traffic noise from this busy intersection can be bothersome.

Slightly less run-down are the five larger rooms in the interior of the ‘puri’, with inside ‘mandi’. These are adapted from traditional Balinese bale and feature ancient carved doors and antique furniture.

The ‘pasar malam’ to the east of the bus station serves cheap, delicious meals: ‘cap cay goreng’ with rice, ‘ayam goreng’ with vegetables. Or dine at several ‘warung makanan kecil’ around the bus station; get there early, as they stay open no later than 2100.

Services
You’ll find many shops in the local market south of the Artha Sastra Inn where you can buy the necessities of life. Change cash but not traveler’s checks at Bank Pembangunan Daerah (open 0730-1400) by the Trimurti statue, or use a bank in Gianyar, 13 km by ‘bemo’ to the southwest. There’s a pay telephone in front of the Artha Sastra Inn, or go to the 24-hour Wartel (telecommunication service).

Getting There and Away
Take blue public ‘bemo’ from Denpasar’s Terminal Kereneng (40 km). You can also take ‘bemo’ from the town of Gianyar (13 km) or from Kintamani. If coming from Klungkung (19 km), you may have to change ‘bemo’ in Peteluan or simply board a Singaraja-bound ‘bemo’ and get off in Bangli. Magnificent views on the way up.

From the ‘bemo’/bus station opposite the Artha Sastra Inn in Bangli, get rides to Gianyar (13 km), Penelokan (26 km north), Kintamani (33 km), Tampaksiring (22 km) and Denpasar’s Batubulan Station (40 km).

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Vicinity of Bangli

2008-09-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

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For starters, try a nice walk through ’sawah’ to the east, bringing you to Pura Dalem Cungkub.

South of Bangli
Pura Dalem Pengungekan, a temple of the dead. The central shrine, completed in 1995, depicts the stories of Ganesha, Siwa, Uma, and Raksasa. Bukit Jati is a scenic hill south of Bangli with 360-degree views; take a ‘bemo’ first to Guliang, then walk 500 meters to the top, the site of several temples.

In Bunutin, red-bricked Pura Langgar is designed along Islamic lines The legend goes that, during the 17th century, a local Hindu prince fell gravely ill. Today, both Muslims and Hindus worship at Pura Langgar and descendants of the prince’s family still abstain from eating pork in deference to their ancestor.

North of Bangli
The largest bamboo forest on Bali is in Kubu, four km north of Bangli on the road to Penglipuran. The locals believe the bamboo took root from bamboo sticks used in the making of camp shelters and ‘pikulan’ abandoned by the all-conquering army of Panji Sakti in the early 17. Trunyan on the northeast shore of Lake Batur; Kajubii is surrounded by a protective wall. Here the children are considered more important than the old people; looked upon as servants of God.

West of Bangli
Catch a ‘bemo’ in front of the hospital toward Tampaksiring. After about one km, on the south side of the main road, is the lake-fed spring of Tirta Empul, located at the bottom of a big ravine. Take the long flight of steps down to the springs. About two km farther west, after the school, you’ll see the signpost and the track to the right to Bukit Demulih (”Hill of No Return”).

If you continue straight up the wooded ridge, you’ll reach Penelokan. Perched on top of Bukit Demulih is the small temple of Penataran Kentel Gumi. From the hilltop, you can see the Balinese Pyrenees, a range of nine mountains named after the nipple-like ‘trompong’ percussion plates in the ‘gamelan’ orchestra.

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Besakih Temple

2008-09-29T23:40:00.000-07:00

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Bali’s oldest, largest, most impressive and austere temple complex sits one-third the way up the slopes of Gunung Agung. Besakih, actually consisting of three temple compounds, is the Mother Temple of Bali and the most important of the island’s Sad Kahyangan religious shrines. It’s Bali’s supreme holy place, the essence of all Bali’s 20,000 temples, a symbol of religious unity, and the only temple that serves all Balinese. Even though it’s touristy, it’s still spectacular-good energy!

History
Besakih was built on a terraced site where prehistoric rites, ceremonies, and feasts once took place. Perhaps it was here where the spirit of the great, angry mountain, which loomed menacingly above the island, received pagan sacrifices. Certain timeworn megaliths in some of the bale are reminiscent of old Indo-Polynesian structures.

Hindu theologians claim the temple was founded by the 8th century missionary Danghyang Markandeye, a priest credited with introducing the tradition of daily offerings (bebali) and the concept of a single god. His son, Empu Sang Kulputih, was the temple’s first high priest.

The first record of the temple’s existence is a chronogram dated AD 1007, possibly describing the death ritual for King Udayana’s queen, Mahendradatta. This inscription also reveals that Besakih was used as a Buddhist sanctuary. ‘Lontar’ books dating from the Majapahit Kingdom indicate Besakih’s significance during the 14th century, and several 15th-century wood tablets refer to state support of Besakih, confirming its preeminence.

Besakih’s central Pura Penataran Agung, the largest on the island, functioned as a funeral temple for the Gelgel dynasty’s deified kings and as the central state temple for the entire island. Gelgel rulers are today enshrined in their own temple here, the Padharman Dalem. For centuries worship at Besakih was the exclusive privilege of rajas, not commoners, and the difficult trek here in former times reinforced the ardor of the devotional act.

The great 1917 earthquake destroyed the temple complex, but it was subsequently restored by the Dutch to its original form (only two structures survived this quake). Besakih was again heavily damaged on 17 March 1963 by a Gunung Agung eruption. The complex has since been extensively restored and now encompasses a mix of old and new buildings. Because it is a state shrine, the provincial and national governments pay for its upkeep.

Layout and Design
Besakih is a very complex architectural structure venerating the holy Hindu trinity. Via a series of long stairways, the temple group ascends parallel ridges toward Gunung Agung, the honored birthplace of Bali’s deities, tantamount to heaven. The temple is continually enlarged as municipalities, regencies, and wealthy honored Brahman families add more shrines. In fact, each caste and kin group, as well as various sects, artisan guilds, and aristocratic families, maintains its own temple inside the complex.

About 22 separate sanctuaries contain a befuddling array of over 60 temples and 200 distinct structures (a map is posted at the top of the road leading from the parking lot). Given the Balinese passion for covering surfaces with carving or paint, it’s remarkable most of Besakih’s sanctuaries are constructed simply of wood.

The sun god (Bhatara Surya), the god of the sea (Ratu Waruna), and every major figure in the Balinese pantheon is represented here. Each of the island’s nine regencies also maintains its own temple within this complex. Curiously, the small, relatively inconsequential ‘rajadoms’ like Blahbatuh and Sukawati are assigned proportionally large sections, while major regencies like Badung and Gianyar are meagerly represented. The historical importance of the Gelgel kingdom is evident, however, by its assignment to the innermost, central courtyard.

Beyond a great unadorned split gate, a broad terrace leads to a ‘gapura’, which opens onto 50 black, slender, pagoda-like ‘meru’ temples. The more roofs, the higher-ranking the god or deified ancestor to whom the ‘meru’ is dedicated. Long flights of stone steps lead to the main central temple, Pura Penataran Agung, which consists of six rising terraces built on a slope, all connected by gateways. In the third inner court of the central temple is the ’sanggar agung’, a beautifully decorated 17th-century triple lotus stone throne representing the divine triad. This is the ritual center of Besakih. Through the clear, fresh air of the topmost terrace, over 900 meters above sea level, is an unsurpassed view over spectacular rice terraces. Behind, thick white clouds hover over Gunung Agung.

Besakih’s three main temples, which stretch for over a kilometer, are Pura Penataran Agung (in the symbolic center), dedicated to the paramount god Shiva, or Sanghyang Widhi Wasa; Pura Kiduling Kreteg, honoring Brahma; and Pura Batu Medog, dedicated to Vishnu. The longitudinal axis of this complex points directly ‘kaja’, toward Gunung Agung’s peak to the northeast.

Farther up the mountain is another compound, Pura Gelap, the “Thunderbolt Temple.” Highest, in the pine forests of Agung’s southwest slope, is austere Pura Pengabengan.

Ceremonies and Events
Because so many gods, regencies, and old Bali clans are represented here, there’s always something going on. About 70 rituals are held regularly at Besakih’s different shrines, with banners representing each god hung on or near the temple and long lines of women walking up the terraces, their heads piled high with offerings.

A visit to the sanctuaries of Besakih is a special pilgrimage each Balinese must undertake periodically. They return with holy water for use in ceremonies back home. A visit to Besakih is also required to properly consecrate the soul of a dead relative as a family god in the house temple.

Each of Besakih’s temples has its own ‘odalan’, and on the full moon of the 10th lunar month, vast crowds pack the entire compound to celebrate the visit of the gods (turun kabeh); this rite also commemorates Besakih’s founding. During Galungan, enormous throngs of pilgrims turn Besakih into a hive of activity. An important island-wide Water Opening ceremony also occurs here, long-nailed priests dramatically gesticulating, sprinkling holy water, and ringing tinkling bells.

The most majestic event is held only once every 100 years, the spectacular Eka Desa Rudra, a purification ceremony in which harmony and balance in people and nature are restored in all 11 directions. The rite last occurred in March 1963, some 16 years before the proper date, apparently because Sukarno wished to impress a convention of travel agents. Midway through the opulent ceremony, Gunung Agung began to shower the whole area with ash and smoke, finally exploding in its most violent eruption in 600 years. Earthquakes toppled temples, hot ash ignited thatched roofs, volcanic debris rained upon the earth. As the molten lava moved toward them, Hindu priests prayed frantically, hoping to appease the angry gods, assuring worshippers they had nothing to fear. In the end, 1,600 Balinese were killed and 86,000 left homeless.

The Balinese don’t take such extraordinary coincidences lightly; the catastrophe was attributed to the wrath of the god Shiva in his most evil aspect as Rudra. It ultimately became a damning judgment on the entire Sukarno era. Miraculously, the flaming lava flowed around Besakih, sparing most of the temple, though shrouding it with black ash for month.

The ceremony was held again in 1979, this time on a Saka year and with all the proper officiations. The sacrifice of an elephant, a tiger, an eagle, and 77 other animals seemed to do the trick-Eka Desa Rudra was completed without incident, and Besakih reestablished its place as the principal Hindu sanctuary in Indonesia.

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Ngaben Ceremony

2008-09-29T23:38:00.000-07:00

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A cremation is a superb study of all the most important symbols of Balinese ceremonial life, what anthropologist James Boon calls “a vast historical and ethnographic musing on the inevitability of death.” The Balinese believe a person’s sojourn on earth is but a short interlude in the long evolutionary process of the soul. Death occurs when the soul escapes from the body, but out of habit it continues to hover around the corpse. The soul cannot be freed as long as there is a body; only when the corporeal container is destroyed by the elements can the soul be liberated from all worldly ties.

The ‘ngaben’ ritual is the last and most important rite a family can perform for a loved one. Failure to free the soul by neglecting a cremation, or by incomplete or improper rites, renders the soul into a ghost who will wreak havoc on its neglectful descendants.

For hundreds of years, cremation was a privilege of the noble classes, but today it is estimated 10-30% of all Hindu Balinese cremates their dead. Except for the disappearance of suttee, the practice of widows immolating themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands (the last occurred in 1903), Balinese ‘ngaben’ rites haven’t changed significantly in well over 300 years. A priest’s main job is to consecrate the deceased and his effigy with holy water, cleanse the body before cremation, and write letters of introduction (ratnyadana) to open the doors of heaven for the soul. Only high Brahman priests may officiate at cremations of the highborn, and only the poor would hire a lesser ranking ‘pemangku’.

Pre-Burial and Preparation
The signal of death in a house is a coconut-oil lamp hung from a long bamboo pole high over the roof. During the period before cremation, the soul of the deceased is thought to be agitated, longing for release, and the lamp enables the wandering spirit to find its way home in the dark.

On the first auspicious day after death, the body is prepared for purification and pre-burial. If the cremation is to take place quickly and the body to remain in the house, it may be mummified. If necessary, the teeth are filed. While prayers and mantras are recited, the corpse is rubbed with a mixture of sandalwood powder, salt, turmeric, rice-flour, and vinegar. The hands are bound and folded over on the breast in the gesture of prayer. Mirror-glass is placed on the eyelids, slivers of steel on the teeth, a gold ring in the mouth, jasmine flowers in the nostrils, and iron nails on the limbs, all to ensure a more perfect rebirth with “eyes as bright as mirrors, teeth like steel, breath as fragrant as flowers, and bones of iron.” An egg is rolled over the body, and the corpse then wrapped in many meters of white cloth.

The Procession
Days before the cremation, relatives “reawaken” the deceased by opening the grave. The remains are cleaned and wrapped in a white sacral cloth and taken to the cremation grounds to await the arrival of the coffin containing the effigy, which takes the place of the actual bones. Bones buried in unclean ground may never enter the family compound. On the morning of the cremation, relatives and friends visit the house to pay their respects.

When all the guests have partaken of a lavish banquet, the village ‘kulkul’ is sounded to begin the final march to the cremation grounds. Incited by the climactic rhythms of the ‘gamelan’, members of the dead man’s ‘banjar’ rush into the home and lift the corpse from its stretcher and hoist it, by way of an elaborate decorated stairway (raren), onto a soaring decorated wood and bamboo tower (bade) supported on a bamboo substructure. The tall bade is a fantastic Christmas tree-like creation beautifully decorated with tinsel, paper ornaments, flowers, glittering mirrors, and expensive fabrics. Since height is considered holy, the higher the tower, the higher the rank of the deceased. Towers for wealthy Ksatriya may attain heights of 20 or more meters, though the pervasive power lines of the island mean the really tall towers of the past are seldom seen today.

The Burning
The cremation grounds are usually located near the temple of the dead in the cemetery just outside the village. In the center of the grounds stands an animal-shaped sarcophagus, the appropriate figure determined by the caste of the deceased: a bull for a Brahman male, a cow for a Brahman woman, a winged lion for the Ksatriya class, a mythological half-elephant, half-fish (gadjamina) for a lower-class Sudra. Once hewn of tree trunks, these coffins are now constructed of bamboo and plaster. Access is gained through a lid in the back. The entire coffin is draped with velvet or other expensive cloth and decorated with gold leaf, silk scarves, and cotton wool.

When the cremation tower reaches the burning site, a lengthy white shroud (kajang) is attached to the body. Held over everyone’s heads, the corpse is led by the ‘kajang’ down from the tower and placed inside the coffin. The fragile, pagoda-like tower, no longer of any use, is tipped over and stripped of all valuables. A sea of fingers then passes ritual items up to be placed on the coffin.

Westerners find it curious how the Balinese treat the body of a dead relative. While the soul is regarded as all-important, the body is considered a foul, contaminated object to be dispensed with at the first opportunity. At cremations men clobber burning bodies with bamboo poles in order to break them up so they burn better. As the fire subsides, the ‘pedanda’ climbs the elevated platform and utters a few ‘mantra’, ringing a bell to hasten the soul’s journey to heaven. The eldest son rakes the ashes to make sure all the flesh is burned.

This act represents the final purification and disposal of the material body, the ultimate purification of the triple cleansing cycle of earth, fire, and water. Later, there are private, often quite elaborate ceremonies for the care of the soul. In these rites the soul takes its rightful, honored place as one of the family ancestral deities installed in a special shrine in the family temple. Twelve to 42 days after the burning, offerings and powerful incantations are made on the soul’s behalf. Wealthier families even construct a second tower at this time, nearly as elaborate as the cremation tower.

Attending a Cremation
Westerners are welcome to attend the cremation festivities, which may last several days. The Balinese don’t sell tickets to their cremations, but they sell transport to the ceremonies. In tourist resorts you’ll see signs announcing the event, as well as the address and telephone number of the transport agency. The local tourist office also knows when and where cremations take place. Some don’t need advertising: the 1993 funeral for the last raja of Gianyar drew 50,000 people, almost two percent of the total Balinese population. Wear a sash around the waist while attending a cremation.

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Domestic Animals

2008-09-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

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A cousin to the wild boar, Bali’s famous pigs are weighted to collapse with their loads of pork, their backbones sagging as if broken and their enormously heavy pink bellies dragging through the dust. Pigs are the property of the woman of the house and any money she earns from them belongs to her. A great Balinese delicacy not to be missed is suckling pig (’be guling’ in Balinese, ‘babi guling’ in Indonesian) roasted on a spit.

The ducks of Bali, kept as family pets, rank among the island’s most prominent citizens. Squads of them are taken from the family ‘kampung’ by the herders each day to feed in the rice fields, marching in formation under flags on long poles from which they never stray. In the irrigation channels between the rows of plants these comics act like up-tailed, web-footed vacuum cleaners, loosening old roots, nosing through the mud grubbing for worms, snails, frogs, insect pests, and leftover grains of rice.

At day’s end, the chattering flock gathers around the duck herder’s pole to be taken home again. Ducks are much better behaved and more complacent than bothersome chickens, well-suited for the communal living of the Balinese domestic compounds. Duck meat, as in the strongly spiced dish ‘bebek betutu’, makes for some of the finest eating on the island.

The Balinese goose-swan, the nearest thing on the island to a true swan, is the sacred mount of Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the arts. They make excellent watch geese. Fighting cocks can be seen preening in bamboo cages on the sides of Bali’s roads. Compared to their Western cousins, these birds are wild and supernatural, able to fly up to and perch on rooftops.

The flesh of pugilist rooster tastes and has the texture of lizard hide. Loops of sound seem to follow flocks of pigeons circling the sky; each is hung with small bells on its feet and bamboo whistles on its tail feathers. Turtle doves and other pet birds are hoisted in their cages high on bamboo poles to enjoy the view and provide fluting and cooing music for the villagers below.

Cattle, hung with sweet melodic wooden bells, leap from banks with the lithe grace of an antelope. These amiable, beautiful creatures with long eyelashes, delicate features, dew eyes, manicured velvet coats, slender necks, trim bodies, slim legs, and short tails look more like fawns than cattle. Like most cows in the tropics, they give no milk. Unlike the Hindus of India the Balinese don’t consider cattle as sacred; they are bred for their meat and exported to other islands. Nevertheless, cows live a privileged life on Bali, lovingly bathed in village streams, billeted in cozy hay-strewn mangers, let loose on village lawns to feed.

The largest cattle markets in Bali are in Beringkit, 20 kilometers south of Mengwi, and in Bebandem (Karangasem), and a scene out of medieval Bali.

Domesticated water buffalo (kerbau) with thick curving horns are used for plowing the rice fields. A special event in Jembrana Regency is the Makepung buffalo races in which two ‘kerbau’ pull a jockey in a wheeled carriage. The animals are specially bred and trained, a process that has produced a healthier strain of cattle more resistant to the diseases prevalent in other Balinese cattle.

The same district has developed Magembeng, in which cows carry big wooden musical bells (gembeng) around their necks. As they walk, their slow and graceful swaying causes the instruments to sound and form haunting music. The cows take part in competitions in which posture, beauty in the head and tail, and the precision and softness of their music is fastidiously evaluated.

Balinese cats are scrawny, unbelievably loud and raucous creatures with truncated tails and unpleasant dispositions. Scavengers like dogs, they are omnivorous and eat among other things ants and mangoes. Bali’s miserable ‘anjing’ (dogs) abound-mangy, flea-bitten bags of skin, bones, and open sores.

There are an estimated 600,000 on the island. The mongrelized Balinese dog has a short pointed muzzle, a piggy tail, weighs about 30 pounds, births one litter per year, and is an expert at survival. Colin McPhee, in his A House in Bali, wrote of Bali’s infamous dogs, “gray, starved and tottering, on walls, in doorways, the dogs infested the villages. They were so anemic they could hardly drag themselves off the road. We drove along, knocking them to one side with a thud.”

Little has changed since those words were written in 1945. In the West dogs bark too, but somehow their barking isn’t as stubborn or as irritating as that of the dogs of Bali. Most dogs are ill-kept pets; the tens of thousands of strays who roam the island are not destroyed because of the Hindu/Buddhist taboo against killing living things.

The traditional island belief is that dogs contain the souls of reincarnated thieves. They do serve a useful purpose by scaring away both corporeal intruders and the evil spirits which haunt the Balinese. They provide a free morning wakeup call. They clean up the trash, and seldom actually bite anyone. Though few are rabid, none are wo/man’s best friend. Look upon them as rats, or pigeons with teeth, and you’ll have no problem with them.

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

Birds

2008-09-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

There’s been a dramatic drop in the local bird population over the last 20 years. Although many of the more obvious and colorful species, particularly birds of prey, have been all but eliminated, species still number about three hundred. These include beautiful wild fowl; an iridescent blue kingfisher; the dollar-bird of western Bali’s open woodlands; the acrobatic ash-colored ‘drongo’; the olive-beaked sunbird, which feeds on flowers; the black-napped oriole, with its completely black abdomen; the white-breasted wood swallow with triangular wings; and the streaked weaver, which builds delicate nests in colonies in the long grass of open country.

Specialized seabirds inhabit Bali’s south coast. The white-bellied sea eagle and white-tailed tropic bird nest and breed in the stunning vertical limestone cliffs and offshore islets of the Bukit Peninsula and Nusa Penida. At low tide, a prime viewing area for waterbirds is the long, sheltered coast of mudflats and mangrove swamp from Sanur to Benoa Bay. Here you’ll find large flocks of plovers, sandpipers, and other wading birds feeding on the mudflats at low tide. Along the shores of the Bay of Gilimanuk on Bali’s western tip are the large brown and white brown booby, the great crested tern, and the common tern.

Inland, around the canals and ponds, are congregations of stately Java pond herons and white egrets. North of Ubud in Petulu, between 1600 to 1800 in the afternoon, you can see thousands of short-billed egrets, cattle egrets, and snow-white little egrets arriving to roost for the night in the palms. In the main rice-growing country of central Bali keep a lookout for grain-feeding ‘munias’, sparrows, and white-bellied swiftlets.

During the breeding season these tireless little birds build intricately woven nests in the tall grass and bushes. Farther north, around the volcanic lakes of Bratan, Buyan, and Tamblingan, are trails leading into dense sub-mountain rainforests where you can view forest birds like cuckoos, barbets, and babblers. Australian brown honeyeaters are also found in this terrain, flitting about in low bushes and feeding on flowers. Only one species of honeyeaters crossed the Wallace Line, the sole exception to the rule.

The extremely rare Bali starling, or Rothschild’s or Bali mynah (Leocopsar rothchildi), is the only vertebrate animal indigenous to Bali. The bird is snow-white, with black on its tail and the tips of its wings and a bright blue patch around its eyes. Don’t confuse it with the black-winged starling, which has a yellow skin patch around its eyes. When the bird’s population plummeted due to loss of habitat, a group of U.S. zoos saved the starling by shipping individuals to the Surabaya Zoo; they were then reintroduced into the island’s northwest corner.

The ‘jalak’ Bali has been recorded along 85 kilometers of coastline from Singaraja to Gilimanuk. The best watching post is at Teluk Kelor on the north coast of the Prapat Agung Peninsula where a handful of starlings come down from the hills to roost near the beach. There’s a Bali Starling Project Research Station two kilometers north of the guardpost at Sumber Klampok.

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

The Palms

2008-09-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

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Twelve varieties of the coconut palm (nyuh) exist on Bali. The palm provides tools, food, drink, and habitation; every part of the tree is used by the Balinese. So essential is the coconut tree in everyday life that the Balinese make special offerings to it once a year. The farmer knocks the tree three times to waken it, prayers for a plentiful harvest are said, then the tree and offerings are sprinkled with holy water. Coconut palms are individually owned, often by a different person than the owner of the land. The coconuts on the tree are the property of the tree’s owner, but a coconut that falls belongs to the person who picks it up. A good tree produces about 50-100 mature nuts per year for 50 years.

One of the world’s biggest seeds, the coconut provides copra, and its milk and grated meat are important ingredients in many Balinese dishes. Young coconuts, always available on request, make a sweet and refreshing drink, and their soft jelly-like meat is a real treat. White coconut oil is the only oil used for cooking on Bali. Frothy palm beer, ‘tuak’, is also derived from this tree.

The strong, hard, pest-resistant wood of the tree makes outstanding building timber. The woody husk is excellent fuel for cooking fires, the black husk fiber (duk) is utilized as an abrasive dish cleaner, and for brushes, rope, brooms, and as a roofing material. The Balinese use the small leaves of the central branch to fashion containers.

Whole coconut leaves (don nyuh) are the primary materials in woven mats (tikar) used for sitting or as temporary walls or roofing. Any Balinese can fashion a coconut leaf into a small ‘tikar’ in 15 minutes. Many of the intricate and beautiful offerings made by Balinese women are fashioned from the young leaves of this useful palm. The yellow coconuts of the dwarf coconut tree provide a receptacle for holy water.

Other indispensable palms are the sugar, sago and ‘lontar’. The Balinese use the toffee-like leaves of the sugar palm to make offerings, particularly the magnificent ‘lamak’ banners that adorn gateways during the twice-yearly Galungan celebration. From the sago, with its huge dark green fronds, is extracted ‘ijuk’, the black thatching fiber. The palm also provides the Balinese with a handsome dark-grained wood, ‘jakuh’, utilized for making tool handles. As elsewhere in eastern Indonesia, the pith of the tree is processed into sago flour.

The ‘lontar’ provides the raw materials for making many everyday articles. ‘Lontar’ leaves, after being dried and pressed, are bound into book pages and inscribed with elegant Sanskrit-like Balinese characters (tulisan Bali). Bali’s most important historical chronicles have been written on ‘lontar’ leaves.

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

The 1965 Coup

2008-09-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

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In the waning days of Sukarno’s reign, conflict increased between the high-caste capitalist class and communists pursuing a more militant role in land reform and harvest-sharing policies. Bali’s governor, Anak Agung Bagus Suteja, increased the participation of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and other leftists in the island’s administration and legislative bodies.

The PKI’s aggressive policy toward land reform understandably had tremendous appeal to landless peasants and poor tenant farmers. Land was seized unilaterally from rich landowners; landlord-employed thugs destroyed sharecroppers’ crops and razed their huts. Government offices were burned, scuffles and armed attacks broke out, religious ceremonies were disrupted. A full-scale civil war, drawn along class lines, was underway.

A series of ominous natural catastrophes also weighed in: rat and mouse plagues, insect infestations, crop failures, and, finally, the violent eruption of Gunung Agung. The mountain exploded during the holiest of Balinese ceremonies, Eka Dasa Rudra, a purification rite in which harmony and balance in people and nature are restored in all 11 directions.

The ceremony, held only once every 100 years, was precipitously held some 10 years early at the behest of Sukarno, apparently to impress a convention of travel agents. Midway through the opulent proceedings, Gunung Agung began to shower the whole area with ash and smoke, finally exploding in its most violent eruption in 600 years. Earthquakes toppled temples, hot ash ignited thatched roofs, volcanic debris rained upon the earth. As the molten lava moved toward them, Hindu priests prayed frantically, hoping to appease the angry gods, assuring worshippers they had nothing to fear.

In the end, 1600 Balinese were killed, 86,000 left homeless, and 100,000 hectares removed from production. A layer of hot choking dust lay over the whole island for a week, covering fields, houses, and streets. One-quarter of Bali was turned into black lava desert. The catastrophe was attributed to the wrath of the god Shiva in his most evil aspect as Rudra. This disaster ultimately became a damning judgment on the entire Sukarno era.

Because empty land for evacuees was not available on Bali, the consequences of overpopulation became acute for the first time in the island’s history. No longer could farmers move temporarily to another part of the island, later returning to a land covered in fresh, fertile ash. Thousands had to be resettled in Sulawesi.

The failure of crops, the uprooting of many villages, and the forced evacuation of masses of people contributed substantially to the communal clashes and massacres of tens of thousands of Balinese during the purge of Indonesian communists in 1966. Internal refugees poured into Denpasar and Singaraja where, together with large numbers of unemployed urban poor, formed a restive, disaffected underclass ripe for mobilization by communist mass organizations.

Finally, all hell broke loose. On the night of 30 September 1965, six high-ranking army leaders were kidnapped, tortured, and killed in Jakarta, allegedly by communist conspirators. The attempted coup d’etat, suppressed skillfully within days by a previously little-known general named Suharto, led directly to an archipelago-wide bloodbath.

The Indonesian Communist Party was immediately banned, and Sukarno was forced to delegate wide powers to Suharto. Mass arrests followed. On 8 October fanatical Muslim youths attacked and burned the communist party headquarters in Jakarta, initiating a bloody wave of anticommunist reprisals that rolled over Java and Bali, leaving whole villages devastated and in many cases obliterated.

The killings on Bali started in earnest in December 1965 and soon began to take on the dimensions of a mass purgation, an “essential” exorcism of the island. Devout Balinese murdered godless communists whom they believed mocked their religion and threatened their pious way of life. In the witch-hunt for “communists” old scores were settled and many non-communists wiped out. Wealthy businessmen took advantage of the chaos to murder their Chinese and Balinese competitors.

On Java the people had to be egged on to kill the communists; on Bali they had to be restrained. The “trance killings” reached a fever pitch in 1966, when whole groups of Balinese were rounded up and slashed, clubbed, and chopped to death by communal consent. The killers included small boys, encouraged in some cases by Hindu priests.

The purge on Bali became so indiscriminate commandos finally had to step in to restore order. From then on the killing was coordinated by the military and police, working with civilian authorities to make sure only the “right” people were executed. Dressed in ceremonial white attire, the victims were led to the killing fields dispassionately, almost politely, without hatred. Of a population of two million, it is estimated as many as 50,000 were killed. The horrific bloodletting is rarely referred to today.

Suharto’s pro-Western “New Order” ushered in a long period of relative stability and rampant capitalist development. In 1979, the Eka Dasa Rudra cleansing ceremony was held again and completed without incident. Suharto’s attendance at the ceremony was an attempt to place Bali’s religion and culture firmly in the national psyche, an indispensable part of the pan-Indonesian culture.

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

Bali as Paradise Island

2008-09-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

Bali is an island paradise which has been the favorite destination of a range of discerning travellers. Bali is only Hindu state, and the rich blend of tradition and culture has had an incredible impact.

In Bali, the gods and goddesses called the “Dewa-Dewi” -a god being a “Dewa” and a goddess a “Dewi”. The Balinese religion uses the Indian Hindu pantheon, though having adapted it to their own history, character and unique needs.

This pantheon is a packed pedestal of immortals reflecting Hinduism’s rich vision of spiritual life. But the essential Dewa-Dewi are composed of two balanced trinities, called Tri-Murtis: The male group of Brahma, Wisnu, and Siwa, and their female consort and counterparts, Saraswati, Dewi Sri, and Durga.

These six cover all the basic aspects of existence. As india has the Himalayas, Bali has its own sacred seat of the Dewa-Dewi, Gunung Agung (Great Mountain). The Balinese use it as a “channel” to Suarga, the heavenly realm where the Dewa - Dewi dwell. From there they bless and protect Bali and occasionally pay visits. The core of the complex Balinese religion is “right alignment’ to the Dewa-Dewi via this sacred cannel.

Going sight seeing in Bali
People have come for the culture, for the tropical environment, for the beaches. For the diving, for the food, the surfing, the shopping. People come here to unwind, become inspired, or experience the ultimate adventure. Bali is the island which has it all.

The capital city of Bali, Denpasar has many community temples called “Pura”. One is the museum called Pura Jagatnatha which is dedicated to the Supreme God. Sang Hyang widi Wasa. The statue of a turtle and two dragons (prevalent in all temples) signify the foundation of the world. Sanur offers many good hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist facilities. Offshore reefs protect the beach againts the waves and make it popular for windsurfing, boarting and other watersports.

Kuta is now a thriving tourist resort, popular mainly among the young. It is a popular beach for surfing although currents mat it ess suitable for swimming and faces toward the west offering beautiful sunsets. Nusa DuaÂ is known for its clean white beaches and clear waters. The surf is gentle along the northen side of the Bukit Peninsula, biggr along the south.

Ubud the centre of Balinese painting, Ubud’s Museum “Puri Lukisa” has a permanent collection f modern works of Balinese art dating from the turn of the century. Goa Lawah or Bat cave, the roof is covered with thousands of bats and its entrance is guared by a temple believed to be founded by a sage nine centurie ago. Besakih known as the “Mother Temple of Bali”, the sanctuary of Besakih on the slopes of Mt. Agung is the biggest and holiest of all Balinese temples.

Over a thousand years old, steps ascend though split gates to the main couryard where the Trinity shrines are wrapped in cloth and decorated with flower offerings. Menjangan Island the little island of Bali’s west coast is known for its beautiful coral reefs nearby and the wealth of tropical fish inhabiting the waters around it. Bedugul the mountain resort of Bedugul, 18 km north of Denpasar, is known for its excellent golf course. A beautiful sight is the “Ulun Danu” temple which seems to rise out of the lake. The area offers good walks. Water skiing, and parasiling is done as well.
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Bangli - Mount and Lake Batur

2008-09-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

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History
Batur was initially formed in the shape of a sharply pointed cone over 3,500 meters above sea level. A terrific explosion blew the point off the cone, atomized a large portion of the volcano and collapsed the bulk of the mountain into the magma chamber, which was emptied by the initial cataclysm.

Lake Batur Region
The crescent-shaped crater lake of Batur, 1,031 meters above sea level, is seven and a half km long, with a maximum width of two and a half km, and a depth of between 65 and 70 meters. The western side is barren lava rock while the eastern side is lined with trees. The average height of the huge outer rim is around 1,300 meters. Though there are no surface river outlets, the waters of the lake feed underground rivers, which emerge as holy springs in the southern part of the island.

Guides
Guides will approach you everywhere, offering their services. Guides you meet in your ‘losmen’ tend to charge too much. You can easily find a guide if you arrive at the trailhead at 0330. They’ll come out of the dark and offer to lead you.

Approaches
You can attempt the climb from many different directions. As a rule, always take the widest, most obvious and worn path, not necessarily the most direct.

The easiest approach is from the northwest, beginning at Toya Mampeh. This climb, by way of the volcano’s back door, can also begin from the west at Kintamani.

You can also start from the northeast. Drive or walk seven-km on the good road west from Toya Bungkah to Toya Mampeh;
If you start at 0400, you’ll make it to the peak of Gunung Batur in time for the sunrise. The climbs from Toya Bungkah and Pura Jati end in exactly the same spot, so ascend one way and descend the other. Half the climb is through a man-made eucalyptus forest.

Climbing It
Gunung Batur is the easiest Bali volcano to climb-you can drive to the base and you don’t have to struggle through vegetation. Regardless of your approach, tackle the mountain only in good weather. It’s coolest when overcast, but the climb is not recommended in the rainy season (Nov-March). As you start your ascent locals try to sell you drinks. So bring your own food and water (two liters) or be prepared to pay for the most expensive drinks on Bali.

The Summit
There could be 100 people on the summit, but this is likely to occur only in the tourist season. Most tourists are guided to the sandy top of the middle crater. The topmost crater to the north is another hour’s climb, along a narrow rim only one meter wide, and the view isn’t as fine. At the top there’s a small shrine to Vishnu.

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Ubud - Alila Hotel

2008-09-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

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Alila Ubud, a tranquil and secluded hillside retreat that sits high up on the edge of a rich green river valley in Baliâ€™s central foothills. The resort is located just minutes from Ubud, the islandâ€™s cultural heart.Located high above the Ayung River, Alila Ubud has been laid out as a Balinese hillside village complete with its own community centre and pedestrian lanes.

Blending contemporary design and traditional Balinese architecture, the secluded courtyards, spacious terraces and private gardens create an intimate feel. All rooms offer stunning views across sculpted rice terraces and the meandering River Ayung below.
Blending contemporary design and traditional Balinese architecture, the secluded courtyards, spacious terraces and private gardens create an intimate feel. All rooms offer stunning views across sculpted rice terraces and the meandering River Ayung below.
The resortâ€™s fifty-four rooms and suite villas stand above a ravine on stilts like tree houses and are set into the banks of the river valley. The world-renowned architectural firm Kerry Hill Architects makes use of traditional Balinese design, but it is transformed into modern geometry. Smooth plaster walls and concrete meet thatched roofs; terrazzo tiles meet gravel or crushed rock; wood meets glass.

Alila Ubud is relaxing private spa pavilions, open to the tropical mountain air, offer soothing natural treatments. The library provides a place of reflections, the boutique a place to admire the island art.

In front and at the bottom of a spreading flight of steps against tapering columns of river pebbles, the infinity edge pool area is the hotel’s grandest space. Moving from the pool bar into the cool depths, the waterâ€™s surface seems to flow endlessly through the terraced jungle and reach up to the sky.

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

Maldives - Summer Island Village Resort

2008-09-29T06:37:00.000-07:00

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

Another wonderful place to spend the holiday. Or even the rest of your life. The place is called “Summer Island Village”, some mention it as “Summer Island Resort”, and it is located on Ziyaaraiyfushi, which is just in the end of north Male Atoll. The island has a triangular shape with tropical vegetation and very different beach on each side. People usually visits this place for swimming, diving, relaxing, and water sports.

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

Tunisia - Port El Kantaoui

2008-09-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

ort El Kantaoui is a popular spot for tourist. To be precise, this town (in Tunisia) is built only for tourism. I’ve never been there, but from the photo, it looks like a nice and warm place to spend the holiday. People can stay in the decent hotels (there are a lot of them, especially near the marina — which is also a good place to enjoy the sunset) and eat some food in the restaurants or cafe. Regarding restaurant, they offer a mix of Tunisian style and European style food. Prices are high compared to the rest of Tunisia, but not bad compared to Europe.

For spending the whole day, be sure to take the tour to the Roman Ruins of Dougga, make a visit to Friguia Park — Tunisia’s first wild-life animal park –, or travel south on a two day desert safari taking in El Djem and Kairouan.

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

Time To Personalize Your Blankets!

2008-09-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

Ever wanted to have a picture of your beautiful girlfriend or wife drawn onto your blanket? Not just it’d make her love you more, but you’d get the feeling like hugging her everynight and then, even when she’s not around. Well, now you can, thanks to VisionBedding. Its wonderful product, called “Picture Blankets“, allows you to order a blank, personalized with your preferred pictures. Up to 16 photos can be included on your blanket, and you can choose one of three different blanket sizes, as well as 13 different blanket colors.

But wait, it that doesn’t sound “personal” enough for you, what about the option to add any text to your blanket? Yes, choose any text font and color you want, and express your feeling. It’s free, which means, no additional cost will be charged. Cool, huh?

Regarding the price, it’s not as expensive as you may think. For example, a 40×30-inch Photo Blanket is retailed for $79, while a 72×60-inch one costs you $189. Okay, that isn’t cheap either, but remember, what you get is a special blanket with your own photos and your own message. For me, that’s priceless.

Interested? What are you waiting for? Head over to VisionBedding and order your personalized blanket now

Other Link: News, Bali, Tips, Download

Smorty

2008-09-27T02:52:00.000-07:00

Ive just joined Smorty, a service which gives bloggers opportunity to boost their online earning income by reviewing other websites or products. Yes, with Smorty, now you’ll get paid for blogging. On the other hand, advertisers can get some buzz to their websites or products, thus increasing its popularity. And since “blog” is the current big hit, blog advertising like this could work better than traditional advertising method.

If you’re interested in joining Smorty, be aware of the following main requirements:

* Your blog must be indexed by Google and Yahoo
* Your blog must be older than 3 months
* Your blog must not contain any violent, hate related or adult content
* Your blog must be active and have a history of minimum average 2 new posts per week
* The blog must not have duplicate posts or excessive duplicate content

But once your blog got approved, you can start to blog for money. And heck, you don’t even have to wait for days to receive your first task. Eventhough I’ve just joined it 2-3 days ago, I already have 6 (SIX!) review jobs on my list, each worth at least $6. Yummy!

Oh, by the way, regarding payment, you’ll get your money once a week via Paypal. Of course, once the advertiser approved your review, but it shouldn’t be that hard, right?

So, if you haven’t join Smorty, join now (click on the banner below), you won’t be disappointed.

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Microsoft Releases Halo 3 in Korea

2008-09-27T02:38:00.000-07:00

According to Aving.Net, Microsoft has just released HALO 3 in Korea market on September 28, 2007. This much anticipated title is the final episode on HALO trilogy and will conclude the story from the two predecessors. During launching, various events are held, such as photo sections with Master Chief, main character of Halo 3, and free giveaway events. Suggested price is 49,000(KRW) or you can order it from Amazon for $59.99 (or $69.99 for the Limited Edition).

Don’t forget since Halo 3 is available exclusively on XBox 360, you have to own that gaming console first before you can play Halo 3. You can get XBox 360 Elite Edition (with HDMI and 120GB HDD) for $449 or XBox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition (include additional Halo 3-related stuff) for $399.

XBox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition Images
XBox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition

I don’t know if I’m going to buy it or not. I still haven’t decide which one I’m going to buy, PS3 or XBox 360. The latter has more possibilities though. Not because Halo 3 (I don’t like playing FPS on console, except Wii), but for Blue Dragon instead. The manga (soon available at FreeMangaDownload) and anime are so cool, I can’t wait to play the game.

Note to iPhone Users: Time to Change Your Theme

2008-09-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

I’ve just added a new category to my CellPhoneTheme website, iPhone theme. You know what it means, right? Yup, now you can replace your current

iPhone theme with the new one. However,
to do that, you need a software called “IPhone Hack Toolkit”. You can download the app, as well as reading theme installation instruction, here.

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Ford User Manual and Automobile Themes

2008-09-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

I’ve just made another new site. It’s called FordManual.Net and contains lots of user’s guide and / or owner’s manual for various type of Ford automobiles, including Ford Mustang, Ford Focus, and Ford Shelby. All guides are in PDF format (several are zipped) so you need a PDF reader software to open it.

If you’re really into Ford, be sure to check out my collection Ford’s cell phone themes as well.

You can find more phone themes at CellPhoneTheme.Org.

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

3GP Movie - Spiderman 3 Trailer

2008-09-20T04:07:00.000-07:00

Well, since my 3GP movie site hasn’t ready yet and I really want to share this cool Spiderman 3 trailer in 3GP movie format (for your cell phone), I guess I just throw this one here. Download from the link below and remember…

The greatest battle lies within…

[ Download Spiderman 3 Trailer (3GP Movie) ]

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Google Hates Blogspot?

2008-09-19T00:16:00.006-07:00

It’s been months since one of my site on Blogspot, freeavatarsdownload.blogspot.com, sandboxed by Google. Reason? Not sure. But there are three suspects:

Too few content (text) on each post
Not much originality on the meta side — blame it on blogspot
Error on the sitemap (as notified by Google Webmaster Tools) — again, blame it on blogspot

On the brighter side, visitors still coming, mostly from Google Image Search.

Now, let’s try to bring my other “doorway page” for free avatars download to the first page of Google

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

New Year’s GPS Party From Garmin

2008-09-19T00:16:00.005-07:00

Garmin, famous satellite navigation device manufacturer, presented a bunch of new GPS navigation systems last week, the first week of the new year. To start with, the company offered two sat navs with dynamic content from MSN Direct, the StreetPilot c580 and Nuvi 680 models. Subscribing to this service (one year free upon purchasing) provides the device with up-to-date content, such as weather report, movie schedule, traffic information, and much more. Garmin also unveiled three “standard ability” GPS units — Zumo 450, Nuvi 370, and Nuvi 670 models — with features such as high-quality WAAS-enabled receiver, custom POIs update, street-level voice guidance, and preloaded maps of Europe and North America.

Valentine’s Day Card For Nintendo Geeks

2008-09-19T00:16:00.004-07:00

Well, here’s a must have Valentine’s Day card for every Nintendo’s fans outthere. You are free to download, print, and send them to the one you love. More Valentine’ss Day’s stuff later.

I Need You - Download

You Touch My Heart - Download

Will You Be My Player 2? - Download

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

2008-09-19T00:16:00.003-07:00

Finally, an easy way to bypass annoying 100 download slots limit from MegaUpload. All you have to do is launch your Firefox Web Browser (get it here if you don’t have it yet) and install Megaupload SX 3.2 extension from this site. Restart and whenever you want to download something from MegaUpload,

turn ON the extension and this add-on will automatically simulate your location and make MegaUpload thinks that you’re coming from a country where there’s no download slot limitation set up (either Portugal or Brazil, for example). Once you have download the file you want, just turn the extension off again, so it won’t mess up with your current browsing experience.

Have fun downloading :)

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Welcome to the Best of BALI INFORMATION Network

2008-09-19T00:16:00.001-07:00

So, after months of static page, weâ€™ve finally took our time to work with the main page of funponsel.com and tranform it onto a blog. This will be somekind of summarization blog. Just imagine a magazine â€�? this blog is the cover, contains all the important headline, featured stuff, etc; while the other blogs on the network are the pages inside the magazine. It will be updated regularly, once or twice a week.

PS: Incase you miss our old portal page, you can still find it over here (we keep that for sentimental reason ).

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Daily Gadgets News Has A New Look

2008-09-19T00:16:00.000-07:00

Check it out, fresh new look for Daily Gadget News (DGN).

I’m not good at explaining design stuff, so just go ahead and take a look at it, ‘kay? All I can say is that this is the first table-less design for DGN, and also, the first one which successfully passed W3C XHTML 1.0 validation. Hurray!

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

BlackBerry Storm in Verizon Site

2008-09-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

Another report said about this phone unveiled photos, and issued to be delayed. And now the BlackBerry Storm now has spotted on verizon’s sites. You can see this latest blackberry handset but without additional specs (yet). The official release will held in next month, though that is not yet confirmed. We’ll let you know as soon as we know more, especially since the Storm is the first touchscreen BlackBerry.

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Sony SNC-DF50N IP Network Dome Camera

2008-09-18T05:35:00.000-07:00

Another security camera displayed during ISC 2007 event in Las Vegas. This one coming from Sony and called SNC-DF50N IP Network Camera. This Wide Dynamic IP MiniDome offers a WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) functionality along with DEPA (Distributed Enhanced Processing Architecture) technology platform and Bi-Directional audio input.

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

2008-09-17T03:45:00.000-07:00

According to a study released Sunday, coffee is good for your health. Coffee not only helps clear the mind and perk up the energy, it also provides more healthful antioxidants than any other food or beverage in the American diet. Of course, too much coffee can make people jittery and even raise cholesterol levels, so food experts stress moderation.

The person behind the coffee study is Joe A. Vinson, a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania. He explained that mostly people are getting antioxidants from beverages. Unfortunately, antioxidants, which are thought to help battle cancer and provide other health benefits, are abundant in grains, tomatoes and many other fruits and vegetables.

The best source for antioxidants, concluded by the study, is coffee. The average adult consumes 1,299 milligrams of antioxidants daily from coffee. The closest competitor was tea at 294 milligrams. Rounding out the top five sources were bananas, 76 milligrams; dry beans, 72 milligrams; and corn, 48 milligrams. According to the Agriculture Department, the typical adult American drinks 1.64 cups of coffee daily.

Furthermore, Vinson said that the antioxidants in coffee are known as polyphenols. Sometimes they are bound to a sugar molecule, which covers up the antioxidant group. The first step in measuring them was to break that sugar link. He noted that chemicals in the stomach do the same thing, freeing the polyphenols.

“We think that antioxidants can be good for you in a number of ways,” including affecting enzymes and genes, though more research is needed, Vinson said. “If I say more coffee is better, then I would have to tell you to spread it out to keep the levels of antioxidants up,” Vinson said. “We always talk about moderation in anything.”

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Display Cell Phone with A Dual Concept

2008-09-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

It might look ugly, but I’ve dreamt about this kind of cell phone for a long time. Created by Seok Hong Jeong, a Korean inventor, this phone prototype comes with twin colors display beside one another. It supposedly use some kind of sliding mechanism, wherein the top screen can slide halfway to the left and the bottom screen halfway to the right, effectively producing side-by-side displays. According to the inventor, the idea of dual-display cell phone is “specifically designed to optimize mobile internet services for a wide-ranging variety of multimedia contents. In effect, you have a portrait display for all your regular cell phone needs, but a widescreen landscape for mobile surfing.”

This cool concept was recently revealed during the Seoul International Invention Fair 2006 exhibition. Seok Hong Jeong himself is now currently waiting for the approval of the patent he already applied for the prototype. He hopes to cooperate with existing cell phone makers and service providers to turn his idea into a reality.
Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Speed Watch And Nike

2008-09-17T03:34:00.001-07:00

Well, I’m probably one of a few people who don’t like to hear the music while training (either running or walking). So, instead of the Nike+iPod, I’d prefer the new Nike+Speed Watch. As you might already guess, this kit eliminates Apple’s music player and gives you only the fitness-related information, such as calories burned, distance ran, elapsed time, and so on. All of them will be displayed on its LCD backlit display. You can also upload the data to the NikePlus Website, for progress tracking purpose for example, by simply plugging the watch into your computer’s USB port.

No further information about the Nike+Speed Watch from Nike, except that it is fully compatible with Nike+ shoes

I Come Omnia

2008-09-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

I’ve been using Blogads for more than a year and I’ve never been happier than yesterday when their monthly publisher payment came to my friend’s Paypal account (I use his because Paypal has suspended my account couple months ago for same strange reason). Not much (I received a lot more from AdSense and others), but it’s enough to buy me Samsung Omnia, one of the best handset outthere at the moment.

After my K800 died last month for unknown reason, I really need to buy a new cell phone to replace it. I already kept my eye on Omnia ever since it hit the shelves (I considered both Nokia E90 and Sony Ericsson W960 before that, but Omnia seems to win the war), but unfortunately I have to use the money to keep my new company running.

Thankfully, I now have extra budget for bringing that gorgeous handset home. As soon as the fund withdrawal completed (usually in 3 days), I’ll rush to nearby Samsung’s store, and grab Omnia. I hope they won’t out of stock, at least not until I get one…

Publication From http://bintangdewata.blogspot.com/

Type A Laptop For Sony VAIO

2008-09-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Sony VAIO Type A is a wonderful 18.4-inch laptop.

Powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 (2.53Ghz), this notebook features a 2GB of main memory, a 500GB of hard drive, and an nVidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics engine. It is available in two models (AW70 and AW50), but both of them come equipped with a Blu-Ray burner, a 1920×1080 Full HD LCD with Adobe RGB, a 802.11a/b/g/n WiFI connectivity, and HDMI out port. The difference between each model lies on its software package. One has Image Adobe Suite, while other comes pre-installed with Video Adobe Suite. The choice is yours.

Welcome to Bux.to!

2008-09-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

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Bangli Wake Up The Museum Barong

2008-07-23T00:41:00.001-07:00

In Preserve The Art And Cultural Of Bali, Local Government Bangli Keeping A Promise Its To Develop;Build A Museum Barong In Center Education Of Hindu Widia Laya, Precisely At Elbow Pesraman Gurukulla Citadel Sub-District. That Development Museum Will Be Conducted By This Year Pass The Revenue Plan Of Expense Of Area Bangli 2008 With The Budget Rp 300 Million.

In Cultural And Artistic Development Of Bali Bangli Commit To Preserve Of It. Barong Representing A Art And Cultural Of Bali As Real As Many Will Is From Bangli Start From Barong Ket, Landung, Compassion - Flog The, Bangkung, Kinds Of And Barong Brutuk Which Is There's Only In Trunyan And Very Sanctified By Society.

As Serious Evidence Of Local Government Of Bangli Preserve Artistry This Is Telh Done By Festival Of Bapang Barong all in Bali Every Year Hajatan Have Coronet To Of[Is Continuation Of Art And This Cultural Get The Greeting Society And Can Be Made By As Means In Tourism Promotion Bali. Particularly Barong Bangli Have The Specialty Compared To By Barong Other In Bali. Do Not Close The Possibility In This Museum Barong Also Of Dipajang Collect The Barong Of Exist In Entire Bali. That Way Society Can Assess And Compare The Garapan A Barong Sub-Province In All Sub-Province In Bali.

when you'd pay a visit to bali especially bangli to see the museum barong?