Avans Tour Guide

Saraswati Day

2008-11-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

Balinese Hindu believes that knowledge is an essential medium to achieve the goal of life as a human being. Saraswati Day is celebrated to honor God as source of the knowledge. God, in this particular celebration, is manifested as Saraswati Dewi, Goddess Saraswati.

She is depicted as a beautiful lady with four hands holding a musical instrument, meditation bead chain, as well as palm leaf manuscript. Many times the Saraswati is depicted to be standing on the swan. The beautiful lady is a symbol that the knowledge is attractive by many people. The musical instrument symbolized the knowledge is entertaining, the more you are into it the more beautiful and interesting it can be. The manuscript (or book) is where the knowledge is kept. The chain is a symbol that knowledge is never finish to learn, there is no beginning and ending.

Similar to other religious rites in Bali, Saraswati day also has various religious steps before and after the actual day. Six days before Saraswati is Pemelastali , a day to free our selves from worldly desire. Four days and the following days before Saraswati are called Paid Paidan, Urip and Patetegan which mean days to control desire, constantly do introspection by holding the purity of the knowledge. On day before Saraswati is called Pengeredanaan, a day to prepare Saraswati Day both spiritually and physically. Book are collected, cleaned and placed in properly places. Special offerings are made to be used for the following celebration.

Saraswati Day is celebrated every 210-days on Saniscara Umanis Wuku Watugunung based on Balinese Pawukon (cycles) calender. On the actual day of Saraswati , offering are placed on the books and shrines. Worships are held at the temples in family compound, villages, businesses and others from morning to noon. Prime worships are held in school's temples attended by its student and teachers. In the afternoon and evening is a good time to held religious discussion.

The following day of Saraswati is called Banyupinaruh, a day to have spiritual and physical cleansing. Normally Balinese will go to nearby beaches or water spring or river to have the special bathing. Worship will also be held in the village temples or other respective temples afterward.

Goa Gajah Temple

2008-11-05T17:12:00.000-08:00

Goa Gajah Temple is Located in the village of Bedulu, Blahbatuh district, in the regency of Gianyar. Only 26 Km from Denpasar, it is just a short drive from the beach resort of Sanur and Kuta. Beside the temple are art shop and restaurants to cater for the needs of visitor.

Around the temple beautiful rice field line the ravine through which flows the Petanu River. Nearby can be found the historic sites of Yeh Pulu, Samuan Tiga, Gedung Arca, Arjuna Bertapa, Kebo Edan, Pusering Jagat, the temple of Penataran Sasih, and others.

The history of Goa Gajah is not known definitely. In a literal translation "Goa" means cave and "Gajah" elephant. The name is a fusion of the name Pura Guwa Gajah (Temple Cave), as it is called by the local people, and the ancient name as it appears in the scriptures know as Ergajah and Lwa Gajah.

The names Antakujarapada and Ratnakunjarapada, also containing the meaning of elephant (Kunjara), can be found in the scriptures of Negara Kertagama, which date back to between the 10th and 14th centuries. This is validated by ancient relics found in the area.

In the courtyard at Goo Gajah Temple can be found and ancient source of holy water, 12 by 2'3 meters in size, devided into 3 compartment. The no them most compartment has '3 stonecarved fountains, and so does the southemmost. In the middle area all that remains is the base of the fountain. Approcimately 13 meters from here, on the northern side, is a cave like meditation niche in T shape, 2 meters in height and and about 2,75 meters wide. In the left and right conners of this niches can be found a fourther 15 meditation. In the easthem most corner are three linggums, and in the western most cotner a statue of Ganesa. With in the temple yard other fragments of the ancient ruinshave been found, which have not yet been reconstructed the surreunding walls on the western side still remain, forming a compartment around the steep drop beside the temple.

Approximately 100 meters to the south of the holy spring can be found the remains of a candi walls. Part on the base of this shrine still remains, although much of it is in disrepair. Achatra with 13 umbrellas can be found beside this. The body of this candi is connected by attractive stone carved decorations. There also a catra with 3 branches. Two statues of Budda in the Dyanamudra style stand near a stone niche which looks ready to collapse at any time. Another meditation niche can be seen opposite this, with a resting house and pool. The archeological site of Goa Gajah dates back to the 11 th century, at time when Hinduism was relevantly new in Bali.

Tumpek Uduh

2008-11-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

TUMPEK UDUH ceremony will be on Saturday, 10th September 2005 of this year and fails every 210 days or every six months on Balinese Calender.

Tumpek Uduh also known as Tumpek Wariga or Tumpek Pengatag devoted to Sanghyang Sangkara, Lord of all food - plants when blessing ceremony is given to them for good crops and products, held at every plantation and farm throughout the island.

Nothing is more comfortable and peaceful than taking a rest under a dense tree especially in a hot sun-shining day. Some desert-caravans might be enthusiastically thankful if some dense tress grew along the way in the desert. Trees or plants are the breath of earth, and people should be grateful of their oxygen, fruits, leaves, food and their cool breeze. They are friends and food source of ours. Their life is our survival.They deserve to gain our attention, and should be right by our side in the sense of harmony. Ritually, Balinese have a special ceremony to beg any prosperity for vegetations so they can always provide their crops for mankind. A ceremony to say gratitude to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa (God) for His honor in providing food source in the form of vegetation.Such ceremony will be held on October 26th.

Tumpek Wariga is a ritual ceremony dedicated to the vegetations. It’s also known as Tumpek Pengarah or Tumpek Uduh or Tumpek Bubuh. It’s called as Tumpek Pengarah since it’s a day to give instruction/suggestion for the vegetation to provide a lot of food (fruits, leaves, etc). It enables the Balinese to make any preparation to hail Galungan Day that will come in a few weeks ahead. Pengarah means instruction. It comes once in every six months or every 210 days, suggesting the Balinese to worship God Sangkara the God of Vegetation. It’s a right time to beg the God to give His grace so the vegetation can provide a lot of crops.

Tumpek Bubuh is also its name since there is bubuh included in the offerings that’s dedicated to God Sangkara, the God of vegetation. Bubuh means porridge made from rice flour. In committing the ceremony, the bubuh is smeared on the tree bark as a symbol of fertilizers (the proper food for vegetation).In Pangider-ider Bhuana (eight direction), Balinese worship the honor of God Sangkara at the SouthWest with His sacred color is green symbolizing the fertility. God Sangkara is also worshipped as Dewan Pa-nunggun Karang, the god who protects Balinese in houses. He will turn out into Sang Hyang Kala who will disturb the owner of house if the owner ignores His existence. Such character is quite similar to the characteristic of vegetation. Any effort of people to damage or to ignore the conservation of vegetation is only a kind of suicide. On the other hand, prosperity and comfort will come around whenever the vegetation is protected and conserved.

Concerning the deep meaning hidden behind this ceremony, Tumpek Wariga contains external and internal meaning for the Balinese. Wariga is the name of seventh wuku in Balinese calendar. Besides, it’s also a term to determine the appropriate or inappropriate day to have a ceremony or activity in Hinduism.

Ida Pandita Mpu Nabe Yoga Maha Bhirudhaksa said that Tumpek Wariga is a good day to beg any patronage for the sake of vegetation or plantation. It’s really forbidden to cut the trees or gathering any crop from the vegetation.

Vegetations that usually become the objects of consecration in this ceremony are coconut trees, durian trees, rambutan, etc. The offering consists of tumpeng agung, sesayut, pengambeyan, peras penyeneng, dapetan, porridge, pangresikan, sasap, candiga,gantung-gantungan, segehan cacahan putih, segehan panca warna (offering in five kind of color) and tetabuhan.

The process of ceremony firstly begins by installing sasap and candiga on the tree trunks, which previously covered in a white band. Beneath the trees there is a asapan(a kind of shrine) to place the offerings. "All of the offerings are placed on the asapan except segehan. It’s placed on the ground cause it’s dedicated to Bhutas (invisible creatures)," says Pandita Mpu (Holy Priest) of Griya Asitasari, Banjar Lebah Pangkung, Mengwi-Badung. As the preparation is done, the offerings then are ritually offered to the honor of God Sangkara by firstly sprinkling the holy water, continued by pangresikan (sanctification), panyeneng and sesajen. Finally, the ceremony is lasted by offering the segehan, and smearing the porridge to tree trunks while saying such as follows: "Kaki kaki, tiang mapengarah, malih 25 dina Galungan, mabuah apang nged nged nged". (Provide us a lot of crop cause Galungan is coming within 25 days).

Minister from Garuda Indonesia Airlines launch 'LOVE BALI'

2008-11-05T16:45:00.000-08:00

Minister of Culture and Tourism Launches "LOVE BALI" from Indonesia Airlines, Garuda Indonesia. On November 29, 2005, in the Ball Room of Hyatt Aryaduta Hotel, The Indonesian Minister of Culture and Tourism, H.E. Jero Wacik, accompanied by The Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprise, H.E. Soegiharto, and the Director of Garuda Indonesia, Mr. Emirsyah Satar, launched a marketing breakthrough called the 'Love Bali' program.

This endeavor was designed as another step forward to swiftly recover Indonesian tourism industry, especially Bali?s, following the Bali Bomb Blast II occurred in Jimbaran area and Kuta Square last October 1st, 2005. What this program has to offer as its key value for travelers is 10,000 free tickets to Bali for 5,000 Indonesian travelers and 5,000 international travelers, as Mr. Emirsyah Satar mentioned in his opening speech. Minister Wacik hoped that the program would increase number of people traveling to Bali and other tourist destinations in Indonesia that would eventually create national prosperity. He also extended his contentment and support for the initiative that Garuda Indonesia has brought.

As an Indonesian tourism gateway, Bali should not suffer any longer. It must recover immediately. I believe that Bali would make a quick come-back, and all tourism stakeholders should work in a good synergy, said Minister Wacik. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism would unswervingly support all efforts initiated by tourism stakeholders to accelerate Indonesian tourism and cultural advancement. Several actions were apparent, like the setting up of Media Center immediately after the attack to provide current information, press tour, ambassador trip to Bali, inviting the Indonesian Vice President, Mr. Jusuf Kala, and eight (8) state ministers to have dinner in Jimbaran as the ?ground zero? of the Bali Bomb II. High profile events were also staged in Bali, including the Miss Chinese Cosmo Pageant 2005 trip to Bali.

We have a good reputation to maintain about Bali. It is the Best Tourist Island in the World, Minister Wacik added. Minister Soegiharto also fully supported all endeavors to restore Bali?s image as Indonesia?s number one tourist destination. Mr. Satar, at the end of the function presented free tickets to seven (7) lucky travelers as a symbol of the program launching.

Bali still the best Island

2008-11-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 11th Annual World’s Best Awards 2006 voted Bali as the Best Island Resort in the World and in Asia. Deputy Indonesian Ambassador to the US Andri Hadi and Acting Consul General in New York Harbangan Napitupulu received the citation here on Thursday.

"The Indonesian people and government, particularly the Balinese, are proud of learning that Bali has received such citation. It is expected the citation will improve the international community`s confidence in constantly choosing Indonesia, Bali in particular, as one of their most favorite tourist destinations," Indonesian Ambassador to the US Sudjadnan Parno Hadiningrat, said.

According to the ambassador, the citation proves that the interest of the international community, the US in particular, in coming to Indonesia has not declined, despite the US government`s travel advisory to its nationals wishing to go to Indonesia.

It is the seventh citation of its kind. Bali received the first one in 1998 and since 2002 up to now Bali, dubbed as an Island of Gods, the island always received the citation.

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan ranked 2nd, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay (5th) and Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort & Spa (7th) as The World`s Best Hotels. The survey results, including the Top 100 Hotels Worldwide, are featured in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, the world's leading travel magazine, and online at http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2006/

The magazine also presented citations to Florence in Italy as the best city and Singapore Airlines as one of the world`s best airline company.

Nusa Lembongan

2008-11-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

Nusa Lembongan is one of three islands In Bali, approximately 12 miles from south eastern coast of Bali and 20 miles from Lombok. The other two (2) islands are Nusa Penida being the bigger and Nusa Ceningan being the smaller.

This tropical island is 4.5 kilometers long, 2.5 kilometers wide and 50 meters above sea level. The majority of the population, circa 7000 practices the religion of Hinduism; a combination of Hindu, Buddhism and Indigenous religious customs. Bahasa Indonesian is the national language, however most inhabitants on the island speak a local dialect.

The locals on the island make their living from farming seaweed between the beach at the villages of Jungut Batu and the offshore reef. The seaweed is exported around the world and used as an emulsifying agent in the manufacture of products such as ice cream, cheese and cosmetics.

The island is well known for its superb surfing breaks like Playgrounds, Lacerations and Shipwrecks; snorkeling and scuba diving in crystal clear water; fishing and a very relaxed lifestyle.

Nusa Lembongan is a pristine tropical island, its highest point is 50 meters above sea level. Lembongan has an average rainfall of approximately 1000 mm per year. Little temperature variation from 30 degrees Celsius occurs between the only two seasons this island experiences being the wet and the dry. The wet season is from December to February and the dry is from March to November. As it has only three months of rainfall, this island is dry for the remainder of the year. Little cultivation occurs, as almost 2/3 of the island is infertile. Seeding is normally done on the wet season and only corn, cassava and peanuts are farmed. Also found on the island are cashew nuts, mangoes and coconut. Fresh water is limited and most of the supply is derived from wells up to 60 meters deep.

How to get there?
There are several ways to get the Lembongan island. In order of style, comfort and price, the numerous ways you can travel to the island are listed below.

Bali Hai Cruises
Cost: 25 USD one way or 45 USD return
Offers two options:
Bali Hai II departs Benoa Harbour at 9:15am - returns 4:15pm and takes 45 minutes to reach Lembongan Island.
Aristocat, the luxury sailing catamaran departs Benoa Harbour at 9:00am - returns 6:00pm and takes 2 hours sailing time.

Please note there will be a cost of 50,000 Rupiah for a small boat to pick you up from the Bali Hai pontoon at Lembongan Island which will take you to the beach at Jungut Batu village. For more information www.balihaicruises.com

Bounty Cruises
Cost: 15 USD each way transfer only
Daily schedule
Departs Benoa Harbour 9:30 Arrives Lembongan 10:15
Departs Lembongan 3:30 pm Arrives Benoa Harbour 4:15

Please note there will be a cost of 50,000 Rupiah for a small boat to pick you up from Bounty pontoon at Lembongan Island which will take you to the beach at Jungut Batu village. For more information www.balibountycruises.com

Scoot Lembongan Island Fast Cruises
Cost: 15 USD each way or 25 USD return
Daily schedule
Departs Lembongan 8:30 am Arrives Sanur 9:00 am
Departs Sanur 9:30am Arrives Lembongan 10.00am
Departs Lembongan 3:00 pm Arrives Sanur 3.30 pm
Departs Sanur 4:00 pm Arrives Lembongan 4:30pm

Villa for sell

2008-11-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

3 more images below...

Complex Of 4 Stunning 2bedroom Luxury Villas

Asking Price: $250,000 USD
Rent It For: $250 USD per night
(Prices are negotiable)

This is a Stunning Luxury Villa Complex selling as a whole for $1,000,000USD or as 1 off from $250,000USD.
Complex comprises of 4 2 bedroom villas each with its own swimming pool located 50 metres to beach and some 200 metres to shops and restaurants also reception, laundry the complex has a total of 14 buildings in an area of 3200M2 if you are looking for a holiday home and investmet or a permanent home you cannot go past this.

The Complex

4 Villas
2 bedroom layout
All with private swimming pools
Contenporary design and fully furnished
24 hours security and services

Reception / office
Villa Specifications:

Fully furnished with linen, glassware, cutlery and art work
All bedrooms a/c with en-suite bathrooms
Cable TV,DVD in all villas
Fully fitted kitchens in all villas
alang alang roofs with 5 metre ceilings
Terrazzo floors in Kitchen / dining area timber in Lounge
Patio with 4 sun lounges and 6 seat table and chairs sun umberallas
villa area approx 600 sqm

About This Property

Category:		Villas
Address:		Puri Bagus Candi Dasa Candi Dasa Indonesia
For Sale/Rent By:		Owner
Construction Year:		2004
Area:		600 m2

Bedrooms:		2
Bathrooms:		2
Sleeps:		4
Stories:		n/a
Parking Spaces:		8

Features - Amenities

Furnished
Appliances
Laundry Room

Pool
Terrace
Patio

Cable TV
Mountain View
High Security Private Close To Shops And Resturants

Pictures (click to view a larger image)

Land and Villa for Sell

2008-11-02T17:38:00.000-08:00

Land and Villa for Sell

Villa Bisma ST

3 villas and land for sell, private villa on 7 are

Although near Ubud, very quiet setting in traditional Balinese style.

well kept gardens. This would suit investor who wants to enjoy proximity to the guest and a tranquil home.

Location Bisma Street Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Rp 1.700.000.000,

holidays with fammily

2008-10-24T03:03:00.001-07:00

BALI HOLIDAYS FOR FAMILIES

Bali is a perfect place to take your kids. They'll love the natural surroundings, and there is no problem whatsoever to find a baby-sitter or somebody to take care of them wherever you go. All Balinese adore kids !

Here you will find information about everything that you need to know about a Bali holiday for your family: where to stay, what to do and where to eat.

WHERE TO STAY IN BALI, INDONESIA, FOR FAMILIES

A Bali holiday for families begins and ends with suitable accommodation. There are variety of Bali hotels, resorts and villas to choose from, when planning your Bali holiday.Things to consider in selecting your Bali accommodation for a family group are:

Location - try to choose a location that is popular and close to family oriented attractions i.e. near the beach, shops, restaurants and amusements.
Facilities - make sure your accommodation choice is suitable for kids, it has a children's pool, connecting doors, play ground etc. Some venues are unsuitable for family groups.
Pricing - does your accommodation choice offer discounts for children under a certain age?
Transport - when you travel with a family in Bali, it will be much more convenient if you use private transport. Check with your accommodation venue if they provide private transport as part of the holiday package.

Below you will find links to a variety of Bali hotels, resorts, villas and Bali holiday packages

	Bali Hotel & Resort Bargain Finder
	Many Bali hotels and resorts offer family rooms or children discounts. Find the GUARANTEED lowest rates for famous luxury resorts and budget hotels in all parts of Bali, Indonesia. Reserve on-line to save 70% and more.
	Private Vacation Villas in Bali
	Many families choose to spend a Bali holiday in a private villa. You can rent a private villa with two to seven bedrooms, tropical garden and swimming pool, all amenities, private car and driver and trained house staff. This is an attractive alternative to spending your vacation in a hotel or resort for many families.

BALI TOURS - WHAT YOU CAN SEE AND DO IN BALI

Bali is a paradise for children. Just about every attraction on the island is children "friendly" - which makes Bali an ideal destination for parents as well.

Children's attractions in Bali vary from surf, sand and beach activities; cultural activities such as dancing, temple visits, and traditional Balinese life style experiences; adventure activities such as rafting, cycling, bungee jumping and elephant rides; and theme parks such as Bali Bird Park, Waterbom, Butterfly Park, etc.

	Popular Bali Tours
	A full list of the most popular Bali tours, ranging from volcano tours to handicraft tours.
	Balinese Dances
	Balinese Dances are vivid and stylized performances. Most Balinese dances are dramatizations of stories and legends from the Hindu "Ramayana" and "Mahabaratha" or Balinese historical events. Here is an excerpt from the International Herald Tribune, April 26th, 1996 on Balinese Dances: "Dancing The Night Away Balinese culture is almost ready made for kids, especially the traditional dances with their colorful costumes and lively music. Girls tend to like the graceful movements of the Legong, which is often performed by young Balinese dancers. Boys are attracted to the Ramayana epic, with its dashing warriors or the famous Barong & Kris dance that features a mortal duel between the forces of good and evil. Most of the big hotels feature dance performances each evening, often on outdoor stages adjacent to the pool. The new Galleria Nusa Dua shopping center features a different dance performance each night. Farther afield is the village of Batubulan, where the Barong & Kris dance is performed several times each day in an outdoor venue reminiscent of a Balinese temple." If you wish your family to experience any of the above dances during your Bali holiday, find the full listing of all the above Balinese dances, and many more, with locations and times, by clicking here.
	Popular Bali Activities
	Every popular family activity you can imagine can be found in Bali; from the water to the sky, there is something for everyone. Another excerpt from the International Herald Tribune, April 26th, 1996 on adventure activities: "Young Adventurers Adventure sports activities have become increasingly popular in Bali in recent years, and many of these are also ideal for children. Anyone seven years of age and older can raft along the Ayung river, a two-hour journey through rain forests and rice terraces along a churning white water course that tumbles down 25 rapids. Mountain bike excursions (including a volcano trip), jungle treks and open-ocean kayak journeys are offered by the same adventure outfitters. Another adrenaline pumper is bungee jumping on the beach at Kuta under the auspices of A.J. Hackett, the New Zealand company that invented the sport. Bali is also fertile ground for special theme attractions like Waterbom Park in Kuta and the new Taman Burung Bird Park in Batubulan. Waterbom features numerous swimming pools and water slides in a lush tropical setting with restaurants, bars and shops. Taman Burung showcases the fabulous tropical birds of Indonesia, with more than 250 species, including birds of paradise, kingfishers, hornbills, parrots and pheasants." If you wish your family to experience any of the above activities during your Bali holiday, please see the full listing at Bali Activities.

EATING OUT IN BALI

One of the greatest experiences of a Bali holiday for many families is eating out. Bali is simply like no other place in the world for the many different restaurants and cuisines on offer, the low cost for meals, the quality of food, and the exotic or romantic settings.

You should note that Hotel Restaurants are more expensive than local restaurants. The standard of hygiene is usually high, but always tell the restaurant staff to not make the food spicy hot when ordering for children.

	What you should know about eating in Bali
	There is a lot to know about eating out in Bali for families. There is a wide variety of cuisines to choose from with many restaurants specializing in simple dishes suitable for children. Also find out where the most popular Western fast food outlets are in case your children experience withdrawal symptoms.
	Where to eat in Bali
	We have listed what we consider to be the best restaurants in Bali. These restaurants range from cheap eateries to restaurants serving excellent cuisine. We have listed all restaurants by area so you can easily find the best restaurants closest to your accommodation. Bon Appetite!

Bali Park Garden

2008-10-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Bali Barat National Park - Covering an area over 750 km2 on the western tip of Bali. The park's boundaries are open savannah, rainforest, mangrove swamps and the coral reefs of Menjangan Island that are home to the rare java deer. This is a good spot for diving and snorkeling. Visitors are welcome, but must be accompanied by an official guide and have a park permit which is obtainable at the National Park Headquarters in Cekik, 3 kms south of Gilimanuk.

West Bali National Park - This conservation area is located in two regencies of Jembrana and Buleleng. For those who looking for unspoiled tropical nature, this place is worth to be visited. This park is the last natural habitat of the endangered Jalak Putih (Bali Sterling), fewer than fifty birds are believed to be left in the wild. The park is also home of wild ox (banteng) and in Menjangan Island is home of Java Deer. This National Park contains a wide range of natural environments, from mangrove coastal forests to savannah and rainforests.

Botanical Gardens - The tranquil botanical gardens of Kebun Raya in Bedugul has the last remaining tropical forest on the island and is home to more than 700 species of trees and a unique collection of orchids and ferns.

The Nature Reserve of Mount Batukaru - Here you can discover Bali's glorious flora and fauna in an adventure that will lead you into the cool surroundings of a tropical rainforest. Jungle Trekking is a family affair and just the way to experience the hidden world of Bali's wildlife and native plants, as you pass by ancient strangler trees, ferns, wild orchids and hanging lianas (the home of many species of tropical birds and animals). Stop for a picnic lunch by a clear mountain stream before continuing your journey to the archaic temple of Batukaru.

Elephant Safari Park - Another must do for the whole family. Elephant riding tours are available at the safari park, where you will sit atop an elephant in a traditional teak wood chair, while swaying through the refreshing jungle of Desa Taro. This has to be one of the best ways all members of the family from the real littlies to the grandparents can experience the jungles of Bali.

Bali

2008-10-24T02:58:00.000-07:00

Bali is a spiritual place. In villages all over the island, plaited baskets filled with flowers and herbs are placed on pavements, on the prows of fishing boats and in markets - part of the island's indigenous culture that fills everywhere with beauty. There are over 10,000 temples, and in the tiny village of Ubud, traditional dances are staged nightly in streets thronging with arts and crafts galleries. Wood carvings, silverware and paintings are all popular. Visit the ancient settlement of Kintamani, perched on the rim of a vast crater overlooking Lake Batur, the largest in Bali. The beach resorts of the south have wonderful white sands and a laid-back, tropical ambience. A day trip can have you snorkelling or diving in clear waters over colourful coral, and for the adventurous there are water sports including some great surfing. You can sample some great Balinese food, and the nightlife at Kuta is great fun.

Getting there

Flight Details - Singapore Airlines flights to Bali depart daily from London Heathrow, via Singapore. Flights from Manchester depart daily, except Tue and Thu.

Flight Supplements - For Manchester flights and return flight SQ322, a supplement of £25 per person applies at all times.

Flying Time - Approx 12 hours 40 min to Singapore. Approx 2 hours 30 min from Singapore to Bali.

Flight Upgrades - Singapore Airlines Business Class to Singapore available from £1,189 supplement per person each way.

Time Difference - GMT +8 hours

Currency - Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

Visa Requirements - British citizens will need to obtain a visa on arrival in to Bali - approx cost of US$25 for stays of 4-30 days. Passports must be valid for a minimum period of 6 months upon arrival.

Language - The official language is Bahasa Indonesian. English is widely spoken in areas frequented by tourists.

Additional info

Cuisine

You'll find restaurants serving all kinds of international cuisine in Bali, including Thai, Indonesian and East Javanese. The seafood is particularly good: lobster here is so inexpensive, you could probably afford to eat it every day if you wished! A Balinese favourite is suckling pig, and Bali's curries use exotic ingredients such as banana flowers and palm hearts. Glass noodles with vegetables is a tasty classic.

Culture

A famously friendly country, Bali has been a Hindu island since the 14th Century and has some beautiful shrines and temples to visit, including Besakih, the country's biggest temple. In Ubud you can watch a traditional Barong dance performance, which narrates a fight between good and evil, and you'll find exquisite gold and silver jewellery in Celuk. Balinese batiks make beautiful souvenirs to take home.

Stunning Scenery

Much of Bali is so beautiful, it looks like a film set. Inland are verdant rice terraces, hidden volcanoes and forested hills. In the tropical forests, wild deer roam among wild orchids and tall pine trees, and there are huge, mysterious caves to visit. Endless sandy beaches line many of the island's shores, including the famous white sands of Kuta and the peaceful lagoon beach at exclusive Nusa Dua.

Beach Life

In Bali, idyllic palm-fringed beaches are the norm. The clear, warm water is great for swimming and snorkelling. Take a day trip to the island of Nusa Penida, where the startlingly clear waters allow you to snorkel or dive, seeing colourful coral and marine life such as giant clams. Water sports are popular, including surfing, particularly on the south and west coasts of the island, at Uluwatu and Padang Padang.

Spas and Well-being

Bali is a spa hotspot, and in between all those beach trips and tours, you can replenish yourself in the wonderfully sumptuous hotel spas. Treatments include relaxing massages, rejuvenating facials, invigorating body scrubs and stimulating wraps. Try a Balinese Boreh (a ground spice exfoliation), a Bali coffee scrub, a traditional Balinese massage using local herbs, and a relaxing flower-filled bath.

Honeymoons

The spiritual atmosphere of mist-shrouded temples, the tropical flowers that grow everywhere, the white sand beaches and calmly lapping waves... Bali was made for romance, so where better to spend your honeymoon? Have Balinese musicians serenade you after the ceremony, enjoy special candlelit dinners on the beach, and spend a couple of hours with a spa treatment specially designed for two.

Village Tour

2008-10-19T01:45:00.000-07:00

Dukuh Sibetan Village – Great grandmother of the snakefruit

Close to the foot of the majestic and still active Mt Agung, Dukuh Sibetan villagers are only too aware of their precarious existence. When the volcano erupted in 1963, sand and rocks blanketed the village farmlands, making a return to normal agriculture impossible. One of the few crops that were able to survive in these new conditions, however, was salak- the snake fruit, already present in the area for hundreds of years. Thus, the farmers of Dukuh Sibetan became ‘seed-savers’ and have worked to make their diversity of salak species their specialty. There are now 14 varieties of this strange fruit grown by the Dukuh Sibetan people, ten regarded as rare. The locals have developed a cottage industry making Bali’s only salak wine, sweet and surprisingly tasty! The village itself is quiet and traditional, blessed with cool, clean air and a feeling of true serenity. A stroll around the village roads offers breathtakingly beautiful vistas of mountains, palm trees, ant-like villages and in the distance, the blue ocean. Dukuh Sibetan is comprised of and surrounded by, salak gardens and forest, riddled with tiny paths. A beautiful pond, full of stories and mythology, sits at the bottom of a high cliff dripping with vines and spring water. The villagers invite you to try and feel the spirit of the place.

Tenganan Village
Tenganan Village - a cultural microcosmos In and around Tenganan On the east coast of Bali, surrounded by high mountains, lies an ancient fortress village called Tenganan. Dating back to at least the 11th century, Tenganan preserves certain ways life lost to the rest of Bali. It is regarded by the Balinese as a ‘senior’ village.The uniqueness of Tenganan is evident the moment of stepping through one of the four gates in the wall that encloses the entire the village - Tenganan has a feuding past. Grey stones pave the roads and wall off the houses, each with exactly the same layout as the next. Gentle giants, the beautiful Balinese buffalo, loiter freely in shady spots. The culture of Tenganan is similarly unique, based on a philosophy of interconnectivity. This philosophy is reflected in the design of the ‘gringsing’ weaving, practiced in only two other places in the world outside of Tenganan. Gringsing uses natural dyes painstakingly made from products collected from the forest. Around Tenganan is one of the most intact tropical forests in Bali. Tenganan’s residents have their own environmental management laws based on sustainability and the aforementioned interconnectivity. The locals explain that they actively conserve biodiversity partly because such a wide variety of plants are needed for Tenganan’s regular rituals and ceremonies. Many other local beliefs and rulings distinguish Tenganan from the rest of Bali, such as equal land rights between women and men, and the forbidding of marriage outside the village.

Kiadan Pelaga Village

In and around Kiadan Pelaga Situated 1100 meters above sea level, southeast of Mt Mangu, cool and green Kiadan Pelaga is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the coastal towns. The vegetation here is lush, and can be seen stretching away onto distant forested mountainsides. Closest to the village, however, the earth is devoted to the village’s ‘brown gold’- coffee. Seventy percent of Kiadan Pelaga’s residents are farmers. If there is little activity on the streets, you’ll see why when you enter the ‘kebun’ – the gardens - where men and women are hard at work. The kebun are extensive and diverse. Crops are mixed and matched, but far from randomly planted. The combinations of crops are chosen strategically to eliminate the need for chemical inputs such as fertlisers and pesticides. Almost everything is organic. The coffee beans, both Arabica and Robusta droop from branches, starting green, then ripening into sunset yellows, oranges and reds. Picking the red berries is quick work, but it is just the beginning of the process. Farmers then sun-dry the coffee beans, turning them regularly. When they are dry, the beans are husked. Roasting is next, in the village ovens, and lastly grinding, releasing heady aromas which remind us what all the hard work was for. Kiadan Pelaga is surrounded by forest including native bamboo, ricefields, rivers and gorges. It offers some beautiful trekking, enhanced by the local understanding provided by your guide.

Ceningan Island

Around Ceningan Island While there might not be a great number of octopi under the sea around Ceningan Island, there is an awful lot of garden. Or more specifically, seaweed farms. Seaweed is the mainstay of the population of Ceningan and it can be seen everywhere, spread colorfully on tarpaulins, drying in the sun. Ceningan is tucked behind the bigger, touristy island of Lembongan on Bali’s east coast. Life here is hot and relaxed. The seaweed farmers get up early to go out to sea, and rest in the heat of the early afternoon. Later, as the day cools, they go out again, and their boats can be seen crowding around their plantations, like a floating marketplace. Ceningan’s residents have had to fight for this life however. A few years ago the local government proposed to sell the island to resort developers. Only unwavering local opposition stopped the plan, a win for both the community and the environment. Ceningan is small and at certain times of the year, quite dry. Water supply is becoming an issue. Yet Ceningan is extremely pretty. Exploring the island, from the coral reef on the eastern tip to the cave of nesting swallows on the western, with lots of stops for chats with friendly locals in between, makes for a wonderful day. Note that all trips to Ceningan require at least one overnight stay due to the ferry schedules. The boat trip takes one hour from Sanur, and is a pleasant and scenic ride with the locals. Don’t wear long trousers, as you’ll have to wade on and off the boat!

Trekking

2008-10-19T01:10:00.000-07:00

Trekking NEW!... Triple Trekking - Jungle, Village, Rice Paddy.

Trek through a village.... Welcome to a triple treat trekking experience! Our newly combined trekking option is really an exclusive experience. The new tour begins with a drive through the Gianyar Regency passing the ‘real’ wood carving area of Tegalalang until the starting point in the highlands of Taro.Exclusive to Bali Adventure Tours, our trek takes visitors through Taro, one of the oldest Hindu Villages in Central Bali dating back some 3000-4000 years. Taro is steeped in tradition and culture where rural life is seen as unchanged for a thousand years. The isolated village boasts the oldest Temple structure on the island of Bali and is also home to the famed Sacred White Cows that are rare to the island...trek through rice paddy fields.. Wander through a Bamboo Forest and see the timeless routine of planting and harvesting rice from the endless stretches of emerald green Rice Paddy fields unfolding before you. Trek guides introduce flora and fauna throughout the tour, including King & Queen palm trees, ferns, wild orchids, hanging liana and a variety of birds such as the Java Kingfisher, Black Bali Starling and even squirrels! The 2½ hour trek includes an exclusive passage directly through the spectacular Elephant Safari Park where majestic and .trek through Bamboo Forests endangered Sumatran Elephants meander by within inches of your trail. En route agricultural plantations of coffee, coconut, and palm can be seen, and tropical fruits such as salak, durian, jackfruit, papaya, oranges, mandarin, mangoes, mangostene, plus you can sample spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric direct from their natural source. Lunch is served in the safari inspired coconut and teak wood open-air restaurant overlooking the bathing lake of the Elephant Safari Park before a return drive south through the unspoiled Balinese countryside.

culture tour packages

2008-10-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

Goa gajah

Goa Gajah that also literally means Elephant Cave. The Goa Gajah in Bali stands close to Bedulu in Peliatan from the 11th century. The mysterious Goa Gajah is not very far from central Bali in Gianyar. The Goa Gajah in Bali is a cave shaped in the form of the letter 'T'. The entrance of Bali's Goa Gajah beautifully exhibits depiction of animals, entangling leaves, waves of the ocean and rocks. The monstrous Kala head or the demonic human shaped head depicts as if it split opens the rock with its hands at its entrance.

The interiors of the cave are exquisitely and extensively decorated with shrines. An elephant statue also stands inside the Goa Gajah cave.

The Goa Gajah in Bali in Indonesia was a monastery for the Buddhist and Hindu monks in the ancient times. The monks used to meditate in these caves. The complex also features two stone bathing pools that are quite deep and fed by water spouts held by 6 female figures of nymphs or goddesses. A clamber that lies below the rocks and rice terraces, fifty meters behind the cave leads to scatters and fragmentation of a fallen cliff face with 2 Buddha statues of the ancient times.

Gunung Kawi

Gunung Kawi in Bali is also known as Poet Mountain in Tampaksiring about 18 km northeast from Ubud. Gunung Kawi in Bali is acknowledged to be the entombment compound of King Anak Wungsu and his many wives, harking back to an era of 11th century. You can reach Gunung Kawi in Bali by climbing down 371 steps. The location of Gunung Kawi, Bali is at the bottom of a sharp valley lined with paddy fields is stun in

After The Holly Spring Temple we will visit Gunung Kawi (The Rocky Temple). Gunung Kawi, Gunung mean mountain area and Kawi mean the bas-relief, Overall Gunung Kawi mean the bas-relief on the mountain or ledge stone. In Gunung Kawi you can see unique carving on the ledge stone representing inheritance of Bali Empire under the King of Warmadewa. To reach Gunung Kawi area you have to walk down through 315 steps of chair and cross the Pakerisan River then you will see The Rocky Temple.

Penglipuran

Penglipuran Traditional Village This village can be reached through roads connectÂing district of Bangli with Kintamani. From Bangli townto the north up to Kubu Village about 5 kilometers, then have a left turn, one will arrive at Penglipuran and will be received with warm welcome by the villagers. The air is fresh because it is located at 700 meters abo ve sea level. Another opinion stated that Penglipuran'is derived from the word.Penglipuran'means 'relaxation'since on the royal period this place was a good spot for resting place.This village has cultural potency which is up to the present time still well preserved in the from of tradiÂtional Balinese buildings; which differentiate this village from others. The population is 743 person, most of them are farmers and just few as civil servants. Dances and handiÂcrafts are well developed in this remote village.

Besakih

is located in Agung mountainside owns very huge area with beautiful and artistic of building temple. It is the biggest . Hindu temple in Bali with full of religious ambience and decorated by Bali style ornaments from the doorstep temple, holy idol made from stone, gate building joining with others to boost high etc. It owns the breathtaking view and active daily Balinese Hindu with their religious activities. Besakih, often referred to as the "mother temple", consists of five temple compounds around the main temple. These represent the five holy directions, and there are also tens clan temples which are used for ancestor worship on different days. Other compounds honor the founding father of Besakih temple, Rsi Markandya, and Basuki - the holy guardian dragon believed to dwell in a cave on Mount Agung. As the mother temple, Bekasi is the site of Bali's largest and most elaborate purification ritual - Eka Dasa Rudra - held once a century.

Kerta Gosa

Kerta Gosa is an ancient building designed with Balinese architecture that is an open house as jurisdiction place where the king announce the legislation, jurisdiction, penalization etc. Kerta Gosa building is very beautiful encircled by the fishpond with tropical plantations to add the artistic value that makes this place is good places to be visited. In its building roof, it is covered by full of ancient puppets picture depicting human life in eternity and also reward accepted. This 17th-century restored complex houses the Hall of Justice, where the King of Klungkung meted out punishments. The Taman Gili or Garden Pavilion, a former guardÕs house lies on the premises. Exquisite painted ceilings in wayang style cover these pavilions. The Hall of Justice sports gruesome paintings highlighting what happened to sinners. Above hese panels-the story of Bima Swarga, who goes to hell to search and redeem his parentsÕ souls. Taman GiliÕs panels show a wedding, the story of Sutasoma slaying a dragon and pictographs of horoscopes.Bali is known as a treasure house of interesting goods to buy. Products of various kinds from traditional antiques to the latest quality fashions in extraordinary displays await the shoppers. It is quite common to bargain in markets, shops and art shops for buyers, so having a good price is partly dependent upon one's smartness in bargaining. Splendid local hand woven materials, silver and gold works, woodcarvings, garments and many other interesting things can be found at any market or art market. You will find that shops selling similar items are generally grouped together. This makes comparing prices easy as you just have to go next shop to find the something.

The tour offer once a week, please notice our schedule programme and feel the experience.

Day

Every Sunday

Time

8 am from your hotel

Price

USD $150 ( max 4 person), the price included transport & guide

Tour Guide

2008-10-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

Bali is one of the world famous tour destination island. Bali island offered the special uniqueness that only can be seen in Bali from it's culture, nature. Furthermore tourists come to Bali in order enjoying the culture, the nature and the citizen of bali. Mostly they used the service of a travel agent in order to manage their activities during they stay in bali; otherwise if you want traveling and you don't want to use every travel agent, you should prepare your accomodation before go to bali, more over bali is your main destination. it's because the hotel price, food or restaurant, home stay, rent car, etc are different and in other word we can say it expensive. so if you want to find the home stay or something else with cheapest price and good quality, here i give you my compare price of hotel, restaurant etc on bali

Sayang Maha Merta Beach Hotel

Starting IDR 125.000 to IDR 300.000/net

Sayang Maha Merta Beach Hotel welcomes you to Bali, the island of Gods. Sayang Maha Mertha Bali Hotel is located in the famous village of Legian Kuta Bali, a pleasent 10 minutes drive from the Denpasar Airport, a couple minutes walk (100 meters) from the world famous sunset Kuta Beach and about fifteen minutes pleasent ride to Denpasar, the capital city of Bali. With 57 Bali bungalows Sayang Maha Mertha Hotel intends to give you a touch of local tradition to your visit. Our cheap Bali cottages are designed to reflect the traditional Balinese architecture, set among waving coconut palms in their natural landscape, and are attended by friendly and gentle Balinese who understand the purpose and meaning of your visit to this island. Sayang Maha Mertha Beach seeks to ensure you have memories which not only you wish to treasure, but also want to repeat. Sayang Maha Mertha cheap hotel in Legian Kuta Bali is small, peaceful, and serene. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, hot and cold water. Room service is open 24 hours. The swimming pool serves drinks and snacks from its sunken bar. Room Type:

Deluxe Room; Airconditioned with hot and cold water, Colour TV, Telephone, Mini Bar and private balcony.
Superior Room; Aircondition or Bungalows with AC and cold water, Colour TV, Telephone, private balcony.
Standard Fan Room; Room with fan and cold water Special Cocktail and Menu:Sayang Beach Cocktail; Bali Moon Cocktail
Special Menu:Sayang Club sandwich; Nasi Goreng Special; Satay; Deluxe Cheese Pizza; Braised Chicken; Sweet and sour; Cheese Kebab.

Hotel Facilities:
* Safety deposit boxes
* Swimming pool
* Bar, restaurant, and cafe
* Parking area
* Doctor on call
* Massage service
* Laundry and dry cleaning
* Furniture
* Billiards
* Internet service
* Spa

The Damai Lovina Villas

The Damai Lovina Villas is located on the north coast of the Bali. Lovina Bay which is famous for its dolphins. Transfer from the Airport takes approximately 3 hours by road. The Damai Lovina are just 10 mins from the beach, 2 hours from Denpasar and about 15 mins from the local shopping area.
Among rice paddies, spice plantations and stunning jungle clad ravines you'll find the unspoiled natural beauty, that has made Bali a legend and a retreat offering the greatest luxury of all - tranquillity. Antiques, meticulously crafted teak furniture, textiles recreating ancient Indonesian patterns and beautiful open air bathrooms all create a warm atmosphere of tropical style.

In the Indonesian language Damai means "peaceful" and an apt description it is. Nestled about half way up a small mountain just outside Lovina, north Bali Damai Lovina Villas, offers twelve private, tastefully decorated villas set quietly amidst beautifully manicured gardens.
On arrival you are at once enveloped in a relaxed and serene atmosphere that just seems to melt the cares of the world away. The staff, always attentive but never intrusive are well trained in the art of pampering. And with one of the best kitchens in Bali you will soon learn why the Damai describes itself as "Hard to Find, Hard to Leave".

Serombotan

2008-10-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

Serombotan is a typical Balinese dish consumed particularly by the community in the Klungkung Regency. The vegetable ingredients for this special dish can always be found in the gardens of any house in the Klungkung Regency. The local people are never bored with this food that has been passed down from generation to generation. Serombotan is not only popular among the local community but it is also a popular meal sold in various warung (small shops or food stalls) at markets, along the streets or in the restaurants around Klungkung town centre and even around Bali.

serombotan is often served at wedding receptions, syukuran (an event to express gratitude to God) or on special day celebrations besides being available on menus for everyday consumption. On ceremonial occasions, this dish is usually served separately so that it is easily available. “Guests often just take the serombotan without rice or other side dishes. They will also mix the vegetables by themselves so that the spices can be according to taste”, she said.
For the last ten years this kind of food has not only been available in the Klungkung region but also in Denpasar. We can find this food in Kreneng, Sanglah, Uma Anyar markets and it also usually sold at roadside food stalls such as along Ahmad Yani Street, Denpasar. Along the road of Denpasar – Sangeh there are two serombotan sellers who come from Klungkung.
They usually sell serombotan from a very simple stall that can be moved from place to place, usually in the afternoon. The serombotan sellers also sell other dishes to attract consumers, like tipat (rice cake boiled in a rhombus-shaped packet of plaited young coconut leaves), rujak (a kind of fruit salad with a pungent dressing), young coconut ice, and various snacks like rempeyek (a kind of thin chip made from flour and peanuts, shrimp, or small fish) or kerupuk (chips made from flour, flavoured with fish and shrimp), and fried or boiled nuts.
It is not only the Klungkung community who are fond of eating serombotan, most people around Bali are also fond of this vegetarian food. This can be proved by the fact that the small stalls selling this kind of food are never short of customers. According to Ni Wayan Nurati, the serombotan seller at Ahmad Yani Street, she is sometimes overwhelmed serving customers who always come in groups. “I start selling at 11.00am because that is the time for employees, both government and private, to take a rest”, she explained.
Ni Wayan Sulastri, the sister of Ni Wayan Nurati, has another story. She added that the busiest time is from 11.30am to 13.00pm. At these peak times they usually ask their children to help. “I have to involve my children in this business because I can not hire employees yet because there isn’t much profit to be made,” they both agreed.
Serombotan ingredients are all taken from the garden. They include kinds of vegetables such as long beans (kacang panjang), spinach (bayam), a leafy vegetable which grows in water (kangkung), green nut sprouts (kecambah), bitter gourd (pare), eggplant (terong), been sprouts (tauge), and peanuts (kacang tanah). While the sauce includes a small, very pungent kind of chilli (cabe), ginger (jahe), garlic (bawang putih), shrimp paste (terasi), citrus fruit (jeruk lemo), grated coconut (kelapa parut), and other spices.
The cooking method is as follows. The vegetables like kacang panjang, bayam, kangkung, and pare are sliced and then boiled separately. The eggplant is also sliced but together with the been sprouts they are left uncooked. The peanuts are fried till cooked.
There are two sauces used here, a liquid sauce and a dry, crispy one. The first sauce is made from chilli, garlic, and shrimp paste that is ground. This mixture is added to water and mixed, then fried till cooked. The roasted coconut is grated and mixed together with the mixture of garlic, ginger, and salt.
The vegetables and the flavourings are usually served separately because the consumers will choose the ratio of vegetable and sauce according to taste. This food is served by putting the boiled vegetables together with the uncooked ones and fried peanuts on a plate with a sprinkling of grated coconut. The liquid flavouring is then added, as well as squeezed lemon. The ingredients are mixed together before being eaten.
Typical Klungkung serombotan uses raw peanuts while the serombotan that is sold in Denpasar uses fried ones. (Budarsana)

Babi Guling (Pig Rustle)

2008-10-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

Babi guling is Bali’s most fmaous dish. Ask a Balinese person what their favourite food is and there is a good chance they’ll say “Bali guling”. Indonesia is a Muslim country, so pork isn’t celebrated as it is here in Bali. The Balinese however often keep pigs at home behind the house, feeding on food scraps, for that important time when they will be killed and eaten. The young suckling pig is used because of its tenderness, spit-roasted to perfection. Finding Bali Guling is a bit hard in tourist areas as it takes a while to prepare and is not really a dish most foreigners will ask for. As soon as you get away from the tourist scene in Kuta / Seminyak and head to Kerobokan, Mengwi, Ubud, or any other local place, the babi guling stands pop up.Ensure the inside of the suckling pig is completely cleaned out. Season inside and outside with salt. Combine all other ingredients, except turmeric water, and mix thoroughly. Fill the inside of the suckling pig with this mixture, close the belly with string or thin satay skewers. Rub the outside of the pig with turmeric water until the skin is shiny yellow. Bake on a spit over a charcoal fire or in a moderately hot oven for 2.1/2 hours. Test if the meat is done by inserting a skewer into the thickest part. If the liquid runs clear the piglet is cooked. Baste with oil during cooking. Serve slices of pork with white rice and a hot tomato and chili sambal. If preparing a larger pig, increase the amounts of ingredients accordingly and allow extra cooking time. Alternatively place the suckling pig on a roasting rack and roast in hot oven (220°C/425°F) for approximately one hour. Rest for 10 minutes in warm place before serving.
When serving, first remove the crisp skin with a strong carving knife, then loosen meat from the bones and cut into even dice or slices. Place a heaped tablespoon of stuffing on each serving plate, then top with meat and skin. Traditionally this dish is eaten with Jukut Nangka Mekuah and steamed rice.

Lawar

2008-10-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

Lawar is one of Bali’s most famous local dishes. Made from pig’s blood and spices, together with an assortment of other goodies, lawar can be found in every village in Bali. Balinese cuisine has many signature dishes including babi guling and bebek betutu. One of the local dishes that all Balinese love is lawar, with every family making lawar at special occassions such as ceremonies. Attending a wedding ceremony in Bali, foreigner might be asked “Bani ngajeng lawar?” (“Are you brave enough to eat lawar?”). The ingredients of lawar take from spices such as kunyit, shrimp paste, salt and ground pepper, galangal and other roots; grated coconut, green beans, boiled young jackfruit and occasionally, singkong leaves, all chopped up and blended together.The meat distinguishes the type of lawar – chicken, duck, beef, pork, turtle, or even dragonfly. Although it is considered a delicacy at ceremony time, fortunately turtle lawar is becoming less and less common. Dragonfly lawar is most unusual because it takes so much time and money because you have to use so many dragonflies to fill you up! Most lawar has raw blood mixed with it but not all Balinese like this and many prefer their lawar vegetarian.On the day of a ceremony Balinese people rise early to prepare food. The men will take care of the sate, the women chopping away preparing vegetables. Men are also responsible for the lawar and sit in a circle, chopping, chatting, and mashing, generally socializing. There’s no rush in Balinese ceremonies and the men enjoy chatting, sipping a coffee of some arak, while making the lawar. Lawar can be spicy and very salty, so a small portion is best for your first time. The nasi bungkus (rice to go) that is sold on the street from a motorbike, in small packets for 2,000rp sometimes contains lawar. Glory Restaurant in Legian is one of the places you can get lawar, along with many other authentic Balinese dishes (Sundays is the Balinese buffet). If you go to a Balinese person’s village tasting lawar and sipping some arak will earn you some ‘bule points’.

Galungan Day

2008-10-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

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 neighbors 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 molded 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 returan 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.

Nyepi The Silent Day

2008-10-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

Every religion or culture all over the world has their own way to define and celebrate their new year. For example, the Chinese have the Imlek year and to celebrate it, have, as they called it in their own language, "Gong Xi Fat Choy". The Moslem societies have their Muharam year, and any of the people over the world using the Gregorian calendar, celebrate the New Year on January 1st.

The same thing also occurs in Bali, however the Balinese use many different calendar systems. They have adopted the Gregorian calendar for business and government purposes. But for the endless procession of holy days, temple anniversaries, celebrations, sacred dances, building houses, wedding ceremonies, death and cremation processes and other activities that define Balinese life, they have two calendar systems. The first is the Pawukon (from the word Wuku which means week) and Sasih (which is means month). Wuku consists of 30 items starting from Sinta, the first Wuku and end up with the Watugunung the last one. The Pawukon, a 210-day ritual calendar brought over from Java in the 14th century, is a complex cycle of numerological conjunctions that provides the basic schedule for ritual activities on Bali. Sasih, a parallel system of Indian origin, is a twelve month lunar calendar that starts with the vernal equinox and is equally important in determining when to pay respect to the Gods.

Westerners open the New Year in revelry, however, in contrast, the Balinese open their New Year in silence. This is called Nyepi Day, the Balinese day of Silence, which falls on the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox, and opens a new year of the Saka Hindu era which began in 78 A.D.

Nyepi is a day to make and keep the balance of nature. It is based on the story of when King Kaniska I of India was chosen in 78 A.D. The King was famous for his wisdom and tolerance for the Hinduism and Buddhism societies. In that age, Aji Saka did Dharma Yatra (the missionary tour to promote and spread Hinduism) to Indonesia and introduce the Saka year.

The lead upto Nyepi day is as follows:

Melasti or Mekiyis or Melis (three days before Nyepi)
Melasti is meant to clean the pratima or arca or pralingga (statue), with symbols that help to concentrate the mind in order to become closer to God. The ceremony is aimed to clean all nature and its content, and also to take the Amerta (the source for eternal life) from the ocean or other water resources (ie lake, river, etc). Three days before Nyepi, all the effigies of the Gods from all the village temples are taken to the river in long and colourful ceremonies. There, they have are bathed by the Neptune of the Balinese Lord, the God Baruna, before being taken back home to their shrines.
Tawur Kesanga (the day before Nyepi)
Exactly one day before Nyepi, all villages in Bali hold a large exorcism ceremony at the main village cross road, the meeting place of demons. They usually make Ogoh-ogoh (the fantastic monsters or evil spirits or the Butha Kala made of bamboo) for carnival purposes. The Ogoh-ogoh monsters symbolize the evil spirits surrounding our environment which have to be got rid of from our lives . The carnivals themselves are held all over Bali following sunset. Bleganjur, a Balinese gamelan music accompanies the procession. Some are giants taken from classical Balinese lore. All have fangs, bulging eyes and scary hair and are illuminated by torches.The procession is usually organised by the Seka Teruna, the youth organisation of Banjar. When Ogoh-ogoh is being played by the Seka Teruna, everyone enjoys the carnival. In order to make a harmonic relation between human being and God, human and human, and human and their environments, Tawur Kesanga is performed in every level of society, from the people's house. In the evening, the Hindus celebrating Ngerupuk, start making noises and light burning torches and set fire to the Ogoh-ogoh in order to get the Bhuta Kala, evil spirits, out of our lives.
Nyepi
On Nyepi day itself, every street is quiet - there are nobody doing their normal daily activities. There is usually Pecalangs (traditional Balinese security man) who controls and checks for street security. Pecalang wear a black uniform and a Udeng or Destar (a Balinese traditional "hat" that is usually used in ceremony). The Pecalangs main task is not only to control the security of the street but also to stop any activities that disturb Nyepi. No traffic is allowed, not only cars but also people, who have to stay in their own houses. Light is kept to a minimum or not at all, the radio or TV is turned down and, of course, no one works. Even love making, this ultimate activity of all leisure times, is not supposed to take place, nor even attempted. The whole day is simply filled with the barking of a few dogs, the shrill of insect and is a simple long quiet day in the calendar of this otherwise hectic island. On Nyepi the world expected to be clean and everything starts anew, with Man showing his symbolic control over himself and the "force" of the World, hence the mandatory religious control.
Ngembak Geni (the day after Nyepi)
Ngembak is the day when Catur Berata Penyepian is over and Hindus societies usually visit to forgive each other and doing the Dharma Canthi. Dharma Canthi are activities of reading Sloka, Kekidung, Kekawin, etc.(ancient scripts containing songs and lyrics).

From the religious and philosophy point of view, Nyepi is meant to be a day of self introspection to decide on values, eg humanity, love, patience, kindness, etc., that should kept forever. Balinese Hindus have many kind of celebrations (some sacred days) but Nyepi is, perhaps the most important of the island's religious days and the prohibitions are taken seriously, particularly in villages outside of Bali's southern tourist belt. Hotels are exempt from Nyepi's rigorous practices but streets outside will be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles (except for airport shuttles or emergency vehicles) and village wardens (Pecalang) will be posted to keep people off the beach. So wherever you happen to be staying on Nyepi Day in Bali, this will be a good day to spend indoors. Indeed Nyepi day has made Bali a unique island.

Dreamland Beach

2008-10-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

Forget in moment Kuta, Sanur, and or Nusa Dua. Enjoying Bali only by sand sunning in the coasts not be prestigious anymore. Nowadays, time for you enjoying more challenging eksotis and exclusive vacation. Because the coasts only known by a few/little turis. The information even also by mouth to mouth. You will not find in reference or travel. Even so maybe its not too much and can be calculated by finger.
All of beach/Coast like Pecatu and of Uluwatu enter to south kuta District Region. There’s no formal guide to go there. Easiest direction is roadway to Uluwatu temple, one of the biggest temple in Pecatu Village, south of Bali. All of the coast have same caracters, short coast land , limited by two bank, white sand, billow, and... hidden! cause, this coast near in Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Bukit Ungasan.
First Coast/beach is Balangan Beach. Behind Pecatu hill, in this moment still working Bali Pecatu Graha ( BPG) project. To go to the coast we through zigzag way, up down hill. This journey be my own experienced because through hill and we saw Kuta beach and Ngurah Rai air port so far away in front of there. It’s about two kilometers, there are branches ways and illegal guide with simply write board to Balangan Beach and other to Dreamland. Forget it the last beach, because we come to Balangan Beach. This moment to go there we must down steep way. After that white sand and wave sound welcome us ( our tired)
When I’m Visiting with my team from Jakarta months ago, there is one couple only is sand sunning. The other tourist still waiting wave white take hold on their board surfing, and others relax on the beach chair while reading novel. There is no one disturb them. It’s so really beach to hide, Tiar said local tourist from Indonesia.
Balangan view beach faced on north, so Ngurah Rai airport can be saw from here. East part limited by mountainside with the call abouts 3 meters and the west part limited by mountainside more high and full of plant. There are two corals smaller beside high white stone mountainside between them. There are white sand that have big granule than Kuta. The coach a little stones near of the beach part you must be carefull. There are about 5 cafes in here. In that evening there are some touris, sitting in that café with their beer in the table. Café’s function too as a placa to stay with the price about Rp. 50000/night. Local tourist or foreign tourist could walk to dreamland from Balangan Beach. They will trough some corals stone, swim to the beach and walk in the white sand to the west. Dream Land beach more crowded then Balangan. Mede Said “this Place known about 1996 ( she is from there ). Dreamland beach like dream beach. In the first time come to that place my friend feel so proud they shock when they trough as small gate about one meters between two corals and then becomed, white sand, blue beach, roll of waves and west point Bali island in Uluwatu. Some tourist enjoying solving swimming, surfing and sanding. Although more crowded than Balangan, amount of tourist in Dreamland smaller than Kuta and Sanur. It’s about 50 tourist. The Beach length about 1 kilometers to south. In the north limited by sharp stone Beach and high coral 15 meters. In this hill we ca see the beach ( Dreamland ) under there 20 meters. This beach side to west so we can see sunset. It’s really beautiful place. Silent and good place to take a rest from crowded place and bussy day. Coming and enjoy your life to Bali. You will feel satisfied.

tanah Lot

2008-10-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

TANAH LOT

From the village of Marga, the trip west returns to the main route leading to Tabanan. At the crossroads of Kediri, a side-road branches to the sea, ending on a green hill which slopes down to the beach and to the remarkable temple of Tanah Lot, suspended on a huge rock offshore. Set apart from the land by a stone basin, the rock has been carved by incoming tides. Tanah Lot, with its solitary black towers and tufts of foliage spilling over the cliffs, recalls the delicacy of a Chinese painting. If hearsay is to be believed, there dwells inside one of the shrines at Tanah Lot a huge snake, discreetly left undisturbed by the Balinese.

Although a small sanctuary, Tanah Lot is linked to a series of sea temples on the south coast of Bali: Pura Sakenan, Pura Ulu Watu, Pura Rambut Siwi and Pura Peti tenget. All these temples are related to the principal mountain sanctuaries: Besakih at Gunung Agung, Pura Batur at Batur and Plura Luhur at Mt. Batukau. The upland temples venerate deities associated with mountains and mountain lakes, while the sea temples include homage to the guardian spirits of the sea within their ritual. These main temples are often listed with the sad-kahyangan the six holy "national" temples, which exact tribute from all Balinese. The chronicles attribute the temple at Tanah Lot to the 16th century priest Nirartha.

During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bringing gifts, invited him to stay at their hut. Nirartha refused, saying he preferred to spend the night on the little island. That evening he spoke to the fishing folk and advised them to build a shrine on the rock, for he felt it to be a holy and fitting place to worship God. The villagers kept their promise. The beaches of Tanah Lot are ideal for relaxing, especially in the late afternoons, when the temple on the rock dissolves into a striking silhouette against the evening sky.

Target out of the landscape by tides, wind and rain, the high off shore sentinel rock of Tanah Lot. Supports a picturesque see temple, which cans small here ached by a scramble over the wet rocks.

This Temple was built in the 15th century by the priest, Pedanda Bahu Rawuh or Danghyang Nirartha from Majapahit Jawa. Near this Temple there are several small and big shrines, the biggest one is Pekendungan Temple. There is a spring considered sacred not far from this temple.

Tanah Lot is 13 km from Tabanan is Beraban village. When the tide is low people can walk to the temple. It looks like a floating one if the tide is high. There are many caves under the temple lived by the peaceful sea snakes, which has white and black colors.

It's located 16 kilometers west of International Airport Ngurah Rai, or a 20 minutes drive through Sunset Road. Coming in from Java Island through Gilimanuk, and arriving at the Kediri intersection, at the Wisnu Murthi statue, turn right. In front of the Kediri police Station, turn left, and keep following this smooth road. In less than 10 minutes you will be there.

tampaksiring

2008-10-02T05:21:00.002-07:00

Tampaksiring

The hallowed spring of Tirta Empul in Tampaksiring dates from legendary times. In popular folklore, it was made by lndra when he pierced the earth to create a spring of amerta, the elixir of immortality, with which he revived his forces who were poisoned by Mayadanawa.

The waters are believed to have magic curative powers. Every year people journey from all over Bali to purify themselves in the clear pools. After leaving a small offering to the deity of the spring, men and women go either side to bathe. On the full moon of the fourth month each year, the villagers from nearby Manukaya take a sacred stone to be cleansed at Tirta Empul.

When the weathered inscription found qp the stone was deciphered, it gave the bate of Tirta Empul's foundation as A.D. 962 and described the cleansing ceremony. For a. thousand years these villagers had been abiding,. by this tradition without having been aware of the meaning incised on the stone! In 1969 the temple at Tampaksiring was completely renovated. Many of the shrines were built anew and painted in bright colors. Outside the temple are rows of sales stands where you may buy souvenirs-the bargain being carved bone jewelry.

On the hill above the sacred spring is the Government Palace built in 1 954. Once a resting place for Dutch officials, the site was chosen by former President Soekarno as his residence during his frequent trips to the island. South of Tirta Empul, on a line joining with Gunung Kawi, is Pura Mengening. There is a definite connection between these three places. At the latter temple there is a freestanding candi similar to those candle the facades of which are hewn from the rock at Gunung Kawi. Like Tirta Empul, the temple has a spring of pure water, which is also a source of the River Pakrisan. Pura Mengening might be the commemorative temple of King Udayana.

Singaraja

2008-10-02T05:21:00.001-07:00

SINGARAJA

From the highest point on the mountain pass, 1,220 meters above sea level, a spectacular descent brings you to the northern coast at Singaraja, capital of Buieleng regency. Buieleng is a strip of land that stretches along the whole northern coast of Bali-open to the sheltered waters of the Java Sea, and bordering on most of the other regencies. Archaic types of social organization and antiquities are found in many villages that are mentioned in inscriptions dating from the 10th century onward. The inscriptions also tell of pirate raids.

Through out it's history Buleleng has been more open than others in Bali to the influence of the maritime world of the Indonesian Archipelago and beyond. A province before and after Majapahit conquest it rose to prominence at the end of the 16th century under Raja Panji Sakti, who added the conquest of the eastern tip of Java to his other successes.. In 1 604 he built a new palace called Singaraja on fields where men grew the grain known as buleleng. Buleleng, gradually came to refer to the whole northern coast. The official day of Singaraja's foundation is 30 March 1 604, and each year a festival is held to commemorate it.

In 1814 a British military expedition stayed several months in Singaraja when Raffles was governor-general. The British went, but the Dutch came, at first with demands and later bearing arms, accusing the rajas of raiding wrecked ships. The first attempts of the Dutch ended in defeat or stalemate. In 1 849 a reinforced expedition captured the Buleleng stronghold of Jagaraga, after a fierce weeklong battle. In 1 882 the Dutch imposed direct colonial rule upon Buleleng and Jembrana. Singaraja became their capital and chief port and remained the seat of the colonial Indonesian government for the old Nusa Tenggara province (the Lesser Sunda Islands) until 1953.

Longer exposed to European influence than other parts of Bali, Singaraja has often been in the forefront of changes in the arts, fashion (wearing the kebaya began here), and political and social movements.

As an important shipping center, Singaraja has a cosmopolitan flavor about it. The population of 15,000 comprises many ethnic and religious groups. It is not unusual to see an Islamic procession pass before a Chinese temple flanked by office buildings of European design. Residential sections of the town are named after such immigrant groups as the Bugis of Sulawesi, the Javanese and the Chinese. After the bustle of Denpasar, Singaraja seems subdued, no longer a leader amongst Balinese towns. A legacy from Dutch times, however, is its continuing importance as an educational center. The city also houses a historical library, the gedong Kirtya, which is the storehouse of Balinese manuscripts, totally about 3,000. Lontar books-leaves of the lontar palm cut in strips and preserved between two pieces of precious wood-!-contain literature, mythology, historical chronicles and religious treatises, some works relatively new, others almost a millennium old. Miniature pictures, incised on the leaves with an iron stylus, are masterpieces in the art of illustration. Prasastis, metal plates inscribed with royal edicts of the early Pejeng-Bedulu dynasty, are among the earliest written documents found in Bali.

Buleleng is the island's chief coffee growing area. Freighters anchored off the harbor load this cargo for export to Europe and the Orient. The climate here is drier than in the south. Rather than rice, the fields yield Indian corn, oranges and crops of dry agriculture. The following temples of North Bali are located near Singaraja. If there is time, a pleasant drive further east between stately colonnades of trees leads to Yeh Sanih, a shimmering pool of blue green, flowing from underground springs. The clear waters have been enclosed to make a most refreshing place to swim. All along the northern shore are sea temples.

Sakenan

2008-10-02T05:20:00.001-07:00

Sakenan Temple

The sakenan temple is dang Kahyangan Temple which located in island it called Serangan Island. Serangan Island has large land more less 1.119 Km2 which located at the top of south east of Bali Island which means the District Administrative Area of Serangan, Sub District of South Denpasar, Denpasar Municipal Region Level II.

To active Sakenan Temple from Denpasar to south with 8,5 Km we will arrive boat Pirelli, and we see through crock of mangrove for 30 minutes. In crossing through mangrove we will see the Benoa Harbor on the West Side, On the East Side we can see Nusa Penida Island which means the Administrative Area of Klungkung Regency.

This temple divided into two parts, which surrounded by restricted brick are Masceti Temple on the East Side and Sakenan Temple on the West Side.

The kind of sacral small temple which located in the Masceti Temple are most of Padarman, and Sakenan Temple is only has one persada it called Persada Danghyang Dwijendra.

Serangan culture Village located at Serangan Temple includes Sub District of South Denpasar, Denpasar Municipality. This village has six parts of Banjar consists of four heads of village’s part, it under mainland and also there is not mountain.

On the south side of Serangan Island it called Tanjung Benoa Strait and the north of island spread out the ocean, in the East Side is called Badung Strait and West Side is ocean.

Sawan

2008-10-02T05:19:00.001-07:00

SAWAN

A side-trip southeast of Singaraja passes the small temple of Jagaraga whose reliefs portray: two smug Europeans in a model-T Ford suddenly taken unawares by an armed bandit (a robbery probably inspired by cowboy films), flying aces in one-propped aircraft plunging into the sea; and a Dutch steamer signaling an SOS upon being attacked by a crocodilian sea monster. Even the wicked Rangdas and fertility statues-a dazed mother buried under a pile of children-are skilfully hewn with a delightf ul sense of humor. This trip ends at Sawan, a village with a gong casting industry, a talented group of the bamboo gamelan anglung orchestra and a unique local market that takes place at night. Sculpture that draws on modern moljs is not entirely lacking in the south. On the Pura Dalem of Blahkiuh near Sangeh a relief depicts a Japanese shooting at an airplane, and a temple relief at Panarungan (Mengwi) inter prets the Japanese rape of Balinese girls.

Sanur

2008-10-02T05:18:00.000-07:00

SANUR BEACH

Save for a few scattered villas owned by lords and heiresses, during the thirties Sanur beach was left in seclusion. Pandy's Art Gallery was then an aquarium and coffee shop. Tandjung Sari was a solitary temple on the cape, and Hotel Bali Beach had not neared its conception. The only surviving home of those times is that of the Belgian painter Le Mayeur, who moved to Bali in 1 932 and lived there for 26 years. The house, with its statued gardens, luxuriant gold and crimson carvings, and Le Mayeur's own paintings is now cared for by his widow, Ni Polok, once a renowned Legong dancer and famed beauty-the ideal Balinese of his paintings. On his death Le Mayeur willed the house to the Indonesian Government. A guidebook is available. The house is situated close by the Hotel Bali Beach.

By the fifties, the first cluster of bungalows was built as a small hotel. The villagers were amazed that someone would want to settle by the ocean, as beaches were traditionally shunned by the Balinese because of spirits. Yet Sanur continued to attract an international elite and today is a prominent luxury resort area in the Far East.

The Hotel Bali Beach, a Soekarno-era project, was opened in 1 966. While the Hotel Bali Beach expanded into a new wing and bungalows (called the Bali Seaside Cottage), more than 30 hotels opened their doors up and down the beach.

When the Hotel Bali Beach first opened, and even to this day, it was a source of wonder to the Balinese. They came from all over the island to set eyes upon what, to the modern world, were everyday matters-skyhigh rooms, running water, electricity and elevators. The Bali Hyatt and Sanur Beach are the next largest hotels. The building boom reached its peak for a PATA Conference in 1974 when hotels at Sanur alone provided about 1,600 rooms. A new, open highway now links Sanur to Denpasar and Nusa Dua. The volume of traffic to the Bukit Peninsula has increased since more luxury hotels opened at Nusa Dua resort in 1982.

A wise government regulation that forbids buildings taller than a coconut palm has allowed Sanur to retain much of its village character. The luxuriant vegetation soon covers building scars, and moss transforms a new stone wall. The regulation encouraged the growth of bungalow-style hotels based on the style hotels based on the Baiinese norm of many small buildings within the one-house compound. The hotels of Sanur are all comfortable and elegant. The bungalow-style hotels are popular with tourists who enjoy the peace of garden settings.

Built along the beach, the hotels of Sanur are ideal in the early morning, for the coast there faces the sun rising over Nusa Penida. On the clearest days, Lombok's Rinjani voicano floats distantly above its collar of clouds, with Baii's own Gunung Agung closer by. Elegant triangular sails of fishing prahus glide on the calm sea. These boats are called jukungs and there are many for hire for trips along the shore. At low tide, the waters recede leaving great swathes of sand and coral that stretch for hundreds of meters to the reef, It is then that villagers wander among tidepools to collect coral, which they burn nearby to make building lime. At night, fishermen wade by torchlight to catch shrimp and small bait. Sanur is famous, too, for its magic, because of the many B rahmana families that live there and its proximity to the sea. Its farmers are reputed to grow the most delicious rice in Bali, formerly reserved for the tables of kings.

It is easy to spend a day around Sanur: lazing by the pool-side, walking on the beach, or following paths through the surrounding hamlets, rice fields and coconut groves. You can take a look at the coral pyramid in the sea temple or the old pillar inscription at Belanjong. In the evening the choices are several. Relax on the beach (especially around the full moon) or on the porch of a bungalow. Wander down to the beach market and try the local food stalls. Watch a dance or drama (your hotel can tell you when they are on) Or if it is action you are looking for, there are night clubs at the three largest hotels

Sangsit

2008-10-02T05:16:00.000-07:00

SANGSIT

The temples of North Bali differ from those in the south. Instead of the small shrines and meru towers of southern temples, a single pedestal, built on a terraced stone base, furnishes the inner courtyard. Often, the pedestal supports a padmasana, throne of the sun god, and sacred "houses" to store relics and serve as a resting place for deities during temple festivals. Next to the classical lines of southern decoration, North Balinese carving is forcefully baroque.

Every crevice of the temple proper is gaily carved in curves, flames, arabesques and spirals, cascading a light ebullience everywhere. A fine example of the northern style is Pura Beji in Sangsit, a subak temple dedicated to Dewi Sri, goddess of agriculture. Nagat snakes form the balustrade of the fine gateway.

Fantastic physiognomies of imaginary beasts and devilish guardians peer from the entangled flora, deliberately cocked at an angle to throw the facade slightly off balance. This dynamic asymmetry continues in the inner sanctuary. Jawless birds, fierce tigers and sunflowers project from every part of the pedestal.

Rows of stone towers jut up from the terraces, forming a labyrinth of pink sandstone. To counterbalance the overpowering decor, the courtyard is spacious and decorated with only a few frangipani trees.

The North Balinese sculptural style with its caricatural tendency is found on other temples in the area-besides on the temples mentioned at Sangsit, Jagaraga and Kubutambahan-for example, on temples at Bungkulan and Bebetin. As you drive along the north coast road, also keep your eyes open for wooden split drums or kulkuls which are carved with a human head on top. For some reason they are rarely found in South Bali. Examples may be seen at Bungkulan (the village past Sangsit), dt Kubutambahan, and the finest of all at Tejakula.

Sangeh

2008-10-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

Sangeh

Rawana, the villainous giant of the Ramayana epic, could die neither on earth nor inair.Tokill him,themonkeygeneral Hanuman devised a plan to suffocate the giant by pressing him between two halves of the holy mountain Mahameru-a destruction between the earth and air. When Hanuman took Mahameru, part of the mountain feli to the earth in Sangeh, along with a group of his monkey armies. And so they stayed to this very day.

Such is the legendary origin of Bukit Sari, or The Monkey Forest, a cluster of towering trees and home of hundreds of sprite monkeys. The forest is sacred and for many years no one has been permitted to chop wood there. A moss-covered temple lies in the heart of the woods and is a familiar hideout for the nimble inhabitants. You make many friends b buying a bag of peanuts, and for such a east the monkeys often bring their families along.

Fulmar tells of a king of the monkeys who invariably has the first choice in selecting peanut handouts. He oversees one camp, while a rival king and his followers control another area of the forest. A beautiful restive place, Sangeh has long been an inspiration for painters and monkey-watchers.

The temple, Pura Bukit Sari, was originally built around the 17th century as an agricultural temple and has been restored several times, most recently in 1973. In the central courtyard, a large statue of Garuda, an old carving of uncertain date, symbolizes freedom from suffering and the attainment of amerta, the elixir of life. The forest of nutmeg trees in which it lies was presumably planted deliberately a long time ago, for it is unique in Bali.

There is a separate route linking Sangeh directly with Denpasar that begins at Jalan Kartini, making it a short trip. A side - road joins Blahkiuh, just south of Sangeh, with Mengwi which can also be reached by returning to Denpasar and taking the trip to the west. A sub-standard road links Sangeh with Ubud.

Penulisan hill

2008-10-02T05:14:00.002-07:00

PENULISAN

The main road continues its ascent to a hillside in the clouds where, symbol of modern civilization, Bali's television aerial, claims its high-tech place beside the long fligh of steps rising to the mountain sanctuary of Pura Tegeh Koripan. The highest temple in Bali at 1,745 meters, Pura Tegeh Koripan is actually a complex of temples at which a circle of surrounding villages worship. The sparsely adorned bales shelter lines of fine statues; portraits 1 of Balinese kings, queens and divinities; and linggas.

Several statues bear dates of the 1 lth century, another that of the 1 5th century. It is thought that this temple was the mountain sanctuary of the old Pejeng kingdom, just as Pura Besakih was the state mountain sanctuary for the later Gelgel dynasty. The clouds often wrap them selves around the high peak, but on clear day, the view from Penulisan en compasses half the island: from the crest of Mt.Bratan in West Bali to the Java Sea. This temple is the farthest point north on this tour, but one can continue north to Singaraja.

On the return trip south of Penelokan bearing right, you pass three villages striking in their uniformity. The identical rooftops and continuous high walls are seldom seen in the more relaxed organization of typical villages. Although such conformity could only come from old communities where individualism is still minimal, the true explanation for their construction is the eruptions of Gunung Agung and Mt. Batur in 1963.

Because the soil was poisoned by the volcanic ash, all occupants of this region had to be evacuated to emergency camps, set up all over the island. When the people resettled upon their land, they rebuilt their entire village at the same time. Thus all the buildings look alike.

You are now entering territories that were settled by the Bronze-iron Age, which began about 300 B.C. and continued well into-the, first millennium A.D. The great bronze drum figurines are still preserved in temples as sacred heirlooms, or have been found in the rice fields and entered private collections. From the 10th century till the Majapahit conquest in 1 343, this area was the heartland of the kingdom of Pejeng-Bedulu. Its kings issued decrees written on plates of bronze, from which scholars have been able to reconstruct the history of the kingdom. These inscriptions, found all over Bali, tell of village and state affairs. Both Hinduism and Buddhism were practiced, and priests served as advisers to the kings and as members of the royal court of justice. Many inscriptions describe the founding of monasteries within a village territory and the freeing of that village from certain state taxes to pay for the monasteries' up keep. The ruins of these monasteries survive to this day, many bearing relief cut into rock. Statues of gods and kings dating from these centuries are also of Pejeng, and various axes, jewelry and preserved in dozens of temples.

Panelokan Hill

2008-10-02T05:14:00.001-07:00

PENELOKAN

From the bamboo forests north of Bangli, the road emerges to a lookout above a huge volcanic basin. Ribbons of black lava ripple down the valley from the misty peak of Mt. Batur. This is Penelokan, "the place to look", where the world changes colors. Sometimes, the still lake there resembles blue glass, and at others, a sheetof platinum. In chartreuse and vermilion biouses,the mountain girisstride along the rim of an ancient crater surrounding Mt. Batur.

Legend tells of Pasupati (Siwa) dividing the sacred Hindu mountain Mahameru and placingthe halves in Bali, asthevoicanoes Gunung Agung and Batur. Next to Agung, Batur is the most revered of Baii's mountains. Temples throughout the island honor the deity who dwells at its summit. Penelokan is atood place to make a lunch stop at one of its'high standard restaurants.

A short steep corkscrew road leads down to Kedisan on the lakeside where boats can be hired. On the flank of the volcano opposite Trunyan at Tirta Bungka, are hot springs set beside the cold waters of the lake, nature's sauna for tired travelers who have climbed Mt. Batur. Nearby, the hotel Tirta Yatra, is a convenient place to stay before or after climbing the volcano.

Formerly, the people of this area lived relatively unperturbed at the base of the holy volcano. In 1 91 7, Batur violently erupted destroying 65,000 homes, 2,500 temples and more than a thousand lives. Lava engulfed the village of Batur but miraculously stopped at the foot of the temple. The people took this as a good omen and continued to live there. In 1 926, a new eruption buried the entire ternpie except the highest shrine, dedicated to God in his manifestation as Dewi Danu, goddess of the lakes and waters. The villagers were then forced to resettle on the high cliffs overlooking Batur. They brought the surviving shrine with thgm and rebuilt the temple, now known as Pura Ulun Danu of Batur village.

Pejeng

2008-10-02T05:12:00.000-07:00

PEJENG

There are no great ruins here or ancient palaces. The remains of the old kingdom are mostly statues kept in many temples. One of the most impressive antiquities in Indonesia, however, is the monumental bronze drum called the "Moon of Pejeng", loftily enshrined upon a high pavilion in the Pura Penataran Sasih. It is a thousand years older than the Pejeng kingdom, for it survives from the Bronze Age in Indonesia which began about 300 B.c.

First made known to the West in a book published as long ago as 1 705, it is the largest drum in the world to be cast as a single piece. Shaped like an hour glass and over 3 meters long, the drum is of a rare type, decorated with eight stylized heads. A stone mold for a similar found in Bali proves that a highly sophisticated technique of bronze casting was used in ancient Indonesia.

The old Balinese, however, tell a different each year instead of twelve. One night, one o the moons fell to the earth and was caught in a tree. It shone so brilliantly that it prevented the local thieves from their nocturnal depredations. The boldest among them determined to extinguish the light.

He climbed up the tree and urinated on it. The "moon" burst, killing the thief, and fell to the ground in the form of a drum, explaining why it is now broken at the base. The large stones lined in back of the pavilion are said to be fallen black stars. Besides in the Pura Penataran Sasih, which was the state temple of Pejeng, important antiquities are found in three other temples. Pura Kebo Edan (Crazy Buffalo) houses a giant statue 3.6 meters tall. In Pura Puser ing Jagat (Navel of the World) a remarkable stone vessel tells in carving the story of the Churning of the Ocean by the gods and demons to obtain the elixir of life. Two kilometers east of Pejeng is the old monastery of tale: once there were thirteen moons in the sky Goa Garba.

Padang Bai

2008-10-02T05:11:00.000-07:00

PADANGBAI

A perfectly shaped bay cradled in the hills, the harbor of Padangbai is the main port of all transit to the neighboring island of Lombok, with passenger and cargo vessels departing each morning. International shipping lines making stopovers in Bali anchor to the left of the bay; visitors and cargo are ferried to the pier. An area enclosed by white sand coves and turquoise sea, the small harbor town makes a good visit for yachtsmen sailing to Bali.

The history of this coastal village is connected with those eventful years that saw the deaths of Mahendradatta and Udayana at the beginning of the 1 1 th century. There lived at Padangbai at that time a priest of great stature, Kuturan by name, who was capable of rejecting the wishes of a king and is rememberdd for his reforms of village organization. Pura Silayukti at Padangbai is said to mark his residence. Continuing east,

the road passes through 'the beautiful area around Manggis, mountains on one side, the sea on the other

Negara

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NEGARA

A good distance from Tabanan stands Negara, the capital of Jembrana regency-a rugged strip of land partitioning the southwest coast of Bali. From Gilimanuk, the harbor at the westernmost tip of the island, ferries ply the narrow strait to East Java, the route by which most of Bali's import needs, and such exports as copra and coffee, are transported.

The most exciting event in Negara isthe bull races, a secular entertainment that began less than a century ago. Possibly it developed from the custom of carrying home the harvested rice by bullock cart, or it may have been introduced from Java or Madura wherethesport is strong.Bulls are carefully selected for strength and color, looked after and pampered, and never used for ploughing the fields.

Dressed up in silk banners with painted horns and enormous wooden bells (now usually replaced with metal bells), they parade before the scrowd of spectators. The course is a 2-kilometer stretch of road, and the teams are judged for speed and style. It is remarkable to see such ordinarily docile creatures thunder down to the finishing line at speeds up to 50 kilometers an hour.

The agile charioteers often drive standing up and twist the bulls' tails to give them spunk. For the fans, this regional sport of Jembrana is a great opportunity for gambling. A family that owns a winning bull gains much prestige, and, besides, the price will double. A little magic is believed to help. If you are fortunate enough to be in Bali during the bull racing season, usually between July and October, do not miss seeing them. Negara is the farthest point west cited in this trip. The road, however, continues around the island to Singaraja, through lonely regions of the northwest. The journey takes a full day, on the seldom-used roads. From this point, your tours may take you through Gilimanuk and by ferry to East Java, where breathtaking scenery awaits you.

Taman Ayun

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Mengwi / Taman Ayun

A turnoff toward the mountain leads to the principality of Mengwi which, until 1891, was the center of a powerful kingdom originating from the Gelgel dynasty. These kings continue to be venerated in the state temples of Mengwi, in particular Pura Taman Ayun.

In Bali, each social unit-of increasing size beginning with the family-possesses a temple wherein they worship deified ancestors. The family ancestors are worshipped in the house temple, the clan ancestors in the clan temple, the founders of a village in the Pura Puseh, and previously the ancestors of a royal dynasty were collectively worshipped by a kingdom in the state temples. State temples include mountain temples, sea temples, and those at the heart of the kingdom, such as Mengwi's Pura "Taman Ayun".

Among the rows of palinggihs, (shrines that serve as "sitting places" to receive visiting deities during temple feasts) is a bri-ck b4ilding facin,g east: the paibon, a royal ancestral altar. In the surrounding pavilions, priests recite prayers, village elders hold council, offerings are prepared, furniture and the temple's musical instruments are stored. For those interested in traditional woodcarving, the small doors of the shrines here are beautifully carved. The moat gives the impression of a sanctuary in the middle of a pond, explaining the name taman, "garden with a pond". The waters are a symbolic place of contact with the divine through widadaris, celestrial nymphs who bathe there.

Beyond the moat, the temple lies on slightly rising ground. The grassy expanse of the outermost courtyard, the fine array of merus and pavilions in the inner courtyard, and its well-kept appearance make it one of the most beautiful temples in Bali. Originally dating from 1634, Taman Ayun was restored and enlarged in 1937. On its festival day (odalan) hundreds of women file into the temple bearing colorful offerings, which they place together before the merus.

KINTAMANI

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KINTAMANI

In scripts from the 10th century indicate that this high mountain district which takes its name from the ancient, windblown town at 1,500 meters-was the earliest known kingdom in Bali. Its small houses are constructed of wood and bamboo tiles to give warmth in the cold evenings of the highlands. Plentiful vegetables and fruits prosper in the damp climate. Like many of the old villages in Bali, the center of community affairs is the bale agung, the village assembly hall, where the elders of the desa authority meet once a month.

The dances of Kintamani are varieties of the Sanghyang trance dance, rarely performed in other parts of the island. Every third morning, the main street becomes a bazaar for all the surrounding villages. There are several small hotels for an overnight stay :while exploring the area. Not far north of town, a dirt road branches left down towards Lake Bratan, and to the village of Slulung with its interesting little, stepped pyramids.

Klungkung

2008-10-02T05:07:00.000-07:00

KLUNGKUNG

As the seat of the Dewa Agung, nominally the highest of the old Balinese rajas, Klungkung holds a special place in the island's history and culture. As artistic centers, the palaces of Klungkung's rajas and noblemen patronized and developed the styles of music, drama and the fine arts that flourish today.

The capital was shifted to Klungkung from nearby Gelgel in 1710, and a new palace built. Probably towards the end of that century the original Kerta Gosa, Hall of Justice, was erected. An exquisite example of the Klungkung style of painting and architecture, the present Kerta at the town's main intersection is beautifully laid out within its moat. Three Brahmana priests acting as judges presided over this royal court which continued in existence through Dutch times.

Cases were brought here only if they could not be settled among families or individual villages, as the Kerta was the island's highest court of justice and by far the strictest. Imagine a terrified defendant kneeling before the tribunal, his gaze chancing to wander to the ceiling on which were painted scenes of the horrors he would meet after death, were he guilty. If he dared to look higher, he found each punishment complemented by a reward in heaven. At that time, perjury could bring a curse upon three generations.

The Bale Kambang, the Floating Pavilion, likewise decorated, was used by the attending royal family. Pan Semaris and Mangku Mura directed the present paintings in 1945. Two kilometers south, between Klungkung and Gelgel, lies the village of Kamasan, the present-day center of the Klungkung - style painters. Indeed that style is often called the Kamasan or wayang style, as it draws its main themes from Old Javanese literary classics. brought here only if they could not be settled Kamasan is also a famous center of gold and silver smithing. In the shops of Klungkung one buy modern and antique Klunkung-style paintings, carvings, silverwork and silks.

Blabatuh

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Blahbatuh

The Pura Gaduh of this market village is associated with Kebo lwa, a legendary personality famous for his size, strength and magical power. Many landmarks and buildings are attributed to him, including the original gate of this temple. Enshrined in a small pavilion is a massive stone head over a meter high, said to be a portrait of Kebo lwa. The head cannot be dated precisely and does not resemble usual Hindu-Javanese iconography; it is probably solely Balinese in creation.

Kebo lwa was a high official of the last king of Bedulu before the Majapahit conquest in 1343. Gajah Mada, the great prime minister of Majapahit, realizing he could never conquer Baii while Kebojwa lived, enticed him to Java with the profflise of a beautiful princess, and had him killed. The present temple is a reconstruction following the eart ' hquake of 1917. Many of the statoe are unfinished; some gay carvings are on the main stairs.

gunung kawi

2008-10-02T03:32:00.000-07:00

Gunung Kawi

From the lookout above a long stairway, ghostly habitations appear on the far side of the valley. The young River Pakrisan bubbles down over boulders, as it winds through the rice terraces. This is the striking setting of Gunung Kawi, a complex of rock-hevvn candis and monks' cells.

Legend has it that the gigantic strongman Kebo lwa carved out all the monuments one night with his fingernails. Remarkably preserved in their deep niches over 7 meters high, they are only facades without interior chambers. There are ten in all-the main group of five east of the river, a group of four west of the river, and one by itself at the southern end of the valley.

Each has a complex of monks'calls nearby. The candis however were not places of burial, but served as memorials to deified royalty. Short inscriptions on some of the candis have enabled archaeologists to attribute them to the end of the 1 1 th century, soon after the death of Anak Wungsu in about 1077. But the identity of the kings and royal spouses honored there has not been determined with certainty. One theory says the main group of five candis honored Udayana, his queen, his concubine, and his two sons, Marakata and Anak Wungsu. Another theory suggests they honored Anak Wungsu and his royal wives; Thegroup of fourcandis isthoughttoenshrine Anak Wungsu's concubines. The tenth candi honors a high state official.

Perhaps Anak Wungsu ordered the Gunung Kawi monuments sculpted at a place where he himself used to meditate. Similar though smaller rock-hewn candis and monks' cells have been discovered in other parts of this central heartland of the Pejeng kffigdom, several of them also on the River Pakrisan. By the suspension bridge at Campuan, Ubud, are a couple of cells. In th6se times the monastic tradition must have been strong.

goa gajah

2008-10-02T03:31:00.001-07:00

Goa Gajah

A short distance from Bedulu stands the mysterious Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave. A fantastically carved entrance depicts entangling leaves, rocks, animals, ocean waves and demonic human shapes running from the gaping mouth which forms the entrance to the cave.

The monstrous Kala head that looms above the entrance seems to part the rock with her hands. Similarly decorated hermit cells are also found in Java. The large earrings indicate that the figure is that of a woman. The T-shaped interior of the rock-hewn cave contained niches which probably served as compartments for ascetics.

Recent excavations carried out in 1954 unearthed bathing places in front of the cave with six female figures, representing. nymphs or goddesses holding water spouts. An energetic clamber down rocks and rice terraces fifty meters behind the cave leads to the fragments of a fallen cliff face with the enshrining two ancient Buddha statues.

An old Javanese chronicle written in 1365, some twenty years after the Majapahit conquest of Bali, says that one of the two Buddhist bishops in Bali at that time had his hermitage at Gwa Gajah, the "elephant river", which probably alludes to the Petanu River which flows nearby in its deep gorge.

However, Goa Gajah dates back certainly to the 1 1 th century. Whether it was originally a Buddhist or Hindu hermitage cannot be answered with certainty, for there are both Hindu and Buddhist sculptures inside or outside the cave. Perhaps monks of both religions had hermitages close to one another. In pre-Majapahit Java and Bali, the two religions, both influenced by Tantric beliefs and practices, had begun to amalgamate into what is called the Siwa- Buddha cult. Buddhist practices and doctrines survive to this day amongst a small segment of the Brahmana broken bas-reliefs of stupas and a tiny cavern priests who are mostly found in East Bali.

celuk

2008-10-02T03:30:00.003-07:00

Celuk

A silver-spun dragon twice encircles the wrist to form a bracelet sold in the village of Celuk, a center of gold and silver work. Original designs in delicate filigree make Balinese jewelry one of the most unusual styles in Asia. Although individual pieces are elaborate, they have simple origins in their making. Artisans use a tree stump with a protruding iron spike as a pounding base, a bamboo stem to catch the filings, and a manually operated gas pump for heat. As with most Balinese crafts, gold and silver work is largely an hereditary trade. Apprentices begin young. By the time the boys are twelve, they are already producing fine ornaments from the precious metals. However, the increased demand by tourists has resulted in the craft extending beyond the traditional clan. Almost every family in Celuk now makes or sells gold and silver work. Kuta and Kamasan (near Klungkung) are other such smithing centers, the latter famous for large silver bowls.

Marga

2008-10-02T03:30:00.001-07:00

MARGA

On 20 November 1946, Lt. Col. I Gusti Ngurah Rai, acommander of nationalist troops in Bali, and his company of guerrilla fighters were killed in the Battle of Marga. Surrounded by a numerically superior Dutch force, and under bombardment from the air, the small band, only 94 men in all, refused to surrender; they attacked the enemy positions and died to the last man-a puputan reminiscent of the royal puputans carried out forty years earlier also against the Dutch. At Marga there stands a monument honoring these soldiers, inscribed with a famous letter written by Ngurah Rai refusing surrender until the cause was won. Stone medallions symbolize Panca Sila, the five principles of the Indonesian state: the star for belief in God, a linked chain for democracy, a bull for nationalism, a banyan tree for humanity, and rice and cotton grainsfor socialjustice.A Hero's Day is held on the anniversary of Ngurah Rai's death and the Bali International Airport is named in his honor.

bangli

2008-10-02T03:29:00.001-07:00

Bangli Regency

Further inland the weather is cooler. Plots abound with sweet potato, peanut, corn and spices. A high kulkul drum tower marks the entrance to Bangli, capital of a kingdom descended from the early Gelgel dynasty. The largest and most sacred temple of the district is Pura Kehen, the terraced mountain sanctuary and state temple of Bangli.

An ancient document tells of the slaughter of a black bull during a feast held at this temple in the year 1204. Down below at the foot of the stairway, there is an old temple which contains a collection of historical records inscribed on bronze plates.

Statues, in wayang kulit shadow play style, line the first terrace from which steps lead to a magnificent closed gate the people of Bangli call "the great exit".

Above the gate looms the hideous face and splayed hands of KalaMakara, the demonic one who catches harmful spirits to prevent them from entering. On either side are statues of villagers gesturing a welcome.

An enormous banyan tree shades the first courtyard, where the walls are inlaid with Chinese porcelain. An eleven-tiered meru dominates the inner sanctuary. Here, on the right, you see the three-thrones shrine of the Hindu trinity: Brahma, Siwa, and Vishnu. A hierarchy of deities is carved on the back of the shrine.

By turning left at Bangli, you may bypass the volcano and take a short cut to Tampaksiring. Just 3 kilometers out of Bangli on this road is Demulih hill. It is well worth the climb up, for the view of central Bali is superb, and the hilly setting (worthy of being declared a sanctuary) is conducive to peace and relaxation

Bangli it self, a little town that is usually passed through, is rewarding and worth a walk through to view some of the stone Statues and temple relief's. To reach the volcanoes of Batur and Abang, continue straight. Many villages in this mountain region have retained an older form of culture that was not deeply influenced by the courts of the lower slopes.

Kubu

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KUBU TAMBAHAN

Here, Pura Maduwe Karang, "Temple of the Owner of the Land", honors Mother Earth and the sun which give prosperity to the crops of dry agriculture.

Assubak temples venerate the creative urge in nature that insures harvests on irrigated rice fields, this temple holds ceremonies to guarantee a "blessing" for plants grown on un-irrigated land: fruits, coconut, maize and coffee. On its festival day farmers from surrounding villages come to ask for remnants of the offerings which are buried in the fields, a symbolic ritual to transmit the divine benevolence to the soil. Formerly, Kubu Tambahan was the center of a federation of villages, which heap sex plain the wide spread importance of Pura Maduwe Karang. The temple carvings are startling-ghouls, domestics. lovers and noblemen, even an official riding a flowery bicycle.

Besakih

2008-10-02T03:28:00.001-07:00

Besakih Temple

A climb north, through the astonishing landscapes of Bukit Jambul, ascends over 900 meters up the slopes of Gunung Agung to Pura Besakih, the holiest of all temples in Bali. It originated most probably as a prehistoric terraced sanctuary where worship and offerings were made to the god of Gunung Agung, the dominant landscape element in the Balinese world. Over a thousand years and more, it was enlarged and added to until it grew into the present complex of about 30 temples.

In the 10th century it was apparently a state temple. According to inscriptions kept here, an important event took place in the year 1007. If can only be guessed that this was associated with death rituals for Queen Mahendradatta, Udayana's co-ruier who died the previous year. Since the 1 5th century it was the state temple of the Geigel-Kiungkung dynasty which built a series of small temples in honorof itsdeified rulers. Now it isthe state temple for the provincial and national governments which meet all expenses. Today, Pura Besakih is revered by all Balinese as the "mother temple" of Bali.

Within the Besakih complex, the paramount sanctuary is the Pura Panataran Agung which rears its lofty merus on a high bank of terraces, Steps ascend in a long perspective to the austere split gate. Inside the main courtyard stands the three-seated shrine enthroning the Trisakti, the trinity of Brahma, Visnu and Siwa, During festivals the shrines are wrapped in colored cloth symbolic of the deities. The Pura Panataran Agung and two other important temples higher up the slope likewise together symbolize the Trisakti. In the center Pura Panataran Agung is hung with white banners for Siwa; to the right, Pura Kiduling Kreteg vyith red banners for Brahma; and Pura Batu Mddeg, to the left, with black banners for Visnu. These latter two temples are taken care of by . the Karangasem and Bangli regencies respectively, certain other shrines being the responsibility of the other regencies. All of Bali comes together at Pura Besakih. Religiously, oneness is symbolized in the padmasana in Pura Panataran Agung, dedicated to Sang Hyang Widdhi, the Supreme God.

Pura Besakih is most fascinating at festival times, but it is grand and impressive whenever you go there. The drive up the mountain to Besakih, with a stopover in Klungkung for sight-seeing and shopping, takes a full day. To resume the tour of East Bali, if you are staying in Denpasar, it is best to leave early in the morning the following day. By passing through Klungkung before noon, you may choose a site to lunch on the beach or in the shaded countryside and visit the Bat Cave, tshing villages and Tenganan before reaching Karangasem in mid-afternoon. Now that the new road linking Rendang and Karangasem has been finished, it is possible to make a Besakih- Karangaserm round trip comfortably in a day. You may be lucky to arrive in Bali during a time when eastern villages are holding ceremonies. Festivals, unique to these villages, should not be missed, so check the calendar of events at your hotel to find a good time to visit.

bedulu

2008-10-02T03:27:00.001-07:00

Bedulu Village

The village at the crossroads beyond Pejeng was once the center of early Balinese dynasties. In the 14th century, the armies of the Majapahit dynasty in Java threatened many parts of the archipelago. One ruler refused to submit: Dalem Bedaulu or Raja Tapolung (Fall from Meditation), the last king of the Pejeng dynasty, a man reputed to be endowed with supernatural powers. Boastful of his awesome powers, he was punished by the gods.

According to one version of the legend, Bedaulu at his own command would have his head cut off by a servant and then replaced, without causing him harm. One day, however, the king's head accidentally fell into a river and was carried away by the torrent. The desperate servant hastily decapitated the pig and thrust its head onto the shoulders of the king.

Ever after, the king dwelt on a high throne and forbade his subjects to raise their eyes in his presence. Alas for all secrets in Bali, the sharp eyes of a passing child espied him. The word was spread throughout the land of "Bedaulu", "He-Who-Changed-Heads".

In other versions of the story it is the Majapahit prime minister Gajah Mada who discovered that the king had a pig's head. Granted an audience, he asked to eat boiled ferns and drink from a spouted water pot. But to eat and drink he had to raise his head, thus discovering Bedaulu's bestial appearance. Scholars have a more prosaic theory for the origin of the name: formerly the name may have been Badahulu, or "(the village) up-stream".

Dalem Bedaulu was the last monarch of the Pejeng dynasty which fell in 1343 to Gajah Mada's forces from Java. Shortly thereafter a new ruling dynasty which owed allegiance to Majapahit was established at Samprangan, just east of Gianyar. A century later the capital was moved to Gelgel near Klungkung.

bedugul

2008-10-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

Bedugul / Ulundanu Temple

To reach the mountain range, you drive west from Denpasar through Mengwi. As you leave the southern plains, the landscape changes from flowing tiers of rice to motley patches of onion, cabbage and papaya grown in the cool climate of the highlands.

The clusters off arm houses along the way are no longer the familiar thatched huts of the south, but sturdy cottages made of wood and tile to withstand the steady downpour of heavy rains. This is rich alpine country. The earth, saturated by mountain streams, is smothered with thick moss and creepers. The road climbs and winds its way around steep cliffs hung with ferns, wild flowers and elephant grass..

In jungle terrain lies the serene lake of Bratan, veiled with mist. It fills the ancient crater of Mt. Bratan. Because the lake is an essential water source for surrounding farmlands, the people of Bedugul honor Dewl'tanu, goddess of the waters, in the temple UluDanu on a small promontory on the lake. One can stay overnight nearby at a rest house on the shore. It is peaceful and cool. Children fish for minnows and canoes cross the still waters, carrying firewood to villages on the further bank. Just near Bedugul is the market of Bukit Mungsu selling wild orchids and both temperate and tropical vegetables grown in the fertile soil here. Near the market are the botanical gardens. Lake Bratan is so lovely that it is easy to forget the surrounding forest-clad mountains. From the market a path leads through pine plantations up towards the primary jungle on the peaks. An old Dutch forestry house and the remains of a once extensive garden lie mysteriously within the forest. There is a small temple VWgh up, its walls carved with superb relief. On the road north of Bedugui, past the new international-standard golf course, the road rises along the lip of Lake Buyan, affording a clear view of the Bratan basin.

Batur

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Batur Temple

Batur temple or commonly called Ulun Danu Temple is situated at 900 meters above sea level of Kalanganyar, Batur village, Kintamani District on the eastern side of the main road leading to Denpasar or Singaraja Via Bangli.

The temple faced west ward where mount Batur and remains of its solidified black laves serve as backdrop and lake Batur stretches far down the slope, enchased the beauty to nature around the temple.

Formerly, before it is in its present location Batur temple is located on the south western slope of mount Batur.

Since the devastating eruption in 1917 which destroyed everything, including the temple its self, then initiated by the head of the village along with other prominent figures, they brought the surviving shrines with them and rebuilt Batur temple to the higher place at Kalanganyar on its present location.

The ceremony in this temple is held annually commonly called Ngusaba ke Dasa

In 1927,the people of Batur began rebuilding Pura Ulun Danu, the temple which once lay at the foot of the volcano. It was an ambitious project. The majority of the 285 planned shrines are yet to be completed. At present, the temple is finely and simply designed. Two august gateways, severe in contrast to the elaborate split gates of South Bali, open onto spacious courtyards laid with black gravel.

Rows of meru towers silhouette against the sky in full view of the smoking volcano. The bale gedong, a storehouse of precious relics, contains a bell of solid gold. As the story goes, the bell was presented to the treasury of the temple by a king of Singaraja in atonement for his having insulted the deities. The ritual in this temple is closely linked with the veneration of Lake Batur and supplication for the blessing of irrigation water. The mountain, lakes help regulate the flow of water to he fields find villages through the many natural springs lower down the slopes.

The Mythological Existence of ‘Kamulan Taksu’

2008-10-02T02:54:00.000-07:00

The Mythological Existence of ‘Kamulan Taksu’

The mythological existence resource of pelinggih Kamulan Taksu (sacred shrine/worshiping site of Hindus core family) was described in Lontar Medang Kemulan (manuscript) belonging to the late Jro Mangku from Bualu village, South Kuta Regency (Badung). At first, the way of that manuscript starting the story, Hyang Widhi Wasa (God the Almighty) creates Bhatara Kala and Manusa Tunggal in this universe – bhatara/dewa (deity) = holy light, Hyang Widi, kala = time, manusa tunggal = single human.

It is called Manusa Tunggal (the single human) because it is the only human and first human sprung by the God’s within this universe. The description in Lontar Medang Kemulan is quite different with Manawa Dharmasastra (I:32). In the sloka (couplet) of Manawa Dharmasastra, it declared that God creates man and woman in the same time, whereas it unexplained in Lontar Medang Kamulan about the gender of this Manusa Tunggal.
After that Manusa Tunggal growth, according to Lontar Medang Kemulan, he/she wants to know who is the creator of him/herself. He attends the question to Bhatara Kala – the only ‘mate’ that he/she found in this universe. “Oh, that is Sang Hyang Widhi who creates you,” said Bhatara Kala. “Can I meet with Hyang Widhi,” said Manusa Tunggal in crumpling voice, however Bhatara Kala could not dare to give any answer without any permission from Hyang Widhi.
In connection with the question, Bhatara Kala left Manusa Tunggal alone, and later on asking permission to Hyang Widhi, whether he can appeared with Manusa Tunggal. Sang Hyang Widhi permitted Manusa Tunggal to appear as long as he/she examined to test his/her pureness mind and soul.
The first exam, Bhatara Kala swallowed Manusa Tunggal wholly in life condition. Because both of them are created by God and bestowed of equal divine power and authority, Bhatara Kala could not swallow Manusa Tunggal. Each time Batara Kala swallows, Manusa Tunggal able to escape from the nine holes of Bhatara Kala, which are nose (2 holes), ears (2 holes), eyes (2 holes), mouth, bottom, and genital. Finally, Bhatara Kala reported the result to Hyang Widhi.
Bhatara Kala requested again by Hyang Widhi to retest the Manusa Tunggal’s sincerity. The next exam, Bhatara Kala transformed becomes a thick forest to make Manusa Tunggal lost in way. This exam did not work at all, because both of their power is equal. For seeing Bhatara Kala transform become a thick forest, then Manusa Tunggal transforming becomes a one-footed animal.
It is unexplainable for the name of that one-footed animal in Lontar Medang Kamulan. By it’s name of one-footed animal, it always falls in each way it stride, and always biting anything that it can reach, including the thick forest of Bhatara Kala transformation. Its mean, more often the one-footed animal falls, it will bite the whole forest.
Bhatara Kala with his thick forest is overwhelmed facing the Manusa Tunggal’s gnaws in the form of one-footed animal. For reason, Bhatara Kala returns on his shape and convey for his failed to Hyang Widhi. At last, Sang Hyang Widhi permits Manusa Tunggal to meet Him, but not at random. For that reason, Pelinggih Kamulan appeared as the gathering media between Manusa Tunggal with Hyang Widhi. The permit from Hyang Widhi is gained by Manusa Tunggal for succeeding to defeat Bhatara Kala in his kala’s figure and thick forest.
That is the chronicle concerning Pelinggih Kamulan that presented in mythological, which arranged or made by Hindus Resi (the priest) through imagination, in order that the common Hindus member can easily absorbed it. However, beyond the mythological chronicle contains of a deep and universal philosophy value. For example, the succeed of Manusa Tunggal reaching the God after defeating Bhatara Kala in the shape of kala and alas (thick forest.
Kala in Sanskrit mean time, whereas alas (forest) as the symbol of situation or space. The human life in earth restricted by time and space. For whom that able to manage the time and space well, they will escape from the time and space limited. They deserved to obtain the God’ bestowal. Because of that reason, try to utilize the time and space well, so the life will becomes more useable to apply dharma (goodness). They who manage the time and space well, will live in harmony in this real world (sekala) and will achieve for heaven in eternity world (niskala).
By then, the function of Palinggih Kamulan is the site for the ancestor spirit who achieve into the level of Dewa Pitara, as the symbolization of success by passing the unlimited time and space.

History

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Though no artifacts or records exist that would date Bali as far back as the Stone Age, it is thought that the very first settlers to Bali emigrated from China in 2500 BC, having created quite the evolved culture by the Bronze era, in around 300BC. This culture included a complex, effective irrigation system, as well as agriculture of rice, which is still used to this day.

Bali’s history remained vague for the first few centuries, though many Hindu artifacts have been found, which lead back to the first century, indicating a tie with that religion. Though it is strongly held that the first primary religion of Bali, discovered as far back as 500 AD, was Buddhism. Additionally, Yi-Tsing, a Chinese scholar who visited Bali in the year 670 AD stated that he had visited this place and seen Buddhism there.

By the 11th century, Hindu and Javanese influences became very important to Bali. In fact, when the Balinese Prince Airlanggha’s father died in about 1011 AD, he moved to East Java, uniting it under one principality and appointing his brother, Anak Wungsu, the ruler of all of Bali. Following this time, there were many reciprocal political and artistic ideas that formed. Javanese language, called Kawi, became the aristocracy’s preference, among other Javanese traits and customs that were worked into Bali life.

When Airlanggha died in the mid-11th century, Bali remained quite autonomous until 1284, when East Javanese king Kertanegara conquered Bali and ruled over it from his home in Java. Kertanegara was assassinated in 1292, and Bali was once again liberated, until 1343 when it was brought back into Javanese control by Hindu-Javanese general Gajah Mada, of the Majapahit empire.

At this time, the 16th century, Islam was spreading throughout Sumatra and Java, and the Majapahit Empire started to fall, creating a large exodus of aristocracy, priests, artists and artisans to Bali. This brought Bali great prosperity, becoming Bali’s golden age of cultural history for the following centuries. Bali soon became the major power of the region, taking control of its neighboring country, Lombok, as well as pieces of East Java.

In 1597, Dutch seamen were the first Europeans to land in Bali, though they had no true interest in Bali until the 1800’s. In 1846 the Dutch returned with colonization on their minds, having already had vast expanses of Indonesia under their control since the 1700’s. The Dutch sent troops into northern Bali, and by 1894, they had sided with the Sasak people of Lombok to defeat the Balinese. By 1911, all Balinese principalities were under Dutch control.

After World War I, a sense of Indonesian Nationalism began to grow, leading to the declaration of the national language in 1928, as Bahasa Indonesia. World War II brought the Japanese, who expelled the Dutch and occupied Indonesia from 1942 until 1945.

The Japanese were later defeated, and the Dutch returned to attempt to regain control of Bali and Indonesia. However, in 1945, Indonesia was declared independent by its very first president, Sukarno. The Dutch government ceded, and Indonesia was officially recognized as an independent country in 1949.

About Bali

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Even today, there is a certain magic about Bali. The longer one stays in the island, the more one is impressed by the many exquisite sights and the scores of talented and charming people one encounters. All the tourist hype aside, Bali truly is exceptional.The island of Bali indeed presents a modern paradox an ancient, traditional society that is still incredibly alive and vital. While the basic conservatism of the Balinese has enabled them to preserve many of their past achievement, it has never hindered the acceptance of new and innovative elements, whether home-grown or foreign.Bali is extraordinarily blessed by nature. Lying with narrow band of the tropics where wet and dry seasons fall roughly into balance. Geographically, Bali lies between the island of Java and Lombok. Bali is small, strethching approximately 140 km from east to west, and 80 km from north to south. The tallest of string of volcanic mountain that run from west to east Lying just 8-11 south of the equator, and a verage temperature annual 27 degres celcius. Bali is blessed with a wonderful climate , warm long the coast with white sand beaches, best game viewing with cool in mountain area. Bali has two season same like indonesia season, summer from April to October, Bali less rainfall on wet season from October to March. Mayority People In bali are Hindush The Balinese have strong spiritual roots and despite the large influx of tourist over the years, their culture is still very much live. The main religion is Hindu Dharma religion, and althought original from India, the Balinese religion in a unique blend of Hindu, Buddhist,Chinese, Javanese, and others religions make Balinese Universal Religions and different from the Hinduism practiced in India today. Laying between 8 and 9 degrees south the equator, Bali has a short, hot wet season and a longer cooler dry season. The mountains are wet year round, averaging 2500 to 3000 mm (100 to 120 inches) of rain annually with warm days and cool nights. The lowlands are hotter and drier, but fresh and persistent winds make the climate less oppressive than elsewhere in the equatorial zone.
The wet season lasts from November to March, and thought there are only five or six hours of sunshine a day, this is also the hottest time of year (30-31 C by day, 24-25 C at night). The dry season is from April to October, when southeasterly winds blow up from the cool Australian interior (28-29 C by day, and a pleasant 23 C at night) with seven or height hours of sunshine daily. The electricity generally runs at 220V – 240V AC. In some rural areas, the system still runs on 110V, and some remote areas do not have electricity at all. Power supply may be unstable. You may need a plug adaptor with two-pronged, parallel pins.

Going to Bali,dress casually. Take light clothes, as the weather is warm thoughout the year. When dressing, while you encouraged to be casual, remember to be decent. Remember that this is a land where prayer and religious festivals take center stage. When visiting a temple, make it a point to respect local custom and traditions. The Balinese have their own language, but almost all Balinese speak Bahasa Indonesia. English also widely used throughout the island. But certainly helps to know a few words or phareses in Indonesian. Bali is natural island, It have good water, clean no polluted cause there are no factory in Bali and they have very good rain forest for water supply. Don’t drink water direct thought tap water. Drink only distilled or mineral water, or water that has been boiled.

Try to get used the local food its sometimes unusual flavour.Every region in bali have a trademark food or special resepies baliness food for example in gianyar there is babi guling, klungkung With serombotan, Denpasar with Nasi Jinggo, Karangasem with Sate Languan...and there are many tradisional food. Street hawker and warung are where the true “ Flavour ” of Balinese food you can found. There are of course, also plenty of excellent restaurants serving both local and international dishes!.Bali is tropical island sun can be very harsh, and sunscreen, sunblock,sun hat and sun glasess are essential. Do remember your binoculars if going on safari. To ensure that you take the correct anti malaria altought Bali not Malaria Zone

COMUNICATION

Mail
Indonesia's postal service is reliable, if not terribly fast. Kilat (express) service is only slightly more expensive and much faster. Kilat khusus (domestic special delivery) will get there overnight. International express mail gets postcards and letters to North America or Europe in about 7 days from most cities.

Kantor pos (post offices) are found in every little village in Bali, open 8 am-2 pm every day except Sunday. The main post office in Denpasar (JI. Raya Puputan, Renon) or in Legian remains open until 8 pm. Most close from noon to 1 pm for lunch.
Poste Restante service is usually reliable, but it is advisable to choose more important towns such as Kuta or Ubud. Some post offices ask for ID and may also charge a fee before handing over your letters.

Telephone, Fax and internet

Long distance phone calls, both within Indonesia and international, are handled by satellite. Domestic long distance calls can be dialed from most phones. To dial your own international calls, find an IDD (International Direct Dial) phone and dial "001" or "008” otherwise you must go via the operator, which is far more expensive.

A magnetic debit (kartu telpon) phone card can be purchased at hotels, post offices and many other outlets. This is used on card phones, which are increasing in popularity, eliminating the need for small change.
International calls via MCI, Sprint, ATF, and the like can be made from IDD phones using the access code for your calling card company. Recently, special telephones have been installed in some airports with pre-programmed buttons to connect you via these companies to various countries.

Faxes can be sent and received at wartel offices and most main post offices.
E-mail and internet services are available at many wartel, the main post office and cyber cafes. Most tourist areas are dotted with internet cafes and services. Some are open 24 hours a day, but most open from 10 am until 10 pm. Usage rates vary and are independent on type and length of computer use, but they rarely unreasonable.Be sure to check your passport before leaving for Indonesia. You must have at least one empty page to be stamped upon arrival and the passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of arrival.
Since the 1st February 2004, a tourist visa is required except for the citizen from Brunei, Chile, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Macao, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey. Meanwhile, for Australian, Canada, USA and most of the European country such as France, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain… it is possible to obtain a tourist visa upon arrival it costs 25 USD (up to 30 days) and 10 USD (up to 3 days).
With this new regulation, to get a visa on arrival at the airport it takes a little bite longer so it is preferable to ask in your own country the visa from an Indonesian consulate before having your trip in Bali.
Upon arrival you will be given a white embarkation/disembarkation card to fill out. Keep this card with your passport, as you must present it when leaving the country.

Galungan Day

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Bali has been recognized for its rich cultural heritage that has their roots of Hinduism (especially Hindu Balinese). One of the most celebrated ceremonies is Galungan and Kuningan Days. Galungan always falls on the Wednesday in the week of Dungulan in the Balinese Wuku calendar. Mean while, Kuningan falls on the Saturday, ten days later.

On the Monday prior to Galungan, the women are frying up the rice cakes that are used in the offerings. Then, on Tuesday before Galungan there is the most tradition that hindush people make a tradional food such as Lawar and sate in the afternoon after they mad traditional food they decorated penjor. Penjor is a tower that made of bamboo this is symbolies of way for pry to the god that live in mountain.

In 2007, Galungan falls on June, 27 and Kuningan, on July, 7. Philosophically Galungan celebrates the victory of dharma (justice or truth) over adharma (injustice or deception). According to the legend, there was once lived an arrogant king named Maya Denawa from Bedulu in Bali’s mountainous interior.

Maya Denawa believed that he was more powerful than the gods, which angered Shiva. And so the god Indra was sent down to earth to kill him. A battle between god Indra’s troops and Maya Denawa’s troops are unavoidable. God Indra and his troops won the battle. People commemorate this victory as Galungan.

Transportation

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There are various ways you can explore the island:
Walk- Yes, the old, reliable feet. Recommended for, among other places, along the beaches, along the gardens of Nusa Dua, or along the shops of Legian, Kuta.

* Bicycles- There is a lot of places where you can rent bicycles.
* Motorcycles- Some hard-to-reach beach corners, hidden surfing sites, may not be reachable by car - motorcycles may be your best bet. Don't forget your international driver's license.
* Car Rentals/Hires- You can cover all of Bali comfortably with complete privacy and you set your own schedules. Rates start from around US$ 25 a day. Toyota Rent-A-Car can provide anything from a subcompact car to a luxurious Japanese sedan, with or without a driver. Don't forget your international driver's license if you want to drive.
* Taxis - are not expensive and you can hire by phone or find one almost everywhere.

Shopping in Bali is not simply walking into a shop, picking something from a shelf and paying for it. Shopping is an art. In every traditional market and art shop around Bali bargaining is a must. This traditional way makes shopping in Bali a fun time, where you can feel the warmth of human value in every transaction. Before you begin your shopping tour on this island, please obtain cash because most places do not accept credit cards.

Few places for shopping:
Batubulan, on the border of Denpasar and Gianyar, is the home of stone sculptures. You can find various kinds of style here, from traditional to modern, small to large. The craftsmen can make up your order and even arrange to ship it to your address back home.

This village of Bono is the home of bamboo. The villagers create furniture and mats from bamboo; they also make some articles from lontar leaf.

On the way to Ubud you'll pass Celuk, the place for gold and silver jewelry. The artisans in this area are well known for their quality and various designs. Huge art shops along the main road give you a chance to compare prices.

As the capital of Bali, Denpasar is the center of "market" activity for local people. The biggest traditional market stands near Badung's river, Kumbasari market. It can give you an insight into the traditional Indonesia market where local people do their daily shopping. Fruit, vegetables and meat can be found in the basement; on the second level is the place for spices and dried goods; while household wares, clothing, art and craft is on the third level. Here you can get a very good price if you're smart in bargaining. In the northern part is Gajahmada Street, where you can find handicrafts and some shoe shops and restaurants. In the eastern part is Sulawesi Street, the place for all kind of fabrics on its both sides with some shops providing household ware in between. The area here is very colorful with all types of material from the traditional 'songket' (cloth woven with strands of gold or silver) to modern day stretchy and shiny material. Why not buy your cloth by the meter and have a suit or dress made up by a local tailor. In the southern part is Hasanudin Street where you can see gold shops, selling jewelry to local people but, of course, the visitor is welcome to buy but please bargain. On the west Side of the market is the place for people to buy coconut leaf and ceremony supplies.

Kamasan, this village in Klungkung is popular with its own style of painting called Kamasan where a drawing is made in black ink then colored by natural pigments

Kuta as an international village almost all of the shops and restaurants here are for tourist market. You can find handicrafts, clothing, jewelry, CDs, furniture and leather crafts on each side of the road. But you can also see many street hawkers with their various offerings along the road. If you do not want to buy anything from them, do not make eye contact and do not ever look at their products, for if you do, they will follow you along the street and pester you to buy something

The shopping center in Sanur is on Jalan Danau Tamblingan where the situation is almost the same as Kuta but with very few hawkers. Many products are on offer in the shops and nice restaurants.

Sukawati, this area is popular because for its Art Market. If you ask Balinese where to find art and craft with the cheapest price, they will recommend Sukawati. Here you can find cloth, paintings and statue, jewelry and also Balinese ceremonial items.

Tegalalang: various woodcarvings can be found in this village and its neighbors. Very colorful carvings of flowers, animals and other designs are displayed along the road.

Ubud, this well-known village offers you fine arts with an international standard. Respected galleries such as Agung Rai, Sumertha, Rudana, Sika and Neka are recommended visiting as well as the big names of Hans Snel and Antonio Blanco

BALI

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Once a small, sleepy, hard scrabble fishing village Kuta woke up and smelled the money. This is Bali's premier beach area. You will either love the excitement of this unique and dynamic area where East meets West or not because of the noise and ever present street hawkers. Kuta today often refers to the entire area of what is really three separate villages (Kuta, Legian and Tuban) and is the main entertainment area for tourists - especially famous (and justly so) for its nightlife.
Kuta started to develop after it was "discovered" by Western surfers and backpackers some 40 years ago. As such Kuta still has a lot of inexpensive - but good - accommodation. Same goes for the restaurants and shops. However that being said, Kuta also has it share of fine, family oriented 3, 4 & 5 star hotels with many establishments being renovated and moving upscale. FYI, in order to remain objective, hotels are listed in alphabetical order. We don't Bali Handycraft provides many types of handicraft such as: natural leaves photo album, photo frame, address book, note book, wind chimes, drums in carving, full carving, painting, full painting, plain, airbrush and special alpine, abstract carving, Lombok handicrafts and many others.
We invite you to come to Bali-the major tourist destination. We will give our best products and services. We are willing to cooperate with importers, wholesalers, and distributor from all around the world. Bali is a place where arts, culture, religion, and people blend together to form harmony. This unique blend serves as a root for the creation of what has developed and grown into a truly wonderful arts and crafts industry.Indonesian handicrafts have continued to gain in popularity over the years. They have earned a dominant place in the highly competitive international giftware and furnishings market place. Millions of dollars of handicrafts are now being exported all over the globe annually to gift shops, supermarkets, department stores, wholesalers, importers and distributors. Bali handicraft industry has thrived and it now provides employment and business opportunities for quite literally thousands of people. In addition to providing a livelihood for those in the handicraft industry, it has given a big boost to the economy. To appreciate how the handicraft industry functions and provides a living for so many people, you have to go off into the hills, far off the beaten track. You will find Balinese communities who are working hard turning bits of wood, bamboo, metal, leaves, and clay into truly amazing and marketable products.favor any hotel for any reason.

water sport in bali

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The Kuta to Legian stretch of the beach is the most obvious place to start surfing tour. Being the historical home of surfing in Bali, it is the most popular surfing destination for a both beginner and experience surfer. These wave can be very large, and often strong undercurrent,althought the condition may appear to be fine caution should be exercise at all time. You can go to surfing school here, hire board or just sit bac and enjoy watching the great number of surfer.
Snorkeling
Imagine floating along, your weightless body undulating in the tepid ocean current as green sea turtles go about their business nibbling at algae on coral reefs,! Watch milletseed butterfly fish as they dart about in perfect sparkling unison or follow brilliantly colored parrotfish meandering through a fluid neighborhood as you hear the whistles of dolphins and song of whales in the background (OK, at least the snapping of cleaner shrimp!). Come, stick your head in the water, and broaden your subaqeous horizons in a mermaid's playground... Parasailing Parasailing o is one of the most beautiful sites you will ever encounter. Parasailing adventures for the whole family can make your Beach vacation memories last forever. When you parasail from our state of the art Parasail vessel you can take off and land gently from the back of the boat, what we call the “flight deck”. Pair up with a buddy and fly together. Take a refreshing dip into the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico if you wish or stay dry; the choice is yours. Cruise the skies in serene bliss and then dare to take a free-fall which simulates a parachute drop – it’s all up to you! Take a brisk morning flight, if you want to get a tan catch some Florida afternoon rays, or reserve early for the magnificent sunset flights. We open at 9 a.m. and fly until dusk, weather permitting.

History of Bali

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Bali’s history remained vague for the first few centuries, though many Hindu artifacts have been found, which lead back to the first century, indicating a tie with that religion. Though it is strongly held that the first primary religion of Bali, discovered as far back as 500 AD, was Buddhism. Additionally, Yi-Tsing, a Chinese scholar who visited Bali in the year 670 AD stated that he had visited this place and seen Buddhism there.

By the 11th century, Hindu and Javanese influences became very important to Bali. In fact, when the Balinese Prince Airlanggha’s father died in about 1011 AD, he moved to East Java, uniting it under one principality and appointing his brother, Anak Wungsu, the ruler of all of Bali. Following this time, there were many reciprocal political and artistic ideas that formed. Javanese language, called Kawi, became the aristocracy’s preference, among other Javanese traits and customs that were worked into Bali life.

When Airlanggha died in the mid-11th century, Bali remained quite autonomous until 1284, when East Javanese king Kertanegara conquered Bali and ruled over it from his home in Java. Kertanegara was assassinated in 1292, and Bali was once again liberated, until 1343 when it was brought back into Javanese control by Hindu-Javanese general Gajah Mada, of the Majapahit empire.

At this time, the 16th century, Islam was spreading throughout Sumatra and Java, and the Majapahit Empire started to fall, creating a large exodus of aristocracy, priests, artists and artisans to Bali. This brought Bali great prosperity, becoming Bali’s golden age of cultural history for the following centuries. Bali soon became the major power of the region, taking control of its neighboring country, Lombok, as well as pieces of East Java.

In 1597, Dutch seamen were the first Europeans to land in Bali, though they had no true interest in Bali until the 1800’s. In 1846 the Dutch returned with colonization on their minds, having already had vast expanses of Indonesia under their control since the 1700’s. The Dutch sent troops into northern Bali, and by 1894, they had sided with the Sasak people of Lombok to defeat the Balinese. By 1911, all Balinese principalities were under Dutch control.

After World War I, a sense of Indonesian Nationalism began to grow, leading to the declaration of the national language in 1928, as Bahasa Indonesia. World War II brought the Japanese, who expelled the Dutch and occupied Indonesia from 1942 until 1945.

The Japanese were later defeated, and the Dutch returned to attempt to regain control of Bali and Indonesia. However, in 1945, Indonesia was declared independent by its very first president, Sukarno. The Dutch government ceded, and Indonesia was officially recognized as an independent country in 1949.