Bali – places to visit when you are here. by Max Demenchuk

BALI PLACES TO VISIT WHEN YOU ARE HERE

MaxD

BONDALEM BEACH CLUB - PLACE OF YOUR DREAM. STILL QUITE, STILL SECLUDED, SMALL BUT COMFORTABLE, ALWAYS FRIENDLY, BEACHFRONT, RELAXING, AMAZING. NO DOUBT THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR VACATION ON THE NORTH BALI. LOCATED IN BONDALEM VILLAGE – SMALL FISHING VILLAGE NESTLED IN THE AREA OF COCONUT AND RAMBUTAN PLANTATIONS ON THE NORTH BALI. HERE YOU WILL STILL FIND PEOPLE LIVING A TRADITIONAL LIFE, REACH IN RURAL CULTURAL EVENTS, TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES. BONDALEM IS LOCATED ABOUT 1.5 HOUR DRIVE FROM UBUD AND 2.5 HOUR DRIVE FROM THE SOUTH OF BALI. UNDERWATER WORLD IN THIS AREA IS BEAUTIFUL AND THERE IS A CORAL REEF ALONGSIDE THE COASTAL LINE.

YEH MAMPEH WATERFALL THIS WATERFALL LOCATED AWAY FROM USUAL TOURIST TRAIL BUT MEANWHILE IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST WATERFALLS IN BALI. AS IT IS LARGELY UNVISITED BY TOURISTS, IT IS TOTALLY UNSPOILED. THIS WATERFALL CASCADES DOWN INTO A REFRESHING SHOWER – DO NOT MISS YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE A GOOD MASSAGE OFFERED TO YOU BY NATURE. TO REACH IT YOU HAVE TO WALK ABOUT 20 MINUTES ALONG A PATH TAKING YOU THROW FARMLANDS, WHICH GROW PAPAYA, PINEAPPLES, JACKFRUIT AND MANY OTHER TROPICAL FRUITS. HIDDEN FROM THE EYES OF THE COMMON TOURIST, A SERIES OF SMALLER UPPER LEVEL WATERFALLS AND WATER POOLS EXIST BEYOND THE DROP-DOWN LINE OF THE VISIBLE GROUND LEVEL WATERFALL. LACKING EASY ACCESS TO THESE UPPER LEVEL WATERFALLS, THIS NATURAL SECRET HAS DODGED COMMERCIAL EXPOSURE AND HAS SURPRISED THE FEW LUCKY PEOPLE WHO PASS BY. WHEN VISITING THE UPPER WATERFALL AREA MAKE SURE TO USE A TOURIST GUIDE TO REACH THE TOP SAFELY. THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS WATERFALL LAYS ALSO IN ITS MODERATE WATER FLOW, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ENJOY AN AQUA MASSAGE UNDERNEATH IT.

PYRAMID SALT PRODUCTION

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SALT CRYSTALS IN THE FORM OF A 4 SIDED HOLLOW PYRAMID? FOR REASONS UNKNOWN AND UNDER ONLY CERTAIN CONDITIONS, WHAT THE BALINESE REFER TO AS "TAKSU", THE SALT CRYSTALS FORM HOLLOW PYRAMIDS AS THE WATER EVAPORATES. IT IS TRULY A MAGICAL PROCESS AND ONE THAT CANNOT BE MANIPULATED OR REPLICATED. IT SIMPLY HAPPENS WHEN NATURE DEEMS IT APPROPRIATE

TULAMBEN SNORKELING/DIVING THE USAT LIBERTY SHIPWRECK IS BALI'S PREMIER DIVE SITE, BUT THE BEAUTY OF THIS HISTORICAL WWII CASUALTY IS THAT IT LIES ON ONLY 3 METERS, MEANING IT CAN BE SNORKELLED FROM THE SURFACE. ONE CAN WITNESS AN ANEMONE FISH, LIONFISH, SCORPION FISH, MORAY EELS AND SCHOOLS OF BRIGHTLY COLOURED HARLEQUIN SWEETLIPS, EITHER HIDING OUT OR SWIMMING OPENLY AROUND THE WRECK. THE DARK VOLCANIC SANDY BOTTOM ONLY ADDS TO THE MYSTERY OF THIS SHIPWRECK, MAKING IT A UNIQUE SNORKELLING ADVENTURE - OH AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THOSE BLUE SPOTTED STINGRAYS, THEY LIKE TO BURY THEMSELVES BENEATH THE SAND.

CHARLIE CHOCOLATE FABRIQUE

KNOWN ONLY BY LIMITED NUMBER OF VISITORS THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO VISIT. YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T EXPECT TO FIND A CHOCOLATE FACTORY ON A REMOTE BEACH IN BALI, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT CHARLIE'S CHOCOLATE FACTORY IN KARANGASEM IS. LOCATED JUST 15 MINUTES NORTH OF CANDIDASA IN THE SMALL VILLAGE OF JASRI, SEVERAL WACKY BAMBOO STRUCTURES LIE NESTLED BELOW SWAYING COCONUT TREES. THE FACTORY WAS BUILT BY A US EXPAT NAMED WHAT ELSE BUT, CHARLIE. COCOA BEANS GROWN LOCALLY ON THE ISLAND ARE COLD PRESSED TO MAKE HEALTHY, RAW, DARK CHOCOLATE. THEY PRODUCE DELICIOUS DARK CHOCOLATE OF TWO SORTS AS WELL AS COCONUT PALM SYRUP, TROPICAL MAPLE SYRUP. THE CHOCOLATE IS RICH IN MAGNESIUM AND FULL OF ANTI-OXIDANTS. THERE'S ALSO A SMALL SOAP STUDIO THAT SELLS GORGEOUS HANDMADE SOAPS. DEFINITELY, WORTH VISITING IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA.

TIRTA GANGGA WATER PALACE TIRTAGANGGA, MEANING HOLY WATER OF THE GANGES IN BALINESE, IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S ROMANTIC GARDENS OUT OF TIME. GUSHING SPRINGS FLOWING FROM BENEATH AN ANCIENT BANYAN TREE AND HOLY TEMPLE FILL THE MYRIAD REFLECTING AND SWIMMING POOLS THAT GRACE THE WATER PALACE. THE PROMINENT 11 TIERED LOTUS FOUNTAIN HAS BECOME THE SYMBOL FOR TIRTAGANGGA SINCE ITS CREATION BY THE LATE RAJA OF KARANGASEM IN 1948. AFTER A TOUR TO THE VERSAILLES PALACE IN FRANCE, THE RAJA WAS INSPIRED TO CREATE HIS SECOND WATER PALACE IN THE MOUNTAINS OVERLOOKING HIS KINGDOM. THE WATERS OF THE HOLY SPRING HAVE BEEN PRAISED BY ISLAND HEALERS FOR THEIR HEALING AND YOUTH GIVING POWERS. THUS, THE RAJA NAMED THEM AFTER THE HOLY RIVER GANGES IN INDIA, WHICH IS FAMOUS FOR THESE QUALITIES. IT IS SAID, THAT IF YOU TAKE BATH IN THE WATERS OF TIRTAGANGGA ON THE FULL MOON, YOU WOULD BE BLESSED WITH LASTING YOUTH AND ANY ILLNESSES WOULD BE HEALED. TIRTAGANGGA IS THE "FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH" OF BALI.

WHITE SAND BEACH PANTAI PUTIH (WHITE SAND BEACH) IS SET ABOUT A 20-MINUTE DRIVE NORTH FROM CANDIDASA ON BALI’S EASTERN COAST. IT’S ONE OF THOSE HIDDEN AWAY BEACHES THAT GETS A MENTION IN MOST GUIDEBOOKS BUT FEW PEOPLE EVER ACTUALLY BOTHER GETTING TO IT BECAUSE IT INVOLVES A BIT OF TRAVELLING TO REACH. TRULY SPEAKING THE SAND HERE IS NOT WHITE. IT IS CLOSER TO WHITE THAN YELLOW, AND WE ASSUME IT’S CALLED “WHITE SAND BEACH” BECAUSE “CLOSER TO WHITE THAN YELLOW SAND BEACH” IS A BIT OF A MOUTHFUL — BUT IT ISN’T WHITE. STILL IT IS A LOVELY BEACH WITH SUPER FINE SQUEAKY SAND.

GOA LAWAH (BAT CAVE) PURA GOA LAWAH (THE BAT CAVE TEMPLE) IS ONE OF THE ISLAND'S NINE SPECIAL SAD KAHYANGAN TEMPLES, AND AS SUCH, IT IS THE DESIGNATED HOLY PLACE TO HONOUR THE GOD MAHESWARA WHO RESIDES IN THIS SECTION OF THE ISLAND. THE GOA LAWAH TEMPLE IS SITUATED ON A SLIGHT EMBANKMENT AND THE NAME IS DERIVED FROM THE THOUSANDS BATS THAT ARE LIVING AT THE CEILING AND WALLS OF THE CAVE. THE CAVE IS ALSO SAID TO LEAD ALL THE WAY TO PURA GOA IN BESAKIH, SOME 30 KM AWAY, BUT NOBODY IN RECENT TIMES HAS VOLUNTEERED TO CONFIRM THIS, SINCE THE FRUIT BATS PROVIDE SUSTENANCE FOR THE LEGENDARY GIANT SNAKE, NAGA BASUKI, WHICH IS ALSO BELIEVED TO LIVE IN THE CAVE. THIS ANCIENT REPTILE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE CARETAKER OF THE EARTH'S EQUILIBRIUM, A BELIEF THAT STEMS FROM PRE-HINDU ANIMISM.

BALI SAFARI AND MARINE PARK HOME TO HUNDREDS AMAZING ANIMALS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 60 SPECIES, INCLUDING SOME OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES. BALI SAFARI AND MARINE PARK FEATURES THE FOLLOWING EXHIBITS FEATURING SUMATRAN ELEPHANT, SUMATRAN TIGER, WHITE TIGER, LEOPARD, KOMODO DRAGON AND CHEETAH ARE JUST SOME OF THE FASCINATING CREATURES THAT CAN BE SEEN AT THE BALI SAFARI AND MARINE PARK.

GOA GAJAH (ELEPHANT CAVE) AT THE FACADE OF THE CAVE IS A RELIEF OF VARIOUS MENACING CREATURES AND DEMONS CARVED RIGHT INTO THE ROCK AT THE CAVE ENTRANCE. THE PRIMARY FIGURE WAS ONCE THOUGHT TO BE AN ELEPHANT, HENCE THE NICKNAME ELEPHANT CAVE. THE SITE IS MENTIONED IN THE JAVANESE POEM DESAWARNANA WRITTEN IN 1365. AN EXTENSIVE BATHING PLACE ON THE SITE WAS NOT EXCAVATED UNTIL THE 1950. THESE PLACE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN BUILT TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS.

TAMAN UJUNG SUKASADA TAMAN UJUNG SUKASADA IS OLD HERITAGE PARK OF KARANGASEM KINGDOM IN THE ERA OF DUTCH COLONIAL. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL HISTORICAL SITE FEATURED BY THE OLD TRADITIONAL BUILDING DESIGNED BY THE EUROPEAN STYLE SET ON THE HUGE FISHPOND SURROUNDED BY THE TROPICAL AMBIENCE. IT IS A HUGE PARK FORMERLY USED BY THE KARANGASEM’S KING FOR REST AND REFRESHING FROM HIS DAILY DUTIES IN PALACE. IT IS STRATEGICALLY SET ON THE COASTAL SIDE WITH FRESH SEA BREEZE FLOWS TO COVER THE ENTIRE PARK AREA AND IT IS AN IDEAL PLACE TO VISIT.

MAS VILLAGE MAS VILLAGE IS ONE OF VILLAGES IN BALI FUNDAMENTALLY IDENTIFIED AS AN ARTISTIC COUNTRYSIDE BY FOCUSING IN ARTISTIC OF WOODCARVING. MAS VILLAGE IS LOCATED IN UBUD SUB DISTRICT. IT OWNS THE TYPICAL STYLE OF WOOD CARVING ART BY PLACING FORWARD THE DISTINGUISH SYNERGY OF HUMANISM AND NATURALISM. THE VILLAGE'S POPULARITY AS AN ART VILLAGE IS FAMOUS IN THE NATIONAL AND WORLD LEVEL. HERE YOU CAN VISIT WOOD CARVING GALERIES TO SEE THE REAL PIECES OF ART AND ALSO SMALL WORKSHOPS WHERE YOU CAN BARGAIN FOR SOUVENIERS.

UBUD VILLAGE UBUD IS A REMARKABLE TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ISLAND. FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, IT HAS BEEN THE ISLAND'S PREEMINENT CENTRE FOR FINE ARTS, DANCE AND MUSIC. THIS PLACE IS IS SURROUNDED BY MOST OF THE THINGS THAT BRING PEOPLE TO BALI - SCENIC RICE FIELDS, SMALL VILLAGES, ART AND CRAFT COMMUNITIES, ANCIENT TEMPLES, PALACES, RIVERS. UBUD IS WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR GALLERY OF ARTS BOTH WOOD CARVINGS, PAINTING, MUSIC AND DANCES

TEGALALANG RICE TERRACES ONE OF THE FAMOUS TOURIST OBJECTS IN BALI SITUATED IN TEGALALANG VILLAGE NORTH OF UBUD FEATURED BY THE AMAZING RICE TERRACES SET ON THE CLIFF. TEGALALANG VILLAGE IS LOCATED 600 M ABOVE SEA LEVEL, COVERED BY GOOD TEMPERATURE WHERE MOST OF THE VILLAGERS ARE RICE FARMERS. IT OFFERS THE STUNNING VIEW OF RICE TERRACES THAT CAN BE SEEN RIGHT FROM THE MAIN ROAD FROM KINTAMANI TO UBUD.

PURA GUNUNG KAWI GUNUNG KAWI IS A NAME OF PLACE LOCATED IN TAMPAKSIRING DISTRICT, FAMOUS WITH THE ANCIENT RELICS INCLUDING THE OLD TEMPLE WHICH LOOKS LIKE A TOMBSTONE, HINDU TEMPLE AND AN ANCIENT MINIATURE OF OLD BALINESE LIVING CONCEPT MADE FROM THE STONES. THE COMPLEX OF ANCIENT RELICS FROM THE PRIMORDIAL ERA IS LOCATED BESIDE OF SMALL RIVER WITH RICE TERRACE SURROUND IT. THE GREEN PANORAMIC VIEWS OF RICE FIELD WITH THE BREEZE OF TROPICAL ATMOSPHERE ARE THE ADDITIONAL ADMIRATION OF THIS TOURIST DESTINATION..

KINTAMANI KINTAMANI - A HILL VILLAGE SITUATED ONE THOUSAND METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL FEATURED BY PANORAMIC VIEW OF BATUR VOLCANO AND BATUR LAKE. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE ONE CAN ENJOY COOL TEMPERATURES, HAVE A STOP FOR LUNCH IN ONE OF MANY RESTAURANTS AND CAFES LOCATED HERE.

CELUK VILLAGE CELUK VILLAGE IS A TRADITIONAL VILLAGE FAMOUS WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES CREATIVELY CREATES THE BEAUTIFUL HANDICRAFT MADE FROM SILVER AND GOLD. THE VARIETY OF BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE GOLD AND SILVER ARE EASILY FOUND ALONG THE STREET THROUGH THIS VILLAGE AND THIS VILLAGE IS ONE OF THE TRADITIONAL VILLAGES APPOINTED AS TOURIST DESTINATION IN BALI.

BALI BIRDS PARK

FIND YOURSELF AT THE BALI BIRD PARK TO WITNESS THE LARGEST AND FINEST COLLECTION OF INDONESIAN BIRDS IN THE WORLD PLUS FANTASTIC BIRDS FROM AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA. ENCOMPASSING TWO HECTARES OF BOTANICAL LANDSCAPE, THE PARK PROVIDES SANCTUARY TO ALMOST 1000 BIRDS OF 250 DIFFERENT SPECIES.

UBUD MONKEY FOREST THE UBUD MONKEY FOREST IS A NATURE RESERVE AND TEMPLE COMPLEX LOCATED IN THE CENTRE OF UBUD. TREAT THE MONKEYS WITH RESPECT AND BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR BELONGINGS. THE MONKEYS THERE WILL INVARIABLY APPROACH YOU AND TRY TO GRAB ANY BAGS CONTAINING FOOD. THEY MAY ALSO GRAB BAGS NOT CONTAINING FOOD.

PURA TAMAN AYUN IN MENGWI THE ROYAL TEMPLE OF MENGWI IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TEMPLES IN BALI. BUILT IN 1634 BY A KING OF THE MENGWI DYNASTY. THIS IMPRESSIVE COMPLEX STANDS ON AN ISLAND IN A RIVER, ITS INNER TEMPLE SURROUNDED BY A MOAT. ITS BALINESE NAME PURA TAMAN AYUN LITERALLY MEANS ‘GARDEN TEMPLE IN THE WATER’. PART OF A NETWORK OF DIRECTIONAL TEMPLES THAT PROTECT BALI FROM EVIL SPIRITS, PURA TAMAN AYUN WAS BUILT AS A SERIES OF GARDEN TERRACES WITH COURTYARDS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS. THE ENTIRE COMPLEX WAS DESIGNED TO SYMBOLIZE THE MYTHOLOGICAL HOME OF THE GODS, MOUNT MERU, FLOATING IN THE SEA OF ETERNITY. AN ELEVEN-TIERED MERU IS DEDICATED TO THE RICE GODDESS DEWI SRI. THE BALE ON THE LEFT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ABODE OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT GODS

CARAT WATERFALL CARAT WATERFALL OR JUG SHAPED LIKE CARATAN ANCIENT PLACE OF DRINKING WATER, BECAUSE OF IT THE WATERFALL IS NAMED CARAT. CARAT WATERFALL IS STILL COMPLETELY NATURAL, HAS NOT GOT A TOUCH OF TOURISM AT ALL. AT THE LOCATION OF THE WATERFALL THERE ARE TWO WATERFALLS, SMALL AND LARGE. SMALL WATERFALL HAS A HEIGHT OF ONLY ABOUT 4 M. UNDERNEATH THERE IS A POOL THAT IS NOT TOO DEEP AND CAN BE USED FOR WATER PLAY OR BATH. AS FOR THE LARGE WATERFALL, IT HAS A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 100 M SURROUNDED BY HIGH AND STEEP CLIFFS. IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO WALK TO THE WATERFALL FROM THE ROAD. CONDITIONS FOOTPATH IS QUITE STEEP, ROCKY AND WINDING.

AGRICULTURAL TOUR

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TRY TO FIND MORE ABOUT THE NATURAL LIFE OF LOCALS, TRY TO PLANT RICE BY YOURSELF IN SUDAJI VILLAGE OR TAKE PART IN COCONUT PICK UP IN TEMBOK VILLAGE

GIT-GIT WATERFALL GITGIT WATERFALL IS ONE OF THE FAMOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN BALI WHICH IS LOCATED 10 KM FROM SINGARAJA TOWN. IT IS SET AT HEIGHT LAND ABOUT 300 METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL. IT IS A REFRESHING EXPERIENCE TO WALK IN THIS QUIET AREA WHERE THE BIRDS TAKE TURNS TO SING. THE AIR IS COOL AND GRADUALLY GETS COLDER AS YOU APPROACH THE WATERFALL. A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE WATERFALL, THE FINE WATER SPRAY WILL COOL YOUR BODY. SOMETIMES THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME MISTY. THE WATERFALL DROPS FROM A HEIGHT OF 50 METERS AND THE WATER COMES FROM A ROUND CAVE. THE CAVE IS A NATURAL UNDERGROUND WATERWAY THAT CARRIES WATER FROM THE BULELENG RIVER TO GITGIT. THIS WATERFALL IS WORTH VISITING. IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO ADMIRE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AMID TRANQUIL SURROUNDINGS

SEKUMPUL WATERFALL LOCATED NOT FAR FROM GITGIT WATERFALL AND HERE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE, NOT ONLY ONE WATERFALL BUT ALSO 6 WATERFALLS THAT SEPARATE BY DENSE OF FOREST. THIS IS WAY IT’S CALLED SEKUMPUL WATERFALLS, SEKUMPUL MEAN GROUP. IF YOU NEED TO REACH THE WATERFALL AND FEEL THE WATER, YOU NEED TO GET DOWN A SLOPE AND CROSS THE RIVER. WHEN YOU REACH THE WATERFALL, THAN YOU WILL REALIZE THE REASONS WHY THIS WATERFALL SAID AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL IN BALI. IT HAS HIGH ABOUT 80 METERS

BRAHMA VIHARA ARAMA THE BUDDHIST TEMPLE IS SITUATED IN THE HILLS ABOVE LOVINA AND OFFERS NICE VIEWS. IN THE 6TH CENTURY BUDDHIST MONKS SUPPOSED TO HAVE LANDED AND SETTLED IN THE NORTH OF BALI, AND THE HINDU RELIGION OF BALI HAS A LOT OF BUDDHIST INFLUENCE. THIS BUDDHIST TEMPLE IS NOT A TOURIST TRAP, ENTRANCE IS FREE, BUT DONATIONS ARE WELCOME. BRAHMAVIHARA ARAMA WAS FOUNDED IN 1958 AND EXPANDED IN 1970. THE AREA OF THE MONASTERY HAS VIPASANA SPACE THAT CAN BE USED BY ANYONE WISHING TO DO MEDITATION ENLIGHTENMENT. FIVE STUPAS OF FAMOUS BOROBUDUR CHARACTERISTIC CAN BE FOUND THERE.

BEDUGUL AND PURA ULUN DANU BEDUGUL IS THE NAME USED TO COVER A LARGE AREA OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF BALI AROUND THE VILLAGES OF BEDUGUL ITSELF, CANDIKUNING, PANCASARI, PACUNG AND WANAGIRI (AMONGST OTHERS). THIS IS AN AREA OF GREAT NATURAL BEAUTY. THE FOCUS POINT OF THE AREA CENTRES ON THE THREE CRATER LAKES OF BRATAN, BUYAN AND TAMBLINGAN, AND THE NEARBY BOTANICAL GARDENS. THE WHOLE AREA IS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 700 METRES OR MORE, WITH THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS ABOVE 2,000 METRES, AND IT CAN BE DISTINCTLY CHILLY HERE. PURA ULUN DANU BRATAN, OR PURA BRATAN, IS THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT TEMPLE IN BALI AFTER THE MOTHER TEMPLE BESAKIH. THE TEMPLE IS FOUND ON THE SHORES OF DANAU BRATAN (LAKE BRATAN) IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR BEDUGUL. THE TEMPLE WAS BUILT IN 1926 AND IS DEDICATED TO DEWI BATARI ULUN DANU, GODDESS OF LAKES AND RIVERS.

TAMBLINGAN LAKE AS ONE NATURAL TOURIST ATTRACTION, LAKE TAMBLINGAN IS NOT DEVELOPED IN THE DIRECTION OF MODERN TOURISM IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF THIS PLACES NOT ONLY ITS NATURAL CHARM, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE MANY TEMPLES, THAT STORES THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE OF BALI, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TAMBLINGAN VILLAGE.

BUYAN LAKE BUYAN LAKE IS A SMALLEST LAKE IN BALI LOCATED JUST A NEXT DOOR OF TAMBLINGAN LAKE. IT IS LOCATED IN THE PLATEAU AREA WITH COOL WEATHER COVER IT. IT IS SITUATED IN THE HIGH LAND WITH HILL AND RAIN FOREST SURROUNDS IT. SINCE THE LOCATION IN THE PLATEAU AREA, THE FOG IS USUALLY BLANKETING THE AREA. THIS LAKE CAN BE SEEN FROM THE TOP OF HILL, WHICH IS CALLED ASAH GOBLEG. ASAH GOBLEG ITSELF IS THE NAME OF THE AGRICULTURAL VILLAGE LOCATED ON THE TOP. BUYAN LAKE OWN THE BROADNESS ABOUT 3,9 KM, WITH THE MAXIMUM OF DEEPNESS 87 METERS. AS A TOURIST DESTINATION, BUYAN LAKE CAN BE SEEN FROM ASAH GOBLEG VILLAGE AND IT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE THE STOP POINT WITH TRADITIONAL CHAIR ALONG THE ROAD.

MOUNT BATUR MOUNT BATUR IS ACTUALLY JUST A SMALL VOLCANO, BUT ITS SETTING IS IN THE HEART OF A HUGE CRATER 14KM IN DIAMETER. ADJACENT TO THE VOLCANO IS THE LARGE CRESCENT-SHAPED BATUR LAKE, ALL SURROUNDED BY THE HIGH WALLS OF THE CRATER RIM. THE SHEER SIZE OF THE CRATER CONJURES UP IMAGES OF THE MASSIVE ERUPTION OF THE ORIGINAL MOUNT BATUR THAT OCCURRED TENS OF THOUSANDS YEARS AGO. THE VOLCANO IS STILL ACTIVE TODAY. ITS ERUPTIONS FORCED THE LOCAL POPULATION TO BE RELOCATED, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OF THEIR TEMPLES INCLUDING ONE OF THE MAIN BALI TEMPLES, PURA ULUN DANU. INITIALLY INSIDE THE HUGE CRATER, THIS TEMPLE HAS BEEN RELOCATED TO THE TOP OF THE RIDGE OVERLOOKING IT.

MOUNT BATUR CLIMBING TAKE A SUNRISE TREK TO THE SUMMIT OF MT.BATUR (1717 METERS) AND EXPERIENCE THE AWESOME BEAUTY OF AN ACTIVE VOLCANO. TWO HOURS TREKKING IN THE COOL, EARLY MORNING DARKNESS TO ARRIVE IN TIME TO WITNESS A GLORIOUS SUNRISE AND EXPERIENCE THE STUNNING MORNING VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING CRATER AND LAKE.

MOUNT AGUNG MOUNT AGUNG OR GUNUNG AGUNG IS A STRATOVOLCANO AND THE HIGHEST POINT ON THE ISLAND. IT DOMINATES THE SURROUNDING AREA, INFLUENCING THE CLIMATE. THE CLOUDS COME FROM THE WEST AND AGUNG TAKES THEIR WATER SO THAT THE WEST IS LUSH AND GREEN AND THE EAST DRY AND BARREN. THE BALINESE BELIEVE THAT MOUNT AGUNG IS A REPLICA OF MOUNT MERU, THE CENTRAL AXIS OF THE UNIVERSE. ONE LEGEND HOLDS THAT THE MOUNTAIN IS A FRAGMENT OF MERU BROUGHT TO BALI BY THE FIRST HINDUS. THE MOST IMPORTANT TEMPLE ON BALI, PURA BESAKIH, IS LOCATED HIGH ON THE SLOPES OF GUNUNG AGUNG. GUNUNG AGUNG LAST ERUPTED IN 1963-1964 AND IS STILL ACTIVE, WITH A LARGE AND VERY DEEP CRATER, WHICH OCCASIONALLY BELCHES SMOKE AND ASH. FROM A DISTANCE, THE MOUNTAIN APPEARS TO BE PERFECTLY CONICAL, DESPITE THE EXISTENCE OF THE LARGE CRATER. FROM THE PEAK OF THE MOUNTAIN, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEE THE PEAK OF MOUNT RINJANI ON THE LOMBOK ISLAND, ALTHOUGH BOTH MOUNTAINS ARE FREQUENTLY COVERED IN CLOUDS. .

MOUNT AGUNG CLIMBING THIS ADVENTURE SUITS ONLY FOR EXPERIENCED HIKERS, CLIMBERS AND THOSE WHO ARE SURE ABOUT THEIR GOOD HEALTH CONDITION. THERE ARE SEVERAL CLIMBING ROUTES: FROM BESAKIH (WEST). THIS IS A DEMANDING CLIMB STARTING CLOSE TO BESAKIH TEMPLE. THE ASCENT WILL TAKE ABOUT 6 TO 7 HOURS AND ENDS AT THE VERY HIGHEST POINT OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE FINAL HOUR OR SO IS EXCEPTIONALLY DEMANDING, OFTEN REQUIRING ASCENT ON ALL FOURS. A SENSIBLE START TIME IS ABOUT 11PM, SO THAT YOU ARRIVE AT THE TOP BEFORE DAWN AND WAIT FOR THE SUNRISE. ALLOW AS LONG TO GET DOWN AS IT TOOK YOU TO GET UP. FROM PURA PASAR AGUNG (SOUTH). A THREE TO FOUR HOUR CLIMB IN WHICH TIME YOU ASCEND ABOUT 2,000 METRES. NOT AS STIFF AS THE BESAKIH ROUTE. THE ROUTE ENDS ABOUT 100 METERS BELOW THE ACTUAL SUMMIT, BUT THE VIEWS ARE STILL EXCELLENT IN ALL DIRECTIONS, AS WELL AS DOWN INTO THE ACTUAL CRATER. A SENSIBLE START TIME WOULD BE ABOUT 2:30 AM, AGAIN WITH AIM OF REACHING THE PEAK JUST BEFORE DAWN. ONLY EXPERIENCED PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW THIS ROAD. FROM DUKU BUJANGGA SAKTI (NORTH). A SELDOM-USED ROUTE BUT ONE, WHICH IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR LESS EXPERIENCED TREKKERS, AND THE SLIGHTLY LESS PHYSICALLY FIT. THE ASCENT STARTS AT 300 METERS AND INVOLVES AN OVERNIGHT CAMP AT 1,700 METERS, BEFORE THE FINAL ASCENT IN THE PRE-DAWN HOURS THE FOLLOWING DAY. THIS ROUTE ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO WALK AROUND THE RIM OF THE CRATER TO THE ABSOLUTE SUMMIT OF THE MOUNTAIN. .

PURA BESAKIH 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 TENS OF CLAN TEMPLES, WHICH ARE USED FOR ANCESTOR WORSHIP ON DIFFERENT DAYS. OTHER COMPOUNDS HONOUR 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, BESAKIH IS THE SITE OF BALI'S LARGEST AND MOST ELABORATE PURIFICATION RITUAL - EKA DASA RUDRA - HELD ONLY ONCE A CENTURY. .

MENJANGAN NATIONAL PARK THE MENJANGAN IS A PEACEFUL RETREAT LOCATED IN THE HEART OF AN UNSPOILED NATIONAL PARK ON THE NORTH WEST COAST OF BALI. IT IS THE LARGEST RESORT WITH 382 HECTARES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE BALI BARAT NATIONAL PARK AND JUST OFF THE NORTHWEST COAST OF BALI LIES THE TINY ISLAND PULAU MENJANGAN (DEER ISLAND), AN UNINHABITED ISLAND 8 KM WIDE, SURROUNDED BY HECTARES OF EXCELLENT CORAL REEF. THE ISLAND IS SITUATED IN THE PROTECTED MARINE RESERVE AND HAS A VERY DIVERSE ECO BIOLOGY. AS THE ISLAND COMES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL PARK, HIRING A GUIDE IS ESSENTIAL, BUT BOTH THE GUIDE AND BOAT TRANSPORT CAN BE ARRANGED AT THE JETTY IN LABUAN LALANG. TO REACH MENJANGAN ISLAND IT TAKES 30-40 MIN BY BOAT. .

GILI ISLANDS NEAR LOMBOK

NO CARS! NO MOTORBIKES! NO WORRIES. . . . !) ARCING AWAY FROM THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF LOMBOK, THERE ARE THREE IDYLLIC ATOLLS, WHERE THE SAND IS STILL POWDERY WHITE, THE WATER A CLEAR SPARKLING TURQUOISE, AND THE SUNSETS OVER BALI’S VOLCANO MT. AGUNG IN THE WEST SIMPLY SPECTACULAR. FORTUNATELY ALL THREE GILI ISLANDS WILL NOT PERMIT ANY TYPE OF MOTORISED TRANSPORT ON THEM AND THEREFORE RELY ON BICYCLES OR HORSE AND CARTS, LOCALLY KNOWN AS ‘CIDOMOS’. WITH MOUNT RINJANI TO THE IMMEDIATE EAST ON LOMBOK, AND MOUNT AGUNG TO THE WEST ON BALI, THE GILIS ARE SOMEWHAT SHELTERED AND ACTUALLY ENJOY A SLIGHTLY DRIER MICROCLIMATE WHEN COMPARED TO THE SURROUNDING ARCHIPELAGO. THERE ARE 3 ISLANDS IN THIS AREA TRAWANGAN, AIR AND MENO. THEY DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER BY DEVELOPMENT, AVAILABILITY OF ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES AND DIVERSITY OF AVAILABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. GILI MENO AND GILI AIR ARE THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A SECLUDED ROMANTIC GETAWAY, WHILE GILI TRAWANGAN OFFERS MORE FUN WITH BEACH PARTIES, CAFES AND BARS. IT TAKES ONLY 40 MINUTES TO GET THERE BY SPEEDBOAT FROM BALI. .

JAWA TOUR BOROBUDUR TEMPLE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS BOROBUDUR WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE 9-TH CENTURY AND ABANDONED FOLLOWING THE 14TH-CENTURY DECLINE OF HINDU KINGDOMS IN JAVA AND THE JAVANESE CONVERSION TO ISLAM. WORLDWIDE KNOWLEDGE OF ITS EXISTENCE WAS SPARKED IN 1814 BY SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES, THEN THE BRITISH RULER OF JAVA, WHO WAS ADVISED OF ITS LOCATION BY NATIVE INDONESIANS. BOROBUDUR HAS SINCE BEEN PRESERVED THROUGH SEVERAL RESTORATIONS. THE LARGEST RESTORATION PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN BETWEEN 1975 AND 1982 BY THEINDONESIAN GOVERNMENT AND UNESCO, FOLLOWING WHICH THE MONUMENT WAS LISTED AS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. BOROBUDUR WAS A PLACE FOR PRAYING THAT WAS COMPLETED TO BE BUILT IN YEAR 824 (3 CENTURIES BEFORE ANGKOR WAT IN CAMBODIA AND 4 CENTURIES BEFORE THE GRAND CATHEDRALS IN EUROPE), ALMOST ONE HUNDRED YEARS FROM THE TIME THE CONSTRUCTION WAS BEGUN. THIS BUDDHIST TEMPLE HAS 1460 RELIEF PANELS AND 504 BUDDHA EFFIGIES IN ITS COMPLEX. ALL RELIEF PANELS IN BOROBUDUR TEMPLE REFLECT BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS. FOR THE REASON, THIS TEMPLE FUNCTIONS AS EDUCATING MEDIUM FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN BUDDHISM. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO VISIT THIS BUILDING AS ONE OF THE WORLD WONDER HERITAGES. ARTISTICALLY BOROBUDUR REPRESENTS A MELDING OF INDIAN MONUMENTS AND THE TRADITIONAL TERRACED SANCTUARIES OF INDONESIAN ART. THE MONUMENT REPRESENTS A MANDALA, WHICH IS A SCHEMATIZED REPRESENTATION OF THE COSMOS, OFTEN DRAWN REPEATEDLY AS A MEDITATIVE MECHANISM. THE TEMPLE IS A MASSIVE STEP PYRAMID STRUCTURE MADE FROM GIANT STONE BLOCKS, BUILT ON A HILL, SURROUNDED BY VALLEYS AND HILLS. THE LEVELS RISE UP REPRESENTING THE STAGES OF ENLIGHTENMENT. .

JAWA TOUR PRAMBANAN TEMPLE PRAMBANAN TEMPLE IS THE BIGGEST HINDU TEMPLE IN INDONESIA. ALTHOUGH NO SOLID EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHO BUILT THE TEMPLE AND WHEN, IT IS BELIEVED, THAT THE TEMPLE WAS BUILT IN THE MIDDLE OF 9TH CENTURY. THE RUINS OF THE TEMPLE WERE DISCOVERED IN 1733 AND THE RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE SEEMS TO BE NEVER-ENDING PROJECT. SITUATED IN A PICTURESQUE PLAIN DOTTED WITH ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS AMONGST RICE PADDIES AND VILLAGES, YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED BY IT. THE NUMBER OF TEMPLES WITHIN THE PRAMBANAN COMPLEX IS EXTRAORDINARY - THE SITE IS STRUCTURED IN A SERIES OF THREE ‘SQUARES’ WHICH RADIATE OUT IN SIZE. ON THE CENTRAL SQUARE THERE ARE 11 TEMPLES, OF VARIOUS SIZES, THE LARGEST BEING THE SIVA (SHIVA) WITH HEIGHT ABOUT 50 METERS. IT IS FLANKED BY TEMPLES HONOURING THE GODS VISHNU AND BRAHMA. THREE SMALLER TEMPLES SIT IN FRONT OF THE LARGER TEMPLES AND EACH OF THESE IS DEDICATED TO THE ‘VEHICLES’ OR TRANSPORTATION OF THE GODS REPRESENTED: NANDI, THE BULL, FOR SIVA; HAMSA, THE SACRED SWAN, FOR BRAHMA; AND THE EAGLE GARUDA FOR VISHNU. THE EXTERIORS OF THE TEMPLES AND THE BALUSTRADE AREAS WITHIN THE CENTRAL SQUARE ARE DENSE WITH CARVINGS, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE SIVA TEMPLE IS FAMOUS FOR THE 62 RELIEF DEPICTIONS OF THE RAMAYANA BALLET, TELLING THE STORY OF KING RAMA AND HIS WIFE SITA. .

DOLPHIN WATCH EXCURSION JOIN THE LOCAL FISHERMEN ON THEIR TRADITIONAL BOATS FOR A SUNRISE AMONGST DOLPHINS (AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHALES) IN THE OPEN WATER. THIS UNFORGETTABLE OCEAN EXPERIENCE WILL GIVE YOU A FEEL FOR WHERE YOU ARE IN THIS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ISLAND, DRIFTING THROUGH THE WAVES AND VIEWING ONTO BALI’S SHORES AND VOLCANOES IN THE BACKGROUND. YOU WILL HAVE TO WAKE UP AS EARLY AS AT 5.45 AND TAKE A BOAT RIDE TOGETHER WITH FISHERMAN. IF YOU ARE NOT AFRAID TO, YOU CAN TRY TO SWIM WITH DOLPHINS IN THE DEEP WATER.

FISHING WITH LOCALS TAKE A BOAT-FISHING TRIP ON TRADITIONAL BALINESE SMALL BOAT WITH BONDALEM FISHERMAN. IF YOU LUCKY, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN CATCH OF THE DAY.

RAFTING BALI RAFTING IS ONE ACTIVITY THAT YOU MUST TRY WHILE ON VACATION TO BALI. TEST YOUR ADRENALINE AND FEEL THE SENSATION OF HOW THE THRILL OF CONQUERING THE RAPIDS OF THE RIVER WITH FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS. THERE ARE 3 RIVERS IN BALI, WHICH YOU CAN TRY FOR WHITE WATER RAFTING. THE FIRST IS MELANGIT RIVER WITH RAFTING PATH LENGTH ABOUT 8 KM SUITABLE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE BEGINNERS OR BEING WITH FAMILY THAT INVITES YOUNG CHILDREN OR WITH PARENTS. THE SECOND IS AYUNG RIVER LOCATED IN UBUD AREA. AS IT REQUIRES STRONG LEGS TO GET TO THE RAFTING START POINT, IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. AND THE LAST IS TELAGA WAJA RIVER - THE FAVOURITE PLACE FOR RAFTING IN BALI. THIS RIVER HAS A RAFTING PATH LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 15KM AND HAVE A BIGGER RAPIDS AND MORE CHALLENGING THAN 2 OTHER RIVERS. WITH EASIER ACCESS TO THE RIVER MAKES IT SUITABLE FOR ANYONE.

MOUNTAIN CYCLING STARTING IN VIEW OF MOUNT BATUR VOLCANO AT KINTAMANI, THIS BREATHTAKING BICYCLE TOUR WINDS DOWN THROUGH 26KM OF LUSH VALLEYS, THROUGH BALINESE VILLAGES, PAST CENTURY-OLD TEMPLES AND RICH GREEN RICE FIELDS. EXPERT GUIDES WILL EXPLAIN THE HISTORY OF THE LAND, CULTURE, ITS PEOPLE AND TAKE YOU ON AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE THAT WILL REMAIN WITH YOU LONG AFTER YOU LEAVE.

ELEPHANT TOUR THE EXPERIENCE OF SITTING HIGH ATOP AN ELEPHANT IN A TEAK WOOD CHAIR, THROUGH THE COOL JUNGLE OF TARO, IS AN EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THESE INCREDIBLE ANIMALS IN A BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL PARK SETTING. ELEPHANTS CAN BE SEEN IMMERSING THEMSELVES IN THE PARK LAKE, IN BETWEEN RIDING, PAINTING OR OTHER ACTIVITIES. HAND FEED THEM, TOUCH THEM, TAKE PHOTOS WITH THEM AND THEN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ELEPHANTS ANCESTRY AND DIVERSITY AT THE PARK'S HISTORICAL AND GRAPHIC DISPLAYS. DISPLAYS OF ELEPHANT INTELLIGENCE AND THEIR CAPABILITIES CAN BE VIEWED AT THE PARK ARENA WHERE ELEPHANTS CAN BE SEEN PAINTING AT SELECTED TIMES DAILY.

FLORES ISLAND / KOMODO TRIP RINCA & KOMODO ISLANDS ARE PART OF THE COMPLEX OF 175 ISLANDS (ABOUT 90% INHABITANT), SITUATED 200 MILES EAST OF BALI, BETWEEN THE ISLANDS OF FLORES AND SUMBAWA. YOU WILL START YOUR TRIP TO KOMODO FROM LABUHAN BAJO, AS IT IS CLOSER TO THE SITE. LESS TIME NEEDED TO SAIL ON THE BOAT. LABUAN BAJO IS ACCESSIBLE ONLY FROM BALI BY AIRPLANE FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES. DURING YOUR STAY AT KOMODO ISLAND, YOU WILL DO SOME TREKKING OF ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM THE SEASHORE TO THE SITE, WHERE MOST PEOPLE SEE THE KOMODO LIZARD. YOU WILL ALSO PAY A VISIT TO THE OTHER ISLAND RINCA. ALONG WITH THE NATIONAL PARK'S RANGERS, YOU WILL SILENTLY EXPLORE THE ISLANDS ON FOOT FOR THE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE DRAGONS. THE KOMODO DRAGONS ARE LARGE, FEROCIOUS PREDATORS THAT ARE FULLY CAPABLE OF KILLING AND EATING A HUMAN BEING AND CAPABLE OF RUNNING AS FAST AS A DOG. THEY CAN REACH A LENGTH OF 3 METERS. NOWADAYS THE DRAGONS ESTIMATED AT 5,000 - 7,000 INHABITED THE ISLANDS OF KOMODO, RINCA AND OTHER TINY SURROUNDING ISLANDS, AND ON THE WESTERNMOST PART OF FLORES ISLAND IN INDONESIA. THE WATER OF KOMODO IS IDEAL PLACE FOR MANY KINDS OF SEA ACTIVITIES. IT HAS MANY EXCELLENT DIVE SPOTS. THE DIVE SITES VARY FROM GENTLE EASY CORAL SLOPES TO HEART POUNDING ADRENALIN RIDES, FROM THE WARM WATERS OF THE FLORES SEA IN THE NORTH TO THE CHILLIER WATERS DOWN SOUTH IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, THE UNDERWATER TERRAIN IS SO VARIED WITH SHEER CLIFF WALLS, PINNACLES, SANDY FLAT BOTTOMS, UNDERWATER PLATEAUS, SLOPES, CAVES, SWIMTHROUGH, CHANNELS, ALL WITH VARYING COLOURS, SIZES AND TYPES OF CORAL BOTH HARD AND SOFT. DURING YOUR STAY ON FLORES ISLAND IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO ORGANIZE EXCURSION TO BATU CERMIN (MIRROR STONE CAVE) AND SPIDER WEB RICE TERRACES.

PURA TEGEH KORIPAN PURA TEGEH KORIPAN, SITUATED ON THE EDGE OF MOUNTAIN GUNUNG BATUR, THIS TEMPLE IS REPUTED TO BE THE OLDEST ON BALI. THE TEMPLE LIES AT THE TOP OF A CHALLENGING YET REWARDING 300-STEP CLIMB UP THE HILL, WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE TEMPLE, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, COVERED IN MIST. SPECTACULAR VIEWS AND A MYSTICAL PLACE!

PURA TIRTA EMPUL FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS, BALINESE WORSHIPERS HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO PURA TIRTA EMPUL, WHOSE SACRED SPRING IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN CREATED BY GOD INDRA. HIS FORCES HAD BEEN POISONED BY MAYADANAWA, SO HE PIERCED THE EARTH TO CREATE A FOUNTAIN OF IMMORTALITY TO REVIVE THEM. AN INSCRIPTION DATES THE FOUNDING OF A TEMPLE AT THE SITE TO 926 AD. EVER SINCE - FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS - THE BALINESE HAVE COME TO BATHE IN THE SACRED WATERS FOR HEALING AND SPIRITUAL MERIT. THE TIRTA EMPUL TEMPLE INCLUDES THE TRADITIONAL BALINESE SPLIT GATE ALONG WITH SHRINES TO SHIVA, VISHNU, BRAHAM, MT. BATUR, AND INDRA. THERE IS ALSO A LARGE OPEN PAVILION IN THE MAIN COURTYARD, USEFUL FOR RELAXING IN THE SHADE. BUT THE MAIN ATTRACTION HERE IS A LONG RECTANGULAR POOL CARVED OF STONE, FILLED WITH KOI AND FED BY THE SACRED SPRING VIA 12 FOUNTAINS. WORSHIPPERS FIRST MAKE AN OFFERING AT THE TEMPLE, THEN CLIMB INTO THE MAIN POOL TO BATHE AND PRAY. MANY COLLECT THE HOLY WATER IN BOTTLES TO TAKE HOME. NEARBY THERE ARE TWO SMALLER POOLS FED BY THE SPRING. OVERLOOKING THE TEMPLE ON A HILL ABOVE IS A SURPRISINGLY MODERN BUILDING: THE GOVERNMENT PALACE, BUILT IN 1954. ORIGINALLY A RESIDENCE FOR DUTCH OFFICIALS, IT WAS LATER USED BY FORMER PRESIDENT SOEKARNO DURING HIS FREQUENT TRIPS TO BALI.

PURA PONJOK BATU PURA PONJOK BATU TEMPLE WAS BUILT TO HONOUR A SIWA SIDANTA PRIEST BY THE NAME DANGHYANG NIRARTHA (IDA PEDANDA SAKTI WAWU RAWUH), WHO LIVED IN THE 15TH CENTURY. THE LOCALS HONOURED THE PRIEST BY TURNING ALL HIS HERMITAGES INTO SACRED TEMPLES. THE PRIEST HELPED A FISHERMAN FROM LOMBOK ISLAND WHEN THE FISHERMAN’S BOAT SANK NEAR THIS PLACE. THE FISHERMAN FOUND A SHINING STONE, WHICH WAS THEN CARVED INTO A BOAT STATUE AND NOW STANDS AT THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE TEMPLE. THE TEMPLE HAS AT LEAST 10 PELINGGIH (SHRINES) TO WORSHIP THE GODS. AS FOLKLORE GOES, THE TEMPLE’S NAME, PONJOK BATU, WAS BESTOWED BY IDA BATARA IN 1489, WHO BELIEVED THAT MORE STONES SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE EASTERN PART OF NORTH BALI TO BALANCE THE WEIGHT OF THE WHOLE NORTH BALI REGION.

PURA PULAKI PULAKI TEMPLE STANDS ON A ROCKY CLIFF DIRECTLY OVERLOOKING THE SEA. IN THE BACKGROUND LIES THE ROCKY STEEP HILL ONLY OCCASIONALLY LOOKED GREEN DURING THE RAINY SEASON. THIS TEMPLE LOOKS DIGNIFIED, STRONG AND NOBLE, JUST BECAUSE STANDING IN A VERY DIFFICULT SPOT. MONKEYS LIVING AROUND THE TEMPLE, THOUGH IMPRESSED FIERCE, IT ALSO CREATES ITS OWN CHARM. HISTORY OF PULAKI TEMPLE CAN NOT BE EXPLAINED PROPERLY. HOWEVER, OF THE VARIOUS PIECES OF DATA LEFT BEHIND, THE HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE GOES BACK TO PREHISTORIC TIMES AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HOLY PLACE. THIS PLACE WAS MENTIONED AS SACRED BEFORE YEAR 1489 BUT THEN FOR 431 YEARS NO MENTIONING OF THIS PLACE WAS FOUND.

PURA TANAH LOT TANAH LOT MEANS 'LAND IN THE SEA'. BACK TO THE TIME OF THE MAJAPAHIT KINGDOM, THERE WAS ONE FAMOUS PRIEST CALLED DANG HYANG NIRARTHA. HE WAS HIGHLY RESPECTED BY ALL FOR HIS SERVICES AND KNOWN FOR HIS DEDICATION IN SPREADING HINDUISM. ON HIS MISSION SPREADING THE HINDUISM AMONGST THE BALINESE PEOPLE, HE ARRIVED AT A PLACE CALLED RAMBUT SIWI WHERE HE SAW A HOLY LIGHT WHICH LED HIM TO THE FRESH WATER SPRING AND NOT FAR FROM IT, THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL BIRD-SHAPE CORAL ROCK. ON THIS ROCK, HE WAS THEN SETTLED FOR A WHILE TO MEDITATE AND PRAY TO THE GOD OF THE SEA. AS HE WAS FAMOUS MANY VILLAGERS BECAME HIS DISCIPLES AND THE LOCAL HOLY LEADER OF VILLAGE STARTED TO LOOSE FOLLOWERS AND BLAMED FOR IT NIRARTHA. ALONG WITH HIS LOYAL FOLLOWERS, HE ASKED THE PRIEST TO LEAVE. WANTED TO KEEP THE BIRD-SHAPE ROCK FOR HIS MEDITATION SPOT, NIRARTHA USED HIS POWER TO MOVE THE ROCK INTO THE SEA AND MANAGED TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH LOCAL LEADER. THEN HE CREATED POISONOUS SNAKES FROM HIS SCARF TO PROTECT AND GUARD THE ROCK FROM EVIL SPIRITS AND INTRUDERS. HE NAMED THE ROCK 'TANAH LOT'. AMAZED BY HIS POWER THE LOCAL LEADER ACKNOWLEDGED NIRARTHA'S SUPERNATURAL POWERS AND BECAME ONE OF HIS MOST FAITHFUL FOLLOWER. NIRARTHA THEN GAVE BENDESA BERABAN SAKTI A HOLY KERIS, A WAVY DOUBLE-BLADED DAGGER, WHICH HAS POWER TO SUBJUGATE ALL PLANT'S DISEASE. THIS ANCIENT KERIS WAS KEPT IN PURI KEDIRI AND TREASURED TO THIS DAY. DESPITE IF THE STORY WAS TRUE OR NOT, TANAH LOT HAS BEEN PART OF BALINESE MYTHOLOGY FOR CENTURIES AND IT IS INDEED A MAGICAL PLACE THAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS. THERE ARE 8 SACRED TEMPLES IN TANAH LOT AREA, EACH WITH ITS OWN PURPOSE AND FUNCTION. PENATARAN TEMPLE - A PLACE TO PRAY FOR GOD AND HIS MANIFESTATION FOR WELLNESS AND HAPPINESS. PENYAWANG TEMPLE - PLACE OF THE GOD OF THE OCEAN. DURING HIGH TIDE WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT REACH TANAH LOT TEMPLE, THEY CAN PRAY FROM THIS TEMPLE FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. JERO KANDANG TEMPLE - IS BUILT TO PRAY FOR WELLNESS OF THE CATTLE AND CROPS. ENJUNG GALUH TEMPLE - IS BUILT FOR THE GODDESS OF PROSPERITY DEWI SRI FOR THE PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR THEIR LAND'S FERTILITY. BATU BOLONG TEMPLE - MEANS HOLLOW ROCK. THIS TEMPLE IS USED TO HOLD MELASTI CEREMONY OR PURIFYING CEREMONY. BATU MEJAN TEMPLE OR BEJI TEMPLE - MEANS HOLY SPRING IN BALINESE. PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE HOLY WATER FROM THE SPRING CAN PURIFY ANYTHING FROM THE BAD. TRI ANTAKA MONUMENT - THIS MONUMENT WAS BUILT TO HONOUR 3 HEROIC MEN: I GUSTI KETUT KEREG, I WAYAN KAMIAS AND I NYOMAN REGUG, WHO HAD FOUGHT AND DEFENDED THE ISLAND AGAINST THE NETHERLANDS INDIES CIVIL ADMINISTRATION ARMY ON JUNE 1946 IN TANAH LOT AREA. PEKEDUNGAN TEMPLE - IS THE PLACE WHERE DANG HYANG NIRARTHA MEDITATED ONCE BEFORE AND IN THIS TEMPLE THE HOLY KERIS WAS GIVEN TO BENDESA BERABAN SAKTI. IN 1980TH, THE TEMPLE'S ROCK FACE WAS STARTING TO CRUMBLE AND THE AREA AROUND AND INSIDE THE TEMPLE STARTED TO BECOME DANGEROUS. THERE WERE SOME PROJECTS FUNDED BY GERMANY AND JAPAN CARRIED OUT TO CONSERVE THE HISTORIC TEMPLE

BALI BOTANICAL GARDENS ONE OF INDONESIA'S FOUR OFFICIAL BOTANICAL GARDENS. LOCATED IN CANDIKUNING. THE ENTRANCE ROAD IS IDENTIFIED BY THE PRESENCE OF A GIANT STONE CORN ON THE COB STATUE. FROM THE INFORMATION CENTRE BUY A COPY OF AN EXCELLENT LITTLE PAMPHLET CALLED SIX SELF-GUIDED WALKS IN THE BALI BOTANICAL GARDENS AND SET OFF ON YOUR WAY. THE GARDENS ARE HUGE COVERING SOME 160 HECTARES AND ANY VISITOR WITH AN INTEREST IN PLANTS AND TREES COULD EASILY SPEND A WHOLE DAY HERE.

JATILUWIH RICE TERRACE JATILUWIH IS A FAVOURITE TOURIST DESTINATION IN BALI, FAMOUS WITH THE BEAUTIFUL RICE TERRACE UNFOLDING FROM THE FOOT OF MOUNTAIN UNTIL THE COASTAL SIDE. IT IS ONE OF PLACES TO VISIT IN BALI WITH THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW AS ACCORDING TO ITS NAME FROM JATI AND LUWIH, WHERE JATI MEAN REALLY AND LUWIH MEANING ESPECIAL, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL OR THE EQUIVALENT. THE LOCAL PADDIES ARE PLANTED IN THIS PLACE LOOK TYPICALLY OF THE HIGH RELATIVE SIZE PLANT IF IT IS COMPARED WITH OTHER PRE-EMINENT PADDY PLANTED BY MOST FARMERS IN BALI . DESPITEFULLY, JATILUWIH ALSO FAMOUS WITH ITS ORGANIC AGRICULTURE SYSTEM DUE TO THE LOCATION IS LOCATED IN THE IN THE PLATEAU OF WATUKARU MOUNT WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR THE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT

BALI BUTTERFLY PARK THE PARK IS ALSO ONE OF THE INTERESTING ATTRACTIONS IN BALI AND VISITED BY MANY LOCAL AND FOREIGN TOURISTS. A SMALL BUT WELL MAINTAINED CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INTO BUTTERFLIES WITH SOME VERY SPECTACULAR SPECIES ON SHOW. BALI BUTTERFLY PARK HAS AN AREA OF 1 HECTARE AREA WITH NETTING ( NETTING CLOSED ROOM ) AREA OF 3,700 M2 . BEST TO VISIT IN THE EARLY AND MID-MORNING WHEN THE BUTTERFLIES ARE AT THEIR MOST ACTIVE.

BALI TREETOP ADVENTURE PARK BALI TREETOP ADVENTURE PARK IS A FUN ACTIVITY SET IN AN OPEN AIR ENVIRONMENT FOR GROUP AND FAMILY IN INDONESIA. BALI TREETOP ADVENTURE PARK IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WHATEVER THEIR LEVEL OF AGILITY OR EXPERIENCE. WITH DIFFERENT CIRCUITS, EVERYONE CAN FIND THE RIGHT CIRCUITS FOR HIS/HER LEVEL AND AGE, OR EVEN TRY THE MORE CHALLENGING CIRCUITS. BALI TREETOP ADVENTURE PARK RECEIVES CLIENTS FROM 4 YEARS OLD TO OVER 70 WITH A MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF 120KG. THE PARK INCLUDES SIX MAIN CIRCUITS THAT STRETCH FROM TREE TO TREE, AS WELL AS NETS, TARZAN JUMPS, AND BRIDGES. EACH RUN ALSO FEATURES "FLYING FOX" ZIP-LINES OF UP TO 160 METRES, PROVIDING HEART-POUNDING THRILLS TO GUESTS AS THEY FLY THROUGH THE AIR. TWO CIRCUITS ARE DESIGNED FOR YOUNG CHILDREN FROM 4 YEARS OLD.

CLIMB MOUNT BATUKARU GUNUNG BATUKARU, SOMETIMES SPELLED BATUKAU, IS BALI'S SECOND-HIGHEST MOUNTAIN AT 2,276 M. IT IS THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THE BEDUGUL VOLCANIC AREA, BUT IT IS DORMANT. BATUKARU IS WORSHIPPED BY THE BALINESE, AND HAS A TEMPLE, PURA LUHUR BATUKARU, DEVOTED TO IT. BATUKARU IS RELATIVELY UNPOPULAR WITH CLIMBERS AS IT IS COVERED IN A DENSE FOREST, WHICH RESTRICTS VIEWS. BATUKARU HAS A LARGE CRATER, THE LARGEST ON BALI, BUT THIS CRATER IS OPEN AT THE SOUTHERN END, ALLOWING THE RIVER MAWA TO ESCAPE. IT IS THIS, THAT GIVES IT THE NAME "BATUKARU", WHICH MEANS "COCONUT SHELL" IN BALINESE. UNLIKE AGUNG, BATUKARU IS A LONG EXTINCT VOLCANO AND IT IS FORESTED TO THE PEAK. IT IS THOUGH AN INTERESTING CLIMB THROUGH SOME AREAS OF DENSE PRIMARY FOREST AND DESPITE ITS RELATIVELY MINOR ELEVATION (2,276 M), ONE THAT SHOULD ONLY BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE PHYSICALLY FIT. WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE A CRITICAL FACTOR HERE. BATUKARU IS A DAMP PLACE AND IT RAINS FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR. THIS IS PROBABLY THE WETTEST PLACE IN BALI. DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT A CLIMB OF BATUKARU IN THE WET SEASON (MID-OCTOBER TO LATE MARCH), OR WHEN RAIN IS FORECAST. THE PATHS BECOME RUNNING STREAMS VERY QUICKLY HERE. JULY AND AUGUST ARE THE BEST MONTHS. THERE ARE 3 MAIN ASCENT ROUTES ALL OF WHICH CONVERGE AT THE SAME POINT AT MUNDUK NYANGGANG. THE START USUALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE STAYING: WONGAYAGEDE, SARINBUANA OR SANDA. THE SANDA ROUTE IS THE TOUGHEST AND LONGEST (6 TO 7 HOURS TO THE TOP), AND THE SARINBUANA ROUTE THE EASIEST. FROM THE POINT OF CONVERGENCE AT MUNDUK NYANGGANG, THE PEAK IS ANOTHER 2 TO 3 HOURS OF TOUGH CLIMBING DEPENDING ON YOUR LEVEL OF FITNESS AND THE PREVAILING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PURA LUHUR BATUKARU PURA LUHUR BATUKARU IS ONE OF THE SIX DIRECTIONAL TEMPLES ON BALI THAT ARE BELIEVED TO PROTECT THE ISLAND AND ITS PEOPLE FROM EVIL SPIRITS. PURA LUHUR BATUKARU PROTECTS BALI FROM THE WEST AND WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN THE 11TH CENTURY. IT IS ONE OF BALI’S BIGGEST HINDU TEMPLES, BUT BECAUSE IT IS OFF THE MAIN TOURIST TRAIL, SEES FEWER VISITORS THAN MANY OF THE OTHER TEMPLES. ITS PEACEFUL SETTING AMID RAINFOREST AT THE FOOT OF MOUNT BATUKARU ENHANCES ITS STUNNING BALINESE ARCHITECTURE. THE TEMPLE'S MOST IMPORTANT SHRINE IS THE 7-TIERED MERU THAT IS IN HONOUR OF THE GOD OF GUNUNG BATUKARU, MAHADEWA.

BALI AGA PEOPLE –WHO ARE THEY AT ONE TIME, THE ISLAND OF BALI WAS OCCUPIED BY A UNIQUE ETHNIC GROUP, THE MEMBERS OF WHICH FILED AND BLACKENED THEIR TEETH. THEY LIVED IN SMALL COMMUNITIES - FAMILY CLANS RULED BY A COUNCIL OF ELDERS WHO WERE ALSO PRIESTS OF THEIR RELIGION, WHICH CENTERED ON THE WORSHIP OF POWERFUL FORCES OF NATURE, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THEIR ANCESTORS, WITH WHOM THEY CONTINUED TO LIVE AS A GREAT FAMILY OF BOTH THE DEAD AND THE LIVING. OCCASIONALLY, BY MEANS OF SACRIFICE, THEY BROUGHT THEIR ANCESTRAL SPIRITS DOWN TO EARTH TO PROTECT THEM. THEY BURIED THEIR DEAD OR SIMPLY ABANDONED THEM IN THE JUNGLE TO BE CARRIED AWAY BY THE SPIRITS, AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY ATE PARTS OF THE BODIES IN ORDER TO ABSORB THE MAGIC POWER INHERENT IN THEIR ANCIENT HEADMEN. THE DESCENDANTS OF THESE PEOPLE CALL THEMSELVES BALI AGA, MEANING ORIGINAL BALINESE. THEY LIVED ISOLATED AND INDEPENDENT IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE THEY FOUND REFUGE FROM IMPERIALISTIC INVADERS.

TENGANAN VILLAGE HIDDEN IN THE HILLS OF EAST BALI LIES THE VILLAGE OF TENGANAN, ONE OF SEVERAL ANCIENT VILLAGES IN BALI, WHERE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE OF THE BALI AGA PRESERVE THE OLD TRADITIONS WITH THE GREATEST ZEAL. THE WORD TENGANAN WAS DERIVED FROM THE WORD TENGAH OR NGATENGAHANG, WHICH MEANS "MOVE TO THE INNER AREA". TENGANAN IS AN ISOLATED COMMUNITY, SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF BALI. IT IS SHUT OFF FROM THE WORLD BY A SOLID WALL THAT SURROUNDS THE ENTIRE VILLAGE. THE WALL WAS CONSTRUCTED TO KEEP OUTSIDERS AWAY, AND IT IS BROKEN BY MEANS OF FOUR GATES, FACING NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST RESPECTIVELY. WITHIN THESE WALLS LIES A BANYAN TREE SURROUNDED BY A LOW WALL OF UNCUT STONES, PROVIDING THE SMALL ENCLOSURE FOR A VERY SACRED TEMPLE. UNLIKE THE REST OF THE VILLAGES IN BALI, THERE IS HARDLY ANY VEGETATION AROUND THE HOUSES OF TENGANAN, WHICH ARE ALL EXACTLY ALIKE. THEY ARE ARRANGED IN ROWS ON EACH SIDE OF STONE - PAVED AVENUES. IN THE CENTRAL PLACE IS THE COUNCIL HOUSE WHERE THE ELDERS MEET. FURTHER ALONG ARE OTHER BUILDINGS FOR PUBLIC USE. THE DWELLINGS IN TENGANAN ARE ALL EXACTLY THE SAME. A FLIGHT OF STEPS LEADS TO A SMALL GATE, WHICH OPENS WAY INTO A COURT WHERE THE SLEEPING QUARTERS, THE KITCHEN, AND A LONG HOUSE FOR STORAGE ARE ALL LOCATED. THERE IS ALSO A SMALL EMPTY SHRINE WHERE THE SPIRITS MAY REST WHEN THEY VISIT THEIR DESCENDANTS. THE PEOPLE OF TENGANAN ARE TALL AND SLENDER IN A RATHER GHOSTLY WAY WITH WHITE SKINS AND REFINED MANNERS. THE MAJORITY OF THE MEN STILL WEAR THEIR HAIR LONG. THEY LIVE IN A COMMUNISTIC SYSTEM IN WHICH INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY IS NOT RECOGNIZED.

TRUNYAN VILLAGE THE VILLAGE OF TRUNYAN IS SQUEEZED TIGHTLY BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE OUTER CRATER RIM OF BATUR, AN ALMIGHTY VOLCANO IN KINTAMANI. THIS VILLAGE INHABITED BY DESCENDANTS OF THE ORIGINAL BALINESE, THE PEOPLE WHO PREDATE THE ARRIVAL OF THE HINDU MAJAPAHIT KINGDOM IN THE 16TH CENTURY. AT KUBAN SUB-VILLAGE CLOSE TO TRUNYAN IS A MYSTERIOUS CEMETERY THAT IS SEPARATED BY THE LAKE AND ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY BOAT - THERE IS NO PATH ALONG THE STEEP WALLS OF THE CRATER RIM. UNLIKE THE BALINESE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE OF TRUNYAN DO NOT CREMATE OR BURY THEIR DEAD, BUT JUST LAY THEM OUT IN BAMBOO CAGES TO DECOMPOSE, ALTHOUGH STRANGELY THERE IS NO STENCH. A MACABRE COLLECTION OF SKULLS AND BONES LIES ON THE STONE PLATFORM AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. THE DEAD BODIES DO NOT PRODUCE BAD SMELLS BECAUSE OF THE PERFUMED SCENTS FROM A HUGE TARU MENYAN TREE GROWING NEARBY. TARU MEANS 'TREE' AND MENYAN MEANS 'NICE SMELL'. THE NAME OF TRUNYAN WAS ALSO DERIVED FROM THESE TWO WORDS. THE WOMEN FROM TRUNYAN ARE PROHIBITED FROM GOING TO THE CEMETERY WHEN A DEAD BODY IS CARRIED THERE. THIS FOLLOWS THE DEEPLY ROOTED BELIEF THAT IF A WOMAN COMES TO THE CEMETERY WHILE A CORPSE IS BEING CARRIED THERE, THERE WILL BE A DISASTER IN THE VILLAGE, FOR EXAMPLE A LANDSLIDE OR A VOLCANIC ERUPTION. SUCH EVENTS HAVE BEEN FREQUENT IN THE VILLAGE'S HISTORY, BUT WHETHER WOMEN HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT IS A MATTER OF OPINION...

TARO VILLAGE TARO IS AN ANCIENT VILLAGE WITH A MORAL ECOLOGICAL HISTORY. ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND, LONG TIME AGO THE JAVANESE HOLY MAN RSI MARKANDYA WAS TOLD BY THE GODS TO GO TO A CERTAIN FOREST IN BALI AND ESTABLISH A SETTLEMENT THERE. MARKANDYA SET HIS EIGHT HUNDRED FOLLOWERS TO WORK CLEARING THE LAND, BUT MANY DIED FROM ILLNESS OR WERE EATEN BY WILD ANIMALS. MARKANDYA RETURNED IN SORROW TO MOUNT RAUNG TO SEEK CLARIFICATION FROM THE GODS. APPARENTLY, THE MISSING INGREDIENT IN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN WAS JUST THAT REMORSE, FOR HIS NEXT ATTEMPT WAS SUCCESSFUL. THIS TIME HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER FOUR HUNDRED FOLLOWERS FROM THE VILLAGE OF AGA IN THE REGION OF MOUNT RAUNG. FOR REASONS THAT REMAIN OBSCURE, TARO IS THE ONLY VILLAGE IN BALI RAISING SACRED ALBINO COW, REQUISITE FOR CERTAIN RITUALS. THESE DAYS THE ALBINO COW OF TARO ARE LENT RATHER THAN SACRIFICED, BUR THE PROCEDURE OF BORROWING A WHITE CALF IS A RITUALIZED AS ASKING FOR HOLY WATER. TARO'S MAIN TEMPLE, PURA GUNUNG RAUNG, IS IN ANY CASE IMPRESSIVE FOR ITS FINE ROCK SCULPTURES AND THE GRANDEUR OF ITS PROPORTIONS. THE LONG GRAND PAVILION WITH A SEATING PLATFORM MADE FROM ONE TREE, LEADS ONE TO WONDER WHETHER THE LONGHOUSE WAS ONCE AS STANDARD IN BALI AS IT IS STILL IS IN SOME PARTS OF SUMATRA AND BORNEO. THE BALINESE FIND THIS TEMPLE REMARKABLE FOR THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE HERE PRAY NOT TO THE NORTH BUT TO THE WEST TOWARD MOUNT RAUNG IN EAST JAVA.

PENGLIPURAN VILLAGE PENGLIPURAN VILLAGE IS A TRADITIONAL COUNTRYSIDE OWNING UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC LIFE, SOCIALIZING AND CULTURE. NAME OF THE VILLAGE COMES FROM PENGELING PURA WHAT MEANS REMEMBER TO ANCESTOR, BUT THERE IS ALSO TELLING THAT THE WORD OF PENGLIPUR MEAN THE ENTERTAINER. IT IS SAID THAT AT FORMER EMPIRE ERA, KING OFTEN USE THIS AREA AS A PLACE TO AMUSE THEMSELVES, BECAUSE ITS NATURE IS BEAUTIFUL AND CAN GIVE THE PEACEFULNESS AND INSPIRATION. WHEN WE STEP DOWN TO THIS VILLAGE, WE WILL MEET THE BALINESE HOUSES ORIENTED NORTH EASTWARDS TO MOUNT AGUNG. THE STRUCTURE OF HOUSE BUILDING BETWEEN ONE HOUSE AND OTHERS ARE EQUAL IN PARTICULAR TO CONDITION, FORM, SIZE AND FUNCTION FROM THE BUILDING EXCEPT BUILDING OF FAMILY BEDROOM IS FREEFORM.

BANJAR HOT WATER SPRINGS BANJAR HOT WATER IS A NATURE HOT WELLSPRING FROM THE GROUND AND IT IS BELIEVED TO HEAL THE DISEASE. ITS WATER IS ACCOMMODATED AT ONE SMALL SWIMMING POOL ENCIRCLED BY UNIQUE RURAL NATURE, ITS SITUATION CLOSE TO THE BRAHMA WIHARA ARAMA (BUDDHIST TEMPLE). THIS HOT WELLSPRING SOURCE IS PREDICTABLY BUILT SINCE OF HUNDREDS OF YEAR AGO AND SINCE THE JAPANESE COLONIZE THE INDONESIA, THIS PLACE HAS DEVELOPED INTO THREE POOLS TO RELOCATE THE WATER FOR TAKING A BATH. THE JAPANESE HAD ALSO DEVELOPED ITS MILITARY OFFICER RESORT CLOSE TO THIS AREA. HAVING BATHING IN THE HEAT WATER CONTAINING THE BRIMSTONE, IT WILL BE ABLE TO HEAL THE SKIN DISEASE. THIS PUBLIC BATH, WHICH IS BUILT BY JAPANESE, NOW IS EXPLOITED BY PUBLIC SOCIETY.

TOYA DEVASYA NATURAL HOT SPRING LET YOUR TENSIONS DISPERSE WITH THE STEAM, ANYTIME ALL YEAR ROUND. REVIVE YOUR SOUL IN THESE WONDERFULLY SCENIC MOUNT AND LAKE BATUR SURROUNDINGS. SOAKING WITH A MYSTICAL KINTAMANI ATMOSPHERE WOULD BE A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE. TOYA DEVASYA NATURAL HOT SPRING FEATURES TWO NATURAL HOT SPRING POOLS, THE PERFECT PLACE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY TO FULLY UNWIND. HEATED DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH, THE HEALING MINERAL WATER IS COLOURLESS AND ODOURLESS FROM THE SOURCE THAT IS LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS THIS CLEAR CARBONATED WATER HAS CREATED LEGENDS OF MIRACULOUS CURATIVE POWERS. THIS FACILITY IS A FAVOURITE STOPPING POINT FOR TRAVELLERS OF ALL TYPES FROM ADVENTURERS COMING OFF THE KINTAMANI AREA TO VACATIONERS AND HEALTH SEEKERS. THE POOLS WOULD BE PERFECT FOR A RELAXING DIP AFTER A LONG DAY OF HIKING, CANOEING OR CYCLING. AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE APPEAL THAT THIS DESTINATION HAS EARNED FOR YEARS.

PURA LEMPUYANG

PURA LEMPUYANG (TEMPLE OF 1000 STEPS): TEMPLES IN BALI ARE THE MEETING POINTS OF HUMANS AND GODS AND A RESTING PLACE FOR THE GODS DURING THEIR SOJOURN ON THE ISLAND. HIGH ON A MOUNTAIN OVERLOOKING THE SEA AND MT. AGUNG, BALI’S FAMOUS VOLCANO, SITS ONE OF THE MOST SACRED TEMPLES, PURA LEMPUYANG. IT IS A TWO HOUR CLIMB TO THE SUMMIT, UP 1700 STEPS, BUT THERE IS ALSO A BOTTOM TEMPLE CLOSE TO THE PARKING LOT, IF YOU SHOULD CHOOSE NOT TO MAKE THE CLIMB. THIS BOTTOM TEMPLE IS HIGH UP AND GIVES BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE VOLCANO AND THE OCEAN. CEREMONY DAYS ARE A GOOD TIME TO VISIT THIS TEMPLE, AS THE BALINESE MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE IN THEIR TRADITIONAL BALINESE CEREMONY COSTUMES. IT IS QUITE SPECTACULAR TO BEHOLD!

AIR SANIH

LOCATED 17 KM FROM SINGARAJA, THE COOL SEASHORE ATTRACTION OFFERS A TRANQUIL BLACK SAND BEACH, WHICH IS ENJOYABLE FOR SWIMMING. THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF AIR SANIH IS A NATURAL SWIMMING POOL OF FRESH WATER UPSURGE FROM AN UNDERGROUND SPRING. SINCE 1930, AIR SANIH HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION FOR LOCALS. PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE WATER COMES FROM LAKE BATUR, AND THERE IS A TEMPLE BY THE POOL DEDICATED TO LORD VISHNU. FRESH SEA BREEZES AND STUNNING VIEW MAKE A TRANQUIL ATMOSPHERE.

BELULANG HOT SPRING BELULANG HOT SPRING IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A VAST EXPANSE OF RICE FIELDS STRETCHING LOCATED IN MENGESTA VILLAGE, TABANAN REGENCY, APPROXIMATELY 15 KM FROM THE CITY OF TABANAN. IT HAS UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT IS NOT SMELL OF SULPHUR, THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE HOT WATER IN THE PLACE, WHICH GENERALLY HAS A STRONG SCENT. THE HOT SPRING COMES FROM BEJI TEMPLE AREA, HOUSED IN A POND AND THEN CHANNELLED INTO A FEW SHOWERS AND A SMALL POOL. BELULANG HOT SPRING WITH A HIGH MINERAL CONTENT THAT BELIEVED TO CURE VARIOUS DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH SKIN DISEASE, BUT IT ALSO CAN BE A REFRESHING HOT WATER AND REJUVENATE FOR TIRED BODIES.

PENATAHAN HOT SPRING

PENATAHAN HOT SPRINGS LOCATED NEAR THE BANK OF RIVER YEH HO AND CONTAINS SULPHUR, POTASSIUM AND SODIUM, WHICH ARE EFFECTIVE FOR CURING ANY SKIN AND SOME OTHER DISEASES. LOCATED AT THE VILLAGE OF PENATAHAN, IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS YEH PANES, A BEAUTIFUL NATURAL RESTING PLACE, ON AN UPPER LAND OF A RIVER SURROUNDED BY FRESH VEGETATION AND GREEN FOREST. AT THIS LOCATION, YOU WILL FIND A WATERFALL WHILE THE HOT SPRING COMES UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A TEMPLE UNDER THE BIG BANYAN TREE. BACK-GROUNDED BY THE MAGNIFICENT MT. BATUKARU, FRESH AND COOL WEATHER, BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SURROUNDINGS, YEH PANES HAS BEEN AN IDEAL PLACE FOR RELAX AND RECREATION. SPLENDID PLACE TO MAKE YOU FEEL RELAX AND HEALTHY.

ANGSERI HOT SPRING

ANGSERI HOT SPRINGS NESTLED BETWEEN LUSH RICE PADDIES AND SMALL STREAMS, PRECISELY IN BANJAR MUNDUK LUMBANG, ANGSERI VILLAGE, BATURITI DISTRICT, TABANAN REGENCY. PLACES THAT WAS USED ONLY AS A TRADITIONAL BATHHOUSE BY THE LOCAL PEOPLE, NOW TRANSFORMED INTO A COMFORTABLE BATHING AREA. THE WHOLE AREA IS SURROUNDED BY GREEN VEGETATION, MAINLY BAMBOO, PALM AND FERN TREES, AS WELL AS CULTIVATED RICE PADDIES, WHERE YOU CAN SOMETIMES SEE THE LOCAL FARMERS GOING AFTER THEIR WORK IN THE RICE FIELDS. ANGSERI HOT SPRINGS OFFERS 2 OPEN-AIR POOL, AND 4 SMALL PRIVATE CABINS, WITH ROOMS FOR UP TO 6 PEOPLE.

ULUWATU TEMPLE ULUWATU TEMPLE IS ONE OF BALI'S NINE KEY DIRECTIONAL TEMPLES. THOUGH A SMALL TEMPLE WAS CLAIMED TO HAVE EXISTED BEFOREHAND, THE STRUCTURE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED BY A JAVANESE SAGE, EMPU KUTURAN IN THE 11TH CENTURY. EVEN MORE REMARKABLE THAN THE TEMPLE ITSELF IS ITS LOCATION, PERCHED ON A STEEP CLIFF 70 METRES ABOVE THE ROARING INDIAN OCEAN WAVES. THERE ARE MORE STEEP HEADLANDS ON EITHER SIDE AND SUNSETS OVER ULUWATU ARE A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. THE TEMPLE IS INHABITED BY LARGE NUMBER OF MONKEYS, WHO ARE EXTREMELY ADEPT AT SNATCHING VISITORS' BELONGING, INCLUDING BAGS, CAMERAS AND EYEGLASSES. KEEP A VERY CLOSE GRIP ON ALL YOUR BELONGINGS AND STOW AWAY YOUR EYEGLASSES IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. IF YOU DO HAVE SOMETHING TAKEN, THE MONKEYS CAN USUALLY BE INDUCED TO EXCHANGE IT FOR SOME FRUIT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, REWARDING THE MONKEYS LIKE THIS ONLY ENCOURAGES THEM TO STEAL MORE. THE CLIFF IS FASCINATING BUT THE TEMPLE ITSELF IS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS OTHERS IN BALI.

JIMBARAN FISH RESTAURANTS JIMBARAN IS A MECCA FOR SEAFOOD, WITH OVER TWO DOZEN SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS LOCATED RIGHT ON THE BEACH. THE RESTAURANTS ARE QUIET AT LUNCHTIME BUT AS THE SUN GOES DOWN, CROWDS ARRIVE TO ADMIRE THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS AND PADDLE IN THE SEA. ONCE DARK, TORCHES AND CANDLES CREATE A WONDERFULLY ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE. DINERS GRAB THEIR TABLES IN THE SAND. THE RESTAURANTS ESSENTIALLY SERVE THE SAME FRESH CATCHES WITH A FEW OFFERING SOME CHOICE OF STYLE OF COOKING.

DEAR FRIENDS, WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD ENJOY YOUR STAYING ON BALI WE WISH YOU TO LIKE THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND AS WE DO. WE WISH YOU TO RETURN TO THIS PARADISE TO SEE ALL PLACES OF INTEREST THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED INTO THIS BROCHURE AND THOSE THAT WE HAVE NOT YET WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHARGE YOU FOR EXCURSIONS, YOU WILL PAY ALL ENTRANCE TICKETS BY YOURSELF, HAVE LUNCHES WHEREVER YOU LIKE. WE ONLY CHARGE YOU FOR PROVIDING TRANSPORT FACILITIES ACCORDING TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO RECOMMEND A TRAVEL ROUTE FOR HALF DAY, FULL DAY EXCURSIONS AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH ORGANIZING TRAVEL TO OTHER ISLANDS.

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