Archive for May 23rd, 2006
Contrary to popular beliefs spread by travel guidebooks, not all of night life activities in Bali are the result of foreign tourists. Two spectacular night time activities that are on the opposite end of a spectrum are distintly Balinese:
The Kecak Dance
Also dubbed by Westerners as the Monkey Dance, the Kecak Dance is a spectacular coreographic accomplishment that showcase another aspect of Balinese artistic excellence. One hundred or so bare-chested men sit down on the ground surrounding a bonfire or a fire made from coconut husks, led by a priest or a female dancer in the middle. The only music to accompany them are the beats of their palms clapping or hitting their chests, their thighs, or other parts of their bodies, rhythmically accompanied by shouting and chanting. The dancers move in unison, creating a spectacular sequence of hands stretched out, pulled in, rested on the shoulder of the next person, and waists gyrated left and right. All in a dizzying tempo.
Wayang Kulit
Or shadow puppet. Typically performed very late at night, a Wayang Kulit theatrical performance can last until morning. The night performance of wayang kulit is usually considered strictly entertainment, as opposed to a day performance which usually serves strict religious purpose. Temple festivals and other ceremonies can sometimes be a good place to find a wayang performance.
Balinese dances are sometimes performed at night; regularly scheduled performances are available throughout the year.
Besides those two activities, night life as commonly known in the West also exists in Bali, especially in Kuta. For you people-watchers, the cafes, pubs, and discotheques lining the streets of Kuta and Legian are definitely the place to be and to be seen. Pub crawls can require many nights, and the varieties beat even the wildest college town you would ever know. So, if your idea of fun consists of nightly pub crawls and daily sun bathing to cure the hangover, stop simply stay in Kuta, day and night. You won’t be disappointed.
Up North near Singaraja, Lovina Beach also has its own collection of pubs, restaurants, and discotheques. The environment is nice, friendly, and relaxed, certainly not as hectic as Kuta. And midnight dipping into the tropical water is also something to experience up there…
www.indo.com
May 23rd, 2006
Bali offers not just various customs but also various “adrenalin pump” parks. Many exciting amusements are available in Bali, with something new opening all time. The number of offshore and inland attraction are on the rise because many tourists want them.
After white water rafting that has gained popularity in Bali, comes offshore rafting or ocean rafting. The more adventurous sort of amusement has now become an alternative sport for tourists. Just try it. Your heart will beat faster, especially when your boat hits two meter-high waves at high speed but even so, just like any other adventure sport, safety is the first priority. Meanwhile white water rafting is still a popular activity with trips on the Ayung, Telaga Waja, Unda rivers, etc. You can refresh your mind by watching beautiful scenery along the route.
If you do not want to push your heart so hard, paradigling is a good choice and an exciting way to see Bali from the air. If wind conditions are right, you can view Bali from a very different perspective. If you are a beginner, a professional instructor will accompany you to ride in tandem. So, there is nothing to worry about.
For people with strong confidence and no heart problems, a must is bungy jumping and slingshot. Slingshot will shoot you up skyward so you can feel like a bullet. Bungy jumping offers you a chance to take the plunge. You can choose your view, wanna Kuta’s view (in Kuta) or natural waterfal’s view in Gianyar.
For your entire family, Waterbom Park is an excellent day out for adult and children. It offers five different water slides and a lazy river. You can relax by the pool that has underwater music and swim-to bar.
If you want to experience “war in paradise” Fantasy Bali Splat Mas-Jungle Skirmish is the place for you. It is a war game, where the point is to capture your opposing team’s flag and kill the enemy with paintballs.
May 23rd, 2006
DENPASAR (indo.com): Besakih Temple in Karang Asem regency, Bali, has been proposed as a member of the World Cultural Heritage List. The temple constitutes a powerful religious icon that unifies thousands of Hindu followers from different castes throughout Bali and beyond.
Sutaba, a representative of the Bali Archeology Board, explained to indo.com recently that Besakih Temple is part of the island’s ancient Hindu heritage, with a long history. This includes evidence of pre-Hindu belief systems found in the large ancient stones from the megalithic era. Also present is evidence of the worship of deities, such as those who are believed to reside on Mount Agung, the holy dragon known as Basuki, and also ancestor worship.
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.
May 23rd, 2006