Archive for October 16th, 2006
Exploring Bali is probably my favourite thing to do here. With a motorbike and some time, I can always find new and interesting places to eat, hike and photograph. My GPS unit comes in handy, allowing me to see, via a line of dots, exactly where I’ve been. There is a pastime called Geo caching, which uses GPS’s, to explore.
Sunday morning I logged onto Geocaching.com, the top Geo caching site online and signed up. Geo caching is basically a high tech easter egg hunt. In for a penny, in for a pound, as we say in England. I had never followed a cache hunt before, but thought it would be more fun to place one for someone else (different levels of participation etc. lowest level thinking about it, next level watching…highest level creating an event), I wanted to create something for other people, from the get go.
Checking out the Indonesia listings for Geo cache hunts, I saw there were a few in Bali. Thinking through the process, I figured the way to plant a Geo cache, would be to go to a good location, and work backwards, marking way points and taking clues. That wasn’t the way it actualy worked out. Not wanting to do as much hiking as I did last week, I decided to go for a scenic ride, auto-marking my route, and finishing up at the cache location.
My cache was a large Tim Tam jar, with a log book inside. My route was from Seminyak, through Sempidi and Mambal to Ubud. From there I took a circular scenic ride north from Jl. Raya Ubud, arriving back at the same street. The final section was up Jl. Raya Campuhan, over to Campuhan Ridge, where I easily convinced a Balinese lady, Nyoman, owner of a painting shop, that possession of the Tim Tam jar, would be a magical experience. By simply rubbing it occassionally, tourists would appear like genie’s, eager to view the jar and perhaps, buy one of her paintings. This symbiotic relationship, was formed in about 2 minutes, and hopefully will be fruitfull.
Right now, part of my geo cache is in the system, awaiting approval. Its a very scenic drive and anyone visiting Bali, should be well pleased to take this ride. My one hurdle, is after converting the Auto Track to a Route, which has about 40 way points, I have yet to figure out how to get the coords for each way point. Its a technical detail, and as soon as that’s fixed, Geo caching we go!
source : www.baliblog.com
October 16th, 2006
Most tourists visiting the highlights of Klungkung don’t spend the night there. Bali has its tourist areas (Kuta, Legian, Sanur, Ubud, Nusa Dua etc.) and its traditional district capitals (Bangli, Gianyar, Klungkung etc. ). Its almost like having a parrallel universe, one that the locals think is all important, but one we westerners hardly notice.
For people intending to stay in Klungkung, here is a bit of info on what’s available.
•Accommodation:
Cahaya Puskaka is a cheap guest house with simple rooms close to the street.
(0366) 22118
Loji Ramayana has better rooms for a slightly higher price, which are quieter than Cahaya.
(0366) 21044
•Places to eat:
I’d say go for a wolak and ask the locals, they know where the new places are, and are likely to point you to somewhere good. Jl. Nakula has a couple of places that have a menu in English. You are not going to find a great selection off food places in Klungkung, as far as a westerner is concerned.
•Supermarket:
Always good to know where the supermarket is, in case you need to stock up on supplies. In Klungkung the Cahaya Melati, is located on Jl. Puputan opposite Taman Gili in the center of town.
•Post Office:
If for some reason you just have to mail somewthing from Klungkung, there is a post office located on Jl. Untung Surapati.
•Tourist office:
The tourist office is located on Jl. Untung Surapati 3, in the same building as Museum Daerah Semarapura. (open Mon-thurs 7.30am-3.30pm, Fri 7am-1.15pm) (0366)21448
•Banks:
Jl. Nakula and Jl. Diponegoro have a selection of banks and ATM’s.
Klungkung makes a handy day trip for people staying in Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Ubud and Candi Dasa. Those places are within easy reach and offer way more, in terms of accommodation and food. Klungkung is a place to visit during the day then leave.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 16th, 2006
In the center of Klungkung at the main roundabout, is
Taman Gili (Island Garden). This impressive place, complete with decorated
bales and ponds, contains 3 important places,
Kerta Gosa,
Bale Kambang and the
Semarapura Museum.
•Taman Gili was built in 1710 and is the only surviving part of the old palace. Besides the royal courts at Kerta Gosa, the ‘floating pavilion’ or Bale Kambang, the large gateway, between the inner and outer courts, and the kulkul bell tower, are still intact.
Legend surrounds this place including the story about 2 craftsmen who dreamed of half of a gianlt gateway. They eventually met and together, built the gateway at Taman Gili.
•Kerta Gosa:
In the front corner of Taman Gili, next to the street, is Kerta Gosa, an opened sided bale structure. Kerta Gosa was used by the king and his priests, later as a law court. The ceiling of Kerta Gosa is famous as the decorations are Kamasan (wayang) paintings of crime and punishment. One can imagine the criminal cowering before the judges, peering up at the paintings.
•Bale Kambang:
Situated in the middle of Taman Gili, is Bale Kambang, the bale surrounded by ponds, with decorative paintings off Balinese astrology. The story of Pan & Men Brayut is also shown. Bale Kambang was originally used for royal tooth filing ceremonies.
•Semarapura Museum:
Semarapura Museum houses a selection of objects from Balinese history, including kris, pieces from ancient monuments, textiles and photos.
•Taman Gili (open daily 7am-5.30pm)
Entrance fee: 5,000rp
•Kamasan Village & Art Center:
Just 1km south east of Klungkung, the village of Kamasan is the center of classical wayang, puppets style painting. The Arts Center was opened in 2001 and offers programs from 1-7 days. Tourists can learn the arts, including gamelan, silver work and painting.
(0361) 462611
•Gunarsa Museum:
Collection of Balinese artwork and work of the founder, Dr. Nyoman Gunarsa. Located just beyond Takmung, to the west of Klungkung.
(0362)22256
•Gong making at Tihingan:
Located west of Klungkung, the quiet village of Tihingan is a center for gong making. You can check out the manufacturing process by strolling in. You might decided to buy a gong to shop home. Hopw many people in your neigborhood have a gong?
•Klungkung market:
Klungkung has a huge covered market located in the middle of town. You can buy textiles, batik, ikat, songet, baskets, artwork and other items to take home.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 16th, 2006
London has recently unveiled a memorial, to honor the victims of the 2002 Bali Bombings. My brother
Chris sent me a photo, which shows the 202 doves, carved into a globe, representing the victims.
Here in Bali, nationalism has overtaken the Bali Bombing memorial, but to me its not about what country you are from , its about 202 people, who were murdered by criminals. Let’s hope that the relatives of any Bali Bombing victim, takes some comfort from this new memorial.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 16th, 2006
The town of Klungkung is the capital of Klungkung regency, which includes the islands surrounding Nusa Lembongan. Most tourists don’t visit Klungkung, but it has an important history.
During the Hindu, Majapahit invasion of Bali in 1343, the new rulers set up a court at Gelgel, which is south of Klungkung. The prime minister of the Majapahit empire, Gajah Mada, appointed a Dewa Aging, which means ‘Great God’ to rule over the entire island. The Dewa Agung was for almost 200 years based in Gelgel.
When the Majapahit empire in Java, fell in 1515, to the advancing Muslim, Mataram empire, Bali received an influx of Javanese artisans and members of the royal court and during that era, Gelgel became a center for the arts.
The court was moved to Klungkung at the end of the 17th century. Bali developed separate kingdoms soon after and the strength off Klungkung was over.
The final event that marked Klungkung’s history was a sad one. The Dutch started to occupy Bali in the early 20th century, and went about forcing each kingdom, to submit to their rule. The Dewa Agung of Klungkung refused, meaning the Dutch set themselves up, outside the royal palace to attack. The Dewa Agung and 200 of his courtiers marched down the street and commited a ‘puputan‘ (ritual group suicide) stabbing each other with ceremonial kris, rather than submit to the foreign power. Some of the royal family who were left were exiled in Lombok.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 16th, 2006