Archive for March, 2007
Howdy folks and thanks for dropping into the baliwaves ! This mornings 6.45am surf recon of the Outer Reefs of Tuban wasn’t looking too impressive for starters. Wave height hasn’t changed at all, still only in the 1ft range on Kuta Reef with the occassional 1-2 foot wind blown set on Middle Reef and Airport Left. The wind was already fresh, on-shore coming outta the West @ 10knot+ so the best waves today are gunna be found over on the East Coast.
I was talking to Tuban local surfer “Tole” earlier and he said he surfed at Keramas yesterday and scored some nice and clean 2-3 footers, and that’s where he was heading today for some more. I’d reckon there’d be some slightly bigger waves happening at Green Balls and Nusa Dua reefs down on the South Eastern end of Bali as well.
There’s not much tidal difference gunna be happening today with the Low water only dropping down to 1.2mtrs before lunch time and then running back up for a 1.8mtr High around 5.00pm this afternoon. Weather wise today we had a few drops of rain just after sunrise but now @ 9.30am the cloud has thinned out and we’re starting to see some patches of blue sky.
Temperature wise we should see the mercury reach into the high twenties while the humidity is right up there in the mid 90’s. I’ll be keeping a close eye on wave height today as our new swell shouldn’t be too far out, if there are any changes in surfing conditions I’ll get back to ya’s with an afternoon surf up-date ok.
Crossing over to lakey Peak on the island of Sumbawa and Made has sms’d through his report and says that wave height has also dropped off a touch but there’s still the occassional 2 footer hitting Lakey Peak. At the time there were 10 surfers out on the Peak and that surfing conditions were clean and glassy, no one surfing on Lakey Pipe.
They’ve also been getting some rain over at Lakey’s through the night and into the early am and then mainly fine and sunny through the day. Made has also mentioned that the number of visiting International surfers in the area has dropped off suddenly and down in the low 20’s. So to me that sounds like an open invitation for anyone wanting the lakey Peak experience. Drop me an email if ya want the goss on how to get there at Cost Price.
No report in from Ray at Kandui just yet but hopefully we’ll have some more surfing news from the Kandui surf resort in the Mentawai’s later in the day. Until then have a good one stay safe and happy and get ready for your next Indo surfing safari !!!āØGOOD NEWS: If anyone is interested in helping out with the Balinese Orphan Scholarship / Sponsorship Program. In other words turn around the life of a child with some basic education and putting them into a family environment.
Source : www.baliwaves.com
March 28th, 2007
The Peak: best at mid and high tide. Closes out at low tide. In front of the cave. it’s the most consistant. Short and powerful waves, tubes. The take off is moving. It works from 1ft to 8ft. The most crowded. One of the sections closes more than the others.
Racetracks: 100 meters further. fast wave, a lot of sections with easy tubes. Best at low tide and at 6ft. Can hold bigger swell. On the right tide and the right swell, “The Peak” connects with “Racetraks” (you need to be a good tuberider). Over 10ft, Racetracks breaks until “The Corner”.
Inside Corner: best at mid and low tide with a 6ft swell. At first, it’s a fun wave and the final bowl is a tube. Don’t do a cutback just before the bowl! Take plenty of speed, stay high in the face and trim. You will pass the tube.
Outside Corner: the REAL Uluwatu. Works only with big swells (>8ft) and at low tide. The lower is the tide, the better is the wave. Take at least a 7′ board. It is a succession of long walls good for carving and, sometimes, a beautiful final tube. The length is around 300 meters.
Temple: less surfed. 2 waves in fact (”Outside temple” and “The Bombies”). Only for experts because the water is very shallow. For thoses,it is a incredible tube when it works.
Spot information for surfing at Uluwatu (globalsurfer.com):
ā¢ Type of break: reef break
ā¢ Type of wave: hollow barreling wave
ā¢ Direction: left hand
ā¢ Bottom: coral
ā¢ Average lenght of ride: long
ā¢ Suitable for : expert level
Detailed information:
ā¢ Crowd level: a big crowd
ā¢ Best tide: mid
ā¢ Ideal board size: 6′8-7′4 Mini gun
ā¢ Ideal wind direction: south-east
Wavesize & wetsuit:
ā¢ Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter
ā¢ Overhead: 6′- 8′ - Ok : 2′- 4′ - Overhead: 6′- 8′ - Overhead: 6′- 8′
ā¢ Boardshorts - Boardshorts - Boardshorts - Boardshorts
Getting There
To reach Uluwatu from The Ngurah Ray International Airport by using Taxi, rent car/motorcycle or using travel agent. Its about 1 hour drive.
Where to Stay
There are many accommodations from Warung (warung in a traditional caf), motels, hotels until Villa. The range price in $5 until $ 2000 for 1 day. If you stay in warung you just pay for the meals. There are many surfing spot near Uluwatu such as: Padang-padang beach, Dreamland beach, Bingin beach, Impossible beach.
Dining Guide
Various restaurants and cafes throughout Uluwatu, from cheeps price to a luxury restaurant.
Souvenir Tips
Sea-related products, such as items made of seashells, corals and t-shirt, etc.
Other Things to See or Do
There is Temple near the beach, its one of the best temple in Bali called Uluwatu Temple. In the Temple you can see a lot of attractions such as:Watching traditional Bali dace performance, Watching Sunset (very good view from Uluwatu Tample).
Travel Tips
ā¢ A good hat and water-proof sun-screen.
ā¢ Basic first-aid kit, antiseptic dressing, etc.
ā¢ Sand-shoes and thongs.
ā¢ Board-shorts, t-shirts, 1 pair light-weight, long-pants and long-sleeve wind cheater.
ā¢ Two towels and sun-glasses.
ā¢ Personal toiletries, after-sun cream, insect repellent.
ā¢ Walkman, camera, handy-cam and books.
ā¢ Booties, 2 surf-boards.
ā¢ Light-weight wet-suits, rash-vest, gate helmet and spare leg-ropes.
Sources
ā¢ Baliwaves- www.baliwaves.com
ā¢ Surfing Indonesia, periplus action guide.
ā¢ Global Surfer- www.globalsurfers.com
March 28th, 2007
Overnight Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, 3-5 day cruises to Lombok and the Gili Islands, 6-14 day cruises to the Komodo Islands, a World Heritage park - see the world famous pre-historic Komodo dragons, snorkel or scuba dive exotic coral reefs, sport-fish, and lots more. Cruise in comfort. The MOGGY is a 46ft long X 23′ wide high-powered cutter-rigged sailing catamaran, fast and stable. Her 23′ wide beam means less sea-sickness, less rock and roll, and more safety, especially good for children.
āØWe can custom design a program to suit your needs and schedule.
The MOGGY is under survey for 8 passengers on over-night charters. We have 3 X double cabins, two of which are convertible to 2 singles each, and 2 X single cabins. There are two toilets and inside and outside fresh-water showers. The food is second to none, all cooked fresh on-board and enough to satisfy any appetite. With our large capacity freezer and refrigerator systems, you can expect choice meats and seafoods, fresh-crisp salads and vegetable dishes, deserts, fruits, snacks, chocolates and candies, bottled water, sodas, 100% fruit juices and much more.Ā Wine and beer is also included. Lunches and breakfasts no less spectacular!Ā Ā
A 240 volt - 2,800 watt inverter, 12 volt to 240 volt, is in operation 24 hours a day to supply all of your electrical needs without the putt, putt, putt, putt of a generator. This means un-disturbed sleeping. Our salon features an entertainment system consisting of TV, radio, cassette deck,Ā CD, VCR, VCD, and DVD with over 350 current and classic movies and concerts.
For your sport-fishing enjoyment we have state-of-the-art Shimano lever-drag rods and reels. US Divers snorkeling equipment is also included. Scuba diving with a certified PADI Instructor- guide and the finest of scuba equipment can also be arranged at optional cost depending on the number of dives.
Source : www.yachtchartersbali.com
March 14th, 2007
Geography
One of the approximately 14,000 islands that comprise the Indonesian archipelago, Bali anchors east of Java, separated by the small Strait of Bali, and surrounded by the Java Sea on the north, the Indian Ocean on the south, and the Strait of Lombok on the east. A string of volcanic mountains crown the northern part of Bali, with Gunung Agung (Mount Divine, literally) as the tallest at 3,142 meters. This volcano, as well as Mount Batukaru, Mount Batur, and Mount Merebuk is still active.
Extremely important to the agricultural life of Bali, especially for rice crop, the rivers of Ayung, Unda, Sungsang, Balian, Yeh Sumi, Petanu, and Saban carry the water from the highland to the seas. There are four major lakes: Lake Batur at the crater of Mount Batur, Lake Buyan, Lake Bratan, and Lake Temblingan.
Climate
Bali enjoys tropical weather, being only a few degrees south of the equator. It means that the sun rises at 6 AM in the morning and sets at 6 PM in the afternoon, everyday of the year. It means that temperature variation is very small, averaging around 26-30 Celcius, and it does not have four seasons (except the hotel, of course). It only has a wet season, typically from September to February, and a dry season for the other half of the year. But the difference is marginal; at the peak of the wet season you will see about a half-hour to an hour serious downpour in the afternoon, about perfect for a siesta. The rest of the time: nice, warm temperature, especially with a twist of sea breeze in the beaches of Kuta or Nusa Dua.
This climate endows Bali with a number of unique vegetation, including waringin trees (banyan), salak Bali, and a multitude of flowers from a very fragrant cempaka (Michelia champaca) to literally thousand kinds of orchids. Its fauna is equally rich. Bali is the native land to the Bali Tiger, which is almost extinct; Bali cattle, graceful animals not like other cows; bats that haunt caves like the Bat Cave near Kusamba; sea turtles of Nusa Dua; Jalak Bali or Bali Sterling (Leucopsar rothschildi) that has inspired countless number of painters and artists.
Economy
In 1990, the population of Bali is 2,778,000, 93.18% are Hindus, with a density of 500 persons per sq km, and an average growth of 1.18%. Bali’s economy is one of the most vivacious in Indonesia, fueled by constant flow of tourism dollars and supported by agricultural production and trade revenues. Balinese people are gifted artists, producing garment, and arts & crafts that are exported. In addition to gorgeous nature and enchanting people and culture, Bali is also endowed with fertile land. Its economy is growing at close to 9% per year, with export values close to $150 millions.
The primary export products are garments, handicrafts, and agricultural products such as fish, coffee, tuna, seaweed, and vanilla. The arable land of South Bali and a sophisticated irrigation mechanism arranged through the Water Temple system ( which has been shown by a couple of University of Southern California scientists to be optimal), give Bali and its people two full crops of rice year after year. Corn and other horticulture are also planted.
The land is also an excellent grazing pasture for Balinese cattles, water buffalloes, goats, sheeps, and horses. Pigs are also raised and consumed a lot in Bali, and chickens and ducks are raised by the farmers in their land. The rain forests in Bali produce cayuput oil, rattan, and incense, which is used ubiquitously in Balinese ceremony. There is about 8,535.05 ha of productive forest area. The Balinese are not too eager to explore the sea, because they believe that it is the place of evil spirits. However, tuna, baramundi, seaweed, and shrimp are quite abundant in the seas surrounding Bali. Balinese have about 841.37 ha of water fishery area.
Epilogue
Having been promoted by the Dutch during the colonialization period, Balinese tourism is the most advanced in Indonesia. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bali’s tourism is the fact that the Balinese people retain its own cultural identity, despite the exposure and intermingling of all kinds of people and culture from all over the world.
Source : www.baliinformation.net
March 14th, 2007
So far this kind of battle demonstration only exists at a village in Bali, that is at Tenganan Pegringsingan, the regency of Karangasem, around 17 km from the capital city of Amlapura, or 65 km from Denpasar, the capital city of Bali province. The village is located at an isolated area with 3 sides are walled by mountain range, and open toward the south lowland of Bali, which is the only feasible area to construct transportation link to the rest of Bali areas.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Relating to the origin of the village and its people there are myth still alive among the residents. Any way such myth has the same nature with almost all ethnic or tribe’s claim to their ancestor’s divine origin. Scientific research at the present stage could give us only at a level of theoretical understanding about the origin of people, and their existence.
Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Study from linguistic and archaeology suggest that Balinese history has experienced many ethnical events, such as consecutive influx of immigrations from South Asian Peninsula. It is assumed that the following eras had happened. During early metal age or post Megalithic, Bali has been inhabited by an ethnic of Negritos family. The findings of burials remains support this theory. During agricultural revolution or developed metal age, groups of migrators from South Peninsula started to row their simple boats toward the southern archipelagoes. This migration influx continues until the Christian era, and each group arrived at a different coastal areas of Indonesia and settle there including Bali.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Toward the beginning of Christian era migrators in different missions such as trades and ideological missions started to arrive in some coastal settlements of Indonesia. This is especially true for the Hindu, Moslem, and the last is Christian.From 8 to 14 Century ( exactly until 1345 AD ), Bali enjoyed a stabile political history. During this period Indian influence as shown by the king’s names, and dialect vocabularies have been noticeable.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Between 14 and 16 Century A.D. it can be said that it was the strongest implantation of influences by the last Biggest Hindu Java Majapahit kingdom in Bali.
Source : balitouring.com
March 8th, 2007
Pacung Mountain Resort warm welcome you with the comforts of private, intimate and romantic location, natural warmth and friendliness staff will make it hard to leave Pacung Mountain Resort, where comfort, nature cool beauty and tradition combine. Pacung Mountain Resort is a deluxe hotel accommodation. Pacung Mountain Resort is a 3 stars accommodation with 4 stars hotel services. Pacung Mountain Resort invites you to experience and enjoy the through magic of Bali in your home away from home.
Pacung Mountain Resort Location
Pacung Mountain Resort is located In the area of Pacung Village, almost in the center of Bali, Pacung Mountain Resort is one of Bali hotel located on the slope of Bali central mountain peak. Pacung Mountain Resort is a good stop for those who wan to make a Bali tour circle by selecting west part of Bali tour program, or southern part of Bali tour program.
Ā Ā
Pacung Mountain Resort is around 2 hours drive from airport, 1 hour drive to Denpasar City, and 15 minutes drive to Lake Beratan (Bedugul Mountain Resort).
Pacung Mountain Resort guest room
Pacung Mountain Resort’s room has Verandah/Balcony, private bath room with tub, shower, hot and cold running water, TV, pipe music, mini bar, IDD phone. No air condition is needed since the temperature is low.
Pacung Mountain Resort has : 39 rooms overlooking terrace of rice field, mountain ranges and valley, restaurant, coffee shop, 24 hours room service, lobby bar, video movie program, luggage room, traditional massage, laundry service, drug store, meeting room, safety deposit boxes, Karaoke, children’s pool, adult’s swimming pool.
Source : balitouring.com
March 8th, 2007
Pura Taman Ayun has never forgotten by any sightseeing itinerary with the destination of west and north Bali. The temple is also used as a special place of events such as incentive program with Bali cultural night. With the temple architecture as background it is a real Balinese royal feast.
The establishment of Pura Taman Ayun is related to the development of Mengwi kingdom in 17th century. A manuscript describing the birth of Mengwi kingdom called ” Babad Mengwi ” gives a description that the founder of the kingdom I Gusti Ngurah Putu after succeeded in extending his emporium he built Ulun Danu temple on the bank of lake Beratan, than moved his palace from Balahayu to Mengwi and built Taman Ayun temple. The date of construction is expressed on a carved door with chronogram reads ” Sad Bhuta Yaksa Dewa ” means 1634 AD.
Temple Structure
As the common layout of temple in Bali, the area of 250 x 100 square meters is divided into 4 courtyards. On west side is the natural pool by constructing dam across the small river on the southern end of the temple area. The temple has been renovated in 1949 on the gates, split gates, walls and meeting hall, and pavilion called ” Bale Bengong” In 1972 all black fiber roofs were renewed, the last in 1976 was built the pavilion tower called ” Bale Kulkul ” and the roof of meeting hall was changed.
On the east side of the main complex there is a meru dedicated to the god of fertility, which is closely related with rice and irrigation, called : shrine of Ulun Suwi ” At one side of the east part is a shrine of the spirit warrior Pasek Buduk from Buduk village, a place around 10 kms from this temple site. The reason of the king building a worship to a spirit of Pasek Buduk, due to unending war between Mengwi and Buduk village area. Pasek was the resistant and strong defender and head of the village. Inspired by the bigger necessity to consolidate the kingdom Pasek wanted to subdue to the king by disclosing his physical weakness, and asked the king to build for his spirit a shrine in the temple, and appoint from 4 casts as the adoption of king children. The king agreed and adopted 40 children who then called the clan of ” Pasek Batu Bata”. It is mentioned that from the clan of Pasek Buduk and those adopted children had grown a strong garrison to support the glory of Mengwi kingdom. Mengwi is the second kingdom of Bali to control Blambangan regency ( now Banyuwangi in East Java ).
Total number of shrines and pavilions in the complex are 50 units. This shrines are not all dedicated to god or holy spirits but some are as ritual facilities, public hall, and decorations.
For Taman Ayun temple, the responsible principal is Mengwi palace assisted by the society in the area of current Mengwi Kecamatan administrative government. During the main ceremony people from outside Kecamatan Mengwi are usually coming for praying, especially those areas before under Mengwi kingdom.
Mengwi kingdom also built Puncak Mangu temple, a big temple behind the mount Mangu across the ridge of south lake Beratan, and Batukaru and Tanah Lot temple were supposed to have been built by Mengwi kingdom.
Source : www.balitouring.com
March 6th, 2007
Mas Village has most fundamental identity as an artistic countryside by focusing in artistic of wood carving. Mas Village is located in Ubud sub district, Gianyar Regency own the typical style in wood carving art placing forward the distinguish synergy the humanism and naturalism. This Countryside popularity as a famous art countryside mounted in the national and world level and not get out of the highness name of some maestro which born, enlarged and find the spirit, taksu and soul have artistry in Mas village like big actor of Ida Bagus Tilem and others.
Mas Village is a place to visit in Bali
This Artistic countryside owns the long history root. Result of wood carving art in that countryside own the immeasurable and wide dimension like idol for the devoting (arca idol), representative dimension of everyday social Bali society life (farmer, fisherman, worker, intellectual, merchant etc) the abstract dimension as existing of actor imagination which listening carefully of reality, dynamics and life philosophy.
Dimension obtaining big Wight and extend is to importance of souvenir and commodity of local, national and international commercial. The Mas Village’s society are same as other tourism countryside in Bali, have also experienced of the transformation from agrarian society to the crafting society and nowadays continue to service society from commerce service until service of levying the souvenir for overseas and domestic tourist. Although fundamental identity of Mas Village is artistic countryside, nowadays also expand immeasurable of very important and potential cultural fascination and a tourism object in upstate of Mas Village is Rudana Museum. One from some museum monumental about Bali artistry, specially art painting. This Museum owns the very big collection, typically and collects several of high valuable painting.
Mas Village Location
The location of Mas Village is stay in the strategic position and reachable from the various angle. Related to the position of Denpasar town, hence location of Mas Village reside in about 15 km easterly go to the majors road to Ubud. Starting spandrel points step into Mas Village is Sakah, where there are a big baby idol which monumental. The Baby idol represent the symbol and representative of human being life early which is in belief and local wisdom very loaded with the philosophic value, religious and dynamism. In cognate of Balinese, baby represent the representative of fertility and early stage of human being species before human being enter the life cycle hereinafter.
Source : www.balistarisland.com
March 6th, 2007
The road is a river, awash with monsoonal rains. The midday sun has darkened to a candle of light and thunder resounds like cannon fire across the sullen Bali sky. āIt is Godās music,ā Wayan assures me from inside the shelter of his roadside stall, and for him the weather is indeed a divine blessing. I am the first traveller in months to stop at his store on the outskirts of the city of Gianyar, marooned here in my sodden clothes and with my mythically deep tourist pockets.
I order a second drink and another stormy hour passes. Out in the bitumen stream, a prehistoric bicycle splashes past, its rider bared to the rain but for a pair of saturated trousers that cling to his grasshopper-thin legs. Such stoicism shames me, huddled as I am in the comfort of this temporary asylum. I make my farewell to a disappointed Wayan, who assures me I am both strong and crazy, and head back out into the rain and onto my own dripping bicycle. āYou are likeā¦Neil Armstrong,ā Wayan proclaims, though he means Lance Armstrong since Iāve just told him of my intention to cycle around Bali.
My journey had begun in Denpasar just a few hours before. If there is safety in madness it is here, cycling in the turmoil of Baliās largest city. Traffic spins as wildly as a centrifuge, trucks, cars, motorbikes, pushcarts, dogs, pedestrians and chickens doing as they please. Itās disorder thatās accustomed to disorder, Asia condensed to a small island, and my bicycle barely registered in its mind. I was just another pothole or chicken to be driven around.
Horns sounded without end, but within an hour Iād learned to ignore them, their language more foreign to me even than Indonesian. They seemed to say nothing and everything ā hello, watch out, move aside, good luck or, simply, I have a horn. Trucks lumbered by but only one came near to hitting me, a truck
….. I was finally attacked, a pair of mutts salivating over my legs.
named God Bless II that almost blessed me head-on.
Denpasar sprawled east to blur into Gianyar, the roadside an unholy alliance of temples, urban rice fields and stores advertising Playstation rental and the machismo of cigarettes. Quickly it became apparent that the beaches, volcanoes and lush rice terraces that monopolise Baliās tourist image would not be the cyclistās reality, fading to secondary status behind the endless string of village life. Each time I stopped for a rest motorbikes pulled in alongside, asking the question Iād answer dozens of times each day. āWhere you go?ā Any reply would suffice. Sometimes Iād name the next village, city or tourist attraction. Other times Iād get bolder. āTo the moon,ā I told one motorcyclist in Gianyar, delighting in my new kinship with Neil Armstrong. āVery good, sir.ā
To the continued accompaniment of Godās thunderous tune I turned inland at Gianyar, onto the fertile slopes of Baliās highest and most sacred volcano, Gunung Agung. Settlement and the road snaked up the volcano and into the former royal city of Bangli. Billed by one local book as the āCinderella of Bali tourismā, Bangli is bookended by great temples: the lurid afterlife threats in the relief carvings on Pura Dalem Penunggekan; and Pura Kehen, the islandās second-largest temple, stepped into a hillside above the city. Kehen is tourist central for Bangli, yet almost every one of the souvenir stalls at its edge was shuttered. That night, I would be the only guest at either of Bangliās two hotels. āBali many problems,ā a man at Pura Kehenās entrance told me in broken English. āBomb.ā And so began another discussion that echoed through my days on the island: the Kuta bombing.
Not once did I dig at Balinese memories of the blast but they lay scattered and exposed like rubble. That night, I heard music in the street below my hotel room ā guitar, tambourine and wonderfully raucous, harmonising voices. Balinese songs broken by a recurring rendition of La Bamba.
I wandered outside and sat on the kerb to listen. Within minutes I was invited over for a beer and a song. āThree years ago Bangli had many tourists, but now there are none,ā one of the singers explained, his face hardening like stone. āFuck Ambrosi. Fuck terrorist.ā Fuck terrorist, the others sang. The same words followed me from conversation to conversation, village to village. English-speakers or not, it seemed that everybody knew this one fervent statement.
In Bangli the night never stilled and I slept fitfully. Dogs fought in the street, roosters called impatiently and people rose to begin their long days. Finally, so did the sun, etching Gunung Agung black onto the dawn sky, its peak almost 3000 metres above the city. That day my punishment would be to contour across the mountainās ribbed slopes, riding a rollercoaster of lava flows towards the islandās east coast. My reward for this effort would be to disappear into the verdant folds that held some of Baliās most attractive rice terracing. Cattle ploughed the terraces and workers stood from their river baths, immodest about their nudity, to wave as I passed. āWhere you go, sir?ā theyād call, and Iād just point ahead. On through this terraced country seemed as good as anywhere. The road crested at around 600 metres above sea level, the rice fields suddenly behind and below me and a tropical cornucopia ahead. The forest thickened and filled with rambutan, papaya, banana and salak, the Balinese āsnakeskinā fruit that would virtually fuel my journey. My panniers became heavy with fruit, a decided anchor for what would become a difficult next day.
My plan for that day was to reach the once-burgeoning east-coast resort of Amed, only 14 kilometres from where I slept in Tirta Gangga. It could have been so easy. Instead, I doubled back and turned onto the little-used coastal road that rounded Baliās eastern tip. Fifty kilometres later Iād be cursing the most trying day of my journey. I joined the coast at Ujung, site of an elaborate water palace, its pools now more popular with local anglers than tourists. From here the road pointed up, not following the coast at all but ascending onto the slopes of the volcano Gunung Seraya. Through Seraya village the road climbed 200 metres, sweat pouring from my body in the relentless humidity, making me wetter than Iād been in some downpours. The money in my pockets turned soft with moisture. So much for the luxury of the coast, which I sighted only through breaks in the forest, glimpses of gorgeous, faraway shores and tiny villages as remote as the Sea of Tranquillity.
Word spread along the road of my slow passage and children ran from their homes and schools to wave and call. I was cheered, jeered and even horse-whipped by one importunate boy, but always ā as had become customary ā I was called āsirā.
On I climbed, the road narrowing to a pencil line, devoid of almost anything but foot traffic. The landscapes changed ā cornfields replacing rice on these drier, steeper slopes ā and so did my welcome. Young children suddenly ran from me, scrambling terrified into the cornfields. Babies wailed and dogs scatteredā¦what sort of strange place was this eastern tip of Bali that dogs ran from cyclists and not after them? It was as though I was a pioneering tourist on this far-flung nib of land, but I clearly wasnāt. In an instant my name changed from āsirā to āpenā and ācigaretteā as children and youths shouted their demands for handouts. On uphill stretches of road they ran alongside the bike, keeping pace, yelling, screaming, threatening at times. For two hours I shook my head at almost everybody I passed, my mood becoming as black as the beaches to which I was heading. At Amedās edge I passed a final group of youths, my head down to avoid contact, but still they turned to stare. āHave a nice trip,ā one called and waved me on. The words hit me like a cool wind, blowing off my sweat and anger.
In Amed, fishing and tourism appeared to have struck an uneasy balance. Here, as yet, it had been impossible to replace island reality with the sterility of a resort strip. Fishermenās hovels lined the beaches, little more than roofs without walls, their toilets cut into the sand, awaiting the flush of high tide. Fishing boats were stacked so thickly that the beaches beneath might not have existed and pigs, not touts, sniffed after strangers on the beach.
My flirtation with hills over (for now), I woke to a day of blessed flatness across Baliās north coast. The volcanoes became scenery rather than cruelties, and greetings seemed to ring from every home ā āHello, sirā ā and from unseen workers in fields. Even the constant crowing of the fighting cocks caged at the roadās edge began to seem like salutations. People tested the few English phrases they knew ā āThank you, yesā; āI love youā; āHow you going, blokeā ā and one corn farmer ran from his field, insisting I take his photo. āOne thousand rupiah,ā he demanded once Iād done soā¦a 20-cent modelling fee. He asked for my shirt and my watch also but didnāt even shrug when I refused. He waved me on with a smile. And in the spa town of Air Sanih, a new greeting: āYou want girl?ā I pedalled on, though it had been my intention to stop the night here. (Andrew Bain)
Source : www.travelintelligence.net
March 2nd, 2007
1. Monumen Garuda Wisnu Kencana
Patung Garuda Wisnu Kencana berlokasi di Bukit Unggasan - Jimbaran, Bali. Patung ini merupakan karya pematung terkenal Bali, I Nyoman Nuarta. Monumen ini dikembangkan sebagai taman budaya dan menjadi ikon bagi pariwisata Bali dan Indonesia. Patung tersebut berwujud Dewa Wisnu yang dalam agama Hindu adalah Dewa Pelindung, mengendarai burung Garuda. Tokoh Garuda dapat dilihat di kisah Garuda & Kerajaannya yang berkisah mengenai rasa bakti dan pengorbanan burung Garuda untuk menyelamatkan ibunya dari perbudakan yang akhirnya dilindungi oleh Dewa Wisnu. Patung ini diproyeksikan untuk mengikat tata ruang dengan jarak pandang sampai dengan 20 km sehingga dapat terlihat dari Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua hingga Tanah Lot. Patung Garuda Wisnu Kencana ini merupakan simbol dari misi penyelamatan lingkungan dan dunia. Patung ini terbuat dari campuran tembaga dan baja seberat 4.000 ton, dengan tinggi 75 meter dan lebar 60 meter.
2. Kintamani atau Batur
Obyek Wisata Kawasan Batur terletak di Desa Batur, Kecamatan Kintamani Kabupaten Daerah Tingkat II Bangli. Obyek Wisata Kawasan Batur berada pada ketinggian 900 m di atas permukaan laut dengan suhu udaranya berhawa sejuk pada siang ahri dan dingin pada malam hari. Untuk mencapai lokasi ini dari Ibu Kota Bangli jaraknya 23 km. Obyek wisata ini dapat dilalui dengan kendaraan bermotor, karena lokasi ini menghubungkan kota Bangli dan kota Singaraja. Sedangkan rute obyek, menghubungkan Obyek Wisata Kawasan Batur dengan Obyek Wisata Tampaksiring dan Besakih.
Obyek wisata Kawasan Batur ramai dikunjungi oleh wisatawan mancanegara dan nusantara. Kunjungan yang paling menonjol sekitar bulan Agustus, Desember, saat menyambut Tahun Baru dan suasana Tahun Baru. Demikian pula pada hari-hari Raya Galungan, Idul Fitri dan Hari Raya Natal, bahkan sering dikunjungi oleh tamu negara baik dari pusat maupun tamu dari luar negeri.
3. Kebun Raya Bali / Bedugul
Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali ada sebuah kebun penelitian besar yang terletak di wilayah Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia. Kebun ini merupakan kebun raya pertama yang didirikan oleh putra bangsa Indonesia. Pengelolaannya berada di bawah manajemen Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI) dan secara organisasional berada di bawah pembinaan Pusat Konservasi Tumbuhan Kebun Raya Bogor. Kebun ini didirikan pada 15 Juli 1959, pada awalnya Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali hanya diperuntukkan bagi tumbuhan jenis coniferae. Seiring dengan perkembangan dan perubahan status serta luas kawasannya, kebun yang berada pada ketinggian 1.250 Ʊ 1.450 mdpl ini kini menjadi kawasan konservasi ex-situ bagi tumbuhan pegunungan tropika Kawasan Timur Indonesia. Luas kawasan Kebun Raya semula hanya 50 ha, tetapi saat ini luas kebun raya menjadi 157,5 ha.
Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali terletak ditengah-tengah kepulauan Bali, yakni berada di Kaldera bekas gunung berapi.
Untuk menuju Kebun Raya Bali dapat ditempuh melalui perjalanan darat sela 1 setengah jam dari Denpasar, atau sekitar 80 km ke arah utara Denpasar menuju Singaraja. Jika dari Singaraja maka jarak yang ditempuh sekitar 40 km ke arah selatan menuju Denpasar atau menempuh waktu setengah jam perjalanan darat.
4. Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot adalah sebuah objek wisata di Bali, Indonesia. Di sini ada dua pura yang terletak di di atas batu besar. Satu terletak di atas bongkahan batu dan satunya terletak di atas tebing mirip dengan Pura Uluwatu. Pura Tanah Lot ini merupakan bagian dari pura Sad Kahyangan, yaitu pura-pura yang merupakan sendi-sendi pulau Bali. Pura Tanah Lot merupakan pura laut tempat pemujaan dewa-dewa penjaga laut.
Obyek wisata tanah lot terletak di Desa Beraban Kecamatan Kediri Kabupaten Tabanan, sekitar 13 km barat Tabanan. Disebelah utara Pura Tanah Lot terdapat sebuah pura yang terletak di atas tebing yang menjorok ke laut. Tebing ini menghubungkan pura dengan daratan dan berbentuk seperti jembatan (melengkung). Tanah Lot terkenal sebagai tempat yang indah untuk melihat matahari terbenam (sunset), turis-turis biasanya ramai pada sore hari untuk melihat keindahan sunset di sini.
5. Ubud Kampung Seni
Ubud adalah sebuah tempat peristirahatan di daerah kabupaten Gianyar, pulau Bali, Indonesia.
Ubud terutama terkenal di antara para wisatawan mancanegara karena lokasi ini terletak di antara sawah dan hutan yang terletak di antara jurang-jurang gunung yang membuat alam sangat indah. Di sini banyak pula terdapat galeri-galeri seni.
Sudah sejak tahun 1930-an, Ubud terkenal di antara wisatawan barat. Kala itu pelukis Jerman; Walter Spies dan pelukis Belanda; Rudolf Bonnet menetap di sana. Mereka dibantu oleh Cokorda Sukawati. Sekarang karya mereka bisa dilihat di Puri Lukisan Museum.
6. Pantai Sanur
Pantai Sanur adalah sebuah tempat pelancongan pariwisata yang terkenal di pulau Bali. Tempat ini letaknya adalah persis di sebelah timur kota Denpasar, ibukota Bali. Sanur berada di kabupaten Badung.
Pantai Sanur terutama adalah lokasi untuk berselancar (surfing). Terutama ombak pantai Sanur sudah termasyhur di antara para wisatawan mancanegara.
Pantai Sanur juga dikenal sebagai Sunrise beach (pantai matahari terbit) sebagai lawan dari Pantai Kuta.
7. Pantai Jimbaran
Jimbaran adalah sebuah pantai di Kabupaten Badung, Bali, Indonesia. Letaknya di sebelah selatan pulau Bali, sekitar 10 menit dari Bandara Internasional Ngurah Rai. Di Jimbaran terdapat restoran-restoran makanan laut (seafood) dan juga hotel-hotel internasional. Jimbaran dulunya merupakan kampung nelayan.
8. Kota Denpasar
Denpasar adalah ibu kota provinsi Bali, Indonesia. Kota ini merupakan pusat ekonomi pulau Bali, di sini terjadi pertemuan antara budaya tradisional Bali dengan budaya barat. Dahulu kota ini terkenal dengan nama Badung. Pada tahun 1906 terjadi di kota ini perang puputan. Dahulu banyak para pedagang dari negara Arab dan Tiongkok yang datang ke sini untuk berdagang. Nama Denpasar berarti pula pasar baru. Di selatan kota ini terletak Bandar Udara Ngurah Rai. Kota ini terletak pada koordinat 8ā39′ S 115ā13′ E.
Sumber : www.bali.go.id
March 1st, 2007
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