Bedugul - A Beautiful Mountain-Lake Resort

Bedugul is the name of both a small city and a mountain-lake resort area. It is located in a high plateau at the center of the Island. Bedugul, a resort in Bratan Mountains, is famous for its golf course and also the amazing temple of Ulun Danu, which seems to have risen out of Bratan Lake 1,200 metres above sea level. Cool air and mists are natural for the place. Lush pine forests seem to create freshness in the air.

Bedugul is well-known for the quality of its fruit, vegetables, and flowers. And so it’s also known as a center of horticulture. Bedugul is located in cool damp mountain country, an excellent base for walking trips around the lakes and surrounding hills. In Bedugul visitors could fine 3 of Bali 4 lakes, Bratan, Buyan, and Tamblingan that provide everything from recreation to the water for springs, rivers and rice fields below. Bratan, the largest of the three is perfect place for water sports such as parasailing, motor boating, jet skiing, water skiing, canoeing, etc. Bedugul fertile soil also produced abundance of plants and trees, some of them formed rain forests with their exotic birds, monkeys, and other creatures.

Bedugul is located on the main north-south road between Singaraja and Denpasar, on Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia

Pura Tirta Empul, The Temple of Tampak Siring

Pura (literally ‘temple’) Tirta Empul is the temple of Tampak Siring, built around a sacred spring. Tampak Siring is an inscription dates the spring all the way back to 926AD; and there are fine carvings and Garudas on the courtyard buildings. The temple and its two bathing spots have been used by the Balinese for over a thousand years for good health and prosperity; as the spring water really does have the power to cure. Regular purification ceremonies also take place here.

On gorge of Pakerisan River could be found an archaeological complex. To reach the complex visitors must walked down on 315 stone steps. Before take a cross on the bridge at the bottom of the valley make a turn to the left to see the first stone monument. Another group of stone monument is located on the left side of the main temple across of the river. On the right of the main ensemble of temples is a cloister with five cells carved out of rock. The cloister inmates most likely were caretakers of the temple. There's a second hermitage near the main cloister, consisting of niches around a central courtyard, which might have served as sleeping quarters for visiting pilgrims. To get into this part of the temple visitors must take off their shoes. The monuments are hewn in relief on a solid rock hill. There are shaped like burial towers found all over Central and East Java.

However, there are many theories telling identity of the royal personages honored here. One very credible theory suggests the five temple in the main group were built for King Udayana, his Javanese queen Gunapriya, his concubine, his illustrious eldest son Airlangga who ruled over East Java, and his youngest son Anak Wungsu. Reigning over Bali from AD 1050 to 1077, Anak Wungsu is believed to have given up his kingdom to become a religious hermit.

A walk up north of the temple complex could be a short nice walking along the rice field and river stream. The path leads to a small waterfall after 800 meters away and about 1,5 kilometers to Mengening Temple.

Temple of Tampak Siring is located on Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia

Mentawai Islands, One of Excellent Surfing Destination

Mentawai Island is one of the most fascinating and thrilling island in south sea. The island is the favorite destination for the people who love surfing. The perfect waves, warm water and the incredible atmosphere make this place the paradise of surfers. People from all over the world do not mind to come to this part of main Sumatra Island.

Mentawai island is surrounded by the corral reefs. Deep-water flows up onto these coral reefs that protect the continental shelf. Siberut, Sipura, North Pagai (Pagai Utara) and South Pagai (Pagai Selatan) are the four main islands, which make up the chain of Mentawai Islands. Siberut Island (4030 km²) is the largest island among these four Mentawai Islands. The position of these islands makes them an outstanding location for surfing.

Mentawai Islands contain one of the most enthralling and best-preserved indigenous cultures of the world, but, due to the unrestricted tidal wave of Indonesia’s modernization this culture is dangerously close to being extinguished.

Mentawai Islands rain forest accommodates numerous endemic species, including four endemic primates, such as Mentawai leaf-monkey (Presbytis potenziani), Mentawai Macaque (Macaca pagensis), snub-nosed monkey (Simias concolor), and Mentawai Kloss Gibbon (Hylobates klossii).

The Mentawai Islands is located in the Indian Ocean, about 150 km west of West Sumatra Province, Republic of Indonesia.

Surfing near Spectacular Uluwatu Temple in Bali

The Pura Luhur (literally ‘high temples’ or ‘ascension temples’) Uluwatu is famous not only for its unique position, also boasts one of the oldest temples in Bali. This Uluwatu temple is a Bali's most spectacular temple located high on a cliff top at the edge of a plateau 250 feet above the waves of the Indian Ocean. Dedicated to the spirits of the sea, the famous Uluwatu temple is an architectural wonder in black coral rock, beautifully designed with spectacular views. This is a popular place to enjoy the sunset.

Uluwatu temple is one of Bali's directional temples and it guards Bali from evil spirits from the southwest, God of the elements and of cosmic force majeures, Bhatara Rudra. Empu Kuturan, a Javanese Hindu priest who built the tiered meru, founded the temple in the 10th century and a shrine here as well as at other key locations longs the Balinese coast. In the 15th Century the great pilgrim priest Dhang Hyang Dwijendra, who established the present form of Hindu-Dharma religion, chose Pura Uluwatu as his last earthly abode. According to local records, Dwijendra achieved ‘moksa’ while meditating at Uluwatu. The temple is regarded, by Brahman's island wide, as his holy tomb. Legend also tells us that Dwijendra was the architect of the beautiful temple, as well as many other major temples on Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. In the 17th century, Niratha, also from Java, came to Bali and built temples, adding to Uluwatu.

Uluwatu temple is located on the cliff top close to the famous surf break on the southwest of the Bukit peninsula. So Uluwatu Beach is also known for its surf and, in nearby hostelries, its full moon rage parties. It rages at the temple too but in an orderly way, thanks to the royal house of Puri Agung Jero Kuta, Denpasar, who are the temple's hereditary pangemong (custodians). Hundreds of nobles from this family, and many 'devotees' (pengayah) and village ‘pemangku’ priests from nearby hamlets, ensure that every seven months the festival is run efficiently, and most elegantly. The palace is proud of its ancestral role. It manages the awesome logistics with fitting dignity.

Being a popular surfing spot for the very experienced, Uluwatu offers a wonderful vantage point to view a spectacular sunset. Small restaurants perched on the cliff offer a comfortable spot to survey the vast Indian Ocean beyond and below the 100-meter-high cliffs with panorama on three sides.

Uluwatu lies in Badung Regency, southern of Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia.

The Holy Mountain in Bali - Mount Agung

For the people of Bali, Mount Agung is a holy mountain that is a sign of the Almighty. Mount Agung is the highest mountain on the island of Bali. This volcano has a height of about 3100 meters above sea level. In 1963 Mount Agung eruption killed about 1,000 people and destroyed more than 100,000 homes. It’s a miracle, that disaster did not make significant damage to the Great Temple of Pura Besakih, which is situated approximately only 1 km from the Mount Agung.

Mount Agung is one of tourism objects in Indonesia. As an active volcano Mount Agung presents a panorama of crater smoke, spray of sand, and gravel from its 500 meters in width crater. Many vantage points offer spectacular views of the area. If the weather is sunny, from the top of this mountain tourist can enjoy the scenery of the cities in the surrounding areas. This is the natural beauty that attracts tourists to climb the peak of Mount Agung.

In order to be safe for climbing, there are some things should be obeyed by mountain climber. It is not permitted to climb when major religious events are held at Temple of Pura Besakih and Temple of Pura Pasar Agung, which is most of April. The local community believes if it’s violated, disaster will come to such climber. The best time for a climb is during the dry season of May through October.

The Balinese consider Mount Agung to be the center of the world. All temples in Bali point towards Mount Agung. The Great Temple of Pura Besakih, with its uncountable steps, solemnly wait for the arrival of the gods and the goddesses, for when they step down from heaven, they come to Pura Besakih Temple by way of Mount Agung.

Gunung Agung lies in the Karangasem Regency, about 25 km north Denpasar, the capital of Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia.

Beautiful Gili Islands near Bali

"Gili" is the local name, actually means “Small Island”. There are lots of other gili's around Lombok Island. Gili Islands featuring three coral fringed islands, namely Gili Air, Gili Meno, & Gili Trawangan. Each island is with superb, white sandy beaches, clear water, coral reefs, brilliantly colored fish, and the best snorkeling and diving on Lombok. Fishing is one of the highlight activities on the islands. Deep fishing remains the best on northwest of Gili Trawangan. Domestic visitors and foreigners are attracted to the simple pleasures of sun, snorkeling, beautiful beaches, and socializing.

On the islands visitors can rent snorkeling equipment, join a diving course, rent a kayak, go fishing, or take a glass bottom boat to see the magnificent coral reefs and fishes. There are lots of quality scuba diving operations on all the islands. The coral around the islands is good for snorkeling, which can be reached from the shore. While divers are able to regularly swim with black tip, those who prefer to just drifts in the currents with a snorkel, fins and mask are never left disappointed by the more than 6,000 species of marine life living just off-shore. On all the islands also available Dive Schools with many dive programs to choose, from beginners to advanced technical dives.

The absence of cars, motorcycles, and hawkers adds greatly to the leasure of staying on the Gilis.

Gili Islands located in the northwest of Lombok Island, Province of West Nusa Tenggara, Republic of Indonesia. Gili Islands is one of many popular tourist destinations in Indonesia.

Bali's Ancient Royal Temple - Pura Taman Ayun

Taman Ayun in Bali means' beautiful garden '. This complex of religious buildings, are in wide 4 hectares of land, surrounded by a pond or a trench. From a distance, the trench resembles 'ring of water,' and give the impression that the temple is located on the surface of the water. Around the temple, there are trees and flowers that add a wonderful atmosphere.

Pura Taman Ayun Temple complex consists of three parts. The first is the main building called 'Bale Pelik'. Building 'Bale Pelik' decorated by the sculptures, reliefs, and statue of God ‘Nawa Sanga,' which is very interesting. The second part is the open space used for various religious activities and stage arts. In this part visitors can enjoy the beautiful order of ‘Meru’, building with the level-multilevel roof as a typical of holy building in Bali. While the third part is a building that is for the god and goddess in Bali Hinduism.

Temple of Pura Taman Ayun built in 1634 in reign of first king of the Mengwi Kingdom, I Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung, whose title Ida Cokorda Sakti Belambangan. In this period Mengwi Kingdom is one of the strongest kingdom in Bali, which survived until the year 1891. This temple was built as a place of worship for royal family and the king followers.
Unlike with other Bali temples that oriented to the Mount Agung, Taman Ayun Temple oriented to the Mount Batukau.

Temple of Pura Taman Ayun lies in Badung Regency, about 18 km Northwest Denpasar, the capital of Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia.