Padang Bai Beach Development: East Bali

The beautifying of Padang Bai’s front beach on Bali’s central east coast has improved the area no end. Gone are the Rasta shacks and edge of water warung ready to flop into the blue seas like fish just caught; along with kitchen waste and sewerage.

Today the front beach is instead awash with the colors of local wooden prahu or fishing boats, their lobster-like forms resting on the golden sands in wait for the next dawn’s fishing trip.

Padang Bai’s beach again looks like a well-loved fishing village; the prime movers behind the beach clean up, completed recently, were visionary and courageous. Padang Bai is now pretty enough to rival many an international beach destination and should be attracting tourists like lobsters to lobster pots.

However there is a downside to all this smartening up of the place. Women who for years have trawled for customers the beach and its lopsided warung built on bandy-legged stilts, selling their sarongs, fans, paintings, massages and more, are now practically out of a job.

Seventy-four-year-old great grandmother Ida Ayu Rai and her younger sister, Nyoman, travel by bus daily from Gianyar to Padang Bai to sell their wares. For great grandmother, English-speaking Ayu, days at the beach are better than being at home with seven grandchildren to contend with, even if business is not as good as it was pre-beach makeover.

“For me it’s a chance to get away from the grandchildren. Also it’s a healthy way to spend my days and maybe make some income as well. I sell lontar, paintings, fans and other souvenirs.

“Sometimes I might make Rp 100,000, other days I will go home without covering my bus fare. I used to make a lot more before the beach was cleaned up of the warung,” said Ayu.

She adds that despite more tourists visiting the spruced up beach, there is less opportunity to sell her wares.

“In the past we could go into the little warung on the beach and maybe people would be interested, but now with the big restaurants, we are not comfortable entering. But I still like being here — it’s lovely,” Ayu said.

Though Ayu is not totally dependent on her beach earnings, for younger women, such as Wayan Doreen from Klungkung and Nyoman from Padang Bai, the changes to the beach have had a severe impact on their ability to earn a living.

“Visitors no longer rest on this beach. In the past, before the beautification, many people would rest at the warung and meet us afterward on the beach for a massage or to buy a sarong. Now they go to other beaches and don’t relax here so much,” Doreen said.

Both women have school-aged children and are dependent on their income selling souvenirs to cover education costs.

“We now live on borrowings to pay for things like school fees. We never had to do that in the past. It’s getting really hard,” Nyoman said.

Despite the difficulties all the women agree Padang Bai is a good place to work and would not choose to go to different areas. `”I have been here 15 years and during that time tourist numbers have gone up and down. We all find the tourists are always really nice and friendly — never rude. I hope as people hear how good Padang Bai is these days, we get more people coming to visit and we can sell more souvenirs,” said Doreen gathering her mixed basket of souvenirs and loading dozens of sarongs onto her head before heading off in search of customers.

Trisha Sertori

BALI TRADITION AND RELIGION - THE BALINESE HINDUISM -

Though Bali is multi-religious, consisting of Christian, Muslim and Buddhist minorities, the predominant religion is Hinduism.

Balinese Hinduism, called Agama Hindu Dharma, originated from Java and is a blend of Shivaism and Buddhism. The theological foundation for the religion comes from Indian philosophy while indigenous beliefs form the backbone of the rituals. This blending is perfectly acceptable in Bali as the saying goes "The truth is one; the interpretation, multiple."

In Balinese Hinduism, the indigenous beliefs manifest in the belief that nature is "power" and each element is subject to influence from spirits. Ancestor worship is also a part of the beliefs. Spirits and ancestors are treated with respect, and they are housed in a shrine and feted with offerings made from agricultural products.

As Gunung Agung is the abode of the gods and the ancestors, it is revered as the "Mother" mountain and is highly sacred to the Balinese. As water and volcanoes - considered as the wrath of the gods - come from Gunung Agung, the mountain occupies the pole of purity, kaja.

In contrast, the pole of impurity is the sea, or kelod.Balinese Hinduism revolves around this kaja-kelod axis and determines the spatial organization of rituals, architecture and daily life. One sleeps, for example, with one's head in the direction of the mountain.

Religion in Bali varies according to three principles: desa (place), kala (time) and patra (circumstances). Hinduism acknowledges five pillars of faith. They are belief in the one Supreme God (Brahaman of Sang Hyang Widdhi Wasa); belief in the soul as the universal principle of life and consciousness (atma); belief in the fruition of one's deeds (karma phala); belief in the process of birth and death (samsara); and belief in ultimate release (moksa).

One of the consequences of the principles of karma and samsara is the existence of the caste system where an individual inherits his status as a result of his or her past life. The four castes in Bali are the brahmana, who deal with religion and the holy texts; the satria or rulers; the wesia or merchants and the sudras, the lower class.

God has a variety of names. Being multiple and all pervading, he is the Ultimate Void or Sunya expanding in an infinity of murti of manifestations from which people select one as lstadewata or a personal god. Some of the names are indigenous; Sang Hyang Embang, and others of Indian Origin, Sang Hyang Parama Kawi. Ultimately however, all gods are seen as emanating from a single source.

The principle gods are Brahma, the God of Creation; Wisnu, the God of Providence; and Siwa, the God of Dissolution. These three move the world through an unending process of birth, balance and destruction. Man, a microcosm of the world, is subjected to the same process until he or she achieves moksa, blending into the Cosmos and God. The cosmos and it movement is symbolized by the swastika.

Man should endeavor to maintain the harmony of the whole system, hence the role of ritual. Only by adhering to the proper rules of behavior can the proper balance be kept between the two sets of godly and demonic forces. Balinese religion is known to the world through the richness of its rituals. Gods and demons seem to be every where and the life of the Balinese is therefore replete with rituals.

As the tools for maintaining the balance of the world there are rituals for everything imaginable, from knowledge, cleansing machines to marriage and birth ceremonies - all of different types and levels. Rituals consist of calling down the gods and the ancestors for visits from their heavenly abode in their country above the mountain. They come down during temple festivals and are entertained with dances and feted with offerings. They can also be called down through the entreaties of a priest.

Balinese rituals are ruled by a complex calendar system, a combination of the Indian Saka calendar and the Wuku calendar. The Saka year rules the agricultural cycle and is divided into lunar months and fitted into the solar calendar by the addition of an extra month, every thirtieth month. The full moon and the dark moon are the most important ritual moments of this calendar. The first day of the Saka year, however, usually in March is the day of Silence and of profound importance throughout Bali.

The Wuku year consists of a cycle of 210 days divided into thirty wuku weeks, each of which corresponds to a specific activity. There is a week of weapons and one of animals, for example. There are then other types of weeks varying from one to ten days, each having a name and number, being auspicious or inauspicious. The most important days in this system are Galungan and Kuningan, when all the ancestors come down to visit.

Temples in Bali are simple walled open yards from which people can-communicate directly with their gods and ancestors, Gods and ancestors normally "visit" their human worshipers or descendants during temple festivals (odalan). They reside in miniature houses set in the temple, the pelinggih shrines and alight with effigies of gold, coins or offerings.

During the length of their stay, the gods and their companions are symbolically bathed. feted, put to bed and entertained with dances and other shows. Meanwhile members of the temple come and go over three or more days, with offerings and to get their share of holy water sprinkled over them and the offerings during the collective prayers.

There are few societies in the world where religion plays a role such as it does in Bali. The incredible beauty and color that accompanies the rituals and offerings, which seem to be ever occurring, that Bali is continually harmonizing the world of Man with the cosmic world of the Gods.

BALI STYLE ON CONSTRUCTION

The pekarangan (compound) of the "kuren", the Balinese home, is made up of five basic elements: the doorway, with its screen and split arch, the main sleeping area, with its open verandah, a raised barn for storing rice, a kitchen and a bathing area. There may also be a workshop and a family temple.

Theoretically, but rarely in practice, the courtyard is divided up into nine equal parts. If kaja, the Mountainside direction, is taken as north, the family temple is always placed in the north-east corner of the courtyard. The adjacent south-west corner is considered to be the abode of evil and is always left empty.

The lumbung (granary) and the paon (kitchen) are placed in the south-east corner, to the right of some one entering the courtyard. To the incomer's left, situated around the "natah", the centre of the courtyard which is left open to provide a work and recreational area for the family, are three distinct sleeping quarters. Clockwise from an incomer's left are the bale dauh (guests' room) parallel to the west wall, the "meten / bale daja" (the room for parents, grandparents and unmarried girls) parallel to the north wall, and the "bale dangin" (the adults' quarters) parallel to the east wall. An additional bale, the bale delod, may be constructed on the kelod ('south') side if required. The bale dangin is used to celebrate such important rites of passage as weddings and tooth-filing. Children sleep in the bale dauh or in a special 'lion built for them in the north-west corner of the compound.

The word bale means 'pavilion', and the structure of the bale is at least partially open (the even, humid climate means that a roof to provide shelter from the rain is the only real necessity). They will have one or two walls, but the pavilion where the head of the compound resides (with all the family treasures) will be enclosed on all four sides. The pavilions are distinguished from one another by the number of pillars (saka) each has. A six-pillar bale is known as a bale saka-enam, A eight-pillar bale is known as a bale saka-ulu and the largest bale, with twelve pillars, is known as a bale gede. These buildings are constructed with posts set into a masonry base supporting a roof of radiating beamwork. Some have walls of brick or ruff masonry, a feature that probably derived from the temple architecture of medieval east Java. The roof is always crowned with a terracotta finial.
Some roofs are still made of alang-alang grass, sewn onto the ribs of coconutpalm leaves, which are set closely together and tied onto the bamboo or coconutwood roof frame with hard-wearing sugar-palm fibre. Layers of grass thatch are combed with a special rake, then trimmed, and extra layers of grass are added at the four corners. This type of thatch, often 45 centimetres (18 in.) thick, can last for up to fifty years. Nowadays a ceramic tiled roof is more usual (although bamboo is an alternative in the mountains). The beams that support the roof are fitted together and held in place with pegs made from the heartwood of coconut trees. Wooden or stone carvings of protective spirits can commonly be seen over doorways.

Rice barns are the only Balinese buildings that are raised on piles. These piles are topped with large wooden discs just below the main body of the granary to prevent rats from getting in. The barns are thatched with rice straw or alang-alang grass.

All traditional-style Balinese construction follows the prescribed methods laid down in various treatises on building, some of which date back to the fifteenth century. Anyone wishing to build will first commission a master builder, an udangi. After discussing the specifics of the commission, the udangi will first take the client's measurements, and then transfer them onto his bamboo measuring stick. From these are derived the units of measure that determine the dimensions of the compound and the saka.

Firstly there is the depa, which is the distance between the middle fingers when each arm is fully extended to the side. The distance from the tip of the outstretched middle finger to the elbow, known as the hasta (equivalent to the Western cubit) is also added to the measuring stick. The depa and the hasta together are equal to the basic wall measurement unit, which is also added to the stick. According to the old treatises, however, a small adjustment must be made to increase each unit of measurement slightly. This is known as the urip, and is thought necessary to bring the building alive upon completion. In the case of the depa, the urip is the width of the fist with the thumb extended. The three units of measurement added together make the depa asti musti, which is the unit for laying out the compound walls. The corners of the compound are then staked out to the dimensions appropriate both to the client's caste and to the location. The next important job is the cutting and then the setting up of the saka.

Before construction begins, certain ceremonies must be performed. For sacred buildings, the panca datu, five metals (gold, silver, bronze, iron and copper), are buried in the foundations, along with a coconut wrapped around with five differently coloured threads. For secular buildings, the ceremony simply consists of burying bricks wrapped in white cloth. The day of the ceremony and the day on which construction starts must be astrologically auspicious. There are other ceremonies that are conducted at various stages of the building, but the most important is the melaspas, the purificatory rite of completion, which brings the previously 'dead' materials alive as a living house. The house now has feet, body and a head - the foundations, the pillars and the roof.

Of all the Indonesian islands, with perhaps the exception of Java, Bali has been most changed by outside influence, yet, paradoxically, it retains more of its old customs than anywhere else in the archipelago. No doubt this is in part to counteract the ever-increasing numbers of foreign tourists that flood into Denpasar airport every day; but it should not be forgotten that the Balinese have a shrewd business sense, and their attachment to cultural traditions may also be in recognition of the fact that this is what attracts the tourist.

Consequently, although the layout of a Balinese village may not have changed, the houses themselves may be built in a variety of styles, and modern materials will in some cases have replaced traditional ones. Foundations are often now of concrete, and the floors tiled. Walls may be of concrete blocks rather than brick or limestone, and concrete pillars are used instead of teak. In the hotels and restaurants of Kuta and Sanur, however, among the most popular tourist resorts of the island, traditional Balinese building styles, materials and techniques are much in evidence.

The Balinese people's reverence for their culture and their religion runs extremely deep. They will ignore the requirements of business if a religious or social festivity is to be observed. Balinese traditional architecture is changing, but its future seems unclear on an island so flooded with tourists. All the old techniques of building are still keenly practised in the rural areas as well as in the tourist centres. Perhaps the future of vernacular architecture in Bali lies in a blend of the modern and the traditional; the only certainty is that the architectural future will be imbued with the natural Balinese sense of taste, style and fine craftsmanship. It will certainly be prosperous.

EDITOR

Mangening Temple

|In this temple environment there are an ancient Lingga-Yoni and statues that already broken by its age, so it cannot be recognized for sure. From other side that there are also ancient building pickings for example : door step secondhand.

Environmental of this temple is located not far in northside environment Mount Kawi Tampak Siring, and side south walke to go to the environment of temple of Tirta Empul. Apart 15 km from town Gianyar and 37 Km from town Denpasar. This place quite visited by all foreign countries tourist through footpath of the environment of Mount Kawi temple on the periphery of Pakerisan river.

Pursuant to ex-door step result is the History Asylum and Ancient of Bali start to do field perception then caught up with the saving dig. Finally the effort succeed to find the pickings of an ancient building guessed the in form of a prasada, it possible come from the era of Child Wungsu (anak wungsu).

A Miracle in Jemeluk

Jemeluk derived from the word ’menyeluk’ or ’seluk’ which means gulf. This area is famous for its amazing luxurious underwater scenery. Its shallow save and clear water give comfort for visitors who loves diving activity very much, to see tropical fish and other marine lives exist here. Besides the underwater panorama, we can also enjoy beautiful view of the surrounding area, which shows the fascinating scenery of hilly land with its steep valleys that combined with the vast sea. So, for you who love the underwater-sport very much, come to Karangasem, and enjoy the miracle in Jemeluk!

Temples of Bali: Pura Kebo Edan

On the road north from Bedulu towards Tampaksaring you will pass by the Museum Purbakala (worth a visit) on the right-hand side. On the left-hand side not far from there you will see the ‘Mad Buffalo Temple’ or Pura Kebo Edan. Very little is known of this temple. However, Archaeologists have approximately dated the large statue, ‘The Pejeng Giant’, as 700 years old. Urs Ramsayer wrote in his book ‘The Art and Culture of Bali’ that Pura Kebo Edan was most probably a Balinese version of the East Javanese Singosari magic temples. Interestingly these temples were built in the 12th C in Java. Containing some of the oldest statuary in Bali, one amazing and awesome example is that of a giant 3.60-meter tall figure. Quite startling is his huge phallus pierced with four pins, said to increase a woman’s sexual pleasure. Another rather unusual statue is that of a fat, crouching demon. This figure holds an inverted skull to his chest while in his curly hair is an ornament of tiny skulls.

The temple is small in comparison to other temples in this region. The most significant part of this temple is a huge wooden shelter. It stands out in its height and that’s because it houses the four metre giant statue of the Pejeng Giant. This interesting statue has snakes seemingly curling around its ankles and wrists. The most prominent feature of the statue is its well-endowed and realistic penis. There is a lot of debate regarding whether or not this ‘giant’ is actually a demon or a God. It is said that it could be a Bima (a warrior-lover). However, its dating is around the 13th or 14th C, and again, there is debate as to its influent creation. Some Archaeologists state that it was either by Shivaite or Tantric Bhuddist cults or factions. Interestingly, the giant is flanked by two ‘raksasa’ (Hindu mythical giants) threateningly decorated with skulls.

The legend behind this pura is fascinating. The Giant or Bima had immense desires for a woman. However, his rather large penis was too large for her and subsequently the woman took another lover. Bima, at one point in time, found the couple copulating and immediately set out to stomp them to death out of anger.

Petilan Pengerebongan Temple

This temple located at Kesiman Culture Village, Kesiman Petilan Village, District of East Denpasar, and Denpasar municipality. This temple is one of their temples of Dang Kahyangan at District of East Denpasar, a lot of tourist come to visit this temple as specially be held the Ngrebong Ceremony. It means the Tabuh Rah ceremony is continued by cook-fighter to attend by some people with un-conciseness to tourney the crease in that body (in Balinese language "Ngurek")

The temple located on the way side of Denpasar Street to Gianyar, it about more-less four kilometers from Denpasar to East Side. The temple clamped by two streets on the right and the East Side, the both streets are short way to Taman Lita Ulangun Oongan.

This temple consists of two part are: at Jeroan temple has two pelinggih they are: The Pelinggih Pasimpangan Dalem Kesiman Temple and Pelinggih which have cave/hole that has Ananta Bhoga statue on the bottom side. And Jaba temple only has Bale wantilan that has function as entertain stage and place to realize Ngerebong ceremony.

The relation ceremony of Dalem temple which called Dalem kesiman temple, also done Tabuh rah for four days after the ceremony take place for 21 days started from Wednesday wage Langkir. After doing tabuh rah for four days, eight days after Kuningan ceremony took place, the fifth day of Tabuh Rah started on Sunday Pon Medangsia exactly on the Pengerebongan Day (Amutering Bhuana) moved by the local people to Petilan as Tajen Pengerebongan (cook fighter).

The “Moon” of Pejeng

The moon of Pejeng which is kept in a shrine in Penataran Sasih temple can be considered as the most remarkable antiquities in Bali. This bronze drum is a sacred relic for Balinese, an artifact for the archeologist, and a curiosity for the tourists. The older generations of Balinese invented various myths around the drum. Some say that it is one of the subangs (ear-plugs) of the moon; while other say it is a sasih, the ‘moon’ itself.

Based the local legend, long ago the moon fell down to the earth, in Pejeng precisely, and was caught in a tree. It remained there giving a blinding light, preventing some thieves of the neighborhood from performing their nocturnal work. One of them, bolder than the rest, decided to extinguish the source of light; he climbed on the tree, and urinated on the moon. The ‘moon’ exploded, killing the thief, and fell to the ground in the shape of present drum, which explains why it is broken at the base. The people of Pejeng rescued it and placed on a high latticed shrine in the Penataran Sasih temple, the former home of demon-king Maya Danawa.

The drum is reminiscence of the Bronze Age in Bali. It is of the style of the so-called Chinese drums of the Han dynasty often found in Indo-China and even in Java. The ‘moon’ of Pejeng differs somewhat from the usual Han drums; it is elongated, with three great handles, rather like bronzes drum found in Alor, the island near Timor.

The drum is decorated on its surrounding surface with a beautiful star in high relief surrounded by a border of sweeping spirals and on its sides by a border between parallel lines rather like a series of triangles, a popular design called tumbak (spears) by the Balinese. There are also, strangely primitive, or rather conventionalized faces in low relief that have no obvious relation to Chinese art and that are strongly Indonesian, with the characteristic leaf-shaped ornament worn behind the ears, the earlobes of which are exaggeratedly distended by the weight of un-usual ear-rings.

For the Balinese, the Pejeng drum is a sacred object; it is regarded with great reverence, and honored with constant offerings.

BALI BIRD 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.

Our innovative approach towards the display of rare and tropical birds has progressed from traditional exhibits to that of showcasing mixed species in their natural habitats & in large walk in Aviaries and free range throughout the park.

The park accommodates an amazing display of flora with more then 2000 tropical plants including 50 varieties of palms alone and attracting numerous butterflies.

Incorporating a breeding, research and veterinary facility within the complex, the park has a high success rate in the captive reproduction of exotic birds such as the Bird. of Paradise and Hornbill.

Join us for an adventure that has no boundaries as we take you on a journey across the Indonesian archipelago, Latin America and South Africa.

The park is divided into regions that recreate the natural habitats of our birds, complete with indigenous plant life and traditional artefacts for authenticity.

Experience the original Jungle birds of Bali and encounter the world's rarest bird, the Bali Starling.

Discover the exotic birds of Papua and one of the most comprehensive collections of Bird of Paradise in the whole world.

Travel to Far East Indonesia, home to an amazing array of birds as well as the extraordinary Komodo Dragon, a giant carnivorous lizard which is a direct descendant of the dinosaur and rarely seen in captivity.

See the fantastic Javan Hawk and Serpent Eagles - & listen to the sweet sounds of Java's song birds echoing through the foliage.

Visit the deep jungle and misty mountain ranges of Sumatra for rare and strange endemic birds.

Venture to other tropical continents to view our collection of South American exotics such as the Scarlet Macaw and Toucan, witness the Congo Grey Parrot and other birds of the African Savannah.

See Cassowaries, Cranes, Storks & Pelicans and many more birds as they wander freely living and breeding uninhibited throughout the park.

Stroll within the boundaries of our giant walk-through aviaries that replicate the natural eco-systems of the Bali Jungle and Papuan Rainforest.

Pathways and bridges are carved through the dense foliage where only filtered sunlight manages to penetrate the canopy of greenery overhead.

Several vantage points have been strategically positioned to catch glimpses of free flying birds as they follow their survival instincts of foraging for food, nesting and mating.

These protected enclosures safeguard rare species from outside predators, whilst still exposing them to the various aspects of living in the wild.

Within 2 hectare of Balinese landscape and a free range birds, Bali Bird Park is a popular place for :

• arranged a special program for family gatherings
• corporate program
• group arrangements
• student group special education
• other creative competition such as photo shooting
• painting
• drawing or
• annual gathering

Bali Bird Park plays a key role in protecting and conserving Indonesia’s endangered wildlife.
The Park have successfully bred many species, including the rare Pesquet’s Parrot and numerous Bali Starlings. We accommodate more than 40 species of protected Indonesian birds in the park, a growing number of which are now breeding successfully under the care of our staff.

The staff are proud of their new additions some of which can be seen in their incubators through the observation windows of the laboratory & nursery building.

Bali Bird Park - Jl. Serma Cok Ngurah Gambir
Singapadu, Batubulan - Gianyar - Bali
Telephone: 62 361 299352
Fax: 62 361 299614
E-mail: sales@bali-bird-park.com, Website: www.bali-bird-park.com

CONTACTCONSERVATIONSPECIAL PROGRAMWHAT CAN I DOWHAT CAN I SEE

Bali Barat National Park

Though Bali has undergone a rapid growth in tourism industry, it also pays great attention to the conservation of its nature. Many forest complexes scattered throughout the island are well maintained as the ‘lungs’ of the island. One of the ‘lungs’ located in western part of the island is the Bali Barat National Park established in 1941. This verdant forest extends on 77,000 hectares of land and spreads along the 150 km road connecting Gilimanuk to Denpasar or Gilimanuk to Singaraja. It is located right between the Grokgak district of Buleleng and Melaya district of Jembrana regency. The park is accessed from Gilimanuk as the main entrance to West Bali, and from Denpasar.
This tropical forest grows on Bali’s southern and western slopes. Bali Barat National Park covers 50,000 hectares on the western tip of the island. Similarly, it includes another 7,000 hectares of coral reef and coastal water. Considering the small size of the island as a whole, the National Park is a major commitment towards attempting to preserve the wildlife found on Bali. The forest in this area has been determined as Nature Reserve—later on known as Nature Reserve of Bali’s Nature based on the stipulation of Kings of Bali dated 13 August 1917 No.E-1/4/5. This regulation is intended to preserve the rich heritage of flora and fauna within this area.
The region is watered by crystal clear streams and traversed by footpaths offering steep but relatively easy walking. Simply explore the forested hills, scrub acacia near the coast, and the pristine reefs and dense mangrove swamps along the Teluk Terima and the bays to the East. A wide variety of fauna lives here, including the Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi), bull (Bos javanicus), antelope (Muntiacus muntjak), deer (Cervus timorensis), monkey (Presbytis cristata, Macaca sp.), scaly anteater (Manis javanica), boar (Sus scrofa), hedgehog (Hystrix javanica), Sturnus melanotenus, Sturnus contra, Acridotenis fuscus, Picoides mucet, Orialus chinensis, Haliastur sp. and Galus sp.

Mangrove Information Center of Denpasar

The southern part of Denpasar is naturally protected by green belt of mangrove forest. Such a well maintained forest is open to visitors. While having a stroll, visitors can get additional knowledge on the use of these coastal plants with respect to the local ecosystem. Further details about the program can be obtained at the Mangrove Information Center located on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Suwung Kauh or between Kuta and Sanur.
The Mangrove forest extends across some 1,373.05 hectares of land, while the one intended for recreation is 200 hectares and managed by Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park or Tahura. Its office lies in the middle of this area. For educational and conservational purposes, it has established nursery plots of approximately 7,700 square-meters, wooden trails, huts to rest and floating decks.
According to research on the distribution of mangrove species and availability of seed collecting forests on the islands of Bali and Lombok, in the mangrove forests was found: (1) 13 types of major mangrove in Benoa Bay including Rhizophora, Sonneratia, Bruguiera, Avicennia and Ceriops; (2) 9 types of minor mangrove such as Xylocarpus, Aegiceras and Heritiera; (3) 28 types of associated mangrove including Acanthus, Ipomea, Barringtonia and Clerodendoron; (4) 62 types of bird; (5) 32 types of crustaceans; and (6) 10 types of reptile. These species appear in showcases at the mangrove center.
Condition of the mangrove forest has declined through the years because of alteration of its function as shown by layers of shrimp embankments, and the excessive falling of trees. Department of Indonesian Forestry took measures to improve the condition of the Suwung Kauh mangrove forest through the Development Project of Sustainable Mangrove Forest Management aided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), resulting in a model sustainable management. Other results of the project are the issuance of the Guidebook on Planting and Seabed and a booklet on the mangroves in this country, and the rehabilitation of 253 hectares of mangrove forest.
Though action has been taken to improve the condition, the deterioration of mangroves has worsened as the efforts have not been sufficient. The budget has also been limited due to the economic crisis, which meant that the project was only continued from 15 May 2001 by means of informative action of clarification on sustainable mangrove forestry management.
The Mangrove Information Center Project had a support action to increase the awareness and actions by related parties projected to end on 14 May 2004. There have been two main sub-programs and three supporting sub-programs, targeted at developing the training activities and realizing the training tests to formulate a training program and the execution of a range of surveys as well as case studies.
The sub-program consists of eco-tourism towards the development of a mangrove park at the project site by establishing a visitors’ information center, museum, touch pool and trail, and conducting tour guide training with an aim to disseminate information useful to the general public. On the other hand, the environmental education sub-program aims to provide the public with the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge about the mangrove ecosystem through various activities.

Villages of Bali

The idea of balance is central to Balinese philosophy and way of life. Nature and Man meet and complement each other.

The villages are a study in order. Hidden behind the same mud walls, there will be the same red tiles of the same family pavilions with, again thirty meters apart, the same thatched puppet houses: the family temples (sanggah/merajan). Then, there will be a big tree, two slit logs hanging from its branches, with a couple of shrines under its shade and a nearby hall: the banjar (neighbourhood) community hall. An atmosphere of calm, order and collective belonging prevails.

The basic Balinese territorial unit is desa (village), whose surface covers both the wet land of the ricefields, and the dry land of the compounds and related gardens, temples and roads. To the wet land, correspond the irrigation units or subak, and to the dry and inhabited land, the community wards or banjar, each with their temples and organisations.

The Balinese desa (village) is typically host to a set of three village temples, the kahyangan tiga, each related to a focal aspect of the village's symbolic life: the origin with pura puseh (navel temple) located mountainward, where the tutelary gods of the village and its founders are worshipped; the territory itself with the pura desa, located in the centre of the village, where meetings of the village assembly and the rituals of fertility are held; the temple of the ded (pura dalem), located down ward, where the forces of death and the netherworld are worshipped, and near which burials take place. Besides these territorial temples, there is also a temple for each banjar (bedogol or pura banjar), a temple for each subak, and the various temples of the local sub - clans (pura dadia or pura panti), each of which with its own calendar of festivals.

All temples of the kahyangan tiga are of paramount importance in the local rituals. Most ceremonies, at the level of the household or of other local temples, cannot take place before a "notification offering" (pejati) of the kahyangan tiga. The most important though, is arguably the pura desa, or village territorial temple, as evidenced by the honor shown to its god, the Batara Desa, who is usually given the forefront position during the village processions of gods. The village community (desa pekraman) corresponds in practise to the congregation of the pura desa, whatever the other affiliations. It is headed by the bendesa adat.

Much of the ritual work at the village level is shared among the various banjar, for example, one banjar may look after the pura desa for the upcoming festival and another banjar for the next one. Each banjar redistributes the work entrusted to it to its vision of the kelian banjar or neighbourhood headman. No ritual activity can normally take place without the latter's involvement and participation.

The banjar is a grouping of anything between fifty and two hundred individual compounds. The word banjar originally referred to a row of houses, thus to the physical clustering of compounds into a neighborhood, with a temple and a community. Nowadays, most of these banjars have split, and the banjar community is no more strictly territorial. Two banjars can occupy the same territory, and banjar members sometimes live kilometres away from the core of community.

The banjar makes up an association called the "banjar suka duka" or "the association for the sharing of joy and pain" This refers to the function played by the group in the performing of specific social services or work the ayahan within the larger structure of the village (desa). These bonds are arguably the most important of all found in the network of village associations.

The basic social unit of the banjar is the couple (pekurenan). Only married couples are full banjar members and subjected to the banjar rights and obligations. The decisions are taken by the assembly (sangkep) of the banjar's male members, the krama banjar, which usually takes place every 35 days. The decisions are taken on the basis of unanimity, The banjar is now, since 1979, the lowest administrative structure of the national administration, directly under the authority of the perbekel / lurah (supra - village head) and beyond the traditional village headman (bendesa adat). There are also two types of kelian banjar, the kelian dinas, who is in charge of the administrative aspects of the banjar life, and the kelian adat, who looks after the customary aspects in collaboration with the bendesa adat. They usually work hand in hand, unless the two roles are assumed by the same person.

hotels in nusadua bali

Luxury resorts are the norm in Nusa Dua; The Grand Mirage Hotel, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, Club Mediterranee, Melia Bali Sol, and the Bali Hilton International are some of them. These hotels are equipped with convention facilities, swimming pools, sports facilities, and a selection of restaurants, night clubs or discotheques, and beach fronts. There are also smaller cottage style hotels with modern amenities. To continue this Web site (since you all like it - thanks to all who have dropped us email. We love getting them) and to serve you even more, a number of hotels have placed their information with us, offered you generous discounts, and agreed to sponsor this Web site through commissions. Please patronize them: make your reservation through Bali Online and stay with them in Bali. And in the words of Bartles and Jaymes,

surfing in bali

Surfing has really gained popularity in today's Bali. As the sun approaches the horizon, you can see line of young Balinese men approaching the beach on their surfboards, controlling them with the same gracefullness as in their traditional dances, mastering the waves and penetrating the tubes.

Kuta

Kuta is one of the most popular sites; you can now find basically any surfing equipment there. As the sun approaches the horizon, you can see lines of Balinese approaching the beach, controlling their surf-boards with the same gracefulness as their traditional dances, mastering the waves and penetrating the tubes. Even in Kuta Beach and the area around it alone there are places for difficult surfs. It's best to talk to the locals so you won't get into trouble.

Uluwatu

On the southern tip of Bali, Uluwatu is also high on a surfer's destination list. The road to the beach is pretty well-hidden, off the road to the temple of Uluwatu (which in itself is an amazing three-court temple on top of a few hundred feet cliff). You can't reach it by car - rent a motorcycle or walk for about two miles to get there. The site is very popular among serious surfers.

Nusa Dua.

On the south-eastern tip of the island, the Nusa Dua peninsula has some nice reef that provides good waves for surfing. You can stay on any of the most sumptuous hotels in the world spread around the area, and surfing is readily available within walking distance, from a beginner's level to a challenging one for the serious surfers.

Dec 12 - 25, 2008

13th
– “Tumpek Wayang”, day devoted to “Sanghyang Iswara”, the lord of puppeteers, when blessing ceremony is given to shadow – puppet play sets for proper function and magical power.
Temple Festival at:
- Pr. Majapahit, Jembrana
- Pr. Padharman Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan (Dalem Klungkung), Besakih,
- Pr. Pedharman Dalem Bakas, Besakih
- Pr. Padharman Dalem Sukawati, Besakih
- Pr. Padharman Mengwi, Besakih
- Pr. Padharman Kaba Kaba, Besakih
- Pr. Panti Gelgel Pangem Bungan Sesetan
- Pr Dadya Agung Pasek Gelgel Br. Pegatepan, Gelgel, Klungkung
- Mr. Desa Bendesa Koriagung Pegatepan, Gelgel Klungkung.

Sakenan Temple

Sakenan Temple is a Hindu Temple located in the northwest of Serangan Village, Sub district of Denpasar and Badung regency. It is about 10 KM south part of Denpasar Town. We see a coastal view with beautiful sea, hill consecution and Nusa Dua Beach which are located in south side. The structure of Sakenan Temple is divided into 2 groups those are Sakenan Temple is a temple complex which is located in eastside and Dalem Sakenan Temple is a temple complex located in west side.

Sakenan Temple History

According to the papyrus of Dwijendra Tattwa, the name of Sakenan is coming from the word of Sakya means to earn direct unite the mind. This papyrus elaborates that Danghyang Nirartha got stuck and feeling natural beauty of calm sea with the nature of its coast. Therefore he lodge there and do the yoga to worship to the God as supremacy of the safety and prosperity. At the time of doing yoga, he directly earn unite his mind Sakya. Therefore he builds the altar called Sakenan Temple. At the moment Sakenan Temple which is built by the Danghyang Nirartha and recognized by the name of Dalem Sakenan Temple, a complex of Sakenan Temple in west shares.

Temple Ceremony

The Sakenan Temple Festival executed every 6 month (210 days) that is on Saturday of Kliwon Wuku Kuningan (Balinese Calendar) and the same time with the celebration of big holiday for Balinese Hindu which is called Hari Raya Kuningan. The celebration of temple ceremony is conducted during 3 days and the top ceremony procession is called Ceremony of Mapag Sakenan which is executed on second day (Sunday of Umanis Langkir). The celebration of Temple Ceremony is accompanied by the Wali Dance (Secret Dance) like Barong Ket and Barong Landung Dance. The Hindu people come to this place for worship to the god and they are coming from various areas, especially from Badung regency. Sakenan Temple in its growth now is a place of interest in Bali which you need to visit during your vacation in this tropical island.

Sanur Beach

Sanur Beach is a beautiful white sandy beach with calm and warm seawater located in east part of Denpasar Town. The beach location in eastside and south part of Sanur Village is an edge of Indonesia Ocean. This place has famous since long time, especially when the happening of the Puputan Badung war on 20 September 1906, where that moment the Dutch colonist land its army in this coast. There is a stone monument found in this place as an inscription of Sri Kesari Warmadewa King with the palace in Singhadwala year 917, whereabouts now there are in Blanjong, southern part of Sanur Beach.

Sanur Beach, a Tourist Place in Bali

Sanur Beach is first time introduced by Belgium artist called A.J. Le Mayeur and his wife named Ni Polok which remains in Sanur since year 1937. He has performed his own masterpiece painting exhibition and start introduces Sanur as a tourist place in Bali. In south-east side, we can see the bunch of Nusa Penida Island and eastside we can see beautiful panorama of Bali strait with its Agung Mount as a backdrop. The tropical atmosphere sweep entire of Sanur Beach that makes it as an ideal place for relaxation. It is also blessed by the breathtaking view of sunrise that one is the fascination for tourist to visit and stay in this place.

Beautiful Beach Resorts in Bali

Sanur Beach is located only 4 km from downtown of Denpasar and it can be easily reached by car or motorcycle. It is many visited by foreign and local tourists especially on the weekend and holiday season. At the night of full moon, many people come to this place for relaxation, swimming or enjoy the beauty of coast. The Le Mayeur Museum is one of the art museums in Sanur also a lot of drawing the tourist enthusiasm to visit this place. As a tourist place in Bali, Sanur Beach is one of the alternative place to perform the event from local, national and also international. For example events are held in this place like Kite and Jukung Race. Other tourists facilities can be found in this place are the existence of hotels with international standard like The Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Bali Hyatt Resort, Sanur Beach Hotel and more. The various of this tourism facilities are mixed with other facilities for local resident are making the good combination tourist area which is different like Nusa Dua that is a closed area. The art shop, accommodation from cheaper hotels until five star hotels, bar and restaurant are quite a lot available in this place.

Kuta Bali

Kuta is the most famous tourist places in Bali. It is famous with the spectacular white sandy beach, several of hotels from luxury and until budget hotels are available, hilarious nightlife, plenty of restaurants with international cuisine, bars, pub, Water Boom Park and shopping center. It is one stop place for holiday in Bali by offering the plenty of selection we need and make it the right place to visit on your vacation in Bali.

Kuta History

At three hundred year ago, in this place had been built a Konco (Buddhist Temple) located beside of Tukad Mati ( Dead River ) where it river can be navigable at that time. The boat steps into the hinterland of Kuta, so that Kuta is a port trade. Mads Longe is a merchant from Denmark in 19 century had built its trade station in the river periphery. During living in Bali, he often becomes the medium between king of Bali and Dutch. Mads Longe has mysteriously died and his grave is located inside of Konco ( Buddhist Temple ) right in the river periphery. Kuta is quiet fisherman countryside in the past, but now it has been turned into the hilarious town and it is completed by post office, police office, market, pharmacy, photo center, and shop. There are a lot of hotels which are designed luxury and comfortable set in a long side of white sandy beach of Kuta .

What to see in Kuta Bali?

Kuta is situated in 11 KM southern part of Denpasar town and it can be easily reached by public transportation from Tegal Bus Station about 15 minutes. Kuta is the fastest growing tourist place in Bali and it is the heaven for foreign countries tourists. Kuta is well equipped by tourist facilities like white sandy beach, bars, restaurants, cafeteria, disco and others spectacular nightlife. We can also meet a lot of good shops selling multifarious items of tourist need like clothes, cassette ribbon, airplane ticket, souvenir, handicraft, sport gear and others. It is a popular place with the surfing activity besides of beautiful sunset. Mostly the tourists come and stays in this place are coming from the low budget traveler especially young tourist. There is a new tourism object in Kuta built in the center of this place called Bali Bomb Monument to commemorate the Bali Bomb Tragedy on 12 October 2002. Bomb which burst at Sari Club and also Paddy'S club have killed 202 people.

Ponjok Batu Temple

Ponjok Batu Temple is a stone temple where all temple buildings are made from stone. It is located Banjar Alasari, Pacung countryside, Tejakula sub district and Singaraja regency about 24 km eastside of Singaraja town or north part of Bali. This temple area own the wide area about 35 acre in form of black stones bank. The position of this temple is rather sticking out to the sea as a foreland or Ponjok. Base on the position and condition then this place is named by Ponjok Batu so that the temple is standing above foreland petrify and it is referred as Ponjok Batu Temple.

Ponjok Batu Temple in history

In papyrus of Dwijendra Tattwa elaborate that Danghyang Nirartha (who one spread out the Hinduism in Bali) besides executing Tirtha Yatra (visit the holy places) in Bali area, he also do at Lombok and Sumbawa Island . When he does the tirta yatra in Lombok and Sumbawa Island , he leave in Bali passing the north area of Bali and then it is named by Denbukit. Hereinafter narrated that Danghyang Nirartha found the lodging that is located in coastal periphery with its stone bank and steep rather sordid to sea in the form of a foreland which is called Ponjok. After omitting a few moments in the lodging then he go to Lombok and Sumbawa Island to conduct the Tirtha Yatra. At the end, the Pesraman/lodging of Danghyang Nirartha is built an altar named with Ponjok Batu Temple which has been existing since 16 century. It is founded together with the execution of Danghyang Nirartha journey in north part of Bali .

Function of Ponjok Batu Temple as follows:

• According to the archaeology omission at Ponjok Batu Temple , there is an Arca (statue) with four hands as a fundamental of Ponjok Batu Temple building. The attribute (icon) of this Arca have timeworn, so that any kind of object brought is ignorable and the God Arca it self can not be identified. Besides of the God Statue (Arca), in Ponjok Batu Temple is also found a Lembu Nandi Arca (a cow statue) is meaning from Siwa God. If the both Arcas are interacting hence the God Arca with 4 hands in this temple is Arca of Siwa God.
• According to Papyrus of Dwijendra Tattwa, the history elaboration can be said that the function of Ponjok Batu Temple is for worship the supremacy of Danghyang Nirartha as a Teacher in settling Hinduism teaching, especially Siwaism. The function strengthened with the existence of special temple building in Ponjok Batu Temple is called Danghyang Nirartha Temple.

Tanah Lot Temple

Tanah Lot Temple is located in coastal side of Beraban countryside, Kediri sub district and Tabanan Regency. It is situated in 30Km in west side of Denpasar town and about 11 Km in south side of Tabanan town. The temple is built on the rock with 3 acre size and reachable in a few minute by walk, because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip. This temple is very famous among tourist destinations in Bali with spectacular view of sunset. At some nooks of coral reef around Tanah Lot Temple there are holy tame snake in black and white color where according to the local society believe that it as a deity property and as the guard of the temple from the bad influence.

Philosophy

The word of Tanah Lot is consisted of two words that are Tanah word interpreted as a reef looking like gili or isle. Lot or Lod word has meaning the sea. So Tanah Lot is meaning the small island floating on the sea. The location is now called as Tanah Lot has been used at a Megalithic period as a place that looked into holy, proven from the existence of menhir. Pursuant to environmental condition, hence the structure of Tanah Lot temple is built at irregular reef plain of its angle which is only consisted of one plain yard as Jeroan.

Function

The function of this temple can be realized from the function of the main temple building which is located in the temple main area. In this place, there is a main temple to worship the god in form of Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, the sea power. The media of worship to this god is the temple building with 5 storied meanwhile the 3 storied temple building in north part of this area is purposing to worship to Dang Hyang Nirartha.

In order to know the status of Tanah Lot Temple can be realized from the temple history, function and also incoming devotee existence pray when temple ceremony is held. In this case can be realized as follows:

• Tanah Lot Temple as dang Kahyangan(the big Holy Temples in Bali ), because the history and the Penyiwi (The people taking care of the temple) are from the local people from Tabanan regency and surrounding area
• Tanah Lot temple as Segara Temple, because its function as sanctum to worship the Bhatara Segara, the God with manifestation as the ocean Power Deity

The unique animal can be seen in this temple area is the snake which are generally can be met in the coast. Part of its stomach there are no athwart skin, there is only small skin, but this sea water snake very noxious but snakebite case are very seldom happened, because the sea water snake generally very passive.

What to See in Tanah Lot

As a favorite tourism destination in Bali, Tanah Lot owns a magnificent view in particular at the sunset time where the sun slows down to the earth stomach. Every visitor who is paying a visit to this place will be marveled to see the beauty panorama of Tanah Lot. Beside of this temple, there are other temples which can be seen on your visit to Tanah Lot like Batu Bolong Temple, Batumejan Temple and Enjung Galuh Temple.

Celuk Village

Celuk Village

Celuk Village is the famous village in Bali as a tourist destination cause of the local residents is very proactive and full of innovation to the gold and silver crafting. This countryside is located in sub district of Sukawati, Gianyar Regency and owns the individuality and excellence in production of gold and silver crafting. Most of them are Balinese professional, artistic and skillful of design development related to the silver and gold crafting.

Places to Visit in Bali

The productions of gold and silver at this village have penetrated to the local, national and international market. It can be measured from the type of artwork result and variation of ornament, good as present and also export commodity. The type of gold and silver craft has been produced in this countryside are covering various of rings, bangles, chokers, earrings, mother of pearls, Tusuk Konde, broach and other types. Beside of that, Celuk's workers are able to response the market demands and produce the modern product like medal, maket and culture symbol. In spanning of artistic growth history, the silver and gold crafting had been started by a group of family pertained by Clan Pande. From this family circle, the activity of gold and silver crafting has disseminated to entire society as a top profession which are previously as the farmer. In year 1970's decades, it has been happened the change of countryside society culture significantly from agrarian society structure to industrial society structure of crafting. Even nowadays, some of them have jumped again to the economic structure of service by focusing in tourism industry. The change and jumping movement of these structures have brought the new positive impact for prosperity. Celuk Village, Kuta and Ubud are the prosperous countryside in Bali by the higher resident's income cause of tourism.

Location

Celuk Village is strategically located in main road from Denpasar to Gianyar regency which is about 5 km from Denpasar town. The next door villages are Batubulan Village which is famous of Barong dance and stone carving, Singapadu Village with the art village equipped by places of recreation such as Bird Park and Bali Zoo Park, Batuan Village with the traditional painting, Guang village with the wood carving and Sukawati as a center of art market. Along way of Celuk Village about 2 km, we will find in the left and right side the various type of gold and silver shop which are opened to the domestic and international tourist. It is also inside of this village, we will find the activities and workshop of crafting which are ready to be ordered in small or huge number.