Thursday, April 30, 2015

Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida


Nusa Penida is located on the southeastern side of Bali and is an island of rugged beauty ,spiritual myth and folk law providing and arresting sense of adventure for its visitors . Part of the charm here for trippers to the island is that it is without modern tourist facilities .This is a destination for those who like to get off the beaten track, trek and experience the hospitality of a friendly local population.
Covering an area of 200 sguare kilometers,Nusa Penida is the largest on three islands resting just a few kilometers from the Sanur beach line.Facilities here are basic but restaurants offer good local dishes and fresh seafood is for accommodation on the island.Getting about is either with the use if a hired motorbike,on foot or local bemo.There are however some visually interesting walks or ries on the dirt tracks to be made through the 500-meter rise of the island. The local here are tourist friendly and visitors will be charmed by smiles and greetings. Moving about the island visitors will come across small fishing villages populated by seaweed farmers working off pristine beaches.
Nusa Penida can be reached by boat from sanur,Benoa Harbor,Padang Bai or the easterly third of the three islands,Nusa Lembongan. There are no flights to Nusa Penida.
There are several excellent diving sites just off the island and the area has been acknowledged as a premier world diving destination.Hundreds od coral reefs and fish species inhabit the sea around Nusa Penida and recommended dives sites included Crystal Bay,Toyapakeh,and Sanur Bay named from the island side as Mallibu Point.For snorkeling enthusiasts both Toyapakeh and Crystal bay are free of strong currents.
Nusa Penida,aong with Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningang are collectively designated as a bird sanctuary.Back in 2006 a group of 35 local villages under the wing of Friends of the National Park Foundation (FNPF) pledged to observe and enforce the ‘awig-awig’ regulations protecting island bird life.It was here that the endangered Bali Starling was introduces with hopes of saving the species from extinction.
There are several ancient historical sights around the island and traditional Balinese Temples indicates the spiritual folk law of Nusa penida that is unique to the island. On Bali it is believed that the people of Nusa Penida have strong spiritual powers.These is also a cave where a Buddhist temple was established in the ancient past.
Visitors to bali should not miss the opportunity to visit Nusa Penida the island of spirits good and bad.Those viewing the island from Sanur beach will feel the mysterious and beckoning pulses of Nusa Penida.


Friday, April 17, 2015

Sanur Beach

Despite being Bali's oldest beachside town, Sanur remains an upmarket area with an abundance of holiday resorts and restaurants. Sanur features a wide range of natural, cultural and historical attractions while still offering the fantastic shopping opportunities and stunning beaches that Bali is renowned for. The laidback atmosphere of this region has made it one of Bali's popular holiday destinations for visitors wanting to get away from the bustling party atmosphere of central Bali.

The attractions of Sanur are centred around rich experiences and the vibrant culture. The Le Mayeur Museum is dedicated to the life works of famous Belgian impressionist Adrian Jean Le Mayeur who used to call Sanur home. The area is also known for the colourful giant kites that decorate the skies and are celebrated each July at the Annual International Kite Festival. Traditional Balinese kites of up to 10 metres long are handmade and flown in the competition by teams from local villages. If you aren't visiting during July you can still see the teams practicing flying their kites throughout the year.

The Pura Blanjong (Blanjong Temple) is one of Sanur's most sacred temples and is a must see on any Bali holiday. Home to the stone pillar bearing the Prasati Blanjong historical inscription by a 10th century Javanese king, who is said to have ordained the first formal government in Bali. This is Bali's oldest known artifact and is particularly significant to the local people, hence the temple's grand scale.

For exploring the local area, the cycle path along the paved beachfront is ideal both on a bicycle or on foot. A 5 kilometre stretch of scenic pathway, the trail extends from Jalan Hangtuan's main beach in the north to Jalan Mertasari in the south. Offering excellent photo opportunities as well as a great range of shopping and dining, the path is particularly popular in the mornings. Sanur's local night markets are a fantastic way to wind up your day while sampling some of the region's best local produce.

The weather here is relatively warm year in and year out with daytime average temperatures ranging from 20°C to 33°C (68°F to 93°F). December to March experiences a more humid climate that is characterised by heavy showers from the west monsoon although most days remain sunny with heavy but brief showers later in the day. June to September has less humidity and temperatures tend to fall, particularly at night.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Mecaru Ceremony

Mecaru ceremony
Mecaru often performed by the Balinese at certain times, such as before the celebration of Nyepi, after the completion of construction of a house / temple, after a bad incident in a village, and so on. With the aim to purify any kind of dirt that is in the neighborhood of man, so that man can live in harmony in nature.
Mecaru ceremony serves to inculcate noble values ​and spiritual to mankind, especially the Balinese, in order to always maintain the harmony of nature, the environment and its contents. The meaning of the ceremony is the duty of human mecaru caring nature of God is likened to sports bodies in the embodiment of the universe and its contents.
In conducting the mecaru ceremony, usually use a lot of offerings. Offerings such as meat, chicken, cow, buffalo, depending on the degree mecaru ceremony. Sometimes can spend a very large cost. But apart from that, for a good, substantial funds are not a problem

Friday, April 3, 2015

Tirta gangga

Tirta Gangga is a former royal palace in eastern Bali, Indonesia, about 5 kilometres from Karangasem, near Abang. It is noted for its water palace, owned by Karangasem Royal.
Tirta Gangga literally means water from the Ganges and it is a site of some reverence for the Hindu Balinese. Strictly, the name refers to the water palace built in 1948 by the Raja of Karangasem, Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem. It is, however, the name widely used to refer to the general area which includes the water palace and the lush rural areas around. Tirta Gangga water palace is a maze of pools and fountains surrounded by a lush garden and stone carvings and statues. The one hectare complex was built in 1946 by the late King of Karangsem but was destroyed almost entirely by the eruption of nearby Mount Agung in 1963. It has been lovingly re-built and restored and has an air of authentic royal magnificence.

The centrepiece of the palace is an eleven tiered fountain and there are many beautiful carvings and statues adorning the gardens. The area around Tirta Gangga is noted for its rice paddy terraces.

Padang Bai Port