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Monday, September 14, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
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Bali, also called the island of Gods, is known for its
exotic beauty and natural wonder. The azure water of the sea and the lush green
surroundings leave everybody mesmerized in Bali. The place is a popular tourist
attraction, and there are plenty of accommodations in Bali to choose from.
There are hotels, resorts, boutique hotels and rental apartments to choose
from. However, there is one type of accommodation in Bali which stands out from
the rest, and that?s a Bali Villa.
Villas in Bali started coming up in the late 1980s, with an
Australian architect constructing the first of the lot. And from then on, it
sparked off a trend, and today, there are plenty of Bali villas to choose from.
For those who have experienced them know what makes them
special, but for the first timers, it?s difficult to comprehend why a villa in
Bali is better than any other luxury hotel in the place. Well, the reasons are
aplenty, but here are a few vital ones:
A Bali Villa costs much less than a luxury hotel. A
typical luxury hotel in Bali costs anywhere between USD 180 to USD 800 per
night. The cost of staying at a villa here is much less, and it comes without
any compromises. A typical villa here comes with a lush green terrace, personal
butlers and drivers, spa therapists and a private swimming pool.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Sunday, September 6, 2015
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Whilst on your Bali holidays take some time out to visit the beautiful temples of the region. Whether you're exploring Hindu temples located in bat caves or a temple dedicated to the dragon god of the mountain, you'l be blown away by the myths and legends that surround these sacred places of worship.
A popular temple with tourists on their Bali holiday tours is the Goa Lawah which literally translates to Bat Cave. The temple is not only a popular visitor attraction but is also a place of religious importance to the Balinese people. It is one of the nine directional temples that protect Bali from evil spirits, with the Goa Lawah protecting from the evil of the South-East. The temple is not for the faint-hearted on their Bali holidays, as it is located in a temple filled with thousands and thousands of flittering bats. If you?re not keen on bats then you probably won't want to hear that the bat cave is also considered the home of the giant legendary snake, Naga Basuki, who was thought to be the caretaker of the earth's equilibrium.
The hotels in Bali may be opulent, but they have nothing on the decadent temples of the region. Of all the Bali temples the best known is the Besaikh Temple, which is also known as the Mother Temple. The temple is located on the side of Mount Agung, with the mountain peaks giving it an almost mythical quality. On your Bali holiday take a tour to this temple which is perched at 1,000 feet up the mountain and named after the dragon god that is said to inhabit the mountain. The Besaikh temple is the only temple in which a Hindu of any caste system can worship, and this is due to the eighteen separate sanctuaries housed within the Besaikh. The three main shrines in this temple are dedicated to the Hindu gods: Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma, and on your Bali holidays you will see a number of Balinese people who have made the pilgrimage to lay yellow marigold flowers upon their deities? shrines.
If you're after a temple that's a little less sinister on your Bali holidays then why not take a trip to the Pura Luhur Temple? This temple is considered to be one of the best places in Bali to catch a sunset. Pura Luhur is located in Uluwata, which is also home to some of the best hotels in Bali, and with the Indian Ocean located nearby this is an ideal place to visit on your Bali tour holiday. The temple, which is dedicated to the spirits of the sea and made exclusively from black coral rock, is also considered to be one of the country's archaeological wonders.
Another temple located next to the Indian Ocean is the Tanah Lot Temple, situated on a huge rock in the middle of the ocean. It was built in the 16th Century by one the last priests to come to Bali from Java, and like the Pura Luhur Temple, is also dedicated to the guardian spirits of the sea.
When you take a Bali holiday tour to the Tanah Lot Temple, you may want to watch your footing on the way up as the sea is littered with poisonous sea snakes. These are believed to be the temples guardians standing vigil against any evil spirits, or any would-be intruders who may want to visit the spectacular temple during their Bali holidays.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Sunday, August 30, 2015
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The sacred Barong dance, practiced throughout Indonesia, it is probably the most popular representation of Balinese. Depicts the fight between Barong - monstrous god-animal symbol of goodness and fertility - and Rangda - witch symbol of evil. When the dance you have episodes of trance among participants. The fight has represented a winner because the population considers fundamental in human life both good and evil; In fact, in Bali there are temples dedicated to the forces of good and the underworld temples dedicated to the forces of evil and death. Barong is a dragon traceable in many events in the Far East and consists of a large animated mask by at least two men.
The Barong is mixed with many other genres spectacular during festive occasions Balinese; for example with the Topeng, celebrating the meeting between the Balinese and Hindu raja of Java; Legong Keraton-with, female dance arising from court dances performed by children between seven and ten years old, trained hard.
As a first lap to go in the interior of the island I should go to Ubud through Batubulan. As transportation Bali is reasonably equipped and taxis are really cheap, but the best solution is to rent a car! Ubud you can also reach it by minibuses, called "bemos", departing from Denpasar and Kuta.
The first stage is therefore the village of Batubulan, famous for the performances of the Barong dance. This is the place to go to see this ceremony, called Sahadewa! The Barong is a traditional Balinese sacred dance that is the eternal struggle between the good, the god of good and Barong symbol of fertility, and the evil witch Rangda. The fight has no solution because the population considers fundamental both good and evil in human life. The Barong is represented by a giant mask behind which there are at least two men. This ceremony is performed every 210 days and is like a birthday all the temples that are built. Hindus of Bali, as you'll see, they are very religious and believe very much in the power of the spirit!
It's great to witness this type of ceremonies and see the effort and care they put into preparing them! I love these different cultures!
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
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Deep in a cavalcade of rice
offering splendid views down, divided into two parts on either side of the
river Pakrisan, the temple of Gunung Kawi proudly holds Tampaksiring. Following
a descent of 230 steps of a pebble staircase, two tombs were discovered several
meters high, carved into the stone and embedded in niches, referring to the
cave temples of Ajanta in India. These are the tombs of King Udayana and his
family, built in the tenth century.
The candis of Gunung Kawi are believed to be
constructed in the 11th century (1080 AD) by king Anak Wungsu in honor of his
father, the great Balinese ruler Udayana. Contrary to what is often believed,
the candis are not tombs, for they have never contained human remains or ashes.
If you plan to visit this temple, bring along a
sarong with you. But if you forget to bring one, don’t worry because you can
borrow one at the entrance. You need to walk 1 km to reach the temple from the
entrance. Despite of it’s long walk, you can enjoy the beautiful view. It’s hot
and have moist air right there, but it will be highly rewarded because when you
arrive at the temple. You will see two pots filled with water at the end of
stair case. The temple are 7 meter tall. You can imagine how this area looked
like 1000 years ago when balinese still active praying in this carved shrine,
only jungle, no stairs, no land clearing, and no pathways.
Source: helobali
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
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Besakih Temple in Bali perched on the slopes of a volcanic mountain is estimated as the highest of all the shrines and temples of the island. It covers an uneven surface divided into several courtyards and shrines, the temple is the largest of its kind in the country.
Alternatively, known as the "Mother Temple",Besakih Temple in Bali, with 35 sanctuaries and halls it has been a center of Hindu believes and costumes from ancient times. Sightseeing in Bali remains incomplete without a visit to this temple.
It is about 60km from Denpasar. The temple of Besakih rises along the slopes of Mount Agung about 1000 meters above sea level. It is a complex of temples, considered the oldest and most revered island.
Once known as "Naga Besukian" the residence of the god-dragon, Besakih Temple gained fame State Temple at the beginning of the 11th century. Showing generosity to accommodate all devotees irrespective of class and caste, Pura Besakih Temple Bali attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Padmasanas Three or shrines dedicated to the Trinity of Hinduism are the main attractions of the temple. White is dedicated to Shiva, the red one is for Brahma if black is for Vishnu. The buildings tired of high sanctuaries are carefully formed by the rules of Balinese architecture. Like the shape of a Chinese pagoda, these levels are called "Meru" .This sacred place comes alive every year at the "Odalan" to commemorate the founding of the Besakih Temple in Bali. elegantly dressed worshipers carrying offerings crowd here. This time of celebration is perfect to enjoy the charm of this temple at its best.
source : goingbali.wordpress.com
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Sunday, July 5, 2015
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Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple dedicated to the spirits of the sea. The venue is on the extreme southwestern tip of the Bukit Peninsula about 15 km. from Jimbaran Beach. The temple boasts a superb location on top of a rocky promontory overlooking the Indian Ocean; from about 70metri height you can see the waves crashing on the rugged coastline.
Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple Highlights
The origin of Pura Luhur Uluwatu Tempe is shrouded in myth but studies could say without a doubt that the structure dates back to the tenth century by a Hindu priest from Java. The structure of the Uluwatu Temple is thin and unadorned; the visit is often disturbed by the cheeky monkeys who take possession of everything that tourists have in your hands or in your hair, in this regard, attention must be paid to the cameras, eyewear and handbags.
Given the striking position, the best time to visit is in the late afternoon to watch the spectacular sunset. The dance of the monkeys or Kecak Dance is named for the characteristic sound, Speech based, issued by the choir. Components are forty or more of shirtless men adorned with sarong and white checked blacks around the waist, sitting cross-legged in four or five concentric circles, swaying, clapping and waving their arms in perfect sync with each 'Another emitting only the sound "cak cak cak cak" and thus producing' a hypnotic and amazing musicality.
It follows the amazing fire dance during which a dancer in trance walking on hot coals. The dance is inspired by an episode of the ancient epic Ramayana.
The Uluwatu Temple, of which only vestiges invaded by lush vegetation (imagine every step of the emergence of Mowgli and King Louis!), Is located at the tip of the peninsula. Overlooking the Indian Ocean from the top of a high cliff seventy meters. The view is magnificent and the sunsets of wonderful beauty ...
The vaulted porch that serves as an entrance to the temple is magnificent: celebrates Ganesh - the son of Shiva and Parvati, the god of wisdom, intelligence, education and prudence, always represented as a man with an elephant's head fitted four arms. You have to cover your legs to visit the temple entrance you can rent a sarong and a belt (3,000 rupees).
source : goingbali.wordpress.com
Bali is an island of traditions and beliefs fascinating is confirmed by the thousands of tourists that reach every year. The cliffs overlooking the sea, the quiet rice fields, the practice of yoga and the petals scattered along the streets as an offering to the gods Hindus contribute to wrap it in a mystical atmosphere.
Kecak Dance Uluwatu Highlights
The Kecak is part of this cultural mix to be discovered. Originally it was a form of dance trance, accompanied by choral singing of men and practiced for purposes of exorcism. The name of this traditional art form comes from the sound "chak", unique background music performance.
And 'only since the 30s, when a German painter and musician he was fascinated that this dance is transformed into a real form of theater with the aim to disseminate knowledge abroad. From that moment the sounds and movements of this dance are adapted to the mysterious episodes of the Ramayana, the great epic of Hindu culture.
Away from our theater of words, today the Kecak is a form of theater based on choral singing and dancing on a hundred men through sudden changes of rhythm and movements tell the adventures of Rama, hero of the poem. In short, for a moment forget the exploits of Ulysses and the Trojan War and get ready to immerse yourself in the battles of the Eastern principles in the name of his beloved, which apparently seems to be a constant inevitable from the West to the East.
In Bali, you can still witness this spectacle. On stage there are between fifty and a hundred men who sing and move around a large fire, some women wearing the typical Balinese masks and a colorful dragon that becomes a surprise during the performance. The episode that replicates most is that of the battle between Prince Rama, assisted by the white monkey Hanuman, and the king of evil Lanka, guilty of kidnapping Dewi Sinta, wife of Rama.
The most impressive of Bali in which to immerse themselves in this fascinating and colorful tradition is the temple of Uluwatu, southern Bukit peninsula. Here, the scene we think the nature: a temple on top of a cliff overlooking the sea and the setting sun painting the sky red: the show can begin.
source : wiki
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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Pura Tanah Lot (Temple of Earth in the Sea) is a beautiful Hindu temple on an island 100 meters off the southwest coast of Bali. Built by a priest during the sixteenth century, the temple is dedicated to the guardian spirits of the sea and is believed to be guarded by the dangerous sea snakes that live below the surface.
When the tide is high, the rock on which is located Pura Tanah Lot becomes covered almost completely, but for a few hours a day is possible to reach the temple walking with little wet.
Inside the temple, which is accessed via a staircase carved in the rock, you can not be visited but the evening is possible to approach to the sanctuary to receive a blessing bestowed by priests.
The Tanah Lot temple is a spectacular place, especially at sunset when the sunlight turns golden drops the horizon turning the temple into a dark silhouette. At the end of the day the area is full of tourists who end their trips in one of the most special temples of Bali.
Around Tanah Lot can visit other temples among which Pura Batu Bolong, a small shrine located on a hillock at sea communicating with the shore by a natural bridge. At 7 pm starts around the spectacle of fire dancing, known as Kechak.
The temple of Tanah Lot is one of the most famous and visited places on the island of Bali. To access the temple area and to cross must pay a large shopping area with numerous stalls of clothing and souvenirs along a downward path that leads to the same shore, where the temple is located.
Opposite it is a way up a cliff and found some very nice restaurants where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the temple of Tanah Lot.
Many visitors come just at sunset, as it is the time of day that is most beautiful, marking its majestic black silhouette against the red background of the sunset.
Worth a visit, this temple is etched in the soul of who observes forever.
Source : goingbali.wordpress.com
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