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Bali
Jul 28, 2014 1:47:10 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Jul 28, 2014 1:47:10 GMT
Bali is really an amazing little island, with things to do ranging from scuba diving to seeing a volcano. South Bali is the touristy part of Bali with streets full of supermarkets, McDonalds and hotels. didn't find it interesting in any way as such but Central Bali is the treasure-trove of culture. While Indonesia is primarily a Muslim country, 90% of Bali's population is Hindu. There are various theories as to why Hinduism is popular in Bali, ranging from missionaries spreading the ideas to Indonesia having adopted the culture. So I arrived at evening, and the drive to the hotel was nothing special. I am starting with the report from the next morning when he took a private tour to various points in Bali. The first was a traditional dance which bored me a lot...I hate watching dances! At least the stage was nicely designed. Next stop was batik, where traditional designs are made on clothes. I had seen it in Malaysia where the process was stamping designs on to cloth. Here the process was more intricate. A random streetview outside: Here in Bali, most houses maintain their own temple. Indeed, at least from the outside, all seem to be maintained very well. Such as this one: Next stop was a large temple complex: Will continue later.
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Bali
Jul 28, 2014 2:30:28 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 2:30:28 GMT
Oh, those traditional dances are a plague! I don't like them in Bali, I don't like them in Java, I don't like them in Thailand, I don't like them anywhere else!
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Bali
Jul 28, 2014 7:07:09 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Jul 28, 2014 7:07:09 GMT
Good to know I am not the only one! I felt a bit guilty; after all I would like to know more about the local culture, why am I not watching carefully? After I decided that I couldn't make head or tail of it, I zoned out... Continuing with the temple: The temple was something I wanted to see. What a beautiful temple. If only I remembered its name! This area, in central Bali, is known as Ubud, an area of 14 villages specialising in various crafts be it batik, wood sculpting, silver making or paintings. We went to some of these villages, unfortunately no photos to show. The next stop was a viewpoint of volcanic Mt Batur and Lake Batur in East Bali. The viewpoint is on Mt Kintamani. Much above sea level, it was actually cool here and some locals were wearing jackets. Next stop was the Goa Gajah cave temple (Elephant Cave), built in the 9th century to serve as a sanctuary. The entrance to the cave: And inside:
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Bali
Jul 28, 2014 7:45:41 GMT
Post by bjd on Jul 28, 2014 7:45:41 GMT
On the picture of the wooden temple roof, who are the guys sitting there? Guides waiting for tourists?
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Bali
Jul 28, 2014 9:00:21 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Jul 28, 2014 9:00:21 GMT
I think some are guides, some are temple employees. As soon as a tourist walks in these employees have to wrap a sarong across the tourists' legs.
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Bali
Jul 29, 2014 2:51:54 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Jul 29, 2014 2:51:54 GMT
Some rice fields on the way back to the hotel: It is low tide but actually otherwise the below is the bay: Next day, mow. Lots of guardian statues line Bali's roads. Here is an example: This day, we went to Bali's capital city, Denpasar, a city of half a million people in South Central Bali. The first stop was the Royal Palace. It was the only place I saw whether there were different entry fees for foreigners and locals. A spiral staircase led to a viewing platform above. The ceiling: There were good views of Denpasar: Here is another temple in the heart of town. Didn't go inside, so pictures are just of the outside.
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Bali
Jul 30, 2014 2:37:44 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Jul 30, 2014 2:37:44 GMT
Denpasar seemed a calm, clean town. This main road was lined with lots of government buildings. They know how to design their toll booths here. Here's the bay again, this time not at low tide. Next day, and our last full day in Bali. This is a streetview in one of south Bali's relatively untouristy beach towns, Canggu. We were heading to Lake Bratan, a famous lake in central Bali. All this stuff is just on the way. Some rice paddies: More later.
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Bali
Jul 31, 2014 2:41:16 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Jul 31, 2014 2:41:16 GMT
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Bali
Jul 31, 2014 18:13:45 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 18:13:45 GMT
The terraced rice fields are always spectacular. On my first trip around 1980, there was the added "attraction" at the time that most of the women worked in those fields bare chested. That has mostly disappeared in modern times, but considering the climate, it is probably a shame for the women, at least in terms of comfort.
I have never visited Denpasar itself because the two times that I have grazed the city, it was after an all night bus and ferry ride from Java, and the buses arrive at about 5:30am. All you do then is negotiate a taxi or becak ride to the southern beach areas, where the hotels are used to customers arriving at 7am and just wanting to fall into a bed.
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Bali
Aug 1, 2014 3:01:39 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Aug 1, 2014 3:01:39 GMT
I was actually surprised by Denpasar. Just went there with my dad as my mom wasn't feeling too well that day and we were supposed to get back by afternoon when the doctor was supposed to visit, and Denpasar seemed ideal due to its proximity. It really does have some good tourist attractions and the city itself is much calmer and less chaotic than, say, Jakarta. Here is a streetview of one of the larger towns, Tabanan. Now, our last stop, the temple Tanah Lot on Bali's west coast. The main temple is a rock slightly offshore, as you can see below. This is a very popular place for sunset, on a clear day. So that marked the end of our entire trip, which comprised Bali, Jakarta and Singapore. There are parts of Bali not on the main tourist radar, such as on the north-east coast which is known for dolphin-watching, where I would like to visit. I guess it's normal to become very interested in a new country after making a first visit there, so I'm opening up to Indonesia, which clearly has a lot to see. I thought this would be my only trip this year but I was wrong. More about that in a separate report.
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Bali
Aug 1, 2014 11:36:41 GMT
Post by htmb on Aug 1, 2014 11:36:41 GMT
Wonderful report and photos, Ansh.
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Bali
Aug 1, 2014 12:06:41 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Aug 1, 2014 12:06:41 GMT
Thanks htmb! Bali is really an amazing place to visit.
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Bali
Aug 10, 2014 18:38:21 GMT
Post by lugg on Aug 10, 2014 18:38:21 GMT
Great report Ansh - especially enjoyed it as my plans to visit this August have failed- at least I have seen some vicariously.
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Bali
Aug 11, 2014 1:40:43 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Aug 11, 2014 1:40:43 GMT
Thanks lugg- and sorry that your plans failed. Hope you get a chance to visit soon!
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Bali
Aug 22, 2014 21:34:45 GMT
Post by nycgirl on Aug 22, 2014 21:34:45 GMT
What beautiful temples. The Elephant Cave is especially fascinating.
I also came this close to going to Bali. I had actually booked a flight but had to cancel it. Bali is high on my wish list. I read somewhere that Indonesia has some of the best snorkeling in the world, with ten times more marine diversity than the Caribbean.
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Bali
Aug 23, 2014 4:11:24 GMT
Post by anshjain97 on Aug 23, 2014 4:11:24 GMT
I'm sorry your plans didn't work out, Nycgirl. I hope you get a chance to visit soon!
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Bali
Sept 1, 2014 14:18:46 GMT
Post by questa on Sept 1, 2014 14:18:46 GMT
nycgiirl, the elephant cave dates back to before the current Balinese culture moved from Java to Bali. It was a Buddhist area with meditation cells for the monks there. As the Hindu culture moved almost en masse to Bali to avoid the Muslim spread to Java in the 14th Century, both Hindu and Buddhist religions shared the cave and other nearby temples, which are now remnants. The little alcoves were monk cells but now have Hindu deities' statues in them.
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