BALI is PARADISE ON EARTH !!!

Unique ...??? Bali is not a country, its not a state. Its a small island, one among 33 provinces in Indonesia, but Bali more welknown than Indonesia itself or Jakarta, Capital city. Why did happened ? Its  because of its uniqueness. When you step down in Ngurah Ray, Bali airport, enter the gate, you will inhale flowers and incences scent down the hall. then enter a taxy, your eyes will catching a set of flowers in the dashboard. In many occasions you are welcome by dancers when your step down in the airport.

Old traditions and cultures, keep still even in this very small island crowded by tourits. Their ritual were not influenced, not disturbed at all. Take a look to a regular performance of kecak dance,

 pendet dance and many more.

Ritual of "Ngaben", community leaders who passed away, burn to aches like Indian Hinduism, open for tourist to watch as photo below:

Religion, Bali Hinduism keep maintenanced by this small community, among 90 % of Moslem Indonesian. Bali people who imigrated and stayed in another parts of the country, took their religion, traditions and cultures with them. They  create peace  to the new enviroment, the new places, teach local people in agriculture especially growing rice.

The Buildings designed with Bali taste, ornaments,sculptures, crafted by Balines's artists.

Goverment buldings, Banks, Travel agents, Big companies built by Bali's design without any formal  regulations to do so, made Denpasar city and small towns looked artistic, unique, special, amazing compare to another cities in Indonesia.

Bali Craft   with his own designs differ from other islands, from small handicrafts to a stone's statues export quality, ready to send to your doorstep wordwide by DHL. Rent a car or motor bike, take a look along the way to remote villages you will find so many craft workshops/showrooms. So, dont hurry, take your time

 

Dancings, the performances held in a restaurants, formal celebrations or on packet tours with so many kind of dances. Balinese people trained from their childhood in schools or private courses by professional, old, local trainers. 

People highly aware that their life depend not solely from Agricultures, but also from visitors to buy their products and services. Then their live philosopy, colorful cultures and old traditions  backed up their  income. Their philosopy said that BALI means "come back". Once your feet touch Bali land, sure you will come here again. We are, Indonesian spend the long holiday here in Bali all over again. 

Gamelan music instruments is not Bali's uniqueness, but almost used the similar one in Java islands.This music always used in dance performances.The rythm  sound more agresssive then one in Java cultures. Once I was attending Indonesia Independence day August 17, 1995 in Helsinki,  from a distance a stranges sound humming the air, came out from the sound system, to wellcome diplomatics to enter the embassy's gate. No wonder the ambassador of Indonesia Republic was a Balinese. 

                      Gamelan music

 

Pagoda scatter every places along the way from the Ngurah Ray airport to Denpasar, capital of Bali and in all over the villages as well. In the Pagoda they offer fruits, flowers and burning incences. Pagoda not only belong to the villagers, but also in every house yard they built a small Pagoda belong to the family. In the photo we see females lining carried fruits over their head.

Visitors, not only foreigners fall in love to this heaven island. Local tourists put Bali as a first option to visit (again) in their holidays.  But don't worry, foreigners had their own special places to hang out.  So be aware to book the Hotel far in advance especially in Christmas, New Year and Idulfitry

Initially, I was reluctanted to write about Bali, that had been welknown as one of the best tourist destinations in the world as written in so many travel, and airline magazines, newspapers, websites, telling everything about them thorougly.

No more story to tell.

But what crossed to my mind was that someone in the corner of Africa, Latin America, Europe or Japan, may never before read about Bali  in local newspaper or in magazines in their country. Let them search in the internet like mine to gather  more information.

Many ancient rituals keep still and open for tourists to watch. The color of sarongs in black and white, not only for dancers but also using to covered every statues in front of a temple's gate.

How to get to Bali ?

You may take a direct flight from your country to Ngurah Ray, airport of Denpasar, Bali.

If you happenned stayed in Jakarta, you may travel by train or Bus through Central Java, Yogjakarta and East Java. The last town in east Java island, named Banyuwangi.

Then your Bus will take a scheduled ships across the strait to Gilimanuk town of Bali island in the east of Java.

If you take a train from Jakarta, you may step down at Surabaya city,  then transfer using Public bus to Denpasar, Bali.

In this journey you will see amazing panorama, you hadn't find in another countries such as  terraces rice fields, riveers, small towns, becaks, the people and would enrich your knowledge of Indonesian life and the people as well.

Don't worry, relax, take your time, you will be safe and sound.

BOROBUDUR TEMPLE IN CENTRAL JAVA

BOROBUDUR is the greatest Budha temple in  IX century, 123 x 123 meters size,1460 reliefs on the wall, 504 stupas Budha. Built 300 before Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Made it became World Wonder Heritage.

Every one who had the opportunities for a vacation, this temple will be on the top priority to visit in the rest of his/her life.

Location. Temples located  near Magelang town, Central Java  bordered Yogjakarta. To visit the site, preferable come and stay in Yogjakarta, its closer then go to Semarang first.   You may stay at International hotel next to Borobudur or stay at Yogjakarta city. Don't worry. alot of  stars Hotel available in towns. Not recommended stayed at Magelang town, because in Jogjakarta city there were places to see than Magelang.

If you travel and stay on the cruise ship and harbour in Semarang city in the North Java sea, your guide will drive you to Borobudur and return  in the afternoon to your ship or stars Hotel in Semarang city .

In case you had a limited time, you may take a first flight, early in the morning from Jakarta, visit Borobudur and return on the same day by the last flight.

Make sure you had a good health especialy your muscles, joints and feet in order to step up to the top 34,5 meter  high temple through stone stairs in 6 levels. Visitors with wheelchair farther stop, was the bottom of the stairs, no lift built on the temple. At 2nd level to the top stood 504 Stupas Budha sitted in the open air and Budha sitted closed with holes around. Every visitors tempted enter the hand to reach Budha palm and  relief , amuse if coud make it, touch, tap the palm.

Please take a look below photo and compare the sunset on the beach and this twilight from the top of  the temple, the yellow ligt above thin clowds and silhoutte of a stupa. Feeling how great the creator of the temple, built May 28, 824 (not 1824), 300 years before Angkor wat temple in Cambodia.

The above Stupas Budha on the upper level, Budha sitted closed in a round cages with holes around as shown as a small white dots.

Look at these two photo in twilight under thin lighting by weaken sun shine, feeling we were somewhere in the top of a mountain and peacefully hemisphere surrounding.

Yes, right, the meaning of the Borobudur itself was a terraces mountain. Some said, Borobudur means a temple at the high mountain.

Below photo was Borobudur in distance built in the top of the hill, covered by thin clouds, fogs at dawn, acessible by the cars and public Buses near the temple.

How peacefull the people lived surrounding as shown by the people riding a old transportation, a bycle under the palm tree.

It was true that this temple used for Budhaism sevices. In many occasion, serviced held here under, in the spacing yard, by days or nights. Followers came from a Jakarta, big cities, others places, especially from Bali, that most population were Hindu.

The two photos right side were Prambanan temple closer to Yogjakarta. You may visit these site in the same day visitting the Borobudur.

Below photo was a Building in down town Semarang city, central Java capital if you came from notrh sea by crise ship. One of several Duth buildings, built in Dutch era.

BADUY, LIVED WITHOUT TV, RADIO AND VEHICLE

Just about 70 miles Westsouth of capital city, Jakarta, administered in Lebak district, Banten province an isolated clan lived with harmony with nature, not influenced by outside worlds, modern technology  such us radio, TV set, Aircondition, gas, car, motorcycles, glass, plastics. Can't imagine if its happened just under nose of Central government of Indonesia.

The 7.200 Baduy people divided in two tribal groups, Inner Baduy (Baduy dalam) only 350 family members remain and  Outer Baduy (Baduy luar) lived in 5.200 hectares area. The Outer acted as a barriers to stop visitors to enter sacred inner circle, who lived in 3 Villages. No strangers permitted to spend the night in sacred Villages. Up until today no foreigners allowed enter the Inner Baduy villages.

They lived in harmony with natures in mountain rain forest. Clear rivers flowing where fish swim freely under the green environments, then to be captured by the net knitted by household hands, just for family consumption.

House materials cutting from bamboo or palm tress growing nearby the villages and built in grouping in one compound with the same height. No house taller than the others as a symbol of togetherness. The design is so simple, even without windows, furniture and other furnishings.

The bridges materials strengthened just buy ropes,  without using a nails.

Today Baduy tribe still control of their religion (mixing Hinduismn and Animism) and cultural practices have remain largely unchanged until recent time. Although Government forced them to changes their lives and built modern schools in their territory, they refused to cooperate. (They live here in the foothill of Kanekes mountain )

But interaction with outside worlds will affected their way of life gradually. Althought  prohibited by traditional law, some modern articles imported from outside Baduy territory are becoming commonplace in Baduy home such as thermos bottles, radios, even hand phones, except in Inner Baduy, a sacred place

                              3 Inner Baduy people

The Inner Baduy walking in small groups of 3-5 people by bare foots to meet local authorities or went to towns nearby to sell handicrafts and honey. They refused to take public transportation or Government cars. In daily life they wear only white and blue black clothes for Inner Baduy or blue black for Outer Baduy, handmade.  But recently Outer proudly wear sarongs favored by Sundanese neighbors.

Another important aspects that should pay serious attention by local authorities are rapidly growing tourist visits to this territory, that should manage properly to minimize negative impact to their cultures.

We could take express train from Jakarta Tanah Abang station to Rangkasbitung and then proceed to Ciboleger by public bus transportation. Or the cheapest one by public Bus from Cengkareng terminal station ahead to Rangkasbitung town.

Before enter the Villages, you must obtained a permit from Tourist office in Rangkasbitung, capital of  Lebak district, 50 kilometers away to the Villages. Then through 10 kilometers Village  road drive or take a public transportation to entry point in Ciboleger, Leuwidamar Sub district. Spend overnight at Police head house, pay some donation for food and drinks. Asked them to find a guide tour to accompany for 4- 6 hours walking distance.

Some occasion a committee set up a new travel group spend 3 days 2 nights. In August 2009 they charge Rp. 600.000,- equivalent US.$.60,-  per person including meal and staying at Village accommodation. Unfortunately, western not allowed enter "the  Inner Baduy". Asean citizen look alike Indonesian may come in. Be aware of the local law such as no photo taken, no radio etc.

Have a nice advent tour.