Kintamani Tour

batur1The most popular tour in Bali since it consist of higlight of what Bali is. You will start by visiting. Batubulan village to watch Barong dance which depicts a fight between good (represented by Barong) and evil (represented by evil witch Rangda).

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Kecak Uluwatu Dinner

This tour is perfect way to enjoy your relaxed evening in Bali with your beloved ones. Prepare your camera for this great moment to see marvelous scenery of temple, dance, and evening at the sea shore at Jimbaran Bay.

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Tanah Lot Tour

This tour highlight the beautiful sunset in Tanah Lot, the rice terraces, monkey forest and the royal temple. First we will take you to visit the royal temple built in 1634 called Taman Ayun in Mengwi.

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Besakih Karangasem Tour

This tour takes you to eastern Bali to visit the ancient hall of justice, The Bat Cave, Tenganan Village, Rendang Village, and the mother temple. Start by visiting Kertha Gosa the ancient hall of justice in Klungkung.

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Ulun Danu Temple at Lake Bratan

On your tour to North Bali, you will pass a temple in the lake with a superb view. It is called Ulun Danu Temple which means heart of
the lake. Local people come to pray to this temple especially the farmers thanking the God for the fertility of their land and good harvest.

Ulun Danu Temple is located in Lake Bratan in Tabanan regency, Bali. To reach the place, you need to drive for about one and half hour
from Denpasar (the capital city of Bali). The area is called Bedugul.

The main building of the temple is situated by the lake, but there is two shrines which is built on a small island on the lake. This is
a favourite view for photographers and tourists.

You can walk around the temple yard, but the the main area where people pray is always closed. You can continue walking around the
temple and out side into well kept garden to enjoy the view of the shrines on the small island.

Ticket to enter the temple is only rp 10000. You need to wear a sarong, or a long trousers to enter the temple area. Ladies
should not be in their period to be able to enter the temple.

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Tour to Taman Ayun Temple

Taman Ayun is a very popular place a tourist destination. The royal temple of Taman Ayun, located in Mengwi, mid part of Bali, was built by a King of Mengwi Kingdom; I Gusti Agung Anom. (He also built another temple in Lake Bratan which is popularly known as Temple of Ulun Danu.) The Taman Ayun itself was built in 1634 when he moved his palace to Mengwi from Balahayu.
What does Taman Ayun mean? It means the temple with beautiful garden. The date record of when the temple is constructed read as “Sad Bhuta Yaksa Dewa”, which translated as 1634 AD. The temple is known to function as Penyawangan which means a place to worship other sacred places or temples for example: the sacred Mount Agung, Mount Batukaru, and Mount Batur. There is also a shrine to worship Pura Sada Temple, another local temple located in this area. The area covered by Taman Ayun temple is approximately 250 m by 100 m. It has been restored and enlarged in 1937 from its original size when it was built in 1634. In 1949 few renovation were made such as fixing the gates, split gates and surrounding walls. A traditional pavilion called Bale Bengong was added.
The shrines roofs which were made by ijuk (black material from a kind of palm tree) were replaced in 1972. In 1976 a wooden bell tower called Bale Kulkul was built in the middle of temple. Divided into three areas, the temple has outer court yard, middle court and inner court yard. These areas were well kept with beautiful garden and moat surrounding the temple. If one sees from the other side of the moat, it can be seen that the temple is built slightly on a raised ground. A gateway made of terracotta separate the first and the second yard while the inner area besides having a gate; it is also surrounded by a wall. There are frangipani trees grown all around the temple wall. In the inner yard (not accessible to visitors) there are shrines dedicated to manifestations of god and deities. Totally there are about 50 shrines and pavilions in all area of the temple.

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Trying the Bali famous Suckling Pig

Do you fancy a delicious, juicy pork with crispy spicy pork skin?

Visit Bu Oka’s suckling pig in Ubud. It is now become very popular among the tourists. Many tourists who visit Ubud will not miss the chance to taste the delicious recipe of Bu Oka’s famous roasted pig.

When you get there, don’t expect a place like restaurant where table are neatly arranged. It is a small village hall, which is borrowed or rent by Bu Oka’s family to run the family business. There are only limited spaces, maybe only three tables which surrounded by chairs on the open.

The rest of the customers will have to sit crosslegged on the tiled floor in front of low tables. Balinese are so used to sitting cross-legged so it is no problem for them. I have a taken a western tourist here once, he had problem sitting cross-legged. So, instead he just knelt befor the table.

The dish contain rice a plate of rice, pork meat mixed with spices, and also the crispy pork skin. You can order s a special dish, if you prefer not to eat rice. Just order the spiced pork or a plate of crispy pork skin. It is a good idea. .

But anyhow it is also a favorite of mine. Whenever I visit Ubud, I will be happily stop there at Bu Oka, only it if it is not so crowded.

Bu Oka open at midday for lunch only. Being there earlier maybe the wisest the decision you make for your culinary tour in Bali. The place can get crowded fast.

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All Hell Broke Loose: Story of Bima Swarga

Have you ever visited the Kerta Gosa or the hall of justice in Klungkung? Maybe not. On the ceiling of the pavilion of of Kerta Gosa, there is a clasical paiting on painted all over the ceiling. This painting is like a comic book telling about he story of Bima’s journey to the hell trying to find his parents’soul..

During his journey, he encountered the spirits the guardians the hell. He had to kill all these spirits because they would not let him entre the lhell. In the hell, Bima witnessed the torture of the sinfull soul by the spirits.

For example, a female soul was forced to brestfeed a giant caterpillar. That is the punishment for not having a child on when she wasalive. Not dedicating herself to care a son or a baby or to worship Sang Hyang Kumara, the children protector.

There are also some souls who have his/her (please excuse my language) have his genitals burnt. They are involved adultery or raping when they alive.

There are souls hang on a bambo tree with a string around their neck. Only this string is made of a strain of hair. Soon they will fall into the hole where there so many blades to hurt them. This is the pepople who did not have any children.

The funny picture is to a person who like to fart in front of other peolple (intentionally or unintentionally) will have his bottom beaten with sharp spikes by the spirits.

There are many other kind of turture for different bad deeds. All completely desrcribed ton the painting on the ceiling of Kerta Gosa pavilion.

Bima succeeded in finding his parents soul in the bottom of the hell after fidghting with the guardian god and make a lot of mess in the hell. Because of the intense fighting between Bima and the guardian god, many of the chambers in the hell are destroyed. Many of the soul are escaped and promised not to commit sin next time they live again.

This Kerta Gosa was once used in the early 20 century for trial to Balinese who commited mistakes. The painting on the ceiling would give the Balinese convict a thought about the life afterlife. So, maybe they will confess their bad deeds looking at the paintings on the ceiling. I think the a the real purpose of the painting to give a shock theraphy of some kind.

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Adventure With Elephants in Taro

If you like the idea of swaying on the elephant back through jungles and villages of Taro, you should try this activity . The le elephant safari ride in Bali is available through Bali adventure Tours. Some others company also have similar program in different areas of Bali of whhich I will discuss later. The Elephant safari Park has a beautifully landscaped garden, and pool for the elephant to play or bathe. You can see the elephants in c while d thy a entertain the visitors. They can do a lot of things from posing to a camera, playing basket ball, putting flower garland around your neck when you have photo with them, or even drawing with water colour. They can also do simple arithmetic, but not complex one. This you can witness by visiting the the Elephant Safari Park at Taro Village. Next, you can pop in to the elephant back with your family. Maximum number people of the elephant is two, along with the trainer. You will be able to embark on a safari to the village path and enjoy the beautiful lush area of Taro village. To reach the place, you will need to drive for about about aone and half an hour from Kuta or Nusa Dua. About one hour from Sanur. It is even closer from Ubud, it may take up to 40 minutes.

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Rice Teraces of Jatiluwih

Jatiluwih Village of Tabanan Regency is the haven that you must visit if you like to see rice terraces. Not just that, it is the rice field after rice field so that wherever you see you will only the colour green or yellow of the rice field. You can stay in your car and enjoy the view and breath Bali fresh air, or you can go out take as many photos you like.

You can walk around and go through the little paths of the rice field. Get blended with the nature. Go from one rice field path to the next rice field path and the next path. You can make this a little trekking for 15 minutes, or for one hour or more. Time fleet fast.

In Jatiluwih you will also other plantation such as coffee, clove, vanilla, and banana. Even the rice you see, have many variations. It is not just the plain white rice, but black rice, and brown rice.

You will need to pay donation/ticket to enter Jatiluwih. It cost rp. 10000 .

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