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Amed

it is a sleepy fishing village in the far east of Bali Island. It features a kilometer-long black sandy beach and hills riding up behind, although the stench of drying fish can rather detract from the scenery. Much of the area around here is lined with salt manufacturing, but you only see it taking place in the dry season. Amed is known for its beautiful underwater world, which is also becoming one of the great spot for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Bangli

it's dated back from the 13th century and it was never one of the major Balinese kingdoms but it played a crucial role at pivotal points in Balinese history. Originally set under the rule of the Majapahit dynasty based in Gelgel, and then broke away from Gelgel to become a separate kingdom. By the 19th it was involved in long running conflicts with neighboring states. In 1849, Bangli made a treaty with the Dutch, giving its control over the defeated north coast kingdom of Buleleng, but Buleleng rebelled and the Dutch imposed direct rule there. In January 1909, Bangli became a Dutch protectorate rather than face complete conquest by neighboring kingdoms or the colonial power.
Pura Kehen is the state temple for the regency of Bangli and it is one of the finest temples in east Bali, a little like a miniature version of the mother temple Besakih. It is terraced up the hillside with a great flight of 38 steps leading to the beautifully decorated entrance with a frightening Kala Makara, the demonic one who catches harmful spirits to prevent them from entrance leads into the outer courtyard of the temple containing a massive banyan tree with a Kulkul/warning drum built among the branches. Chinese porcelain plates-a common feature of ancient temples and palaces were set into the walls as decoration, but most of the originals have been damaged or lost. The temple has an 11-roofed meru and 43 altars. The huge three-compartment, Padmasana throne in the north easternmost corner are dedicated to the Hindu trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Siva.


Banjar Hot Spring

a natural hot spring that is located in Banjar village north Bali. In 1985 the sulphureous spring water was channeled into a public bathing area consisting of 3 pools, set in a tasteful blend of jungle and garden. The water is pleasant 38°C. There are changing rooms, showers, toilets and a restaurant.


Batubulan

It means "Moon Stone". It is the home of the famous Barong dance troupes, and respected across the island for its superb stone carvers. The local sculptors are specializing in free-standing images include all sorts of demons and deities, mythological and religious figures as well as pigs, monkeys, fish and people using the distinctive rough gray larva stone known as paras, whose texture gains great character after a few months exposure to the elements, and smooth, almost crumbly sandstones which comes in gray, yellow and pink hues. In this village, it is worth to visit its Pura Puseh built in an unusual design which include a five-tiered gateway tower inspired by Indian religious architecture, and a number of Buddha images not normally associated with Bali's Hindu temples. The rest of the icons and decorations, however are characteristically and flamboyantly Balinese. Four statues of Wisnu poised on carved pedestals embellished with Tantri tales guard the temple and the grimacing Bhoma head overlooks the main gateway.

Batur

the Batur area was formed 30,000 years ago by a gigantic volcano. The village of Batur used to be down in the crater but a violent eruption in 1917 killed thousands of people and destroyed more than 60,000 homes and 2,000 temples. Although the village was wiped out, the lava flow stopped at the entrance to the village temple. Taking this as a good omen, the village was rebuilt but Mount Batur erupted again in 1926. This time the lava flow covered all but the loftiest temple shrine that's dedicated to Dewi Danu the lake goddess. The Dutch administration anticipated the eruption and evacuated the village up on the crater rim, and the surviving shrine was also moved up and placed in the new temple of Pura Ulun Danu. Spiritually Mount Batur is the second most important mountain on Bali for the Hindu followers.
PURA ULUN DANU BATUR is the second most important temple on the island after the mother temple Besakih. It is one of the highly venerated directional temples. The temple honors the Goddess of the lake Dewi Danu who controls the water for the irrigation system throughout the island. The different temples in the complex thus reflect a concern with not only the invisible world, but the world of living as well. Parts of the major shrines are; PURA PENATARAN AGUNG BATUR is the principal temple, with the five main courtyards. The dominant shrines are the merus, an 11-tiered one for the lake goddess and three 9-tiered ones for the gods of mount Batur, mount Abang, and Ida Batara Dalem Waturenggong, the defied king of Gelgel dynasty who said to have ruled from 1460 to 1550. The Chinese looking shrine is for Ida Ratu Ayu Subandar, the patron saint of commerce. Another 3-tiered meru is for Ida Ratu Ayu Kentel Gumi who protects the crops from disease.  PENATARAN PURA JATI is related to the source temple on the western edge of the lake. PURA TIRTA BUNGKAH is related to the hot spring down by the lake. PURA TAMAN SARI and PURA TIRTA MAS MAMPEH are concerned with agriculture. PURA SAMPIAN WANGI is dedicated to such crafts as weaving, sewing, the making of offerings and ceremonial cakes. PURA GUNARALI is where adolescent boys and girls can invoke help to develop their natural abilities. PURA PADANG SILA consists of forty-five stone shrines for the gods and goddesses of Pura Ulun Danu Batur. PURA TULUKBIU just next to Pura Ulun Danu is another relocated temple. Tulukbiu is the old name of Abang, the second highest mountain in Bali at the southern edge of the summit of Mt. Abang. ERUPTION of Mt. BATUR - it has erupted more than 20 times since 1800, major eruption was in 1917, August 3rd, 1926, September 1963, May 1964, March 1974, and August 7th, 1994.

Bedugul

high in the central ranges of west Bali, a cool mountain retreat nestles in the crater of an extinct volcano. Here placid Lake Bratan, source of life-giving water for the springs, rivers and rice fields below. Verdant tropical rainforest blanket the hills, which at 1400 m above the sea level provide temperatures several degrees lower than the plains (11° to 30° C). On the western shore of the lake, dramatic PURA ULUN DANU BRATAN projects into the water. It is the temple of the lake goddess who is revered as a source of fertility, built by the king of Mengwi in 1633. It consists of four compounds.
BOTANICAL GARDEN - a large expanse of tropical rainforest in the foothills of Bukit Tapak was set aside by the government in 1959. It is covering an area of 129.2 hectares. More than 650 tree species have been recorded in the park, and there are 459 different wild and propagated orchids, including some rare ones collected from nearby forest.
CANDI KUNING is one of the best markets for buying tropical spices, variety of vegetables, flowers and fresh fruits.

Bedulu

was once the capital of a great kingdom with a semi-mythical pig-headed king, Dalem Beda-Hulu. The legend relates how Beda-Hulu possessed magical powers. He used to sit and meditate, removing his head to reach the beyond. On one such occasion, an unnatural disturbance occurred and the king was forced to get a new head quickly. A pig happened by and its head was taken to place on then neck of the king. Thereafter the king was forced to sit on a high throne and forbade his subjects to look up at him. Beda-Hulu means " he who changed head".
PURA SAMUAN TIGA: temple of the meeting of the three. The name is possibly a reference to the Hindu trinity, or it may refer to the meetings held here in the early 11th century.  

Not far away from Bedulu there are the Yeh Pulu reliefs and Goa Gajah.

GOA GAJAH: the famous "Elephant Cave". It overlooks the Petanu River and consists of a Siwaitic rock-cut cave, a bathing place, a monks' chamber, a number of Buddhist rock-cut stuppas and statues, and several foundations. It is known as the 11th century Buddhist hermitage.
YEH PULU RELIEFS: chipped away from the sheer rock face, the 25-meter-long series of Yeh Pulu carvings are said to date back to the 14th century. The reliefs are in naturalistic style. Legend has it that the great giant architect-general, Kebo Iwa carved out the enchanting picture-shape of village life and animals, which are interspersed with Balinese Hindu gods, with his fingernails.

Besakih

the greatest of all Balinese sanctuaries, the most sacred and powerful of the island's innumerable temples. It is perched nearly 1000 m on the southwestern slope of Mt. Agung, offering spectacular views over the whole of southern Bali. It is an extensive complex of 23 separate but related temples. The more important for this temple is the great purification ceremonies of Panca Wali Krama, theoretically held every 10 years, and Eka Dasa Rudra, every 100 years.

Brahma Vihara

Bali's only Buddhist monastery that lies 10 km southwest of Lovina beach which was built in 1970 and consecrated in 1972 but got a great damages by an earthquake in 1976. The temple has a wonderful hillside settings, orange-tiled roofs stand over an entrance gate guarded by two fine Naga/dragon, with an wooden alarm drum tower in the courtyard, a lower temple with a gold Buddha from Thailand as the centerpiece and carved stone plaques showing scenes from Buddha's life on all the main temples and also a colorful Buddhist grotto.


Candi Kuning (Candikuning)

-> Bedugul


Ceking

it is located north of Ubud very well known for its spectacular rice terrace view.

Celuk

a center of gold and silver work. Original designs in delicate filigree make Balinese jewelry one of the most unusual styles in Asia. Although individual pieces are elaborate, they have simple origins in their making. Artisans use a tree stump with a protruding iron spike as a pounding base, a bamboo stem to catch the fillings, and a manually operated gas pump for heat. As the most of the Balinese crafts, gold and silver work is a hereditary trade. Apprentices begin young, by the time the boys are twelve, they are already producing fine ornaments from the precious metals.

Denpasar

is the capital city of Bali province with population around 350,000 people. It is a "village city" with an aristocratic past that was born from the ashes of the defeated Pemecutan court following the Puputan massacre of 1906, Denpasar became a sleepy administrative outpost during the Dutch time. Since independence, and especially after it was made as the capital city of Bali in 1958 it has been transformed into a bustling city of some 350,000 souls that provides administrative, commercial and educational services not only to booming Bali, but to much eastern Indonesia as well. Denpasar is the most dynamic city east of Surabaya in east Jawa and arguably the richest in the country. As a microcosm of both modern Bali and modern Indonesia, Denpasar is easier to understand than to see. Nevertheless, it awaits the intelligent travelers who want to learn about the future as well as the past, and who wishes to take home more than just a few images. So forget your lens for a while, forget the traditional villages and have a look at the new urban Bali.

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Wayan Sueta
Specialized in Countryside Adventure
Email: Sueta@hiddenbali.com
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