Before leaving Bali, we decided to visit Tanah Lot Temple, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations with more than 9,000 visitors daily. Tanah Lot is still an active pilgrimage site, and there were thousands of people bringing offerings and praying at the temple. It is also one of the best locations for […]
Indonesia 19 – Bali 10 – Ubud Art Villages
Ubud is known as the cultural capital of Bali. There are many traditional villages surrounding Ubud which specialize in creating Balinese art from jewelry making, batik, wood and stone sculpting, to painting. In the interiors of where we stayed, there were many wood sculptures and furniture with intricately carved details. We hired a driver to […]
Indonesia 18 – Bali 9 – Birds and Monkeys
We went in search of the Indonesian Horn Bill (bottom-right) after they flew past us in Central Kalimantan, flying so high we could barely see them. We were told that the Bali Bird Park would be a good place to see horn bills close up, as they are illusive in the wild. The park is […]
Indonesia 16 – Bali 8 – Balinese Dance
There are at least 3,000 different original types of dance forms in Indonesia. We saw the Barong and Legong Dance performed by the Panca Arhta Troupe from the Mahabharata at the Ubud Palace in Bali. The dances usually depict stories of the characters fighting evil gods or demons from Hindu scripture. Some characteristics of Balinese […]
Indonesia 15 – Bali 7 – Galungan Day
Galungan is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma or the triumph of good over evil. Praying at the temple is the climax of Galungan Day. The people put on their finest traditional clothes and go to the temple with their families to pray and bring offerings to share. Early in the […]
Indonesia 14 – Bali 6 – Galungan Day Prep
Galungan marks the beginning of the most important religious Hinud holiday that recurs every 210 days in Bali. It is like Christmas, where families come together to celebrate. The spirits of the people who have died and been cremated return to visit their former home, and the family has a responsibility to welcome them through […]
Indonesia 13 – Bali 5 – More Karya Agung Temple Ceremony
An Odalan or temple ceremony usually lasts for three days, but larger ones, which occur every 5, 10, 30 or 100 years, can last for 11 days or longer. This is one of the larger celebrations that occurs every 30 years, called Karya Agung, or “Great Ritual,” and was held at the Pura Puseh Temple at Tulikup […]
Indonesia 12 – Bali 4 – Karya Agung Temple Ceremony
Bali is known as the land of a thousand puras or temples. The reality is there are up to 20,000, since every family also has their own private temple. The Karya Agung temple celebration is a significant event at the 30 year point, in which they ask the gods to come down and join them. […]
Indonesia 11 – Bali 3 – Market and Ancient Village
Sunrise at Mount Batur, an active volcano that last erupted in 2000. Pejeng Traditional Market at Tampaksiring, Bali. The locals shop here for all basic necessities, including fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, fish and spices. It is similar to Feria Libra in Cuenca, though some of the foods and non-perishables are unique to Indonesia. The market […]
Indonesia 10 – Bali 2 – Rice Paddies
Rice production is a very important part of Bali’s and Indonesia’s economy and culture, accounting for more than half the caloric intake of the average diet.. Indonesia is the third largest producer of rice in the world, and the rice cycle is a process that takes either approximately 120 or 210 days, depending on the […]