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Showing posts from 2012

Batu Bolong—The Temple on The Rock

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Laying on the rock and facing Bali strait make this temple looks more interesting than others. However it is not only the main reason why many people come to see this place. The peaceful faces of Hindus that fold their arms and knee in front of the wooden small pagodas are religious and cultural things to catch.   In the past this temple is believed was used as a place to sacrifice virgins for the Gods by throwing them to the beach. As the others temple, Batu Bolong temple consists of three mains area namely Mandale , Madie and Utame. Mandale is the first area entered from the main gate. To get to Madie, I need to walk up on 30 stairs.   This second place is covered by the shade of some big threes. Meanwhile the main area is jutted to the sea. This place is the best spot to see sunset. Under the rock where both areas are on, there is a hole that connected the beach with the temple.   When you enter this temple you are not having menstruation, you need to dress properl

BESAKIH—THE GIANT TEMPLE

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If you see Besakih from afar, you will think that it is a palace instead of temple. It is very huge, high and is very typical Balinese architecture.  To enter the main part of this temple, I had to pass many stairs in long below heeled sarong. I felt like a princess who was walking to the highest tower. Well….it was pretty exhausting. This temple consists of 19 parts of temples. One part is the main temple and the rest is the supporting temples.   The main part is believed as the place where the Hinduism revealed for the first time in Bali. As the other Hindu temples in the world, Besakih also put forward the trinity figure-- Brahma, Wisnu and Shiva.   Parting from its massive and impressive Balinese architectures, this temple is built in the good site. It is located in the slope of Mount Agung—the highest mount in Bali. Administratively, this temple stands on Besakih village at district of Karang Asem, Bali . The golden location in which it is forted by the green ve

GILI BIDARA—The Island Between Gili Kondo and Gili Kapal

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On the eastern coast of Lombok, there are four tiny islands—Gili Lampu, Gili Kondo, Gili Bidara and Gili Kapal. One of these tiny wonderful islands that I have visited about two months ago is Gili Bidara. Bidara is taken from the name of the trees that can live there. If you check on the Google map, you won’t find it because it is too small.   The location of this island is in Sambelia, Pringgabaya sub district. It takes about 2 and half hours from Mataram to get to Gili Bidara. This tiny island is only occupied by 25 families. All of them work as a fisherman.    On the beach of Bidara, you do not only enjoy the white sandy beach with turquoise water but also you will know how the fisherman manages their catch. Near the beach, their simple wooden houses stood firm and in front, lied down some sacks that they used to put the fish and make them dried under the sun. Besides, snorkeling and swimming are good activities to do. There is no hotel and restaurant in this isl

SEMBALUN—the Hills Forted Village

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Mountainous area is always being a target place to run away from busy dizzy days. What is your favorite place? Is it the same like mine? Well…….if ours are different, I would love to recommend “SEMBALUN” as your next visited place for this weekend.  Sembalun is a hills forted village that is located on the slope of Rinjani--the second highest volcano in Indonesia. This village is also called Rinjani Gate because to climb Rinjani, you need to go this village first. This Village is located about 120 km away from Mataram. It belongs to East Lombok District. It was challenging to get here, I needed to pass long winding road. However, the landscape along the road was pretty amazing to see. I got there about 8 p.m.   I sneezed many times. The weather reached 15 degree Celsius. The following day, I was spoiled by the enchanted beauty of sunrise. To enjoy the sunrise here, I don’t need to wake up early. Since a lot of hills around this village, sunrise takes longer to be se

Gili Kapal—The Island under Water

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Lombok is surrounded by many gilies or tiny islands. Some gilies are famous and some are remain secret.   One of the unknown gilis is named Gili Kapal. The word “kapal” is originally taken from Indonesian which means “ship”. When the first time I stepped my feet on this island, I felt so extremely lucky because when I came there, it was low tide. When it is high tide, this island will be covered by water since its area only about 5.000 m square. I could not even see this island properly from the beach. It was like a tiny white sparkling bulge on the sea.  As I came closer, there is no any tree, no one live there, the only habitant who live there are the sea birds. The schools of this white gray bird were landing and walking on the white sand. When they were realized that I was there, they flew away to the blue sky. Then the wave erased their footprints away.   I was overwhelming with excitement when I stood and felt my feet walk in the clear turquoise water and on th