Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK), South Kuta - Bali

Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a 240 hectares private cultural park on Bukit Peninsula at the southern end of the Bali Island 20 Minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport. Bukit is a limestone plateau with Uluwatu to the west and Nusa Dua to the east. It is devoted to the Hindu god Vhisnu and hes mount Garuda, the mythical bird who is hes companion as high as 18 meters.

Area Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park is located at an altitude of 146 meter above ground level or 263 feet above sea level. This statue will once completed will be the world's biggest statue with a height of 75 meters and width of 60 meters and will beat the statue of Liberty. GWK is A masterpiece of Balinese artist I Nyoman Nuarta located in South Bali area Ungasan exactly in the hills. Area Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is located at an altitude of 146 meters above ground level or 263 feet above sea level. In that area there is also a statue of Garuda is right behind the Plaza Wisnu is the Plaza Garuda where the 18 meters tall statue of Garuda Placed temporarily. At this time Garuda Plaza became the focal point of a large hall carved limestone pillars which covers more than 4000 squares meters of open space that is the Lotus Pond. Limestone pillars colossal and monumental Garuda statue make Lotus Pond a very exotic space. With the capacity of the room that can accommodate up to 7000 people, Lotus pond has gained good reputation as a perfect place to hold big and international Events.

There is also a statue of Vishnu Hands that are part of a statue of Lord Vishnu. This is one step closer to completing a full statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana. This work is placed in the area while Tirta Agung. Located high above the limestone dataraan padas and stare at the south coast tourist area of Bali. Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is is a window of art and culture that the island has a natural back ground and a very impressive panorama. With the distance of 20 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport and less than an hour from Major Hospitality locations, GWK became one of the main objectives for the various art performances, exhibitions and conferences or a relaxing visit even spiritual visit. This statue is the work of the famous sculptor Bali, I Nyoman Nuarta. This Monument was developed as a cultural park and became an an icon for tourism in Bali.

The statue of Lord Vishnu in the form of Hindu religion is a God the Preserver (Shtiti), riding a Garuda Bird. Garuda figure can be seen in the story of Garuda and empire that revolves around the sense of devotion and sacrifice to save the Mother Bird Garuda of slavery that ultimately protected by Lord Vishnu. This statue is projected to spatial binding with visibility up to 20 miles so apat seen from Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua up to Tanah Lot. Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue is a symbol of environmental rescue mission and the world. The statue is made of a mixture of copper and steel weighing 4000 tons, with a height of a 75 meters and width of 60 meters. When construction is completed, the sculpture will be the largest sculpture in the world and beat the Statue of Liberty. An area of 250 hectares summarizes various cultural events, theaters, and a variety of culinary services. As the Palaces of Bali in antiquity, the visitor will see the splendor GWK monumental and spiritual kekhusukan where all enhanced with a modern twist with the facilities and appropriate services. Despite you come as part of the thousands of visitors a cultural event or a time to enjoy a light meal and drinks while watching the sunset, you will feel the beauty of nature and culture and the hospitality of its inhabitants. 

Kerta Gosa, Klungkung - Bali

Kerta Gosa is a beautiful historical site situated in the heart of Semarapura Town, about 40km east side of Denpasar City. The name of Kerta Gosa is taken from Sanskrit, where Kerta means serene and meanwhile Gosa world is derive from Gosita that mean established or announced. Thus the meaning of Kerta Gosa is a kind of Bale building where the King announces Judicial Legislation, justice punishment and so on. Beside of Kerta Gosa, there is a building called by Taman Gili which is located adjacent to Bale Kembang that is a traditional building floating in the center of fish pound. 

Kerta Gosa and Taman Gili building can not be separated with the establishment of Semarapura Palace. The Semarapura Palace is established by I Dewa Agung Djambe, The first king of Klungkung around 1686. The painting that decorate Kerta Gosa ceiling are the painting with the story motif like Ni Diah Tantri, Bima Swarga, Garuda and Palelindon those are arranged in form of panels with 9 levels. The paintings are begun from the east panel with the story in the direction of circumambulation  (turning to the right as clockwise) and finish at the north panel. 

The history of Kerta Gosa is founded in 18 century and it has a lot of changed in 20 century. These building

have been renovated after earthquake that brought much destroy in year 1971. The most unique of this building is the ceiling made from the asbestos material fully decorated by the traditional painting with Kamasan style famous in 1930. 30 years later in 1960, Pan Semaris Putra from Pan Seken has restored and renewed according to the original style. During the Dutch colonization (1908-1942), Kerta Gosa is still used as a court to persecute the violators especially criminal. In line with the colonial administration, The Indonesian law has changed from the legal system Majapahit heritage (traditional) into the continental law system which is brought by the Dutch. The change of the system are not means to retaliation, but improve the perpetrator to be accepted back into their society. By this concept, the word of Penjara (Jail) has changed into :Lembaga Permasyarakatan (LP). The ceiling of Taman Gili building that is fully decorated by the traditional painting to persuade the violators to not repeat the offense (recidivism) because the Hindu Society in Bali have heard the story of Bima Swarga that has been visualized on this building. Realized and believed, beside of the prison sentence they got, it has been waiting for the punishment of the hereafter is more terrible and feared in form of fire prosecution by Cikabakala. Hopefully after the seeing these visuals, the violators realize against the crime resulted in suffering, hence it can prevent the recidivism. Bima Swarga is excerpt from Mahabharata Epic that share the experience of Bima, one of princess from Panca Pandawa, when searching the spirit of his father in the afterlife is saying tortures.

Desa Tenganan, Karangasem - Bali

Tenganan is a traditional village in the Bali's Island. The village is located in Manggis district, Karangasem Regency in the east of the Bali's Island. Tenganan where tourism can be achieved from Candi Dasa and lies approximately 10 kilometers from there. Tenganan is one of three rural village of Bali Aga, beside Trunyan and Sembiran. The meaning is Bali Aga village still retains a lifestyle of community governance refers to the rules of the inherited traditional village customs of their ancestors. Shape and the buildings and grounds, building layout arrangement, until the location of the temple is made by following the rules of customary hereditary maintained. 

According to some versions of historical records, the word Tenganan comes from the word "middle" or "ngatengahang" which means "to move into deeper region". The word is associated with the movement of the villagers from the seaside to the residential area in the middle of the hills, that are western hill (Bukit Kauh) and east hill (Bukit Kangin). Some say that the people of Tenganan came from Peneges Village, Gianyar, which used to be called as Bedahulu. According to the folklore, King Bedahulu had lost one of his horses and the people look to the east. The horses was found dead by Ki Patih Tunjung Biru, a confidant of the king. For his loyalty Ki Patih Tunjung Biru get the authority to regulate areas that have the scent of carrion (carrion) the horse. Ki Patih Tunjung Biru get area because he cut the horse carcass and spread it as far as he could do. That's the origin of Tenganan Village. 

In generally, Tenganan Villagers work as farmers of rice, but some are making various handicrafts. Some craft Tenganan is typical of woven bamboo, carvings, and paintings on palm leafs that have been burned. In the village visitors can see the buildings of the village and the young craftsmen who draw lontar. From the first the Village of Tenganan has also been recognized for its expertise in weaving cloth gringsing. Hoe to work this gringsing fabric called double ikat technique. The technique is the only one in Indonesia and the resulting fabric known special gringsing up to foreign countries. Tenganan resident still use the barter system in daily life.