How Can a Historical Statue Located in Middle Rice Fields?

When I Visited Pejeng Village, Sukawati, Gianyar, I saw Arjuna Metapa Historical Statue. Arjuna is a figure in Mahabrath Story, and he is a handsome and powerful man. Strangely this Historical Statue is not located in a museum or in a closed place, but located in outdoors, precisely in the middle of rice fields, located on the west of Archaeological Museum, so I can saw easily. I can observe the shape of a amazing statues and admire the beauty of the rice fields around statue.

The existence of Metapa Arjuna Historical Statue is closely related to the Balinese People. I saw this statue is very well preserved. Saw this historical statue I felt was brought into the Mahabharata History which tells the story of Kauravas and Pandavas family. And Arjuna is one of the central figures derived from the Pandavas.

This statue depicts Arjuna who weared a recluse cloth, on the right and left side accompanied by two loyal servant. Arjuna servant named Tualem and Merdah. Arjuna statue established as one of the historic sites that must be protected from a variety of natural and human disturbances. So despite the existence open place but until whenever this statue will still safe.

MORE PHOTOS

Pejeng Village on google maps:

Melukat in Tirta Empul Temple

Bali is a small island that is rich in tourist destinations, in generally such as beaches, lakes, and mountains.But, if you know, not only that place you can visit. Bali also presents temples that has a special attraction for tourists. Temples in Bali generally serves as a place to pray for Hindus in Bali. Besides that, several temples in Bali also serves as a place for ‘melukat’ (ablutions). There are many temples in Bali which has a holy spring that serves as a place for melukat. One of the many temples known as a place of ablutions is Tirta Empul Temple.

Last month was my first experience visiting Tirta Empul Temple. Located in Manukaya Village, Tampaksiring, Gianyar – Bali. According to local people, the name of Tirta Empul Temple taken from the springs called Tirta Empul which when it defined is a water that gushes from the ground. So Tirta Empul is holy water that gushes out of the ground (holy spring).

Such as other temples, Tirta Empul Temple is divided into three parts, namely outside of the temple, the center of the temple and the last one is the main part of the temple. To get to the holy spring pool, first I had to pass through the outside part of the temple. Here there are many statues that decorated by garden of lush tropical plants. In the middle of the garden there is a path that lead me to ‘Candi Bentar’, which is the entrance to the temple. After passing the entrance, finally I arrived at the middle part of the temple. 

Here there is a rectangular pool which has approximately 30 pieces showers that lined from east to the west with clear water flows from each showers. it makes me impatient to showers here. But before I do the showers, there is main requirement to do, that is to use kamen. Kamen is a fabric that tied around the waist like a long skirt. Usually used by Hindus to be able to enter the temple area. 

I feel my body is so light and calm after one hour showers. This proves that, in this pool really contained holy water. That's my little experience while visiting Tirta Empul Temple, and I really want to visit this temple again. 

More Photos:

 

Experience Like Exploring The Jungle in Bali Zoo Park

Visited the one of alternative tourist spot in Bali named Bali Zoo Park with my family is my best experience when spend my holiday in Bali island. Located in Singapadu Village, Gianyar Regency I just need times about 45 minutes with drived a car from Kuta. I think this park has about 3.5 hectares area, with high tree, high grass and dense plants, made this park like home for the animals here.

This park is the best place to learn about the wildlife reserve especially for children or teenagers like me, also serves as a vehicle to reintroduce the endangered animals. I can saw many animals in Bali Zoo Park such as mammals, primates, deer, camels, kangaroos and Sumatran tiger. Famous tropical birds such as cassowaries, peacocks, cockatoos, Bali starling and many species of birds asia. Other views include reptiles, like Komodo the largest lizard found only in Indonesia), iguanas, green snake and python.

Being in an enormous garden filled with tropical plants and water, featuring natural environment for the animals. The environment is designed with a variety of plants which can be used both as a medicinal plant (eucalyptus, clove, noni, matoa, sandalwood and others), spices (betel nut, lime, salam), for ceremonial equipment (nagasari, coconut, bamboo yellow , majegau, perasok, uduh palm, papyrus and others).

According the information I got from employees in the Bali Zoo Park, at the end of 2006, this zoo adding several new mammal animal collections including the white tiger (phanttera tingris), pygmy hippopotamus (cheoropsis liberiensis), mountain goats (amortragus LERVIA), ape coat (Papio hamadryas), Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) imported from Surabaya Zoo as one of the cooperation forms in exchange programs surplus animals and mating animals that have not been paired so that they can breed well and remain stable presence in the this world. And I think this is nice program for our survival.

After a pleasant trip around the zoo, I relax in the the restaurant with 300 seats capacity and select Balinese cuisine menu, although there are the option seafood or vegetarian menu, I still want to try taste the Balinese cuisine. The class service at this restaurant like in the five-star hotel services. And I was very lucky because this restaurant was displayed Balinese dance and it is not every day can be seen.

MORE PHOTOS

Bali Zoo Park on google maps:

Ancient Balinese Life History in Yeh Pulu Relief

Yeh Pulu Ubud is one of cultural destination in Bali. Many tourists who visit the Yeh Pulu Temple are foreign tourists. Domestic tourists are very rarely visited this relief. It’s because the less promotion about this temple for domestic tourist. Yeh Pulu Temple located in Bedulu Village, Blahbatuh Sub-District, Gianyar Regency. 

Because located in Bedahulu Village, Yeh Pulu Temple also called Yeh Pulu Bedulu. The unique from this temple are the location. Located in very vast rice fields and scattered in all directions Bedulu Village. So you not only look at the temple reliefs history, but that you will see the rice terraces are arranged neatly. To can reach this temple, you must past the rather small footpath. This footpath very maintained, from the cleanliness and the beauty. This footpaths maintenance, conducted by the local community who have a farm organization, named Subak. 

This location has facilities like parking area, toilet and Balinese souvenirs. In this temple you can see many uniques ancient relief. Because in this temple there are many reliefs, so this temple often called Yeh Pulu Relief. There are ancient relief, carved in the rock, long relief about 25 meters and the width relief about 2 meters. 

The reliefs history contained in this temple, tells about the ancient Balinese life history, in the Bedahulu Kingdom. Not only relief on the wall, holes protrudes into place to meditate, also in this area. It’s said this place used Bedahulu King to meditation, before lose his battle against the Majapahit Kingdom on 1343.

MORE PHOTOS

Yeh Pulu Relief on google maps:

Gunung Kawi Brings You to the Past

Gunung Kawi is an ancient Hindu Temple located in north east part of Ubud, precisely in Pakerisan River, Tampaksiring Village, Gianyar Regency. Approximately 40 minutes from Denpasar city.The temple was built around the 11th century with its archeological carvings and richness in history, the temple has been proposed by the Governor of Bali to be listed on the World Heritages Sites. Beautiful rice fields and rivers as the irrigation can also be seen near the temple area. To reach the temple area, visitors must walk about 600 meters from the parking area to the ticket counter after that, visitors must go down approximately 315 stone steps.

Gunung Kawi Temple has 2 ancient omission complex, they are the Temple Complex and Buddhist Temple Complex. In the Temple complex, there is an article of Kediri word "Haji Lumahing Jalu". Haji means king, Lumah means temple, Ing means pakerisan and Jalu means Keris literal, the entire word has a meaning "The king made a temple in Pakerisan". The article says that the temple is dedicated to Udayana King and anak Wungsu. There are several temples located in this complex. While the Buddhist Temple Complex is used as a residence and as a place for meditation.

 

The beautiful ancient carvings would make all visitors feel reborn to the past. Gunung kawi is one of the most popular historical tourist destination in Bali. Its ancient omission attracts many domestic and foreign tourist, Gunung kawi is a great place to visit when having a vacation to Bali.

More Photos:

Batuan Village Traditional House - Feel the Real Culture of Bali

Batuan village is a famous tourist destination located in the southern part of Ubud, Gianyar Regency, about 15 kilometers north east of Denpasar City. It is very famous for its arts, temples and natural scenery, but another interesting tourist attraction located in Batuan Village is the Balinese Traditional House compound. With some donation , visitors can enter the Traditional Balinese house and see all the traditional activities done by the families in the traditional house.

The structure of the traditional house compound is old and traditional without modern touches. With the calm and simple atmosphere of their houses, their daily life activities and animals will bring all visitors back to the past time of Bali and would feel the real culture of Bali. The house compound is built in original Balinese concept, it is known as Kosali-Kosali concept. This concept is applied almost everywhere in the villages of Bali. Each building or pavilion has its own function. The pavilion to make offerings is located in the east, the kitchen building in the south, building for parents room in the west and building for children room in the north. In the northeastern side (the side of sunrise) of the house compound, there is a shrine which is known as the Family Temple, where families pray and worship God and Its manifests. 

This Balinese Traditional house compound is an interesting attraction to visit. All visitors get to see the real traditional house and culture of Balinese people. When having a tour to Ubud area, it is recommended to come by and have a visit to this traditional house.

 More Photos: