Bali Free and Easy Trip – Day 4

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Bali Free and Easy Day 4

RICE TERRACE AT TEGALALANG

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Beautiful Panorama View of Valley with Rice Terrace and Coconut Trees

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is one of the more beautiful and popular rice terrace to visit in Bali.  The rice terrace is designed very beautifully with exquisite hollowing rice field and precisely located on the hill bank.

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Beautiful Rice Field Terrace

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The Balinese make maximum use of what the environment offers. The terraced fields extend for miles, up and down the hill, from mountains to the sea.  Buffalo are still a very important part of traditional rice farming.

Vendors Selling Local Handicraft Beside the Rice Field

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KINTAMANI

Kintamani, a famous mountain village in Bali located at 1,400 meters above sea level.  There is a breathtaking view to the still active volcano and Lake Batur from this volcano rim edge village.

Passion Fruit and Orange Fruit Farm at Kintamani

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Orange Tree

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MOUNT BATUR

Mount Batur is an active volcano, heights is 1,717m above sea level,  located at the center of two concentric calderas north west of Mount Agung.

Mount Batur and Lake Batur at Kintamani

The eruptions of Mount Batur has been registered since 1804 and since that time 22 eruptions of the volcano has occurred.

Since 1917 Mount Batur erupted 3 more times (1926, 1974 and 1994), on each occasion shifting a little more to the west, creating new sub craters that are referred to as Batur I, II and III respectively.

Lunch at Kintamani overlooking Volcano Batur

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Restaurant with Panoramic view of Mount Bator

As Mount Bator grows through frequent minor eruptions it gradually enlarges its base at the expense of the Lake Bator, which is slowly shrinking in size over the years.

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LAKE BATUR

Lake Batur is the largest lake in Bali, and provides water for an underground network of streams and springs across the southern slopes of the mountain.

Lake Batur

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TIRTA EMPUL – HOLY SPRING WATER TEMPLE AT TEMPAKSIRING

Tirta Empul Temple 

This important temple lays on the northern edge of Tampaksiring.  An inscription with old-Balinese text found in the village Manukaya north of Tampaksiring tells about two pools that was built here in 962 AD.

Tirta Empul Holy Spring Water Temple

Although this is one of the oldest sites on Bali much of the structures are relatively new, and Tirta Empul temple were completely restored in 1969.  This makes Tirta Empul temple look nice and clean, but the antique feeling is somewhat reduced.

Tirtta Empul Holy Spring Water Temple

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Crystal Clear Water at the Holy Spring Water Temple

Tirta Empul Temple was built under the rule of Sri Candrabhaya Singha Warmadewa in the 10th century.  Like other Balinese temples it is divided into three main courtyards: the front, the middle, and the inner sanctum.

Backing the outer courtyard are two rectangular bathing pools, one for men and one for women.  According to tradition, each of the pool’s 15 fountains has its own name and function: spiritual purification, cleansing from evil, antidote to poison.

Entrance to Bathing Pools

People from all over Bali come here to take a bath in the holy water for good health and good luck.  The crystal clear water surfaces in another pool, according to traditions this is the Balinese Fountain of Eternal Youth and the pool is therefore protected by a wall.

The water origins from the Batur lake via underground rivers.

Bathing Pool with Both Locals and Tourists

The water in Pura Tirta Empul is especially holy, all water used for cremations on Bali is taken from here and it is said to have magical powers for healing.

Praying area inside the Temple

The legend tells about how the spring water in Tirta Empul was created by the god Indra.  His army had been poisoned by the demon king Mayadanava, and Indra made a hole in the Earth in order to tap “amerta”, the healing water that brought life back to his soldiers.

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The Water is so Clear that Plants and Fish in the Pool is Easy to See

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A lot of Balinese Handicraft Souvenir Shops Beside the Temple

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UBUD 

Ubud lies 36 km from the resorts on the southern coast.  The name for this royal village is derived from the Balinese word ubad (medicine), the moniker of a herb with healing properties which grows along and near by Oos River. Ubud is also famous for its Balinese arts and crafts community.

Ubud Art Gallery

Ever since the German painter Walter Spies made his home here in the 1930s, Ubud has been a haven for both native and European artists.

In an area of 10 square km in and around this village, live Bali’s most accomplished artists, dancers, musicians, painters, and carvers.

Temple festivals, celebrations, performing arts, baby’s first haircut, dance rehearsals, even an occasional cremation are offered somewhere in the area every day of the week.

Various Statues are Displayed Along the Road

Famous for its painter’s and artists community, Ubud is special in more ways than one.  It has its own magic, and its particularly beautiful traditional surroundings and laid-back gracious way of life have drawn celebrities and artists from all over the world in recent decades;  some have even adopted Ubud as their own home.

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SILVER FACTORY

Balinese jewelry is unique, and Celuk is the home of much of it.  Nearly every family in Celuk is involved in some aspects of the delicate gold and silver work, which has become very famous over the years.

Celuk Famous Hand Made Silver Jewellery

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Beautiful Silver Handicraft Factory in Celuk

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BATIK FACTORY 

See the traditional hand made Batik painting at Tohpati

Hand Made Batik

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Batik Factory

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Batik Factory with Beautiful Traditional Wood Carvings

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Traditional Batik Weaving with Intricate Design and Pattern

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MONKEY FOREST

Monkey Forest

Sangeh is the village whose northern part covers about 14 hectares of a holy homogeny forest of “Pala” trees with hundreds of monkey as inhabitants.  The Pala trees cannot be found on any other part of Bali and their existence in this village remains a mystery.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

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Tourist Feeding the Monkey

Look for a lovely mossy temple, which is hidden amongst the tall and gracious Pala tree.

Gracious Pala Tree

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Small Stream inside the Padangtegal Monkey Sanctuary

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Monkey Forest with Beautiful stone carvings

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KUTA BEACH

The 5 kms long arching sandy stretch of Bali Kuta Beach is still possibly the best beach front of Bali. Kuta beach is safe, relatively clean and well maintained, although the vendors fill up the beach side haphazardly.

Bali Kuta Beach

However, this beach is really famous for its spectacular sunsets and waves, and attracts tourists who spend hours here swimming, surfing and sunbathing.

Kuta Beach is a well-known destination among surfing enthusiasts: the long sandy beach with its lack of dangerous rocks or coral makes the waves ideal for beginners.

Different View of Kuta Beach

For surfing equipment, head for the dozen or so surf shops on Jalan Bakung Sari and Jalan Legian.  Operated and run by veteran surfers, these shops rent and sell surfboards, boogie boards, and such accessories as water-sport wear and tide charts.

Beautiful Sunset at Bali Kuta Beach

Another place to visit is Ground Zero, where Balinese residents and foreign tourists alike still keep coming to put fresh flowers at the Memorial.  A Bali Bomb Memorial Event is also held every year, hosted jointly by the Indonesian and Australian governments.

Kuta Beach Sunset View from Discovery Centre

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DISCOVERY SHOPPING MALL

Discovery Shopping Mall is a new concept of entertainment center in Bali.

Discovery Centre at Kuta Beach

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Day 6

This morning after breakfast, we hang around the Villa, took some nice photo and then proceed to Bali Ngurah Rai Airport for our flight home. Bye Bye, Bali.

Home Sweet Home.

Bali Tourist Map

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Link: Bali Free and Easy Trip Day 1

Link: Bali Free and Easy Trip Day 2

Link: Bali Free and Easy Trip Day 3

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Related articles

• Splish, Splash I was Taking a Bath (mantanatletbasket.wordpress.com)
• Bali Hai (theothersideofthecoconut.wordpress.com)
• Kintamani (712ruth.wordpress.com)
• An Ascent into Darkness – Climbing Mt. Batur (thetravelingdreamer.com)
• Beautiful Bali – Denpasar, Indonesia (travelpod.com)