Vancouver Banshee: Indonesia

Showing posts with label Indonesia. Show all posts

Friday, March 09, 2012

Indonesia -- Day 12 Beratan Lake Area, Bali

Our Adventures Abroad itinerary for today stated:

This morning we have an early boat trip to the reef where we hope to see the dolphins that frequent the area. Even if the dolphins don't show, the sunrise can be quite spectacular.

After breakfast back at the hotel, we head for the Gitgit Falls where a 15-minute walk takes us to a 60 m / 197 ft waterfall. We will also check out the spices and fruits at Lake Bratan market, making our way back toward Lovina with a visit at the Buddhist Monastery, Brahma Arama Vihara. It is a spectacular looking place, and a bit out of place in Hindu Bali. It is the most important Buddhist monastery in Bali and is complete with golden Buddha statues and a pristine natural setting. Strictly speaking the monastery is not a tourist site but accepts respectful visitors.

We return to Lovina late in the afternoon.

Overnight in Lovina. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

Roadside Fruit Stands
Beratan Lake Area, Bali

I find this a weird commercial/retail concept that 6 stalls of the same thing (oranges?) are all together at one area of the road. Of course, they were selling fruit for the next stop...

Monkeys !!
Beratan Lake Area, Bali

The next stop down the road were these "wild monkeys". Man they are pretty brazen !! They would come right up to you and take the fruit out of your hand..

Beratan Lake Area, Bali

A little fuzzy -- but this is the "Grandpa" of the clan.

Hibiscus
Beratan Lake Area, Bali

Amazing Hibiscus flower .. this is such a gorgeous flower. The depth and shape is amazing.

I love this !! NO MONKEYS !!
Beratan Lake Area, Bali

Arriving at the Ulun Danu temple. Quite a unique sign for a North American to see ...

Wild orchid??
Beratan Lake Area, Bali

Again, more gorgeous flowers !! I believe this is a lady slipper orchid but I really am not sure.

Banyan Tree
Beratan Lake Area, Bali

I believe this is a banyan tree. It's root system is unbelievable. The black and white checker cloth is put on all things/guards to ward off evil.

Beratan Lake Area, Bali

The entrance to the Ulun Danu Temple at the Beratan Lake. Please note the restrictions on entering below:

Beratan Lake Area, Bali

From Balistarisland

The existence of Ulun Danu Temple reminds that The Balinese Hindu live tolerantly with other people outside of Hindu like Buddha. It is signified by the existence of Buddhist Temple located outside of temple area. This temple building look very beautiful with Buddha Monk Statues put surround the temple. These Buddhist Temples are strategically situated in the lush tropical garden with cool atmosphere surround it.

Beratan Lake Area, Bali

Such a beautiful sight. A mother and her young son in traditional dress.

Beratan Lake Area, Bali

This is the carved and painted door in the temple wall. Isn't this gorgeous??

Beratan Lake Area, Bali

If you would like to visit Bali or Lovina or the Aneka Lovina Hotel,

contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote Code AANK for a special discount

Ulun Danu Temple
Beratan Lake Area, Bali

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Indonesia -- Day 12 Aneka Lovina Hotel, Lovina, Bali

The Adventures Abroad itinerary for today was:

This morning we have an early boat trip to the reef where we hope to see the dolphins that frequent the area. Even if the dolphins don't show, the sunrise can be quite spectacular.

After breakfast back at the hotel, we head for the Gitgit Falls where a 15-minute walk takes us to a 60 m / 197 ft waterfall. We will also check out the spices and fruits at Lake Bratan market, making our way back toward Lovina with a visit at the Buddhist Monastery, Brahma Arama Vihara. It is a spectacular looking place, and a bit out of place in Hindu Bali. It is the most important Buddhist monastery in Bali and is complete with golden Buddha statues and a pristine natural setting. Strictly speaking the monastery is not a tourist site but accepts respectful visitors.

We return to Lovina late in the afternoon.

Overnight in Lovina. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

Aneka Lovina Hotel
Lovina, Bali, Indonesia

Oh My WORD !!! Aren't these doors gorgeous??? There were several different designs that covered all the doors to each room. Each door is the width of a regular door but split down the mirror. Your "key" to the door is an actual lock.

Aneka Lovina Hotel

Lovina, Bali, Indonesia

All the doors are hand carved and then hand painted. AMAZING !!! I know all my ASCP friends will be drying to redo these in some way, or at the very least use them as great inspiration.

Aneka Lovina Hotel

Lovina, Bali, Indonesia

Aneka Lovina Hotel

Lovina, Bali, Indonesia

Aneka Lovina Hotel

Lovina, Bali, Indonesia

Below is the inside of the door, taken from inside the room.

Aneka Lovina Hotel

Lovina, Bali, Indonesia

If you would like to visit Bali or Lovina or the Aneka Lovina Hotel,

contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote Code AANK for a special discount.

Aneka Lovina Hotel

Lovina, Bali, Indonesia

Indonesia -- Day 11 Finally Lovina, Bali -- We have arrived !!

Today was a completely fascinating day. We covered so much of Eastern Bali. I think I took over 500 photos today alone. These are the last few pictures as we traveled through Singaraja to arrive in Lovina. We were staying at the Aneka Lovina Hotel.

A real Frangipani flower
Isn't it perfect?

Local food stand
Lovina, Singaraja, Bali

Canang Maker
Lovina, Singaraja, Bali

Local Sate Stand
Lovina, Singaraja, Bali

Lovina, Singaraja, Bali

Yeah .... It was a long day but we finally made it to our hotel, Aneka Lovina Hotel.

Aneka Lovina Hotel

Lovina, Bali

Seriously the hotel grounds were fantastic !! So beautiful and serene. The rooms were great with TV, and mini fridge, but no Wi-Fi. There was free Wi-Fi at the restuarant and the Wi-Fi patio at the main reception.

Aneka Lovina Hotel
Lovina, Bali

If you would like to visit Bali or Lovina or the Aneka Lovina Hotel,

contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote Code AANK for a special discount.

My door !!!!!!!
Aneka Lovina Hotel
Lovina, Bali

Monday, March 05, 2012

Indonesia -- Day 11 Pura Beji, Sangsit, Bali

After leaving Kintamani, we kept on the road to Singaraja. Our next stop was the main road of Sangsit and the Pura Beji Temple. The temple is located about 6 km north-east of Singaraja. It is a fabulous looking temple with gold and red trim doors at the entrance, Chinese and Hindu features and is dedicated to the fertility and rice goddess Dewi Sri. The temple belongs to the local rice-farmers' co-operative.

Pura Beji, Sangsit
Bali, Indonesia

From Wikipedia:

The tripartite split gate leading into the inner courtyard is exceptionally richly ornamented; on its outer surface are several grimacing demons framed in finely carved lotus blossoms. Beyond the gate is an aling-aling (protective wall to keep out demons) flanked by two snakes. The profusion of carved ornament characteristic of northern Bali continues in the inner courtyard. Above the temple rears the gedong of the goddess Dewi Sri.

On leaving the temple note the three figures from the "Ramayana" on each side.

Pura Beji, Sangsit
Bali, Indonesia

Honestly, this temple was so AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL !! I wish I was a better photographer to try and convey exactly how fabulous it was.

Pura Beji, Sangsit
Bali, Indonesia

The intricacy of the red brick is beyond description. Every inch of the temple seems to be richly carved. It is hard to believe that it originates from the 15th century. It has been described as the most "baroque-looking" temple on the island.

Pura Beji, Sangsit
Bali, Indonesia

Pura Beji, Sangsit

Bali, Indonesia

The inner courtyard filled with frangipani trees.

Pura Beji, Sangsit
Bali, Indonesia

Pura Beji, Sangsit

Bali, Indonesia

The main road of Sangsit

Outside the Pura Beji Temple

Bali, Indonesia

What does this mean?

The main road of Sangsit outside the Pura Beji Temple

Bali, Indonesia

If you would like to visit Bali or the Pura Beji Temple,

contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote Code AANK for a special discount.

The neighboring rice fields or Pura Beji Temple

Bali, Indonesia

Indonesia -- Day 11 Cat Shit Coffee, Kintamani, Mount Batur

After leaving the villages, we went to find an ATM to get some cash. When we stopped at one there was this "modern" bike shop. Quite a bit different than the bike shops from Taiwan. It was tiny, with only two rows of bikes, and hardly any accessories.

Bike Shop
Bali, Indonesia

We continued on the way to Lovina. We had seen many temples of the last few days with different type of celebratory decorations, this temple in particular I thought was very elaborate.

Local temple adorned for a celebration
Bali, Indonesia

I just love these woven street decorations. They are so beautiful and festive.

Our next stop was a garden nursery that had examples of local flora. Below is a pineapple plant. I don't know what I expected them to look like, but I found this surprising.

Pineapple Plant
Bali, Indonesia

Native Civet Cat
Bali, Indonesia

This is the native Asian Palm Civet cat. It comes out at night and one of its food sources is the coffee plant. This lovely little guy and his besties eat the very best and ripest coffee berries. The berries pass through its digestive track and are broken down. Then they wander through the coffee plantations until they feel the need to take a bowel movement. Once they have relieved themselves they repeat the process over and over.

In the morning, when the civet poop piles are found, they are collected. The digested berries are then used to make Kopi Luwak or Civet Coffee or Cat Shit Coffee. This is the world's most expensive coffee. It tastes just like regular coffee to me but cost about five times more per cup. Can you image what Starbucks would charge for that?

Native Civet Cat
Bali, Indonesia

From Wikipedia:

Kopi luwak, or civet coffee, is one of the world's most expensive and low-production varieties of coffee. It is made from the beans of coffee berries which have been eaten by the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and other related civets, then passed through its digestive tract. A civet eats the berries for their fleshy pulp. In its stomach, proteolytic enzymes seep into the beans, making shorter peptides and more free amino acids. Passing through a civet's intestines the beans are then defecated, keeping their shape. After gathering, thorough washing, sun drying, light roasting and brewing, these beans yield an aromatic coffee with much less bitterness. This coffee was widely noted as the most expensive coffee in the world with prices reaching $160 per pound since the Uchunari grade 0 coffee has been introduced on the international coffee market.

Kopi luwak is produced mainly on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Sulawesi in the Indonesian Archipelago.

Cocoa Bean
Bali, Indonesia

This is where your chocolate comes from.

Dream Coffee
Bali, Indonesia

This was quite funny, the advertisement for Dream Coffee. It was also the same price as the Kopi Luwak. Rp. 50.000/cup is about $6.50 a cup CAD.

Is there anything that Dream Coffee can't do?
Bali, Indonesia

After visiting the nursery, we headed on over to Kintamani to see Lake and Mount Batur.

Kintamani and Mount Batur and Lake Batur
Bali, Indonesia

Since 1800, Mount Batur has erupted on average 24 times a year, and is currently still listed as active.

Mount Batur is located next to Lake Batur, which is the largest lake in Bali. It is a main source of irragation to surrounding farmer and local society.

Kintamani itself is located high enough that it has a lovely scenic view. The village itself is very set up for tourists with large buffet restaurants and room for tour buses. You can also buy a lot of local souvenirs from the vendors and peddlers.

Kintamani and Mount Batur and Lake Batur
Bali, Indonesia

The inevitable souvenir shop, Kintamani
Bali, Indonesia

Kintamani and Mount Batur
Bali, Indonesia

This is a photo of me on the balcony of the local restaurant.

The food was okay, the beer was great and the view was fabulous !!

Kintamani and Mount Batur
Bali, Indonesia

Kintamani and Mount Batur and Lake Batur
Bali, Indonesia

If you would like to visit Kintamani, Mount Batur or Lake Batur

then contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote Code AANK for a special discount