Sightseeing

Again, it is a tall order to enlist the to-see’s in Bali. Browse through the long long lists: http://www.hoteltravel.com/indonesia/guides/sightseeing.htm#top_things.

There are few that merit honorable mention:

Bali Bird Park (Taman Burung Bali) - Jalan Serma Cok Ngurah Gambir, Singapadu
Gianyar 80542, Hours: 8AM-6PM daily (except on Nyepi); +62 361 29 9352; Admission: Adults USD8, children 2-10 years USD4, sales@bali-bird-park.com , http://www.bali-bird-park.com - In the village of Singapadu, northeast of Denpasar lies a two-hectare spread of styled gardens, exuberant with exotic flora, and over 1,000 extraordinary and beautiful birds inhabiting over 60 aviaries. Some of them are photo-op savvy for your visual memoirs.

The Klungkung Palace - main road, Klungkung 80751; hours: Hours: 8AM-6PM daily; +62 361 225 649; Admission: Rp5,000 – originally built circa 18th century by the Dewa Agung dynasty and as usual, destroyed by war in 1908, and reconstructed to what you will see today—courtyards, lush gardens, pavilions, moats and lotus ponds.

Pura Besakih - Besakih Village, Rendang, Karangasem 80871, +62 361 235 600; Open 24 hours daily – Word is that this temple was built in the prehistoric era. The island’s largest and reputedly holiest, this intricate complex of 35 small temples sits on the awesome southeastern slopes of the sacred Mount Agung. Each year an overwhelming number of Balinese Hindus pay homage to their chief pilgrimage destination. When Mount Agung unleashed its monumental fury in 1963, she snuffed all surrounding villages but left this temple unscathed. In here, you’ll find Bali’s oldest remaining gamelan instrument, selonding. The biggest temple ceremony (odalan) happens on the 10th month of the Balinese calendar, April.

Agung Volcano – still a fire-breathing volcano with a massive crater, this magic mountain stands a mighty 3,142 meters above sea level, east of Bali. Its summit may be accessed through one of three hiking routes, the most popular being the one starting at the Besakih temple. Albeit not too complicated, the path is tough, becoming riskier the closer it gets to the crater. After passing other holy temples such as the Puseh, Plawangan and the Telaga Mas temples, at about 2500 meters is a tent area. Here the monkey dwellers watch from a distance rather than aggressively pursue visitors.

Rules to remember before you climb:

1. bring your own water
2. do not bring any meat, especially beef
3. never climb during ritual performance.

You might disappear or get hurt. For pictures, http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_agung_batur.html

Batur Volcano – another live one, a spectacular sight next to Batur Lake, within a 12 km wide and 450 m deep prehistoric caldera. Balinese believe that demigod Pasupati took two pieces of the peak of India’s Mount Mahameru and took them to Bali. The bigger piece became the Agung volcano, throne to his son, Putranjaya, and the smaller piece became the Batur volcano, throne to water goddess Danu, who they worship faithfully in her Danu Batur Temple atop the mountain. She in turn rewards them by taking care of the whole domain, as evidenced by an efficient complex coordination of the irrigation and planting schedules of hundreds of scattered villages. Frowning upon this archaic and impractical worship method of agriculture, Western scientists and anthropologists tried to correct this thousand-year-old system of water temples that controlled Bali's agriculture. After deeper analysis, the westerners discovered their system to be one of the most stable, efficient, state-of-the-art resource management and farming systems on the planet. Moreover, ancient scripture declared the Batur lake had underground tentacle channels that served to irrigate the island. Again, the ever-skeptic scientists checked the veracity of this contention through imaging technology aerial photographs and were amazed to find that it was true. http://www.pbase.com/bocavermelha/image/39198653.

Often, treks to this sacred mountain start at hours that will enable trekkers to reach the summit in time to catch a magnificent sunrise or a dazzling sunset. No matter—either one will leave you awe-inspired.

Nusa Penida region – Check out all or one of the 3 isles: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan, all situated east-west of Bali, roughly 90 minutes by boat.

• Nusa Penida – the largest of the three, this island of hills and cliffs offer terrific scenery and surf. Good billets with good facilities are available.
• Nusa Ceningan - the smallest of the three is sandwiched between the two. There is much snorkeling excitement that surrounds this islet, and you can avail of a local house that serves traditional cuisine fresh from a fisherman’s boat.
• Nusa Lembongan – grass-thatched-roofed flats are the rave here, good prices for good food as well, plus glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, canoeing, etc.

Pura Peti Tenget Temple - built circa 1500’s by the Java priest Dang Hyang Nirartha is noted for its archaeological remains and is frequented by foreign and domestic tourists. The temple becomes vibrant with the temple anniversary celebration called Odalan.

Related Links

http://www.bali-bird-park.com
http://www.pbase.com/bocavermelha/image/39198653
http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_agung_batur.html