Statues at Goa Gajah

If I have ever posted about the inside part of Goa Gajah, this picture shows you one of the outside part of Goa Gajah. Those statues of dewi attached on the wall of a pool, where water flows through the statues to the pool under them. The cave's keeper let some fishes live in the pool. Balinese people believes that when a lady wash her face using the water that flows from one of the statues, that lady will look young longer.

Monkey Cemetery

This is again a picture from Monkey Forest, Bali. I think I like the forest a lot. As I ever wrote before at my previous posting that this forest become the habitat of grey monkeys. The forest is like home for the monkeys. Every monkeys in the forest has a name. When they die, there's also a cemetery there to bury them and their name is written on a monument, just like how human being is buried. That's monkey cemetery. The different with human cemetery is that when people are in a cemetery they tend to look sad and unhappy. But those monkey playing around their friend or even parent's cemetery happyly. I wonder if there's another monkey cemetery somewhere else out there.

Old Books

I have been interested on this small book store since 2 years ago. I found it in one corner of a shopping center I visit every week. They're just selling old books like what you see in this picture. Being participated on this month theme "Books", I think this is the best moment to take a shot of the store.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Cafe at Sanur Beach

Enjoying the beauty of a beach while drinking in a cafe is one of a nice options to do at a beach. At Sanur beach we have this option among others. This cafe is one of several cafes available at Sanur Beach which usually has many visitors at day time. When I took this picture it was early in the morning. The cafe was still very quite, however there're still some stewards to serve you with breakfast if required.

Bicycle - Sanur Beach

One beautiful day, when we were in Bali and stayed at Sanur, early in the morning we're rushing to head to Sanur Beach. This beach is very well known with the beautiful sunrise view it has in the morning. Many visitors who stayed at the hotel arounds came by walk or by bicycle. While waiting for the best shot for the sunrise I was tempted to take the picture of those bicycles.

Lion and Monkey

When I visited Monkey Forest at Ubud, Bali, a very beautiful forest with lots of monkeys inside, I sawBalinese Hindu temple which surrounded by many statues. Most of the statues were duplicating kinds of animals. Then on one of the statue I found something cute, a small monkey. This monkey in the picture understood that I was going to take picture of the statue, lion's statue! He sat there nicely while looking at me, waiting for the click of my camera. A curious thinking then came into my mind, if it were not a statue, but a real lion, did the monkey have any guts to sit on top of it? Hehe..

Balinese Mask

Mask has been used for many different purposes by many countries. Some of the functions are as a protection on human's face, used in a performance or amusement in certain ceremonial, and some people use them for a concealment.

Mask is also very attached with Balinese people, I would say that it's part of Balinese culture. The wearing of mask is involved in almost all Balinese dance. Mask is used to identify the bad and good character. Some of the mask used in Balinese dance is even said to have magical charge. The oldest Balinese mask called as topeng pejagen (red: topeng means mask) performed in the sacred inner courtyard in Bali's temple.

In the current age the use of mask in Bali has been more popular as a part of entertainment.

In a Cage

Today as I browsed some of other city daily photo's blogs I found that many of the blogs talking about this month theme which is 'lines'. Under my curiosity I checked the city daily photo website and decided to participate on this month's theme. But then I wonder whether I have a picture to support the theme. Fortunately I found this picture in my archive, picture of an owl in a cage (big cage) which was taken in Bird Park, Bali. What do you think? Is this picture representative enough for the 'lines' theme?

Oh gosh...apparently I participate other theme, 'book', for next month :(.

Escape from The Hectic

Finally, I can help my self escape from the hectic of Jakarta city and have a little holiday. This time it's not in Bali, but in a small island near Jakarta city, where I live. However, it's still fun though. The name of the island is Pramuka Island, which is part of Thousand Islands. There I could feel the simplicity of country life style, seeing the kids playing in the sea. Above picture showing one of the island's kids playing nakedly in the sea with his friends.

Still, it's not the only enjoyment I got. It got more excited when I tried to snorkel in a not too deep sea near to an island called Air Island (red: air means water). Difficult to express the beauty of creatures you can see under the sea. Blue fish, yellow fish, purple, blue and yellow ridge of rocks, and starfishes. I can never be bored to enjoy them. I thank God for the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of His creatures again.

Missing the Peacefulness and Holiday Season

Being very under pressured in these two months at the office making me missing the holiday season and the peacefulness of some area in Bali so much. One place that can cease your stressfulness and bring peacefulness into your mind is when you sit somewhere at a high land at Bedugul and enjoy the rice field under it. Since Bedugul is quite cool compared to other area in Bali, it will be more pleasant if you enjoy it while eating rice with some spicy dishes. Mmm...

Unfortunately even the holiday season for Ramadhan Festival will be started on next Saturday, but again, I will be stuck in the reporting tasks at the office again :(

Melasti Day - 2

When I saw the Melasti Festival at Kuta, Bali, I was lucky that they include Bali Dance in the festival. I didn't see the same dance at other Melasti Festival which were also conducted at other areas.

Melasti Day - 1

This year when I visit Bali, I was just lucky that it's on Melasti Day, which is the days before Quite Day for Balinese Hindu people. On Melasti Day Balinese people purify themselves through a series of prayers. On this picture I captured the people of Kuta, Bali praying together on Kuta Beach.

Sunset at Kuta

One of my fave moment in Bali, when I can see this beautiful sunset at Kuta Beach.

Ogoh-Ogoh

Ogoh-Ogoh is a representation of devil (bhutakala) in Balinese Hindu tradition. It's symbolized by statue of bad creatures which made of bamboo. A day before Nyepi Festival, Balinese people will come to bring together all Ogoh-Ogoh and burn them, meaning that all the devil desires burned with the Ogoh-Ogoh.

Telephone Box

Have you seen something like this at your country? I took this shoot at Sukowati Market, Bali. Too creative and efficient, anything can be used as display holder for paintings. I'm afraid somebody maybe wrongly see the telephone box as a painting too.

Happy Family Going to Whorship God Together

As far as I noticed Balinese people tend to be very diligent in carrying out their acts of devotion. We can see religious ceremonial in Bali almost everyday. The interesting one is that they stay carrying out their religion and culture while keep opening their door and tolerating for other cultures of so many tourists visiting Bali everyday.

Uluwatu - Temple on The Hill

One of a very beautiful side of Uluwatu, a place where I watched Kecak Dance in Bali. A hill where you can see beautiful ocean under it. As at any other places in Bali, you can also find temple on the top of the hill. It makes this place looks so peaceful and exotic.

Kecak Dance - Part II

Other part of Kecak Dance.

Kecak Dance

Bali is very well known with the beauty of it's dance. One of a famous dance which tourists usually eager to see is Kecak Dance, the one shown in this picture. The dance is played without music, the sounds of "cak-cak" from the 50 men playing in the dance become the music of it. The dance tells us the story of Ramayana fighting with Rahwana who kidnapped his wife, Shinta.
Kecak dance I watch in this picture was conducted at Uluwatu, Bali, a very beautiful hill from where we can see the sea from a high (I will show you other picture of Ulundanu in other chance). However there're other places in Bali where you can see Kecak Dance, like Batu Bulan.

All Types Available

When the first time I found those kind of souvenir at Tanah Lot I was kind of surprise, but yet it's funny. I see them in several kind of size and color. Then apparently they are not only sold at Kuta but easily found at many souvenir shops or centers at any tourism spot in Bali. I was thinking hardly why Bali people thinking of making souvenirs in this form. The only answer I found until today is that they just have a good sense of humor :).

Temple on The Rock

This is the main object tourist usually visit at Tanah Lot, Bali, the temple on the sea. The name of the temple is Pura Tanah Lot. If you like to get into the temple you would need to walk trough the water.
This picture might be too small to show the beauty of this place, isn't it?

Pura Bolong, Tanah Lot

A friend that enjoy my photos in this blog saying that he likes Tanah Lot very much. I do too (anyway, I love almost all parts of Bali). This is a part of scenery you can enjoy at Tanah Lot, Bali. On the rock that sticks out into the sea there's a temple for Hindu people to pray named Pura Bolong. Bali people like to surf on this part of sea as well, even though the waves there were pretty big, bigger than at Kuta. As you can see in this picture by coincidence my camera captured someone heading to the sea looking for waves.

Surfing at Kuta

I can say that surfing is one of the most favorable activity to do at Kuta, and my fave too. However after several times of trying I still can not make it..hehe...

If you like to try surfing you don't need to worry even if you don't know how to do it. There're many surfing school at Kuta, Bali where you can hire surfing teacher to teach and guide you on how to surf. They also provide you with complete surfing stuff.

The Tattoo Artist

Tattoo is pretty common in Bali. You can find tattoo artist/maker in almost every area. The guy in this picture is one of the tattoo maker in Kintamani, Bali. When I went there in 2006, when tourist visit to Bali was very low. At that time you could get two temporary tattoo with less then a dollor (USD). I'm not sure how much it cost rigth now. However, you can alway negotiate/bargain with Bali people.
Oh ya, the background of this picture is Batur Mountain with is located near Batur Lake in Kintamani, Bali.

Bratan Lake and The Temple

Bali has an almost complete nature in my opinion. It makes this island became very interesting. It has beaches, rivers, mountain and lake. This is one of a very exotic lake in Bali, its name is Bratan Lake. The lake is located in front of Ulundanu Temple area., at Bedugul, Bali. There're several temple built on the lake. The wheather at Bratan Lake tend to be cloudy and cool. Everyday the lake area covers by the haze. Such a beautiful scenery for me.

Inside Goa Gajah

Have you ever been to Goa Gajah, Bali? If no, then you should try. Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) is located in a village not far away from Ubud, named Bedulu. The area of the cave is located in a steep valley, makes it looks so beautiful from above it. The area is quite big with a park which looks more like a forest, adorned with green algae provides the visitor a genuine natural atmosphere. The picture above showing the inside part of the cave. If you go deeper you may see some sculptures which are holy for Hindu people. There're also small room for meditation. If you're a type of person who likes meditation, you may want to try this place :)

Tattoo

This is one of the most beautiful tattoo I ever seen. Beautiful, isn't it? Oh ya, when you visit Bali and like to try the tattoo, you can easily find tattoo maker, both temporary and permanent, at Kuta area.

Sharing

It's so fun to see how monkeys family sharing food and playing together in Monkey Forest, Ubud - Bali. But be careful. Most of the monkeys there are quite naughty. They can find out if you have foods in your purse or bag. Even if you do not bring any food with you they can blackmailing you by robbing your accessories so that you finally have to buy bananas to be exchanged with them.
Despite of the naughty monkeys, those monkeys in Monkey Forest are funny and interesting to see. The forest they inhabited is very beautiful, with a river flows through it.

Kuta Beach, Bali - 2008

This is how Kuta Beach looked when I visit again in 2008. Much better right? Many tourists come back visiting Bali again. Start to see crowds again. Crowds is not always interesting, but at least it shows that people start to trust Bali again. Kuta Beach is alive again. You can see tourists swimming, surfing, walking, sunbathing and even having massage at the beach. Many shops open again, Bali people selling again.

Thanks to Bali people who maintain the cleanness and beauty of Kuta Beach. Salute for the patient of Bali people.

Kuta Beach, Bali - 2006

The beach in this picture is Kuta Beach, the most popular beach in Bali, and one of my most favorable spot as well. In 2006 as shown in this picture, Kuta was still quite. Not many tourist coming as the impact of Bali Blast in 2002 and 2003. I salute Bali people who never give up under the difficult situation. Things has been changed in 2008. Kuta and the overall Bali start to recover again (I will show you the picture after this).

Kemenuh Water Fall, Bali

I found this interesting place by accident. When we headed from Celuk to Goa Gajah, we met local people telling us that there's a nice waterfall not far away from Goa Gajah. The waterfall name is Kemenuh Waterfall, as it's located at Kemenuh Village. As we found it, it was really good to have some relaxing there while enjoying the sound of water falling.

Barong, Bali

Still around Bali Dance..the picture above taken from the same moment with the first one. The cute creature beside me was Mr. Barong (hehe..). He's the main actor in Barong Dance. Barong is the host of good in the story shows by the Barong Dance. In the story Mr. Barong saved a prince from the evil, Rangda. Hm...you may try to watch it sometime if you interested to know the whole story.

Bali Dancer

A bit confuse where to start, I think it might be good to start here, my favorite one, Bali! Bali is my most favorite place for holiday so far. I love almost every aspect there, including the dance. This picture was taken in 2006. Those two beautiful ladies are the dancer for Barong and Keris dance attraction in Bali. Barong and Keris dance attraction can be seen in several places in Bali incuding Denpasar and Batu Bulan.