Bali Destination

Pura Besakih

Pura Besakih is the higest temple in Bali. It is on the slope of the Mount Agung. At this sanctuary complex there are 22 temples in all. These temples cover an area of one kilometer. In the middle of pine forest, the higest temple seen from the air is the Pengubengan temple.This is a very beautiful sight.

In the sanctury complex there are three largest temples, namely, Pura Penataran Agung, the central temple, Pura Kiduling Kreteg, which is situated on the right of the complex and Pura Batu Madeg, which is situated on the left of the complex.

The first temple is dedicated to the God Siwa, the secondone is to the God Brahma and the third one is to the God Wisnu.

The temples are built on terraced ground. In all there are six terraces. The central temple the Pura Penataran Agung is on the second lower terrace.

At this complex is held an annual festival, called the "Bathara Turun Kaben" or the gods descend together. This specials occasions takes places in March or some times 1 April.

Such festival lasts for a month. Almost all of the Balinese people come to this place at that time. The festival will have its focus on the three largest temples. Some priests will conduct the holy rituals.

Jogjakarta Vacation

First - Time Visitors To Do

Yogya (pronounced Jogja) is steeped in historical significance - it was once the home of the mighty Hindu empire of Mataram, back in the 12th/13th century. Over the years, Mataram was split into 2 cities, Yogyakarta and Surakarta, now known as Solo. They lie 30 mins of each other. Its sights promise history & culture for the 1st time traveller.

For first time visitors, go to the following places (must-see):

Borobudur - approx 1 hour's drive from Yogya & located between 2 mighty volcanoes (Merapi & another one), it is a sight to behold. It takes about 45 mins from the carpark grounds to walk uphill to the temple but once you see it sitting grandly, it is absolutely magnificent. Hire a guide who will be able to articulate what the tale is behind each step, piece of stone and stupa. You may be hassled by peddlers on the way up and down - ignore them. Borobudur is the oldest Buddhist temple in South-east Asia, built in 850 A.D., even older than the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.
Prambanan - on the fringes of Yogya city, it is breathtaking, incredible and awe-inspiring, all at the same time. It is a Hindu temple with statues of Hindu deities, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma & Durga. If you have been to Angkor Wat, this temple is ditto. It was supposedly commissioned by the same ruler (not sure which one) who commissioned Angkor Wat, who wanted a similar monument in Mataram. Again, hire a guide who will be able to articulate what the tale is behind each step, piece of stone and deity. However, Prambanan tells a tale of the Mahabharata at each level & along each stone & tile. An experienced & knowledgeable guide will be able to articulate this tale.
Kraton palace - the residence of the current & past Sultans of Yogya, it is a must-see for an inside look into palace life and how it has remained unchanged over the centuries.
Sultan's Water Palace - not many guides know this palace but it is about 30 mins hike from the Kraton palace & is located up on a little hill. From here, you can see the entire Yogya city, spread far & wide

CHINESE FESTIVAL of ART

Huayi Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay Held during Chinese New Year each year, this festival celebrates the most exciting and accomplished Chinese talents from around the world today. On 2006, marked the return of this annual festival to Esplanade wll be outstanding companies and productions such as the cloud gate dance theatre of Taiwan performing their famous work Cursive. Silver screen star Liu Xiaoqing from China stars in the Chinese theatre piece. " The Last Night of Jin Da Ban ", adapted from a ppular novel, while China's renowned Li Liuyi Drama studio performs the gripping suspense thriller Mahjong. Not to be missed too are the performances by the China Philharmonic Orchestra and Violin recitals by Huang Mengla and Lu Siqing, both winners of the Paganini International Violin Competition. Throughout the festival, audiences of all ages can delight in the range of free programmes, both indoor and outdoor, which include Chinese drums, puppetry, and a diverse range of music performances...

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Heralding the arrival of Spring, Chinese New Year is a time for reunion with family and loves ones. During this joyous season, everything has an auspicious meaning. Red represent luck, Mandarin oranges symbolise gold nuggets and unique culinary dishes are prepared to welcome a year of good fortune. If you're here during this time, be prepared for a whirlwind of boisterous celebrations, a lavish spread of delicacies, and vabrant cultural processions and performances. Taking centre stage is the Light up ceremony at Chinatown. Featuring firework, enthralling performances and spectacularly lit streets, the Light-Up ceremony marks tha stat of Chinese New Year festivities in Chinatown. Not to be missed too is Chingay- a procession of incredible floats accompanied by international and local performers - it's one of the most lavish parades in the region. To around up the festivities, head on down to the Singapore River Hongbao. A carnival for young and old aloke, it's the prefect place for both locals and tourists to enjoy the Lunar New Year atmosphere..*visitsingapore.com

OUTING HOME, STEP TO DO

1)Whenever possible, plan aheadNothing takes a bite out of your travel budget like last-minute airline tickets and hotel bills. Try to choose travel dates at least two months ahead of time (three's even better), then start scanning the newspapers and the Web for bargains. Even if you don't find a great deal, you'll benefit from the standard discounts airlines offer on tickets purchased more than 30 days in advance. 2)When you can't plan ahead, be flexiblePlanning ahead is great, but with kids in the picture it's often hard to find the time. If you don't have the luxury of spending the next two months searching for the best deals, work on your spontaneity. If you're flexible, you can find some fantastic last-minute bargains 3)Become one of the localsLocally owned and operated hotels are often much nicer and less expensive. And you'll learn more about the town you're visiting if you eat at the local hangout. 4)Hit the roadCut the cost of plane tickets out of your travel budget and your money will go a lot farther. No matter where you live, there's probably a wonderful family destination within a days' drive. Why not start with a National Park? ( http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/destination/national%20park-cat.html ) 5)Read the promotional offers 6)Always ask about discountsWhether you're booking airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rental, event tickets, or even dinner reservations, always ask the reservation agent if the company is running any deals. Don't forget to mention your kids. You may be surprised to learn that kids stay free7)Call a travel agentIf you don't have time to surf the Web extensively, try a travel agent. Ask friends and family for recommendations or find an agent who specializes in discounted travel and vacation packages by looking in the travel section ( http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/p2g ) http://www.virtualmalaysia You can plan from the moment you step out of the hse to the day you arrive home. Include the estimated prices and rates as well in yr list. Of course, to be able to do this, you gotta do a little research & asking around. Be prepared for any emergencies though. U won't go wrong with a well-prepared checklist. All the best! Ladiearcher

JOGJAKARTA AT A GLANCE

by sittA aMbarsekar As a cultural and art center, Jogjakarta provides vast access into Javanese culture for visitors through its rich artistic traditions of performing arts, including Javanese classical dances like Gembyong, Srimpi, etc, and Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet) performances, as well asarrays of traditional crafts like batik, carving, earthenware, and silverware. Entwined to the traditional properties, a wriggle of modernity materialized into blaring discotheques, cozy cafes, dangdut performances, spacious malls, burger shops and sea of motorcycls! These cultural jumbles even offer an appealing cultural experience for visitors. The city also favored with natural charms, from mountains to sandy beaches, from natural caves to sand dunes, from barren limestone hills to forest of rich soils awaited for adventurous visitors. The simplicity of life, intertwined with complex philoshopy and dynamic cultural backdrop has made the city only second with complex philosophy and dynamic cultural backdrop has made the city only second by Bali as the most popular and alluring tourist destinations in Indonesia. Visit jogja and enjoy your culturally enriched, revived life..Love Jogja and you..

ASMAT AGATS

by Sitta aMbarsekaR

Asmat Agats is one of tribes in Indonesia, between Java, Sunda, Madura, and Batak.

Asmat has Five sub-tribes. They are Asmat Agats, Asmat Atay, Asmat Citak Mitak, Asmat Sawa Erma, and Asmat Kasuari. The population of Asmat is more than 55.000 people.

The Asmat area is a swampy lowland, surrounded by rhyzomepalms, marsh palm, and other trees which easily cut-trunks.

The Asmat tribe are known as wood carvers. These people use easily cut-trunks to make a carving. Asmat is known for its very striking handicrafts. They make carvings which were made of some kind of iron wood. They are called "Mbis" statue. The "Mbis" is a carving of some human-like figures which are piled up in a heap. In ancient time, this kind of statue was made to honor a member of a family who had got killed in a tribal war.

They also make a shield. The head of the shield symbolizes a mounth of a fish. The red cross symbolizes the bones of the fish. So actually this shield symbolizes a fish rising from whirlpool.

They also have a carved paddle and other interesting carvings. Over time, these carvings have changed. Nowadays people are making them from different reasons than their ancestors. The carvings have been aftected by the coming of Christianity. Nowadays people are making carvings as works of art, not as a part of a ritual activity.

If any of you might have an interest in any of carvings, please come to Indonesia, in the distrik of Asmat...These carvings have great value...

BOROBUDUR TEMPLE

by Sitta aMbarsekaR

Borobudur Temple is the seventh wonder of the world. It was built in the 9th century during the Syailendra dynasty.

LOCATION
This temple is located at Borobudur District, South of Magelang, Central Java.

We can find reliefs on every wall, for example a description of the life of the holy Buddha. On the highest level of the temple there are the stupas. Inside each stupas, there is a statue of the holy Buddha.

There is a story about these stupas. It is said that if you can touch the right hand of the holy Buddha, you will have good luck.

For about four centuries, the Temple was buried, and it was discover again by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1814.

HISTORY
Based on the inscription dated 842 AD, Casparis suggested that Borobudur was one time a place for praying. The inscription stated a phrase such as: �Kawulan i Bhumi Sambhara�. Kawulan means the origin of holiness, "bhumi sambhara" is a name of a place in Borobudur. Paul Mus stated that Borobudur Temple had the structure of stupa (conical form) with double expression. As a whole, the Borobudur Temple was an open-flat stupa, but on the other hand, the temple expressed the idea of a �closed world�. The latter expression could be felt when one is already inside the temple. Whenever person is inside the temple, his or her view will be limited to high walls full on relieves, the verandah is always squared in such a way that one could not see other parts of the temple, even in a same floor. The same feeling happened if one stood on arupadhatu round platform, he or she will have a wider view only on that level, but are not able to see the lower level nor the upper level like the one on rupadhatu and kamandhatu. It could be said that Borobudur is a symbol of cosmic mountain covered by the sky roof, a specific world that could be reached through isolated alleys as stages. The closed structural design of the temple expressed the concept of a closed world, not just a technical reasons as had been suggested by other experts ( Daud AT, 1987)

Borobudur was built by Sanmaratungga in the 8th century, and belongs to Buddha Mahayana. Borobudur was revealed by Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles in 1814. The temple was found in ruined condition and was buried.

DESCRIPTION
The overall height was 42 meters, but was only 34.5 meters after restoration, and had the dimension of 123 x 123 meters (15,129 square meters). There were 10 floors. The first floor up to the sixth floor was square form, the seventh to the tenth floor were round form.

Borobudur is facing to the East with a total of 1460 panels (2 meters wide each). Total size of the temple walls was 2500 square meters, full of relief. The total number of panels with relief was 1212. According to investigations, the total number of Buddha statue was 504 including the intact and damaged statues. The temple undergone restoration from 1905 to 1910, and the last restoration was done in 1973 to 1983.

Ever since the first excavation, most experts speculated on the exact shape of the temple. Hoenig, in his book "Das form problem des Borobudur" speculate that the original form of Borobudur Temple had four gates and nine floors. The form of Borobudur Temple is similar to temples found in Cambodia. According to Parmenteir, the huge single stupa on top of the temple made the smaller stupas in the lower part looked drowned. Stutterheim who had been studying stupas in India and other parts of Asia concluded that the stupa structure was an Indian origin. The original purpose of stupa building was as storage of Buddha Gautama and other holy priests cremation ash.

According to Stutterheim, the overall form of Borobudur Temple is a combination of zigurat (middle Asian Pyramid) and Indian stupa. Stutterheim opinion was supported by the existence of this type of form in Ancient Javanese literature.

The relief of Borobudur temple started from the base of the temple up to the fourth platform. The relieves at the base contained the story of Karmawibhangga. Under the main panel and above the Karmawibhangga relief, a wide-sized relief was inscripted at the wall. From this point along the alley, the relief did not show story in the sequence, but as a repeating part of the story with the same motives which expressed the world of spiritual beings such as half demonic body (Gandharwa, giants or Yataka, dragon, Sidha or angels and their ladies friends, Apsara and Nagi, all of them are heavenly beings who are tender and beautiful.

Division of panels are: the first panel expressed a heavenly being in sitting position, on both side of this panel are small panel with a small standing statue. This figures are repeated 26 times for each side of the wall. Between the panels is carved three bodies, a male flanked by two women.

The stupas are really magnificent..Let Borobudur Temple as your next planning for family outing..

FACTS FOR TRIP

If you have a plan to trip anywhere, better for you to keep this following facts:

1. Climate
2. Demographic
3. Language
4. Currency Exchange
5. Telecommunication and postal service
6. Local Time and Business Hours
7. Staying Places
8. Eating Places
9. Shopping
10. Electricity
11. Customs
12. Information Posts

First before you go, learning more about the facts place of your destination. It will make you feel comfortable on your way unti home again.

JOGJAKARTA MY DESTINATION

As a cultural and art center, Jogjakarta provides vast access into Javanese culture for visitors through its rich artistic traditions of performing arts, including Javanese classical dances like Gembyong, Srimpi, etc, and Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet) performances, as well asarrays of traditional crafts like batik, carving, earthenware, and silverware. Entwined to the traditional properties, a wriggle of modernity materialized into blaring discotheques, cozy cafes, dangdut performances, spacious malls, burger shops and sea of motorcycls!

These cultural jumbles even offer an appealing cultural experience for visitors. The city also favored with natural charms, from mountains to sandy beaches, from natural caves to sand dunes, from barren limestone hills to forest of rich soils awaited for adventurous visitors.

The simplicity of life, intertwined with complex philoshopy and dynamic cultural backdrop has made the city only second with complex philosophy and dynamic cultural backdrop has made the city only second by Bali as the most popular and alluring tourist destinations in Indonesia. Visit jogja and enjoy your culturally enriched, revived life..Love Jogja and you..