Borobudur Temple

BOROBUDUR TEMPLE-CENTRAL JAVA YOGJAKARTA-INDONESIA

The Borobudur Temple is considered as one of the seven wonders of the world. And is one the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. This colossal relic of Borobudur Temple was built by Syailendra Dynasty between 750 and 842 AD; 300 years before Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, 400 years before work had begun on the great European Cathedrals. Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles revealed Borobudur Temple in 1814. He found the temple in ruin condition and ordered that the site be cleared of undergrowth and thoroughly surveyed. The massive restoration project began from 1905 to 1910 led by Dr. Th. Van Erp. With the assistance of UNESCO, the second restoration to rescue Borobudur was carried out in 1983.

Borobudur is built from two million block stones in the form of a massive symmetrical stupa, literally wrapped around a small hill.

The overall height of Borobudur was 42 meters, but it is only 34.5 meters now (after restoration) and has the dimension of 123 x 123 meters. The building has 10 floors or levels: Hhumtcambharabudara, the mountain of the accumulation of virtue in the ten stages of Bodhisatva. Borobudur is located 41 km Northwest of Yogyakarta, 7 km South of Magelang, Central Java.

Relief of Borobudur Temple

Stupa of Borobudur Temple

BARONG & RANDA

Barong Dance

Barong & Randa

The Barong Keket is half shaggy dog, half lion-and is played by two men in much the same way as a circus clown-horse. Its apponent is the rangda (witch).
The Barong repsesent good and protects the village from rangda, but is also a mischievous creature. It flounces into the temple courtyard, snaps its jaws at the gamelan, dances around and enjoys the acclaim of its supporters-a group of men with kris. Then the rangda makes her appearance, with long tongue lolling, pendulous breasts wobbling, human entrails draped around her neck, fangs protruding from her mouth and sabre-like fingernails clawing the air.
The two duel with their magical powers, and the Barong's supporters draw their kris and rush in to attack the witch. The Randa puts them in a trance and the men try to stab themselves, but the Barong also has great magical powers and casts a spell that stops the kris from harming the men. This is the most dramatic part of dances-as the gamelan rings crazily the men rush back and forth, waving their kris around, all but foaming at the mouth, sometimes even rolling on the ground in a desperate attempt to stab themselves. Finally, the rangda retires defeated-good has won agaon. Good must always triumph over evil in Bali, and no matter how many times the spectators have seen the performance or how well they know the outcome, the battle itself remains all-important.

Reference: by Lonely planet

KUTA BEACH

Kuta Beach-South Bali

For many people South Bali is Bali; for many others it is anything but. Chaotic Kuta and upscale Seminyak throb around the clock. In the south, the Bukit Peninsula is home to some of the island's largest resort, while in the east Sanur follows the subdued beat of its reef-protected surf. The coast features a fine range of beaches.

KUTA

The Kuta region is overwhelmingly Bali's largest and tackiest tourist beach resort. Most visitors come here sooner or later because it's close to the airport and has the greatest range of budget hotels, restaurant and tourist facilities. Some find the area overdeveloped and seedy, but if you have a taste for a busy beach scene, shopping and night life, you will probably have a great time. Go elsewhere on the island if you want a quiet, unspoilt tropical hideaway.

It is fashionable to disparage Kuta and its immediate neighbor to the north, Legian for their rampant development, low-brow nightlife and crass commercialism, but the cosmopolitan mixture of beach party hedonism and entrepreneurial energy can be exciting. It is not pretty, but it is not dull either, and the amazing growth is evidence that a lot of people find something to like in Kuta.
Kuta has the most diversions and the best beach-but the worst traffic and most persistent hawkers.

History
Mads Lange, a Danish copra trader and an adventurer of the 19th century, established a successful trading enterprise near modern Kuta, and had some success in mediating between local rajahs and the Dutch, who were encroaching from the north. His business soured in the 1850s, and he died suddenly, perhaps murdered. His grave, and monument erected later, are near Kuta's night market.

The original Kuta Beach Hotel was started by a Californian couple in the 1930's but closed with the Japanese occupation of Bali in 1942. In the late 1960's, Kuta became a stop on the hippie trail between Australia and Europa, and an untouched 'secret' surf spot. Accommodation opened and by the early 1970's Kuta had delightfully laid-back atmosphere. Enterprising Indonesians seized opportunities to profit from the tourist trade, often in partnership with foreigners who wanted a pretext for staying longer.

As Kuta expanded, Legian further north became the quist alternative, but now you can't tell where one ends and the other begins. Immediately north again, Seminyak continues north from Legian. All this has taken its toll, and the area is chaotic mixture of shops, bars, restaurants and hotels on a confusing maze of streets and alleys, often congested with heavy traffic, thick with fumes and painfully noisy.

(reference: by lonely planet)

Bali Island

Bali may be small in size- you can drive around the entire coast in one long day-but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so. Ask travelers what Bali means to them and you will get as many answers as there are flowers on a frangipani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse-pounding surf, enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerizing dance performances and ribbons of beaches are just some of the images people cherish.

And those are just some of the more obvious qualities. A visit to Bali means that you are in the most visitor-friendly Island of Indonesia. There are pleasure of the Body, whether a massage on the beach or a hedonistic interlude in a sybaritic spa. Shopping that will put ‘Extra Bag’’ at the top of your list. Food and drink ranging from the freshest local cuisine bursting with the flavors of the markets to food from around the globe, often prepared by chefs and served in restaurant that are world class. From a cold Bintang at sunset to an epic night clubbing, your social whirl is limited only by your own fortitude.

Small obviously doesn’t mean limited. The manic whirl of Kuta segues into the luxury of Seminyak. The artistic swirl of Ubud is a counterpoint to misty treks amid the volcanoes. Mellow beach towns like Amed, Lovina and Pemuteran can be found right around the coast and just offshore is the laid-back idyll of Nusa Lembongan.

As you stumble upon the exquisite little offering left all over the island that materialize as if by magic, you’ll se that the tiny tapestry of colours and textures is a metaphor for Bali itself.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sunbathing and partying at Kuta Beach

• Hitting the latest bars, restaurants and clubs at Seminyak

• Experiencing Bali's elaborate cultural life in Ubud and surrounding villages

• Chilling out-or may be catching a wave on Nusa Lembongan

• Hiking through and enjoying the superb views of lush valleys from the region around Munduk

(ref; Indonesia by Lonely planet)

Lunch in Ubud-Bali

Shopping Batik in Ubud-Bali

Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo also called Gunung Bromo, located in Tengger Caldera, East Java, Indonesia, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia. It is an active Volcano and part of the Tengger massif and even though at 2329 meters it is not the highest peak of the massif, it is the most well known.

The Legend Of Bromo

The eerie landscape of Bromo and it’s neighboring volcanoes has spawned countless myths and legends. It is said that the Tengger crater was originally dug out with just half a coconut shell by an ogre smitten with love for a princess.

But Bromo is of particular religious significance to the Hindu Tengger people, who still populate the massif and first fled here to escape the wave of islam that broke over the Majapahit Empire in the 16th century. The Tengger believe that Bromo once fell within the realm of the childless King Joko Seger and Queen Roro Anteng, who asked the God of the volcano for assistance in producing an heir.
The God obliged , giving them 25 children, but demanded that the youngest, a handsome boy named Dian Kusuma, be sacrificed to the flames in return. When the queen later refused to fulfill her promise, the young Dian bravely sacrificed himself to save the kingdom from retribution.

Today, the mountain is appeased during the annual Kasada Festival,when the local Tanggerese come to Bromo to throw offering of vegetables, chicken and money into the crater of the volcano