Daily Indonesia Blogs
Another Blog about Indonesia Today, Travel, Tourism, News, and Others
Another Blog about Indonesia Today, Travel, Tourism, News, and Others
Nov 25th
SABA Bali Villas embrace seclusion, relaxation and comfort within a tranquil setting surrounded by rice paddies in the village of Berawa on Bali’s southwest coast, less than 10 minutes from the bustling heart of trendy Seminyak. This beautiful setting offers the double attraction of being relatively close to everything that guests might need, while also offering visitors a privileged insight into the traditions of rural Bali.
This contemporary styled property of five villas features large bedrooms, garden bathrooms, open air living and dining pavilions, well equipped kitchens, swimming pools, gorgeous tropical gardens, sculptures, commissioned artwork, water features, cable TVs and DVD players, as well as WiFi internet access throughout.
All five of these beautiful Bali villas are situated around a private, central courtyard with parking facilities for up to five cars, and a 24-hour staffed, service area with a fully equipped kitchen and laundry, plus power back-up generator.
Guests have full access to the prestigious Canggu Club for the duration of their stay. The Canggu Club is Bali’s premier international members club, providing first class facilities that include a Restaurant, Bar and Lounge , Library , Kids Club , Tennis courts ( flood lit and indoor) Air-conditioned Squash courts, 25meter swimming pool, Gym fitness and aerobics centre , Indoor sports hall, Sauna, and a Billiard lounge.
With the Canggu Club only minutes from Saba, access to it’s facilities add a whole new dimension to your Bali holiday.
Nov 25th
Villa Sakti is a six-star retreat focused on meeting all guest holiday needs. As its name implies, Villa Sakti creates a magical, almost supernatural environment for peaceful relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Villa offers four private bedrooms in three main buildings, all with en-suite bathrooms. All bedrooms are fully air conditioned although each room can be opened to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living. Two bedrooms have outdoor showers located in their own small private gardens to enable guests to enjoy open to sky bathing. Bed linen, towels and bed covers are luxurious quality and provide a sensuous feel to relaxing, sleeping or bathing.
The property has all the modern conveniences one would expect of a private residence of this calibre. These include a Bose sound system throughout, flat screen TVs with DVD players in all bedrooms and complete cable Television and Broadband Internet Access available 24 hours.
Nov 25th
Modern Balinese architecture, abundant space, a lush tropical garden and a quiet village location close to the beach in Canggu combine to create the stunning retreat that is Bendega Villas – A place for family and friends to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Bali.
Bendega Villas offers plenty of private spaces to get away from it all and unwind. The four large bedrooms, each with en-suite bathrooms and private balconies, are positioned to capture stunning views. A reading balé, a gym and massage room with outdoor bath, a library with 50-inch plasma TV, a games room complete with pool table, and a sun deck hidden below the pool provide ample opportunities for relaxation.
For getting groups together, the villa has a stunning open sitting area that overlooks the rice fields, a separate air-conditioned dining room with a table that seats up to 20, a pool pavilion with outdoor dining for 10 or more and an 11m x 11m infinity-edge pool, both situated to catch the fabulous Bali sunsets.
Guests have full access to the prestigious Canggu Club for the duration of their stay at Bendega Villas. The Canggu Club is Bali’s premier international members club, providing first class facilities that include a Restaurant, Bar and Lounge , Library , Kids Club , Tennis courts ( flood lit and indoor) Air-conditioned Squash courts, 25meter swimming pool, Gym fitness and aerobics centre , Indoor sports hall, Sauna, and a Billiard lounge.
Nov 25th
What is Traditional Balinese Architecture?
Traditional Balinese Architecture is a combination of a balance relation between Bhuwana Agung (universe, the bigger world,) and Bhuwana Alit (human, the smaller miniature). This traditional architecture is a mix influence of the Hindu culture, Chinese Buddhist, and Megalithic culture. In several parts of Bali European style can also be found. These days traditional architecture is combined with the more modern design.
Sources of Guidance to Build a House
An old Hindu’s manuscript called Lontar Asta Kosala Kosali is the chief guide to build a proper Balinese house. There are also other manuscripts, such as Lontar Asta Bumi (containing size of land and location a good house), Lontar Asta Dewa & Lontar Wisma Karma (containing the name, shape, and function of each a building), and Lontar Dewa Tattwa (containing clearance ceremony before a house is built). In many aspects of life, those guidance books have been developed depending on the surrounding, local topography.
Strength & Weakness
Based on the philosophy, a traditional Balinese house has some strength aspects. The strength points that are:
• Good Ventilation System
Balinese traditional houses give full attention on air circulation, by maximizing the use of big windows (more than two in one house) and a free space between the roof and the wall.
• Strong Foundation
Based on Tri Loka concept, a building is considered the same like a human body which consist of three main parts; foot, body, and head. Therefore, the foundation part (foot) of traditional Balinese house is made the strongest to keep the other parts; main building (body), roof (head).
• Massive Yard
The backyard in Balinese traditional house has the same function as in a Japanese traditional house, according to Ashihara (1970). The back garden occupies as house interior where the interaction between human (Bhuwana Alit) and nature (Bhuwana Agung) go on. It is purposely built as an oxygen supplier, a space for planting the greens.
• Guarding Wall
A traditional house naturally has a high wall surrounding it like a castle. This wall purposes as a guard, separating the house yard from public environment. The wall keeps one’s privacy and is believed to be able to protect the house from black magic.
• Land Size
A traditional Balinese house requires a necessary spacious land, about 300 square meters, usually consisting of nine buildings, enough to shelter a big family members. In many big cities where land is expensive, that can pose a serious problem.
• Time to Build
A traditional house is longer to complete than a modern, minimalist house. Building a traditional Balinese house is a wearisome work requiring the advice of a special architect called Undagi. An undagi is usually also a sculpture who carves relief in several parts of the house. A relief usually shows traditional stories containing moral obligations. Sizes are not in meters or feet, but using traditional dimension called depa (furthest distance between tips of one’s hands), a lengkat (knuckle).
• Maintenance
A traditional Balinese house requires a special treatment, because most of parts are made from stone and dry grass. This bits and pieces should be checked regularly, for example the dry grass roof should be renewed every five years.
• Bathroom
Long time ago Balinese built such a toilet near a river or spring. Therefore, they only prepared very simple facilities inside their house enough for bathing and provided water to drink.
Description
Traditional Balinese concept adopts Hinduism and Chinese Buddhism. The chief ingredient, a Hindu’s concept called Tri Mandala, conveys an integrated three areas; Nista, Mandala, Utama.
• Nista is an area for the dirty aspects (real or abstract). Nista area is on the southern side of a house or a temple. The southern side belongs to sea, the neutral agent where bad auras will be dilluted.
• Mandala is the neutral area. Mandala is located between the south and north side.
• Utama is holy area. It is located on the northeastern side. The north belongs to mountain, the holy area according to Hinduism.
From the out side, a Balinese traditional house looks like a small castle surrounded by red brick walls. This small castle extends from north to south like a long square. A traditional Balinese house consists of nine buildings which have different function. Those building are: Sanggah/ Merajan, Meten/ Bale Daja, Bali Dangin/ Bale Gede, Bale Dauh, Sake Enem, Paon/ Pewaregan, Jineng, Angkul-angkul, and Aling-aling.
SANGGAH/ MERAJAN
Sanggah/ Merajan is a shrine dedicated for praying to God and family ancestors. Sanggah is located in Utama area (northeast side) of the house, as told on the Tri Mandala concept. The Chinese culture seamlessly is seen in the form of two guarding statues on right and left side of entrance door, as seen in the many Chinese temples. Sanggah usually hosts historical relief which contain moral messages on the outer wall.
METEN/ BALE DAJA
Meten/ Bale Daja is building for the oldest family member. Meten consist of one bedroom and a terrace. This building is located on Utama area (north side of the house), because the older family member is usually a respected priest for the family temple. In this building especially on the door and windows, you will see some peacock relief or Balinese ox. Ox is one of holy animals and used as symbol for honorable person, as also seen in the Indian culture. Meanwhile, peacock is a symbol of honorable person in Chinese culture.
BALE DAUH
Bale Dauh is a building for all family members, except the oldest, located on Madya area (west side of the house). Bale Dauh consists of several bedrooms and one terrace. Bale Dauh is usually bigger than the other. The relief of plants can be found in many parts of this building symbolizing prosperous and unity of the family unit.
BALE DANGIN/ BALE GEDE
Bale Dangin is an open air building in Madya area (east side), with a single wall on the back side. On the east side of this building is one big wood bed for Manusa Yadnya, a ritual ceremony dedicated for human rites aiming at cleansing the soul. The building also keeps various ceremonial equipments. On the front of the main post which props up the roof, there is a Garuda statue —it has an eagle’s head and wings, but the body is human—or a lion with two wings. Those animals are believed as the guardians from black magic, especially when the family runs a Manusa Yadnya.
SAKE ENEM
Sake Enem is a building for guests. Similar to Bale Dangin, this is an open air structure with a single wall on the south side. Sake Enem also has a big wooden bed on the center. In certain part of the island, the family doesn’t build a wooden bed, so guests instead simply sit above a plaited mat on the floor. Sake Enem is located in Nista area (south side), considering that they no idea whether the guest bring good or bad auras. So if they bring bad atmosphere, it can be neutralized soon.
JINENG/ LUMBUNG
Jineng/Lumbung is a rice barn. This warehouse is located behind Sake Enem, near the kitchen paon. Jineng/ Lumbung is positioned higher than other buildings. It has a post on every corner that looks like a big pigeon house with a door. Usually a non-permanent wooden stair Jan/ Gerejak is provided to take collect the rice.
PAON/ PEWAREGAN
The kitchen, Paon/ Pewaregan is located on the south side of the house belonging to Nista area, because it is a place where the family keeps the equipment for slaughtering animals and cutting trees, including knife, axe, etc. Paon could also mean fire, and located so because the god of fire has the authority on south. Paon consists of two parts, the first open air section Jalikan is the true cooking area with wood fire oven. The second part is a room where food and other cooking apparatus are kept.
ANGKUL-ANGKUL
The traditional gate angkul-angkul is a pair of two red brick blocks in a row position with a wooden door in between. Angkul-angkul has a pyramid roof made from dry grass. Angkul-angkul is normally higher than the wall surrounding the house. On the right and left side of this gate there are guardian statues in scary expression. Often they are a male and female with both palm of hand in front of their breast. This pose is a welcoming gesture of Balinese people which is followed by saying Om Swastiastu (welcome greeting).
ALING-ALING
Balinese people are very friendly in a sense that they always welcome guests. Naturally they never close the gate. To keep their privacy, Balinese people build a small wall between Angkul-angkul (gate) and the house yard, called Aling-aling. Aling-aling makes someone outside can not see their the people inside.
Other Architecture
Tenganan and Trunyan, a two separated traditional villages each has its own unique, different architectural design. Both villages are occupied by old Balinese origin, Bali Aga, as often compared to the recently migrating Balinese moving from Java’s Majapahit Empire in the 15th century.
Those people do not follow modern Hinduism, and moved to the inner enclosures to stay away from the ‘foreign’ influence brought by the arrival of today’s Balinese. They are Bali Aga, early inhabitants of Bali.
Bali Aga keep practicing some Megalithic culture, including their architecture design. Unlike the common nine-building concept, traditional houses in Tenganan and Trunyan consist of two main buildings only. It is a large building which consists of some bed rooms, kitchen, terrace and a family temple.
The houses and the temples people do not apply three main areas, Nista (dirty area), Mandala (neutral area), Utama (holy area), as other Balinese in general. All the bedrooms, kitchen, terrace are built in on a piece, large building. This building has less relief carves and use terracotta as cement, reflecting their megalithic ages. The village temple is built from big stones with less relief carves.
Nov 25th
Aug 13th
Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in 1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park’s biological importance.
Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1817km (proposed extensions would bring the total surface area up to 2,321km2). As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make Komodo National Park their home.
Threats to terrestrial biodiversity include the increasing pressure on forest cover and water resources as the local human population has increased 800% over the past 60 years. In addition, the Timor deer population, the preferred prey source for the endangered Komodo dragon, is still being poached. Destructive fishing practices such as dynamite-, cyanide, and compressor fishing severely threaten the Park’s marine resources by destroying both the habitat (coral reefs) and the resource itself (fish and invertebrate stocks). The present situation in the Park is characterized by reduced but continuing destructive fishing practices primarily by immigrant fishers, and high pressure on demersal stocks like lobsters, shellfish, groupers and napoleon wrasse. Pollution inputs, ranging from raw sewage to chemicals, are increasing and may pose a major threat in the future.
Today, the PKA Balai Taman Nasional Komodo and PT. Putri Naga Komodo are working together to protect the Park’s vast resources. Our goals are to protect the Park’s biodiversity (both marine and terrestrial) and the breeding stocks of commercial fishes for replenishment of surrounding fishing grounds. The main challenge is to reduce both threats to the resources and conflicts between incompatible activities. Both parties have a long term commitment to protecting the marine biodiversity of Komodo National Park. WFK79Q4PGDGR
Source: http://www.komodonationalpark.org/
Aug 13th
Raja Ampat casts a spell on all who visit – scientists, photographers, novice divers and crusty sea-salts alike. This group of majestic islands, located in the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s Papuan “Bird’s Head Seascape,” lies in the heart of the coral triangle, the most bio-diverse marine region on earth.
Source: http://www.diverajaampat.org/
Jun 6th
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