Finally

I have scanned all the Bali photos.

But I'm a bit concern that the page may be a bit slow to upload. I'm using a 1Mb broadband connection so everything is hunky-dory with me. I don't know about others with slower connection speed. Feel free to comment on any part of this blog like if you have any difficulty seeing the photos or just comment on the photos themselves. I would also welcome any suggestion if there's another way to photoblog.

The photos are arranged in a chronological order (if it's any significance). For the best experience, click on February 2005 under archives and start from the bottom, a very good place to start.

If you're curious as to which one is me. I'm the one behind the lens

Sunset

Tanah Lot, Bali Jan 05.
This is suppose to be a sunset view from Tanah Lot. But it was very cloudy and I wasn't even sure that my camera could capture it. So, this is what I got.

Entrance to Alas Kedaton monkey forest 

Caught red-handed

Alas Kedaton, Bali Jan 05.
This thief stole my Bali bamboo keychain that I just bought and slaughtered it.

Monkey business

Alas Kedaton, Bali Jan 05
Cari apa tu???

Worshipping

Bedugul, Bali Jan 05
You cannot go into the temples unless you're praying, so I took this photo from outside the temple wall, standing on my tippy-toes.

Procession at Bedugul 

A view from the left

Bedugul, Bali Jan 05

A view from the right

Bedugul, Bali Jan 05
This is two out of the many temples at Bedugul. Situated on a hillside, it has a lake, a nice view and very cool climate. A relief for us since Bali is quite hot. Warmer than KL.

Inside the Taman Ayun temple

Two butts Part 3

Taman Ayun, Bali, Jan 05

GWK's location

GWK brochure
For a better sense of what the two bays are. Click on it to get a bigger picture.

Two bays

A view from GWK Cultural Park
If you see closely, you can see two bays. On the left is Jimbaran Bay, a famous seafood spot. I don't know the name of the one on the right but it's linked to Tanjung Benoa, famous for its water activities.

A God

Among the leaves

Wisnu

The statue

Dominating the park is Wisnu, a bust of a Hindu deity constructed from giant slabs of copper and brass. Representing the divine force responsible for the protection of the universe, the 22-meter Wisnu figure is a modern rendering of an ancient cultural tradition.

Within the premise of the statue, there's actually a water spring called Pahrayangan Somaka Giri believed to be sacred.

As the existence of this spring in these arid limestone hills has no scientific explanation, it has become a place of pilgrimage and meditation.

I didn't see this spring even though I was like 15 feet away from it. Another little regret of mine. I could have just go there by myself but the experience just won't be the same. I felt I was the only one excited about this whole place. But you can't be so excited anymore when you know that you're the only one who is. You know what I'm sayin'?

Artist rendition of GWK

GWK, Bali, Jan 05

Gapura Batu

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
From the GWK Cultural Park brochure,

The 250 ha site incorporates a wide range of cultural attractions, performances spaces, and food and beverage outlets. Like the royal palaces of Bali, visitors to GWK will find both monumental splendour and spiritual tranquility, all enhanced by modern, efficient facilities and services.

I was interested with this place because of an article a friend passed to me after she knew I was going to Bali. All I know about this place is there's the big statue of Wisnu. The driver then told us that this site is special because all the buildings here were actually carved out from the existing limestone hill at that very spot. I was quite impressed but not convinced.

We visited the amphitheatre, Plaza Kura Kura, the exhibition gallery and the statue. But from the first look it doesn't look 'carved'. I mean, they could have cut the stones from another place, make it into big chunks and stack them up to make the buildings. The brochure didn't mention anything about its architecture either. It just mentioned that they were made out of limestone.

Now, after looking at all the photos and reading the brochure carefully, I regretted not looking at them with a more critical eye. An artist rendition with a view of the whole place makes me see how the buildings could really come from the existing limestone hill. Yes you might say, "An artist rendition will make it look like whatever they want it to be." But you just have to be there to feel the grandeur of the place. I think what the driver said is true.

I would have loved to examine every corner of the wall to see some sign of it being joined. But I was afraid that my present company would think I'm weird and nerdy to want to know about these things. Anyway it was late and ST looks a bit tired so the considerate me have to let it pass. Now I'm left with this twinge of regret.

Two butts Part 2

Uluwatu, Bali, Jan 05
The one on the right would kill me if she knew I put this up on the net. But I think it makes an interesting picture. She doesn't know I have a blog anyway so I won't tell her if you don't.

A cliff at Uluwatu

Bali, Jan 05
"Manyak orang munuh niri kat sini" [A lot of ppl attempted suicide here]
So says our driver. I don't mean to mock him but that's the way he talks. I think he has a short tongue. This tidbit was confirmed by the temple guide. There were cases where foreigner would come to this place and jump into the rocky waters below.

The actual place that they jump from is not visible here. It's hard to get the actual shot because of the terrain. I wanted to get a shot of the last thing that the jumper might see while doing the deed. I could have crouch down, held out the camera, point it downwards and click. But the guide was like, "Hati-hati, jangan dekat sangat" [Careful not too close] So, I didn't get the shot. It was pretty scary anyway.

But if I can zoom out from this shot, the spot would be at the lower right, between the two cliffs.

Uluwatu

Bali, Jan 2005
Uluwatu means "at the very end of a stone". True to its name Uluwatu Temple is situated at the very tip of a stone cliff. Looking at the map, it is very close to be the southernmost point of Bali Island. Set upon a steep cliff, it's a sight to behold. Another must-go venue.

Fire dance

Bali, Jan 05
"I want my mummy! I want my mummy!"
Just kidding...

Sanghyang Jaran

Fire dance

An entranced boy dance on a horse (jaran). Behaving like a horse. He dance around a bonfire made from coconut busks. It the Sanghyang song leads him to fire, then he will dance on the fire.

Sanghyang Dedari

Bali, Jan 2005

Sanghyang dance develoved from the essential religius funtion of maintaining the health and well - being of the village. They are performed drive evil spirit away and stop them infesting the community in the form of sickness or death.

Described here is Sanghyang Dedari, a ritual where it is believed a devine spirit temprorarily descends to a cillager and reveals it self through the entranced dancer. Sanghyang is the title a divine spirit and means "holiness" dedari means 'angels" and describes the Trance ceremony. Dance by two little girls who are always underage. for a virgin child is concidered holy. In the Sarghyang, where the dancers are put into trance prior to dancing. the ceremony begins in the temple and a procession is formed to march to the place where will take place. Set upon the ground between female choir and male chorus. The a little dancers away freely in a dreamy version of the legong.

Their movements coincide utomatically, although their ayes never open during the entire performance. When the chanting stops, the girls jump to the ground. They are brought out of trsnce by the pemangku, who prays beside them and blesses them with holy water.

I actually took the picture of both girls dancing together, but it didn't turn out so well. So I just cut the bad part out. Quite surprise considering the other photos from the Kecak dance turned out ok even with the torch-thingy at the back of every object. Maybe it was too dark when I took this photo.

I don't know, I've been using this camera for 6 years now and I'm still no expert. Just point and click and hope for the best.

Rama and Sita, together at last

Bali, Jan 2005
Rama battles with Rawana and Rawana was defeated. The fight sequence is pretty interesting with the involvement of the chorus members. But I don't think I want to spoil the experience for you. But this tale ends on a happy note since the play did not feature the part where Rama asks Sita to jump into a fire to prove her innocence.

Sita and Hanoman

Bali, Jan 2005

In return, Sita gives Hanoman a token to take to Rama, telling him that she is alive and well, though desperately in need of his help.

Hanoman and Rama

Bali, Jan 05
The monkey general Hanoman reported to Rama that he saw Sita at Rawana's castle. Rama gives him a ring so that Sita knows that Hanoman is a friend.