Balinese Nature

Bali is also blessed with a beautiful nature. Endless sand beaches envelope most of Bali's shores, where silvery waves come home to. Tall cliffs border the eastern shores. Volcanic mountains crown the center of Bali, home to Gunung Agung (Mount Divine), the sacred abode of the gods and the goddesses. Green forests stretch on from east to west of the northern part of Bali, nurturing numerous flora and fauna that can only be found here.

Beaches
The beaches of Bali are, in one word, magnificent! From the stretch of sand in Kuta, fenced far in the South by the runway of Denpasar International Airport; the peaceful elegance of Nusa Dua; the mysterious quietness and somberness of Candidasa, as a temple dedicated to the sea goddess submerges; to the spectacular sunsets of Lovina in the North.

The island of Bali is blessed with the line of beaches surrounding it.

Sanur
On the southeastern side of Bali, Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as you jog along the white sandy beach. Being one of the first resort developed in Bali, Sanur maintains its traditions. Only a stone thrown away from the beach, ancient temples stand as solemn as they have been in centuries past.
Kuta and Legian
Practically on the opposite side of Sanur, the beaches of Kuta and Legian stretch on the southwestern side of Bali, again only about 5 to 10 minute drive from Denpasar or the airport. Surfing is a major activity in these beaches. Shops, Kecak dance performances, pubs, and other facilities make Kuta a tourist mecca.
Jimbaran
Jimbaran is directly south of the airport, on the way from Denpasar towards Nusa Dua. The village of Jimbaran is the narrow neck of the island of Bali, and thus it has two remarkably different beaches. On the west, Jimbaran Beach faces the Jimbaran Bay, recently lined by new luxurious resorts. On the east, the beach faces the body of water sheltered by Benoa Harbor.
Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most sumptuous hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity.
Soka Beach
Further northwest from Denpasar, on the way to Gilimanuk, the ferry port town that connects Bali and Java, there is a small quiet beach called Soka Beach.
Medewi Beach
Continuing along the path towards Gilimanuk, near the village of Pulukan, the beach of Medewi is another beautiful beach.
Lovina Beach
Near the northern tip of the island of Bali lies a stretch of villages by the Bali Sea. Lovina Beach is the name. It is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkeling, and diving. Night life activities are also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea. If you like what Kuta offers but do not like the crowd, Lovina Beach is for you.

Waves
The beaches of Bali readily accept the arrival of the waves, time and time again. And they vary. In the stretch of Nusa Dua alone you can find soft waves for the beginner surfers to the wildest of waves that will challenge even the most experienced of the surfers. Yeh Saneh in the East, Uluwatu in the South, and Medewi slightly to the West, are all excellent site for waves.

Lakes
There are four lakes in Bali. Lake Batur, the old crater of Mount Batur, is the largest. Kintamani offers an excellent panoramic view of the lake, and the lake itself effectively fences in the Bali Aga people in Trunyan. Lake Bratan, the second largest, is near the town of Bedugul. Lake Buyan and Lake Temblingan are also near.

Bedugul
When the heat and humidity gets to you, why not escape to Bedugul. Bali's highland retreat tucked into the crater of an extinct volcano 1400 metres above sea level.
Here three lakes provide everything from recreation to the water for springs, rivers and rice fields below. Lush pine forests seem to create a freshness in the air. Bedugul is known for the quality of its fruit, vegetables and flowers.



Kintamani
The spectacular mountainous region around Kintamani with its deep crater lake and bubbling hot springs, make this region a must to visit. Lake Batur is the largest lake in Bali and the region offers some of the most spectacular views to be found anywhere on the island. Lake Batur also provides water for an underground network of streams and springs across the southern slopes of the mountain.
The district is the earliest known kingdom in Bali, dating from the tenth century. The evenings get cool up here but it's well worth the stay overnight to climb the volcano and watch the sunrise. Many cheap losmens are available here.


Mountains
The string of volcanic mountains crown the Northern part of Bali. The tallest is Gunung Agung (or Mount Divine), the abode of the gods and the goddesses.

Forests, Flora, and Fauna
The wild forests of Bali can be found mostly in the Bali Barat National Park, dedicated to the preservation of wildlife. And the tropical climate of Bali endows it with a rich flora. In the forests, tall tropical trees reach for the sky, nursing a variety of wild orchids to grow on their branches. Pine trees carpet the mountains. Ever protective, waringin trees faithfully stand at the center of every village. Flowers beautifully punctuate little gardens in every house, and most importantly, spreading their sweet fragrance into the midnight air and completing offerings to the gods and goddesses.

Bali tigers (Panthera tigris balica ) used to roam these forests, but now you can only find deer or wild boars. Bali Barat National Park is also reestablished as the new habitat for Bali Starling (Jalak Bali), a sweet, white bird that has inspired many a painter. Sea turtles, another protected species, can playfully accompany you when you go snorkeling in the the waters of Nusa Dua.


Ngaben: Cremation Ceremony

Ngaben or the Cremation Ceremony is the ritual performed to send the dead through the transition to his next life. The village Kul Kul, hanging in the tower of the village temple, will sound a certain beat to announce the departure of the deceased. The body of the deceased will be placed at Bale Delod, as if he were sleeping, and the family will continue to treat him as if he were still alive yet sleeping. No tears are shed, for he is only gone temporarily and he will reincarnate into the family.

The Priest consults the Dewasa to determine the proper day for the ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin which is then placed inside a sarcophagus in the form of a buffalo (called Lembu) or a temple structure called Wadah made of paper and light wood. The Wadah will be carried to the village cremation site in a procession.

The climax of Ngaben is the burning of the Wadah, using fire originating from a holy source. The deceased is sent to his afterlife, to be reincarnated in the future.



Bali: The Land of Temples Day

Inseparable from the religious rituals of the Balinese are the temples. Just like cathedrals in Europe, temples are the most ubiquitous architecture in Bali. Every house has its own little shrine, usually a dedication to their ancestors. The rice field has a little shrine dedicated to Dewi Sri, the goddess of rice. Each village usually has three temples. For the entire island, the Mother Temple of Besakih, situated on the slope of Mount Agung, is the most important of all temples.

To the Balinese, temples and their various structures are not worshipped. Temples are meant to be pleasant resting place for the gods on their stay on the island. As such, entertaining the gods or appeasing the goddesses or most of religious rituals through endless festivals will take place in the three village temples:

Pura Puseh: a temple dedicated to the ancestors of the village.
Pura Desa : a temple used for official celebrations of the village community.
Pura Dalem: or the temple of death, dedicated to the deities of death and of cremation

Architecture of a Temple
The word for temple in Balinese is Pura, which comes from a Sanskrit word that literally translates into a place surrounded by walls. A Balinese Pura typically consists of walls surrounding two or three courtyards. The huge, elaborately carved entrance gate is usually a split gate, known also as Candi Bentar. Candi Bentar is usually guarded on both sides by statues of temple guards. Sculptured figures can be found in various locations in a temple.

The outer courtyard is separated from the inner courtyard by another wall, and the entrance is a covered gateway called Padu Raksa. The walls surrounding the courtyards are usually heavily decorated with bas-reliefs, depicting stories that can range from traditional Mahabrata mythology or as simple as daily events of a Balinese. In the middle of the inner court, usually imposingly stands a waringin or frangipani tree. Inside each courtyard you will find several interesting structures:

Bale
Each courtyard may have several little pavillions called bale. These bale may be as simple as a roofed structure supported by four pillars with cement or stone floors. For a village temple, the orchestra will be housed in one of these bale.

Meru
Meru is the tiered roof structure that you can find atop a little pavillion dedicated to a god or goddess. You can only have an odd number of merus, and the highest is 11, signifying the greatest respect. The goddess of rice, Dewi Sri, for example, will have eleven-tiered merus dedicated to her.

Kulkul
Kulkul is a hollow log that functions similar to a church bell; it is used to call together the village community. In a village temple, it is usually housed in a tower whose base is elaborately decorated with carvings. Sounding the kulkul has its own language; different rhythms of hitting the kulkul will communicate different reasons for the gathering of the village.

Shrines
A temple may have a number of shrines dedicated to the various gods and goddesses. The village women will present their offerings on these shrines.

Amerika Elvis, Indonesia Rhoma

SELAIN akan menerjemahkan lagu-lagunya ke dalam bahasa Inggris, Rhoma Irama memasuki dunia maya untuk membawa dangdut go global. Ia memperkenalkan situs yang dirilisnya bersamaan dengan ulang tahunnya, kemarin. Situs itu beralamat di www.rajadangdut.com yang merupakan kerjasama antara Rhoma dengan HB Naveen, direktur Falcon Entertainment, yang mengelola situs yang bisa diakses di seluruh dunia tersebut.

Harapannya, kata Naveen, masyarakat bisa lebih mudah mengakses musik dangdut dan mengenal lebih jauh sosok Rhoma Irama itu sendiri. Dalam situs itu memang ada menu lagu yang bisa didengarkan secara langsung tanpa perlu men-download-nya. "Harus ada ikon musik yang dikenal masyarakat International dari Indonesia. Jika di Amerika ada Elvis Presley, di Inggris ada The Beatles, maka di Indonesia Bang Haji Rhoma Irama," ungkapnya.

Rhoma sendiri sebenarnya juga sudah mempunyai reputasi internasional. Pada tanggal 16 November 2007 lalu, pedangdut yang penampilannya banyak ditiru itu menerima penghargaan dari beberapa lembaga pemerhati musik Indonesia sebagai The South East Asia Superstar Legend di Singapura. "Saya melihatnya sebagai bentuk perhatian kepada dunia musik Asia Tenggara untuk memacu kreatifitas seniman dan musisi di kawasan ini," tanggapnya.

Yang unik, meski Rhoma dijuluki sebagai Raja Dangdut, tetapi ia mengaku tidak pernah meminta untuk dipanggil seperti itu. Menurutnya, predikat tersebut datang dari masyarakat atas karya yang pernah dibuatnya selama ini.(gen/roy)