Bali an island in Indonesia, is so beautiful and diverse that no words or pictures can describe it. It has lured travellers from all over the world for its divine temples, stunning landscape, underwater treasures, party atmosphere and what not. The island has everything to suit all kinds of traveller.
Our trip, me and my mother was centred around visiting temples, understanding the culture and sight seeing and lastly some diving. We started from the bottom tip of island, Pura Ulluwatu. The temple of the cliff, beneath the cliff big waves breaks and surfers can be seen trying their luck. This temple is easily one of the spectacular places in Bali.
1. Pura Ulluwatu: Almost the southern most tip of Bali, this temple is about stunning landscape and kechap dance in evening. Best time to visit is evening (for kechak dance). Else in the early morning. One can catch kechak dance in Ubud theatre.
The scenic view from pura ulluwatu of the vocanos that dominate the skyline of Bali :)
Pura Ulluwatu, the landscape is just stunning
2. Tanah Lot: The crowded Kuta separates Pura Ulluwatu and Tanah lot. Situated in Semaniyak, this temple is the best of the Bali. Best time to visit is evening again. Semeniyak is best place to stay as well.
Tanah Lot
3. Observing the cultural bali: It wont be very long before you observe a balinese praying, on the street, on the car park, on the beach. Religion and prayer are part of everyday life for balinese.
The beautiful side of religion
4. Tirtha Ganga: It literally means water from Ganga. This is the holiest place for Balinese hindu.
The beautiful porch at the Tirta Emphul (The temple where Tirta Gangga is)
These waters have same significance to these people as the hindus in india have for Ganga.
The water of Tirtha ganga has holy significance to the Balinese
5. Pura Ullun Danu Batur: The temple in the lake. This temple is the icon of bali. Airlines advertise it, so does the 50,000 bill of indonesian rupaiyah.
Pura Ullun Danu Bratan
6. Sunrise over Mount Agung: Drive early in the morning to enjoy the sun ring over the majestic volcanoes of bali.
Sun rises over Mount Agung
7. Kintamani: It is the middle earth of Indonesia. Enjoy a lunch over looking this landscape
Beautiful Kintamani
8. Wave surfing: Bali is not just about sight seeing, Kuta presents an exciting place to try out wave surfing. Early morning is the best time for first timers as it wont let you dehydrate much.
Wave surfing in Kuta
9. Diving in Tulamben: How about diving! Bali is home to world war 2 wreck. Its American USAT sank by Japanese lying from 3 meter depth to 25 meter depth. It is good place for snorkelling too. It was actually towed to the shore but an eruption of mount agung in 1962 shifted it underwater.
The wreck that has turned into life
A diver exploring the hull
Mount Agung erupted in 1962 to shift the liberty underwater
10. Paragliding: Last but not the least. Head to Nusa Dua, for a tandem paragliding.
Mount Merbabu, standing tall at 3142 meter, is a dormant stratovolcano and the perfect place to view skyline of east java filled with volcanos. Mount Merapi, only few hundred meters from here, stands out among those. This mesmerizing view from the top of Mount Merbabu is perhaps only a stroll away for the fits trekkers but for a lazy occasional walker, this was some effort but a worthy one.
Rinjani had been lingering in our minds since quite a while, ever since we came back from Merbabu in Java. We booked the trip three months in advance and we put honest effort in training for this trip. (Running 5 km, 3 times a week and 100 km cycling on Saturdays ). Situated in the center of Lombok in Indonesia, Gunung Rinjani is an active volcano. It is considered as one of the challenging treks in South East Asia. A 3 day 2 night trek is quite popular and gives just enough time to explore the crater rim and summit. A relatively comfortable trek would be 4 day 3 night one. For the ones interested in summit attempt, Sembalun route is the way to go. We found Sembalun route as more comfortable and scenic also. Sembalun itself is 2 and half hour from Lombok Airport. The other route starts at Semaru (3.5 hrs from airport) but it ends at crater rim. One will have to do an additional day trek to reach Sembalun side for summit a
Jama Masjid and Qutub Minar: two building from different era, symbols of different empires but united by their architectural marvel. The Delhi of today is very different from those era yet when we stroll around these magnificent monuments, it reminds us of our glorious past and rich heritage. Jama Masjib is one of the biggest mosque in India, built by mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 17th century. Located among the congested streets of Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazar, it is easily accessible on foot or rickshaw from metro station. As it true for any monument in India, best time to visit the mosque is in morning when the air is still cold. Jama masjid is home to many pigeons too.
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