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Denpasar
The capital city of Bali, Denpasar
has many community temples called "Pura".
One is the Museum called Pura Jagatnatha which
is dedicated to the Supreme God. Sang Hyang Widi
Wasa.
The statue of a turtle and two dragons (prevalent
in all temples) signify the foundation of the
world.
The Museum offers a fine variety of prehistoric
and modern art, whereas its architectural design
resembles that of a palace. The government supervised
"Sanggraha Kriya Hasta" has a wide variety
of handicraft and works of art. The "Werdi
Budaya" presents a yearly art festival between
June and July, with performances, exhibitions,
art contest and so on.
Sanur
Sanur beach has long been a
popular recreation site for people from Denpasar
and elsewhere. The palmlined beach curves from
the Bali Beach Hotel toward the south, facing
the Indian Ocean to wards the east. Sanur offers
many good hotels, restaurants, shops and other
tourist facilities. It is only a shot distance
from Denpasar public transportation to and from
the city are easily available until well into
night. Offshore reefs protect the beach againts
the waves and make it popular for windsurfing,
boating and other watersports.
Kuta
Once alonely village on the
road from Denpasar toward the Bukit Peninsula,
Kuta is now a thriving tourist resort, popular
mainly among the young. It is a popular beach
for surfing although currents make it less suitable
for swimming. Coast guards, however, are on constant
duty during the day. Kuta faces toward the west
offering beautiful sunsets.
Accommodation ranges from international hotels
to home stays. The village abounds with restaurants,
shops, discotheques and other tourist facilities.
It is easier to find regular performances of Balinese
music and dance in Kuta, staged specially for
tourists, than anywhere else in Bali. Some performances
are staged nightly. The village is ideal for meeting
and mixing with other people, locals as well as
visitors from abroad.
Nusa
Dua
The Nusa Dua tourist resort
is part of the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali.
Some of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels
are found here. The resort is known for its clean
white beaches and clear waters. The surf is gentle
along the northern side of the peninsula, bigger
along the south. The most convenient form of transportation
to and from Nusa Dua is by taxi.
Batubulan
Driving northeast from Denpasar,
stone figures on the roadside mark the village
of Batubulan. Divinities and demons are carved
from sandstone for ornaments of houses and temples.
Workshop can be visited to watch artists at work.
Batuan
An old and famous centre of
the arts, it is now known for its dancing, wood
panel carving and paintings.
Celuk
Northeast of Denpasar, the village
of Celuk is noted for its silver and gold works
of jewelry in many styles.
Mas
The village of woodcarvers,
many of Bali's old masters still live here. Art
galleries exhibit some of their best works. Visitors
can wonder through the Balinese style houses to
view the carved wooden pillars and the artists
at work or instructing apprentices who work in
groups.
Ubud
The centre of Balinese painting,
Ubud's Museum "Purl Lukisan" has a permanent
collection of modern works of Balinese art dating
from the turn of the century. There are also several
art galleries and homes of famous artists here,
including that of Dutchborn Hans Snel and American
Antonio Blanco. The "Young artist" style
now popular in Balinese painting was introduced
by the Dutch painter Arie Smith. In the past,
other foreign painters inspired Balinese artists
to adopt western techniques but traditional Balinese
paintings are still made and sold another museum
called "Neka Museum" has a wide collection
of paintings both by Indonesian as well as foreign
artists who used to live in Bali. Ubud has several
small hotels. Located on a higher altitude with
a pleasant climate.
Peliatan
Peliatan is located between
Ubud and Mast It has been known as the centre-of
traditional music, and dances. The fine art of
local woodcarvers started a new style of wood
carving producing such things as fruits, flowers
and trees in their real shapes and colorings.
Gao
Gajah
Goa Gajah, dates back to the
11th century and is believed to have been built
as a monastery. Carvings on the wall show a demon
head over the entrance, flanked by two statues.
The cave contains a statue of Ganesha. Escavations
have uncovered a bathing place with six statues
of nymphs holding water-spouts.
Tampak
Siring
The temple of Pura Tirta Empul
is built around the sacred spring at Tampak Siring.
Over 1000 years old, the temple and its two bathing
places have been used by the people for good health
and prosperity because of the spring water's curative
powers. Regular ceremonies are held for purification.
Specialities of the area are bone and ivory carvings,
and seashell ornament.
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