Everything and anything about Indonesia
One of the least known temples of Bali, Pura Masceti guards the island from evil sea spirits, an important role usually taken on as one of the nine directional temples. Directional temples are known as kahyangan jagat and play an important function in the Hindu religion of the Balinese. The main entrance of the temple faces a wide stretch of pristine beach, free of...
Jimbaran Beach located just south of Kuta is a great place to take a slow romantic stroll with that special someone! The sunset is also one of its best attractions apart from the many seafood restaurants along the beach to choose from. Pedlars offering roasted corncob, a favourite snack among locals is found in many spots along Jimbaran Beach.
With sacred springs and pools of purification, Tirtha Empul’s water is said to be holy and possess magical healing elements. Founded in the 10th century and constructed on a site of a large natural spring, the temple was built by the Warmadewa Dynasty in 926A.D. The Balinese people believe it to be a creation of Lord Indra, the God of rainfall, while its streams and...
Apart from its rich marine life and nature reserves, Indonesia is known for its variety in textiles and traditional batiks. Home to all sorts of fabrics in its capital Jakarta is Pasar Baru. Founded by the Dutch and initially named ‘Passer Baroe’ when Jakarta was referred to as Batavia, this souk like trading ground is situated in the heart of the city. In between a...
The most talked about dish on the Island of the Gods revolves around that of a suckling pig. Referred to as ‘Babi Guling‘ by locals, a whole pig is marinated in ground chilli, turmeric and oil and stuffed with more chilli, onions, ginger, galangal, candle nuts, coriander, lemon grass, pepper, dried shrimp paste, coconut, bay leaves and traditional spices...
Made from andesite, here stands a Balinese temple guardian or better known as Dvarapala in Sanskrit. These stone guardians are usually found in front of temple entrances and holy sites as a protector from evil. Dvarapala’s in Indonesia normally depict very fierce looking creatures with a rather bulky physique. Some guardians are often found holding a club in a...
Known for its beautiful sunsets with kite flyers or surfers in the background, here are the some shots of what it is like at Kuta Beach just before nightfall. As many of you may already know, Kuta covers covers sub-districts of Kuta Village, Legian, Seminyak, Kedonganan, and Tuban. Most of the hotels along Kuta are situated in Tuban where most sunset aficionados find...
Dance and drama are an inseparable part of Balinese temple devotion and celebrations. Learning the art of dance from their mothers, Balinese dancers emphasize a dance’s delicate intricacies with hand gestures while incorporating eye and facial expressions. The main and essential ornaments usually used are the elaborate headpiece and armlets.
Built in 1993, the colossal white statue of a mythological battle scene from the epic Mahabharata depicts Ghatotkacha, a courageous and powerful knight, the son of Bhima looming down on Prince Karna before being slain by the Prince’s arrow from his chariot.
The Balinese Hindu religion comes from the Javanese Majapahit dynasty of Hindu-Buddhist heritage amalgamated with animistic belief of its indigenous people. Religion as it is practiced in Bali is a composite belief system that embraces Gods and demigods that are worshipped together with Buddhist heroes, the spirits of ancestors, indigenous agricultural deities and...