Gedong Kirtiya library, Singaraja - Bali

Gedong Kirtiya library was founded in 1928 by the Dutch in what was then their colonial capital of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Singaraja, and named for the Sanskrit word to try. It is in the complex of Sasana Budaya, the old palace of the Buleleng Kingdom.

In its collection are lontar manuscripts (written on dried leaves of the rontal palm), prasasti (inscribed on copper plates) and manuscripts on paper in Balinese and Roman characters including documents from the colonial period (1901-1953).

Ex Bupati of Buleleng Dr Ketut Wirata Sindhu is upgrading the library into a full museum. When completed, the museum will cover the entire Sasana Budaya complex.

Jimbaran, Bali

Jimbaran is a fishing village and tourist resort in Bali, Indonesia. Located just at the south of Ngurah Rai International Airport, the beach is cluttered with hotels from inexpensive homestays to five stars hotels. Tourism in Jimbaran has increased rapidly that has boosted local economy, but it suffered by the 2005 Bali bombings where the bomb exploded in one of the restaurants in Jimbaran.

Jimbaran lies on the neck of the southern peninsula in Bali and is widely known for the fresh seafood kiosks that litter the beach. Diners select the seafood live that they wish to eat and it is prepared immediately. More recently, Jimbaran has become a popular location for foreigners to build villas.

Southern Bali : The Bukit Peninsula

The Bukit Peninsula is at the southern end of the island of Bali, Indonesia. Its traditionally considered to be all the area south of Jimbaran beach. Unlike the bulk of the rest of the island, it features a dry, arid and stoney landscape. The Indonesian government has encouraged the development of the area — instead of more fertile land — for large upmarket tourist facilities. It is a popular destination for surfers. Bukit means hill in Indonesian.

This area has undergone large scale investment and growth during the early 2000s, partially owing to its proximity to the Ngurah Rai international airport (the only international one in Bali) and the stunning ocean views from its cliff tops. In 2006 a new golf course (Balis 4th) started construction. The bukit now hosts such international hotels.

Singaraja, Bali

Singaraja is the regency seat of Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia. The name is Indonesian for Lion King. It is on the north coast just east of Lovina. It has an area of 27.98 km and population of 80,500.

Singaraja was the Dutch colonial administrative centre for Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands until 1953, and the port of arrival for most visitors until development of the Bukit Peninsula area in the south.

Gedong Kirtya, just south of the town centre, is the only library of lontar manuscripts (ancient and sacred texts on leaves of the rontal palm) in the world.

The Mount Batur (Gunung Batur)

The historically active Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is located at the center of two concentric calderas north west of Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia. The south east side of the larger 1013 km caldera contains a caldera lake. The inner 7.5-kilometer-wide caldera, which was formed during emplacement of the Bali (or Ubud) ignimbrite, has been dated at about 23,670 and 28,500 years ago (Wheller 1986, Sutawidjaja et al. 1992).

The SE wall of the inner caldera lies beneath Lake Batur; Batur cone has been constructed within the inner caldera to a height above the outer caldera rim. The Batur stratovolcano has produced vents over much of the inner caldera, but a NE-SW fissure system has localized the Batur I, II, and III craters along the summit ridge. Historical eruptions have been characterized by mild-to-moderate explosive activity sometimes accompanied by lava emission. Basaltic lava flows from both summit and flank vents have reached the caldera floor and the shores of Lake Batur in historical time. The caldera contains an active, 700-metre-tall stratovolcano rising above the surface of Lake Batur. The first historically documented eruption of Batur was in 1804, and it has been frequently active since then.

Bali Barat National Park

Bali Barat National Park is located on the north western side of Bali, Indonesia. The park covers around 770 km, which is approximately 10% of Balis total land area. To the north, it includes 1,000 m long beach, reef and islets. A seaport at Gilimanuk is west of the park and a village named Goris is to the east. The Bali Barat National Park can be reached by roads from Gilimanuk and Singaraja, or by using ferries from Ketapang, Java.

There are several habitats in Bali Barat National Park, a savanna, mangroves, montane and mixed-monsoon forests, and coral islands. The center of the park is dominated by remnants of four volcanic mountains from Pleistocene era, with gunung Patas (1,412 m) as its highest elevation.

Some 160 species can be found inside the park, including the Banteng, Barn Swallow,
Black-naped Oriole, Black Racket-tailed Treepie, Crested Serpent-eagle, Crested Treeswift, Dollarbird, Hawksbill Turtle, Indian Muntjac, Java Sparrow, Javan Lutung, Large Flying Fox, Leopard Cat, Lesser Adjutant, Long-tailed Shrike, Milky Stork, Pacific Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Rusa Deer, Sacred Kingfisher, Savanna Nightjar, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Water Monitor, Wild Boar, Yellow-vented Bulbul and the critically endangered Bali Starling.

There are also several endangered flora species in this national park, such as: Pterospermum diversifolium, Antidesma bunius, Langerstroemia speciosa, Steleochocarpus burahol, Santalum album, Aleuritas moluccana, Sterculia foetida, Schleichera oleosa, Dipterocarpus hasseltii, Garcinia dulcis, Alstonia scolaris, Manilkara kauki, Dalbergia latifolia and Cassia fistula.

The Nyepi Day or "Day of Silence"

Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that falls on Balis Lunar New Year (March 19, 2007). It is a day of silence, fasting, and meditation.

Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Balis usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.

On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.

»First, The Melasti Ritual is performed at the 3-4 previous day. It is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi/Vishnu-Devas-Bataras and is performed at the beach to respect them as the owner of The Land and Sea. »Second, The Bhuta Yajna Ritual is performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and create balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. »Third, The Nyepi Rituals is performed with the following conditions: »»Amati Geni: No fire/light »»Amati Karya: No working »»Amati Lelunganan: No traveling »»Amati Lelanguan: Fasting »Fourth, The Yoga/Brata Ritual starts at 6:00 AM March 19 and continues to 6:00 AM March 20 (24 hours, dates provided are for 2007). »Fifth, The Ngebak Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual is performed for all Hindus to forgive each other and to welcome the new days to come. »Sixth and finally, The Dharma Shanti Rituals is performed as the Nyepi Day or "Day of Silence."