Travelling

All about & Only found in BALI.....

Bali facts:

Best resort in asia is located in BALI (Conde Nast Traveler)

World largest aquatonic pool is located in BALI (Conde Nast Traveler)

The number one island to explore before you die: BALI (Yahoo! Travel)

Michael Kors ( A Premium Fashion Designer) launched his new perfume series: MICHAEL KORS ISLAND VERY BALI!!!! 

"Getaway to the ultimate paradise filled with sexy sunsets that melt into ocean waves and lush green palms trees that sway in the cool breeze" (Michael Kors)

Alila Hotel Uluwatu - Bali
World most spectacular swimming pool by CNNGO

Ayana Resort - Bali:
CONDE NAST TRAVELLER READERS’ AWARDS 2011 - Best Resort in Asia

Conrad - Bali
Expedia Insiders’ Select Awards - Best Hotel in Asia and fifth in the world

Diving to USS Liberty wrecks at Tulamben, Bali

Eat, Pray Love scene in pasar sukowati traditional market

Entrance to Karangsari Cave to Pura Goa Giri Putri (below picture..)

Camel riding along the shore line of Geger Beach

Jimbaran Bay - Bali
World's best wedding venue by CNNGO

Sunset sailing with dolphins at Lovina Beach

Virgin beaches at mushroom bay, Nusa Lembongan

Nirwana Bali Golf and Country Club:
voted Asia's Best Golf Course by Asian Golf Monthly for 3 consecutive years (2002-2004)

Pura Goa Giri Putri temple (inside Karangsari Cave)

Rock Bar - Ayana Resort - Bali
THE YAK READERS' AWARDS - Best Sunset Venue
Award Winning Rock Bar @Ayana Resort Bali (Voted #6 best beach bar in the world)

Shark point diving at Gili Tepekong, Bali

Canyon tubing at virgin Siap Stream.. fresh waters !!

 Suluban beach hideaway

Thermes Marins Bali SPA - Ayana Resort - Bali
CONDE NAST TRAVELLER READERS’ AWARDS 2011 - World;s best spa

Ubud Hanging Garden...heavenly spot on earth !

Mystical Tour of Islanders..

These places would lead you to the spiritual & historical journey, indulging ones who loves originality..embracing new cultures & the essence of traditional way of life !

Have a taste & you might like it..! Satisfaction Guaranteed..

Underground Mosque- Central Java

During the mid-18th century, the Sultanate of Yogyakarta began work on Taman Sari Water Castle. Comprised of lavish gardens and pools, Taman Sari also featured a bizarre man-made sea, connected beneath the ground with underwater tunnels and small island buildings. One of these island structures was used as a mosque, and was only accessible by underwater passage.

The tiny mosque was only one story, and although basic, had all the necessary parts of a mosque including a mihrab, or small niche guiding worshippers toward Mecca. It also featured a series of staircases leading from the underwater entrances resembling MC Escher's relativity. Staircases lead up from five different doorways to a central platform and another staircase connects the five lower staircases to a higher doorway.

Brimming with mystery, the plain mosque is only one of the wonders of the entire Taman Sari Water Castle complex. Today, many of the remains of the great 17th century compound have been lost. Pools have been filled in, which allowed for the discovery of many of the underground structures, but have destroyed the pristine castle quality. Human settlements have taken the place of the man-made lake, and much of the other buildings left standing are worse for wear. In 1995, the entire complex was listed as a tentative World Heritage Site.

·         ADDRESSYogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

SOURCES

·         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taman_Sari_(Yogyakarta)

Tana Toraja

Tana Toraja is one of the famous tourist attractions in Indonesia, located in selatan.distance from sulawesi province about 350 kilometers north of provincial capital city makasar south sulawesi.

To get to Tana Toraja district can be reached by overland travel about 7 hours or 45 minutes by a small aircraft that serve routes makasar – Tana Toraja, but unfortunately the flight was only once a week.

The name originally given by the Toraja Bugis Bugis Sidendreng and Luwu. Sidendreng people call this area the population with the title To Riaja, which means “those who dwell in the land above or mountains”. It Tana Toraja is located approximately 300-600 meters above sea level.

Some interesting things from Tana Toraja :

The traditional house called Tongkonan.

tongkonan is a building shaped like the Chinese empire boat roof made of nipa or palm leaves and can survive up to 50 years. Tongkonan a suitable degree of aristocratic strata of society, knife scratches on the red board shows the status of its owner. Rows of buffalo horns mounted / hung in front of the house, also add to the uniqueness of the wood structure. Unique building form with carving can be found in almost every yard of this Toraja community. Tongkonan word comes from tongkon, which means sit. In the past this house is the center of government, customs authority, and the development of socio-cultural life of Toraja people. so that the first house can not be owned by individuals but by family heredity or tribal clan of Tana Toraja.

Death ceremony in Tana Toraja.

In Tana Toraja has a tradition of respect for the death of the call ‘Rambu Solo’.

For Tana Toraja society, people who have died not by itself a degree of the dead. For them before the ceremony Rambu Solo then the dead person was only regarded as a sick man. Because of its status is still ‘sick’, then the man who died had to be admitted and treated like people who are still alive, like with her, providing food, beverages and tobacco or betel.

Rambu Solo ‘is an event very festive tradition in Tana Toraja, because eating days to celebrate. The ceremony is usually held during the day, when the sun began leaning to the west and usually takes 2-3 days. Even up to two weeks for this nobility .

ceremony circles for each community group must differ. When the nobleman who died, then the number of buffalo that will be cut for the purpose of the event was far more than for those who are not royal. For the royal family, the number of buffalo may range from 24 to 100 water buffaloes. While middle-class residents are required to slaughtering buffalos 8 plus 50 pigs, and long ceremony about 3 days.

Her own grave is made at the top of the cliff at the height of the rock because, according to the trust Aluk Dolo (Tana Toraja people’s confidence was higher where the body was placed, so the sooner his soul to paradise).

But, before the amount was insufficient, the body should not be buried on cliffs or in high places. Hence, the body often stored for years in Tongkonan family until the late / deceased can prepare the sacrificial animals. and for the adherents of Christianity and Islam, the corpse can be buried in the ground first, then dug up again after the family is ready to perform this ceremony.

Baby graves in the tree.

Baby graves in the Tarra trees  designated for baby 0-7 year-old.

Although babies buried in a tree that Tarra was not implemented since the last decades, the tree where “save” the baby’s body was still upright and often visited by tourists.

Tarra on the tree trunk with a circle of about 3.5 meters, saved dozens of dead babies. Before the body is inserted into the trunks of trees, first hollowed tree trunk. Dead baby is placed inside, then covered with coconut tree fiber black.

After decades, the baby’s body will be merged with the tree. This is an appeal to the traveler and to Tana Toraja people still regard the place as sacred as the newborn child. Placement baby’s body on the tree, adapted to the social strata of society.

The higher the degree of the family’s socio higher infant lies buried in the trunk of the tree Tarra.

In addition, babies who die are placed in the direction where the bereaved family lived. If the house is in the western part of the tree, then the child’s body will be placed in the west.

DARING TOURS ON HAUNTED PLACES..???

Jakarta

• Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital – A place full of ghost stories. One particularly popular one would be the one about a doctor with a surgical knife and hands full of blood or a nurse who always warns the doctors if there’s an emergency patients.There are also the spirits of dead people floating around in the hospital. They usually they wander at night and show their form to someone who’s alone.

• Jakarta History Museum – This place was used by the Dutch Colonials as a city hall whereas the main court was used to hang a number of Chinese people. In the night a few ghosts can be seen there. The prison was believed to be haunted by number of ghosts. Perhaps due to the historical horrors, there’s a strange feeling when you enter the building

• Jembatan Ancol – Legend has it that a young woman was rapped at the Jembatan Ancol or Ancol bridge. After that, she was then murdered. Until this day people have said to see her walking around at night.

• Jeruk Purut Cemetery – Legend has it that once there was a priest or pastor that died here with his head cut off. The real reason why he died with his head off was unknown but this priest is always accompanied by his dog wherever he goes.

• Tarumanagara University – On the 13th Floor are the photocopy facilities. People that work there admitted that every noon about 18.00 they can see a head flying around without his head. Cause of death is unknown but it seems that his/her soul can’t rest in peace yet because of, perhaps, unfinished business.

• University of Pancasila – A particular lift there would mysteriously bring u to the 4th floor although you did not press the button to the 4th floor.

Semarang

• Lawang Sewu – Lawang Sewu means a thousand doors. This is a building with thousand doors was with the Netherlands Architecture, left by the Netherlands colonialism in 19th century. If you go inside this old building, you will be abke to see many kind of ghosts. For example, ghost with no head, a Holland young lady killed herself and hang in the door, screams, and so on. A good suggestio would be if you could come see the building for yourself. However, be careful of getting lost because this building has 1000 doors.