Senin, 19 November 2007
The Regency of Gianyar perhaps the richest regency of Balinese culture, beautiful landscape and art and crafts. Located with Badung/Badung in the west, Klungkung in the east and Bangli in the north.
Ubud and the nearby area are perhaps the most wellknown artists villages in Bali.
Ubud regency. Consisted of some artist villages inclusing the village of Ubud is the home of the best art museum in Indonesia perhaps. The Puri Lukisan, a Museum of Fine Arts established in the 1950's, displays art from the 1930's and 1950's, as well as modern Balinese art. The Neka Museum is also another example for both local and foreigners artist works on display.
Ubud village is also wellknow for Balinese dance performance. You can see daily dance performance at the Ubud palace for sort of Balinese dance such as Legong, Ramayana, Baris, Kecak, and the Fire Dance every evening. Ubud is also provide beautiful landscape as a good place for leisurely strolls through rice paddies, lush forest, breathtaking gorges, and deserted swimming holes.
Monkey Forest located in the southern area of the village for about 10 minutes walk from the center of Ubud town. Walking down entering the forest is interesting experience to see the tamed monkeys waiting for feeding time from tourist or local care taker.
Ubud market. This is the most reasonable prices-shopping center of all kind of Balinese art and crafts. But make sure you have a bargaining skill to get the lowest price up to 75% off.
Village of Pejeng. Located about 4 kilo meter from Ubud eastward is wellknown for important archeological object. Here you can find a giant bronze drum, an ancient artifacts from Bronze Age similarly to Dongson, Vietnam style. Have a visit also to the beautiful ancient temples of the Pura Pusering Jagat and Pura Kebo Edan.
Goa Gajah. Means "The Elephant Cave" is carved into the rock face about 10 minutes drive from the center of Ubud town. It is a Hindu-Buddhist temple dates back to the 9-12th centuries, upon the golden era of the Bali-Java relationship. Although means Elephant Cave but it is no artifacts in relation with the elephant at all. Goa Gajah is derived from Lwa Gajah that much related to the name of the adjacent river passing through this area.
Yeh Pulu. An ancient rock carving dates back 14th century for about 1 kilometer from Goa Gajah passing through the rice paddies field. The carving depicts various scenes of everyday life and the figures of the elephant headed Ganesh indicate a close relationship between the two sites.
Batubulan, Celuk, and Mas village. Batubulan is famous for its stone carvings that exhibited all along the main road of Batubulan. Batubulan also wellknown of daily Barong dance performance. Celuk village isthe centres for the Balinese goldsmiths and silversmiths. Mas is famous for woodcarving.
