Mercato

An Italian Restaurant at Soi Ladprao 71. Mercato recommended by Sakulthai Magazine is opened by Khun Thanyaporn, the second generation of Paesano at Soi Tonson. Our menu – Garlic Bread, Baby Clams “Au Gratin”, Salad, and Spagetti with Italian sausage and tomato sauce. The Baby Clams is a good one while others are just fair.

Jakarta

Since we only have half a day to explore Jakarta, we decide to spend our time at the “Taman Mini Indonesia Indah”.

It is a miniature park that provides the complete picture of Indonesia. It is a culture-based recreational area located in East Jakarta, Indonesia. It has an area of about 250 acres. The park is a synopsis of Indonesian culture, with virtually all aspects of daily life in Indonesia's 26 (in 1975) provinces encapsulated in separate pavilions. (from wikipedia)

From Bengkulu Pavilion
From Wikipedia: The province is on the southwest coast of the island of Sumatra. It was formerly the site of a British garrison, which they called Bencoolen.

From Riau Paviliion
Riau is is a province of Indonesia, located in the center of Sumatra island along the Strait of Malacca. The provincial capital and largest city is Pekanbaru. Riau is one of the richest provinces in Indonesia. This province is rich with natural resources, particularly petroleum and natural gas, rubber, and palm oil.

From South Sumetera Pavillion

It is on the island of Sumatra, and borders the provinces of Lampung to the south, Bengkulu to the west, and Jambi to the north. The capital of Sumatera Selatan province is Palembang.

From South Sulawesi Pavillion
Located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi island. The capital of South Sulawesi is Makassar.

Since I have been to Indonesia three years in a row. I plan to temporary close my Indonesia chapter for a while; however, after I see this unique Sulawesi house, Indonesia still list in one of my next year destination (again and again).

From East Nusa Tenggara Pavillion
This province is located in the eastern portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, including West Timor. The provincial capital is Kupang, located on West Timor.

Children Art Centre in the park.

Last place that we stop by before picking up our bag at hotel and head to the airport is the National Monument (Monas)

The 137-meter tall marble obelisk is topped with a flame coated with 35 kilograms of gold. It represents the people's determination to achieve freedom. It houses a historical museum and meditation hall, and is open to the public. It towers over Merdeka (Freedom) Square, and serves as Jakarta's most prominent landmark. The monument was built during the Sukarno era of nationalism.

Results of my good time from this trip.

And that is the end of my Indonesia trip; though it is not the last Indonesia trip.

Bali - Day 4

This morning we plan to visit the bustling fresh market in Ubud.

Bali is the place that still using natural products for packaging

Various types of flowers are sold in the market.


Flowers are put in a Kratong offering to their gods.

Would you like to sample this local snack/food?


Buying some Balinese pictures???

Decorative woven basket.

I like this souvenir shop. Its products are neat and beautiful. The brochure of the shop that posted at the cashier table is in Japanese language.

Walking back to the hotel, I get many pictures of beautiful unique Bali doors. Very narrow that I wonder how they carry the big stuffs into their houses.

We visit the garden of Ubud Inn surveying to see whether we could afford to stay here for the next visit or not. ???

A school children in uniform.


Our plan for today is at Uluwatu Temple. The view is beautiful but I do not like the area around since there are a lot of FIECE monkeys trying to steal things from travelers and return it to their owners to exchange for food. The owner in turn asks for the money from us. Though we received many warning from friends before the trip, still we lost one of the monkey doll of the Kipling purse. Very fast. “ไวอย่างกะลิง”จริงๆ



ULUWATU TEMPLE
Uluwatu Temple is perched on a cliff of a rocky hill on the southernmost part of Bali. Balinese believe the shrine was the result of the metamorphosis of the God’s holy water. This temple was built and chosen by one of Hindu’s most respected priest, Danghyang Nirartha to unite with God Almighty, moksa. Uluwatu Temple is surrounded by trees and bushes occupied by tamed army of monkeys.

Kuta Beach

After Uluwatu Temple, we go to the airport since some of the gang will fly to Surabaya while Pe Paew and I will fly to Jarkarta. However since my flight is almost at midnight, I only deposit my bags at the airport and go back to the town, Kuta.

Bali - Day 3

We checked-in to the hotel quite late last night, so I didn't see much of the place until this morning.







This morning walking along the street, we meet a big local group preparing the parade to the temple. I don’t know what kind of ceremony it is.




A Balinese good-looking one!




Our first place for today is at Goa Gajah Temple where our main interest is for “shopping”. Because one of our team member, Noo Poo does some research and finds out that the price here is cheaper than other places. Very appreciated for her well preparation. Because if I ever visit Bali again, the only place in my itinerary would be “Goa Gajah”. (Just kidding Bali has more than that to offer to tourist.)

GOA GAJAH (ELEPHANT CAVE) TEMPLE

The name of the cave was said that when the cave was first unearthed, its entrance’s upper part was mistakenly believed as an elephant trunk, so did the name stick. Goa Gajah is a temple inside a cave. This temple is believed as the center for yoga and meditation during Hindu-Buddhism era. A ganesha statue reflects a Buddhism side, while its Ciwa statue portrays the Hinduisms counterpart. On the west corner of this cave lays Buddha and Harito statues. Goa Gajah temple is surrounded by green rice fields along the River Petanu.


Paddy rice field along the footpath down to the temple.




Next place is Ganung Kawi Temple recommended by our driver. The temple is situated down in the valley. It is very quiet and tranquil.

Gunung Kawi is a Hindu Temple complex with old omission from the stone era located in Gianyar regency.




Then we visit Tirtra Empul which I have seen a lot of pictures before the trip. One of the must visit places in Bali.

Legend has it that the sacred spring was created by the god Indra. His forces had been poisoned by Mayadanawa, so he pierced the earth to create a fountain of immortality to revive them.

An inscription dates the founding of a temple at the site to 926 AD. Ever since - for more than a thousand years - the Balinese have come to bathe in the sacred waters for healing and spiritual merit.


Devotees are in their prayers.



Spring water !!.


The Kintamani and its crater lake provides the spectacular panoramic scenery. Kintamani or Batur mount is an active volcano.




The last place to visit is at Pura Besakih. Our driver for today starts to complain that it is quite far away and he thinks that we could not be there in time; although we have already told him of our today itinerary since morning. Since Pura Besakih is considered the mother Temple of Hinduism in Bali, we all insist on going there.

And that is the end of today journey, we come back to Ubud quite late in the evening that we can’t watch any Bali dance show.

BESAKIH TEMPLE

Perched on the slope of the island’s highest peak of Mt. Agung, the mother temple of Bali, Besakih, is by size the biggest temple. Historical accounts say the temple was built by Maharesi Markandya in the eleventh century in a quest for god blessing upon a devastating disease striking the majority of Bali, including his faithful students. The word Besakih comes from Basukihan means safety and prosperity. Thousands of Balinese Hindus pay a pilgrimage to this temple thus thanking for their prosperous lives.

Besakih Temple is the largest of the island's 11,000 or so Hindu temples; its 35 shrines and halls. Like most Balinese temples, Besakih is not a closed building but a mostly open-air affair. It is made up of courtyards with altars and shrines devoted to a number of gods.

Bali - Day 2

Although the sand at Lovina beach is grey, it is quiet and peaceful, and popular for its early morning dolphin-watching boat trips.

Sorry that I couldn’t catch any pictures of the dolphins. With lots of boats chasing the dolphins around, I am not sure that it would have any effects to the well being of the animals or not.

Anyway, after breakfast we leave the beach behind to visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan.

From Lonely Planet website:

This very important Hindu-Buddhist temple was founded in the 17th century. It is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters, and is actually built on small islands, which means it is completely surrounded by the lake. Both pilgrimages and ceremonies are held here to ensure that there is a supply of water for farmers all over Bali.

The temple is truly beautiful, with classical Hindu thatch-roofed meru (multiroofed shrines) reflected in the water and silhouetted against the often cloudy mountain backdrop - one of the most common photographic images of Bali.

TAMAN AYUN TEMPLE

Taman Ayun Temple is a royal shrine built in 1634 at the height of the Mengwi Kingdom, one of the island’s most powerful political hubs disappearing by the end of the nineteenth century. It is about 300 meter east of the former palace of Mengwi . This temple is surrounded by many water lilies





Going to a temple.

Walking from the parking lot to the temple, our tour leader, Pe Paew, has to remind us that we still have plenty of time to shop later. Since there are lots of souvenir stalls tempting us to stop by.

Last visiting place for today is at Tanah Lot, where we wish to see the sunset behind the temple. But no such luck for any of us.

From Indonesia-tourism website :

Tanah Lot is located about 12 kilometers from Tabanan City and 20 kilometers from Denpasar. The area comprises a wondrous mixture of natural beauty and sheer human effort. Here lies an idyllic white sand beach with crashing waves, complemented by a small yet majestic temple. This temple, known as Pura Tanah Lot, juts out to sea on a rocky background. Tanah Lot attracts throngs of both locals and tourists daily. Most come here longing to catch a glimpse of the romantic Tanah Lot sunsets, a regular occurrence during the dry season (April to November).


We stay overnight at Ubud which is quite packed with tourists. Our chosen hotel (that didn’t answer our reservation) is full. After walk-in to many hotels, we finally get one at Hanuman road near the Monkey Forest area.