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.

Bali - Day 1

Our trip to Bali, my third time to Indonesia, but first time to Bali island composes of 8 members including me. The first night we stayed at hotel around Lovina Beach which is located near the northern tip of the island.

Phetchabun Province

A big group picture from 2 groups – 2 vans.



Visit the Thap Boek Temple.



Thap Boek is located at Mu 14, Wang Ban Sub-district. It is a Hmong village. Geographically, it lies at the 1,768 meters above sea level claimed as the highest point of Phetchabun Province. It is mountainous from the starting point up to the village with chilly climate throughout the year.



Enjoy Thap Boek panorama view



Our next stoop is at Phitsanulok where many members of the trip are looking forward to the Nam Keg rafting. I almost decide not to join the activities since I heard that the rafting here is rated at the difficult one and I can’t swim. However, after talking to the arranger and know that the current water level is still too low for exciting, today it is only 300 meter. The dangerous level is above 1600 meter.

And I really enjoy it. So if you would like to try it but want to be on a safe side, visit it at the beginning of the rainy season before those adventurous ones come to play. 555



Thump up for the effort of our photographer.
And thank you for those spending time chasing our rafters so that we can have pictures of our enjoyable time rafting.


From TAT website : The level of difficulty of the current depends on the volume of water flow. In the rainy season, the river becomes swifter.

Keg River is the good place for rafting as it provides exciting routes for tourists for Ban PakYang, Sapraiwan sub-district, Wang Thong district to Kang Song waterfall which lasts 8 kms. Altogether. You can travel along this route within 3 hours, depending on the water level. You will experience the water speed at level 1-2 and gradually in crease the intensity to level 4-5 in the end. This allows you to practice your skill in rafting along the way.

And that would be all for my 2-day trip.

Loei Province

Phi Ta Khon is the festival that I want to join for many years. The trip starts at Big C on Friday night. We reach Amphoe Dan Sai at Loei Province in the morning.

Our first stop is at Wat Neramit Wipattasana located on a hillside. Inside of the temple is a replica of Phra Phutthachinnarat (of Phitsanulok Province) enshrined.

Next at Phra That Si Song Rak
Located on the bank of the Man River, this large Lao-style pagoda similar to that of Phra That Phanom houses relics of the Lord Buddha. Phra That Si Song Rak is a plaster-covered brick pagoda with a square base of 11 meters on each side. The pagoda itself is 32 meters high. Built in the Ayutthaya period in 1560 as a symbol of camaraderie between Ayutthaya and Si Sattana Khanahut (Vientiane).

Tips for visitors: As the pagoda is built for friendship and peace, red attire and red flowers are prohibited as the color denotes violence.
http://www.tourismthailand.org

We then join the Phi Ta Khon Festival. At first our group walk together, but with many tourists both Thai and foreigners packed on the street, I finally find myself walking alone.


Phi Ta Khon is an utterly unique celebration during the Bun Luang Festival, the biggest yearly merit-making ceremony of entertainment, the locals believe that it is also rain-making ceremony.

A "good manner" of younger "Phi" group.
Look at the way they sit for us to take their pictures.

The most interesting part of the festival is the uniqueness of the costumes. The participants wear a ghost mask, made of a colourful bamboo sticky rice steamer, and dress in a costume made of many pieces of fabric sewn together. The masked “ghosts” have a special bell that they wear around their waists. The first activity, which normally starts in the Phra Uppakhut image. In the afternoon, many colourful parades commence. Both small and large Phi Ta Khons will participate in the procession of Budhisattra Vessantara, the Buddha’s penultimate incarnation into the city. There is also a rocket procession. Each village will make their own parade for the competition and other cultural performances.

An actress-actor couple: Cindy and Byron.

In the afternoon we head back to Thap boek, Phetchabun Province to stay overnight.

At Ban Thap Boek, vegetables, especially cabbage, will be planted with no watering due to 2 seasons; namely, the rainy season and winter. No doubt that it will become a dish of our tonight dinner.

The Arts of the Kingdom

Since I visited the Arts of The Kingdom Exhibition at the beginning of this year, I am so impressed with our Thai craftsman. However, that exhibition ended before I could suggest it to any of my friends. Therefore, when the same exhibition has come back, my mom wish to see it too. And now she also suggests it to all her friends.
http://www.artsofthekingdom.com/

Michelle Gourmet

Though, Bon Mache Market is not far from my house, I do not shop there very often. However, last week I went there to visit Nong Ying at her shop, Momiji, and walk pass this French-Italian restaurant. So I pay the restaurant a visit this week, Michelle Gourmet. Comparing to other restaurant, the menu here is quite limit. We try Rocket mushroom salad, Pizza Margherita, Ink Squid spaghetti with seafood, baked Mussel with garlic butter. The Salad and the Mussel are o.k. for us, the other two are not to my likings. Total cost for 4 dishes are Baht 951.

Museum Siam

A hot place in town for taking pictures is “Museum Siam” at Phra Nakorn district. Its aim of this National Discovery Museum Institute is to be the learning center for visitors to understand Thai culture and the multi cultural in our society. It is a small museum, not so pack of technical knowledge and I would recommend for students. The museum building is the old Ministry of Commerce office built in King Rama VI in European style.
http://www.ndmi.or.th/Muse_Info/Muse_Info.html




My brother in front of the building.




On the third floor, the first room starts at the “Introduction to Suvarnabhumi”.




“Suvarnabhumi with the multi-ethnic people”




“Growing rice”




“Today Thailand”




Beautiful staircase




I post my blogname on board before leaving the building.




We end our short trip by having lunch at “Tha Pra Chan” pier near Thammasat University. I haven’t visited that area for a long long time.

We attend Jae Yai’s funeral rite at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat – Bangkhen. Our friend, Panee or Jae Yai was our monitor when we were in high school at Satrividhaya School. This is the first time after graduation that I meet some of my friends in the picture.

TISCO Foundation

This afternoon I join TISCO Foundation to the annual scholarship award event. This year the foundation grants Baht 16 million to students from primary till undergraduate levels. The foundation has been found 25 years ago, so far the accumulated scholarship granted is amounted to Baht 145 million. I am glad to be a part of the company that contributes to society long time ago before it become fashionable and many companies need to do it, just as a part of advertisement their companies to the world.

DCup Studio

DCup Sutido owned by Khun Kai and Khun Eark at Soi Watcharaphol, Ramintra Road. The studio is offered both the food and bakery course.

La Buca Restuarant

We have an Italian dinner at Rabuca, Sukhumvit Soi 1. It is my first time to dine here, the food is delicious. Though normally I won’t go for the Oven-baked Spinach with cheese dish (not because I don’t like it, but just for the sake of the healthy food 555), but I would rather recommend this one to you guys. Another recommended dish is the risotto.



The T-bone steak is gone within minutes. (I take no part in the process)



Pe Norm is proudly presented the gang’s birthday gift that the SD card is the “Ducati” edition. By the way, I wish to have the “Ferrari” edition next year na ka.

Sri Sa Ket Province

Today we visit Preah Vihear Sanctuary, one of the topics recently been written in the newspapers. And I only hope that whoever is in the authority will do whatever is best for the country instead of their own or their friends.



Prasat Khao Phra Wihan or the Preah Vihear Sanctuary is a grand historical site and the centre of a Khmer community on the highlands of Cambodia. The site was built during the 16th-17th Buddhist century and is more than 600 metres above level ground.

There are four parts, all on a different level. Each is approached along a pathway with steep steps at the end leading up to the temple.



Preah Vihear stands on the mountain which is part of the Phanom Dong Rek Range that lies between the lower Khmer Plain and the Korat Pateau. Though physically in Cambodia (ruled by the World Court in 1962), the sanctuary is easier to reach from the Thai side. The temple’s surroundings located in Thai territory.



Look at Lub's poster.

Next we stop at Namtok Huai Chan which is is 24 kilometres from the district office on the Kanthrom-Ban Samrong Kiat road. The fall drops down several rock levels and has water the year round.



Mer’s house. There are many nicely decorated corners.

That would be all for my lower Isan trip (there are still some other lower Isan provinces that can’t be included into this short trip). Although, we do have a lot activities for these 3 days, I think we all gain weights from the big and delicious food we have. Thank to our kind and lovely hosts. We have a very good weekend.