Saw this article in the JakartaGlobe http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/culture/light-of-the-gods-on-balis-peaks/366857 and thought you may like it. Enjoy.

Tim Hannigan

Leave the tourist frenzy behind for an unforgettable pilgrimage on the eastern side of the island. (JG Photo)

Light of the Gods on Bali’s Peaks

The chain of steps, cutting a narrow band through the damp green forest, rose above me. Sweat dripped from the tip of my nose; rustling and chattering in the undergrowth hinted at unseen monkeys and a cool, cloying mist rose from the rice terraces below. It was not long after dawn, and I was picking my way up the pilgrimage route to the highest station of the complex of temples known as Pura Lempuyang that stud the green flanks of the fractured volcano standing sentinel on Bali’s eastern promontory. Somewhere ahead of me, on the very pinnacle of the peak, was Pura Lempuyang Luhur, 1,060 meters above sea level and the eastern directional anchor of the Balinese compass. Some 1,700 steps lead to the temple, but I had long since lost count of how many I had still to climb.

My first view of the mountain had come in the lavender light of the previous evening. Traveling north by motorbike from Amlapura, the administrative capital of Karangasem, Bali’s most easterly district, Gunung Lempuyang and Gunung Seraya, two cleaved halves of the same upwelling of basalt, rose like bruised knuckles above a rumpled rug of rice fields.

Bali’s overdeveloped south might leave many newcomers wondering just whether the luscious tropical island of myth really exists, but in this wilder eastern region I found no lack of green vistas and volcanic views. The area is dominated by the mighty cone of Gunung Agung, the 3,142-meter linchpin of Bali. But this evening Agung was lost in the clouds, and I was more interested in its smaller neighbor, Lempuyang-Seraya, the double peak that once overshadowed Bali’s most powerful Hindu kingdom. Karangasem today is one of Bali’s poorest regions, with drought-plagued agriculture and little tourism income. But in the 19th century this terraced, volcanic territory was the seat of a mighty dynasty.

My first stop north of Amlapura was a pleasure garden laid out by the last king of Karangasem in 1947. Tirtagangga — the name means “Water of the Ganges” — was a place of clear pools and stepping-stones. A mildewed pantomime of statues — gurning demons, bug-eyed warriors, belching boars and writhing royal nagas — spilled rivulets from artfully hidden spouts.

After spending the night in a guesthouse a stone’s throw from the gardens, I woke at first light, and 30 minutes later was standing at the foot of that interminable flight of steps, bending their way out of sight toward the summit of Lempuyang.

The scattering of temples that make up the Lempuyang complex include one of Bali’s Kayangan Jagat, the nine directional temples that give the island its own unique set of cardinal points.

The rest of Bali seemed to fall away behind me as I climbed, and when I finally reached the little temple compound at the summit, it was drifting alone in the clouds. There were damp ceremonial umbrellas and altars wrapped in checked cloth. Shaggy palm trees rustled in the breeze. The temple was not totally deserted, though; a local man, Pak Arya, had spent the night meditating at the temple.

He told me that the name of this place — Lempuyang — was a contraction of two old Balinese words, “ lempu ” and “ hyang, ” and meant “the Light of the Gods.” As a mob of olive-colored monkeys emerged from the bushes and began a swaggering circuit of the temple, Pak Arya spun me a tall but tempting tale. When American astronauts on the first mission to the moon looked back on the earth behind them they saw an unexplained light shining from one spot — Lempuyang.

“The Light of the Gods!” said Pak Arya with a grin, warding off a monkey.

Light of the Gods aside, there was one brief glimpse of the light of day as I descended, passing white-clad pilgrims struggling up the steps: for mere seconds the clouds cleared and Lempuyang’s giant neighbor, Mount Agung, loomed to the west in a deluge of bright sunlight.

At the foot of the steps I climbed back into the saddle and took a back road, skirting the northern flanks of the mountain. Agung appeared again as I threaded my way through the fishing villages and dive resorts around Amed. The sea was dotted with bone-white fishing boats under triangular blue sails. In Bunutan village, I watched a crowd of men betting on cockfights in a shaded pavilion. The air was thick with the smell of clove smoke and feathers and wads of money passed hands after each bloody bout.

The road led on, bucking over promontories and dipping into shallow bays. To my right the twin peaks of Seraya and Lempuyang loomed in the clouds, while offshore the dark hills of Lombok rose.

At the height of their powers in the 18th century, the Karangasem kings crossed the strait and annexed Lombok, placing its Muslim subjects under Hindu rule. So it remained until the end of the 19th century when the Dutch appeared on the scene and wrested Lombok away, and then, not long after, conquered Karangasem itself.

Admiring the view as I rode, I took a wrong turn and ended up in a little hamlet of yellow dogs and fighting cocks. A man called Gede called me over, and before setting me back on the right road he plied me with roasted corn and sweet coffee.

The blue waters of the Lombok Strait lay below us. Gede is a farmer, though in this hard, eastern landscape there is not enough water to grow rice. All that grows here, he said, is the corn on which I was chewing. The people here have little cash and life is hard, so when foreign investors come sniffing out bargain plots for future villa developments, as they had recently begun to do, they take interest. But they are also wary, Gede said, and are doubtful about the merits of the kind of intense development seen in other parts of Bali. There are no luxury villas here — yet.

Bidding goodbye to Gede, I continued on my journey. To the right a mountain emerged from the clouds again — it was Seraya that I was looking up at, 100 meters taller than its temple-topped twin. The mountain stayed in view all the way to Ujung, the final point on my circuit of Bali’s easternmost peaks. This was another water palace, built in 1919 by I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, the second-to-last king of Karangasem.

The sun was slanting away to the west now, with soft light shimmering on the water of the pool and on the white marble of the central pavilion, a private chamber where the royals had once retreated from the eyes of the world. There were no fluttering princesses, only locals from nearby Amlapura, out for an afternoon jog around the pool.

I climbed a flight of steps to a skeletal folly of relief-covered marble. The water palace lay below me, white walls, Dutch shutters and Balinese friezes in a mass of green trees. And beyond, propping up a slab of milky cloud, stood the two-peaked massif that had been the fulcrum of my journey, Lempuyang-Seraya.

Technorati Tags: Bali, Bali vacation, Lempuyang Bali

Bali has a Hindu tradition with their own slant to it. It’s well worth visiting the extremely friendly Balinese and experience their spiritual way of being. The water temple in the center of the island is stunningly beautiful and the serenity is tangible and permeats the air along with the sweet perfume of the frangipani flowers and the joss sticks…

Enjoy the article on Bali vacation packages below…

Spiritual Tours in Bali – Vacation Package Tips Not to Miss
By Karen A. Newton

Before embarking on a Bali tour it is wise to explore the wide variety of Bali vacation packages available today.

What are you looking for in your spiritual tour to Bali?
Bali has a strong cultural heritage with amazing temples found throughout the island. Temple ceremonies occur every day in Bali. You may have heard it referred to as the “island of 10,000 temples”. This is a reflection of the numerous temples found in Bali – spirituality runs deep and strong in all aspects of life here. If you are looking for a spiritual experience then be sure not to miss visiting these temple ceremonies.

What To Look For
Many Bali vacation packages include accommodation, partial meals and a variety of activities. A spiritual tour should involve some type of spa treatment, meditation and yoga. As far as sight seeing, one shouldn’t miss the most beautiful temple in the world – Tanah Lot Temple. Situated high on a cliff over the ocean, the view is absolutely outstanding. Another temple worth mentioning is the Besakih Temple. It has often been referred to as the “Mother of all Balinese Temples”. It actually consists of five temples (a sacred Mandala). If you are exploring Bali vacation packages be sure to try and experience the Barong Dance. A Balinese dance portrays how chaos and destruction compete with each other. Make sure to check with your hotel as many hold performances weekly.

Eat Pray Love
If you have ever read “Eat, Pray, Love.” by Elizabeth Gilbert then you know how she experienced the spirituality of Bali to the fullest. A spiritual tour in Bali that encapsulates her experiences and focuses on changing your life would be essential when looking at Bali vacation packages. In Elizabeth’s book she walks us through her quest for spiritual healing, allowing us to share her journey along the way.

Where To Stay
As for where you want to visit, popular choices in Bali are Ubud and Nusa Dua. In Ubud you will find many shops and galleries, spiritual dances and the monkey forest (a must see!). Also there are the Botanical Gardens, terraced rice paddies and many crafts and art specialties throughout the Balinese villages.

Nusa Dua Bali is home to several five star resorts and choosing to stay in Nusa Dua is a popular choice among many. If you are budget conscious, then you might prefer to stay in Ubud. Nusa dua hotels and resorts are geared more towards those seeking luxury. Many of the resorts even have their own private beaches. Wherever you end up staying you are sure to experience how beautiful and peaceful Bali truly is.

Remember these tips before embarking on your Bali spiritual tour:

• spa treatment, meditation, yoga
• temples including Tanah Lot and Besakih
• Barong dance
• Botanical Gardens and the monkey forest

Be sure to explore the Bali Vacation Packages put together by Spirit Quest Tours, who bring along more than a decade of personal and sacred travel experiences to share with you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_A._Newton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Spiritual-Tours-in-Bali—Vacation-Package-Tips-Not-to-Miss&id=2760857

Technorati Tags: Bali, Bali temples, Bali vacation packages, bali vacations, spiritual Bali

Saw an article on hermit crabs and it reminded me of the time when we had a glorious Christmas Bali vacation a few years ago. We had a lot of fun, especially when we scoured the beaches in Bali and collected quite a few bags of shells…

But first to the article that brought all these memories back. It says here that…

“Hermit crabs are fun pets to care for in your home. They used to be reserved for souvenirs from seaside vacations, but now they can be bought almost anywhere. They make wonderful starter pets for kids. They make a great alternative to the more traditional gerbils or hamsters, and they have a much longer lifespan than goldfish! Contrary to what you might expect if you are new to hermit crabs, it is possible to play with them, and they do have little personalities of their own. Do you think hermit crabs may make a great pet for you? Here are some helpful hints to get you started…”

Well, I never thought that a hermit crab could be a pet. But hey, you never stop learning. Because the article continues…

“Before you get your crab, you need to get the basic equipment and supplies in place. First, they will need an aquarium for their house. Forget those teeny, tiny cages you see at the shops by the beach; hermit crabs really need a ten-gallon aquarium to be comfortable. If you are getting more than one crab, obviously you will be a bigger aquarium. A pet shop will be able to advise you on the best size for the number of crabs you will be housing. Make sure the aquarium has a snug fitting lid so your little friends do not make a run for it! Place a heating pad under the tank to keep your crabs feeling nice and tropical…”

OK, I think I get the picture. And it’s true. You want them to feel at home in your tropical aquarium. Because, what happened those few years ago was that when we got home from our vacation in Bali, we were quite jet lagged, and fell asleep almost as soon as we got back. Around 1am we woke up, couldn’t sleep anymore and decided to have breakfast and clean all the shells we brought with us.

Michael lovingly scrubbed them and arranged them on a large copper plate that we then placed on the coffee table in our lounge.

You know what it’s like when you come back from a long haul flight, can’t sleep but are still sleep deprived. You sit there, lost in thoughts, memories from your fantastic Bali vacation floating in and out of consciousness, admiring the pyramid of shells from the Bali beaches in the middle of the coffee table…

…and suddenly you notice one shell is moving!!!

Crickey! Are you dreaming? Are you awake? Yes, it was true! One shell slowly made its way down the pyramid of shells. I’m sure you’ve guessed… yes, it was a hermit crab that made this particular shell its own.

Now, I had a dilemma. What was I going to do with this tropical sea creature in the middle of an English winter? To go to Brighton beach and drop it into the freezing water would be cruel. The little hermit crab would die. Probably from home sickness. Brighton beach isn’t quite the beach in Bali, is it?

Well, to cut a long story short, somehow we disposed of the poor little hermit crab. The mountain of shells sat in our living room until a year later we packed everything up and moved to the antipodes…

You can read the rest of the article above at http://www.balivacationtips.com/the-basic-of-hermit-crab.html

Technorati Tags: Bali, Bali vacation packages, beach

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If your answer is no, you should see this video.
I took the picture on Tanah Lot Bali.

Tanah Lot is the place where the land meets the ocean
It is the place where we can see the beauty of our earth
and enjoy the beautiful sunset

Plan your Bali Vacations today, youll never regret.
Make sure to read the guide at

www.TheBaliVacations.com

Duration : 0:3:27

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