Bali’s City & Sites Info – G thru L

Gianyar is the very heart of Bali, a modern and prosperous center of the arts with history dating back a thousand years. Most of the cultural activities relating tourism on the island, from painting and woodcarving to dance and music are focused here, as is broad range of agricultural activities. Gianyar is the administrative center, and main market town of Gianyar regency, which also includes Ubud. The city is known for its textiles factories at the western end of the town where you can buy material by the meter, or have it made into shirts, skirts, robes and so on. Not far away to this center of weaving the small village Bona is located. It is well known for its Kecak, Trance and Fire dancers.

Gitgit is about 11 km south of Singaraja is the pretty and pretty touristy Air Terjun Gitgit waterfalls. The well signposted path (800 metre) from the main road in the village is predictably lined with souvenir stalls, but the workers are quite friendly. The 40m waterfalls are quite pretty, and it’s a great place for a picnic, but they are not pristine. There is another small waterfall, sometimes called Gitgit Multi-Tier Waterfall, about 2 km further up the hill from the main falls and about 600 m off the main road. It is not as impressive, but is wonderfully devoid of hawkers and touts, and you can swim here.

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
see… Bedulu

Goa Lawah “Bat Cave” it is one of the state temple of Klungkung regency. Legend has it that when Klungkung was ruled from Kusamba, a prince of Mengwi sought protection here and entered the bat cave. He was not seen again until emerged nearly 20 kms to the north, at Pura Besakih. No one has since tried to enter the cave to prove whether it really extends that far. Marvel at the thousands of bats amidst the acrid smell of their dropping that cover the shrines.

Gunung Abang
see… Batur

Gunung Agung (Mount Agung) – According to the legend, Mount Agung was created by the god pasupati when he split the holy mountain mount Mahameru into two parts as Mount Agung and Mount Batur. With 3142 m above the sea level, mount Agung is the most sacred to the Balinese Hindu. In 1963, Mount Agung that had been dormant for centuries, started rumbling. The glow of fire became visible within the crater and ash began to coat the area. The eruption killed thousands of inhabitants and destroyed thousands of houses and temples.

Gunung Batukaru (Batukau) is a 2276m high volcano with Pura Luhur Batukau at its southern slope. Its an unusual complex of shrines and pool set amidst lush, tropical forests. This was the state ancestral temple of Tabanan court, and each shrines represents a different dynastic ancestor. This temple is one of the six axial temples sacred to all Hindu Balinese. Standing in front of the newly restored gates, it may take a moment to appreciate that this is one of the most ancient sacred sites on the island. According to some of the Balinese chronicles, mount Batukaru was first inhabited by the children of the god Pasupati sometime in 191 AD, about 70 years after the creation of the world. When the saint Mpu kuturan came to Bali in the 11th century, the temple at Batukaru was already in need of renovation. He built towering meru and designed new shrines. The temple was renovated in 1991, and the grounds have been planted with the most modern civic landscaping, thus robbing it of much of its former mysterious quality.

Gunung Batur
see… Batur

Gunung Kawi
see… Tampaksiring

Jatiluwih is a small mountain village that’s located on the feet of mount Batukaru. Jatiluwih means a “truly marvelous”. It has the most spectacular rice terrace view on the island. It is really a Paradise for photography.

Jimbaran Bay is a fishing village and tourist resort in Bali, Indonesia. Located just at the south of Ngurah Rai International Airport. Jimbaran lies on the ‘neck’ of the southern peninsula in Bali and is widely known for the fresh seafood kiosks all along the beach. Diners select the seafood live that they wish to eat and it is prepared immediately. More recently, Jimbaran has become a popular location for foreigners to build villas.

* ULUWATU – KECAK DANCE – SEAFOOD DINNER TOUR

Kintanami – Consisting almost entirely concrete buildings with rusty corrugated iron roofs, it isn’t particularly appealing and it is too far north from the rim of the crater for the best views of the lake Batur. It is famous for its breed of furry dogs and the huge outdoor market held every three days.

* KINTAMANI (Volcano) – BARONG DANCE TOUR

Klungkung
see… Semarapura

Kusamba Beach It is a volcanic black sand beach close to Goa Lawah Temple known for its salt production. Between Semarapura and Almapura are endless, mostly black beaches. Kusamba beach is one of them. From here fishing boats are leaving to Nusa Penida.

MAKING SALT: on many parts of the island, particularly around Kusamba beach and Lembongan island, you’ll see the salt beds and piles of white salt that indicate one of the most backbreaking occupations on the islands. Vast quantities of salt water are still hauled from the sea in buckets and poured into specially dugs ponds, close to the shore. When the water has evaporated, the salty, sandy residue is placed in hollowed out palm-tree trunks and mixed with more seawater. The water becomes saturated with salt and a very thick brined is poured off. This is then evaporated to form salt crystals. Further stages of purification take place, and you may see large bamboo baskets suspended from frames at salt making sites. The liquid of the wet salt crystals, which contains other more soluble impurities, drips down a string hanging from the baskets and forms long stalactites, leaving pure salt crystals behind.

Kuta is the famous touristy beach resort of Bali that rates as the best beach on the island by waves rising sufficiently for surfers and boogie boarders to ride on them. The white sandy beach stretch for kilometers »from the airport right up the coast through Legian, Seminyak, and on to Tanah Lot. Kuta is also the center for cheap accommodations, bargain travel throughout the country, but also features luxury hotels. Restaurants, pubs and bars come in all shapes and sizes, offering every culinary delicacy imaginable. In addition, Kuta is the center for the fashion of Bali and here a lot of casual wear is manufactured. Going through narrow alleyways shops abound, crammed full of various antiques and not so-antique arts and crafts from throughout the archipelago.

LEGIAN is further up from Kuta beach and a bit calmer and less crowded beaches. It is more for the laid-back travelers and surfers who wish to stay longer. It has a better value accommodations with plenty of mid range places offering air-con, hot water and swimming pool.

Legian
see… Kuta

Lovina Beach stretches along 8 km of black sandy beach, west of SINGARAJA. The name “Lovina” was coined by the last king of Buleleng. A convert to Christianity, he gave the name to small tract of land that he purchased at Kaliasem, where he built the Tasik Madu Hotel 1960s. The name Lovina signifies the love is contained in the heart of all people. Lovina is a convenient base for trips around the north coast, a good place to meet other travelers, and there is a bit of nightlife there. The pace of life at Lovina reflects the calmness and safety of the sea. This is an excellent spot for swimming and snorkeling, particularly near the reef, and the local boats are for hire. The sunset here is particularly spectacular.

* BEDUGAL – SINGARAJA TOUR
* DOLPHIN WATCHING – RICE TERRACE TOUR