Nestled in the rice paddies of eastern Bali, on the site of a sacred spring, the last rajah of Karangasem Regency built his weekend retreat, an elaborate water palace with a view of the ocean to the distant east and Mount Agung to the north.

Today, the palace has ben restored to its preconceived splendor with funds from the government and a family foundation, and visitors can stay on the grounds at the Tirta Ayu villas. Tirta Ayu Villas, within the Water Palace complex, consist of individual bungalows that serve as sleeping quarters for guests, family members and servants. A separate bungalow hold the reception area and a covered outdoor restaurant serving excellent food in a beautiful setting.

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The feeling of tranquility and peacefulness are the first impressions that captivate the heart of the visitor upon entering the village of Palasari. Palasari is a catholic outpost in the sea of Hindu, situated in the heart of Jembrana regency and surrounded by the forest and coconut plantations. Palasari can be reached with three hours drive from Denpasar, around 120 km.
The history has it; the first Catholic missionary arrived in Bali on Easter Day 1936 and in a short period converted a number of people in Tuka, a village, which is about 10 kilometers north of Denpasar.

The first Catholic church established in this village, the head of the Tuka Church at that time was Father Simon Buis. In 1940, he requested from the Dutch administration and Bali’s Board of Kings and was granted a plot of land in the lush forest of Pangkung Sente in Jembrana for his congregation to live since their was no place for the congregation in Denpasar at that time. In September 1940 Father Buis and his followers moved to the forest and settled in a village, now known as Palasari from the nutmeg trees that surround the village at that time. The word “palasari” is derived from the word “pala” means “nutmeg” and the word “sari” means “essence”.

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When you visit Klungkung regency (State East of Denpasar) you have to visit its Museum – Museum Semarajaya — to know a little about the History of Klungkung. Museum Semarajaya is located in Semarapura City – the city of Klungkung — next to the tourist destination Kertha Gosa/Taman Gili (Old Court-Hall/Floating Hall). Whether you want it or not you have to enter Kertha Gosa first before going to the museum due to one entrance only is opened for these two areas. The ticket is very cheap, @Rp 5000,- for adults and @Rp 2000,- for children. Why it is cheap, because it will not be able to help the government to maintain those historic inheritances. But the good point is the local people will not feel difficult to pay for the entrance if they take their family members there. It means they will know and learn more about their ancestor history.

flickr.com/photos/tanenhaus/

That area is divided into three parts, the museum on the West, Taman Gili (Floating Hall) on the South, and Kertha Gosa (Old Court-Hall) on the North. There are wayang (consist of Hindu’s figures and stories) pictures at the ceiling of the Old Court-Hall which tell about the life after the death. There is also a big exit called Pamedalan Agung, it is said when a Dutch Soldier climbed and was at the top of Pamedalan Agung he saw a different place below not the ordinary one.

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Villa Phiantiana is conveniently located on a small hill in Bukit Jimbaran, on the southern part of the island. Villa Phiantiana is some 15 km away from Bali ’s International Airport, Kuta, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua, and offers nice views of the sea, Kuta area, the airport and Benoa.

Apart from Kuta and Nusa Dua, quiet beaches can be found nearby. Villa Phiantiana is easily accessible through a short private road from the main road to Uluwatu. The land is approx. 1,300 m2 and the house approx. 500 m2 built area excluding basement. Villa Phiantiana easily accommodates 8 persons in 4 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.

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There was once a widow named Men Bekung (Mrs. Childless). She lived at the edge of a huge jungle. She collected firewood in the jungle. It was said that she found a little child. As the child’s skin was fair and the face was round, she was given a name Bulan Kuning (Yellow Moon).

One day Bulan Kuning was taken to the jungle by her adopted mother to accompany her collecting fire wood. In the jungle Bulan Kuning was, unknowingly, separated from her mother. She was very confused and frightened. All of a sudden, she was caught by a female giant, sang Raksasi. Bulan Kuning trembled in fear, luckily, though the catcher was a giantess, Bulan Kuning was very much loved by her.

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Every region must have their own tradition which is inherited from their ancestor. Such as India with their ‘mangal sutra’ tradition and the dowry from the bride, Japan for their tea ceremony and also the growth day for them who have reached the age of 20, and many other traditions around the world. And so does Indonesia with its various areas must have diversity on its tradition. One of them is Bali.

Gebogan offering

Bali is so popular with its ‘banten’ (means in the Balinese worship which is usually made from young coconut leaves and contains fruits, flowers, leaves, betel vine, cakes, and sesari – a little money as an offering). There are many kinds of ‘banten’, hundreds might be. It is so amazing that the old people are able to remember those kinds of ‘banten’ for each different ceremony meanwhile most of the young Balinese generations do not understand on ‘banten’ and everything related on it. That’s why this sentence appears; “It’s quite difficult to be a Balinese, isn’t it?”

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