Journey Notes: September 2011

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Bali Holiday with Bali Dance

Bali Holiday..

Well, you have known about the natural beauty of Bali. Today, I want to show you about the art of Bali Dances. Balinese always lives with their arts, culture and religion every day. For them, arts, such as dances, are one of the way to be grateful to Gods. You will be amazed when you watch Balinese dance that is very lively and expressive. Some of the dance are religious dance to thank the Gods. Bali dance will enliven your Bali Holiday.

Following some of the famous Balinese dance.

Barong Dance

You better Wacth the dance for your full-experience Bali Holiday. Barong Dance is a famous Bali dance which is full with mystical value. Set on the era of King Airlangga, Barong Dance tells the fight of Barong, the good one, against Rangda, the bad one. Before the mask of Barong and Rangda are taken out, Master of Hindu ceremonies will sprinkle them with holy water taken from Mount Agung, and in addition, some offerings are also presented. Famous barong dance performances held at the village Batubulan in at 9.30 am every day with duration about an hour. Do not miss it for your Bali holiday.

Kecak Dance

Bali Holiday will feel empty without this dance. Kecak dance is very expressive dance which is showed by 50 to 150 dancers, most of them are male. They dance with a chorus, "cak,cak,cak" this will make your Bali holiday so lively in very harmonius rhythm. Kecak Dance tells the fighting of the good King Rama against the evil Rahwana. The most-known Kecak Dance performance is on Pura Luhur Uluwatu every afternoon.
You can see the famous dance, while enjoying your beautiful Bali Holiday in the sunset at Uluwatu.

Sanghyang Jaran Dance.

Another Mystical dance for your Bali holiday. Featuring a number of men who play the ember of cocononut shell in arena that are kicking, trampling and holding the ember without suffered burns because they are in unconscious condition. They are possessed by the spirit of horses. Sanghyang Jaran is a sacred dance that only perform at certain moments. Sanghyang Jaran dance is showed in Penataran Sasih Temple.

There are many other famous Balinese dances such as Pendet dance, Legong Kraton dance and Baris dance.
All display flexibility expressive dance and make your Bali holiday so colorful.

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Ujung Kulon

Ujung Kulon, a national park located on the southwestern tip of Java island. As the opposite is Alas Purwo, also a national park which is located on the southeastern tip of Java island, in the Peninsula of Balambangan.

With an area of about 120.551 hectars, of which 44.337 hectars is marine, Ujung Kulon is the largest national park on the island of Java. This area includes the Ujung Kulon peninsula and several islands such as Handeleum Island, Peucang Island and Panaitan Island.

This Ujung Kulon National Park is an ecosystem of dense tropical rain forest which is still remaining on the island of Java. The existence of this dense forest is quite interesting, considering that Java is one of the most populous island in the world. Species richness of plants reach about 700 species with 57 of them are rare.

While the species richness of animals consist of 35 species of mammals, 5 species of primates, 59 species of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians, 240 species of birds, 72 species of insects, 142 species of fish and 33 species of coral. Ujung Kulon National Park is a wildlife reserve for the last one-horned rhino/Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) are endangered. It is estimated that only left 50 Javan Rhino.

Still included in Ujung Kulon National Park is the region of Mount Anak Krakatau. On August 27, 1883, Mount Krakatoa erupted. The eruption of this vulcano was phenomenal and is one of the most powerful volcanic eruption ever. The impact of the eruption affecting the lives of the world for a few years later. The eruption of Mount Krakatau was destroying itself and the rest of the mountain there is a new phenomenon emerged in the form of a volcano known as Mount Anak Krakatau. As its “parent”, Mount Anak Krakatau is one of the most active mountain in the world.