Bali dancers
This photo showing Bali dancers performing traditional dance. These local dancers have become popular thanks to various painting by modern painters.
The most famous was perhaps the German musician and painter, Walter Spies, who settled in Bali until the war broke out. His exquisite paintings introduced a new aesthetics, which the Balinese were quick to respond to and adopt. Miguel Covarrubias, the Mexican artist-anthropologist and his wife also settled in the Ubud area to create the great study, "Island of Bali", which remains unrivalled today as an exposition of Balinese culture. Also came Colin McPhee and his wife Jane Belo, who wrote "A House in Bali" and "Trance in Bali" respectively, and Margaret Mead with her husband, Gregory Bateson, who made important anthropological studies. The Dutch painter Rudolph Bonnet, Swiss Theo Meyer and the Belgian Le Mayeur de Perpres came to live in Bali, each creating and contributing to the development of painting which still flourishes on the island.
To read more: http://baliwww.com/bali-plus/history.htm
See these links if you are interested:
(a)http://paintings.balihand.com/product.php?cat=Bali+Dancer+Paintings
(b)http://www.flickr.com/photos/araleya/376152673/
(c)http://www.balihand.com/product.php?main=Paintings&sub=Bali+Dancer+Paintings
(d)http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/101195296/Oil_Painting_Bali_Dancer.html
Temple Dalem Agung
Another photo showing stone carving with Balinese style. Photo taken at Temple Dalem Agung.
The most important institution in Bali, temples reflect the important role religion plays in the life of the Balinese. A temple is a place for communicating with the divine spirits through offerings and prayers. On holy days, when the deities and ancestral spirits descend from heaven to visit earth, the temples, become centres of activity. Temple festivals are guide by purification by the sprinkling of holy water.
See also: http://indahnesia.com/indonesia/SEEBAL/see_bali.php
A temple gate
This photo gives illustration of stone carving at the gate of a local temple in Bali. Most temples have similar carving art style which has Hindu influence.
Religious beliefs are celebrated in rituals and festivals that are said to lead a Balinese from birth to death and even into the afterworld. Balinese communities are all based on religious customs and holidays. Entertainment and social gatherings are set on the background of the Balinese religious calendar and its associated rituals. In Bali, religion permeates the culture and the Balinese cannot be thought of separately from their religion.
In this way Balinese Hinduism is much different from the Hinduism of India. In Bali, Hinduism developed in its own way. Balinese call their religion Agama Tirta, namely, science of the holy water. Agama Tirta is much closer to the natural world and is more animistic than the original Hinduism. Balinese believe that there are many ways to please God. Worshippers consider daily offerings and participation in village and temple festivals to be much more important than religious theories or beliefs. Bali is always full of a variety of such religious rituals and festivals.
To read more: http://www.oceanbluebali.com/NEW/Jan/html/service/destination.asp
Sacred Fountain
The photo showing a Sacred Fountain at Kintamani temple. Local people believe the fountain water bring multitude healthy impact to its visitors, including youth.
Bali, called an "island of Gods," is a beautiful tropical island that is located in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago. Located eight degrees below the equator, it is 5620 square kilometers in size. You can see all of these in Bali: terraced rice paddies, volcanoes, thick tropical jungles, warm seawater, white sandy beaches, wonderful waves and friendly people who live keeping their traditions and culture.
In Bali, regardless of their age, all people can rest comfortably. Rich ancient traditions exist together with the modern shopping centers and facilities all over the island. The unique Balinese Hindu culture that has been observed through the history of the island is still alive and can be seen in the daily lives of the residents and in the various ceremonies and festivals held here as well as in the brilliant temples and palaces.
Bali with its many charming attractions, splendid beaches, rich natural environments and reasonable shopping and accommodations attracts tourists from all over the world.
To read more: http://www.oceanbluebali.com/NEW/Jan/html/service/destination.asp
Batur Temple at Kintamani
This photo shows Prof F Smarandache at Batur Temple Located in Batur Village, Kintamani, near Mount Batur. The temple, consists of nine temples, is another popular temple in the island.
The principle temple, Pura Penataran Agung Batur, houses five multi-tiered shrines dedicated to deities and saints. Each pura serves a specific purpose, spiritual (in honor of the gods) or worldly (agriculture, craftwork, hot springs and the like). People, especially farmers come from all over Bali to worship Vishnu because of the temple's strong connection with irrigation and proximity to Lake Batur. Each year, a grand temple festival takes place here during the 10th Balinese month.
See here for more photo from Mount Batur: http://travel.webshots.com/album/560245540TtShZn
To read more: http://www.oceanbluebali.com/NEW/Jan/html/service/destination.asp
Besakih Temple at Mount Agung
This photo shows Prof F Smarandache praising to Hyang Widhi at Besakih Temple at Mount Agung, Bali Island. The temple is one of the most popular temples in the island.
High on the slopes of Bali's Mount Agung sits Pura Besakih, widely referred to as the "Mother Temple" of Hinduism in Bali. Pura Besakih, or Besakih Temple in English, is the largest of the island's 11,000 or so Hindu temples; its 35 shrines and halls draw devotees from all over Bali in massive numbers each year.
Over a thousand years old, steps ascend through split gates to the main courtyard where the Trinity shrines are wrapped in cloth and decorated with flower offerings.
Around the three main temples dedicated to the Trinity: Shiva, Brahma and Wisnu, are 18 separate sanctuaries belonging to different regencies and caste groups.
To the Balinese, a visit to the temples sanctuaries is a special pilgrimage. Each has its own anniversary celebration or "Odalan". The sight of the temple against the background of the mountain is impressive and during festivals, coloured banners add a touch of gaiety.
See also:
http://indahnesia.com/indonesia/SEEBAL/see_bali.php
http://goseasia.about.com/od/sacredsites/Sacred_Sites_Temples_Churches_and_Mosques_of_Southeast_Asia.htm
Other book: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120085257/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Turtles at Benoa
Large Turtles at Tanjung Benoa are also example of preserved species. They have become tourists' interest since long time ago, because some of them are believed to get alive until as old as a century.
Species reserved
This photo showing example of aves species reserved from extinction.
Taken: may 2006
Phyton
This image displays a traditional sensation (the same with Indian and elsewhere), a performance with phyton.
Terrace of Blanco Museum
Another photo showing Western-style influence to art in Bali island, located at Terrace of Blanco Museum, Campuan, Ubud.
The Blanco Renaissance MuseumThe Blanco museum embodies Antonio Blanco's life and dreams. Built in his former home on the gentle hilltops of Campuan, Ubud since December 28th 1998, the Blanco Museum exudes a rococo charm. Many streams of Balinese life converge in this extraordinary building, as the museum site continues to represent the Balinese world as seen through Blanco's eyes.
Blanco built the museum to commemorate his love for Bali and to house his important works. It is built on 20k square meters land in accordance with the precepts of the Hindu faith. The three stories are symbolic of Balinese faith, and represent the Upper, Middle and Lower worlds, where Gods, man and Demons all have a rightful place, hence, the topmost floor of the museum houses the artist's most esoteric works.
A huge green Italian marble archway in 15 meters height fronts the entrance steps, that are also guarded by two massive mythical stone dragons. The fountain in front of the entrance is an emissary of the waves of the sea, also connected to the whole cosmos. The museum has a pair of stairs symbolizing all duality in the material world. The second level of the museum represents the Middle world. It is here that Antonio Blanco's poetry is conserved.
(ps: the distinction between the 'Upper' World and 'Middle' World may remind us to JRR Tolkien's epic Lord of The Ring trilogy).
To read more: http://www.oceanbluebali.com/NEW/Jan/html/service/destination.asp
Coconut ice
A photo showing a local beverage from tropical island: the coconut with ice. It is a favorite drink especially under hot-dry sun.
At Merapi Volcano
This photo was taken near Merapi Volcano, showing activities of the volcano at those days. Merapi Volcano is one of the largest mount in the Central Java island.
Mannequin
A mannequin of a guard from Paku Buwono style in Mataram Palace, Jogyakarta.
Western-style statue
A statue inside the Mataram Palace at Jogyakarta, showing Western-style influence in Javanese art.
Traditional clothes
This photo taken at museum inside Mataram Palace, showing traditional clothes. Nowadays these clothing style remains to be used in ceremonies, like wedding ceremonies in Javanese style.
Gamelan set
A set of gamelan, a classic Javanese music tools. These tools are usually used to perform classical music for dances, puppet shows (wayang) etc.
This photo is taken at Pengging, Central Java, May 2006
Traditional dance
An example of rich cultural activities surrounding the Borobudur Temple is traditional dance, performing periodically.
At the bottom of Temple
Here is photo showing Prof F Smarandache at the bottom of Borobudur Temple, a largest temple located at Central Java. This temple also once belonged to one of the World's Magnificent Seven.
Indonesia needs to develop its tourism infrastructure
Indonesia needs to develop its tourism infrastructure
to attract more overseas tourists to visit the
country, as the 2008 Travel and Tourism (T&T)
Competitiveness Index report says that index for the
Indonesian infrastructure is the lowest.
The report is also highlighting the health and
hygiene, cultural resources, and Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure sectors
to be the lowest sub-indicator points among other
sub-indicators.
The indicators on the report, which was released on
March 4 by the World Economic Forum, are divided into
three major categories of competitiveness strength
from 1 to 7 scale: Regulatory framework
competitiveness; Business environment and
infrastructure; and Human, cultural and natural
resources indicators.
The report, under the theme Balancing Economic
Development and Environmental Sustainability, ranks
Indonesia as 80th out of 130 countries, with its
overall index decreasing from 4.2 to 3.7 this year.
In 2007's report, Indonesia was on the 60th rank of
the 124 countries.
Despite the decreasing scale of its index of last
year, Indonesia has attracted at least 5.51 million
foreign tourists visited Indonesia in 2007, up from
4.87 million in 2006 and the international tourist
arrivals have brought more than US$ 4.45 million last
year.
According to UN World Tourism Organization, the travel
and tourism sector in Indonesia has brought US$ 10.17
million of gross domestic products (GDP) and employed
nearly 2 million people to work within the industry
last year.
The World Travel and Tourism Council is estimating the
country to reach 5.7 percent annual growth on its GDP
and the employment growth will increase 1.5 percent
annually.
Meanwhile, the highest ranked country for the T&T
competitiveness within the South-East Asia regions is
Singapore, for placing the first place among the seven
South-East Asian countries listed or the 16th rank out
of 130 total countries with its overall index
decreasing from 5.31 to 5.06 this year.
Followed by Malaysia, which is on the 32nd rank of the
total 130 countries with its overall index 4.63,
Thailand is on the 42nd rank with index 4.37,
Indonesia is on the 80th rank with index 3.7,
Philippines is on the 81st rank with index 3.70,
Vietnam is on the 96th rank with index 3.57, and
Cambodia is on the 112th rank with index 3.32.
Indonesia is on the 4th position among the seven
Southeast Asian countries on the list.
Not like Indonesia who has significant dropped on its
scale index of last year report, Switzerland, Austria
and Germany remain the top three countries, which have
the most attractive environments for developing the
travel and tourism industry, as the report says.
This second annual report, is also consecutively
listed Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the
United States, Sweden, Canada and France as countries
in its top ten list, which have most appealing natures
to attract visitors after the three countries above.
The 2008 T&T report index uses hard data from publicly
available sources such as the International Air
Transport Association (IATA), the World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO), the World Trade Organization
(WTO), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) as
well as survey data from the World Economic Forum’s
Executive Opinion Survey which provides unique
information on many qualitative institutional and
business environment issues.
The World Economic Forum is an independent
international non-profit organization, based in
Geneva, Switzerland, committed to improving the state
of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to
shape global, regional and industry agendas.
The forum was first established in January 1971 when a
group of European business leaders met under the
patronage of the European Commission and European
industrial associations.
Neutrosophic Logic Presentation at Middle Java
This is another image taken Prof F Smaran- dache while giving his lecture on his Neutrosophic Logic theory at a Central (Middle) Java university. The audiences were more than 50 people, mostly students from electronics department. Some questions were quite interesting, on robotics etc.
Taken: May 2006
Indonesia National Monument
Here is Prof F Smarandache with Indonesia National Monument at the background. It is one of the most-often cited monument from the country.
Taken: may 2006
Indonesia traditional cuisine
Indonesia traditional culinary is as diverse as national's native languages. With thousands of tribes each are eager to keep their own traditional culinary, the image shown above is only a small part of vast array of Java Indonesia traditional cuisine.
Taken : May 2006
Indonesia National Museum
This image was taken by Prof F Smarandache, during his visit around 2 years ago. The Indonesia National Museum is a national landmark for visitors just coming to Indonesia.
The collection of the museum covers both ancient history and also modern history (20th) century of the country. It offers compelling insight of how the country evolved throughout the course of history. It is simply worth to visit.
Taken: mid May 2006.
