ULUWATU SUNSET TOURS

Pura Luhur Uluwatu is one of Bali's kayangan jagat (directional temples) and guards Bali from evil spirits from the SW, in which dwell major deities, in Uluwatu's case; Bhatara Rudra, God of the elements and of cosmic force majeures. Bali's most spectacular temples located high on a cliff top at the edge of a plateau 250 feet above the waves of the Indian Ocean. Uluwatu lies at the southernmost of Bali in Badung regency. Dedicated to the spirits of the sea, the famous Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple is an architectural wonder in black coral rock, beautifully designed with spectacular views. This is a popular place to enjoy the sunset. Famous not only for its unique position, Uluwatu also boasts one of the oldest temples in Bali, Pura Uluwatu. Most of Bali's regencies have Pura Luhur (literally high temples or ascension temples) which become the focus for massive pilgrimages during three or five day odalan anniversaries. The photogenic Tanah Lot and the Bat Cave temple, Goa Lawah, is also Pura Luhur. Not all Pura Luhur are on the coast, however but all have inspiring locations, overlooking large bodies of water.

Pura Uluwatu is located on the cliff top close to the famous surf break on the SW of the Bukit peninsula. Empu Kuturan, a Javanese Hindu priest who built the tiered meru, founded the temple in the 10th century and a shrine here as well as at other key locations longs the Balinese coast. In the 15th Century the great pilgrim priest Dhang Hyang Dwijendra, who established the present form of Hindu-Dharma religion, chose Pura Uluwatu as his last earthly abode: history records that Dwijendra achieved moksa (oneness with the godhead, in a flash of blazing light) while meditating at Uluwatu. The temple is regarded, by Brahman's island wide, as his holy 'tomb'. Legend also tells us that Dwijendra was the architect of the beautiful temple, as well as many other major temples on Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. In the 17th century Niratha also from Java came to Bali and built temples, adding to Uluwatu.

Behind the main pagoda of Pura Uluwatu's small inner sanctum, a limestone statue of a Brahman priest surveys the Indian Ocean-it is said the statue represents the founding priest Dwijendra. Another shrine within the complex represents the boat on which Dwijendra traveled from, then, Hindu Java. According to legend he arrived at Pura Peti Tenget, north of Kuta.

Uluwatu Beach is known for its surf and, in nearby hostelries, its full moon rage parties. It rages at the temple too but in an orderly way, thanks to the royal house of Puri Agung Jero Kuta, Denpasar, who are the temple's hereditary pangemong (custodians). Hundreds of nobles from this family, and many 'devotees' (pengayah) and village pemangku priests from nearby hamlets, ensure that every seven months (on Anggar Kasih Medangsya by the Wuku Calendar, to be exact) the festival is run efficiently, and most elegantly. The palace is proud of its ancestral role: it manages the awesome logistics with fitting dignity.

Bali Kecak and Fire Dance Performance, Not known exactly where Kecak dance originated and which was first developed, but there are some kind of agreement on the Balinese Kecak was first developed into a performing arts in the village of Bona, Gianyar, as additional knowledge Kecak was originally a song or music that is resultant from a combination sounds that make up melodies that are usually used to accompany the sacred dance Sanghyang. And can only be staged in the temple. Then in the early 1930s by artists from the village of Bona, Gianyar trying to develop a Kecak dance by taking the story of Ramayana who danced as a substitute for Sanghyang Dance so this dance could eventually be displayed in public as a performance art. Part of the Ramayana story in which the first is taken as Goddess Sita was abducted by King Ravana.

The development of Bali Kecak and Fire Dance in Bali
Kecak Dance in Bali continues to change and progress since the 1970's. Developments can be seen is in terms of story and staging. In terms of the story for staging not only sticking to one part of the Ramayana, but also other parts of the story of the Ramayana. Then in terms of staging also began to experience growth not only found in one place likes the Village Bona, Gianyar, but also other villages in Bali began to develop Kecak dance so all regions in Bali there are dozens of Kecak groups whose members are usually members of the Banjar. Activities such as Kecak dance festival is often held in Bali well by government or by a school of art in Bali. As well as from the amount of much dancers who ever performed in the Kecak dance was recorded in 1979 which involved 500 dancers. At that time kecak performed by taking the story from the Mahabharata. But this record was broken by Tabanan regency government that organizes colossal Kecak dance with 5000 dancers on September 29, 2006, at Tanah Lot, Tabanan, Bali.

Pattern of Bali Kecak and Fire Dance
As a Kecak dance performance is supported by some very important factor, and in the Kecak dance performance presents the dance as an introduction to the story, of course, vital music to accompany the dancers movements. But in the Kecak Dance, the music generated from a combination sounds of members "cak" which were about 50-70 people all of them will make music in akapela. A person will act as a leader who gives the tone early, someone else acting as a suppressor in charge of pressure high or low tone, someone else acting as a solo singer, and someone else will act as the mastermind behind that to deliver the story. the dancers in the Kecak dance motion should not follow the movement of dance accompanied with gamelan. So in the Kecak dancethis gestures of the dancer is more relaxed because the main priority is the storyline and the sound mix.

Bali Jimbaran Bay Beach is located between airport and bukit pecatu with original villages of kedonganan and Jimbaran itself. These2 traditional villages lay on a stretch of around 2 kilometers barrow lowland between Bali mainland and the foot of south Bali. Jimbaran and Kedonganan are under the administration of perbekelan Jimbaran or Desa Jimbaran, while desa jimbaran is under wide administrative area of Kecamatan Kuta. Jimbaran and kedonganan villages have been known as the biggest supplier of salted fish for whole Bali, and until now. Kedongan is still the first collection agent of fish dropping or fisherman boats from Muncar, East Java. This collection agent is collection K.U.D. Jimbaran or Jimbaran desa level co-operation. This co-operation consist of fisherman members of both village of jimbaran and kedonganan. If we come to to the beach of kedonganan in the morning around 09.00 am we can see dozen of fisherman boat anchor going on the beach with various fishes is being disembarking and dropped to the beach. Big number of fresh fish wholesalers come from various area of Bali have already queuing at the office of the co-operation to buy fish from K.U.D.

Jimbaran Bay Beach has both lovely beach and the most exotic seafood in Indonesia. Seafood cafes aligning on jimbaran beach next to intercontinental hotel are indeed exceptional. Situated within a peaceful fisherman village, these cafes started out as huts which eventually grew in to an established industry. Jimbaran Bay Beach was always just a small fishing village, but in the 1980's developers moved in to exploit its glorious beaches. However it is still very much a fishing village and it is always pleasing to see when villagers have directly benefited from tourism. Jimbaran Bay Village, is the home to some of the best known international hotel names which straddle the bay and luxury villas are perched on the hillside with enviable views over the bay. The Jimbaran Bay Beach around the hotels are, as you would expect, stunning and it is a safe area for swimming. Around the village and fish market it is very much a working area for the fisherman tending their boats and nets and sorting their catch for market.

The Jimbaran Bay Beach takes on a whole new dimension as sunset approaches. They recently spread out to areas on the way to Ngurah Rai Airport. The flavor of their dishes is exquisite. Fresh seafood grilled on coconut charcoal served with flavorsome spices will undoubtedly stimulate you!! You can ick your favorite seafood prawns, lobsters, squids or fishes. Waiting on your food, you can sit around on soft white sands and watch the sunset in the evening. There are many restaurants come alive when they set up their candlelit tables down to the waters edge. The chefs fire up their outside kitchens and prepare their menus of seafood just as carloads of hungry mouths arrive to watch the sun setting whilst sipping cocktails before dinner.