Oct 30, 2015

Rice Field @ Plataran Hotel & Spa, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

















Plataran Hotel & Spa,
Jalan Hanoman,
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

These photos were taken by my husband and me during our recent trip to  Bali





























































































































































Tanah Lot Temple, Bali, Indonesia

















Source - Wikipedia 

These photos were taken by my husband during our recent trip to Bali, Indonesia.

Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali.  It is home to the pilgrimage temple Pura Tanah Lot (literally "Tanah Lot temple"), a popular tourist and cultural icon for photography .















Tanah Lot means "Land Sea" in the Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.












Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 16th-century Dang Hyang Nirartha. During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock, for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods.The main deity of the temple is Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, who is the sea god or sea power and these days, Nirartha is also worshipped here.












The Tanah Lot temple was built and has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. Each of the sea temples was established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast. In addition to Balinese mythology, the temple was significantly influenced by Hinduism.

At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The temple is purportedly protected by a giant snake, which was created from Nirartha's selendang (a type of sash) when he established the island.


























































































Oct 29, 2015

Taman Ayun Temple, Bali, Indonesia

Source - Viator & Photos were taken by my husband

















Taman Ayun Temple, also known as the Royal Temple of Mengwi, is one of the most important religious structures in Bali. Built in 1634 by a king of the Mengwi dynasty, the impressive complex stands on an island in a river, with its inner temple surrounded by a moat. Its Balinese name translates to mean ‘Garden Temple in the Water.' This temple is located 8 km east of Tabanan, near the village of Mengwi.













































The expansive grounds include a park, garden area and some 50 structures, including multiple tiered shrines (called merus in Balinese), each dedicated to a god. Part of a network of directional temples that protect Bali from evil spirits, the entire complex was designed to symbolise the mythological home of the gods, Mount Meru, floating in the sea of eternity. It’s the largest and most architecturally impressive water temple in the region and part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province UNESCO World Heritage site.























































































Oct 28, 2015

White Coffee & Steamed Ginger Chicken Rice @ Old Town White Coffee


Delicious coffee



















Tasty steamed ginger chicken rice




















Old Town White Coffee,
Permisuri Mall,
Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Bako National Park, Kuching, Sarawak
















Source - Wikipedia & Photos were taken by my husband


Bako National Park, established in 1957, is the oldest national park in Sarawak, eastern Malaysia, on the island ofBorneo. It covers an area of 27.27 square kilometres (10.53 sq mi) at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula at the mouth of the Bako and Kuching Rivers. It is approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) by road from Kuching.  Millions of years of erosion of the sandstone have created a coastline of steep cliffs, rocky headlands and stretches of white, sandy bays. Wave erosion at the base of the cliffs has carved many of the rocky headlands into fantastically shaped sea arches and seastacks with colored patterns formed by iron deposition. Some of these rock formations can be seen on entry to theTeluk Assam Beach, which fronts the park. The park can only be reached by a 20-minute boat ride from the village of Kampung Bako. It is often visited as a day-trip from Kuching, though accommodations (campground and forestry service bungalows) are available.
















Bako is one of the smallest national parks in Sarawak. However, it features multiple biomes (including rainforest), abundant wildlife, jungle streams and waterfalls, secluded beaches, and trekking trails. A network of 16 marked walking trails of different lengths allows visitors access. In addition, various beaches are accessible by boat from Kampung Bako or Teluk Assam, as well as a geologically interesting sea stack rock formation. The range of attractions and activities in a compact area have made Bako one of the most popular parks in Sarawak.


Source - Bako Wiki Travel

The journey to Bako has two stages; From Kuching to Kampong Bako by Taxi / Bus / Mini Van) and from Kampong Bako to Park by speed boat.

A bus ride from Kuching to Bako Market takes about 45-60 minutes (red public bus number 1, originating from the wet market beside the Electra building, which will also pick up passengers from the burger stand opposite Riverside Majestic Hotel right beside the Khatulistiwa restaurant and bar) and costs RM3.50 each way. Buses leave to/from Bako about once every hour starting from about 7AM from Kuching and finishing about 6PM from Bako, but the schedule is not firm. 
The other travel option is by minivan, which departs from the same location as the bus throughout the day. Minivans depart when full, or when the waiting passengers offer the driver enough money. A minivan can be chartered for around RM30, and seats 5-7 people. They can reach Bako in half the time of the public bus. Note that the minivan driver may try to mislead you, claiming that the last bus to Kuching will not show up. In such a case, politely ask him to wait until 17:30 and see.
Hotels and tour operators also offer regular shuttle buses; as a pricier but more reliable alternative. if you count the full morning (8 to 12) to get to the park, and complete afternoon to return to Kuching, you will probably be not far from the truth.































































































































































































Park Entrance


























Proboscis monkey