Bali - Batubalan, Mas, Celuk, Gunung Kawi, Kintamani,...

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July 21st 2010

Published: July 25th 2010

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nathanmoerman

Barong Dance

Barong dance in Batubalan

The 20th of july we met a tourdriver that would take us to the art villages, barong dance and kintamani.
The day after he awaited us at the hotel to drive us to Batubalan. In Batubalan a Barong dance is performed every morning. Dancers perform an ancient story about the Hindu gods, accompanied with gamelan music. After enjoying the dance we left for Celuk, known for its silvercrafting. We saw three older women creating very fine silver jewelry with a minimum of tools. In the shop there were thousands of necklaces, bracelets, silver decoration and so on. Marie-Anne bought a nice bracelet.
Close to Celuk we visited another village known for its skilled painters. In a paintshop two men were making the most beautiful paintings. The gallery were the paintings are displayed is very big with hundreds of paintings on display.
The last and most impressive artvillage is that of Mas where many woodcarvers are found. In a local shop, about 10 people were creating wooden decoration. The art is carved in different sorts of wood (Ebony, Mahony and crocodile wood) and from one piece. From tiny pieces to large statues that take months to complete. The detail with which this

Silvercrafters

Silvercrafters in Celuk

art is made is truly impressive. The carvers there start to learn at the age of 6.
In between the art villages we also saw Batuan temple.

On the way to kintamani we visited a plantation that grows coffee, cacao, ginseng and lemon grass. They also make the kopi luwak, coffee beans that are eaten by Civet cats and then collected again from the fecies for a better taste. We were invited to see the processing and taste the different sorts of coffee, cacao and thea. The ginseng coffee was very good and has a good effect on the body. I was a bit dissapointed about the taste of the kopi luwak. For me, its just strong coffee and not really worth the money. The plantation was located in a really nice valley and the owner has luxureous villa for rent on the top.

Arriving in Kintamani we had a drink in a restaurant with an amazing view on Batur lake and the Batur vulcano. The lava erupted in 93 was still visible.
On the way back south we visited the Gunung Kawi temple which has very nice pools with the clearest water. The locals bath in the

Woodcarvings

Komodo dragon

pool believing the holy water purifies the body.
Closer to Ubud we had a drink in a small local cafe with a great view on the rice paddies in the valley. We drank the juice from a young coconut.
Back in Sanur we ate at the Swastika restaurant. Very friendly staff, good meals and relatively cheap.

Additional photos below

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