Parks, Bali

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Long Ago Ungasan is mining area, a resort with lime stone Hill landscape, by tourist was encourage local government to widen the business for a regional income, then Ungasan was built into a Cultural Park. Here one can see a building compound for art shops, a lotus pond sQuare and going up hill we can find Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Parks

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We did not know really what to expect at the Bali Bird Park, but what a lovely surprise. This place is beautiful and the birds are well cared for and live in a beautiful environment.

There are stunning gardens with over 300 exotic trees, some of which are very rare.

Blended throughout these gardens are 60 different aviaries with more than 1,000 birds. Two of the aviaries are large rain forest walk thru ones. Here you will see brilliant colored birds in their natural habitai.

Some of the birds you can see are:
Macaws
Birds Of Africa
Birds Of Australia
Parrots and Cockatoos
Pigeons and Pheasant of Indonesia
Birds Of Irian Jaya
Birds Of Paradise
Birds Of Bali and Java

There is a lovely restaurant where you can just sit and listen to the birds, a kiosk and a couple of gift shops.

Its a lovely bird park and certainly well worth seeing. Probably a bit expensive by Bali standards, I think we paid about $25 Aussie which also included entry to the Reptile Park next door.

The park is open from 8 am in the morning until 6 pm in the evening, daily throughout the year except on Balinese New Year (Nyepi)

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One of the things I'd wanted to do since a long time was ride an elephant (blame it on the commercials!) There is an elephant park in Bali, up a long hill on a thin and v. scary road. If u have the guts and haven't been to Thailand, do try this. U get to ride around like Tarzan & Jane up and down a special route in a jungle-like mountain and then into the water! Hint: Those things floating around in the water r apparently not coconuts, LOL.
The elephants also know a couple of tricks that they entertain their guests with. They can sit, lift u with their tusks, take a pic with u sitting on their arm, AND they can paint! There r scheduled painting performances where the elephants take a brush in their tusks and paint a picture which u can buy as souvenirs. Quite a lot of talent for such a big animal!

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Bali's Rimba Reptile Park is next door to the Bali Bird Park.

The park has the most complete collection of reptiles in Southeast Asia. The reticulated python is easily the largest snake in capacity and is 8 metres long!!.

There is also an extensive collection of Indonesia monitor lizards in addition to the world renown Komodo dragons. There is an open-air area where guests are encouraged to interact with the tame iguanas, crocodile monitors, water monitors and tortoises.

In the serpent cave you will find the largest collection of venomous snakes in the world.

The Reptile Park is also an important research facility, conducting breeding programs for rare and endangered species as well as extraction of venoms for international research.

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Besakih Temple is also known as the Mother Temple of Bali. It is located on the southern slopes of Mount Agung, Bali's tallest mountain in the region og Karangasem.


Besakih temple is made up of more than 18 others separate temples and shrines. Every temple has its specific purpose of worship of different Gods.

The "OFFICAL" entry fee to Besakih Temple is 10,000 RP. Parking fee is 5,000 RP.

The "UNOFFICAL" entry fees will be collected by a gang of temple guides dressed in Baliness Costume. They would demand a check of your ticket and say that you are not allowed in unless accompanied by their temple guide due to some religious ceremonies taking place. Their asking price was 200,000 RP per pax. Only managed to bargain down to 80,000 RP. And wonder why I did not demanded for any offical receipt and the little boy should produce his offical guide pass.

Once you enter the temple complex, the next annoying thing is the motorbike touts which offer a USD1 ride up to the temple complex.

We later found out that everyday there will be different religious ceremonies held in the temple. So the only excuse for local guides is actually not valid.

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This is a beautiful place to visit as they have these huge statues of Wisnu and Garuda but it`s unfortunately not completed yet. The Statue of Wisnu is placed on hill which has a very nice view of the beach resort of Nusa Dua from their and behind him as you go down with the stairs you`ll find Garuda the bird that Wisnu was suppose to ride and further away through all the lime stone walls you`ll find Wisnu hands.

I didn`t know the statue was incomplete until someone from the park told me that Wisnu is suppose to be riding Garuda so those statues are in temporary places in the park. It`s definitely worth a visit as those statues is really huge and the place is really beautiful and I especially love the Kura Kura pond. I would love to visit here again later in the future when the statues has been joined. I`m sure it`s going to be an amazing site.

The place was built with the intent to teach the young generation of preserving it`s cultural heritage.

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Dreamland Beach is a very beautiful beach with excellent surfing conditions for intermediate surfers.

It is the site of the failed Pecatu Graha development, planned by Tommy Suharto, the corrupt youngest son of the former president Suharto.

Beware of the waves!!! I almost lost my life here while trying to take a picture of a house. Thank God I am still alive and survived a shock of my life, abrasions, bruises and a broken camera.

How to get there?

Dreamland is on the south side of Bali near Jimbaran Beach. Its about 30mins from Kuta. Just follow the sign that points to Nusa Dua and GWK. GWK is a cultural park located in Bukit Unggasan, Jimbaran. If you see GWK you are on the right direction towards Uluwatu. About 15 mins from GWK, you will see a big statue of Garuda (the symbol of Indonesia).

The Beach entrance is on the left and you dont have to pay entrance fee here. Drive another 5 mins and you will be directed to the paid parking for 50,000 RP.

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So I haven't really got pics of us on the elephants unfortuntely but we did go and we paid to take our driver in with us it was his first time to touch an elephant....it was very cool never see someone so scared of elephants and then he loosened up and was loving it he even feed the elephant. So after feeding the elephants we went and lined up were handed a umbrella as it was spitting a little. Then it rainged quiet well but it was fine with the umbrella.
About half way along our elephant went to the toilet and the elephant trainer said oh wait its going to be a waterfall lol and he wasn't wrong...lol
Well soon after this I asked our trainer why doesn't the elephant make noise....don't the elephants make noise??? Well what a treat after a quick convo between our trainer and the one that miss T and sissy were on the trainer lent forward and we had roaring...wow this is amazing they just move so much when they roar and they are so loud. So I ask what are you doing to make them roar .....a pause and then I can't believe my ears...we tickle.
If you get to do this make sure you ask them to tickle the elephant so it will make noise!!!
Really enjoyed this even second time around and at the same park.

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Kuta – Medewi Beach, West Bali.

We left Kuta around 9 am, driving out Kuta area heading to west Bali through the main street that leads to Tanah Lot Temple. We took the village roads that come out at Meliling on the main street that goes to Gilimanuk along the west coastal region of Bali
By the T-Junction at the village of Antosari, we make a right turn up to Belimbing village. We made a stop by a little Warung on the right side of the street that has such a gorgeous view over mountains, rice terraces, and the southern peninsula of Bali. There are various kind of tropical vegetations grow around the wrong’s garden such as cocoa, clove, durian tree, coffee and vanilla bean. Right behind the Warung there were 3 huge bats or flying foxes hanging on a little bougainvilleas tree. They are like pat for the family who own the Warung. The Warung itself sells cold drink, coffee and some local snacks, so it is really a great spot for a coffee break while enjoying the scenic view over rice terraces or wandering around their tropical garden.

Across the street there was a lady selling Durian fruits so it was great as my friend Jan was willing to get one to taste, so we walked across the street and bought a Durian for 15,000 Rupiah which was a good deal as it was quit big one. I put the Durian on the back seat and the strong smell of it filled up the car and having the air conditioned on was not a good idea as it made the smell really stronger. The fruit is smell like hell but tastes like heaven…

We left Belimbing village and driving north towards Pupuan Village. We kept enjoying the scenic view over the green rice terraces all the way up. We made a stop by Pura Mekori where there were number of monkeys on the entrance, by the side of the road. The temple is built in the middle of the tropical rain forest which is the home of the macaque monkeys that hang around by the entrance where there is a small shrines by the road side where the local passers by make a short stop for a little prayer and there is an old man priest there who patiently bless everyone with the holy water. The people who stopped there placed a little offering on the shrines and do a little prayer before being sprinkled by holy water by the priest. As there is a little cake by the offering, the monkeys were hanging around by the little shrines to steal the cakes from the offerings.

We continued driving north through windy roads by local villages and still enjoying the great view over rice terraces, coffee and cocoa plantations.

When we got to the market town of Pupuan, we made a left turn, driving again through local villages with its spectacular view over lush river valley, mountains and view over west coast line. We arrived by a village named Bunut Bolong. There is a huge tree which the local called Bunut that grow in the middle of the road. They carved through the bottom part of the tree which arches the street and the cars have to drive through the tree. There is a little temple under the trees where some local passers by make their offerings. Nearby the tree there is a little Warung that sells food and drink.

We left Bunut Bolong and kept driving down the windy roads, passing by many villages until we arrived at the T-Junction by the main road towards Gilimanuk. We took a right turn heading to Medewi Beach where it is well known for the surf breaks. There were numbers of surfers by the time we got there as the wave was really great. There were few tourists and mostly local young surfers. We checked in by Medewi Beach Cottages where it is right by the beach. After lunch, we drove out again to visit Pura Rambut Siwi which is north of Medewi Beach Cottages. It is approximately 3 km up the road by the black volcanic sand beach. The temple is built by the beach and you can have a great view over the Indian Ocean, green rice paddies on the other side of the temple. We could see the eastern part of Java by the temple area. The temple was built around the 16th century by a Hindu priest who was coming from Java, named Dang Hyang Nirartha. The temple was just being renovated in some part and the new gardens have just been created. It is an elaborate temple one with beautiful Balinese carvings painted in gold leaf. We walked into the inner courtyard of the temple to get a close look to a number of shrines. We walked out from the main courtyard by the west side gate, to a little path that goes down to the beach where there is another smaller complex of temple just right by the beach with a black and yellow tiger’s sculpture, but seemed to be more like Panthers for us. There are a couple caves on the right side wall of the cliff under the main temple, with its small shrines by the mouth of the cave. We walked along the beach and suddenly we got accompany of hundreds of local elementary students who were doing a day excursion with their teachers. We took pictures of those kids and everyone was really excited to be in the picture. We walked back to the parking area by walking along the beach along with those school kids. Hundreds of the school kids were packed in a truck that transport them around for the entire day visiting different places on the west Bali region. We think that they should hire a bus for a better safety.

Day is getting late and the sun was about to sink behind the Horizon, we headed back to the hotel for our night stay. I stayed by a little home stay named Gede, next to Medewi Beach cottages, cost 50,000 Rupiah/night. It is a very simple room with cold shower. It has a little restaurant with good food and it is right by the beach with its great view over the beach.

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Medewi Beach – Pemuteran, North West Bali.

We left in the morning after breakfast at around 9.30 am, drove back to the main street heading North West towards Gilimanuk again. The road was quit busy with all the trucks and Lorries that are going and returning from the island of Java. We drove into a small road before a Moslem mosque, a couple hundred meters from Medewi Beach Cottages to a small natural port for the local fishermen. We parked the car by the end of the road, right by the beach. We walk around the beach where there were many Jukung, traditional outriggers and fishermen who were just returning from the Indian Ocean for fishing. The women were waiting on the beach with baskets and big bowls for their husband’s catches. One by one of the fishermen were coming back off shore with some catches for the morning. Dozen of men on the beach were waiting to give help to the new arrival fishermen to get their boats off the shore by carrying them on their shoulder. They were given some fish as a reward and bring them home for their family. They carry the boats quit a bit away from the coats line to avoid it being drag out by the big wave during the high tide.

The women were busy getting all the fish out from the boat and carry them in a bamboo baskets or plastic bowls.

We left the fisherman village and drove back onto the main road and driving up towards Gilimanuk. We drove a few kilometers up the roads and made another D-Tour to the Cape of Perancak that’s well known for its Ancient Hindu temple and fisherman Perahus. The size of the boat or Perahu is much bigger than those ones at Medewi Beach and has bigger motors on it, huge fishing nets. The boats look really beautiful with all its ornaments and painted in different colors. There are decoration that’s a made like a dome of the Moslem mosque and some with a little Hindu’s Shrines. They also get a special name like, Istanbul, etc. it shows a special love and pride that they have for their boats.

We sat by a little Warung, drinking cokes while watching the activities of the fishermen cleaning and maintaining their boats before going out to the Ocean.

We drove back to the main street, kept driving up and made a short stop at the City of Negara to make a quick look at a huge temple in the middle of the town called Jagatnatha temple. The temple has a huge garden on the front, a Wantilan (Open Pavilion which is normally use village’s gathering and entertainment hall). It is built in the area of the local government buildings. After taking few pictures and look around the outer courtyard of the temple, we continued driving up towards Gilimanuk and by the huge sign of Bendungan Palasari, we turned to the right, driving through coconut farm, and nice clean villages to Palasari which has a manmade lagoon and huge Dam which is used for irrigating the rice paddies of the region. We got to Palasari and followed a small and quit a bumpy road that’s going to a very fancy villa called Taman Wana which is built above the Lagoon, it is quit a way from the village. The drive over to the villa was really fabulous as the view over the rice terraces, cocoa farm and coconut are truly beautiful. The rate of the villa was quit expensive which ranges from US $ 250 – US $ 1000 for the Suite Villa. It has a helipad as well as a limo service to pick you up from Bali International airport. It has a beautiful garden and great view over the lagoon.

After lunch at Taman Wana Villa, we drove back to Palasari to visit the huge Catholic Church that was built around 1955. The Church is decorated with Balinese style of carving around the outside and a huge Balinese Split gate by its entrance. We wanted to have a look inside but the main door was shut and locked, so we were just walking around it and took some pictures.

We drove back to the main street to Gilimanuk and made a short stop by Pura Segara Rupek, on the left side of the street by Bali West National Park. We walk to the beach and could see East Java clearly from the temple outer courtyard. The temple is surrounded by the forest which is part of Bali West National Park.

We left the temple and be back on the street and by the T-Junction before the port of Gilimanuk we turned right took the road towards to Singaraja, driving through the forest, seeing a couple deer and monkeys by the roadside. We got to Labuhan Lalang, the little port to get a boat over to Menjangan Island which is known for the best snorkeling site in Bali. We walked over the port to look at all the wooden boats. The island could be seen from the port and there were few tourists who were just returning from Menjangan Island for their day excursion.

We continued to drive east to Pemuteran Village, staying at Taman Sari Beach Cottages, a great resort by the beach. It has a lovely big garden, swimming pool by the beach and a nice beach restaurant. We stayed at Ocean View Cottage for US $ 65 which is worth the value.